EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants fired offensive line coach Marc Colombo following a nasty verbal confrontation with head coach Joe Judge, sources told ESPN, and have replaced him with longtime NFL assistant Dave DeGuglielmo.
“We appreciate what Marc has done, but I felt like this move is in the best interest of the team,” Judge said in a statement released by the team Wednesday.
When Colombo was told of a plan by Judge to hire DeGuglielmo as a consultant on Tuesday night, it did not go down well.
Colombo did not agree with the move and felt that he was being undermined, a source told ESPN, due to DeGuglielmo’s background as an offensive line coach. Another source added that the hands-on Judge wanted to bring in “one of his guys” to capture more control at a position that is not his expertise.
Although there was plenty of name-calling, Colombo and Judge did not get into a fistfight, as one report indicated. A Giants spokesperson said the report of a physical altercation is “absolutely false in every way.”
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers offense could be back at full strength to start the stretch run of the season with the return of wide receiver Allen Lazard.
The Packers’ No. 2 threat in the passing game was added to the 53-man roster Tuesday, nearly three weeks after he returned to practice following core muscle surgery.
Combined with the return of All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari for last Sunday’s victory over the Jaguars and the return of running back Aaron Jones for the previous week’s win against the 49ers, the Packers (7-2) should have their full complement to surround Aaron Rodgers in time for one of their toughest remaining games — at the Colts on Sunday — as long as Davante Adams’ ankle holds up.
DAVIE, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins waived running Jordan Howard on Monday in what coach Brian Flores called a “mutual parting.”
Howard, who signed a two-year, $9.75 million deal with $4.75 million guaranteed in March, has been a free-agent disappointment for Miami. He will go on waivers; Howard, and the rest of his prorated $1.75 million salary, will be up for grabs for anyone to claim.
“A lot of respect for him and respect for the way he worked. No ill will, just thought it was best for both parties,” Flores said.
The New Orleans Saints are facing significant discipline for not wearing masks during their postgame celebrations last Sunday night — as seen in videos they posted to social media, including the team’s own Twitter account — after their victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, league sources told ESPN.
Video of Saints players and head coach Sean Payton dancing and celebrating their 38-3 victory over Tampa Bay trended last Sunday night. Multiple players were clearly not wearing masks during the celebration in the locker room, which is a violation of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols — and the league noticed, according to sources.
The Saints are facing stiff fines and the loss of a draft pick, similar to the action the NFL took against the Raiders earlier this month, when Las Vegas was fined $500,000, head coach Jon Gruden was fined $150,000 and the franchise was stripped of a sixth-round pick for COVID-19 protocol violations.
