Table of Contents
Joe Buck, deep into the third hour of being paid roughly $1 million to talk about a football game while Troy Aikman became increasingly anguished next to him, had seen enough.
“This is as bad as it could be,” Buck said.
A tagline for the 2023 New York Football Giants, if ever there were one.
Such was the comprehensive misery of the Giants’ 24-3 loss to the Seahawks on “Monday Night Football.”
A season that began with so much hope, just 23 days ago, an encore to the Giants’ first playoff victory in a decade, already is spiraling toward the drain, leaving the fan base bereft and prompting questions about how much of what we saw in 2022 — from the rookie Coach of the Year, from the $160 million quarterback, from a roster punching above its weight class — was a mere mirage.
The Post’s estimable Steve Serby, who knows of Giants season burials, saw the 97-yard pick-six thrown by Daniel Jones (to electric Seahawks rookie Devon Witherspoon) with the team threatening to make it a game, down 14-3 in the final moments of the third quarter, as “the proverbial nail in the Big Blue coffin.”
“The Giants needed to make a statement on Monday night about who they are and what they can be, before the What-Have-You-Done-For-Us-Lately? police arrested them for impersonating a playoff team,” Serby wrote in his column. “Here was their statement: We are no playoff team.”
Jones was the third-best quarterback on the field.
The makeshift offensive line, which allowed 11 sacks, could be hired by the MTA to consult on efficient turnstiles.
Bobby Okereke and Adoree’ Jackson were sideline-to-sideline defenders, missing tackles with equal inadequacy on both sidelines.
The team had more special-teams penalties than points.
And the Giants being outscored by a combined 77-9 in the first half this season? It’s 105-9 in the first half of their past five games, if you include the revealing postseason beatdown by the Eagles last January.
If 1,000 words — or single four-letter ones — aren’t your thing, the televised pictures told the story: Brian Daboll showing Jones something on a tablet (a diagram of how to not throw the ball to the other team, presumably) and then flinging it away in disgust, Jones with another thousand-yard stare, an aerial shot of cars filing out of the MetLife Stadium parking lot early in the fourth quarter, forlorn Giants fans in various forms of surrender cobra. Later, the paper bags came out.
“Yeah, we can definitely go sideways,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “I’ve been a part of a team where it has gone sideways. I do understand this league, it’s tough and you’ve got to be able to respond quickly or else it can go south. I believe in the guys we got in this locker room. I believe in the coaches we have.”
If the Giants — at 1-3, with the high-flying Dolphins and Bills next on the schedule — can maintain that belief, it seems, at this point, that’s the only thing this team does well.
Today’s back page
Mr. Met
There was one moment — and one moment only — amid the smiles and soundbites that signaled the arrival of another new Mets era, when David Stearns got down to brass tacks.
Stearns, introduced Monday as president of baseball operations, had spoken winningly about his New York homecoming, about his kids growing up Mets fans as he did, about the team’s role in the community, about the goal of flying the franchise’s first World Series flag since 1986 — that’s nice, but it don’t getcha out of fourth place.
Then he was asked about trading Pete Alonso.
“I expect Pete to be the Opening Day first baseman next year,” Stearns said. “Pete’s an important member of this team. He’s an important member of this organization. And I think we’re really fortunate to have him.”
Now, a cynic might say “expect” was doing a lot of work in that statement.
It covers Stearns should the Mets decide to trade the homegrown, soon-to-be-29-year-old slugger, as they explored doing at the 2023 deadline, with one season remaining before he can become a free agent.
But mostly, it sets up Alonso returning for an interesting transition year.
Stearns said the Mets would “do our best to put together a team in 2024 that is competitive” — incumbent GM Billy Eppler set the bar awfully low when he talked in July of a “repurposing” — and were willing to venture to the top of the free-agent market.
Because while Stearns did address Alonso’s situation, there was one name that was not heard during the roughly 20-minute question-and-answer:
Shohei Ohtani.
