The New York Giants hold the top spot in the NFC East ahead of the trade deadline and actively pursued one of the trade market’s premier stars. Giants head coach John Harbaugh stated to reporters on Monday that he contacted Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk personally to ask about defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who ultimately went to the Chicago Bears in a trade.
Reaching Out to the Titans Owner
Harbaugh acknowledged leaving a message for Strunk, explaining that he explores every possible option to improve the team. According to reporting by The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones, Harbaugh made the call directly to the owner, bypassing the traditional route of conducting business through a general manager.
“I did, I did. I left a message,” Harbaugh said. “…Because you turn over every stone. You know, gonna try everything. I mean, I just, I’ll put it out there, man, we’re open for any call. Anybody wants to call us or call anybody. Call.”
Dismissing Unwritten NFL Rules
Addressing criticism regarding protocol, Harbaugh dismissed the idea of adhering to unwritten rules about front office communication. He stated that his organization does not follow restrictive agreements on who can be contacted.
“We’re not like — we’re not part of any secret society oath that says you can only talk to somebody. We’re not in that,” Harbaugh said. “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.”
The direct outreach ultimately did not result in a deal for New York, as the Chicago Bears acquired Simmons along with a fifth-round pick in exchange for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick.
