7:44 PM
New York Giants coach Joe Judge believes that the organization is headed in the right direction despite the results on the field. Not a single bit.
Judge answered a question about why fans should have faith in the franchise after the loss to the Bears. There were examples of the culture that has been built, a locker room that has been fumigated, and the work ethic and effort the current players demonstrate during the week and on game days. There were claims of former players calling to tell Judge they missed the Giants and current players making their pleas to return.
This team is not having fistfights on the sideline. Judge said this is not a clown show organization. You talk about the foundation. The way people think is the most difficult thing to change in a team. Are you aware of that? The toughest thing is that. You can get new players. You can have the locker room you want. You need to change how people think. You have to change the way they think about you. They need to trust the process. It's a lot easier to say that when they're looking up and you have one game left and the most you can win is five. The men are going to walk in Wednesday and be ready to roll. We are going to practice hard on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We're going to play for each other when we get on the field.
The Giants have lost five games in a row. Judge knows what to expect if they put forth another poor performance when they face the Washington Football Team.
He said that every fan has the right to boo him. "Got that?" That doesn't bother me. I don't want it. I don't think anyone wants to be booed. That's all right, but the reality of it. The fans are right to ask what you're asking.
The Giants played hard in Chicago. The defense made plays until the final drive, when they were unable to score a touchdown.
The offense was not good. Quarterback Mike Glennon went 4-of-11 passing for 24 yards with two picks and two lost. The Giants had a negative net yards passing against the Bears. It was the lowest total since 1998 when Ryan Leaf went 1-of-15 for 4 yards and lost 23 yards on sacks.
Glennon said it was embarrassing. We work hard all week to have a better product.
The product has not been good for the Giants. They have lost at least 10 games in five of the past six seasons.
Judge believes the Giants have a system in place that will help them get it right. After Pat Shurmur was fired, his leaders told him it was a mess.
Judge said he was told the previous group was not a team. When they were out of the playoffs, they didn't play hard. Some of the leaders stopped showing up for meetings because of the bad situation. He mentioned that Golden Tate, a former wide receiver, had golf clubs in front of his locker weeks before the season ended. Everyone quit.
Judge said he was told they tapped out.
Judge insisted that that is not the problem now. He talked to two team leaders about what he needed to know about the team.
Judge said both guys had the same responses. Everyone on the team is locked in. Everyone comes in to work. Everyone comes in every week and is committed to doing it the right way. They were playing together.
It's not showing up on the field. As the season has progressed, the Giants have gotten worse. They had a chance to win the division until the final game.
According to league sources, the team wants to bring Judge and Jones back next season, even though Jones is out for the season with a neck injury. The Giants are expected to fire Dave Gettleman in the coming weeks, and not that is non-negotiable for a new general manager.
Judge doesn't seem concerned. Despite the lack of on-field results, he's confident in what he's building.
We have the right temperament. Judge said that he doesn't come up here and try to assassinate a player because he thinks it will save his life. I can tell every player exactly what they messed up on and how to fix it, because we closed the doors behind them. I can tell them to be held accountable. I'm not going to sit up here and put the players on blast. That is all. I signed up to be the head coach.