Ex-Zach change
Permit a thought experiment here: What happens if Zach Wilson is good now? Like, actually good?
The lightning-rod third-year quarterback played valiant football Monday night in the Jets’ failed upset bid against the Chiefs, nearly foiling the Swifties and arousing Cris Collinsworth.
Wilson even impressed at the podium, taking the blame for the loss because of a fourth-quarter fumble.
The light bulb, the Jets diehards could say, was coming on.
“He played pretty darn good, and that’s what we want to see,” Jets legend Joe Namath said Monday, one week after piling on Wilson’s performance against the Patriots.
Can Wilson pilot the Jets to a 9-4 or 8-5 record the rest of the way and make a miracle run to the playoffs? The remaining schedule does include dates with the Eagles and Bills and a pair with the Dolphins.
Would you settle for a series of competitive — read: not embarrassing — games on into the winter and continued growth from the former No. 2 overall pick?
Then what? The Jets didn’t license the team to Aaron Rodgers to do anything but play him the second he’s able (which is not this year, folks, no matter what he says).
An emergent Wilson cedes the QB1 job back to Rodgers in 2024 and grabs the clipboard again, halting his progress? Is there any groundswell of sentiment for a kid who went to quarterback hell and back?
Or does GM Joe Douglas take the opportunity to recoup some of the capital he invested in Wilson and flip him to Vegas (or something)?
Say what?
It was media day across most of the NBA Monday, which brought the usual talk of added muscle, reworked offenses and championship goals. But if you listened closely enough, a few people let you know what they really think about the season ahead.
Of course, much of it was in media code, which is why you’re lucky Sports+ is here to translate…
Quote: “Honestly, I don’t have an answer. That’s [up to] the coaches, how are they gonna use me. But I’m always ready to play. I’m just gonna play my game; however they want to use me.”
— Nets swingman Cam Thomas on what he’s been told his role will be this season.
Translation: If no one is going to tell me NOT to shoot, it only makes sense I go and get buckets.
Quote: “Honestly, he just looks more explosive than last year. … When he’s in transition now, he’s full go. Last year he was a little tentative. … I’ve really seen that from him in the offseason so far.”
— Thomas on what he’s seen from teammate Ben Simmons this summer.
Translation: Look, what do you want me to say? That Kyrie Irving helped us win more games last season? Saying Ben has been a little tentative is like saying rice cakes are a little bland.
Quote: “Who says they surpassed us?”
— Joel Embiid when asked if his tweet, “This off-season was fun lmao” was posted sarcastically after the Bucks and Celtics made trades to seemingly position themselves ahead of the 76ers in the East.
Translation: You mean, besides every NBA fan, executive, pundit, player and coach not currently working in Philadelphia, concession worker, arena security guard, floor sweat attendant, team chef, ticket sales rep and, oh yeah, James Harden? I can’t think of anyone, can you?
Quote: “A lot of players didn’t play the right way. I said it, that we were selfish, I’m not running away from that. We were selfish and we didn’t play the right way. So let us see it when we play the right way.”
— Masai Ujiri, Raptors president, when asked why he hasn’t held contract extension talks with Pascal Siakam, who will be a free agent next summer.
“I’ve never been a selfish player in my life …. ever since I started playing basketball … I don’t have an ounce of selfishness in me.”
— Pascal Siakam on the need for the Raptors to have a culture reset.
Translation: Unless the Raptors get off to a good start, we have our first candidate for the NBA trade deadline prize of the 2023-24 season. Except for the Knicks. Suing a team doesn’t make for a friendly opening when calling a front office to try to deal for one of their best players.
Quote: “It was just so much of the talking… Me and Bron had some conversations. We can’t wait to see them.”
— Anthony Davis on the Nuggets talking trash after winning the title.
Translation: We’re talking about the regular season, of course. Not the playoffs. Anything can happen there, like losing in four straight in the Western Conference Finals.
Quote: “I’m getting there, it’s a process. … I’ll be fine.”
