Head Coach Brian Daboll

BRIAN DABOLL: A couple housekeeping items here. We'll open up (kicker) Graham Gano's window. He'll start practicing, we'll see where he's at. We signed Bryan Hudson, an offensive lineman, to the practice squad. We released (cornerback) Nick McCloud and replaced his spot with (defensive back) Art Green.

Q: Art Green on the active roster?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah

Q: Was this move because somebody was interested in Art Green?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, he's been doing a good job. Going to give him an opportunity at gunner. Some DB stuff, kind of fourth, fifth DB. He's done a good job since he's been here. So, that's what we did.

Q: I assume (punter Jamie) Gillan is back if you released (punter) Matt (Haack)?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we're going to put him on the practice squad. Sorry, I missed that one. Matt, back on the practice squad. He'll punt today. I'm hopeful for both specialists, but we've got to see him out here doing it, working at it. And then in terms of not practicing today, (wide receiver) Bryce Ford (-Wheaton) will not practice. (Defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence II) won't practice. (wide receiver Darius) Slayton is still in concussion protocol. Not to where (running back Tyrone) Tracy was last week, so I'd say he's questionable. Definitely. (Guard Greg Van Roten) GVR, he's got a shoulder. That's where we're at.

Q: Will Slayton travel with you guys tomorrow?

BRIAN DABOLL: Not there yet. He could possibly not travel. We'll see where he's at. Yeah, that hasn't been decided yet, but if he's not progressing where he needs to progress, there's a chance we could not travel him.

Q: How does it help the team to cut Nick McCloud?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we thought that bringing Art Green up was a good move for us and that's what we did.

Q: But he started five games, usually guys who aren't playing are the ones who get cut, not the guys who have started five games. Why him at this time did that make sense?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I understand the situation. Got a lot of respect for Nick, but that's a decision that we made. Bring Art up and he's kind of going to do some of those roles.

Q: It's obviously a financial decision, so what kind of message do you send to the locker room that for a million dollars you're going to cut a guy who's a core special teamer, started five games, plays inside, plays outside? I'm just curious how you rectify that.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would just say that that's a decision that we made and Art's going to have an opportunity to do that.

Q: Do you feel that that's something you have to monitor? Like how that's received in the locker room? I know maybe that's a decision that's made upstairs, but you are kind of in charge of handling the locker room and how guys…

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I'd say there's a lot of changes on a weekly basis in the NFL and I think everybody that's involved in it understands.

Q: Do you bring all the specialists to Europe?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, all the practice squad players will go to Europe.

Q: You signed three rookie undrafted offensive linemen in the last week, I think. Is it just looking to bring in developmental bodies or why is that? Is it a lot at one time?

BRIAN DABOLL: Sure, I'd say our scouts are continually looking at players and if we think that there's something to work with, we get them on the practice squad, and that's an important position to develop, particularly younger players, so if they have some qualities that we like, we bring them in and work with them, and hopefully develop them.

Q: (Outside linebacker Brian) Burns, obviously facing his former team, Carolina. How do you think he's played so far this season beyond just the stats?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, he's been a good addition for us. Good leadership, good player for us. Glad we got him.

Q: I know that your mind is right here on this game, but anything you can tell us about when (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) brought that idea to you, what was your reaction? We saw Shane Bowen's reaction on Hard Knocks, what was your reaction when Joe said to you, 'Brian Burns might be available to us'?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I said 'great'. I mean, he's a good football player. He's a difficult guy to block, good pass rusher and then not knowing the player, called some guys that have coached him in the past when we got him, I was excited we got him.

Q: What have you learned about him that you didn't know beforehand?

BRIAN DABOLL: A lot because I didn't know him, other than he was a good football player. So, the person, the type of guy he is, the way he works, his leadership qualities. He's a good pro.

Q: We see him limping out of the locker almost every game. In my experience, not every guy would put themselves through that level of pain when the season is where the season is. What does that tell you about him?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, they're professionals, so he's a professional. Everybody wants a job in the NFL, so I think that the players that at least I've been around for a long time, everybody works as hard as they can work each and every week. They put everything they got into it during the week. He certainly does. I'd say a lot of guys do and I appreciate his effort and how he is as a player and also how he is as a person.

