Sports
Which New York NFL team is the bigger mess? Giants or Jets?
Four more weeks. That’s all New York City football fans must endure. Four more weeks, and this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad season from … will finally be over.
In case you’re someone who doesn’t live in New York — we don’t mean you, Buffalo, your Bills are great — or follow their wretched football teams here’s a snapshot of what’s been going on in the Big Apple lately:
The most interesting part of the New York Giants’ most recent game happened not on the field but in the sky when a fan flew an airplane over MetLife Stadium towing a banner that pleaded with the team co-owner John Mara to “plz fix this dumpster fire.”
The most interesting part of the New York Jets’ most recent game happened in the postgame locker room when star wide receiver Garrett Wilson wondered if losing is in the team’s DNA after the franchise missed the postseason for the 14th straight year.
Welcome to NFL football in New York. It’s a disaster.
At least some New Yorkers have Juan Soto to look forward to. (Sorry, Yankees fans).
So, what exactly has gone wrong? Pretty much everything.
The Jets thought they were a quarterback away from not only playoff contention but Super Bowl contention when they traded for Aaron Rodgers two offseasons ago. So far, that experiment could not have gone much worse. They are 3-10; the head coach was fired after a Week 5 loss; the general manager was fired during their bye week; and the team has somehow managed to lose five games where they had a lead in the fourth quarter. Wilson said after Sunday’s overtime loss to the Dolphins that the Jets are like Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
And they’re not even the worst team in New York.
At 2-11, the Giants are one game worse and are riding an eight-game losing streak with zero wins in the division or at MetLife Stadium. After a brutal 6-11 season in 2023, the Giants were supposed to show some progress in their third year under general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. Instead, things have been so bad that they released their starting quarterback — the one they’d very recently given a four-year, $160 million contract — in the middle of the season, while the rest of the roster has been decimated by injuries.
With postseason hopes dead before December, fan bases for both teams have already been turning their attention to the possibility of landing a top draft pick. For the record, the Giants currently sit at No. 2, according to Tankathon. The Jets would pick at No. 7.
But the future, of course, encompasses far more than just the draft, and we’re wondering which team has more work to do to turn things around. That requires an analysis of what needs to be fixed and who’s in charge of fixing it. For that, we turn to The Athletic’s Jets reporter Zack Rosenblatt and Giants reporter Charlotte Carroll. They discussed three of the biggest questions facing these franchises moving forward. After reading their answers, you can decide which New York Football team you think is the bigger mess.
Neither team has a franchise QB (and hasn’t for a while). Do the Giants or Jets have the better path to finding one?
Giants: Some of the only good news for Giants fans over the past few weeks has been that their draft positioning keeps getting better and better … because they keep losing. According to The Athletic’s NFL projection model, the Giants have a 46% chance of picking No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, their “hold” on a top pick in the draft is tenuous. Six teams, including the Jets, have three wins, and if the Giants joined them, they could fall down the board due to the strength of schedule tiebreaker.
But if the Giants do secure a top pick, they’ll have a chance to select one of the draft’s best quarterbacks. Right now, that looks like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. Some evaluators believe neither is worthy of a top pick, but the Giants are going to be feeling the pressure to find their next franchise QB. Patience might not be an option. Maybe it works out, and they get their guy. Or maybe they’re right back where they started after over-drafting Daniel Jones in 2019.
No matter what the Giants do in the draft, however, they’ll need to add a veteran bridge quarterback in free agency. Drew Lock, a free agent at season’s end, hasn’t shown enough to be that player. The same goes for Tommy DeVito, an exclusive rights free agent who can be brought back on a minimum salary. The Giants will want the option of letting their top pick sit and learn rather than having to force him into the starter’s role from Day 1. And if the Giants don’t end up getting a quarterback, they’ll need a capable starter who can keep the offense afloat until the following offseason.
Jets: Certainly not the Jets. Rodgers is under contract for 2025, but as of now, it seems highly unlikely that he will return in 2025 — especially since his return would trigger a $35 million option bonus in 2026. The Jets will need to lose out (or close to it) to truly get into the mix for one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft, and none of these prospects are viewed as can’t-miss players. Unless the new GM has a sneaky trade up his sleeve, there are not exactly many appealing options in free agency — and no, Sam Darnold won’t be returning. Most likely, the Jets roll with Tyrod Taylor (or another bridge quarterback) before handing the keys off to someone else down the line — whether that’s a rookie in this draft class or a future one.
OK, excluding quarterback, which roster has the most heavy lifting to do to become playoff-caliber?
Giants: My beat partner, Dan Duggan, delivered a great, in-depth breakdown of the Giants’ building blocks. But the synopsis is this: While there are some high-quality players on the roster, they don’t have nearly enough to feel good about the foundation. As Duggan noted, in three years, Schoen hasn’t drafted or signed a single Pro Bowler.
Now, there are encouraging signs from rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, running back Tyrone Tracy, safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Dru Phillips. But the Giants will need to once again invest in the offensive line after going veteran-heavy this offseason. Right guard Greg Van Roten is 34 years old and on a one-year deal, while stopgap right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor is signed for just one more season. The lack of depth on the defensive line has been exposed with injuries to Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson. Plus, cornerback has been a weak spot due to uneven play and injuries.
Assuming the Giants emerge with a top pick and don’t fall in love with any of the quarterbacks, they could go the route of trading down, collecting more draft picks and filling out the roster that way. The team also isn’t in bad shape in terms of cap space, with about $58 million next year, according to Over The Cap, so they could plug some holes through free agency.
