SU (regrettably) just finished watching 3 and a half hours of the Giants – Redskins game this afternoon. For the last few years under Tom Coughlin, the Giants were very undisciplined and sloppy and this year’s edition is just no different. You knew they were going to lose this game in the 4th quarter but it was truly torture to watch this brand of football – especially on defense. So many stupid plays – late hits especially – to keep drives alive and nullify big gains. The center was ejected for 2 unsportsmanlike behavior penalties – you never see that. Beckham can barely contain himself with all of his histrionics. Washington stinks but to be honest, the Giants are not much better. I think they punted once the whole game and consistently drove down the field with many 3rd down conversions. The NFC East is not a good division so the Giants might still come away with the title but it is painful to watch a game like today’s.
As the Giants were blowing their game, the Yankees were simultaneously losing a 9th inning lead. The good news is that they scored 3 runs today in a major offensive outburst. Even Chase Headley had a bloop single. But they took the lead in the top of the 9th and then the combination of Betances and Clippard gave it up in the bottom of the inning. You have to wonder if Betances is gassed from so many innings or if he doesn’t have what it takes to close games. Definitely something to consider in the winter.
Final thought: the NFL is great and the players are obviously top shelf. But I continue to enjoy college football more. There is just too much posturing and posing in the NFL. I guess the college coaches can maintain some hold over this behavior plus it’s a penalty in college football to do all that. But at some point, SU says, and has said for years, “act like you’ve been there before.” It’s not too much to ask. Reserve the major celebrations for major events – not for breaking up a short pass or making a tackle. Enough.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
As bad as the Giants game was, the Jets game was worse. 6 INT’s?!? Maybe Fitzpatrick realizes now why teams weren’t beating the door down to steal him away. Of course he is still better than the other QB options.
As a Giants season ticket holder I had the misfortune of watching this, and many other Giants debacles, first hand. Despite the small fortune paid to free agents in the offseason this year’s team isn’t much different from last year. They manage to shoot themselves in the foot at the first sign of any success. It almost seems as if they’re uncomfortable with winning.
As you correctly noted, the sloppiness started at the end of the Coughlin reign, which was bewildering for a team coached by a man renowned for his discipline. I can’t help but wonder if the death of Wellington Mara removed the potential front office support for a disciplinarian approach to coaching. The timing certainly seems to fit.
But in general, this looks like the same old Giants. I despair over the prospect of another sorry season.
Fitzpatrick made it clear why he is not an $18 million quarterback or whatever he thought he was. I still think he’s capable and has good talent around him. But great quarterbacks to not have games like he did yesterday.
I’ve written before about the Yankees trades of Miller and Champman and how I wouldn’t have done both. The trades happened to roughly coincide with the team’s turnaround and credit was given to a change in focus. It’s important to realize that the receipts from those trades are not part of the current youth movement and could be years away from making the big leagues (if they ever do). In the meantime, we are seeing a beaten down bullpen. What was the strength is no a huge weakness. It is unclear if Betances is even the closer and if not, these were harsh conditions under which to judge/test him. He was brought in on consecutive nights so often, including games where the closer should never have been needed. Now his arm and confidence are paying the price. Also, they are going to have to go out and build the bullpen back up and pay a price that will make Miller look like a bargain.