The Tennessee Titans traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears last Thursday for two first-round picks, but the New York Giants were also in the mix. According to The Athletic's Jonathan Jones, after GM Joe Schoen was told by Titans GM Mike Borgonzi that Simmons wasn't available, Giants head coach John Harbaugh called Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly. That breaks with the usual NFL protocol of dealing with the GM.
Strunk reportedly gave him the same answer, saying she has empowered Borgonzi to make football decisions. Chicago GM Ryan Poles, who goes way back with Borgonzi, ended up landing Simmons. On Monday, Harbaugh admitted he did it.
He said he left a message, that the Giants are "turning over every stone," and that anyone can call them. He also brushed off the criticism, saying, "We're not part of any secret society oath that says you can only talk to somebody. We didn’t get memoed on that.
We’re not in that agreement. So like I said, anybody can call us. We won’t be adhering to that particular agreement." More news: NFL Insider Warns Dak Prescott’s Time With Cowboys Could Be Running Out Harbaugh has been a big success so far in his first season in New York.
After 18 years in Baltimore and a Super Bowl title, he took over a Giants team that won just four games last season, and already has them at 4-2-1 and atop the NFC East by two games. Their opener was a primetime win over the Dallas Cowboys, and they beat the Houston Texans in overtime before the bye, with J.J. McCarthy now at quarterback.
The Giants are 3-1-1 in one-score games after going 1-7 in those last season. Meanwhile, the rest of the division is struggling, with the Cowboys at 3-5, the Washington Commanders at 2-4-1, and the Philadelphia Eagles 2-6, putting New York in a good position to win the division title. That's why they're being so aggressive in acquiring talent.
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