Jets: The Jets already have a playoff-caliber roster — maybe not as much as I would’ve argued they did a year ago, but they have a core of talent that makes the job opening more appealing than many people are giving them credit for. This is the best offensive line Joe Douglas has assembled in his six years — low bar, but true — and four of the five starters are young and under contract for 2025: Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are two talented, young players to build an offense around — and on defense, they’ll bring back a solid core, including cornerback Sauce Gardner, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, linebackers Quincy Williams and Jermaine Johnson, edge Will McDonald and safety Michael Carter II. There are plenty of holes to fill on this roster, but the Jets are starting with a good baseline of talent.
Neither ownership group is faring very well with their respective fan bases right now. Which one is better positioned to turn things around the quickest?
Giants: Mara craves stability — something this franchise hasn’t had in a long time. In October, the team co-owner said the Giants were not making any in-season changes and that he did not anticipate making any changes in the offseason either. That was six losses ago. Have things changed?
We’re going to find out. The big question for Giants ownership is whether they will stick with Schoen and Daboll or if they’re going to have to start over again. A new head coach would be the Giants’ fifth in a decade, while a new GM would be the Giants’ third since 2017. The decision will obviously have huge ramifications, not the least of which will be whoever in charge will get to select the franchise’s next starting quarterback.
Jets: Historically, you’re better off banking on the Giants turning things around quicker than the Jets — though neither ownership has had a particularly sterling resume in recent years. The biggest difference is Woody Johnson’s involvement — he has more of a hand in the Jets decision-making than Mara does for the Giants, at least on the surface, and until that changes, the Jets are going to have a hard time getting to a place where they’re consistently making the playoffs. If Johnson is willing to turn the keys of the organization over to a general manager and let him run the show, then the Jets can get back on track sooner than later.
OK, we’ve laid it all out for you. Now it’s time for you to choose. Which team is the bigger mess?
(Photos of Woody Johnson and John Mara: Matthew Stockman and Rich Schultz / Getty Images)
Sports
Charles Barkley scolds sports fans for getting wrapped up in Olympic hockey frenzy
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Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley sounded off on the frenzied reactions to the U.S. men’s hockey team getting invited to the White House by President Donald Trump.
Trump talked to the Olympic gold medal-winning team immediately after they defeated Canada in overtime last weekend. He said they would be invited to his State of the Union address and added that he needed to invite the women’s team as well or he would be “impeached.”
Charles Barkley sits courtside against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 21, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Trump critics took the joke as a shot at the women’s team, which sparked questions from NHL and Professional Women’s Hockey League reporters as the players returned to their respective club teams.
“I’m proud of the United States men. I’m proud of the United States women. You should have invited both of them to the White House, but it shouldn’t have been disrespect, misogyny,” Barkley said on the “Steam Room” podcast. “Like, yo, man, why do y’all have to mess everything up? Everything isn’t Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal. That’s why we got this divided, screwed up country. Stop it man. Because, you know, the public, they’re idiots. They’re fools. They can’t think for themselves. I know y’all say stuff to trigger them. Y’all say stuff and y’all know they’re going to be fools.”
Barkley lamented that the average person would get riled up over the supposed controversy.
The U.S. team poses for a group photo after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)
“We don’t have to fall for stupidity. But we do – that’s my point. These people out here are stupid. They need something to trigger them. Just because they want us to be stupid. We don’t have to be stupid. He should have invited both teams to the White House. Simple as that. Guys who didn’t want to go shouldn’t have to explain why they didn’t go.”
The former Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns star made clear he would go to the White House regardless of whether Trump was in office.
“I’ve said this before, I’m not a Trump guy. But if I got invited to the White House, I would go. I’m not a Trump guy – I want to make that clear. But I respect the office,” Barkley said. “He’s the president of the United States. But if guys don’t want to go, I understand that too. It doesn’t have to be a talking point. It doesn’t have to be un-American.
Megan Keller (5) celebrates with a flag alongside Cayla Barnes (3) of Team United States after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the women’s gold medal match against Canada on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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“I just wish y’all would stop falling for the stupidity.”
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Sports
Prep talk: Birmingham’s Slava Shahbazyan celebrates winning state wrestling title
Three years ago, as a 14-year-old freshman, Slava Shahbazyan made it to Bakersfield for the state wrestling championships.
“It was good to get experience that young,” he said.
Then came Saturday night when he had a breakthrough moment, winning the state 165-pound championship as a 17-year-old senior for Birmingham High.
“It means everything to me,” he said. “It took four years.”
Shahbazyan, who transferred from Chaminade after his sophomore year, is set to attend Stanford and still in the hunt to be valedictorian at Birmingham. Coach Jimmy Medeiros said he was close to winning last season before finishing fourth.
“He got a lot better,” Medeiros said.
Shahbazyan has been wrestling since he was 8. “My father loves wrestling,” he said.
Two St. John Bosco wrestlers, Jesse Grajeda at 144 pounds and Michael Romero at 150 pounds, also won state titles.
Here’s the link to complete results.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Deion Sanders mourns loss of Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder: ‘One of my favorites’
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Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Ponder was 23 years old.
Details of Ponder’s death are not yet known.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.
Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.
The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.
Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.
Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP Photo)
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“Our prayers are with Dominiq and the Ponder family along with all in the Colorado football program,” the university’s football account on X wrote.
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