The Giants are adamant they haven’t begun mailing it in.
Following the team’s 35-14 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, Brian Burns notably said there wasn’t much talking in the locker room nor any fiery speeches as there had been earlier in the year.
That, from the outside, could be indicative of a team that has given up.
They insist that’s not the case.
“These guys laid it on the line as hard as they could possibly lay it on the line,” head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday. “It was by no means perfect. Obviously, we gave up some big plays and missed some opportunities, but their effort and their will, don’t question that with those guys.”
Though the season has long been lost, the players know they’re still being evaluated individually.
A rash of injuries has given players further down the depth chart opportunities to prove they should be part of the team going forward.
“There’s no blame to put on people as far as effort,” safety Dane Belton said Monday. “You look at everyone, we’re all out there grinding, going hard every play, no matter what the situation was. That’s something you’d like to see. Obviously you don’t want to lose, but you can play with people that no matter what the situation is, they’ll play hard.”
Tommy DeVito is in the concussion protocol, but Daboll did not have much of an update at quarterback beyond that.
Tim Boyle replaced DeVito at quarterback during Sunday’s loss.
He completed 12 of 24 pᴀsses for 123 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
“I thought he made some nice throws,” Daboll said of Boyle. “He was decisive with the football. He was ready to go. He was prepared. He’s worked extremely hard since he’s been here. He made the most of his opportunity, the chance he got to be in there.”
Daboll thought highly of Michael Penix Jr. in the draft process.
The Giants pᴀssed over Penix when they took Malik Nabers with the No. 6 pick, and Penix subsequently went No. 8 to the Falcons, whom the Giants face Sunday.
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Penix has served as Kirk Cousins’ backup all season.
“He’s a very productive player,” Daboll said. “He could throw it in all three levels. Very accurate. Obviously, had a lot of good players around him [at Washington]. But I thought he really gave those guys chances down the field. Intermediate throws, threw the ball effortlessly. Was athletic. I wouldn’t say they used him on a lot of runs, more of a drop-back, play-action guy. But fairly athletic enough to do a variety of things. … Met with him, had a good meeting. Smart. Instinctive. I thought he had a pretty good pro day, I was at his pro day. So, I thought he was a good prospect.”