2 Giant Goofballs: A NY Giants Podcast

Playing Jaxson Dart gives the Giants badly needed live reps in Matt Nagy's offense, but every preseason snap creates another chance for the young quarterback to get hurt before the games actually count. Drew and Rob ultimately land on the same side: Dart needs the work.
Follow on Spotify and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy no-BS Giants debate.
Should Jaxson Dart play in the preseason?
Yes—the argument is that at least some first-team work is worth the risk because Dart is entering only his second NFL season, started 12 games as a rookie and is learning an entirely new offense before opening against Dallas and the Rams.
John Harbaugh still refuses to reveal exactly who will play against Minnesota, but his own comments show the tension. He values first-team reps, yet he also understands what happens if an important starter gets hurt in August. Matt Nagy's evaluation makes the decision even more interesting: Dart is extremely talented, but there are still areas where he needs development, particularly seeing the defense, getting his eyes to the right place and processing quickly after the snap.
Is Malik Nabers getting close enough to Week 1? His rehab took another meaningful step when he returned to controlled team work wearing a red no-contact jersey. Harbaugh called it a milestone. Nabers still hasn't reached full competitive work, but the trajectory is improving—and somehow the player wearing the no-contact jersey was fine while wide receivers coach Chad Hall ended up needing stitches after an accidental collision during drills.
Is the Giants secondary dealing with temporary camp injuries, or is this becoming an actual depth problem? Paulson Adebo remained limited by his hamstring, while Greg Newsome II and Dru Phillips worked their way back on a limited basis. The Giants could now get significant preseason looks at Deonte Banks and Colton Hood. D.J. James and David Long Jr. were also gone only eight days after arriving, with Ugo Amadi and Sam Webb taking their places.
Terrion Arnold heading elsewhere pushed the conversation into a much bigger hypothetical: if a corner like Christian Gonzalez ever became available, how aggressive should the Giants be? Art Stapleton floated the idea, and we treated it exactly as that—an outside proposal, not a reported Giants trade pursuit.
The competition at safety might be more real than anyone expected. Tyler Nubin hasn't officially lost anything, but Jason Pinnock and Ar'Darius Washington have earned significant first-team work. Harbaugh's comments that both have played like starters turned what looked like routine camp rotation into a legitimate Week 1 question.
Dominic Zvada and Ben Sauls are battling at kicker, with Zvada coming off a 7-for-7 practice that included a 62-yard simulated game-winner. We also get into Mike Bloomgren's expectations for a more physical offensive line and what actually needs to show up against Minnesota before anyone buys the August toughness talk.
Arvell Reese's $47.8 million guaranteed contract produced one of the night's lighter conversations after the rookie essentially signed the deal, went back to his hotel and prepared for the next practice. That turned into a larger discussion about NFL salaries, taxes, agent fees and how different the headline contract number can be from what a player actually keeps.
Finally, Darren Waller is somehow back in the Giants conversation again. With Waller moving on to Carolina, Drew and Rob revisit the third-round pick Joe Schoen sent to Las Vegas, Waller's one Giants season, Schoen's later defense of the trade and whether Brian Daboll's usage of Waller deserves more blame in hindsight.
Merch: https://2giantgoofballs-shop.fourthwall.com/
Support: https://buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballs
All episodes: https://2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show

The Giants need answers at cornerback, but how far should they be willing to go to find one? New York's injuries, uncertainty between Paulson Adebo and Deonte Banks, and the visit with Terrion Arnold created a much bigger debate about where football need ends and unacceptable risk begins.
Follow on Spotify and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy no-BS Giants debate.
How serious is the Giants' cornerback problem? The unofficial depth chart still lists Adebo ahead of Banks, but the practice usage discussed in this episode suggests the competition may be considerably closer than the chart makes it look—and injuries throughout the secondary only increase the pressure.
A large part of the conversation centers on Arnold's visit. Arnold currently faces unresolved felony charges tied to serious allegations, and the discussion stays centered on the uncertainty surrounding the legal process, the risk involved for the Giants and what the visit itself says about their current level of concern at corner. The Giants have not signed him.
Does merely exploring that option tell us more about the state of the Giants' secondary than the depth chart does?
The first unofficial depth chart created several other contradictions. Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux share an OR designation even though Carter has been getting the first-team work discussed on the show. Odell Beckham Jr. sits in the third tier at wide receiver and now has a preseason opportunity to prove his receiving value can outweigh his lack of a significant special-teams role.
Matt Nagy also gave us one of the night's more concerning quotes when he said the Giants are only halfway through both their run and pass installation. The positive side is that Nagy praised Jaxson Dart's command of what has already been installed. The concern is obvious: how comfortable should Giants fans be with that much of the offense still being built this close to the season?
We also get into Darius Alexander's goal of becoming the NFL's most dominant defensive tackle, Malik Nabers' progress, the possibility of Dart and other starters seeing preseason snaps, Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., the Ben Sauls–Dominic Zvada kicker competition, and Brandon Allen's bizarre place atop the preseason passing-yard leaderboard over the last decade.
Merch: https://2giantgoofballs-shop.fourthwall.com/
Support: https://buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballs
All episodes: https://2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show

