The loss to the Patriots on Monday night was as ugly as it gets. This season offered redemption in the form of finding a franchise QB. I hate underachievement more than anything, yet I could tolerate it, knowing that Dart was the silver lining.
That legal hit by Christian Elliss on Dart was a slap in the face to “bargaining” away my 2025 Giants season’s grief. I am going to state this as plainly as I can: THE GIANTS DO NOT HAVE A FRANCHISE QB AS LONG AS DART CONTINUES TO NOT PROTECT HIMSELF. This whole thing goes back to Gruden’s QB camp. I remember this clip, thinking Dart will fix this in the pros because he has to. He has not. It’s remarkable because we are still here and this kid is still getting lit up by defenders.
“I want you to change your playing style. I think it’s reckless, I think it’s careless, and I think it’s dangerous.” – Jon Gruden
Dart is able to diagnose defenses at the line of scrimmage. We see clip after clip of the rookie QB audibling correctly to adjust playcalls. He’s a gifted player who has football smarts. Yet he’s obviously not smart enough to rid himself of this macho “+2” (yards) bullsh*t. Until he starts consistently:
- sliding while inbounds
- getting out of bounds
- protecting himself
… he will be of no use to this organization. Why? It’s fairly simple. His career will not last long enough to make the investment in a player who will be either hurt or about to be hurt. Eli Manning is going to the Hall of Fame because his best ability was his availability. Contrast Dart, who got himself concussed and missed more games due to injury in his rookie year than Eli missed in his entire career.
This entire problem is very correctable. You’re the Head Coach. You sit him down. You look Dart in the eyes. You tell him- “I’M NOT GOING TO PLAY YOU UNLESS YOU SLIDE, GET OUT OF BOUNDS, AND PROTECT YOURSELF.” This is not complicated. I would bench Dart after he let himself take that unnecessary hit. He needs to understand there are consequences to not taking care of himself. It’s the Head Coach’s job to win games and Dart is not doing himself or anyone in the organization any favors by fighting for his “+2” (yards). It’s reckless, it’s careless, and I know it’s dangerous.
Dart needs to understand that if it’s Q4 late and/or it’s 4th down etc in a very meaningful/playoff game, that extra yard is a TD, there are some exceptions. We saw the great John Elway become a human helicopter in a Super Bowl. In this instance it’s Q1, it’s first down, you’re down 10-0 in a game where your team is already eliminated from the playoffs. If there is ever a time and a place to be sliding/getting out of bounds, this is it. But Dart still hasn’t gotten this message.
Kafka, after the game, when asked about this hit, said that the coaches have talked to him about this but that Dart’s a competitive guy. Sorry, you’re not a strong enough Head Coach for me if that’s your response. Tell Dart to take the clipboard. Send him to the bench. If you can’t protect yourself, I, the Head Coach, will. That’s apparently the only way you are going to get through to him. So be it. Take away the car keys. I’m willing to bet that the next time he’s in that situation he’s going to realize he has a choice of OR and he’s going to make a smarter choice.
Speaking of being smart, the Gmen have another rookie who is also making dumb choices. Abdul Carter got his second disciplinary benching, this time for a full Quarter. Good. Carl Banks: Time for this kid to grow up. This team needs players who offer locker room/playing field leadership. It needs a strong Head Coach who can keep these immensely talented players focused on their responsibilities. Trust me, we would not be hearing about these issues if Parcells was the Head Coach. Remember Keyshawn Johnson? Once his HC became Parcells, there was no doubt who was in charge.