PALM BEACH, Fla. – Brian Daboll likes to communicate via FaceTime. He'll use it to speak to his wife Beth, his older children, friends, assistant coaches and general manager Joe Schoen, who knows Daboll's bearded face can appear on his phone at any time.
"About the only good thing I can do with a phone or a computer is FaceTime," Daboll said.
The Giants' new head coach has also used that modern means of communication to get to know some of his players. But that ideally would be accomplished not on FaceTime, but face-to-face. Daboll has done that with the players who have been working out and/or rehabbing at the team's headquarters. That process will begin to accelerate on Monday with the beginning of the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program.
Daboll, coordinators Mike Kafka (offense), Wink Martindale (defense) and Thomas McGaughey (special teams) and the position coaches will begin teaching their respective schemes. But Daboll is just as concerned, if not more focused, on ensuring the coaches get familiar with the players beyond their football capabilities.
"I probably haven't hit everybody, to be honest with you," Daboll said during a session with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting. "I've talked to a few people just to introduce myself. Again, there's a long time to learn football and things like that and we'll get to that. Even this first week, one of the things I talked to the coaches about was let's get to know these players. We haven't really been around them. Let's ask them about their families, what they like. It's important to get to know one another.
"You're going to be in a competitive situation and you're going to face a lot of tough times in this league and you can lean on people when you have relationships with them, because you're building trust because there's going to be tough times. I've said it a million times and I've gone through them in my career I'd say quite a bit where I've lost or had some really good times. You're sharing them with the guys that you're in the building with each day and you're working hard to achieve a goal and fighting through some things that don't go your way. I think that's what brings people closer together."
Daboll is keeping the lines of communication open. Schoen spoke yesterday about reaching out to Saquon Barkley to eliminate any misunderstanding that might have resulted from the general manager's quotes at the scouting combine early this month about his potential willingness to trade the star running back. Daboll also approached Barkley.
"When things come out, I try to stay on top of it," Daboll said. "Look, I have kids that are 22 and 21 years old and I'm sure you all have kids that are whatever ages. They're people first. You can say whatever you want. You can say, 'Hey, people are just writing stuff or reporting stuff.' I think it's important to show a little empathy, too, to the guys in the situations that they're in. I know it's a tough business, but I think it's a people business, too. I think the more upfront and the more transparent you can be and even when things are being said, which look, at this time of year there's a million things being said. Some are probably true. Some are probably not true. I understand that. I like being transparent with these guys and letting them know where I stand and if I do hear something that comes across the wave, I'll say yeah, this isn't the case or just hang tight. I think showing empathy goes a long way. Probably something 15, 10 years ago I wasn't good at either."
Daboll is excited to work with Barkley, who rushed for 593 yards and caught 41 passes in 13 games last season.
"I've had some good running backs in my career and after 22 years you have some decent ones," Daboll said. "Saquon is a lead guy. I've watched all his tape all the way back to his rookie year where he had (91) catches. He's a versatile player. He seems like a good young man. I'm excited to work with him. I think he's excited to be here. I can't wait to get to Monday here."
Daboll is growing every day as a coach, by necessity. He spent the previous 20 seasons working exclusively on offense, the last 13 as a coordinator. Now everything that happens on the field is his responsibility.
"I'll spend time with the defense" he said. "I'll spend time with the offense, kicking game, special teams guys, evaluating a lot of draft prospects. I'd say the last week has been spent a lot on draft work, because most of the coaches have been out on the road. I've learned that when you're in this position, there are a lot of people that want to come in the room and talk about whatever and that's really important. But there's times where I can just hunker down and start watching players, that's been a valuable week and a half for me just grinding out on college guys."
Martindale will run the defense. Daboll and Kafka will work together to design and implement the offense. The head coach has yet to decide who will call the plays.
"I'm still in the spot I was," Daboll said. "We've been working through just installing our playbook and our plays and I think there's been a lot of really good opinions. The big thing is the players come back on the fourth, this Monday. We've been hiring a staff, evaluating our players, evaluating free agents, evaluating college players. A lot of the coaches have been out on the road with pro days, workouts and that's really what we've done. There's been some players rehabbing in the building. We've spent a lot of time on those things. We're kind of integrating our offense along with Mike's offense that he used in Kansas City and putting things together, but until guys get back and we can actually start doing things, so we're a little ways from that stuff. When I know, I'll let you guys know."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2022 offseason.


K Ryan Santoso - Waived

S Yusuf Corker - Waived

DB Olaijah Griffin - Waived

WR Keelan Doss - Waived

WR Travis Toivonen - Waived

OL Josh Rivas - Waived

T Eric Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

WR Travis Toivonen - Free Agent Signing

K Ryan Santoso - Free Agent Signing

S Andrew Adams - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

WR Bailey Gaither - Waived, Failed Physical

TE Tanner Hudson - Free Agent Signing

C Chris Owens - Waived

DB Harrison Hand - Claimed (off Waivers from MIN)

WR Jaylon Moore - Claimed (off Waivers from BAL)

