Joe Judge has built a stronger culture than existed previously with the Giants.
Players like Logan Ryan, Blake Martinez, Julian Love, Graham Gano and Andrew Thomas are leaders by their words, example or both.
Judge’s suspension of Golden Tate last season for showing up Daniel Jones on Monday Night Football was the kind of tone-setting coaching that is necessary to reinforce standards.
The team nearly made the playoffs in a weak NFC East last season because the players rallied behind Judge. And guys aren’t quitting this season like Giants players did under the previous two head coaches, either, even though this 4-11 team has no chance of winning another game with Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm playing quarterback.
This is why it doesn’t add up that Judge and the Giants are tolerating the presence of practice squad guard Isaiah Wilson and the curiously constant injuries of Kadarius Toney.
Offensive line coach Rob Sale finally pulled the curtain back Thursday on Wilson’s predictable lack of progress since his late September signing.
Sale was asked how the infamously delinquent Wilson has been conducting himself as a professional behind the scenes.
“Next question,” he told reporters.
Asked if he is disappointed in Wilson, Sale said: “Everyday we’re working, pouring into him to get better, I would say that. So we’ll see. Every day’s a new day.”
Asked what Wilson has to do better, Sale told reporters: “Be dependable. Be dependable. Be dependable. What I like about Andrew Thomas is he’s dependable. Everybody likes somebody you can count on. Be dependable.”
Meanwhile, it was strange to watch Toney stroll slowly onto the practice field Wednesday while the rest of the team stretched.
The first-round pick would be listed as a non-participant with a shoulder injury, but he was in full uniform. And while other players were urged to hustle to the start of the stretch, Toney came outside late and took his time getting to the sideline.
Not to mention Toney could trademark his own game of Operation with his laundry list of rookie season injuries: a positive for Covid twice, a foot issue in the spring after he wore the wrong size cleats, and then a hamstring, ankle, thumb, quad, oblique and now a shoulder.
Let’s just say this: all of Toney’s teammates are playing through something, and he seems to play through those things less. And it’s noticeable.
Given that Judge has built such a strong new Giants foundation, then, why is it worth it to tolerate personalities or habits that might undercut the standards set for the whole?
The hypocrisy of GM Dave Gettleman speaks for itself in trading Odell Beckham Jr. because of so-called culture reasons and then welcoming players like Wilson and Toney.
Not that NFL players have to be angels. There is a school of thought that if a culture is strong enough, it can assimilate and harness these personalities to constructive ends.
The juice simply isn’t worth the squeeze with Wilson, 22, though.
The Giants signed the 2020 Titans first-round pick despite rampant off-field issues that included arrests, drugs, and a lack of commitment to football. He came in overweight and out of shape and failed to earn his position coach’s trust in three months.
All the while, the unaccountable Giants have protected Wilson by hiding him from the media despite often receiving daily requests.
As for Toney, 22, the wide receiver is immensely talented, but his NFL resume is now consistently discouraging enough to warrant further scrutiny.
Judge played down any disappointment over Wilson when informed of Sale’s comments.
“We’re looking for all of our players right now to keep progressing in what they’re doing,” Judge said Thursday. “A lot of the young players, the biggest thing they can show is dependability and that really comes from execution on the field and the trust level in how we go about everything.”
Sooner or later, though, a team can’t continue to hide its dirty laundry. Sooner or later it always finds the light.
PRAYERS WITH PRICE
It does not appear Giants center Billy Price will play this week. He and his family are dealing with a personal matter that sounds dire.
“Billy and his family are dealing with a family matter, something personal,” Judge said. “It’s not mine to disclose. But he and his family have the full support of the organization. We’ve all talked to him. Our concern for the well-being of Billy as a person and his family’s well-being is our primary concern. We’ll deal with Billy through the week and we’ll know more as we go.”
Matt Skura is projected to start at center if Price doesn’t play Sunday at Chicago. Skura has been starting at left guard but was benched for Wes Martin during last Sunday’s loss at Philadelphia.
THREE MORE TO COVID LIST
Wide receiver Darius Slayton, offensive tackle Korey Cunningham and practice squad linebacker Omari Cobb all went on the COVID list Thursday, following defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on Wednesday. All are out for Sunday’s game against the Bears … The team placed tackle Matt Peart (torn left ACL) and running back Gary Brightwell (neck) on injured reserve.
WE CAN WORK IT OUT
Sources tell the Daily News that the Giants are preparing to work out a group of offensive linemen next Tuesday at their facility. This is a way to get a head start on signings and futures contracts for 2022, but in the Giants’ case, they also might need to sign guys to play in their Week 18 season finale against Washington at MetLife Stadium.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas and right guard Will Hernandez are the only clearly available players. None of their left guards are any good, and now Skura has to play center.
Right tackle Nate Solder was activated off the Covid list on Thursday but was limited in practice, and both Peart and Cunningham are out. They have guys named Derrick Kelly and Devery Hamilton on the practice squad who haven’t played for them yet.
GIANTS INJURY REPORT
Did not practice: C Billy Price (personal, not injury related), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), WR John Ross (knee/Covid ramp-up), DL Austin Johnson (foot), WR Collin Johnson (hamstring). Limited: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), OL Ben Bredeson (ankle), FB Cullen Gillaspia (shin), CB Adoree Jackson (quad/Covid ramp-up), CB Keion Crossen (Covid ramp-up), TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle), OT Nate Solder (Covid ramp-up), K Graham Gano (illness), DL Raymond Johnson (illness), TE Chris Myarick (hip).