Meritocracy. From Dictionary.com, here is what it means.
- An elite group of people whose progress is based on ability and talent rather than on class, privilege, or wealth.
- A system in which such persons are rewarded and advanced.
New York Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown said this week that one of the most important things head coach John Harbaugh has brought to the Giants is the idea of meritocracy — players earning what they get based on what they do now, rather than what they have or have not accomplished in the past.
“Harbs has preached meritocracy, right?,” Brown said. “So, what has got you here is not necessarily going to keep you here, and you’ve got to have daily
deposits.”
The idea of meritocracy is something every coach talks about. The dirty little secret, or perhaps not so secret, of the NFL is that meritocracy on an NFL roster is rarely real. Players with big paychecks usually play even if there is a better player on the roster at their position. Their paycheck, after all, has to be justified. First- or second-round draft picks get far more opportunities than undrafted free agents, even if teams tell you — as they always do — that how a player got to a team doesn’t matter.
It does. Almost always. Teams will often go to great lengths to prove they weren’t wrong to use premium draft capital on a player.
The fact that Harbaugh’s Giants are running a true meritocracy is impressive. And should help to make the on-field product better.
Brown said that what Harbaugh has done is “raise the floor” of expectations from players.
“It’s just being objective. It’s not having any governor on guys. It’s earning it,” Brown said. “And as you guys have seen through the practice rotations in terms of at certain positions, which guys are getting more reps, which guys are getting less reps, maybe that flips on a certain day. It’s all a part of the meritocracy of earning it.”
There is no better example on the roster of a player benefiting from this meritocracy than Deonte Banks. Yes, Banks is a former first-round pick. After two miserable seasons, though, it looked like Banks was a failed cornerback who would hang around the NFL because of his big-play ability as a kickoff returner.
Harbaugh, though, had an “I want to see these guys for myself” approach with failed high picks like Banks, Evan Neal, Jalin Hyatt, and the now-traded Josh Ezeudu.
From early in the spring, Banks has been impressive. Many of the things that seemed to be missing the past two seasons — like being sound in technique and assignments, and being aggressive in run support and willing to tackle — have been evident.
The thought all along has been that Banks and veteran Greg Newsome were competing for the CB2 job across from Paulson Adebo. Now, judging by the reps being doled out in practices, Banks and Newsome could push Adebo and his team-high $24.199 million cap hit to the bench.
That would be a development that seemed impossible in the spring.
“I think he [Banks] just has belief in himself right now,” defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said this week. “He has a good group of DB coaches in that room that believe in him. The players believe in him, and he’s playing with confidence. He’s out there, he’s making the plays he’s supposed to make. He’s detailed on his assignments, being where he’s supposed to be, and that’s giving him an opportunity to make plays.
“As long as he keeps doing that, he’ll continue to get better.”
There are other examples across the roster:
- The idea that Chauncey Golston, who floundered without a real role a year ago, seems to have emerged as a starting base defensive end. He has made plays all summer, and that is being recognized.
- The competition that has developed between practice squad player Bryan Hudson and veteran offensive lineman Lucas Patrick for the job backing up John Michael Schmitz at center.
- The competition for both roster spots and playing time at wide receiver. Odell Beckham might make the roster, but it will be because he has earned it. Not because of his name. Former undrafted free agent Dalen Cambre could make it, too.
- Trading guard Daniel Faalele, a player who started for Harbaugh for two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, showed Harbaugh would not be emotionally attached to a player when there were others available who could do that job.
- The Giants appear likely to go with undrafted long-snapper Ben Mann and undrafted placekicker Dominic Zvada. Because both have earned the opportunity.
Brown said the idea of meritocracy extends across the organization.
“Harbs makes you earn it,” Brown said. “When you go into a team meeting room, first thing you see is a big sign on the back wall that says, ‘Earn the Right.’ It’s right in front of the room, and it just doesn’t extend to players. It’s to staff, and it’s understanding a good idea can come from anywhere, and the way that Harbs seeks and solicits opinions keeps you on your A-game.
“Every day you want to make a deposit. Every day you want to have an idea or thought or something to contribute to making a good decision. Again, he’s hard on the coaches in terms of teaching and getting the technique right, and also on the personnel department along with (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) in terms of, hey, we have all of our contingency plans ready to go, and we understand what the marketplace looks like, and if it’s something that comes about that we’re not a part of, we’ve done our due diligence, but we’re never going to sit on our hands.”
