Next Man Up
Next Man Up - New York Giants End of Season Reaction ft. Tony Joseph
When we're stuck in the same routine, it can be tough to imagine new year possibilities. But sometimes a small change, like refreshing your dinner routine, can make a big difference in your day-to-day. Cook unity is an easy way to reset your meal habits. Each meal is designed with you in mind, with chef-crafted dishes that bring vibrancy and health to your table. See what's possible with a simple reset. Go to cookunity.com/podcast or intercode podcast before checkout for 50% off your first week. It's over. The calendar year from hell for Giants fans is over. We are officially the third overall pick of the NFL draft. And what a time to be. This of course is Tony Joseph, next man up. I kind of want to comment on a few things. One, the state of the Giants and the future as we head into the offseason after one of the most dysfunctional seasons in my lifetime. Two, the state of next man up, the show and podcasts in the future. And three, just in general, well wishes and hoping everybody is doing well and looking for more people to participate in engagement. They want to be a part of the show or just reply to the show or listen to the show or call the show or I don't know, whatever. I'm looking for more people to get involved here and to enjoy the fact that we can at any time share a space or a subject on anything, especially our beloved New York Giants. So today this will be an immediate reaction as the season has just ended within the hour. The New York Giants have finished three and 14 on the season and have clinched the third overall pick behind two teams who might be looking to draft a quarterback. There's so much to catch up on, but I want to start with a few comments on next man up. One is, I apologize for those that listened week to week that we weren't able to kind of fill up our end of the deal here. It's mainly my fault, partially just because the balance of parenting and life, my crazy work schedule as well kind of just gotten away and made it difficult. On top of that, our co-hosts are all going through big periods in their life, whether they're getting married or moving or having kids. I felt bad trying to schedule it every single week despite their loyalty. It was not easy to keep things going the way we had hoped, and overall the quality the show suffered. We weren't able to kind of do what we were hoping to do, which is really get to the why as opposed to the what. I got frustrated a little bit, maybe didn't always handle it the best way, but just trying to get away from recaps and having real spirited discussion on the subject of things and focus on the why, not the what. That's the goal here. This must be a safe space for fans and listeners to comment on whether it be their beloved giants, the NFL, football, sports, or even anything really. That's kind of the goal here. So, I'm going to continue to try and podcast the best of my abilities when I can, how I can. We're kind of winding down the regular season of football. Playoffs are about to start. I'd like to maybe do some playoff shows here and there. I'll probably just have to be able to hop on when I can randomly solo and my daughter's falling asleep or whatever. But that's how I'm going to be doing things, and if you want to get involved somehow or you want to try and plan something, it could be a bit tricky, but please by all means reach out and we'll look to get it going. But for now, the Giants, listen, that is easily the worst year of Giants football that I've been a part of. I've never even actively checked tankathon until this year, and I started checking that in November. Shortly after our release of Daniel Jones, I don't want to, again, because the whole point is to not recap, right? But if you really just reflect on the previous 365 days of Giants football from hearing the Sacred One news the first time, to seeing how it unfolded on hard knocks, to the off-season, to the decisions, to sign guys like Motor Singletary and Drew Locke to drafting Malik neighbors in the first round, you know, when there was quarterbacks available like Pentecks or JJ McCarthy still on the board, or Paul Nicks for that matter, to go through all that and then know how the regular season played out, you know, you're two and three at one point, you blink and you're two and 13, it's really, really something to say the least. And I guess right now, I think most Giants fans just kind of wonder if we have a functional organization. And I think that's kind of where we're at. I also think there's a lot of teams the NFL just tanking and the NFL has a tanking problem like, or just like a meaningless chunk of the season problem for teams like the Titans, the Browns, the Giants, the Patriots, like what are they playing for? What are they doing? What's actually going on? Why are these players who are getting paid so much risking their bodies for meaningless contests? And yet on the roster, there are players who are playing for their life like we saw with lock against Indianapolis, who by the way, what is up with the Colts? How do they not even know how to play football? If they're supposedly in the playoff picture, I don't even know how that's possible. That defense and special team should be ashamed. But Giants, I guess you could say they didn't quit, they lost the Eagles today in a very weird game where I don't think the Giants even attempted, actually maybe they had one punt, but they were very interested in going forward on fourth down, just kind of messing around wondering what the real mission was there. Obviously, you know, compete, I guess, but the Eagles had their back up, Sakewon didn't play. He didn't go for the all-time rushing record in a weird, you know, longer season benefit of attempting that record. But the Giants are, I guess, where they need to be. It