What would it have been like for young Carl Banks to have a camera, phone, and social media?
The one that caught me falling off a motorcycle like a week before.
To another edition of Believe in Giants presented by FanDuel. Bob Papa, two-time Super Bowl champion Carl Banks. And uh Carl, we're getting closer to training camp. Um the Giants announced a couple players that will start camp on pup. Thomas Fidoni, Sam Roberts, and Roy Roberts and Harris who we knew definitely with the Achilles injury. No Malik Neighbors on that list, which I think maybe surprised some people.
Yeah, I mean uh I think people were kind of thrown off when he had to have that uh maintenance on his knee on his surgically repaired knee and you know people assumed it was a botched something that didn't go right and you know it was just to clean up scar tissue or whatever to really um increase his range of motion or give him full range of motion. So, um, everybody expected the worst and, you know, he's we when we had coach on earlier this week, he said he's going to have to work his he's working his way back in, which means that he's not fully back, but he's he's close enough to where where I'm what I got out of that is that he's close enough to where he'll be ready uh at some point during camp where he's working himself back into football uh routines and stuff.
Yeah. Yeah, it doesn't mean it's any kind of guarantee he's going to start week one or be ready to go. We don't know. Like it's it's July. We we don't know. You know, Carl, um I want to ask you about this because we first of all, I want to thank all of our listeners, all of our viewers uh that tuned in in Moss uh for the John Harbaugh interview. And of course, the Scataboo thing uh got a lot of chatter on every media platform out there. Um the Jack and Dart throwing a dime off a yacht. And then of course, you know, there's the get off the lawn crowd. Like what are these guys doing? And all that other stuff. What would have been like for young Carl Banks to have a camera phone and social media?
The one that caught me falling off a motorcycle like a week before camp. Um, it would be different, man. And I I I I just think what we kind of lose sight of um and this is not a this is not a slight or any type of disrespect to um people who are I think in a in a nanny state, right? Um you see all the money the guys are making and it's all relative. The money I made when I played was relative to that time. Um, and a loss is a loss. Um, but what you what really gets lost on people is that these are kids, they're rough and tumble and this is football. Football is a rough and tumble sport. These kids have been doing these things. It's not like um Cam Scataboo tried a backflip for the first time to test his his um surgically repaired ankle. And he's like a license. I'm going to try this back flip to prove to everybody that and I've never done a back flip before, but I'm going to try it. See if my ankle holds up. That's not what they do. Um or jumping off a yacht. That's what they do. They've been doing it their whole lives and there are things that I've done. Uh my whole life, you just are rough and tumble kids. This is what they are. And I understand that from a fandom perspective, you want to you want to protect your investment as well as the team. But this is this is who they are, folks. This is, you know, this is unlike the um incident with Jason Pierre Paul where he had the the fireworks incident, but he probably had been doing that his whole life, too. So, um it just happens and you know, I'm you know, stick to landing as coach said and we move on.
Yeah. Yeah, I mean he did the backflip at uh license plate guys Brian Burns charity softball game which was a you know like a month and a half ago and he did stick the landing on that deal. Um when I think back on it I think of you were an entrepreneur as a player cultivating your business. You know, every so often Big Blue VCR will air that uh HBO Inside the NFL piece on what Carl Banks does in his off days. And you know, uh I can't remember what the name of the restaurant was, the lunchon that you used to host.
It was a business meeting kind of deal.
My guess is Carl Banks would have been very active on social media if social media existed one player because you were building a brand and it would have been another avenue for you to build your brand that you didn't have. You needed HBO to come in and do a feature on you,
Right? I I would have I would have fully taken advantage of uh social media and you know we probably because let's not u water it down. You were my host of those lunchons and we probably would have monetized the live stream, you know, depending on who we had. But it was, you know, it was a private lunchon. It was it was a membership only launching where it's kind of reflective of what we you know how we work now where you know it's no holes barred. We you know come in if you're a fan and you're a part of this membership ask us anything we'll give it to you straight. And um these were all, you know, Lexington Avenue. The the the steakhouse was on Lexington Avenue, but it was all people that were huge Giants fans u from all different uh sectors of business and they got a chance to really ask questions and be a fan. And it was, you know, if we were in this era, yes, we would have somehow taken advantage of that.
