Joe Judge has the late John Madden's mindset: 'No such thing as a meaningless game'

The Giants have just two games remaining in a season many wish to forget the second it ends. They've been eliminated from the playoffs officially, though draft positioning is still on the line. 

But don't say the word meaningless to head coach Joe Judge. Why? Judge decided to reference the late John Madden, who died Tuesday, to answer that one. 

"One thing John was great about when you really sit back and listen to some of the things he said throughout his career, and he talked about the importance of every game and every opportunity in the National Football League," he said. "To value the opportunity we have to coach or play in this league, and none of that should be taken for granted.

“I hear people say all the time, ‘Meaningless games.’ What’s a meaningless game? Everyone here has worked very hard to be in this position to play or coach in this league. We’re only guaranteed or promised so many games a year. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to go out here and compete. There’s no such thing as a meaningless game. There’s wasted effort, there’s wasted preparation. But there’s no meaningless games.”

Judge spoke further on Madden, adding, "I think it's an important day for everyone in the league to understand what he's done for the game." 

Madden was an extremely successful coach and broadcaster, bringing his expressive personality to millions at home watching every Sunday. 

And there's also the Madden video game that Judge said his two sons play, as well as his players. 

But Madden's impact on football once he was off the sideline might be even more important than when he was coaching, according to Judge. 

"You have to educate them sometimes: They don’t understand who the guy was," he explained. "How accomplished of a coach he was; how he really changed all of the broadcasting and even more important, as I talked to the players this morning, the impact he had on the game by really the compassion and care he had for the players.”

Dexter Lawrence likely out Sunday

Judge started his presser by saying the veteran defensive tackle tested positive for COVID-19, and due to how late in the week it is, he is more than likely going to have to miss the game in Chicago. 

The NFL's new protocol changed the quarantine period for unvaccinated individuals to five days from 10, but Sunday will only leave four days for Lawrence. 

He joins Danny Shelton, Nate Solder and Julian Love on the COVID list, though those three could return. Adoree' Jackson, Keion Crossen and John Ross are all back in the facility after being on the list.