James Harden Clamoring For Trade to Brooklyn

From the desk: THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

BIG THREE?

James Harden Trying to Shoehorn Himself into Nets Neighborhood

James Harden wants out of Houston and to prove his point has turned down a two-year $103 million dollar contract extension.  Instead of potentially becoming the first player in history to break the $50 million per season salary barrier, he instead requested a trade to Brooklyn.

Sure he did ...

The Houston Rockets franchise is falling apart like wet toilet paper and Harden knows it.  Former general manager Daryl Morey left the organization, coach Mike D'Antoni is no longer there, Robert Covington was recently traded and now Russell Westbrook says he wants out as well.  Besides, I guess it's easy to snub your nose at another ten million when you're already making forty million per season.  

Not that I have any experience with that ...

Harden asked for a trade to Brooklyn indeed, where he has convenience and familiarity on his side.  He is former teammates with Kevin Durant when the two played at Oklahoma City, and his former head coach is now an assistant with the Nets.  According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in recent weeks have been in frequent communication.  Woj says Durant is enthusiastic about a potential deal and that contrary to rumors, Kyrie Irving is not known to be opposed.  Woj also says the Nets and Houston Rockets have spoken.  Discussions are being characterized as nothing serious.

Wednesday is the NBA draft.  If such a deal should occur, the potential cost for acquiring James Harden is being speculated to include anyone from Spencer Dinwiddie to Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen along with a slew of draft picks.  Some pundits say it would take someone more talented like Kyrie Irving in order to facilitate any trade.

I'm opposed to all of it.  

I understand Spencer Dinwiddie's value is as a trade chip.  However, I am particularly protective of Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert.  First, Allen is my favorite player.  But, mainly because Harden still has two-plus seasons left on his present contract.  He can become a free agent in 2022 if he opts out of the final year of his deal.  Then what?  Maintaining three super-max contracts on the roster is extremely prohibitive.  

I'm also completely averse to trading away draft picks.  This organization has already been there and done that.  The Nets are now on the other side of Billy King's disastrous Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade.  Waiting out the aftermath and smartly rebuilding is what laid the foundation needed to sign Durant and Irving in the first place.  

Why put yourself right back into the same hole?

I was completely geared up for Kevin Durant's return to the floor, and playing a full season together with Kyrie Irvin.  I was satisfied with that.  Otherwise, I reserve further judgment.  

N.Y. Jets: Breaking Sam

From the desk: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Johnson! - End - The - Stupidity

In Defiance of Adam Gase, Uncompliant Right Shoulder Slams Brakes on Darnold's Season

The destruction of Sam Darnold's career continues.  After sustaining the initial injury to his throwing shoulder, head demolition expert Adam Gase allowed Sam Darnold to retake the field against the Broncos.  Darnold subsequently missed games against the Cardinals and Dolphins.  Still far from feeling 100%, the team said there was minimal risk involved insofar as Sam playing forward.  But the results speak for themselves.  Sam was utterly ineffective in his return against the Bills, going just 12/23 for 120 yards with three interceptions.  The following week and still clearly hurting, Sam was an inconsequential 18/30 for 133 yards in a 35-9 blowout loss against the Chiefs.  He was ultimately held out of last week's game against the Patriots and will not start this coming week against the Chargers.  More games are likely.

Let's just say the Jets earn next year's #1 draft pick and select Trevor Lawrence.  Who in their right mind would let him play under Adam Gase?  At the moment, the answer is Christopher Johnson, that's who.  Just look how Ryan Tannehill is flourishing while playing far away from Gase as possible.  Look at Tannehill's seasons before Gase started polluting his life versus the seasons he played under Gase.  Then take a look at what he's presently doing at Tennessee.  The Bears were 6-10 when Adam Gase was their offensive coordinator.

What about all this makes Adam Gase "brilliant?"

N.Y. Giants: Basking in November Daylight

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK TEN

Eagles    17

Giants    27

FINAL

First Five Games vs. Last Five Games Like Night and Daylight

You can't be disappointed with what you do not expect!  