would have been nice if they had just lost one more game, because we've already been through hell and back. I've never really rooted for the Giants to lose. I don't even know if I am, but I just would have really liked to have been able to chew Shador Sanders or Cam Ward. There's a legitimate possibility now that they do not have an opportunity to get either of those guys. But it's actually okay, because most of you aren't sold on Shador anyway, and the whole environment of Dion Sanders is going to be something you have to embrace. I think Shador is good, but that's besides the point. It's a challenge that I'm not sure the Giants organization is historically up for. Then you have Cam Ward, who I think has it all, I think is the most likely to be the next Jaden Daniels, or just the type of just such raw athleticism and passing ability that you can do it in the pocket, you can do it in your feet. It's just a matter of reading the game at an NFL level and hoping it translates. You need a little bit of luck, of course, with these sort of things, but I think Cam Ward has the best possibility to do that. Will the Browns take him at two? Obviously, we have a weird Deshaun Watson contract, but everybody in the Browns organization knows that the fans do not want Deshaun Watson. If that wasn't clear when they applauded him for being carted off with an injury, which is an awkward look for everybody involved, but if that didn't seal the deal on his fate with the Browns, I don't know what will obviously they owe them a lot of money still, so we'll see what they decide to do there. But I think that there's a realistic possibility that the Giants will be on the clock and those two guys will be gone, so then you have the opportunity to maybe take a guy like Hunter, which is if he's there, I hate to say it, how do you not think about it? It depends how they fill the quarterback room throughout the all season. There's so much we don't know, are the Giants bringing Joe Shane and Brian Dable back? I will hopefully know that in the next few days. Ideally one day, really, so hopefully I'll be able to have another response show soon on that subject. I just want to get this out today for an immediate reaction type thing and just overall reflect and commiserate with all the Giants fans out there, but I think it's a distinct possibility that the Giants don't even draft a quarterback, but they could possibly fill it either as a bridge type through free agency, I could see them keeping Locke in the room. I know Giants fans aren't going to like that, but I think, you know, given his performance against Indianapolis and the fact that he's still pretty young and cheap and might be willing to be a number two, the Giants might bring back Drew Locke. He might not want anything to do with us after the awkwardness of what we did with Tommy DeVito and everything. He's definitely gone, but odds are the Giants will look to fill two more quarterback spots. Could that be a veteran like Kirk Cousins who gets moved by the Falcons? Obviously, the Falcons would probably rather trade him, but I don't see them being able to do that with the money that he has and they might ultimately end up being in a Russell Wilson situation where they just have to eat some money but want to cut their losses and he might end up going on the open market for a veteran's minimum type deal. If that happens, I could see the Giants being very interested in Kirk Cousins because at the end of the day, if he's healthy, he can throw the ball. And if he's throwing the ball, Malik neighbor is just going to get a ton of yards, so that's a given. So I could see them going that route, but you want to get athleticism, especially in today's modern NFL. Could they be interested in a guy like Justin Fields? Will the Steelers even part ways with a guy like Justin Fields, who right now with the way Russell Wilson looks to finish the regular season, his future remains uncertain there also. It's going to be a wild ride. We don't know what coaches are going to be fired. If Antonio Pierce becomes available, do the Giants reach out to him and maybe as a defensive coordinator, maybe as a head coach, if they move on from Deble, I have no idea. Is it possible that they cut losses with Shane and Deble? Yeah, is it possible they move on from Deble and keep Shane? Yeah, is it possible that they cut Shane and keep Deble? Yeah, there are reasons and arguments for both. You can just cut Shane for the Saquan drama and the fact that his draft picks really haven't been good enough. The Saquan drama is a whole category of its own, but Kavan, okay, he's probably been one of his better first rounders from last year. This year, obviously, he's had success with neighbors in Newbin, but he has not hit on Deante Banks, he has not hit on Evan Neal, he's hit a few diamonds in the rough with Tyrone Tracy and McFadden. But you know, there's a lot of guys who are not just not getting it done, it's not getting it done. And they continue to invest massive amounts of money and free agency and draft to offensive line. I liked our tackles and Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Aluminore, but it's clear the center, John Michael Schmidt's not good enough, not good enough. Our guard play is horrific, they're both replaceable. When we have Runyon, I think we're a little better, but it's frustrating to continue to have the same issues at offensive line and not have quarterbacks that are athletic enough to cover those holes, so get an athletic quarterback who can move for the love of God. Even better than Jones could. Like think about that, Giants have never really had that, Jones was our best athletic quarterback like we've ever had. So let's get some speed here. I would have liked to, I really hope we can still get Cam Ward, but if we can't, do you like Milro? Do you like Justin Fields? There's