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, look, Mark Collins is active on social media now. If Mark Collins had the platform when he was a player, I'm assuming he would have been pretty active on social media then.
He would have been he would he carried a camera with him all the time. So, yeah. Uh Gary Reasonz is another one. Um Sean Landetta probably wouldn't want as much on social media because he was paid six before page six was a thing with athletes. Um but yeah, I I think you know guys take advantage of uh their platforms today. Um many do it in a very constructive way. Um some do it just as a you know as part of a fan interaction thing, but I think you know social media when used responsibly is is great. Um the I guess the I don't want to say the downside to that but I guess the the flip side to that is that fans have access to the same thing and um they carry phones too. So there would be chances that um you can't control everything you know when you're out and people want to take a picture or people want to sit across the street and take a video of you and post it. That's fair game too. So, um, you still have to live your life with, you know, some level of, uh, responsibility. Uh, you can't be reckless. Um, which is, you know, I don't think he's asking a lot, but when, you know, if a guy wants to let his hair down, he should be able to let his hair down without um, as long as it's, you know, nothing illegal without that being posted on social media. But, you know, I think boundaries um in a different era were were different now than they are now. I think, you know, there there were always guys that were hungry for a story or, you know, to get something out there, but, you know, we've seen uh people, fans, if we're out socially where there was no never a big deal then and it probably wouldn't be a big deal now, if we had to transport the mentality of 80s and 90s and put it in 2026. six, if it's the same mentality, those people would have some guard rails or some some level of respect. Now all the guard rails are down. And you know, for better or for worse, it is what it is. These everybody grew up in the same uh media era, just like in my era, we all grew up in the same media era, right? And there was, you know, it was a treat to get and this is this predates me, but you know, if you got a a Joe Deaggio or Babe Ruth, if you got a picture of him, it was, you know, it was great. But, you know, if you saw those guys out, I'm sure there were a lot of stories. There were a lot of stories about Joe Nameoth, but I'm not sure those would have made it to the public square that is social media now. Maybe, maybe not. But, you know, guys probably told those stories around poker games, you know, and smoky rooms.
Yeah. I mean, it's I'm sure just like the modern athlete who's grown up with this, if you think about every kid that's in the NFL right now, ma in any professional sport now in the NHL, NHL, NBA, uh, Major League Baseball, they've grown up going to showcases, having their own Instagram feeds already. um it's much more comfortable for them that because they've grown up in that world.
But my guess is the players of your generation would have grown up in it. Some guys would have put their foot in their mouth and caused firestorms.
Other guys would have handled it judiciously. I was I was trying to think about this with Phil
because Phil, you know, he's active on social media. He has his own podcast and he posts things. But I'm thinking when Phil was a player, he probably would have been like Eli Manning, the player. Eli Manning, yeah, has become a media star and post stuff on Twitter and post things on Instagram promoting whatever he's doing and has fun with things and take shots at people in fun. Um, but when Eli was playing, he wasn't posting anything. My guess is Phil Sims probably would have been the same way.