The Giants snapped their losing skid against the Eagle, tie for most wins in the division, and set themselves up for a potential playoff appearance.  All of which makes for a good day in the neighborhood.  

Whereas a 3-7 record is indeed unsightly, they are 3-2 in their last five games and winners of two in a row.  If nothing else, they are trending in a positive direction.  It's the byproduct of demonstrable improvement in all aspects of their game.

Daniel Jones this season has been the slowest to progress.  But it seems as if he's finally coming around.  Is he trending?  No, I have a rule: one is an occurrence, twice is a coincidence, and three times equals a trend.  Sunday marks only his second straight game without a turnover, and wouldn't you know, the Giants win two straight.  But whereas he fumbled twice last week and the Giants recovered, this game was clean - no interceptions and no muffs whatsoever.  Otherwise, Jones was 21/28 for 244 yards and rushed for his first touchdown of the season.  He has thrown just one touchdown pass over the last two games, which perhaps demonstrates just how great a role ball control and game management really play.

Jones continues padding the rushing numbers.  On Sunday, he scampered nine times for 64 yards.  If opposing defenses want to offer him daylight, by all means, take advantage.  However, I do not want Daniel Jones dominating the run game for obvious reasons.  In the absence of Saquon Barkley, he is easily the team's leading rusher with 384 total yards on 49 attempts.  That equates to 35% of the Giants' ground game.  They have grossed 1,105 yards this season.  Wayne Gallman is the second leading rusher with 275 yards.  Against the Eagles, Gallman and Alfred Morris joined in rushing 26 times for 87 yards.  Not great, but it's enough to keep pass-action viable.  

All told, the Giants rushed 36 times against the Eagles for 151 yards.  After failing to breach 100 yards in their first three games and four of the first five, the Giants have now rushed for 100+ yards in five consecutive games and six of their last seven.  In fact, they've now exceeded 150+ yards in two straight games and three times in their last four (twice against PHI and once against WAS).  They are out-rushing their opponents this season by a slim +96 yard differential and rank 14th in rushing attempts, 16th in yards per game, and 11th in total yards gained.  Through the first four weeks of the season, the Giants were ranked near the bottom in all the aforementioned categories.

Improvement ...

A Metsian Podcast: Inside Steve Cohen's Purchase of the Mets with Journalist Laura S. Goldman

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

With SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUEST

Journalist ~ Consultant

Wharton Grad and Provocateur

LAURA S. GOLDMAN

seventy-four minutes

⚾               ⚾               ⚾

We open the podcast with Laura S. Goldman, who provides a business insider's report about Steve Cohen's recent purchase of the New York Mets.  The bidding process, players and pretenders, outstanding debt, the status of SNY, and property redevelopment rights; are all on the docket.  Afterwhich, A Metsian Podcast lights the Hot Stove.  We debate and discuss off-season priorities, the merits of Seth Lugo as a starter, or reliever, and update the Brooklyn Cyclones future course.  The podcast winds down with a 1967 New York Mets retrospective.   #LGM

Our guest Laura S. Goldman is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  Her financial investment career includes work with Merrill Lynch, Paine Webber, and her own firm which cleared through Bear Stearns.  She's presently a consultant at LSG Capital as well as ABC News where she helped produce the presidential election town halls moderated by George Stephanopoulos.

Brooklyn Cyclones: Longer Seasons Ahead For Baby Bums

From the desk of: THE SURF AVENUE SLUGGERS

Ain't nobody going nowhere..!

No Longer Just a Summer Job at Coney Island, Cyclones Become Full-Time Work Force

Tuesday's introductory press conference for New York Mets incoming owner Steve Cohen included very comforting news for us Brooklyn Cyclones fans.  The future of our Coney Island Nine is safe.  In fact, they're being transitioned into a full-season affiliate.  Pencil them into what should be a reconfigured high-A circuit, which I assume will include the Yankees new Hudson Valley Renegades affiliate.

In pairing down the farm system from seven teams down to four, Sandy Alderson announced Syracuse, Binghamton, Brooklyn, and Port St. Lucie will continue forward as the Mets affiliates.  The GCL Mets, Kingsport Mets, and Columbia Fireflies are now out of the loop.