Deonte Banks may have fought his way back into the Giants’ starting cornerback picture, but that comeback creates a much harder decision in a secondary already dealing with injuries and depth churn. Greenbrier also boosted several rookies and receivers while exposing a real concern at center.
Follow on Spotify and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy no-BS Giants debate.
The Big Question: Did Deonte Banks really play his way back into a starting job? The camp evidence has become difficult to ignore, but Greg Newsome II, Paulson Adebo and rookie Colton Hood make the Giants’ outside-corner competition anything but settled.
John Harbaugh says the Giants “improved tremendously” during their time at The Greenbrier, and Drew and Rob start by asking how much of that should actually be believed before the games count. One encouraging sign came when the first-team offense pushed Harbaugh for one more goal-line snap and Jaxson Dart finished the drive with a touchdown to Darius Slayton.
Dart’s Year 2 development remains one of the biggest questions surrounding this team. Calvin Austin III praised his swagger and composure, while Drew argues that Dart already looks capable of filling the leadership void the Giants have had for years. Whether that also means he is a true franchise quarterback remains unanswered.
The rookie class took up a major part of the conversation. Arvell Reese continues showing why the Giants used the No. 5 pick on him, Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa has held the starting right-guard work, Jack Kelly has strengthened his roster case and Colton Hood remains firmly involved in the cornerback competition. Malachi Fields produced one of the best debates of the episode because camp observers have come away with different evaluations of how close he really is to challenging for a major receiver role.
The Giants’ receiver numbers are becoming increasingly difficult. Malik Nabers is progressing toward his return, Darnell Mooney has drawn strong reviews, Jalin Hyatt has improved his standing and Odell Beckham Jr. has looked healthy. The problem is simple: there are more interesting receivers than available roster spots.
Then the conversation shifts heavily toward the defense. Harbaugh called Abdul Carter’s camp “really, really great,” Greg Newsome II appears to have avoided a serious injury, and Banks continues receiving legitimate first-team opportunities. Drew and Rob revisit their previous criticism of Banks and debate whether better coaching has helped revive a former first-round pick who appeared to be running out of chances.
How comfortable should Giants fans really be with the secondary? Dru Phillips is dealing with a knee injury, the Giants have cycled through additional defensive backs, and the depth behind the top group remains unsettled.
Center brings a different problem. John Michael Schmitz is dealing with a concussion, Lucas Patrick has a knee issue, Bryan Hudson has taken first-team snaps and Brenden Jaimes was signed for additional depth. The Giants leave Greenbrier with more optimism at several positions, but center may actually be less settled than it was when camp started.
The episode also runs through the biggest Greenbrier risers and fallers, Washington losing Laremy Tunsil after adding Stefon Diggs, the Giants returning to their construction-heavy New Jersey facility, and a remembrance of former Giants offensive line coach Fred Hoaglin.
Merch: https://2giantgoofballs-shop.fourthwall.com/
Support: https://buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballs
All episodes: https://2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show

