New York Giants Fire Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis: The Giants announced officially yesterday that Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis will not return to the Giants for the 2007 NFL season. Offensive Coordinator John Hufnagel was fired before the regular season finale against the Redskins. Obviously, the Giants will have two new coordinators shortly and more assistant coaches are likely soon to be shown the door. So much for the stability Giants’ ownership said they wanted in their press conference on Wednesday.
In terms of yards allowed, Lewis’ defense with the Giants was ranked 25th in the NFL in 2006, 24th in 2005, and 13th in 2004. In 2006, the Giants ended the season ranked 24th in scoring defense, 24th in stopping teams on third down, 25th in first downs allowed, and 26th in sacks per pass play. In the last seven games, the Giants lost four times when leading or tied in the fourth quarter.
“I think very highly of Coach Lewis and he was a big part of why I came to the Giants,” said LB LaVar Arrington. “I hate that it didn’t work out, but what we have to do is find somebody that will utilize the type of personnel we have to make us a top-ranked defense And whenever you have a team as talented as the Giants that doesn’t accomplish enough, somebody has to take the rap for it. Sometimes it’s the players, sometimes it’s coaches.”
The media speculation is that Coughlin may be interested in Miami Dolphins’ special defensive assistant Dom Capers, who served as Coughlin’s defensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 1999-2000. Capers was at one time the head coach for the Panthers and Texans. Capers signed a 1-year contract with the Dolphins last year, but the Miami press is reporting that the Dolphins may own his rights until sometime in February. Because Capers is being considered as the Dolphins’ new head coach or defensive coordinator, the Dolphins are expected to refuse permission to grant him interviews with other teams. Capers is also supposedly being pursued by the Dallas Cowboys for their defensive coordinator vacancy. If money is the determining factor, historically, the Giants have not gotten into bidding wars for the services of assistant coaches.
The media speculation is that Quarterbacks Coach Kevin Gilbride, who was handed the play-calling duties in the last two games of the season, will be promoted to the Giants’ offensive coordinator position.
Jerry Reese to Be Named General Manager Next Week?: According to The Star-Ledger, a high-ranking NFL executive told the paper that Giants’ Director of Player Personnel Jerry Reese will be named the team’s new general manager. The official announcement might be delayed until early next week.
New York Giants May Play Regular-Season Game in London in 2007: There is a good chance that the Giants will face the Miami Dolphins as the “road team” in London, England during the 2007 NFL season. It is being reported that the Giants or Bills will be the likely opponent for the Dolphins. The final decision is expected to be announced next week.
New York Giants Sign Eight Players: According to ProFootballWeekly.com and NFLPA.org, the Giants have signed the following players to the roster:
- DE Tommy Davis
- DE Pat Massey
- LB James Davis
- OT Jon Dunn
- OC Todd Londot
- OC Matt Tarullo
- TE Jason Randall
- WR Anthony Mix
All but LB James Davis were on the Giants’ Practice Squad.