Brooklyn supplants Columbia as the new high-A affiliate while Port St. Lucie is demoted to low-A status.  There is still speculation that Brooklyn could be named the double-A affiliate.  In that scenario, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies would be the high-A team.  When you plot Binghamton versus Hudson Valley and Brooklyn versus Somerset (Yankees new double-A affiliate), the logistics make perfect sense.

There's nothing necessarily new about the Cyclones versus the Renegades outside of the ongoing minor league reconfiguration.  However, a potential Brooklyn versus Somerset rivalry would be brand new.  

Sounds intriguing already ...

N.Y. Yankees Throw Affiliates a Screwball

From the desk of: EVIL EMPIRE STRIKES AGAIN

BRONX BOMBERS ABANDON BABY BOMBERS

Over the last year, we've watched Rob "Simon Bar Sinister" Manfred and MLB owners radically alter the landscape of minor and independent league baseball.  Major League clubs are pairing down their farm operations to four affiliates each.  Over forty teams are presently either ostracised or face elimination, with even more teams and leagues slated for reclassification.  The (rookie) Appalachian League has already been reorganized into a wood-bat summer league for college freshman and sophomore players while the New York-Penn League and other short-A season leagues face a similar fate.  Major League Baseball also has struck partnerships with the formerly independent Atlantic League, Frontier League, and American Association.

MiLB said in a statement that MLB owners are solely interested in protecting their own profitability.  I must agree.  If I were an MLB owner - I get it - there's a clear advantage to maintaining all your affiliates within close proximity of the parent club.  However, the owners intentionally made no effort to renegotiate in good faith a new bargaining agreement with minor league baseball and have since steamrolled their agenda regardless of the impact on individual proprietors, local communities and economies, and above all, players.  

The New York Yankees are perceived to have employed a rather cold and distant tact in severing ties with Trenton, (Charleston), and a local affiliate here in Staten Island.  Trenton and Staten Island claim they first learned of the news through (social) media and not until after the New York Yankees official announcement.  In separate statements, the Trenton Thunder owner calls the Yankees action a "betrayal" while the Staten Island Yankees owner deems the decision to be "unacceptable."

So incensed is the Trenton Thunder owner he calls the New York Yankees despicable for leaving culturally diverse Trenton for a wealthier, higher socioeconomic area in Somerset.

Trenton is supplanted by the formerly independent Somerset Patriots as the Yankees' new double-A affiliate.  The Yankees also bid adieu to Charleston who will be replaced by the Hudson Valley Renegades.  

For now, Staten Island is without a team.

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Ten

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Ten

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine

SCOREBOARD

Week Nine Record:  5-8

Overall Record (ATS):  63-50-3 (+10)

Schmear of the Week:  2-6-1 (-15)

Bagels in the Basket:  -5

1st and Ten

• (GB) Paul Hornung R.I.P.
• Steelers still undefeated.
• Get Well Herm Edwards!

2nd and Short

• (IND) Philip Rivers passes Dan Marino in all-time passing yardage.
• On second thought, we didn't witness (NYG) DeAndre Baker commit armed robbery.
• (CAR) Christian McCaffrey is back, and then he's not.

No Gain

• Oh, now (NYG) Golden Tate wants to play good soldier.
• Antonio Brown's impact with the Patriots ...?
• JETS still winless.

PUNT!

• You know times are changing when the NFL gets bumped by The Masters.
• Have gun, will divorce, Nina wants out of marriage with (BAL) Earl Thomas.
• Washington partners bailing on Daniel Snyder.
• (GB) Aaron Rogers thinks NFL's COVID policy sucks.

WEEK TEN

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

GIANTS +3 Eagles

Just throwing my home team a bone here ... the Giants have been running the ball well of late and the defense is playing better by the week.  But when has anything mattered in a Giants/Eagles game?  Look for something stupid to transpire.

WIN  27-17 Giants

BROWNS -3 1/2 Texans

I think the Browns will get back to grounding and pounding.  Texans defense won't be able to stop them.

