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00:00Jackson Dart looks like he's ready to return his QB1 this week against the Lions.
00:04Does that mean Mike Kafka is going to change up his play calling to protect him?
00:08Abdul Carter, well he's ready to put all the noise behind him.
00:11And Brian Burns has made it known.
00:13My man wants 20 sacks this season.
00:16It's week 12 and this is Blue Rush by the New York Post.
00:24The Giants are heading up to Detroit where they're a 10.5 point underdogs against the Lions.
00:28What's up everybody? I'm Brandon London and thanks for watching Blue Rush.
00:32Paul Schwartz is the man with all the sources and the storylines.
00:36You see him there smiling.
00:38Paul, let's start with the biggest storyline of the week.
00:41Jackson Dart is slowly making his way out of concussion protocol.
00:45Hopefully for Mike Kafka there will be no setbacks and he'll be good to go.
00:49First and foremost, what's going on Paul?
00:51I saw you yesterday, but what's going on?
00:53And what do you think about Dart's return or possible return?
00:56Where did you say they're playing this weekend?
00:59In Detroit.
01:00Detroit.
01:01Detroit.
01:01If you speak Francais.
01:03You can tell you're not a New Yorker.
01:05You put the accent, you say Detroit, right?
01:09Yeah, Detroit.
01:10Detroit.
01:11I say Detroit.
01:12Ah, okay.
01:13You know, I don't know what's right.
01:15I don't know what Michigan is in Detroit.
01:17I always say, where you go this weekend?
01:20I'm in Detroit.
01:21I'm in Detroit.
01:22You say Detroit.
01:23Detroit.
01:23Detroit.
01:24The D.
01:24They call it the D.
01:26Okay, I'm not saying it.
01:27Eight mile, eight mile.
01:28Okay.
01:28It's just, it's different.
01:29Okay, so I will be flying into Detroit, yes, this weekend.
01:33And yes, Jackson Dart will be there.
01:36He will be playing.
01:37Look, I mean, anyone who's saying, oh, they're rushing.
01:40You know, I've heard some crazy stuff.
01:41They shouldn't play him.
01:42You know, what's the point of playing him?
01:43I mean, look, he's a rookie.
01:45He needs to play.
01:46The whole beauty of this season is, with a record in the dumpster fire,
01:49is that you can play this rookie, and he can get better and better.
01:53So maybe next year, they can actually, like Eli Manning,
01:56who was bad in a bad, you know, who was a bad player as a rookie for a bad team.
02:01And by his second year, he was a better player, and the team was ready to win.
02:04We'll see if that can happen this year.
02:06So, yeah, he's, you know, non-contact practice, full practice on Wednesday.
02:12Now, he's wearing red, right?
02:14Quarterbacks always wear red.
02:15So, non-contact practice for a quarterback is kind of a misnomer.
02:20There's never any contact for a quarterback in practice.
02:23So he went through the practice, unless he has any setbacks.
02:26Now, look, he can have a setback.
02:28Hopefully, he doesn't.
02:29But this is not just rubber stamped.
02:32He'll have to meet with an independent neurologist probably Thursday, I would guess,
02:36and then he could be cleared Thursday night or Friday.
02:39But, yes, there is, you know, 99.9% expectation that he starts.
02:45And, you know, Jameis Winston did some good things last week.
02:47But that's kind of like a stopgap, right?
02:50We all want to see what Jackson Dart can do.
02:53And will he have some rust?
02:55I mean, you know, he missed a whole week.
02:57And maybe he'll have some rust, but he's back.
03:00And the fascinating thing to me, Brandon, I want to get your thoughts on this.
03:03Will we see a more hesitant quarterback?
03:05Once you have one concussion, you're more likely to have another.
03:10He's been talking ad nauseam.
03:12People have been telling him, maybe not the coaches, but certainly in the media,
03:16you need to be more careful.
03:16You need to protect yourself.
03:17You need to get down.
03:18Mike Kafka is his play caller.
03:21He was his play caller when he was the offensive coordinator.
03:24Does he call for fewer RPOs and, you know, runs, you know,
03:29designated runs for the quarterback?
03:30We'll see.
03:31But, look, one of the only things to see about this season is Jackson Dart's
03:35development.
03:36And we get to see more of that this weekend.
03:38And where, Brandon?
03:39Where?
03:41Detroit.
03:42Detroit.
03:43Detroit.
03:44You can't.
03:45Just say it your way.
03:46Now you have me in my head.
03:49Like, Jackson Dart could be in his head this game.
03:52Because when you have that concussion, it's one thing that he, you know, he was in the
03:58tent a lot when it came to, like, the independent spotters and always going to the tent.
04:03That started, what, back in the preseason.
04:06It's one thing to have that scare.
04:09But then when you actually have the concussion and you know what they mean and you know how
04:13they can affect guys' game going forward, it's almost like a receiver when he comes back
04:19from a knee injury, you're always in your head thinking, all right, is my knee good?
04:23I can go up for the pass.
04:25But am I going to, when I come down, if I land, am I going to be okay?
04:29And that's something that I wonder if that affects him more than the rust of being off
04:34for a week.
04:35And if I'm Mike Kafka, if I'm Joe Shane, John Mara, I wrap this kid in bubble wrap when
04:43it comes to playing this Sunday.
04:46And, you know, it may be ugly and people make fun of them all the time, Paul.
04:50I may even suggest to him that he wears a guardian cap, become the first quarterback to play in
04:56a guardian cap.
04:57Because I understand what people are saying.
04:59I'm going back and forth with people on Twitter and they're like, well, he needs to get
05:03offensive player of the year.
05:05Oh, he needs those reps.