a lot of things they can do. It's going to be exciting to see what they do, but Giants fans, I also want to tell you one thing, temporary expectations. The Giants have become a very tough place to play. They do have a nice hundred year history of ups and downs and they're an iconic franchise in the league, but this was one of the worst years in their franchise's history. They rolled out the ugly uniforms to start. Everything that went on with Sake1 was public because of hard knocks and right now the reputation of the franchise is lower than it's been, but a lot of Giants fans who are currently following the team might not know. The Giants have went through this with the previous owner, Wellington Mera, John's father for 18 years when they relocated to Giants Stadium in the 70s. It was a long decade. Everybody's probably seen the clip of the quote unquote "miracle at the mental lands," but that was, I believe in 1973 or 1972, one of those, and the Giants did not make the playoffs until 1981, so they, and that was in the span of an 18 year drought. So how do we have, we're right now, yes, we made the playoffs years ago, that's nice, but we're more or less in a decade-ish drought since we've moved on from Coughlin and since John Mera's been put in a position where he has to be involved. He has proven that sometimes he's too involved, sometimes he's not involved enough. He should have been more involved on Saequan. He should have said, "Hell, with what you think, we're paying him. I don't care what you do with the money, what you do with the money that's left over after that, but this is the money that's going to Saequan," because that money ended up going to Devin Singletary and Drew Locke, who, let's be honest, come on, not even close to Saequan. And yes, he would not have done as well as, as he did on the Eagles with the Giants. I know this, but he also wouldn't be an Eagle, so that's a win-win right there. And you don't exactly have to deal with that. He might be good for 1,300 yards if he's healthy, so give me a break. It's been a long year. I don't really know what to expect next, but it feels good to be on the mic again, and I'm appreciative of anyone who's ever listened to any second of what I have to say, really in any capacity. I've done a lot of different shows, a lot of different podcasts. My life's been good. In 2025, I'm trying to be more grateful for things in life. I have a beautiful family. Everybody wants more. I had a good conversation with a friend of mine. I don't want a name drop, but if you listen to the nicks and six podcasts, you know who I'm talking about, good conversation with a friend of mine about balancing, gratitude, and striving for more, because there's sort of a natural, especially in American culture, there's sort of a natural belief that you need more, whether it's a house or another larger house or another kid or more property or retirement fund or a path of upward mobility in your career, whatever it is, it typically revolves around money and it could be a very draining exercise because it's a grind. It's not always easy to sit back and recognize like, "Hey, I have a lot here that I'm grateful for," and I myself am trying to be better at that, and I'm also trying to be a better businessman and realizing what I am good at and what I'm not good at. I realized I don't really like doing video. I know it's a common thing in podcasting to make videos and reels and highlights. I'd rather just do the words, and if I'm able to put something out there in social media with clips or something related to what I'm saying with captions, so be it. But I would rather just sit down and talk and engage with people and let my thoughts out in a way that is different when you aren't recording something. That's what I love about podcasting. There's an element of truth to it, and I loved it since I was interested in radio and since before podcasting kind of became a revolutionary thing, so I don't want to let the change in the market landscape keep me from doing it. I don't know how frequently I can do it. My life is different now. I have better priorities, not to say I don't love what I'm doing here, but my family is everything to me, and that's sort of been the balance of life, work, podcast, hobbies, take care of my kid, my dog, that's all that is not an easy thing to balance, but ultimately I'm grateful and thankful for having the opportunity to do it, and hell, I'm even grateful to be a giant span. Well I'll say it, it's a wild thing to say during today's day and age. I think like I've said previously on social media, I would not want to be John Mayer right now. I do not know what he's going to do, I don't know what movie even makes the most sense, but I think there's a distinct possibility that he's going to be forced to make some tough decisions, and let's put it this way. If they keep Shane and Dable, those are going to be two very desperate individuals who want to get their quarterback. So ultimately I just hope John Mayer eventually, if he hasn't yet, maybe he has, but if he hasn't yet hired the right people, just hire the right people and get out of the way, that's what we need, John. Ultimately that's what happened to some franchises here in New York, like the meds, the nicks, obviously the meds had a change in ownership, but the meds, the nicks, they changed their reputation by hiring the right people and getting out of the way. And that's how you earn trust with New York fans. So Giants fans and Jets fans for that matter, hang in there, it's been a rough, rough time in New York. Looking forward to NFL playoffs, looking forward to breaking more stuff down, hoping to talk to more people on the show, get more people involved. But for now, as always, take care of yourselves and be well. [BLANK_AUDIO]
Tony Joseph sounds off on Giants football, podcasting, and life.