Yeah, I I agree. Um, you know, there's a there's that quarterback uh responsibility thing where you, you know, the the whole um being locked in thing and the expectation from the fans is that you don't see your quarterback all over social media. Um, and if you are, you're doing it responsibly. But again, we're in [clears throat] a different a different era. Um, where I call it the [clears throat] I call it the pick me era where, you know, everybody wants all the attention. Not everybody, but a lot of these kids want a lot of attention. And it's it's a it's a great opportunity. If you're if you're, you know, on the third wave of popularity in your sport, you can you can quickly rise by bringing attention to yourself. You know, if you want people to know more about the interesting things you do, and that's not that doesn't mean that you have to do stupid things, but you can amplify some of the things you do. And all of a sudden, you're not a household name in your sport. you're a good player, but then you just start to amplify things and people start to see you at a different level and your f your base of followers will grow based on some of the things that you call attention to. So, it's a great tool. Um, I don't I don't hate it um for existing. I don't like it when people use it as an opportunity to abuse these young athletes and to to say things that um are just not cool when you know you're not going to say it to the athletes face. Um now if you willing to stand on it then find the athlete and say those things to his face. Don't put it out on on Twitter. But um it's it's a cool platform. Um but it's it's a different time. There's so many different variables now, Bob. And there's so many different when I talk variables, the things that shape the minds of um the fan base and even the players um kind of dictates the the the discourse and the interaction with fans and players. And you know, there are a lot of different interests on here and and um the the uptick in in vitrial towards athletes. Um it's no coincidence that a lot of it is tied to their fantasy sports teams and it it has increased their passion, their you know fandom for whatever the you don't want to say it's the wagering itself, but that has something to do with it. But like these guys root harder now when they bet on you. And then if you don't get their desired result, sometimes it turns into some nasty commentary. And that's, you know, that's the gift and the curse. We're here, right? There was there was rotisserie back in the day where you had to do it through a newspaper. Now everything is so electronic. But you see guys, they go really hard for these athletes and you could tell some of the guys, you know, they they are betting fantasy because they're just rooting so hard and then they, you know, drop a fbomb in the middle of a game and you wonder where is that coming from, right? And you find out he needed X4 parlay, right? Or Midgame parlay. And so, um, it's created fans, it's created fandom, it's created fanatics, social media. Um, and this is where we are, right? I'm not going to, you know, I'm not the the hated you guys, you know, or you young guys need to grow up. It is what it is, Bob. And I just think every era requires some level of responsibility. Um the athletes if you don't want to see it don't post it. If somebody else post it you can then explain it but um don't open mouth and insert foot or open app and insert foot because when you open that app and you decide to do some things think twice before you do it in terms of some of the things you say.
Yeah. Someone someone once one of my buddies once said to me Twitter acts it should come with a breathalyzer. Um before [laughter] um just before before the before the uh internet police get after you talked about like if when you were a young athlete if you had a chance to get a picture with a famous person you mentioned Deaggio could be Mickey Manel Reggie Jackson, you know, pick somebody. Uh, you had mentioned Babe Ruth. Before everybody gets Carl's not old enough to have gotten a picture with Babe Ruth. Okay, he was long ahead. But before everybody chimes in on that, um, so I think it was you way back when who said we should get this guy the Biz on the podcast. Um, Chris Bisino. and I started following him and um you I really was intrigued with his content because it was like kind of old school. I I actually have a Bick pen because he would do these film breakouts with the all 22 and he'd be pointing at the screen and talking about what happened and somebody didn't rotate over and he had these great film breakdowns and I became a big fan of his and uh the podcast that he was on the Giant Insider newspaper podcast and um you know it it the thing I always respected about Biz was not only did he deal that film breakdown but using this fame big pen. But he would also I'd see him at the facility. I'd see him in the locker room. I'd see him talking to players. I'd see him talking to coaches. So, he would bring some insight into all this. So, um it is with great pleasure that we welcome in the one and the only Bickpan extraordinaire, Chris Biziniano. Biz, you got the
Beats the biz. Nobody beats the biz. Hey fellas, first off, Carl, before we start up, I laugh at the scatterbo stuff, right? That people are going crazy with. Carl, you probably did more wild stuff in two hours in a club back in the day than [laughter] Scatter has ever done in his career. Hey, Carl, I laugh because you know, me and you were the same. You're a couple years older than me, but man, I used to hang at LT's place back in the day.
I was a big Manhattan guy back in the day. And I knew a lot of people that remember you and all that stuff. And I would have to say, Colin, social media was around back then. Oh, I was with Sha Landetta one night in a club back in the day. I think it was after you guys won.
I think it was after you lost it was I think it was going to the 86 season, Banksy. I was with Landanda one night. He not me and him personally, but he was in the same place as me. And a lot of people like, 'Hey, this is Letta.' And you know Sean Landetta, we all know his reputation. He liked to party Sean back in the day.
And he was one funny guy. The stuff he was doing. I'm not and I'm not saying bad folks. I'm just wild funny stuff. Banks, you know what I'm talking about.
Oh, without a doubt. Like I said, um Sean Landetta was on page six before it was popular for athletes to be on page six. And it was not a one-time thing. It was like every other week he was on page six.
Banksy, it was the funniest thing with Shawn back in the day. I was actually with him down to Shaw in Kate May one year, too. But for a guy who wasn't exactly Brad Pit looking, he had the most gorgeous girls around him. It was amazing how Landetta did it. It was amazing. But yeah, Banksy, needless to say, I was listening to you before I came on, and if social media was around back in the [laughter] 80s and 90s, a lot of guys would have to adjust real quick or a lot of guys would be in trouble real quick.