05:06It's like, no, he doesn't need offensive player of the year.
05:09Yeah, he needs some more reps.
05:11But he needs to be healthy for game one of next season.
05:15He needs to be healthy day one in the new offseason program.
05:20Because with the new coach, that offseason program is going to get bumped up, what, two weeks?
05:24And they're going to report earlier.
05:26So I don't want Jackson Dart to miss any time in the offseason by having to rehab and recover.
05:33I want him to be able to hit the ground running going into his second year.
05:37So does this change how Mike Kafka calls a game?
05:43Yes, I feel like he does.
05:45I feel like he needs to take the approach that he took with Jameis this past weekend, running
05:50the ball more on first down, getting the quick game going on the first downs, on first and
05:56second downs, you know, really getting the ball out of the hands of the quarterback.
05:59But at the end of the day, someone, I hope this is the, this is, this is that warning
06:06to Jackson Dart to let him know, hey, you get out of the pocket, those extra three yards,
06:11we don't need those.
06:12Just get down, slide, live to play another down.
06:15The bubble wrap thing I don't like.
06:17Because, because look, I think there are ways that they can mitigate some of the harms
06:23way he will be in.
06:24But you know, Brandon, look, Brandon, let's say you came back, right?
06:26You're, you were a wide receiver, right?
06:29Let's say you had a concussion, God forbid, and you're coming back.
06:32So, so if I told you, okay, Brandon, here's the deal.
06:35You got to be careful.
06:36Okay.
06:36So you go over the middle.
06:38You think there's a safety coming alligator arms.
06:41Don't make that catch.
06:42Okay.
06:42You can't get hit.
06:43You're going up.
06:45The guy, the safety's coming at you.
06:47No, no, no.
06:47Give up on that play.
06:48You can't do that.
06:49You don't even, you can't, you know, if you did that, you'd be taken out of the game.
06:54And your, your coach would say, what are you doing?
06:56Are you, are you playing or not?
06:57So, so look, there's ways to do it.
07:00I think if, if, if it's third and three and he's got like a yard and a half to go, he's
07:05going to fight for a first down.
07:06Okay.
07:07But if it's third and nine and he's got six yards, he doesn't have to fight for the next
07:12one or two.
07:13You know, will they call quarterback sneaks, you know, third and goal from the one, maybe
07:22they will, maybe they won't that, that, you know, that I'm not so sure.
07:25Maybe let, you know, Singletary or Tracy get it, you know, you know, or, or, or fake it
07:30and throw it to Theo, something like that.
07:32So I think you can mitigate some of that.
07:33You certainly can mitigate some of the RPOs, but this is, this can't be a situation where
07:38they say, all right, the main thing is you have to stay healthy because you can't play
07:43that way.
07:43You know, you tell me as soon as a guy comes in your face, chuck it away, throw it away.
07:47You're not going to run.
07:48I mean, that, that, that, that will do nobody any good.
07:50And you can't avoid injuries if you're, if, you know, sometimes being tentative is the
07:54worst thing.
07:55So he has to play football and the lions are going to be playing football and they're going
07:59to be taking every shot at him, maybe slide a foot sooner or a half second sooner, all
08:04those things, but look, if he gets hurt, hopefully that does not happen.
08:10There'll be second guessing on why he was on the field.
08:12And I, you can't second guess why he's on the field.
08:15It's not the last game of the season.
08:17He's got to play.
08:18He's got to play.
08:19He's not a finished product.
08:20So, um, you just hope it doesn't happen.
08:23That's all.
08:24What, one thing that's going to be telling, it's going to be a third and long situation.
08:28There's going to be a receiver kind of getting jammed up at the line.
08:31And he's going to have to wait until that receiver gets past the sticks before he's able
08:36to make that throw.
08:37Now, if he can confidently, and let's say, you know, they, the lions, they, Aiden Hutchinson,
08:43these guys, they, they, they, they, they apply pressure.
08:46There's going to be a free runner and that's going to blitz.
08:50And he's going to have to hold onto that football.
08:53And what we say, sterile, stare down the barrel of a gun of a loaded gun.
08:58And he's going to have to make that throw knowing he's going to get hit.
09:02That's where we're going to know where his head is in terms of, is he locked in in the
09:06moment and he's ready to play football or is he still in his head?
09:09Because we've seen this kid take hit after hit after hit, throwing the football down the
09:14field, holding onto the football to the last second.
09:17So to let that allow that receiver to get open.
09:19And then he makes that throw.
09:21And it's an accurate throw that gives that receiver a chance to make that play and make
09:25that catch.
09:26I think that's what I'm going to be looking for.
09:28Not so much the design runs, but if he can still step in, step into that throw, and he's
09:33not worried about that hit, then I think he's got the cobwebs, all the rust, all that stuff
09:38is, is shaking out of him and darts back to being Jackson Dart.
09:43Yeah.
09:43I mean, I, yeah, I mean, look, it's more interesting for giants and their fans.
09:48If Jackson daughter is on the field and he'll be on the field this weekend.
09:51And that's a good thing.
09:52So the one thing we're watching with, uh, Mike Kafka and his second, you know, head
09:58coaching, his second game is interim head coach.
10:01We're going to see, watch the way that he calls the game or manages the game for Jackson
10:06Dart.
10:06Are there any other changes you think Kafka is going to make now that he's the head
10:12man in charge?
10:13You know, there were some questions, you know, is he going to, he's going to come in and be
10:16named head coach and then fire Shane Bone, the defensive coordinator.
10:19That did not happen.
10:21Then they play a game and, um, you know, they don't play great on defense and, uh, they
10:26lose last week.
10:26Right.
