
Carrick agrees two-year deal to remain Man Utd head coach
Michael Carrick has agreed to a two-year deal to remain Manchester United's head coach.
John Harbaugh has shown a more open and cordial demeanor with the media compared to former coach Brian Daboll, who was often less engaging. The differences in their press interactions highlight Harbaugh's willingness to share insights and connect with reporters.
Michael George asks: It was quite a surprise listening to John Harbaugh field reportersâ questions following Rookie Minicamp. His willingness to offer the compliment of âgood questionâ seemed genuine. You could sense they were subject areas he wanted to open up about, to share his insights. How would you characterize the differences between Harbaugh and former head coach Brian Daboll when addressing the press?
Ed says: Michael, to this point Harbaugh has been cordial, friendly, respectful, and as informative as he has wanted to be. No coach or GM is ever going to intentionally tell the media more than they want the public to know. Thatâs part of the game. We know that when we are asking the questions. What we hope for is enough information to give us something to work with, and at least a useful quote or two that makes the stories we deliver to readers better.
I really liked Brian Daboll as a person. Away from the cameras and the notebooks, he was a friendly guy who could spin a good story and seemed interested enough to ask people about themselves. On the podium, though, he was different. He wanted to give as little as possible. His answers were generally devoid of color or personality. As the losses and the criticism mounted, I think Daboll felt less and less obligated to help people who spent an inordinate amount of time ripping him do their jobs. Part of me couldnât blame him, but that hurt all of us trying to cover them and not just the writers who were having a field day calling for his head.
When adversity comes and Harbaughâs decisions are criticized, I do wonder if some of his congeniality will fade. My guess is that he is secure enough in his accomplishments and his knowledge that he wonât change that much.
Matt Hawthorn asks: Iâm excited by the possibilities on defense following this yearâs draft and free agency acquisitions. However, my lingering concern is that we all had similar hopes this time last year following the Abdul Carter pick and the subsequent talk of potential NASCAR packages. Sexy Dexy has left. Arvell Reese, DJ Reader and Shelby Harris have been brought in. Should we have higher expectations of our defense for the 2026 season based on current personel?
Ed says: Matt, you should certainly have higher expectations. First, the biggest lingering question entering last season was whether or not Shane Bowen was the right defensive coordinator to maximize the strengths the Giants had last season. We learned that, as we suspected, he was not.
You have a more aggressive, creative defensive coordinator now in Dennard Wilson. You have an accomplished head coach who will be heavily involved in the defense. You donât have Dexter Lawrence, but you have a deeper defensive line rotation. You have young players in Arvell Reese and Colton Hood to be excited about.
Maybe we overestimated the potential of the defense a year ago, but I still maintain that it under-achieved. The Giants were in the bottom 25 percent in many defensive categories last season, and worst in the league in run defense, giving up 5.3 yards per rushing attempt.
You wonât hear any âtop 10 defenseâ talk from me this time around. I canât imagine, though, that the 2026 Giants wonât be better on that side of the ball.
Norm Weiss asks: I have always thought that the litmus test of great GMs, like George Young, was finding âhidden gemsâ, either late in the draft or UDFAs, like Jessie Armstead or Ahmad Bradshaw, just to name a few. What Day 3 picks or UDFA do you see with this type of potential?
Ed says: Norm, it is hard to pick a player or players with that type of potential. We have seen one rookie minicamp practice. Maybe one day J.C. Davis or Jack Kelly are full-time starters.
One thing I will disagree with. Yes, general managers absolutely have to hit occasionally on Day 3 picks. It is still the quarterback position and the Day 1 and Day 2 picks that remain most important. If you donât get those right the vast majority of the time, getting an occasional Day 3 pick who outperforms his draft slot wonât make up for it. Get those right AND nail an occasional Day 3 pick and then you really have something going.
David Bavoso asks: Over the years, the Giants have signed at least one player from the CFL (I believe it was Brett Jones). Do the Giants have a scouting apparatus outside of just the college game? I was wondering if the team has staff that are dedicated to monitoring the CFL and the UFL in the hope of finding players that may have been overlooked previously.
Ed says: David, thatâs an interesting question. The Giants donât have a single dedicataed CFL or UFL scout. Those responsibilities fall to the Pro Personnel department. Pro Personnel Director Chris Rossetti happens to be from Ontario and spent the early part of his scouting career working in the CFL, giving him connections there.
Christopher Scanlon asks: Even with the free agent additions of Reader and Harris, and the upside of Alexander and some of the rookies, I feel like this group is still awfully thin. I feel like the overall depth is much better, but that really only reader is a legit starter.
With this the case, given our abundant riches at edge, I would really love to see KT get traded. Let Golston be the primary edge back up this year like he was signed to do. That said, Iâm not looking for a draft pick here. I would really love to see the Giants find a trade partner who needs edge help, who has depth at defensive tackle, and who could make a roughly equivalent player in age, upside, and productivity to KT available.
Given the positional value of edge over DT, you would think this could be doable. Any thoughts on hypothetical players that fit the mold? If this doesnât seem viable to you, why not?