Q: You've been pretty complimentary of (quarterback Daniel Jones) D.J. along the way. You were supportive of him even in difficult times. How have you seen him come back in the last couple of games since he had that…?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think he's made a lot of good decisions. He's improved certain things that we work on. He's got the right mindset. Again, we've said this, he's pretty consistent. He doesn't get too high; he doesn't get too low. He does everything he can do every week to try to play as good as he can play the quarterback position for us.

Q: When a season reaches this point, I know you have half a season left and you're not where you want to be. I know you probably spend a lot of time leaning on your coaching staff, but also when you look at the locker room, how much do you find yourself leaning on who you would consider the leaders in there to make sure that this team is going in the right direction?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think we've got a lot of the right guys that are made of the right DNA. Team first players. Again, you're not happy about the results, but you control what you can control, which is the upcoming week. We've got a bunch of guys that do that each and every week.

Q: We've talked about how much you've played rookies. You find out a little bit about them, but this is really the first time they're taking punches like this in a season. Does that put more on veterans, guys who you know you can go to?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think it's important for veterans to have leadership presence, but I'd say our rookies have a lot of leadership in them too. Again, they're playing a lot of football. They're learning as we go, but they all have the right mindset. I'm pleased with how they act outside the building, inside the building, the work they put in and their skill set. I really enjoy working with these young guys. They're made of the right kind of stuff.

Q: This is a little bit off the beaten path, but you are in post-game press conferences after losses. Obviously, everybody's pissed off and frustrated and whatnot. I'm sure every head coach wants to explain exactly why this happened, who screwed this up, all that kind of stuff. What is your philosophy? You never call anybody out and some coaches do. What's your philosophy on that on why not to do that?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, these guys, everybody, coaches, the players, again, you see that we all do this to try to win. We spend a lot of time here. We practice the right way. We work hard. When you don't get the results, certainly it's frustrating. You do everything you can do to get a win. Ultimately, that's my job and my job is to support and lead. Again, it should fall on me, not these guys. They're working their butts off.

Q: Did you draw that from anybody, any mentors or whatever? Because there are coaches that will, even if it's in a slippery way, throw guys under the bus.

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I appreciate how these guys work and the commitment they have to one another. Again, the results stink, to be honest with you. We're doing everything we can do and that's on me.

Q: What was Dex's injury?

BRIAN DABOLL: Vet day. We've done this the last few weeks with Dex. He's played a lot of snaps for a big guy. He's playing at a high level, so we take a little bit off on today.

Q: I know your focus is here. I just wanted to ask about somebody you've coached with in the past, just the idea of (Saints Interim Head Coach) Darren Rizzi getting an opportunity down in New Orleans. I know you spent one year with him. I'm just curious on your relationship. He's a Jersey guy.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah. I've known Rizz for a long time. I haven't spoken to him. I'm kind of focused on our stuff. I've got a lot of respect for Rizz, his family, his large family. He's a good man.

Quarterback Daniel Jones

Q: What's your assessment when you look at the Carolina Panthers?

DANIEL JONES: A good team, good defense. I think they have a good system that's successful across the league. So, we'll have to know what we're up against. It's always about us, it's always about how we execute, how we prepare throughout the week and get ready to play our best on Sunday. So, we obviously have awareness and study what they do, but the emphasis is on us and controlling our preparation.

Q: When you look at their rankings on defense, do you sit there and say, 'they've given up a lot of points'?

DANIEL JONES: We're always going to be aggressive. We're always going to prepare to play well. Like I said, it's not about the defense, it's not about who we play against. It's about doing what we do and executing well as a group consistently for four quarters.

Q: How do you feel like you guys have done execution-wise the last couple of weeks?

DANIEL JONES: I think we've executed better at times. Obviously not consistent enough, not finishing and we've got to score more points. We'll always look to improve that. I think there's some things we can build on, certainly, but a lot to clean up and that's what we're focused on.

Q: They have a young quarterback (Panthers quarterback Bryce Young). I mean you went through it all. How hard is it to make the transition from college to pro?

DANIEL JONES: I think everyone's experience is different in their transition and what they were exposed to in college, and their experience in college and then their experience and situation in the NFL. Everyone's journey is a little bit different. I don't know Bryce great; I've met him a couple times and seems like a guy who works really hard and cares a lot about it. I'm sure he'll get going.

Q: Any lessons you learned from traveling a couple years ago that you can apply to the overseas trip this year? Just handling it and everything that goes with it.