10:27Um, to the Packers, is he going to fire Shane Bowen?
10:29I don't think he's going to fire Shane Bone.
10:31I just don't.
10:32Um, he's trying to do everything he possible.
10:33Now, you know, a new head coach is new enough.
10:36Uh, he's going to start firing guys willy nilly and, and, and put a new defensive coordinator
10:41in.
10:41Uh, they can't change a lot of things.
10:43I think they're going to ride this out.
10:44Now he can go to Shane Bone and say, look, here's what I want to see from your defense
10:49as far as aggressiveness, as far as maybe some personnel deployment, things like that.
10:54And, you know, he's the boss.
10:56So Shane Bone has to adhere to that and then, you know, call the game the way he sees fit.
11:01So if, if, if my Kafka says, I want more pressure, you know, it's on me, you know, you
11:07figure it out, but I want more pressure on some of these.
11:09Look, the giants are the, one of the worst teams in the league, third and eight, third
11:12and nine, third and 10, third and 11.
11:14It's brutal.
11:14It is brutal.
11:15How often they give up first downs in third and situations that is advantageous for the
11:21defense.
11:21So if, if Kafka goes to Bowen and says, look, if it's third and eight, I want you sending
11:26someone and I want you, you know, protecting in a back and, and, and we can't have these
11:30guys sit then, then Bowen's got to do it.
11:33Now there's some subtle things, uh, Kafka has done and it's kind of interesting.
11:36And look, this is not stuff that fans really care about, but it's something that affects
11:41players.
11:42And it shows that he is thinking about being a head coach, like on Fridays, for example,
11:47uh, you know, under, under Brian Dable and really most coaches, I think that, you know,
11:53they start out with an offensive period and then they do some special teams.
11:56Then they go to defensive period.
11:57Then they go to team, things like that.
11:59Um, Kafka comes in and says, look, I want special teams right off the bat in the morning.
12:02They have their own kind of little semi-practice here.
12:06And then we go offense, defense, and there's no breakup for special teams.
12:10Is it a big deal?
12:11No, but he said he took that from Kansas city.
12:13That's what Andy Reed did.
12:15So this is the blending of, of, of organizations, right?
12:18One of the reasons the giants really liked Kafka is because he was from the chiefs, from
12:22a winning program, a disciple of Andy Reed.
12:26That's a good tree, right?
12:27That's a good branch.
12:28The Andy Reed tree.
12:29He's very successful.
12:30So, so he takes a little subtle thing and says, you know, if I'm head coach, this is
12:33what I want to do.
12:34Is it going to make a big difference?
12:36No.
12:36Will it make any difference?
12:38Probably not, but it's something that he thinks helps practice flow better.
12:42And that's the job of a head coach, get practice to flow better and be more efficient with the
12:47time you have on the field with these guys.
12:48I know he's not campaigning for this job, subtly campaigning, um, for this job, for this
12:57head coaching job, but there's, there's a couple of things he's doing that I like, again, making
13:02the changes to the script because you're owning it.
13:05Now you're putting your stamp on, on this or in this resume for the next, you know, six
13:10weeks out, seven weeks, you know, since he got it.
13:12But now you get a chance instead of interviewing for these head coaching jobs, which he probably
13:19get a chance on the cycle, depending on how he's doing, instead of just interviewing Paul
13:23and just going into the room with the team's GM and ownership and tell you, Hey, this is
13:28what I do.
13:28This is what I would do.
13:30Now he gets the chance to show what it is that he would do.
13:34So, Hey, I'd make changes to, uh, uh, the, the, the practice schedule.
13:39Now he's showing you, I'd make changes to, or I'll show you what my defensive philosophy
13:45would be as a head coach.
13:48I want more pressure.
13:50I like more of a Wink Martindale type defensive coordinator than a Shane Bowen type defensive
13:56coordinator.
13:56So Mike Kafka, I think he understands what's right there in front of him.
14:04Um, and again, you're not auditioning just for the giants, but you're doing it for the
14:0731 other teams out there or whichever teams need a head coach, um, um, in this coaching
14:12cycle.
14:13And you mentioned him taking things from Andy Reed, Pat Fitzgerald, long time Northwestern,
14:20uh, Wildcats head coach was at practice yesterday.
14:23He was there when Mike Kafka was, was at Northwestern.
14:26So you wonder what those conversations have been like with, with Pat or coach Fitzgerald in terms
14:32of getting advice on how to, how to, how to run a team, how to, how to, how to run a fortune
14:37500 type company.
14:39So Mike Kafka, I don't know, Paul, I have them in my shortlist, my, my way too early shortlist
14:45right now as a guy to take a look after and take a hard look at for the next head coaching
14:52of to who could be the next head coach here because of these things that he's doing with
14:56the change to the schedule and now going to Shane Bowen and saying, Hey, as offensive
15:01coordinator, this is how we'd attack you.
15:04This is what you need to do.
15:06Or I feel as though you need to do to get the most out of the guys that you have right
15:10now.
15:10And I think that's going to, that's going to, uh, mean a lot.
15:13Uh, finish this off with this a block, Paul, before I throw to London in the locker room,
15:17final thoughts on Kafka and darts return.
15:21Um, well, it's just, look, um, he can do a lot of changing, but last week was not a change,
15:25right.
15:25They, they played fairly well and they lost, right.
15:28Um, they lost to the Packers.
15:30So, um, lions Patriots, you know, it's a tough, you know, it's scheduled eases off a little
15:37bit after that.
15:38Um, so, um, all this stuff is window dressing and it shows that he's organized and ready
15:44to take this next step as an interim.
15:46But, um, you know, I think he's going to have to win some games here and show that, you
15:51look, some of this stuff, look, you can change everything you want.
