The New York Giants offensive line went into disaster mode final week when it was realized that All-Professional left sort out Andrew Thomas was misplaced for the season with a Lisfranc fracture.
The dot connectors right here in New York rapidly assumed that the Giants would slide proper sort out Jermaine Eluemunor over to the left aspect and insert former first-round decide Evan Neal into his spot.
It didn’t occur. Head coach Brian Daboll and his workers determined the very best plan of action was to maintain Eluemunor at proper sort out and plug Joshua Ezeudu — who’s extra of a guard — in Thomas’ position.
It was a catastrophe. The Giants allowed eight sacks to a meh Philadelphia Eagles go rush and had been rendered punchless on offense consequently.
Neal? He did what he’s completed each week up to now in 2024. He watched from the sidelines. He hadn’t performed a snap all season and once more wasn’t afforded one at rubbish time on Sunday when Daboll determined to throw within the towel.
Requested why Neal was not put within the recreation, Daboll’s reply was brief.
“Simply needed to go together with the fellows that we had,” he stated.
Wait… Isn’t Neal, a former high 10 draft decide, one of many guys and worthy of a minimum of a meaningless snap every now and then? Or, is he so unhealthy that the workforce has misplaced all religion in him they usually don’t belief him any longer?
That may put the Giants in a precarious scenario. To have a participant taken No. 7 total by normal supervisor Joe Schoen deemed a bust proper now could be a harmful factor. His drafts are being criticized by some right here in New York and if Neal is labeled a “bust,” that may mirror badly on Schoen.
So, they’re hiding him, dry docking him. Nonetheless you need to slice it. All of the world sees is that the Giants desperately wanted an offensive sort out and their “can’t-miss” draft decide isn’t trusted sufficient to assist them.
Until our eyes are deceiving us, that is simply one other chapter within the Giants’ decade-long odyssey of draft picks that haven’t panned out.
There’s nonetheless time for Neal to work out, although it’s not prone to occur anytime quickly listening to Daboll.
Neal was restricted to seven video games final 12 months with an ankle harm, had surgical procedure, and commenced this season on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) listing. Proper now he seems to be a lifeless spot on the roster.
“He’s completed a pleasant job of creating his ability set,” Daboll stated final week. “I believe the coaches have completed a pleasant job working with him. He’s in a great place.”
That spot, proper now, is the bench till additional discover.
