Words Players Fear: Regret
It’s a tough topic to tackle, but “regret” was on the minds of many when the Giants met at their facility for the first time after the dismissal of head coach Brian Daboll.
The NFL is a business, first and foremost. Yet, did the players feel a sense of disappointment for not performing well enough for Daboll?
“Personally, I think so, but that’s just my opinion,” outside linebacker Brian Burns remarked. “I can’t speak for everyone else.”
Wide receiver Darius Slayton had a different take.
“I don’t have any regrets because we did our best,” Slayton explained. “We gave it our all to win, which might have helped him keep his job. But, in the end, we fell short. ‘Regret’ doesn’t quite fit. We think of him and his family and truly wish them the best.”
The Giants currently sit at 2-8. Sunday’s match against the Bears ended in a 24-20 loss, marking their fourth consecutive defeat, and yet Slayton wasn’t surprised to see Daboll struggling.
“It was definitely a shock,” Slayton continued. “When you show up for work, you expect everyone to be there. You don’t really think someone will be gone. It’s a difficult reality for us as players, but we understand it’s part of the business.”
Wan’Dale Robinson, who was drafted by Daboll, shared his thoughts too. He made it a point to reach out to Daboll after the news broke.
“It’s just tough to see someone lose their job,” Robinson said. “He’s the one who believed in me and got me here. It’s tricky.” He added, “Every loss weighs on me—I can’t help but think, ‘What could I have done differently to change this outcome?'”
Burns reflected on his own experiences, mentioning he’s witnessed such changes before, having been in Carolina during coaching shifts there.
“Yeah, I’ve seen this play out a few times,” Burns noted. “Every time it happens, it hits hard.”
The feeling of loss drove Burns to encourage his teammates.
“I hope we can come together, now more than ever,” Burns said. “In moments like this, everyone is under scrutiny. No one will excuse poor performances just because of a coaching change. You need to step up, especially now.”
“If there was ever a time to unite, it’s now.”
