So here was Giants owner John Mara on WFAN talking to Mike Francesa on Thursday about embattled kicker Josh Brown:
“He admitted to us he’d abused his wife in the past. What’s a little unclear is the extent of that.”
Digest that one for a bit.
Yeah, it’s freaking enraging, not least because Brown – whose pattern of emotional and physical abuse of his ex-wife was outlined in recently released documents – was not cut by the team immediately. No, John Mara and the rest of the Giants’ brass (who’ve no doubt spent 99.9 percent of their work lives surrounded by alpha male grunters) said they would revisit the issue of Brown’s employment when the team returned from playing the Rams in London, England.
The Giants left Brown at home, a half nod toward the realization that the kicker (who already served a one-game suspension this year for his domestic abuse issues) was not a good ambassador for our nation’s game of well-regulated violence.
Unbelievable.
The Giants try to portray themselves as a Tiffany franchise, a winner of four Super Bowls which has always exemplified the best the sport has to offer. A team who has won titles helped in large part by such paragons of virtue as Lawrence Taylor and Plaxico Burress. The Giants are a fraud, no better than any other franchise that bases its roster decisions on a finely tuned calibration of whether it will help the team win games.
Sports
Get bent.
Big Black and Blue. Because yeah, you’re giving harbor to a freaking admitted serial domestic abuser in Josh Brown. Him and his irreplaceable right leg were left behind in the United States as the team went to England for this game. We’ll see who the team taps as his temporary replacement. For now, though, he’s the Out in our look at the players and coaches who will have the biggest impact on this game. Now let’s look at Probable, Questionable and Doubtful.
Probable Player of the Game: Aaron Donald
Donald, who was drafted one spot behind Odell Beckham in the 2014 NFL Draft, won Defensive Rookie of the Year and has been to two Pro Bowls. The Giants’ offensive line, which has played well this season (in pass protection, anyway), will have to keep Donald out of Eli Manning’s grill in order to give Beckham and his receiving mates time to get open.
Last week against the Ravens, Giants head coach Officer Farva finally started calling for regular shots down the field. The offense responded, with Manning throwing for more than 400 yards -- more than half of that going to Beckham (222 yards receiving, a career high).
This game is starting at 9:30 a.m. ET, a beautiful outlier in a season full of 1 p.m. starts. Breakfast with Beckham. A cup of joe and bombs away against the Rams. If I have to wake up early to watch Ben McAdoo calling early-drive run plays for Rashad Jennings, I’m gonna be bloody pissed. The Giants should take the running back position out behind the shed and put it down.
Questionable Player of the Game: Eli Manning.
After laying an egg in three straight games, Manning came to life against the Ravens last week. He threw in rhythm and didn’t have to think (always a good thing where Manning is concerned), hammering Baltimore down the field once McAdoo and his brain trust took the training wheels off.
Ya never know what you’re gonna get with Eli. He could throw for 500 yards in this game or throw five picks. Maybe both.
Doubtful Player of the Game: Todd Gurley
Gurley, who came into this year as presumably the best young running back in football, has gone missing in several Rams games. Last week, in a tightly contested loss 31-28 to the Lions, he only got 14 carries. How is that possible? You’d almost think the Rams were led by some promoter of mediocrity like Jeff Fisher.
What’s that? Fisher IS the coach of the Rams? Well then, carry on towards your 7-9 record, Los Angeles.
Out: John Mara.
Cut Josh Brown, ya simp!