Loss  10-7 Browns

PACKERS -13 Jaguars

Jake freakin' Luton!!  Packers are just 2-2 in the last four games.  Great time for them to rev it up again.  This could get ugly.  They screwed me on last week's Schmear; I'm doubling down. 

Loss  24-20 Packers

Buccaneers -5 PANTHERS

Bucs are very good against the run, and Christian McCaffrey is out again.  Makes Teddy Bridgewater too predictable.  Bucs have stumbled of late, but it won't last.  

WIN  46-23 Bucs

LIONS -3 d.c. wtf

This is simply a game the Lions should and need to win.  At least they have capabilities on offense, the No Names not so much.  Matt Patricia loses this game, he should expect to be fired after the season.

PUSH  30-27 Lions

CARDINALS -2 1/2 Bills

A great matchup between second and third year QBs.  Bookmakers can't get themselves to give the Cardinals the obligatory three points at home.  Just think Kyler Murray is a few degrees hotter than Josh Allen.  One mistake ruins it for either team.

Loss  32-30 Cardinals

RAIDERS -4 1/2 Broncos

The Raiders are back home after reeling off two straight wins on the road.  Last week against the Bolts they ran, ran, and ran the ball to victory.  This used to be one of the best rivalries in football ...

WIN  37-12 Raiders

DOLPHINS -1 1/2 Chargers

The South Beach Fish are 5-1 in their last six games!

WIN  29-21 Dolphins

STEELERS -7 1/2 Bengals

Big Ben hasn't practiced all week due to COVID protocol.  At his age, it's a welcome break.  This spread is otherwise troublesome. 

WIN  36-10 Steelers

SAINTS -9 Niners

Niners are down, and the Saints are gonna keep em down at home in the dome.

WIN  27-13 Saints

Seahawks +1 1/2 RAMS

Seahawks over the last three weeks have me completely off track.  Still think the Rams are a paper tiger.

Loss  23-16 Rams

Ravens -7 PATRIOTS

It's becoming clearly evident the banged-up Patriots are in need of a complete rebuild.  Foxboro can't help them now.  And then there's the Ravens defense.

Loss  23-17 Patriots

Schmear of the Week

Packers -13

LOSS

Good luck and have a great Football Sunday everyone!

POST GAME

Week Ten Record:  5-5-1

Overall Record ATS:  68-55-4 (+9)

Schmear of the Week:  2-7-1(-18)

Bagels in the Basket:  -9

 

N.Y. Jets: Throwing It All Away

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK NINE

Patriots  30

Jets        27

FINAL

WHO CALLED THAT PLAY?

Add this to Adam Gase's resume: the New York Jets are off to the worst start in their nearly sixty-year history.  With Monday night's loss against the Patriots, the Jets this season are now winless through nine games.  Although, this was their closest margin of defeat.  Gang Gase led this game for 58:03 minutes.  So, there's that.

Leading 27-20 with six minutes left in the game, the Jets have the ball at their own 18-yard line.  Joe Flacco playing for Sam Darnold, has three touchdown passes on the day.  On first and ten, Flacco throws deep intended for rookie Denzel Mims but is picked off at the Patriots 28-yard line.  New England drives and ties the game on Cam Newton's one-yard rush.  The Jets go three-and-out on their ensuing possession.  The Patriots then kick the game-winning field goal.  Game over.  Gang Gase allows ten points in the final six minutes and 13 points in the fourth quarter.  It's yet another example of Gase getting out-adjusted after halftime.  The Jets generate no sacks and touch Newton just four times all game.  

Belichick ordered a heavy run game.  The Patriots gained 159 gross yards.  Cam accounted for sixteen yards.  In place of inactive Sony Michel, Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead joined for 26 rushes for 127 yards.

• Breshad Perriman catches five passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.  Jamison Crowder also catches a touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Jets running game is nonexistent.  Frank Gore and La'Mical Perine join together for 65 yards on 18 rush attempts.  Joe Flacco otherwise handles the load until his ill-fated interception.  The play selection itself, the actual pass 55-yards downfield, and the failure to check down are the reasons for this loss.  Instead of concentrating on first downs and killing the clock, they elect to go as high risk as they can imagine.