15:53You can have them, you know, you can have them, you know, you can have them, you
15:55know, practicing at midnight.
15:56If you want it, if, if, and if you win, it's genius.
15:59And if not, it's just change for change sake.
16:02So, um, you know, are they going to be able to win some of these games?
16:06We'll see.
16:06We'll see.
16:07They don't win many games.
16:08So, um, you know, it'll be, it'll look, as you said, they're a double digit upset this
16:12week in Detroit.
16:13So, you know, the cards, the deck is stacked against them.
16:17There's no question about it.
16:18Uh, well, they got a winning effort from wide receiver, Isaiah Hodgins, who just got off
16:23the plane on Thursday, came in, was able to lead all receivers, both Giants and Packers
16:28and receiving in that loss to the Packers.
16:31I got a chance to come, go into the locker room, speak with Isaiah, because he got high
16:37praises from Mike Kafka on what he was able to do in the performance that he put out there.
16:43Uh, Isaiah Hodgins is this week's London in the locker room.
16:49All right, let's have a little bit of fun with week 12, London in the locker room here
16:53with the new guy.
16:54Uh, I guess we could call you that.
16:55Allow me to reintroduce this man.
16:57It's Isaiah Hodgins.
16:58Uh, I like to start these things off with something in the locker that is a must have
17:04for you.
17:04Yeah.
17:05Uh, I was, I was saying, you know, definitely some supplements of creatine or, you know,
17:09um, my recovery supplements right there.
17:11And I got some deodorant too.
17:12And I told him it's essential, especially after practice.
17:15A lot of people be stank just showing up to meetings, uh, throw some deodorant on, please.
17:19This is for around the league.
17:20So there you go.
17:21Bad underarms and bad breath is like the two things you smell the most in the NFL locker room.
17:26Can't do it.
17:27Can't do it.
17:27Can't be us.
17:28Can't be us.
17:28Especially those likes can't, brothers.
17:29We gotta be, gotta be fly out there.
17:31All right.
17:32Uh, let's just talk about just your week last week, man.
17:36Break it down.
17:36And why do you think you were able to have so much success in your, uh, first game back?
17:41Yeah.
17:41Um, you know, it was a, a crazy week, you know, just getting a text, you know, basically
17:46halfway through my meetings, uh, on Wednesday, um, was looking to fly out on Wednesday night.
17:51They didn't have any flights.
17:52Had to come out Thursday morning, get straight to practice meetings.
17:55But, you know, it's really just a testament to teammates, coaches, a lot of people were
18:00there to help me out, put in extra hours with me, help me, uh, try to remember as much as
18:04I can from the playbook.
18:05Uh, you know, third different offense this year.
18:07So, uh, just trying to recall and remember all that, but, you know, I was definitely,
18:10uh, just blessed and thankful for this opportunity that, you know, God put me in the position
18:13to be able to come here and display my talents on Sunday.
18:16Mike Kafka, when talking to the media said he was like impressed with what you were able
18:20to do on such a short week and said how extremely hard it was for anyone to pick up a playbook,
18:26you know, a week into it, let alone a couple of days.
18:29What is it that from this offense that you were familiar with and most comfortable with
18:34on Sunday?
18:35Yeah, I mean, definitely some of the route concepts and like formations and stuff, but
18:38you know, this offense has a lot, you know, as you know, um, a lot of code words, a lot
18:43of, uh, different verbiage from the last time I was here.
18:46So I was really just trying to harp on that stuff and get that stuff down.
18:49So, you know, I could go into the game full of confidence.
18:51Was it more the meetings that got you prepared or the on the field work with, with the quarterback?
18:56It was definitely both, man.
18:57I mean, any free second that I had around here, I felt like I was doing an extra meeting
19:01with my wideout coach or with Wandel and Jameis and something, just meeting extra, getting
19:06the plays down.
19:06And then obviously, you know, the more reps that you get on it, the more walkthroughs
19:10and stuff, it helps a lot.
19:11So the way that CAF structured the practices and everything helped me a lot.
19:14So now what?
19:15Because you've, you've come here before or during a short part of the season, the back end
19:20of a season after the deadline back in 2022, you led the team in receiving.
19:24You come back day one, game one, you lead the team in receiving.
19:27You've been a part of the business of sport here.
19:30So now what's your mindset going, going forward for the rest of this year?
19:36Yeah.
19:36I mean, really just take it week by week, you know, whatever role that the Giants need
19:40me to play, you know, I'm going to try to do that the best that I can.
19:42So whether that's, we get people back and they say, hey, we need you to block.
19:46Cool.
19:46I'm going to do that.
19:47If it's special teams, if it's a red zone, third down, whatever they need me to do, I'm
19:51going to just try to do my part and, you know, I've been a part of NFL this my six years.
19:55So I know how the business goes, you know, people either go down or, you know, crazy stuff
19:59happens during games and they might need me here or there or a different position.
20:03So I'm trying to prepare myself to be ready for anything.
20:05Is there a difference in Mike Kafka, the offense coordinator and Mike Kafka, the head coach?
20:10I love Kafka as a coordinator and a coach, man.
20:13You know, I obviously loved him when I first got here in that 2022 year.
20:17You know, I love him now.
20:18I think he brings a lot of high energy.
20:20He demands a lot of, you know, high intensity and detail in his work.
20:24And, you know, I respect that.
20:25And it doesn't matter who it is, you know, if I'm out there messing up or if it's, you
20:29know, anybody from the quarterback to the line to whoever, you know, he's going to hold
20:32them accountable and say, you know, redo it.
20:33Let's restart this and, you know, attack it the right way.