Well, yes. And I think the fans um there were certain I and [clears throat] I don't know is it because they didn't have the tools, Biz, but there were certain understandings amongst there were gentlemen agreements that
Yeah. you know what what's going on. If you're in here with me, then you don't need to be talking about me when you get out of here. Like I you know, I think there's always there's always going to be an element that wants to break a story, right?
But when you're in an environment, and it it probably holds true to this day, too. If guys go out and party and they're in there with their other celebrity friends, nobody's running their mouth, right? Unless, you know, somebody's in there that shouldn't be and they want to take pictures of all the guys and oh, it's Saturday night and it's two nights before a Monday night game and why is this guy out? Well, he wanted to go out, hang out, you know. Um, because it was your Friday night.
Yeah, it was our Friday night. But it's it's it's again I think the nanny state of where we are in society, right? And again, I'm not I'm not saying it's good or bad, but you know, my grandson falls off his bike. I'm like, get up and go. I'm not gonna rush over. I'm like, get on. Let's learn how to ride. Right? And that's kind of the era. It's rough and tumble. Right? And again, I don't begrudge any of these people, but just understand when you see a guy like Cam Scataboo, he's going to be more all right than the guy who lays down on like a soccer player and just whails and then they bring out a stretcher and then he gets up and says, 'No, I'm okay.' Right? If Cam Scatteraboo can't get up, he's staying down. But if he can get up, he's not going to do all the dramatics. That's the type of people you want. Like, but um everybody wants to be super protective of, you know, we don't we want this guy to, you know, be out late. He should be studying his playbook. They've studied for a very long time, folks, for you know, four or five days straight, endless meetings. And yeah, if he's a good player, then chances are, you know, he's got his game plan down. the not so good players don't normally go out anyway. They know they don't need to be out on nights that they shouldn't be out. But um I it's it's it's this it's a different generation, Banksy. It's a different generation.
It's a different generation. I I don't knock it. It is what it is. But you know, the rough and tumbleness of what guys do off the field. Um, like Cam Scottaboo is not trying to run through a brick wall and show people he can knock down bricks or anything like that, but you know, that's what he's always been doing. Now, if you ask me, and I'm not, you know, pro nanny state, but I would prefer him not to do it. Also, that was David Wilson's thing, too, when he was here with the Giants. And um I don't know what he broke his neck but not doing that a flip but like running into a goal post or something. He ran with his head down constantly, right? Um but you know it's okay. It's a cool celebration. You know when when he feels the legs can't do it no more, he gonna stop anyway, you know.
Yeah. Speaking of uh camera phones, thank God you mentioned LTS on Route 17 or the down under Eric Howard and Jumbo Elliot's place in Hoboken. Didn't last long, but it left a mark.
Hey, Biz didn't last long, but it was fun why it lasted.
Oh, it was good.
Um Biz, I know that you had tweeted about this um a while ago, but no great surprise, right, that Malik Neighbors wasn't put on pup to start camp. No great surprise at all. Uh they just want to take it very slow with Malik. It's all about progress now. It's all about progress. Getting better each day, getting healthy each day. I know a lot of people put he was going to be miss four or five games. He was going to be on the pup list. And I don't know where people were getting that from, but where the Giants are at right now is they're going to slowly working him in work him in in training camp and they're going to see his progress. And the big thing is that what everybody's praying for and everybody's sitting back saying we can't have a setback, right? We can't have a setback. So that's where they're at right now. They're hoping for the first week, but they're going to see where they're at. They're going to see it's all about progress. Malik, how he gets healthier each and every day. John John's going to work Haro's going to work him in practice slow, but he'll start working his way in and they'll see where he's at. But you know, you know, Pop, you mentioned something to me like last week or something. you know, his injury was a little different because he blew his knee out leaping, not landing, you know, and that could be a se, you know, obviously a longer rehab. And that's more a little bit even more of a serious injury when you leap. And I looked it up, uh, Papa, and you told me that I, you know, when you're leaping, it's even more serious than actually landing. So, look, it's it's a process with Malik, and hopefully he continues to get better and better. they'll start working him in slowly and we'll they'll see where he's at.