... just stupid.

N.Y. Giants: Hail to the Blue Team, Hail Victory

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Hail Victory..!

WEEK NINE

Giants        23

NoNames   20

FINAL

Too bad they can't play W every week; Big Blue would be undefeated.  

The Giants sweep the season series from the No Names with a dramatic 23-20 victory at Washington.  After starting the season 0-5, they are now trending 2-2 in their last four games.  

Dare I say this was perhaps their most impressive game this season?  I say that after watching them play a little bit of bend don't break, and a little bit of smash mouth.  

Daniel Jones technically did not turn the ball over, but he fumbled twice, and the ball was recovered each time.  He threw no interceptions for just the second time this season.  Jones and Alex Smith nearly have the same number of attempts and completions.  But whereas the veteran Smith throws for 325 yards, Jones tops out at a mere 212 yards.  Each throws for a touchdown.  However, Alex Smith throws three interceptions, and Jones wins the day.

Low and behold, ball security and control prove pivotal for the Giants.  This is what happens when you rush the ball effectively - you hold the ball for 36:27 minutes!  The Giants rush for 166 gross yards.  Wayne Gallman, Dion Lewis, and Alfred Morris rush 26 times for 140 yards.  Most of this takes place behind and to the left of center Nick Gates and against a formidable Washington front seven.  Andrew Thomas enjoys a rebound game.  Shane Lemieux starting in place of (COVID) Will Hernandez, puts forth a stellar effort at left-guard.  The offensive line as a whole continues to incrementally improve.  The Giants have now rushed for 100+ yards in five of their last six games. 

Big Blue's defense is eighth-best against the run!  That ranks them right alongside the Ravens and Steelers.  They limit Washington to just 37 total yards on nine rushes.  Every week Blake Martinez' star shines brighter and brighter.  He dutifully leads the team with ten tackles. 

Leonard Williams records his fifth sack, putting him just two away from matching his career-high with seven games left in the season.  How are you feeling about the trade now?

Meet The New Boss on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

With SAM, RICH and MIKE

We packed the house to throw Steve Cohen a welcoming party

from The Passed Ball Show: John Pielli

from Baseball and BBQ Podcast: Jeff Cohen & Ian Cohen

from Mets Musings: Gary McDonald

also: @MaxKohn  @LeonardAberman

ninety-three minutes

Here's to a brighter future in Flushing!

LET'S GO METS!

PIGSKIN 2020: Week Nine

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY
Week Nine

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

SCOREBOARD

Week Eight Record:  8-5

Overall Record (ATS):  58-42-3 (+13)

Schmear of the Week:  2-5-1 (-12)

Bagels in the Basket:  +1

PANDEMIC REPORT

• COVID hits Broncos, John Elway.
• COVID hits a flock of Ravens.
• COVID hits Lions, Matt Stafford.
• COVID Protocol: Dolphins, Lions, Falcons.
• COVID Positive Tests a/o Friday: Packers, Bears, Bengals 2x.
• Steelers levied fines due to COVID protocol violations.
• NFL separately fines Raiders and John Gruden and takes away a (sixth round) draft pick over COVID violations.
• Teams affected by COVID: HOU, IND, KC, DAL, NYG, GB, CHI, SF, ARZ, BAL, DEN, DET, ATL, MIA, PHI, JAX.

FOOTBALL STUFF

• Pittsburgh Steelers NFL's lone undefeated team.
• Saints Malcolm Jenkins buys lunch for 300 poll workers in Philadelphia.
• Jets still without a win and insist on playing an injured Sam Darnold.
• Favorites are just 51-68 ATS this season.
• Sixteen team playoffs?  Really?

ICYMI

• N.Y. Giants: Daniel Jones Remains the Outstanding Problem
• N.Y. Jets: No Pain, No Gain

WEEK NINE

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

WTF -2 1/2 Giants

Gamely effort last week by the Giants, but their condition remains unchanged.  So does that of the No-Names.  Refer back to their first meeting, the Giants lost by one at MetLifeless Stadium.

