The New York Giants are in the headlines this afternoon because there is a report that they have fired offensive line coach Marc Colombo. The reason is just as crazy as the headline suggests.
Colombo apparently got into a verbal altercation with Head Coach Joe Judge that escalated into a physical altercation. Word has it, the fight did not go in the direction of the head coach. Just to be clear, Colombo is a six-foot eight-inch former NFL offensive lineman with a mean streak. Clearly not the best of ideas by the head coach.
NY Giants beat reporters are already downplaying the situation with some even calling it false. Time will tell but people don’t get fired just for the fun of it. Especially when the team is finally starting to put up spirited performances. Something has to give.
The aftermath leaves the Giants with a vacancy within the staff and a head coach that now has to explain to reporters what actually happened. Teams in this situation usually try and downplay what really happened but the cat is out of the bag in this case.
The only instance I can recall when a head coach and a staff member getting into a physical altercation is when Houston Oilers head coach Buddy Ryan attempted to punch then offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride during a game!
If the rumors are true that there indeed was a physical altercation, the NFC East certainly has had the roughest calendar year for a division of all time.
From the Washington sex scandal and name change to the Giants releasing a rookie because he was allegedly involved in an armed robbery (which was later found to be false), the NFC East has singlehandedly embarrassed the league this year.
I have not even mentioned the pitiful play by the entire Division which will likely end up with a winner boasting a below .500 record and host a playoff game.
The NFL is fortunate that the pandemic has eased some of the headlines the NFC East has generated this year.