20:36So, you know, I respect that out of him.
20:37All right, man.
20:37Welcome back and congrats on that first game, bro.
20:40Appreciate that.
20:40To be able to just step in like that, Paul, and then to be able to just, I don't even
20:49think, I don't even think he had a misassignment.
20:52I think the kid picked it up.
20:54I love how he's been through the business of the sport already.
20:58So he's kind of, kind of like relishing the moment.
21:01Isaiah Hodgins is a guy that I thought should have made the 53-man roster.
21:05He's a guy that should be getting more balls on this football team as the season goes.
21:10Goes on and it's like when he stepped in in 2022 after the trade deadline, I know they
21:16didn't trade for him.
21:17They got him from a practice squad somewhere, but he stepped in and led the receivers in
21:21receiving that year.
21:23I would like to see Isaiah Hodgins and Malik Nabors on the same field at the same time.
21:27I know we're not going to get that this year, but hopefully next year he gets himself a
21:31roster spot.
21:32Yeah, we'll see about that.
21:33But a couple of things.
21:34First of all, don't forget, it's the same system.
21:36You know, that's, you know, if he came from a different, he played in Brian Day,
21:40football system in, you know, in 2022 and was a really good player down the stretch.
21:46So Kafka didn't change the system.
21:49It's still the system.
21:50So, you know, he could not have done this really with this efficiency if he was coming
21:54to a team, you know, that he is not familiar with, number one.
21:57You know, now this does beg the question, why the hell didn't this happen sooner, right?
22:03You know, I was not really going, you know, writing every week, you know, where is Isaiah
22:07Hodgins?
22:07Well, he was on this, what, the Steelers practice squad, right?
22:10They could have signed him.
22:12So, you know, instead of a little Jordan Humphrey, certainly, instead of Ray McLeod,
22:17certainly, they could have signed him.
22:19He's a guy that they knew.
22:20He's steady.
22:23You know, so this is kind of the, and you know this being an undrafted free agent, that
22:28the third round pick, Jalen Hyatt, will get every benefit of the doubt.
22:32And, you know, I can say probably with pretty good confidence, and if Isaiah Hodgins got
22:38every snap that Jalen Hyatt did this season, that Hodgins would have been more productive
22:43than Jalen Hyatt.
22:44But Hyatt's a third round pick, and they don't want to put him on the practice squad.
22:49They don't want to cut him.
22:50But Isaiah Hodgins is a better player.
22:53There's no question about it.
22:54So that is something that you can certainly criticize about the front office and or the
22:58coaching staff, depending on what they wanted to do here.
23:01You know, if they, nah, nah, we're good with Hyatt.
23:04We don't need, Hyatt doesn't play a lot.
23:07And when he plays, he's not very effective.
23:08And oh, by the way, last week against the Packers, which you chronicled very well in
23:13a video, just stopped a rout in the end zone, which you just can't do, and ends the game
23:18with an interception.
23:19You just can't do it.
23:20Would Isaiah Hodgins do that?
23:22Probably not, right?
23:23Because we haven't seen that.
23:24So that is a legitimate question and critique that you could say.
23:30He stepped in and in a day and a half played well.
23:33Imagine if he was here for the last five, six weeks.
23:36Yeah, I think he's going to be, he's going to end up the leading receiver on this team
23:40again.
23:40And he's on it.
23:41And it is what, what, seven games that he's going to play for them.
23:46I'm obviously rooting for this kid, obviously, because of his story.
23:49So Isaiah Hodgins was one person I was able to talk to.
23:53I got a chance to talk with Brian Burns after you finish talking to him, Paul.
23:56So here's London in the locker room with Brian Burns, and we're going to break down the great
24:00season that he's having so far.
24:02All right, London in the locker room, week 12.
24:05We are back with Spider-Man Brian Burns.
24:07Last time we asked you to show us something in your locker that is a must-have, you had
24:11the bond number nine.
24:12A little bit out of budget for some of our viewers.
24:15So what you going to show us this time?
24:17Shoot, I'm going to show y'all another something that's out of your budget.
24:20Hey, don't stun on him like that.
24:23Uh, no, I'll just show you.
24:25I'll keep it subtle.
24:26Nah, I got to keep my speaker.
24:27I'll just keep it subtle.
24:29All right.
24:29I'll keep my speaker on me, man.
24:31You know, I'll take it to the meeting rooms or whatever when I'm watching a film and whatnot.
24:35So.
24:36Last three played tracks, go.
24:38Right now?
24:39The last three played tracks on that speaker.
24:42Uh, probably Sax in the Garden.
24:44Okay.
24:45Um.
24:48Um.
24:50Maybe.
24:54Put you on the spot.
24:55You did put me on the spot.
24:56America Rush quarterbacks with ease, but can't remember the last three songs he played.
25:01Because it really all be jazz.
25:03Okay.
25:03Go ahead then.
25:04Show another side of Spider-Man, man.
25:05Yeah, but it's like, it's like a jazz playlist.
25:07Like, I don't really be knowing that because there ain't no words in it.
25:09So, I don't know the name by one.
25:11Lo-fi?
25:11Like the lo-fi joints?
25:13Okay.
25:13Coffee.
25:13You're a coffee shop guy then.
25:15It kind of keep me focused, you know, when I'm watching film.
25:17But you got a lot of, like, lyrics.
25:19Your mind can go other places.
25:21But when you got that, it just keeps you, like, sane.
25:23Okay.
25:23Well, you are sane when you're listening to jazz, but you go absolutely insane on the field.
25:29I got some numbers for you.
25:30Six, seven, six, seven, and 20.
25:33You've got six games left to get seven sacks, to get 20 on the season.
