Articles by Greg Johnson
St. Joe’s junior Joe Ketusky thriving as cornerback through fearless attitude
Football has long been viewed as the sport where generally the biggest kids perform the best. But one athlete at Saint Joseph High School, Metuchen, is an example of how size isn’t everything. Joe Ketusky was among the best defensive backs in the Big Central Conference last season despite standing only 5-foot-9 and weighing 145 pounds. He has typically been one of the smaller kids on his teams since middle school, so he uses his speed, anticipation and technique to gain an edge.
Dallas Whitaker returns to Immaculata for dream job as head football coach
Before he even graduated from Immaculata High School, Somerville, in 2011, Dallas Whitaker knew that his dream job was to return one day and follow in the footsteps of a legendary coach. Pierce Fraunheim led the Spartans to the state championship game in three of Whitaker’s four seasons as a player. “Everybody in the school took it really seriously, and he was a great leader and set an example for me. We just had such positive experiences when we were there,” Whitaker said.
NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championships finals to be held at one site
For the first time, the finals of all three NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championships will be held at one site. Towson, which is in the Baltimore metropolitan area, will host the 2027 championships at Johnny Unitas Stadium May 28-30. Previously, Towson served as the host for the Division I women’s lacrosse semifinals and final in 2008-10, 2014 and 2021. Subaru Park, the home of the Philadelphia Union MLS franchise, will host the 2028 championships.
Ryan Shellhammer transitions from coaching girls basketball at Mount Saint Mary to Immaculata
Ryan Shellhammer faced that reality this summer when he accepted the job as head girls’ basketball coach at Immaculata High School and, in the process, left Mount Saint Mary Academy – another school in the Diocese where he spent the past 13 years. “To leave that group that was special, they were talented, they were balanced, they had great personalities … that was heartbreaking, to say the least,” he said.
Opinion: Our Schools Were Victims of Mass Shootings. We Know What Congress Needs to Do
We never thought it would happen to our schools. No one does. But on our fateful days, our schools became statistics — part of the grim tally of campuses forever changed by gun violence. We are founding members of the NASSP Principal Recovery Network, a group of school leaders who have experienced gun violence in our buildings, an organization born from tragedy and united by a commitment to healing and saving lives.
Commercial sponsor advertisements approved for all regular-season NCAA football games
By Greg Johnson, NCAA On a recommendation from the Football Rules Committee, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently approved allowing commercial sponsor advertisements on football fields for regular-season games in all three divisions, starting with the 2024 season.
Wink Martindale, along with several other assistants, won’t return to Giants next season
One of the NFL’s most respected defensive coordinators will not be back with the Giants next season, even if the terms of their separation remain unclear. Initial reports Monday were that Wink Martindale had resigned, but then ESPN reported Tuesday morning that the 60-year-old had yet to formerly submit his resignation. It’s important to note that Martindale is still under contract with the Giants in 2024.
GREG JOHNSON: Giants’ defense deserves major credit for keeping the team in playoff hunt
EAST RUTHERFORD — The Giants’ comeback tour — for however long the dream of sneaking into the playoffs lasts — has made one point clear for the future of the franchise. Brian Daboll needs to repair whatever beef he may have with Wink Martindale. Sure, it’s understandable that two coaches would get competitive with each other during practice since they specialize in opposite sides of the football.
As Giants stick with Tommy DeVito at quarterback, Tyrod Taylor says it ‘hurts’ to be a backup again
EAST RUTHERFORD — Tyrod Taylor says he has lost his job as a starting quarterback “a number of times” throughout his 13-year NFL career because of an injury. This is just the latest instance. In the wake of the news that Tommy DeVito will make his fourth start for the Giants next Monday night, Taylor wants to be a good teammate but is clearly unhappy. “It’s the nature of the business,” Taylor said. “Obviously, this league is a ‘right now’ league.