Loss  23-20 Giants

  

Seahawks -3 BILLS

Okay .. I'm done trying to be smart and going against the Seahawks.

Loss  44-34 Bills

FALCONS -4 Broncos

Trending .. after starting 0-5, the Falcons are 2-1 in their last three games.  Broncos have no idea who will start for them at quarterback.

WIN  34-27 Falcons

TITANS -6 1/2 Bears

Two teams on a two-game skid.  A moe talented Titans squad gets back on track.  If you thought the Bears looked bad against the Saints, wait till Sunday.

WIN  24-17 Titans

VIKINGS -4 Lions

There's a worse game on the docket, but I'm declaring this Toilet Bowl IX.  This game represents the epitome of parity.  Might as well flip a coin.  The ponderous Vikes are coming off a big win.  Matt Stafford could be a COVID casualty come game time.

WIN  34-20 Vikings

Ravens -1 COLTS

Great defensive battle.  The Birds are fuming after last week's loss.  They had a chance to win.  I expect them to confound Philip Rivers just enough.

WIN  24-10 Ravens

CHIEFS -10 1/2 Panthers

Time for Andy Reid to remind everyone why he's a great coach.  He'll devise something for Teddy Bridgewater.  The return of Christian McCaffrey won't matter.  The rest is academic.

Loss  33-31 Chiefs

Texans -7 JAGUARS

The Jags are just bad.  Gardner Minshew hasn't garnered any attention since Week Two.  Houston presently suffers from what I call transient dysfunction, which has spilled onto the playing field.  They pummeled the Jags in their first meeting, and they'll do it again.

Loss  27-25 Texans

Raiders +1 CHARGERS

Red Flag: bookies give no respect to the Bolts.  The "defensive flu" that destroyed the Falcons season has apparently made its way into the Chargers locker room.  They're giving away two-point leads like candy.  Parity says Raiders win their second straight in a triumphant return to California.

WIN  31-26 Raiders

Steelers -13 1/2 COWBOYS

The demise of Jerry's World continues ...

Loss  24-19 Steelers

CARDINALS -4 1/2 Dolphins

The Fish sleep with the rattlesnakes.  NFL's biggest pain in the ass .. Miami visits Arizona.  Tough to call.  Not confident, but think the Cardinals are a smarter, more competent club.

Loss  34-31 Dolphins

BUCS -5 Saints

This spread is interesting, to say the least.  Brees and Brady have thrown over 1,100 touchdown passes.  Johnny Unitas called; he says he's not impressed.

Loss  38-3 Saints

Schmear of the Week (2-5-1)

Steelers -13 1/2 

LOSS

 

Monday Night Freight Ball

Patriots -7 1/2 JETS

Loss  30-27 Patriots

Good luck and have a great Football Sunday, everyone!

Post-Game

Week Nine Record:  5-8

Overall Record (ATS):  63-50-3 (+10)

Schmear of the Week:  2-6-1 (-15)

Bagels in the Basket:  -5

Bedford & Sullivan Podcast: Autumn in New York City and the Brooklyn Dodgers

From the desk of: A SAM MAXWELL PRODUCTION

BEDFORD & SULLIVAN PODCAST

WITH
@THE_SamMaxwell   Rob @ IlliniDodges   @BTB_MikeII

fifty-seven minutes

BROOKLYN DODGERS

N.Y. Jets: No Pain No Gain

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Something So Wrong

Scram, Sore Arm Sam, While You Still Can

Sam if you do, and Sam if you don't.  If their latest bad idea goes according to plan, the Jets will send a compromised and theoretically expendable Sam Darnold back out onto the field to face the stumbling Patriots this coming Monday night.  This will mark the third time Joe Douglas allows Adam Gase to knowingly play their ailing quarterback.  Sam's sore arm is admittedly not up to snuff.  Yet, as if the Jets had something to play for, the show must go on.  But let us not overlook an emerging scenario wherein Sam Darnold is playing for his job.  For the Jets, the silver lining of this dismal campaign is, of course, potentially being awarded the first overall pick of next year's NFL draft.  Joe Douglas also told reporters just the other day that Adam Gase is still a part of the solution.  That's because the so-called general manager holds no real sway over Adam Gase's employment.  That's Christopher Johnson's jurisdiction.  In the meantime, Sam Darnold is pressed into showcasing himself with a hurting shoulder and an ineffectual cast of complementary players.  Perhaps it's best if you scram, Sam, while you still can.