You know, the uh Harbaugh's brought a lot of energy. Yesterday, the rookies reported officially and I was in the building and obviously I got when I when I got to the building. I couldn't believe the amount of construction that's going on. It's it's I mean everything is they're moving the equipment room to a temporary equipment room. They're just building. The cafeteria opened yesterday for the first time and you know the rookies were in there and there was a schedule for them, but there was a lot of veterans in there. There were a lot of veterans in the facility just getting workouts in, you know, not with coaches or anything like that, just getting conditioning in. Um, and there really seems to be an energy because they're not due to report until Tuesday. Um, but there were a lot of guys in there, including the quarterbacks that were just getting some work in and veteran players in the weight room and doing stuff like that. Biz, I mean, you've seen a lot of different coaching changes here recently, but obviously this one is different because someone's coming in with a resume. Thank you. And he's done a a great job of diffusing any little controversies that may exist. Yeah. And he doesn't hold back on anything either. like he he's um his whole deal is like I mean he's already announced that the rookie is starting at right guard. None of this well we'll have to wait we'll have to wait and see. We'll have to see. We're going to cross trainin him. We'll see how he does. It's like no we drafted this guy for this. Yeah. He's starting and now we're going to make it work and we're going to figure out how to make it work because we believe in this player. It's a refreshing kind of attitude.
You know, Banksy and Pop, you know, being at the draft presser with John Harbaugh, you know, and they asked him about Reese and he came out right out and said it, 'Oh, no, we're going to put him inside.' And you know what? I I remember sitting there saying, 'Holy did Harbo just announce where he's playing?' Cuz I was so used to, oh, like you said, we're going to cross train him here. We're going to see what he's doing here. We're going to put him. you're never getting a straight answer out of previous coaches where John Harour who is probably going to the Hall of Famer. He's definitely one Super Bowl win away, but he's probably going to go anyway down the road. And here he is telling us right out of the gate, coach, what are you going to do with Oh, sorry, John. You know, because today's Kool-Aid, nobody calls him co calls anybody coach anymore. Hey, John, what are you gonna do with uh re? And he came right out and said it. Oh, we're gonna play him inside. And like you said with with with with CC oh no he's going to play right guard. He's our rookie. That's where he's starting. We're not used to that. Right. Banksy. Right. Right Bob. We're used to the the answers of oh we don't know. He's going to work his way in. We're g So that I much respect for John just to come out and say that. And like you said pop the big difference here. Look each every coach comes in fiery. I remember Joe Judge with his speeches and all that stuff. And I'm not knocking Joe but that's the way he was. But and the players, oh yeah, we're gonna Oh, well, we're pumped up and all. But here's the big difference. You just mentioned it, Pop. Pogbo has the resume. This guy's won over 180 games and a Super Bowl. So, Banksy, as you know, you can't fool the players with Am I allowed to curse on this a little bit? I'm sorry. You can't you can't fool the players with your nonsense, right, Banksy? Plays will sniff your phoniness out right away. So what John comes in with these speeches to the team and I see people ripping him on social media. Oh, what kind of speech? Because he's real, right, Bob? Right.
Well, and that's the part, Biz, you can you can appreciate about uh Coach Harbaugh is that the lines are clear, right? Just from day one, this guy's going to play here, this guy's going to play here. He does not um lean into the narratives, if you will, like, oh, all the draft experts say that Arll Reese is a better edge than he is uh inside linebacker, where he played a lot of reps at inside linebacker. Probably more in he was inside. Yeah. The very same experts were saying, well, he can develop into one of the best edges. How about he's already developed into one of the best inside linebackers? Um but players respect clarity, right? Um not for the sake of currying favor with players, but the courage of your convicted. He's convicted. This staff is convicted in what they believe are the principles of winning. And not only what they believe, what is tried, tested, and true. um in the in the way they coach, in the way they approach this game. So players will respect the fact that the lines aren't blurred. That a defensive coordinator can come in and say, 'I'm not interested in being your friend.' You know, um here are your expectations. Let's go win some football games. That and and and they can do that in not in a manner that's not such an way of doing it. And that's been Coach Harbaugh's thing. Uh Dinar Wilson is a different type of coach than than than uh Coach Harbaugh, but they all speak the same language. They all um are on the same himnil, if you will. So, it's it's one message. Um, and I think the players are just embracing this thing like I haven't seen. Like they all say it's harder than they've ever had, but winning is hard in this league, right? And you got to do things. And and coach said something with Bob and I two days ago. I asked him, you know, is he on a rookie pace or is he on a um a a a schedule pace? He said, 'Look, the train's moving. You got to get on it.' He said, 'And if you don't, the you're going the game will make you pay if you're not ready.' So, everybody has to be ready to go. And that is life in the NFL as I've always known it as a player, right? You walk in, it wasn't, you know, let's bring this kid along, put him on the side, like, hey, you you get in and train's moving. You got to get on it and go go fast and you got to learn your stuff or else you're not gonna play. But it's not, hey, we're gonna have a special session for you or something unless it's a different blitz package or something. But um players, they they respect clarity and you know, when the lines are clear, the personalities will take care of themselves. If the lines are blurry, then that's when you get all of these different personalities trying to trying to, you know, shape shift yourself to fit one player and shapeshift yourself to, you know, um, appease another player and then you get a a locker room that just doesn't respect you because they think you play favorites.