Rutgers football to clash with Miami in Pinstripe Bowl
Dec. 4—Rutgers football is heading back to the Bronx. The Scarlet Knights learned Sunday evening that they were selected play in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28 at 2:15 p.m against Miami. This will mark Rutgers' third trip to Yankee Stadium following a win against Iowa State in 2011 and a loss to Notre Dame in 2013. kAm%96 z?:89ED We\e[ b\eX 6?565 E96 C68F=2C D62D@? H:E9 7@FC DEC2:89E =@DD6D 3FE AF?4965 2 E:4<6E E@ 2 3@H= 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 a_`c[ H96? E96J 56762E65 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 :?
GREG JOHNSON: Sad to see how Giants, Pats have fallen from Super Bowl rivals to bumbling teams
EAST RUTHERFORD — If you wanted to see football set back 100 years, then Patriots-Giants was the game for you on Sunday. While it was unsurprising to see the NFL’s two lowest-scoring teams again struggle mightily to get into field goal range — much less reach the end zone — the Giants’ 10-7 win at MetLife Stadium was still an embarrassing display of the professional sport. The teams combined for 14 punts and only 28 first downs. They each had three fumbles including one muffed punt apiece.
GREG JOHNSON: Even in lost season, Giants’ staff can gain respect by beating Bill Belichick’s Patriots
Winning at the Commanders as an underdog last Sunday was nice. Except, they’re the one team that the Giants have owned in recent years, regardless of who’s in uniform or what the teams’ records are. Heck, two of their three wins this year have come against Washington.
Tommy DeVito building case to remain Giants’ quarterback for final six games
Tommy DeVito has gone from being little more than a fun story about an undrafted local kid to a player who is now legitimately competing to be the Giants’ starting quarterback for the final six games of the season. Tyrod Taylor is eligible to come off of injured reserve after next Sunday’s home game against the New England Patriots. It’s unknown if Taylor’s rib cage will be healed enough to do so, but there’s also no guarantee now that the Giants go back to the 13th-year veteran under center.
GREG JOHNSON: Giants must clean up their defense at Washington to be competitive
The Giants’ offense, for better or worse, is what it is now. Hometown rookie Tommy DeVito is not going to light up the scoreboard, and you know you’ve got problems if the best-case scenario is Tyrod Taylor returning to the field in three weeks. This team’s competitiveness for the remainder of the season largely comes down to defense that last Sunday in Dallas allowed 670 yards — the second-most by the Giants in franchise history.
Giants coach Brian Daboll on job security: ‘I’m focused on Washington’
EAST RUTHERFORD — Brian Daboll scoffed at the question, but it’s the nature of the business when your team is 2-8 and playing noncompetitive football. Has the Giants’ head coach received assurances from ownership that he’ll remain with the organization next season? “I’m focused on Washington, guys,” Daboll said Wednesday prior to the start of practice. That would happen to be the Giants’ next opponent.
GREG JOHNSON: Brian Daboll must keep Giants from unraveling in last eight games
The Giants may as well have had an obituary last Sunday in Las Vegas, because with Daniel Jones lost for the season and Tyrod Taylor out for at least three more games on injured reserve, this team is dead in 2023. Fans have to ask themselves how on earth this offense is going to produce points — much less win football games. The Giants have 10 touchdowns this season — one ahead of the Jets for the least in the NFL — and that’s with Jones or Taylor starting every game.
Giants’ Daniel Jones out for season with torn ACL suffered in Las Vegas
The Giants’ worst fears were realized Monday morning. Quarterback Daniel Jones is out for the season with a torn ACL, an MRI confirmed after the Giants returned home from Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas. “Obviously surgery will ensue, but I don’t know when that would be,” Daboll said. “I talked to him obviously on the plane before he got the MRI, and then really, I just saw him for 30 seconds here before I came into this press conference.
GREG JOHNSON: Daniel Jones must win down the stretch to have chance to be Giants’ future QB
The Giants’ playoff hopes may be effectively over barring a miracle, but exactly how much they lose from here on out will determine their draft position. For Daniel Jones, winning as many games as possible will increase the chances that the Giants (2-6) don’t draft his successor next year simply because they may not be picking high enough. They are currently slotted fourth. The fifth-year quarterback will return Sunday in Las Vegas from a neck injury that cost him three games.