DANIEL JONES: I mean it's helpful to have done it once and have gone through it. I think, yeah, you know what to do. Try to adjust to the time as much as possible. You're not going to be able to fully get on that time zone, but just traveling, trying to sleep on the way over there and then getting your body back up and running Friday when you get there.

Q: Are excited for this trip? The Giants have a pretty huge fan following in Germany.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, we're excited to go over there. I think just the one experience I have to look back on is the London trip and just how much energy and excitement there was in that stadium, and the fans and how into it they are. That was a really cool experience. Hoping and expecting kind of the same thing here in Germany. Looking forward to playing in that stadium.

Q: What do you think the key is to truly focusing on one week at a time? Like everyone says and not thinking too hard about big picture, what's left mathematically and all that.

DANIEL JONES: I think it just comes down to staying busy, working hard on what you have to do. There's plenty of work to do here. Using your time efficiently that way and preparing, studying, getting your body healthy, all those things take plenty of time. It's about focusing on that and not wasting time worrying about things that you can't control.

Q: I know you're only going to be over there like three days or so. But how do you adjust to eating and things like that? Do you just eat whatever is put in front of you or what?

DANIEL JONES: You try to keep it as similar to what you do here. Over there, there'll be some differences in the food and what they have to offer. But try to keep it as consistent as possible to keep your body going on what it's accustomed to.

Q: Being from down there, you've been around a few years. I think you've played there a couple of times. Is there anything to playing Carolina, even though you're not playing down there because you're a native?

DANIEL JONES: I don't know – I mean yeah, as the team I grew up pulling for and watching. It's cool to be able to play here. It gives you some perspective on how far you've come and the opportunity you have to play in the NFL. And certainly, have a lot of appreciation for that. Once the ball is snapped and kicked off, it's just another game.

Q: What do you know about Germany in general?

DANIEL JONES: Not much, obviously, I've never been there. Only time I've been to Europe was to London. But I'm excited to go over there.

Q: What have you learned about it since you figured out that you're playing there? I know (Former Giants defensive tackle) Markus Kuhn has been around here. He's a guy who's from there who played for this team.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, you hear about the food, the culture, the soccer culture. I think it'll be cool to play in that stadium. It's obviously a very successful soccer team and strong fan base there. I think just seeing that and being in it.

Q: Are there times at all that you take stock in what you've done here in your five plus years? Is that for the off season? Do you think about that at all?

DANIEL JONES: I think right now you're just focused on this game. Focused on cleaning up what we need to clean up from last week and then focusing on preparing to play this game. There will be time to reflect on the bigger picture at some point. But right now, I think you're in the season and you need all the energy and focus on this game.

Q: What's the difficulty of being in this spot again at 2-7? It's been that way for the better part of the time you've been here.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I mean, it's tough. No one's happy with where we are now. The challenge is now, are you going to let that affect your preparation? Are you going to let that affect your attitude and your effort? Or are you going to use it to motivate you and elevate your game, elevate your preparation – and I think we all have to make the decision to do that. And that's what we're focusing on.

Q: What do you take from Sunday's game? That was an interesting game for sure from your stat line at least. Zero yards in the first half and then with the way you played in the second half, what do you take away from that?

DANIEL JONES: Well, I think obviously we were running the ball very successfully in the first half, so we stuck to that and were moving it. I think there's some, obviously we want to score some more points and finish those drives. But I thought I was efficient for the most part, in the second half, took advantage of the opportunities that were there. I think I always look to clean up a few things and see where you can be better. I just want to win, however the game plays out and (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs was feeling running the ball and we ran the ball well. So, we stuck to it.

Outside Linebacker Brian Burns

Q: Does this game feel any different, carry any special meaning, any different emotions going into this one?

BRIAN BURNS: No, sir.

Q: Why not? A lot of guys look at it, when they leave a team, as like, 'I've got to show them something.'

BRIAN BURNS: No, like I said, business is business. Business happened. I'm happy where I am. I'm blessed.

Q: Did you think you were going be a (Carolina) Panther your whole career?

BRIAN BURNS: Yeah, I did. I did.

Q: I had talked to people back in the spring about your impact there. It seemed like a lot of people behind the scenes, even non-football, you had great relationships that you built in that building. When you left, did you have a chance to say goodbye? Or are there a lot of people you expect to see on Sunday that you haven't seen since your departure?

BRIAN BURNS: There are a ton of people that I didn't get to talk to before I left. Over five years, you build that bond with a lot of people in a lot of different ways. I do have a special connection with some people from the equipment staff, training staff and some of the lunch people. I've just got connections all over that building. So, I can't wait to see them.