You know, you know, Banks, I want to tell your audience, you know, a few things. Um, when John got hired, um, I reached out to a few Baltimore people, you know, that covered the Ravens. What's the story? You know, what's John about? You know, and a couple things I want to tell your audience, um, is that I was told a few things as far as Harvo is not a screamer. He's not going to yell and berate a guy, okay? But he will get in a guy's grill and he's going to let the guy know, hey, I need more from you. You're this, you're that. You got to get along. Like you just said, you got to get on this train because I know what you could do and you're not doing it. He has his way of getting he could be tough. Harour, believe me what I'm telling you. I know a lot of people, oh, he's giving these speeches. Oh, is this another table? Looks like he wants to be friendly. No, he gets his point across to players. He could be tough when he has to be tough. He's just not a guy on a silent like, you know, we, you know, Brian, Brian, and I'm not knocking Davis, but he had his own style. He was very emotional. He would fly off the We saw it, right? I'm not giving you guys anything new here. Uh, Harbo, you're not going to see that. You're not going to see him throwing clipboards, but man, he will get his point across to players. Okay, that's one thing. And another thing a couple people told me is that hey Chris you're not gonna find a better game day game game game day coach than John Harwell because you know Banksy as you know a lot of head coaches they come from a coordinated position and all that stuff and they're not prepared as much as they should be on game day man they don't make the adjustments during the game as much as they should be because it's not about halftime adjustments right Banksy it's adjusting as you move along in real in real time. And I I I want to I want to give a shout out to um all those head coaches or coordinators that were once special teams coaches. there's something to be said like and and again when we had coach on earlier and people will miss they'll gloss over this but he said some of us weren't gifted play callers some of us weren't gifted you know offensive coordinators we had to grind it out the one thing that we know that's consistent about special teams there always have to be an endgame adjustment That's the one thing they have to do all the time. There's a guy that's not available, you got to adjust and get another guy like, and it's a guy that you don't even never even had a rep, right? Um, but that was Bill Bich, right? Um, if you talk to Dave Merritt down in Tampa, he will tell you that all they h all they do is adjust, you know. But that's why he was he's one of the best special teams in football and one of the best special teams coaches. Uh, is coach Merritt in Tampa? He's in he was in Kansas City. He's still in Kansas City. Um, or did he go he went from Tampa to Kansas City or Kansas City to Tampa? Whatever. But there wherever he goes Kansas City. Yeah. Yes. Our old guy. They do a good job. Yeah. Again. Um but that's that's what these guys do and that's you know kind of his upbringing told him you got to be a you know finger on the pulse in the moment type of coach.
You know what Bob just getting back to what you said man? Enthusiasm with the players man. Um, hey, it's hard on the resume, man. I mean, this guy obviously can coach the respect he demands and all that. So, it should be an interesting and fun time.
