HEADLINES

David Diehl

Reiss On Browns, Quinn, Diehl, Pats

January 26th, 2014 at 8:46am CST by Matt Feminis

Front offices and coaching staffs continue to turn over throughout the NFL, including in New England, prompting ESPN’s Mike Reiss to give his take on several news items. Highlights:

  • Turning down ostensibly prestigious, high-profile NFL jobs in fear of stigmatic repercussions is all the rage right now, but before the Dolphins’ convoluted GM search, the Browns were trendsetters. Before hiring head coach Mike Pettine, the team “circled back” on Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels only to be told, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ a second time.
  • Browns CEO Joe Banner told reporters Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was reluctantly crossed off the list because the Browns did not want to wait until after the Super Bowl, as first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter).
  • Reiss compared the recent retirement of Giants OL David Diehl to that of former Patriot OT Matt Light, implying Diehl’s loss could be more impactful than national perception indicates. Diehl was considered a heart-and-soul-type who brought leadership and dependability to the offensive line.
  • Reiss spitballs that the retirement of longtime Patriots offensive line coach/assistant head coach Dante Scarnecchia could open the door for former Rutgers and Tampa Bay head man Greg Schiano to join the coaching staff. Bill Belichick’s relationship with Schiano is well-documented and the New England roster is filled with Rutgers products.

David Diehl Announces Retirement

January 24th, 2014 at 2:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Longtime Giants offensive lineman David Diehl has decided to call it a career, officially announcing his retirement today. Diehl played 11 seasons in New York, starting more than 160 total games at both guard and tackle for the club.

After missing only four games in his first nine seasons, Diehl was slowed by knee problems during the last two years, which contributed to his decision to retire at age 33. A fifth-round pick out of Illinois in 2003, Diehl won a pair of Super Bowls with the Giants, and earned a spot in the 2009 Pro Bowl as a left tackle.

“I’ve accomplished everything I could possibly dream of as a football player,” Diehl said. “If in 2003, anyone would have said that Dave Diehl, a fifth-round draft pick out of Illinois, would win two Super Bowls, play in the Pro Bowl and win every single Giant award possible, people would have said you’re crazy. I have a lot to be proud of.”

With Diehl retiring and Kevin Boothe, who started all 16 games in 2013, facing free agency, the Giants may end up having a couple new regulars protecting Eli Manning next season.