Q: Is there a part of you that wishes the game was in Carolina?

BRIAN BURNS: Definitely, for sure.

Q: What do you think of (cornerback) Nick McCloud being cut?

BRIAN BURNS: That's my partner. I don't know, I don't really know the ins and outs of why it happened. But that's somebody I got close to since I got here, so it's a bummer.

Q: Do you think he helped the team?

BRIAN BURNS: For sure, he's a dog on special teams and he knows everything through and through with the defense. I always thought he was an asset.

Q: What can you tell us about (Panthers cornerback) Jaycee Horn? You were his teammate for a while over there…Young corner.

BRIAN BURNS: Jaycee is my dog. I love Jaycee. We're close. Me, him, and a couple of other guys that split from that defense, we still keep in touch all the time. So, that's my dog. But he's a talented player. It's going to be great seeing him again and I'm wishing him the best.

Q: When you were traded, they were rebuilding, so they moved in a different direction. When you got traded here, I assume you didn't expect to be on a different 2-and-7 team. Were you expecting better things when you got traded here?

BRIAN BURNS: Going into a new situation, you always want to look on the positive side of things. But football is football, and this is how it goes, sometimes it's how the cards fold. But overall, it's still a blessed opportunity and a blessed position I'm in.

Q: You were a part of that team for five years, some difficult seasons. Are there similarities here and there? Do you feel like this team's handling it differently than that team handled difficult situations? BRIAN BURNS: Everything is different. It's hard to compare the two, just because of the different variables in each situation.

Q: Does it feel like just any other game, or does it feel like a little bit more emotionally charged for you in light of your time with the Panthers?

BRIAN BURNS: Personally, I have my own thoughts about it. But I'm not going to make it any bigger than what the line and everything's going to be about it. It's just another game to me. I'm going to prepare the same way and plan to get a win in Germany.

Q: You've talked about, the last couple weeks, the importance of you guys getting a win and coming out and trying to end the bad times the last couple weeks and the losses. Does that carry even more weight going into this weekend, knowing that the more this adds up, the worse it's going to feel for you guys as you head into a bye week, that kind of thing?

BRIAN BURNS: I think it's best that we put emphasis on getting a win this week, just because we're going into the bye week. I would say that's the main goal. Then coming off the bye week, we'll be a lot fresher. We'll have (outside linebacker Kayvon) Thibodeaux back hopefully around that time. Then we can hit that last seven game stretch with a run with some momentum.

Q: Correct me if I'm wrong, please, I don't think you ever asked to be traded from Carolina, right?

BRIAN BURNS: No.

Q: Was it a surprise when you got traded, when it came to you, when it all went down, how did you react?

BRIAN BURNS: Surprise? I wouldn't say a surprise…I would say you could kind of feel the direction it was going in. But no. Just to answer your question, I didn't ask for a trade.

Q: What was your first reaction to New York? They could have come to you and said 31 other teams are interested in you. What was your reaction when you heard you were coming here?

BRIAN BURNS: I was just excited to start a new opportunity, a new adventure. To continue my chapter and let's play some good ball, that's it.

Q: Have you been in contact with any of your old teammates?

BRIAN BURNS: Yeah, I talk to (linebacker) Shaq (Thompson), Jaycee, (49ers defensive end) Yetur (Gross-Matos), (Commanders linebacker Frankie) Luvu. I talk to all of my guys every now and then outside of football.

Q: Any trash talking going on?

BRIAN BURNS: Nah, we don't even really talk about football, honestly.

Q: It doesn't sound here like you carry any bad blood towards the Panthers…

BRIAN BURNS: No, I respect those people in that building, that organization. Like I said, I'm blessed. There isn't really too much to speak on. I'm happy where I am now and I'm just trying to make this team win.

Q: How different is the player that you are today, different than the one that was in Carolina? Whether it was last year or the year before. Do you feel like you've grown individually since you've left there?

BRIAN BURNS: I'd say, maybe from a holistic view. I kind of took on a different role coming here from when I was in Carolina. So just being able to adapt, I would say, is improvement.

Q: What's the different role?

BRIAN BURNS: Coming from a place you were drafted; you work to become that guy and that leader of that defense to coming into a situation that has that guy or has other leaders already established. It's a different role and a different avenue you have to take to prove yourself. I feel like I did that, and I was able to adapt.