NFL: Daniel Jones prepares to play vs. Raiders as Darren Waller, Tyrod Taylor miss Giants practice
EAST RUTHERFORD — While the Raiders are in disarray after firing their general manager, head coach and offensive coordinator this week, the Giants got good news Wednesday when quarterback Daniel Jones officially returned to being a full participant in practice. Jones, who has missed the last three games with a neck injury, is set to return to the starting lineup Sunday in Las Vegas — barring a setback, of course.
GREG JOHNSON: Giants’ season officially dead after colossal meltdown against Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD — You didn’t really think the Giants would beat another team with the fewest passing yards in an NFL game ever, did you? The impossible was a miraculous reality up until the final 24 seconds of regulation in Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium. But it was all a mirage. A stellar effort by the coaching staff and the defense went up in flames. The Jets connected on two field goals to win in overtime, 13-10, and officially bury a gravestone for this putrid 2023 Giants season.
GREG JOHNSON: Giants must attack Jets with running back screens, quarterback scrambles
With the way the Giants’ defense is playing lately and can dial up pressure on young quarterbacks, it’s hard to imagine quarterback Zack Wilson being a driving force in a Jets victory this Sunday at MetLife Stadium. So the question becomes: What can the Big Blue do with the ball in their hands against the Gang Green’s even stingier defense? Starting fast, as the Giants did in a 14-7 win over Washington last week, is paramount.
Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams ready for another ‘gritty’ showdown with Jets Original
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Leonard Williams will be the only player on the field Sunday at MetLife Stadium who has experienced both sides of the Jets-Giants rivalry. The 29-year-old defensive lineman was a rookie first-round pick with the Jets when Gang Green beat Big Blue in overtime in 2015, and two weeks after being traded to the Giants in 2019, Williams’ team lost to the Jets again by a touchdown.
GREG JOHNSON: Tyrod Taylor making case to get closer look as Giants’ quarterback
EAST RUTHERFORD — Tyrod Taylor could have packed his bags and retired from the NFL at any point over the last few years since regularly starting games for the Bills in 2017, yet his patience and professionalism as a backup is now paying dividends for the Giants.
GREG JOHNSON: Giants’ defense playing more cohesively entering division game with Commanders
Was the Giants’ defensive performance in Buffalo merely a one-off, or a sign of things to come? We’re about to find out Sunday afternoon when New York hosts Washington at MetLife Stadium, and the answer will shed light on the trajectory of this season. Win or lose, the Giants (1-5) are probably not going to the playoffs this season. But they are truly dead if they lose another division game this weekend. That would force the front office to strongly consider being sellers before the Oct.
Despite spark from Tyrod Taylor, Brian Daboll says Giants have no quarterback controversy
Tyrod Taylor gave the Giants’ offense a spark on Sunday night in Buffalo, but nothing has changed as far as the quarterback room goes. When Daniel Jones is healthy enough to play again, he will be the starter. “No,” head coach Brian Daboll said bluntly when asked if the Giants have a quarterback controversy.
GREG JOHNSON: Even in defeat, the rebuilding Giants must do better than embarrassing meltdowns
Back when the NFL schedule was rescheduled in May, fans understandably had this game circled on their calendars. Brian Daboll, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, taking the Giants to his former team, the Bills, on a Sunday night? Now that is fascinating. Or so we thought.
Giants, Daniel Jones have optimistic outlook on injury Original
Brian Daboll’s homecoming will be a lot whole tougher if he doesn’t have his starting quarterback. The second-year Giants head coach said Monday he is “optimistic” that won’t be the case. Daniel Jones left Sunday’s game in Miami with a neck injury after being sacked by Andrew Van Ginkel. Jones told reporters afterward that it felt “similar” to the neck contusion he suffered in 2021 that forced him to miss that season’s final six games, but there is an initial belief that this injury is less severe.
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