25:38Only two Giants have done that.
25:40Michael Strahan, Lawrence Taylor.
25:42One, do you know that you're that close to being in that rare of company?
25:46And two, I mean, what would that mean to be listed in that company of guys that have had 20 as a Giant?
25:53Well, yeah, I am very aware of the opportunity.
25:57And it would mean everything, obviously.
25:59Like, you know, getting 20 anywhere would mean a lot.
26:02But here especially would mean a lot more.
26:04You know, just following those guys' footsteps and the dominance that they had in their time and, you know, just continuing it.
26:11And, you know, I got many years to come, so I got some opportunities to get it.
26:14When you think of the defenses that those guys had around them, Lawrence Taylor with the big blue wrecking crew,
26:22Michael Strahan with that 07 defensive line, does it make it a little bit harder to enjoy this journey,
26:28this personal journey of your own while you're still trying to kind of right the ship with the defense of your own?
26:34A little bit.
26:35But, you know, at the end of the day, it's all in good faith.
26:39You know, we're still focusing on getting the win, getting the defense right.
26:41And, you know, the sacks are just coming along with it.
26:43So, you know, I take it all with a grain of salt.
26:45But I'm very appreciative and blessed.
26:47You being a leader and captain in this locker room, not only by the production, but just by your play as a whole,
26:53running to the football, that sort of thing.
26:56A couple of your rookies were taking heat in the news, obviously Cam Scattable being at a WWE event,
27:01and then the whole Abdul-Carter situation.
27:04One, what do you think of those two storylines?
27:07And, two, what do you say to those guys if you even have any sort of problem with that?
27:13Scat situation, no, not really.
27:15I mean, it's not like much he can do for us right now.
27:19You know, he's got to go through his rehab and everything like that.
27:21I mean, at the time, man, have fun, you know.
27:23So, as long as he's taking care of himself, being smart, you know, and everything is clear, then I'm cool with it.
27:29And with Abdul, we talked about it.
27:31You know, it was a one-time thing.
27:33I kind of just told him, like, let's move on.
27:35You're a grown man.
27:36Let's handle this like a pro, and let's focus on our next opponent.
27:40Is that something you've done in the past, or have you kind of taken more of a leadership role,
27:45more kind of like your two years being here?
27:47No, I've done it in the past.
27:48I would say it took a leap when I got here, for sure.
27:52And then you obviously know having a rookie in our room is – it comes with growing pains.
27:57So, you know, we're working through it.
28:00Closing this season out, trying to end this season on a high note, playing hard for Mike Kafka, interim head coach.
28:07I mean, what are you guys saying, like, internally?
28:10Like, take us through the team dinners or the bonding periods where you guys are just hanging.
28:14And what are you guys saying internally as a team to close this thing out on the right foot?
28:19It's mainly just doing it for us, you know, doing it for each other, you know, really supporting each other, having fun, playing with each other.
28:27And at the end of the day, man, all this is about pride, you know.
28:30At the end of the day, we got six more guaranteed.
28:32You know, you never know how anything can shake out, but why not put your best foot forward?
28:35So, with all the hype that came in the offseason around this team, did you – at any point, did you think it could be where it is right now?
28:46Not at all.
28:47Not at all.
28:49Going into this season, I had high hopes.
28:51I never thought it would be here.
28:52I never thought that, you know, Leak would have been out from week three or whatever week it was and Scat would have been out.
28:58And, you know, all the injuries that we dealt with and the tough losses that we had when we had the lead in the fourth quarter, I never thought we would have been here.
29:04But, you know, hey, we're here now, so what you going to do?
29:08We're going to play some jazz up on the speaker and just keep on pushing it.
29:12I appreciate you, man.
29:13Appreciate you, God.
29:15Six games to get seven sacks to get 20.
29:18That will join Michael Strahan and Lawrence Taylor.
29:21I know Abdul Carter wanted to unretire Lawrence Taylor's number, but if I'm Brian Burns, if I get 20, I'm asking for – I might ask for Lawrence Taylor's jersey.
29:30Paul, did you think that Brian Burns was going to have this much of an impact on the season as he's having?
29:40Impact, maybe.
29:41Numbers, no.
29:42And Brian Burns admits that.
29:44You know, when I was talking to him, he said this, and I'll get back to my thoughts.
29:47He said, with this game, you never really know.
29:49Could I have told you I was going to jump out to a crazy start like I did this season?
29:54No, I couldn't have.
29:55He also said, could I have told you last week Jordan Love was going to slide right in front of me and give me a sack?
30:02He said, no, I can't.
30:03You know, they come in bunches.
30:05They come when they come, and you have to take advantage of them.
30:08You know, would I have told you I missed a sack on Caleb Williams?
30:10No, I wouldn't have told you that.
30:12You never really know.
30:13You just got to keep going.
30:14Now, he was – you know, he was leading the league a few weeks ago in sacks, right?
30:19And then he was tied with Miles Garrett.
30:21And so he was – you know, a few days ago, he was looking, and he said, you know, he said, Miles has got to chill out, man.
30:30You know, Miles Garrett had four sacks last game, and it wasn't even a headline.
30:34I mean, it's amazing.
30:35The guy gets four sacks.
30:36It's not even a headline.
30:36Oh, yeah, by the way, Miles Garrett got four sacks.
30:38But Shador Sanders played, so that's the story, right?
30:41So it's now, what, 15 for Miles Sanders and 13 for Burns?
30:45He knows it's going to be very difficult for him to lead the league in sacks as long as Miles Garrett is still in the league and still healthy because Garrett is a machine.
30:55But, you know, it's fine that he's into it.
30:57It's fine that that's a goal.