Yeah. I mean, he's got 193 total wins. Yeah. He's over 60% win percentage over a long period of time. That doesn't happen by accident. All right. Right. We we see guys have uh you know when it was a 16 game schedule we'll see 10 and six 11 and five and then you'll see you know seven and nine you know you know whatever it is like he has consistently won over a long period of time. Biz I want to ask you this. Um so we're all excited about the team and we're excited about Harbaugh and the direction. Um, but what would be your biggest concerns? Because I mean, this is still a four- win team. Um, [snorts] and coming off four wins now, again, they blew double-digit leads in four games. They blew an 18-point lead with six minutes to go in Denver against a team that wound up having a great season. So there's more underneath that four wins than you might say, but they found ways to lose those games in a myriad of different ways. But what would be your concern about this team from a personnel standpoint?
Yeah. Well, Pop, I mean, obviously the defense is still a concern, right? Um why did they lose those games last year? Because the defense couldn't get stops when they needed to, right? Uh and look, you could say what people want to say about Dex Lawrence, but that is a huge hole to fill. Dexter is still a very talented football player, man. And and that he didn't really fill that hole. So that the defense to me, I look at it and go, 'Okay, so did we get better?' Well, linebacker wise, that's his strength, right? Definitely. No question about it. But up front, you know, you got a bunch of veterans. You got and they're relying on Darius Alexander, a secondyear man, big time. And at in the back end, you know, it's still question marks. All right. Ado is gonna have to rebound. You got Greg Newsome, a former number one on the other side. You got Tay Banks, who I've been pledging, who I've been saying, okay, I said it on the podcast, I've been saying this before, I was relieved of my services by the Giant Insider, okay, that expect a rebound year from Tay Banks because I know that Tay was going through some issues last season, some personal stuff, and I'm not going to get into it. I never did, but I think he's in the right frame of mind this season. I think he's going to rebound and have a pretty good I could be dead wrong but I think watch for him but they're going to need a guy like that man because Newsome listen he's a former number one pick he's on his what third team now pop right what whatever it is and good luck with that we don't know what we're going to get with that you know Adivbo solid player didn't did he play to that contract last season no I don't the safety position Holland and Nuben didn't really play up to what we thought they were but now there is a different coordinator who's going to move them around and put them in better positions to succeed. So that's what you want to see. But that's but I'm not going to lie to you and say, 'Okay, we got Dinard Wilson, so we're good. We'll be No, you we still have to see it.' So that back end, that front up front, stopping the run. That's still a concern for me because the Giants blew Look, I know the Giants were four and 13, but man, they could have easily been eight and nine, right, Pop? even nine and eight last year if the defense gets some stops and crunch in clutch time. So, uh that's the big concern for me. No question about it. So, Biz, I'm I'm just looking I'm just going through this roster and and yes, Dexter Lawrence, he's, you know, he's a top 10 guy. He's Well, he's not number nine now, but he he was a top defensive lineman when he was on.
Right. Absolutely. But you're never replacing that. What you want to replace is the production on those downs, right? So when Dexter was in and Dexter's playing well, if teams average 1.1 yards per run when Dexter launches on, you want the 1.1 yards, right? Um, and I'm looking, I'm seeing, okay, there's DJ Reer, there's now the one that I want to keep an eye on. they tell me is uh BJT, I call him Big Traffic Jam, Bobby Traffic Jam. They they say he's pretty explosive. Doesn't do a lot of things, but he plays their run well. Um you know, DJ Reader, they get they've got bodies, right? And when you have bodies, you'll find one or two of those guys who are gamers. And then everything else revolves around your linebackers, right? Um actually that's the hope, but you know these guys are in there. Right. Right. Right. Right. So I'm just I and and I'm trying to say this in a way that does not minimize my teammates, but the strength of my teams were linebackers. Leonard Marshall is a borderline Hall of Famer if not, you know, just bigger names out there. So, you got him. I don't know if they have that, right? They got They don't have a Lenny Marshall. They don't have a Leonard Marshall. They don't They don't even have an Eric
Howard right now. Thanks.
Well, there Well, for every one of those, there's a Eric Dorsey who played well. There's a John Washington who played well with our linebackers, right?
Um,
Now Jim Bert, you ain't going to have him. And he wasn't the most skilled player, but he was a freaking Tasmanian devil, right? But everything if those guys played their roles, right? The linebackers made life easy for everybody. And I think that's what they're counting on. Do what we ask you to do.
Be where you're supposed to be. Like, you're not replacing. Dexter was exceptional. He did a lot of different things that people his size ain't supposed to be able to do,
