Head Coach Brian Daboll
Q: Can you talk about (wide receiver Sterling) Shepard? You've only had him for two years, but can you just talk about what he's brought to the locker room and how he potentially closed out his career?
A: Good teammate, has a lot of energy. He's been here for a bit. This is the only team he's played for. This is an important organization to him, but I will just say he's a really good person and a good father. I've got a lot of respect for Shep and towards the end there, we were trying to get him bumped up there, gave him a look pass and I told him younger Shep might have made that guy miss and run in, but it was good.
Q: I know obviously the final record is not where you want it, but how important is it for the big picture to finish strong and get a win against the Eagles at the end for everything you're looking to establish?
A: I mean, one year is so different than the next. I'm just going to enjoy this one here. We were 3-3 in the division. I thought we got off to a really good start in the first half and played a physical game, made some explosive plays, played complementary football. So, I'm just happy for the guys right now. It's a long time between now and the next season, as you all know, so just enjoy this one and proud of the way the guys competed and fought and ultimately made more plays.
Q: There's a lot of decisions to be made in the off season, with (running back) Saquon (Barkley) being one of them. Can you speak on his day-to-day and if this was potentially his last go-around?
A: There's so much time between now and next season. All speculation.
Q: But his night tonight.
A: He made a nice play down the sideline. I thought (quarterback Tyrod Tayor) Ty found him. Nice play call, kind of motioned him out and empty, ran a rail route, did a nice job on a checkdown. You know, got him involved in the red zone, made some nice plays. So, it was good.
Q: I know you try not to have regrets; you play the players that are healthy and out there, but do you ever have a moment to say what the season could have been if Tyrod didn't get hurt in that Jet game and didn't miss the time he had?
A: No, we just play the guys that are ready to go. Look, we had some close ones. Again, didn't end the way we wanted to end, but very proud of the guys and the way they competed, particularly this last whole stretch of the way they competed. I was really proud of them.
Q: Talk about Tyrod's performance today.
A: I think he has started 58 games and last week was his second 300-yard game in his career. Did he get one tonight?
Q: Four yards short.
A: He had one last week, I thought he did some good stuff this week, so a true pro.
Q: (Tight end Darren) Waller got banged up a little bit.
A: Yeah, a lot of guys got banged up throughout the game.
Q: And he came back in. Sometimes, a veteran doesn't come back in.
A: Give me an example.
Q: I mean, just in general sometimes guys - they choose not to play at the end. You're not playing for the playoffs or anything. The fact that he did, is that what you want to see as a coach?
A: I don't have a lot of experiences with that in 25 years, but I mean, I'm sure there's some, but we're pros, so go out there and compete and do everything you can do to try to win a game.
Q: (Linebacker) Bobby Okereke had that leap on the push. Is that something that is coached or talked about? (former Giants linebacker) Carl Banks earlier in the week had talked about what he would have done.
A: I think he thought he moved the ball a little bit, so we took a chance on it.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) and the way he has ended the season?
A: He's finally getting healthy. I mean, really healthy. So, he's got quickness, speed, good with the ball in his hands. I've said that plenty of times, I know earlier in the season, maybe not as productive, but I think that was a result of him fighting through and his knee and that's a tough thing to do when you're a skill player that relies on quickness and speed and explosiveness. I'm sure happy we have him. I think he's going to be a good player for us. He's a great teammate. Glad we got him.
Q: When you look across at the other sideline and you see the Eagles and you see all the talent they have, are you kind of scratching your head going, why are they struggling so much down the stretch?
A: I'm just focused on the Giants. Thought our guys competed and practiced well. I mean, they've done that in this whole back half here. It's good to end off on a win.
Q: Can you talk about the job the coordinators did today? It looked like they emptied the playbook.
A: Yeah, I mean, they try to do that every week. It's what you try to do, put your guys in good position, go out there and compete to try to win a game.
Q: You had a shift on the offensive line today.
A: One more time.
*Q: You had a shift on the offensive line today with (center John Michael) Schmitz Jr. being out. Talk about those guys like (tackle Matt) Peart who had to come in there. *
A: We've done that throughout the week. Worked a couple of guys out this morning and they couldn't go. I credit those guys for being able to play multiple spots, but we do it through walk-through and some at practice. That's why you kind of move guys around a little bit. (guard Mark Glowinski) Glow was a tight end for us and now he's at guard and (guard Ben) Bredeson and Peart came back and played right tackle. I thought they competed well.
Q: 4 turnovers and 5 sacks. How do you feel about the defensive performance today?
A: I'd say the team performance was good. There was some good team football in there. Got off to a fast start. I just thought it was good team football.
Q: I'm not talking about you; I'm talking about the players. How important is it or is it important for them to end this season psychologically on a high moving forward?
A: I think anytime you win, it's a good thing. Obviously, our last game of the year and certainly would like to be playing still. Again, their attitudes and the way they handle their business day in and day out in our building. I'm really proud of the guys. That's a happy locker room, as it should be.
Q: What's the next couple of days going to be like without having to prepare for a playoff game?
A: A lot of meetings.
