The Giants claim they haven't started mailing them yet.
After his team's 35-14 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, coach Brian Burns noted that there wasn't much talk in the locker room and no fiery speeches like earlier this year.
From the outside looking in, this may indicate that the team is giving up.
They claim otherwise.
“They worked as hard as they could on the line,” head coach Brian Daboll said Monday. “It wasn't perfect by any means. Obviously we gave up some big plays and missed some chances, but they don't have to doubt their effort and their will.”
Although the season is long over, players know they are still being evaluated individually.
A spate of injuries has given players at the lower end of the roster a chance to prove they deserve to be part of the team going forward.
“You don't have to blame people for the effort,” Safety Director Dane Belton said Monday. “Look at the guys, we all work hard on every play, no matter the situation. But you can still play with people who play hard.”
Tommy DeVito is in concussion protocol, but Daboll hasn't given much of an update as a quarterback beyond that.
Tim Boyle replaced DeVito at quarterback in Sunday's loss.
He completed 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards, a touchdown and one interception.
“I thought he pitched great,” Daboll said of Boyle. “He was decisive in football. He was ready to go. He was ready. He has worked very hard since he got here. I made the most of the opportunity I had to play.”
Daboll had high praise for Michael Penix Jr. during the draft process.
The Giants passed Penix with the No. 6 pick when they took Malik Nabors, and then Penix went with the No. 8 pick to the Falcons, whom the Giants will play on Sunday.
Penix served as Kirk Cousins' backup throughout the season.
“He's a very productive player,” Daboll said. “He could throw at all three levels. Very accurate. Of course he had a lot of good players around him. [at Washington]. But I thought he really gave them a chance on the field. He threw the ball easily, a medium pitcher. It was athletic. I wouldn't say they used him for a lot of runs, he was more of a dropback, play-action guy. However, they are quite athletic and can do a variety of things. …I had a good experience meeting him. Smart. Instinctual. I thought he had a pretty good pro day, I was at his pro day. So I thought he was a promising player.”