30:59He's not doing things out and, you know, beyond the scope of the defense to get these sacks.
31:05Good for him.
31:05He's having a great year.
31:06Yeah, and I got a chance to talk to him about, like, the leadership that he's kind of, the leadership role that he's grown into that he says.
31:17And, you know, he spoke about, you guys saw the interview, spoke about what he said to Abdul Carter and had no problem with the whole Cam Scadaboo thing at WWE.
31:26You got a chance to talk with Abdul Carter.
31:30Obviously, he had the huge storyline coming out after being benched for the first series in that Packers game.
31:38What was your biggest takeaway from Abdul Carter's availability on Wednesday?
31:45Well, I was standing there and then people started gathering it around him.
31:48And, you know, he kind of said under his breath, well, might as well get this over with.
31:52You know what I mean?
31:53And, you know, he was fine.
31:55He faced the music.
31:56He, you know, he took ownership, as he said.
31:58He didn't want to get into great detail.
32:00You know, I had in the New York Post the details of this where he was in the, you know, red light therapy bed and he didn't hear that there was a change in the schedule.
32:09And, you know, people said I'm making excuses for the guy.
32:11I'm just explaining what happened.
32:13I also wrote in the article, these are explanations, not excuses.
32:17It's not like 10 guys didn't hear the warning, didn't hear, not warning, didn't hear that there was a change in the schedule.
32:23He didn't hear there was a change in the schedule.
32:25So he said, okay, I can go off to this recovery room, which is kind of, you know, in a non-very high-trafficked area and go sit there and be quiet and put on this red light therapy and, you know, chill out for 15, 20 minutes.
32:38That's on him.
32:39But he didn't fall asleep.
32:40You know, when people say, well, he didn't make the walkthrough because he was sleeping.
32:45It sounds like he's a bum, right?
32:47Why was he sleeping?
32:48Why was he sleeping?
32:49He wasn't sleeping.
32:50He was getting therapy.
32:51He was doing a good thing for his body, but it's on him that he did not hear this change in the schedule and was not on the field.
32:57It's on him.
32:58Not a big deal, but a deal.
33:00Mike Kafka could have just dealt with it in-house.
33:03He didn't.
33:04We've talked about that.
33:05Fine.
33:05He's an interim coach who wants to send a message.
33:09This third pick in the draft, everyone has to be accountable.
33:12That's great.
33:13So, you know, Carter was good.
33:15He said, I took ownership of it.
33:18We moved on.
33:19He said, it really hasn't been that tough of a week for me.
33:22I'm a very privileged person.
33:24I feel a very blessed person.
33:25I'm going to take advantage of my opportunity that I have.
33:29He said, you know, we've talked about the fact that he only has half a sack.
33:33I asked him, has it been more difficult in the NFL?
33:36You know, has it just been more difficult than you expected?
33:38He said, yes, for sure.
33:40But nothing good comes easy.
33:41I like a challenge.
33:42I accept the challenge.
33:44Keep learning, getting better, and moving forward.
33:46So, we have to remember, you know, I have a scouting series, right, with, you know, scouting
33:52of the blue, scout of the blue in the New York Post every Thursday.
33:56We have unprecedented access to the Giants college scouts.
34:01I, you know, and so I was able this week to talk to Marcus Cooper.
34:05He's a national scout.
34:06And he was the national scout in the region where Georgia is and where he, where Andrew
34:14Thomas played, right?
34:15So, he was very high and very in on Andrew Thomas right away.
34:19He said, it was interesting.
34:20He said, I tell these guys, I'm not just looking for athletes.
34:24I'm looking for guys, and we're looking for guys who can be professional athletes.
34:28You know, we know you're an athlete.
34:30Can you be a professional athlete?
34:32And he said, Andrew Thomas was a guy, calls him Drew, that he was a pro-type guy right
34:38from the start in college.
34:39I knew that was not going to be an issue with him.
34:42Okay, why do I mention that when I talk about Abdul Carter?
34:45Well, let's remember in 2020, when, when Andrew Thomas was a rookie, he got benched for a whole
34:52quarter by the head coach, then Joe Judge, for being late to a meeting the night before.
34:59That Saturday night meeting, he was late.
35:02First round pick, he's the left tackle.
35:05He's a very important player.
35:06Joe Judge said, nope, you're sitting for the whole quarter.
35:10Matt Pert played that, that quarter.
35:13And Andrew Thomas then played after the first quarter.
35:16And afterwards, Andrew Thomas said, coach says, there are, my actions, there are consequences
35:24to all actions, and I have to take accountability and responsibility for my actions and take
35:29the consequences.
35:30He handled it like a man.
35:33Andrew Thomas is probably, if there's a hundred, if there's, you know, 60 players in the room,
35:38he's probably number 60 or 59 that I would say, I don't worry about Andrew Thomas.
35:44If, if, if, if there was a lunch pail or an attache case or a briefcase that you take
35:49to work, he would be carrying one of those, he comes to work, you know, he's not the most
35:54exciting guy with us.
35:55He doesn't light it up with quotes.
35:57He's good.
35:58He's accommodating.
35:59He, he's lunch, but he comes to work for a day of work.
36:02He's one of the better players at his position in the league.
36:05So, you know, that is a lesson for Abdul Carter.
36:08Also, you get it, you accept it, you move on.
36:11It's not really a big deal.
36:12It's embarrassing, right?
36:13It's embarrassing for a week.
36:14Why, why, why weren't you on field?
36:16Well, I missed the meeting.
36:17I missed a walkthrough.
36:18I was late to a meeting.
36:19It's embarrassing.
36:21What the heck's wrong with you?
36:22You move on, right?