N.Y. Giants: Daniel Jones Remains the Outstanding Problem

From the desk of: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK EIGHT

Bucs      25

Giants   23

FINAL

Eight Weeks Left For Daniel Jones To Rewrite His History

Once again, the Giants put themselves in a position to win.  Some would argue they are thwarted by a controversial non-pass interference call with 0:28 left in the game.  If they successfully execute a two-point conversion, the game is tied.  There's certainly something to that. 

Instead, the Giants fall to their seventh loss of the season.  That's the true reality of the situation.  But I'm not down.  After all, this is a rebuilding team, right?  

Despite their unsightly record, I see improvement.  Under Coach Graham, while bereft of linebackers not named Blake Martinez, the defense starts the season well and has only gotten better.  Special teams are fundamentally sound, and in the absence of Saquon Barkley, the running game, albeit padded by Daniel Jones, has rushed for 100+ yards in four of the last five games.  

However, pass protection still leaves much to be desired.  Tampa Bay sacks Jones three times and inflict another eleven QB hits for good luck.  The Hog Mollies this season have allowed the eighth-most sacks, yielding 2.9 per game.  

Left tackle Andrew Thomas is having a rough go in his rookie season, while left guard Will Hernandez was already playing below his own standard before being sidelined by COVID.  

But make no mistake.  Daniel Jones remains an outstanding problem on offense.  The longer it takes for him to set his internal alarm clock, the more he'll continue getting his bell rung by opposing pass rushers.  Jones has now been sacked 51 times in his last 16 games.  

With two more interceptions against the Buccaneers, Daniel Jones now has 35 turnovers through his first 20 career starts.  He is up to 13 turnovers this season through eight games.  Jones gallantly went toe to toe with Tom Brady, but ultimately shot himself in the foot, again.  The first interception is completely avoidable and an otherwise inferior decision by an NFL quarterback.  The second interception takes the Giants out of field goal range - failure to seize the moment. 

Time is indeed ticking.  Eight games remain in the regular season.  Said another way, eight games left before the next NFL Draft.  That's eight games left for Daniel Jones to prove himself worthy of the starting job.  This isn't the first time Jones put the Giants in a position to win only to flip the switch and self-destruct.  Time to prove himself is growing short.  Looking back is no help ... not with 20 fumbles in his last 16 games.  That certainly doesn't speak very well.  Nor does the fact that he is yet to throw for 300 yards this season.  

Today's NFL is a pass/fail condition.  That's just the lay of the land.  Alas, he has the next eight games to finally impress people and change some minds.  For the moment, Daniel Jones is a defective item more than a valued good.  Twenty starts worth of product testing have thus far revealed a lack of pocket presence, latent situational instincts, and poor decision making .. to say the least.

Thirty-two quarters of regulation football remain.  The more games Danny Dimes wins, the farther down the Giants fall in the draft order.  He is effectively his own anti-tank weapon against Dave Gettleman.  With no shot at (Clemson) Trevor Lawrence, it's more likely Daniel Jones remains safely at quarterback.

But can he win over the naysayers ...

Rolling Out the Welcome Mat For Steve Cohen w/ Greg Prince on Another Metsian Podcast

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

with SAM, RICH & MIKE

GUESTS

Arizona Mets Fan Anna Brice

&

Faith and Fear in Flushing's 

Greg Prince

106 minutes

We're a mere formality away from Steve Cohen assuming full control of the New York Metropolitan Baseball Club.  Celebrations have erupted throughout social media, with anticipation of the deal being completed in ten more days.  Until then, we dust off the Hot Stove in preparation for what should be an exciting off-season.  But tonight, we break out the party hats and noisemakers.  It's party time!

#LGM