— Julius Randle on how he is recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
“Looks great.”
— Tom Thibodeau on how Randle is recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
Translation:
[Scene: The Knicks preseason opener vs. the Celtics, Oct. 9]
Random assistant coach: “Tom, Julius is at 20 minutes, probably time to sub him out.”
Tom Thibodeau: Ignoring remark, he calls for Randle to iso from the left block.
Random assistant coach (10 game minutes later): “Hey Tom, Julius is getting close to 30. Who should we get ready to sub in?”
Thibodeau: Ignoring remark, he implores Randle and other Knicks on the floor to close out on the Celtics shooters.
Random assistant coach (10 game minutes later): “Hey Coach, Julius is probably pretty low on gas. Should we give him a blow for the rest of the night?”
Thibodeau: Calls timeout with the Knicks up 12 and three minutes remaining. Draws up a play for Randle to drive to the rim.
Random assistant coach (leaving the floor as the Knicks close out a 14-point win as Randle scores 22 in 43 minutes): “Big win, guys, big win.”
Quote: “This is the first summer Zion has taken his profession seriously in that regard.”
— Pelicans president David Griffin telling reporters that Zion Williamson has hired his own people to keep him in shape.
Translation: Look, we all know inflation is biting all of us, but when you have to pay someone $43.6 million over the course of four years to understand that part of being a professional athlete is, ya know, staying in shape, $4 for a gallon of gas doesn’t sound so bad.
Quote: “It did not make sense to sign a contract right now because money is not important. A lot of f—ing money is important. So I’m gonna sign it next year.”
— Giannis Antetokounmpo on his decision to not sign an extension this year (worth approximately $169 million for three years) when he can sign for about $234 million for four years next.
Translation: Math isn’t subjective, guys; $65 million more is a whole $65 million more. Who wouldn’t wait?
— Paul Forrester
What to watch: Champions League
The Champions League, the most prestigious competition in European soccer, returns this week with a plethora of intriguing matchups.
Let’s take a look at the top games to watch (all games will stream on Paramount+):
Real Madrid at Napoli, Tuesday, 3 p.m. ET: Napoli enters the clash in chaos after the reigning champions of the Italian Serie A seemingly insulted star forward Victor Osimhen with a video posted to the team’s social media accounts. Jude Bellingham has been on fire in his early Real Madrid days after his $107 million move with six goals and one assist in all competitions.
Paris Saint-Germain at Newcastle, Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET: After qualifying for this year’s tournament with a fourth-place finish last season in the English Premier League, Newcastle will be playing their first home Champions League game in 20 years in front of a St. James Park crowd known to be among the most raucous in world soccer. PSG have stumbled out of the gate in the French Ligue 1, sitting in third with 11 points.
AC Milan at Borussia Dortmund, Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET: This should be an entertaining match between two European heavyweights. Dortmund has struggled to start the season, sitting sixth in the German Bundesliga. Milan — who made a run to the Champions League semifinals last season — are tied for first in the Italian Serie A and now feature American star Christian Pulisic at forward.
Manchester City at RB Leipzig, Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET: Playing Manchester City any time is scary enough, but playing them after their rare losses makes them even more terrifying. They often respond emphatically, and will look to do so again after crashing out early of the Carabao Cup last week with a loss to Newcastle and suffering a shocking Premier League upset against Wolves on Saturday. Leipzig’s aggressive, high-pressing style should provide ample fireworks.
— Jared Schwartz
What we’re reading
⚾ The Post’s Greg Joyce breaks down where each member of Yankees’ roster stands heading into a critical offseason.
🏒 Tyler Pitlick talks with The Post’s Mollie Walker about his winding road to the Rangers.
⛳ There’s a big difference between the United States and Europe in the Ryder Cup, writes The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro.
⚾ Phil Nevin is out as Angels manager.
🖊 A beautiful remembrance of late Calgary Flames assistant GM Chris Snow.
