As if the standing ovation that John Harbaugh received Monday from success-starved Giants season ticket holders wasn’t loud enough, he then said the magic words sure to set off a frenzy.
Asked by a fan about the Giants finally turning around their losing fortunes against the Cowboys and Eagles, Harbaugh pumped his fist in the air as a “Cowboys suck!” chant rang out in the crowd at Giants Town Hall in the Beacon Theatre.
“I could [not] care less about what’s happened last year or the year before that or 10 years before that,” Harbaugh said. “All I care about is tomorrow’s practice, because if tomorrow’s practice is the way it’s supposed to be, that will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ ass.”
You can imagine the roar that followed.
Harbaugh, who will coach the Giants in their first OTA practice Tuesday, will make his true Giants debut in Week 1 against the Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants are 5-18-1 against the NFC East over the last five seasons and have not won the division since 2011.
“That hate is well placed,” Harbaugh said. “Could you add a little bit for the Washington Commanders, too? Throw them in there.”
Kayvon Thibodeaux joined in the rivalry trash talk, too.
“I hate them,” Thibodeaux said. “I think it’s the right place at the right time with the right people, with the right coaches, with the right fans. This is the perfect year for a miracle story.”
Here are five other notable things said:
1. Cam Skattebo’s big promises
For all the fanfare that he created with his wild screams, backflips and punishing runs as a rookie, Skattebo only rushed 101 times for 410 yards and five touchdowns in eight games before suffering his season-ending dislocated ankle and fractured tibia.
What’s in store for an encore?
“When I play 17-plus games this year,” Skattebo said, slyly projecting a playoff berth, “it’s going to be 300 carries for over 2,000 yards.”
If Skattebo has that kind of year, the Giants can dream big.
“Every single time I’ve gone to a new team,” Skattebo said, “I’ve won a championship in the second year, so…”
Jaxson Dart liked the sound of it.
“It sounds like we’re not going to be throwing the ball a lot,” Dart quipped. “We’re going to keep giving it to Skatt until they can stop it.”
Skattebo said the “mental battle” is the hardest part of his rehab.
“I’m a little ways off. Not too far,” Skattebo said. “Week 1, I’ll be ready to go.”
2. Boos for Dexter Lawrence
Just like two years ago — after Saquon Barkley signed with the Eagles — fans booed at the mention of Dexter Lawrence, who demanded a trade.
He was sent to the Bengals, and the Giants pivoted to signing four free agents, including projected starters Shelby Harris and D.J. Reader.
“That’s right,” Harbaugh said as boos got louder. “He’s got a life to live. We brought guys in here that wanted to be here.”
3. Hard days ahead
Former head coach Brian Daboll tried hard to be a players’ coach, which resulted in light practice workloads.
“This s–t is different,” Thibodeaux said. “It’s hard. It’s different in a great way. The future is now.”
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One fan hollered out, “It’s about time,” which drew a laugh from the crowd.
“Everything that he wants the team to be is himself when it comes to intensity, attention to detail,” Dart said. “From a player perspective, when you see a coach who is able to sacrifice a lot but has a chip on the shoulder at the same time, it’s someone we can all respect and want to play for.”
4. Best in the NFL?
It’s undebatable that the Giants’ strongest position is edge rusher.
Next up could be inside linebacker or offensive line.
But tight end? The addition of free agent Isaiah Likely to Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz and Thomas Fidone has Harbaugh over the top excited.
“There’s not a better tight end group, I don’t think, in the league, potentially,” Harbaugh said. “Jaxson has a bunch of guys to go to.”
5. Legacy Game
The Giants announced that their Legacy Game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 4 against the Cardinals.
The festivities will include a 40th anniversary celebration of the 1986 Super Bowl champions, complete with a Mark Bavaro bobblehead giveaway.
The Giants typically wear their throwback navy blue uniforms and helmet during their Legacy Game.