Xavier Gipson and Nic Jones brought some unexpected intensity to the Giants’ lightest practice of camp, exchanging punches after the final play of a non-padded walk-through. The fight probably does not signal a fractured locker room, but two players battling for NFL jobs cannot afford to give coaches another reason to move on.
Follow on Spotify and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy no-BS Giants debate.
Does the Giants camp fight actually matter?
By itself, probably not—but the circumstances make it more interesting because Gipson and Jones are competing for roster spots and somehow lost their tempers during a walk-through rather than a padded practice.
Dan Duggan described the two as “a couple featherweights exchanging punches,” while John Harbaugh dismissed the incident as “much ado about nothing.” Drew agrees that training-camp fights happen every year and rejects the idea that this represents some major locker-room problem. The strange part is simply how it happened on one of the least physical days of camp.
The episode begins with Stefon Diggs signing a one-year deal with Washington after producing 85 receptions for 1,013 yards last season. Diggs clearly makes the Commanders more talented on paper, but Drew sees the timing of the move as evidence that Washington was not comfortable with its receiving corps and became desperate to add another proven weapon around Jayden Daniels.
There was better news involving Malik Nabers. He progressed into team walk-through work against the defense after spending most of camp in individual drills, routes and controlled rehabilitation work. It was not a return to full practice, but it was another meaningful step toward eventually getting him back into live football periods.
Dru Phillips’ situation is more immediate. The Giants’ starting nickel is expected to miss some time with a mild knee sprain, although Harbaugh said, “The good news is he’s going to be okay.” The absence creates an opportunity for Ar’Darius Washington and gives the Giants a chance to test how much secondary depth they actually have behind Phillips.
The offense is also getting creative in short yardage. Theo Johnson took direct snaps Wednesday before Patrick Ricard got his chance Thursday. At roughly 300 pounds, Ricard gives the Giants a way to attack inches-to-go situations without unnecessarily putting Jaxson Dart at the bottom of a pile. Drew is firmly in favor of experimenting with the package if it means protecting the franchise quarterback.
Another unusual Harbaugh-style project arrived when the Giants signed Grant Finley, a 281-pound fullback/defensive lineman who previously participated in rookie minicamp. Patrick Ricard entered the NFL with a similarly unusual background before becoming a six-time Pro Bowler. Finley is nowhere near that level yet, but the parallel makes him more interesting than the typical late-camp addition.
The show closes with former Lions head coach and longtime NFL offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg visiting Giants practice and spending time around Matt Nagy. Nothing indicates Mornhinweg is joining the staff, but a coach with 25 years of NFL experience provides another experienced offensive voice around a Giants organization developing Jaxson Dart.
Merch: https://2giantgoofballs-shop.fourthwall.com/
Support: https://buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballs
All episodes: https://2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show

Jaxson Dart produced his sharpest practice of Giants camp, but two interceptions and an emotional penalty from the previous day kept the progress from feeling complete. Odell Beckham Jr. also strengthened his roster case, while the defense continued forcing turnovers even during the offense’s best practice.
Follow on Spotify and leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy no-BS Giants debate.
Did Jaxson Dart actually take a meaningful step forward?
Dart created touchdowns, explosive completions and successful third-down plays, but his two interceptions showed why the Giants cannot declare the offense fixed after one productive practice.
Drew and Rob begin with the Giants’ latest roster moves. Veteran cornerback David Long Jr. returned to the organization, D.J. James made two immediate plays during his first practice, Roy Robertson-Harris was placed on injured reserve and Beaux Collins was waived/injured.
Tuesday’s practice produced another complicated Dart moment. He scrambled for a touchdown during the final situational period, then threw the football at Greg Newsome and drew a 15-yard taunting penalty. Ben Sauls still converted the resulting 48-yard kick, but the mistake raised questions about Dart’s emotional control.
Dart accepted responsibility during the team meeting and responded Wednesday with his best collection of positive plays. He threw multiple touchdowns, converted third downs and created a score with his legs. Layne and Campbell still intercepted him, and the hosts question whether facing the second-team defense helped manufacture a needed confidence-building day.
Odell Beckham Jr. became the show’s largest roster debate. Beckham caught passes from all three Giants quarterbacks, received more first-team work and produced contested, sideline and downfield catches. He is no longer surviving entirely on reputation, but Drew and Rob still need to see preseason production before buying the comeback.
Beckham said, “Most people don’t get a chance to double back.” His return has become a good story, but is he actually forcing the Giants to keep him?
Winston responded to two difficult practices by throwing six touchdowns. Hyatt and Gipson each caught two, while Smith-Schuster and Fidone also scored. The performance was not clean—Green intercepted Winston in the end zone—but it reinforced why backup-quarterback play matters after the Giants needed multiple quarterbacks last season.
Cambre continued his unexpected rise. The former undrafted receiver has repeatedly created separation, made difficult catches and contributed on special teams. Harbaugh said Cambre is “making a move,” giving the Giants another difficult decision in a crowded receiver competition.
The defense still produced four takeaways during the offense’s best day. Layne created two on consecutive plays, Campbell intercepted Dart and Green finished practice by intercepting Winston.
The episode also examines Zvada’s apparent lead in the kicking competition, Johnson taking snaps under center, Thibodeaux moving between the edge and interior, Reese’s first pass-rush one-on-ones, Banks’ positive camp reviews and Harbaugh removing Thomas for one snap after a false start.
Merch: https://2giantgoofballs-shop.fourthwall.com/
Support: https://buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballs
All episodes: https://2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show