In the professional football league, every coach has their own group of trusted players known as “guys.” Certainly, Bill Parcells had his. It started with Tom Coughlin, and moved on to the next person. The current New York Giants coaching staff is beginning to identify its core players.
After some unexpected firings and some demotions to the doghouse over the past few months, we have a pretty good idea of who they aren’t.
Defense coordinator Wink Martindale is introducing his squad. Naturally, he is partial to his safeties and favors anyone who can rush the passer, but one Giants player, in particular, has risen to the top of his list throughout his decades-long coaching career.
Dexter Lawrence, who plays inside on the defensive line, is quickly becoming one of Martindale’s favorite players ever.
To this day, he remains one of my favorite players I’ve ever seen in action. First of all, he’s an excellent human being and guy. In addition, he presents a challenge. When asked by reporters on Thursday, Martindale said, “I mean, he is athletic.
In Martindale’s defense, 6-foot-4, the 342-pound former first-round pick from Clemson Lawrence has been performing admirably.
About Lawrence
Lawrence is a hard worker who can keep going for a long time. He has participated in 73% of the Giants’ defensive plays through two games. That’s a lot for a defensive lineman, a position that has seen more and more subtraction and addition in recent years. One play in particular that Martindale remembers vividly involves chasing down Baker Mayfield, quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.
I don’t know if in my career I’ve ever seen a big man like that make a play like the one where he chased down Baker Mayfield and got him short of the sticks on that scramble, which is what I told the entire defense on Monday. And Martindale is right; he does bring that kind of effort and leadership to the defense.
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Who Is Wink Martindale?
Born on May 19, 1963, Don “Wink” Martindale is the defensive coordinator for the NFL‘s New York Giants (NFL). He spent the six years prior to 2018 as the linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, and the next three years in the same role.
On May 19, 1963, in Dayton, Ohio, Don Martindale entered the world. Martindale went to Trotwood-Madison High School, where he was a standout linebacker for the Rams and a consensus All-State picks his senior year.
A former football player, he graduated from Defiance College. There, he picked up the moniker “Wink” from the locals because of his similarity in surname to the legendary game show host Wink Martindale.
Career
After finishing his degree, Martindale went to work for his family’s trucking company, transporting brake parts from Dayton, Ohio, to Detroit, Michigan, every day. In total, the trip took him 6 hours of his life. He quit after a year to focus on his true love, coaching.
After playing for the Defiance College Yellow Jackets in the late ’80s, Martindale got his start in coaching as an assistant for the same team. For three years, Martindale was on the coaching staff at Western Kentucky University under Jack Harbaugh, the late father of current Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and current Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
He was a defensive assistant at Notre Dame for the 1994 and 1995 teams that went to the Fiesta Bowl and the Orange Bowl, respectively. He also coached for three years at the University of Cincinnati.
The Oakland Raiders considered him for defensive coordinator when he was the team’s linebackers coach from 2004 to 2008.
Net Worth
Wink Martindale is a radio and TV host in the United States who has amassed a fortune of $20 million.
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Personal Life
As for his private life, Wink was married to Madelyn Leech from 1954 until 1971; the two raised four kids together. His marriage to Sandy Ferra began in 1975.
Now a devout Christian, he has recorded an appearance on the hit show “Praise the Lord” on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.