WR Collin Johnson - Reserve/Injured

WR Marcus Kemp - Reserve/Injured

TE Jordan Akins - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical

LB Darrian Beavers - Reserve/Injured

TE Andre Miller - Reserve/Injured

TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Reserve/Injured

T Matt Peart - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform

C Nick Gates - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform

OL Chris Owens - Free Agent Signing

OL Josh Rivas - Free Agent Signing

WR Robert Foster - Reserve/Injured

DL Christopher Hinton - Waived

DB Gavin Heslop - Waived

TE Jeremiah Hall - Waived

WR Austin Proehl - Waived, Injured

DB Olaijah Griffin - Claimed (off waivers from BUF)

OLB Azeez Ojulari - Passed Physical

Michael Jacquet III - Waived

OL Josh Rivas - Waived

DB Jarrod Wilson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

T Eric Smith - Free Agent Signing

T Matt Gono - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

G Marcus McKethan - Reserve/Injured

T Will Holden - Free Agent Signing

DE Niko Lalos - Waived

DB Nate Meadors - Claimed (off waivers from CLV)

LB Austin Calitro - Free Agent Signing

LB Justin Hilliard - Waived

OT Garrett McGhin - Free Agent Signing

OT Kamaal Seymour - Waived

TE Daniel Bellinger - Passed Physical

WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform

T Matt Peart - Declared Physically Unable to Perform

C Nick Gates - Declared Physically Unable to Perform

LB Azeez Ojulari - Declared Non-Football Injury

DB Andrew Adams - Free Agent Signing

DE Nick Williams - Free Agent Signing

WR Marcus Kemp - Free Agent Signing

OT Kamaal Seymour - Free Agent Signing

DB Maurice Canady - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

WR Travis Toivonen - Waived, No Recall

DT Jabari Ellis - Waived, No Recall

DB Henry Black - Waived, No Recall

DB Gavin Heslop – Free Agent Signing

OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury

TE Daniel Bellinger - Declared Physically Unable to Perform

DB Dane Belton - Selection List Signing

WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selection List Signing

TE Daniel Bellinger - Selection List Signing

WR Keelan Doss - Free Agent Signing

G Joshua Ezeudu - Selection List Signing

CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selection List Signing

DB Michael Jacquet - Free Agent Signing

S Henry Black - Free Agent Signing

CB Maurice Canady - Free Agent Signing

CB Khalil Dorsey - Free Agent Signing

DE Jalyn Holmes - Free Agent Signing

OLB Kavyon Thibodeaux - Selection List Signing

T Evan Neal - Selection List Signing

LB Micah McFadden - Selection List Signing

DT D.J. Davidson - Selection List Signing

OL Marcus McKethan - Selection List Signing

LB Darrian Beavers - Selection List Signing

DE Ryder Anderson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

RB Jashaun Corbin - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

LB Tomon Fox - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

TE Austin Allen - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

DB Darren Evans - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

G Josh Rivas - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

DT Jabari Ellis - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

FB Jeremiah Hall - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

DT Christopher Hinton - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

DB Trenton Thompson - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

DB Zyon Gilbert - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

DB Yusuf Corker - Undrafted Free Agent Signing

OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 5) of 2022 NFL Draft

OT Evan Neal - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 7) of 2022 NFL Draft

WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 43) of 2022 NFL Draft

OL Joshua Ezeudu - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 67) of 2022 NFL Draft

CB Cor'Dale Flott - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 81) of 2022 NFL Draft

TE Daniel Bellinger - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 112) of 2022 NFL Draft

S Dane Belton - Selected in Round 4 (Pick No. 114) of 2022 NFL Draft

LB Micah McFadden - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 146) of 2022 NFL Draft

DL D.J. Davidson - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 147) of 2022 NFL Draft

OL Marcus McKethan - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 173) of 2022 NFL Draft

LB Darrian Beavers - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 182) of 2022 NFL Draft

TE Jordan Akins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

OT Roy Mbaeteka - Free Agent Signing

OL Max Garcia - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

RB Sandro Platzgummer - Free Agent Signing

WR Richie James - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

DT Justin Ellis - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

RB Matt Breida - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

LB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

OL Jamil Douglas - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

LS Casey Kreiter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

TE Ricky Seals-Jones - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

OL Mark Glowinski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

QB Tyrod Taylor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

OT Korey Cunningham - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing

OL Jon Feliciano - Free Agent Signing

DB Jarren Williams - Exclusive Rights Signing

WR Robert Foster - Free Agent Signing

WR C.J. Board - Signed, Prior to becoming a Free Agent

OL Matt Gono - Free Agent Signing

WR David Sills V - Signed

TE Chris Myarick - Free Agent Signing

WR Austin Proehl - Free Agent Signing

QB Davis Webb - Reserve/Future Signing

P Jamie Gillan - Reserve/Future Signing

RB Antonio Williams - Reserve/Future Signing

WR Alex Bachman - Reserve/Future Signing

DE Niko Lalos - Reserve/Future Signing

WR Travis Toivonen - Reserve/Future Signing

DT David Moa - Reserve/Future Signing

OT Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing

LB TJ Brunson - Waived, No Recall

DT Antonio Valentino - Waived

QB Brian Lewerke - Waived

DE Raymond Johnson III - Waived

DB Jordan Mosley - Waived

LB Trent Harris - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

LB Omari Cobb - Waived

OL Wes Martin - Waived

TE Jake Hausmann - Waived

TE Rysen John - Waived

CB James Bradberry - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

DB Logan Ryan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

TE Kaden Smith - Waived

P Riley Dixon - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

RB Devontae Booker - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts

TE Kyle Rudolph - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts
