#football-operations

#football-operations

EAST RUITHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants and new coach John Harbaugh are hiring NFL executive Dawn Aponte as senior vice president of football operations and strategy, sources told ESPN. It's a move that comes just weeks after it was announced that senior VP of football operations and strategy Kevin Abrams would be leaving the organization. That was the first big shakeup under Harbaugh, who is expected to reshape the organization after negotiating that he reports directly to ownership.

No statement can change the disappointment of the past several seasons. I know we have fallen short of the standard you expect and we as an organization have for ourselves. That responsibility rests with me. When results do not match expectations over time, as the owner, accountability cannot be shared or softened. I believe this team should be competing at a higher level than it has, and I share your deep frustration.

The Falcons are winding down their eighth straight season without a playoff berth, moving Morris onto a hot seat. A report from early December pointed to Atlanta making another HC change, but the team has since won three straight games. The Falcons have beaten the Buccaneers, Cardinals and Rams, but they are still guaranteed to finish with a losing record.

Williams' departure signifies a continuing transition within the New England Patriots' organization, as they shift towards a new era of leadership under Mike Vrabel.