Ed says: Chris, there are two parts to that question to explore. The depth of the defensive line, and the Kayvon Thibodeaux as trade bait idea.
I am going to push back on the idea that the line is âawfully thin.â Hereâs the scorecard:
There isnât a star player in that group, but there is the potential to have a deep, capable group where there really isnât a drop off no matter who is on the field.
As for Thibodeaux, the Giants continue to say they are not trying to trade him. I believe them. If there was a team out there that would offer them a second-round pick, that is a trade I know they would accept. Thatâs more than they could hope to get as a compensatory selection should Thibodeaux leave in free agency, so they would have to do that.
I would think that if there was a player-for-player trade to be made right now that made sense the Giants would have done it already.
Brian Dennis asks: I have been a HUGE Die Hard of the New York Football GIANTS since 1984. Since then and up to this very day I have been collecting countless collectibles and countless memorabilia. I know they won 4 Super Bowls which I have on DVDs. Before the Super Bowl was invented, they had won 4 World Championships. So, a total of 8 in there history since 1925. That is third most. Bears have the second most with 10 and Packers with 13. Why canât the NFL count all as one instead of going by Super Bowls only ? After all, you canât change NFL Professional Football History! In the mean time, Iâm going to strive for 9!
Ed says: Brian, count it whatever way you want. Generally, people separate the Super Bowl ear because having two leagues and so many more teams changed everything. You canât rewrite history, though, and those championships count.
Kölnerbigblue asks: Ed, how long are contracts for front office staff in the scouting department? Iâm wondering when those contracts expire. While we are waiting for news and an extension for Schoen, I think contract negotiations with the scouts be an indication of Harbaughâs opinion of Schoenâs organization building skills? Whatâs your thoughts?
Ed says: Kölner, the standard length of contract for a scout is two years. I found limited data showing contracts for some scouts of one to three years, but two is the industry standard.
As for Giants scouts and the front office in general, I think we already have that answer. We have seen zero movement or changes in the front office and scouting staff since the draft ended. If there were going to be big changes, they would have happened by now.
Ed Helinski asks: In your opinion, which NFC East team had the best offseason in replacing, restocking and restoring their team? How about listing the teams on a 1 thru 4, best-to-worst basis?
Ed says: Ed, I have not spent a ton of time worrying about the other teams this offseason. We are going to have Nick Falato break down the offseasons of the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders over the next week or so. That should give us a pretty good answer to that question.
Andy Engel asks: Iâm reading in the mail how fans are optimistic about the season with âall the talentâ we got and how we SHOULD contend for the division and a playoff spot. You yourself say they should feel that way this time of year. Yes, I have felt optimistic every year, but this year I say we should have CAUTIOUS optimism. Tell me if I am wrong, but consider these facts:
So can you deny these statements? We always seem to have a âgoodâ off-season with so many high draft picks yet continue to be one of the worst teams year after year. Sometimes I think a bad karma has hit this organization for the way they dumped Coughlin.
Ed says: Jeepers, Andy, talk about looking at the glass as half-empty. I have admittedly been fooled before during the offseason, but isnât this the time of year when you should be looking for reasons to feel optimistic? Let me go through your âfacts,â which are really just the lens through which you see things. You are entitled to that lens, but it doesnât make them âfacts.â
Here is how I see it.
Tom Pietrzak asks: Ed, a lot has been made of the Giants decision to pass on Caleb Downs with one of their two Top 10 draft picks. In an article you wrote earlier this week, you quoted Dan Graziano as saying that, based on intel he received, the Giants were intent on selecting one player on offense and another on defense. Thatâs why, he believes, they selected the offensive lineman, Mauigoa, at No. 10 after picking Reese, a defensive player, five picks earlier. I have two questions: first, didnât we hear Schoen and Harbaugh say in their post-Round 1 presser that Reese and Mauigoa were two of the top five players on their draft board.? (I think Harbaugh even divulged that Mauigoa was ranked fourth.) Doesnât that offer the best explanation as to why they passed on Downs? Second, where did the belief that the Giants were so high on Downs come from, Harbaughâs interview with Francesca? To me, that was just Harbaugh showcasing the diplomatic skills that have made him such an effective head coach for 18 years.
Ed says: Tom, yes, we heard Harbaugh say Arvell Reese and Sisi Mauigoa were two of top players on their board at No. 5. In terms of getting an offensive player with one of those picks, you are ignoring that running back Jeremiyah Love was also a player Harbaugh admitted to having on the board as a possible pick at No. 5. Also, yes, the Downsâ connection started with Harbaughâs praise of the kid on Mike Francesaâs show. It also made sense because of Harbaughâs history with safeties.
Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to bigblueview@gmail.com and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.
John Harbaugh is more cordial and informative, while Brian Daboll tended to give minimal responses and was less engaging.
Harbaugh was friendly and respectful, even complimenting reporters on good questions, indicating his openness to share insights.
Daboll's less engaging style made it challenging for reporters to gather useful quotes and insights, affecting the quality of coverage.
While it's uncertain, there is speculation that Harbaugh's congeniality may fade under criticism, though he is likely secure in his knowledge and accomplishments.

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