With Brian Flores calling out the NFL and several teams, I have come to the conclusion that the New York Giants got the right coach the wrong way.
The Right Coach
When looking at the New York Giants roster, and specifically the offense, Brian Daboll is clearly the right coach. Daboll has served as the Buffalo Bills OC since 2018 the same year the Bills drafted Josh Allen as their QB of the future. In Allen’s rookie year he started 11 games throwing for 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with a 52.8% completion percentage. Over the next three seasons, Allen’s completion percentage rose, and he became a top QB in the NFL throwing 93 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. Josh Allen became a better passing QB under Daboll, and he was also used as a vital part of the Bills run offense.
Now all eyes are on what Daboll can do with Daniel Jones. Jones is 6’5 just like Allen, and at 221lb’s slightly lighter than Allen, Jones is known for his athleticism and underachieving as a passer. Brian Daboll might be the coach that can get the most out of Jones. Daniel Jones has 45 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, and a 62.8% completion percentage through his first three seasons.
Brian Daboll is the right man for this job, bringing in an offensive system that has leaped to the top of the NFL, with a QB that many doubted.
The Wrong Way
The NFL instituted the Rooney Rule in 2003 to help bring diversity to the top leadership positions within the league. The Rooney Rule is great in theory but has its issues, including teams giving token interviews to minorities to fulfill their obligations. The Giants had already interviewed one minority candidate in current DC Patrick Graham, but they had to interview a minority candidate from outside the organization to satisfy the Rooney Rule. That is where Brian Flores comes in (they also had Leslie Frazier scheduled to interview after Flores.)
Bill Belichick made a common mistake by texting the wrong person, but it appears he informed Flores the Giants had already made up their mind on who their next coach would be… before satisfying the Rooney Rule.
Brian Flores is accusing the Giants of racial discrimination for all of this. Clearly, we still have a long way to go with race issues in our country, but in this situation, I do not believe race, racism, or racial discrimination has anything to do with the Giants’ hire. Yes, they broke a rule and should suffer the consequences for doing so. No, they did not factor race into their hiring of Brian Daboll.
Brian Flores was, in my mind, a top-tier candidate in this year’s coaching carousel cycle, but he was not the best man for the Giants’ job.
Conclusion
The New York Giants get the right coach the wrong way. Daboll should be able to find some success in New York and appears to be someone who can “fix” Daniel Jones.
The Giants did however fail to abide by the rules and should be punished for it. Although I do not believe race to have played any role in their hire of Daboll, they still were in the wrong with their hiring process.
I shared more on this on my Friday episode of the Sports Stove Podcast. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more thoughts and opinions. Check out our other great Belly up Sports content as well.
