John Harbugh is Dallas’ “worst nightmare’’? OK, that’s a bit melodramatic. But here come the Giants. Be afraid, Cowboys Nation. Be very afraid.
FRISCO - It happened literally minutes after the Baltimore Ravens’ bold (dumb?) decision to fire John Harbaugh, their wildly respected Super Bowl-winning coach.
I spoke to a Cowboys decision-maker about the move and suggested with a bit of an exaggeration that Harbaugh moving into the NFC East would be Dallas’ “worst nightmare.’’
“Well, whatever he does next,’’ my source said, “let’s just hope he stays as far way from the NFC and New York Giants as is humanly possible.’’
Oops. Nope. It’s happening officially, the Giants moving boldly (and smartly) to do whatever is took to hire the best coach available - and to many in the NFL, the best coach, period.
The Ravens had their reasons, even after 18 successful seasons. Maybe Harbaugh “lost the locker room.’’ Maybe he lost QB Lamar Jackson.
But the Giants’ reasoning is now what matters - in New York, of course, but in Dallas, too.
The Giants in the last four seasons are 22-45-1. So they lose to everybody. But they especially lose to Dallas. Entering Week 18 of this season, when the Cowboys “Organically Tanked’’ their way to a loss at New York, Dallas had recorded nine straight wins in the series, and QB Dak Prescott had recorded a ridiculous 15 straight wins.
Harbaugh, 63, is the Giants’ best, fastest, classiest way to change all of that.
Giants co-owner Steve Tisch got him on a private jet to guide him to the Giants facility on Wednesday. That came after Chris Mara of the ownership family zipped to Baltimore on Sunday for lunch with Harbaugh at the coach’s house. And all of this is very much about Chris’ brother, John Mara, and his situation.
John Mara, 71, is battling cancer. As one source close to him told me, “This is Mr. Mara’s legacy move.’’
So … the Giants are giving Harbaugh the moon and the stars. GM Joe Schoen is apparently staying on, but I bet he’ll be working for Harbaugh, who figures to be getting about $20 million per year (an NFL-high) for his services.
Does the Giants roster make it “the most attractive destination for Harbaugh,’’ as some in New York claim? Their overall record - and their record against Dallas - suggests otherwise.
But are they poised to look a lot less discombobulated and dysfunctional? No doubt. The Giants pride themselves, from the Maras on down, on being “old-school’’ and “traditional’’ and “buttoned-up.’’ They resent loosey-goosey Jerry Jones’ Cowboys being viewed as the NFL’s “crown jewel’’ franchise’’ as they cling to the idea that they should be seen as the league’s “most storied franchise.’’
And now John Harbaugh is in a position to help them do all of that.
Dallas’ “worst nightmare’’? OK, that’s a bit melodramatic. But here come the Giants. Be afraid, Cowboys Nation. Be very afraid.