36:23You move on.
36:24No one's, you know, no one's putting a red, you know, a, a, a scarlet letter on Abdul
36:29Carter.
36:30You know what?
36:32You're a rookie.
36:33You're 22 years old.
36:34You know what?
36:34Go out there and, and wreak some havoc out there.
36:37Finally, you know, he's getting a lot of pressures.
36:39He's good in all those things.
36:41Get the sacks we're expecting, get the quarterback strips, get the forced fumbles, do something
36:46that makes a difference in this game.
36:47And then they have to come out and say, yeah, I learned my lesson.
36:49I learned from this week and I better for it.
36:52You know, that, that's what something you want to see.
36:54He also got his first taste of what the temperature could be like here in New York.
36:59You know, anytime that you were a guy that obviously you asked for LT's number, uh, we
37:04see you on WWE Monday night raw with cam scatterboo, but then the production is not there.
37:09This is the type of city to was like, you'll, they'll turn their back to everything.
37:14As long as you're producing on the football field when you're not.
37:18And then there's a report out there that goes into your effort.
37:22It's almost like, it's kind of like, like, like it's tape banks, not going for a tackle
37:27like that type of efforts.
37:28You sleeping in a meeting room when you guys have given up double digit losses, give it,
37:33you know, double digit.
37:34Um, um, you've, you've been up double, double digit leads.
37:39It's my goodness.
37:40You get it, give it up double digit leads before that.
37:42That's always going to hurt you, especially when you're a guy like Abdul Carter.
37:45So glad he faced the music.
37:47Now it's time to rehab it in Detroit because not only do the giants need a win, the lions
37:55need a win as well, Paul.
37:57So final thought on the giants going up to a eight mile to try and get a win.
38:03I don't like these five words, but you know, they, they, you can say if the playoffs started
38:07today, right.
38:08You know, we say that all the time.
38:10Well, they don't start today, so it's not relevant, but the chiefs wouldn't be in the
38:14playoffs.
38:15The Ravens wouldn't be in the playoffs and the lions wouldn't be in the playoffs.
38:18And I would say those three teams, a lot of people thought would be in the super bowl,
38:21right?
38:22So do I think all three will not be in the playoffs?
38:24I do not.
38:25Do I think the lions will find a way to get in the playoffs?
38:27I would think probably they will, but yeah, they, they, you know, they were not good.
38:32Um, they were terrific defensively last week against the Eagles, but they, they were bad offensively.
38:36Jared Goff looked unrecognizable to the quarterback he's been this year.
38:40I mean, he's been tremendous this year and he looked rattled as anything right against the
38:46Eagles.
38:46So, um, they're back home in Detroit or Detroit, any way you want to say it.
38:51Um, Sam Laporte, they're, they're terrific, um, tight end is out, but you know, you know,
38:56the drill, right?
38:57You know, Amon Ross St.
38:58Brown, Jamison Williams, Jamison Williams, uh, Jameer Gibbs, David Montgomery.
39:03They have a potent offense.
39:04They have a terrific offensive line.
39:06They have a good defense.
39:08Um, they have a, they have a coach, you know, Dan Campbell, who I covered when he was
39:13a giant's tight end out of Texas A&M.
39:15Very aggressive calls the plays.
39:18Now we'll go for enough fourth downs.
39:19We'll be very aggressive.
39:20We'll call for fakes and things.
39:22So, um, giants are double digit underdogs, very tough assignment.
39:26Jackson Dart coming back.
39:27He said, um, weeks ago, he likes playing in domes.
39:30He said, it's great in domes.
39:31You know, I love playing in domes.
39:32So, um, you know, last time he was in one, I believe in, in, uh, New Orleans, it was a
39:37mess, right?
39:39He dropped the ball once he played well, but he, um, couple tossed a couple of interceptions
39:44too.
39:44One was not his fault.
39:45One was a throwaway, but there are interceptions.
39:47He also had a fumble.
39:48So he needs to clean that up.
39:50Um, very difficult assignment.
39:52You know, I don't really know what to make of the giants only to not really have high
39:56expectations for them.
39:57Maybe one of these weeks they'll surprise us.
39:59But as I said, the lions, they can't be screwing around here.
40:03They're not looking past anybody.
40:05They coming off a loss.
40:06You know, they don't have the record.
40:08They thought they would.
40:09They're not in first place.
40:10This is a team people thought would be in the super bowl.
40:12So they're going to come ready to play Ford fields, a tough place to play.
40:17You know, one thing, one good thing, the giants are used to silent counts on offense because
40:21last week against the Packers and a couple of weeks ago against the 49ers playing at home,
40:26they had to go to silent crowds, silent counts.
40:29Cause the crowd was, you know, so, so many, you know, that's sad, right?
40:32That there was so many 49er fans and so many Packer fans.
40:35So now they know they have to go to a silent count.
40:39Maybe they can surprise us, but, um, you know, giants don't do a lot of surprising things,
40:42do they?
40:43They kind of, you stay the course and lose, you know, more often than not.
40:47It's, uh, so far this season, it's been, you are what we thought they are and they haven't
40:53been able to kind of get out of that funk yet, but Jackson Dart takes the giants up to the
40:57lion's den 10 and a half point underdogs on Sunday at 1 PM.
41:02Thank you guys for watching this episode of blue rush.
41:05Make sure you like share and comment on the episode and please subscribe to the New York
41:09post sports for all things.
41:10Blue rush immediately after the game, lock into our YouTube page.
41:15We're going to have the live post game reaction show.
41:17Those are fun.
41:19Uh, it's giants lunch lions on Sunday at 1 PM.
41:22Thank you guys again for watching.
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