Former Cleveland Browns general manager and Philadelphia Eagles director of pro personnel, Michael Lombardi, has never been shy about his criticisms of the New York Giants. They have persisted for many years.
Those criticisms continued on Monday, this time with Lombardi taking specific aim at current Giants general manager Joe Schoen.
During the latest episode of The GM Shuffle podcast with Lombardi, the former executive looked back on “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” and took personal offense to what he saw.
“When you watch that, there were no models, there was no, ‘How are we building this team?’ It was really amateur hour,” Lombardi said. “What it did, it was insulting to my profession. It made people (who) hang out at sports bars think they can be a GM. So, to me, it was really embarrassing.”
Lombardi went on to suggest that fans have quit on Schoen, no longer have any confidence in him as general manager, and they are aware his product is no good.
Perhaps some of that is projection, but there may also be a level of truth to it.
“I feel bad for the Giants fans. I really do because I don’t see how it gets better,” Lombardi said. “How are they getting to five wins?”
Lombardi went on to praise head coach Brian Daboll as a friend but suggested he stands no chance in New York due to the construction of the team. It doesn’t matter how good of a coach he is, the former GM says, because he has nothing to work with.
“You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken (expletive),” Lombardi added.
From Ben McAdoo to Pat Shurmur to Joe Judge to Daboll, it’s all been a mess. And although Dabes may be his friend, Lombardi feels it’s time for a professional to take over in East Rutherford.
Could that be where this franchise is headed? More regime turnover? It’s a never-ending cycle.
