QB Coach Chris Palmer Leaves Giants for UFL: In a surprising move, Chris Palmer announced his “retirement” from the Giants yesterday. Palmer served as the quarterbacks coach of the Giants from 2007-2009.
However, it does not look like Palmer is actually retiring. Instead, MSG.com is reporting that Palmer will be the new head coach of the UFL’s New York Sentinels.
“I had a great run with the Giants,” Palmer said. “I want to thank the Maras and the Tisches for three great years. I enjoyed my time there very much. And it was not only the players, but the people and the organization. It was a very, very good situation for me.”
“It was very rewarding to me to work with Eli, because you had a player who grew every year,” Palmer said. “We won the Super Bowl. He was a guy that you looked forward to coming to work with every day, because he was going to challenge you and he was going to look for ways to get better. We hit it off from day one.”
“I really enjoyed working with Coach Palmer,” Manning said. “Over the last three years we’ve had some great success and I’ve improved as a quarterback. He’s a terrific coach when it comes to technique. He’s great not only on the field but also in the meeting room. I’m really sorry to see him go.”
“I think Chris was an excellent addition to our staff,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “I hired Chris to be my offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. Because of my knowledge of his unique abilities as a quarterback coach I wanted him here and I wanted him to be able to work with Eli. He came in and we had a historic year here in 2007. Eli had a great playoff run and Chris was a part of that.”
“Chris did an outstanding job coaching Eli,” said Coughlin. “He has been Eli’s coach and confidant in the years that he’s been here. Eli and Chris had a very good working relationship. I believe Eli has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League, and I see nothing but continued improvement in the future. Chris was very well thought of here. Ownership thinks highly of Chris and so do I. We wish him well going forward.”
Former Giant QB Kurt Warner Retires: QB Kurt Warner, who played for the New York Giants in 2004, officially retired yesterday. Warner was more known for his playing days with the St. Louis Rams (1998-2003) and Arizona Cardinals (2005-2009). Warner started the first nine games of the 2004 season for the Giants, helping New York to a 5-4 start. Warner was then benched for the then-rookie Eli Manning.
“Kurt has had an outstanding career and should be proud of his many accomplishments,” Manning said. “He was a great teammate when I came in as a rookie and I appreciate all he did. He always took football very seriously. He prepared very hard, competed and always wanted to play his best. He is really just a true professional and was very good to me in my time when I became a starter. I wish him well in retirement and I know because of the type of person he is, he will go on to do great things.”
“Kurt Warner was a tremendous example for our football team when he was here,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “He is a pro’s pro. He did an outstanding job with Eli when the two of them competed for the job and then after Eli took over as the starter. Even then Kurt continued to mentor and support Eli during his rookie season. Kurt was great for me and for this team. My hat and the hat of the entire NFL should be off to Kurt. The contribution that Kurt and Brenda and their family have made in every community they have been in has been tremendous. As outstanding a football player as Kurt is, he is a better person than he is a player.”
Article on Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell: Perry Good Choice To Restore The Pride by Steve Serby of The New York Post
