The Aporia · Giants, John Harbaugh taking heavy approach in hopes of fixing fumble woes

Giants, John Harbaugh taking heavy approach in hopes of fixing fumble woes

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Dunleavy, R. (2026, October 9). Giants, John Harbaugh taking heavy approach in hopes of fixing fumble woes. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/08/sports/giants-take-weighted-ball-approach-in-hopes-of-fixing-fumble-woes/

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Quick Summary

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is using a unique training method involving 12.5-pound footballs to improve ball security among players during drills. This heavy-ball practice, which began at the start of training camp, aims to teach running backs and tight ends better technique by making it harder for them to swing the ball away from their body. The Giants have fumbled seven times in four games this season but have only lost two of those fumbles. Harbaugh believes that using these weighted balls will reinforce proper handling techniques.

Written by AI on 2026-10-09, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The New York Giants under head coach John Harbaugh are facing ball-security issues, with seven total fumbles in their first four games despite only losing two. To address this problem, Harbaugh has implemented a unique practice regimen since training camp: using 12.5-pound footballs during drills to emphasize holding the ball tightly against the body while running or passing. This approach forces players like running backs and tight ends to maintain proper form due to the difficulty of swinging such heavy balls away from their bodies. Harbaugh believes that this will reinforce good habits and improve player awareness about the importance of protecting the football in actual game situations.

Written for “Giants Fumble Issues” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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0 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Who wrote this

Ryan Dunleavy

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All 69 articles by Ryan Dunleavy →

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

The Giants are trying to prevent the weight of the world from crashing onto a fumbler’s shoulders by sticking a 12.5-pound football in the hands of their ball carriers during drills. asserted

Giants → try → drills

Faced with a sudden ball-security problem, head coach John Harbaugh is counting on weighted footballs — a staple of practice since training camp — to reinforce the high-and-tight teaching point with running backs and tight ends. asserted

Harbaugh → face → backs

SIGN UP NOW“It’s just harder to hold up, and you have to be really thoughtful about it,” Harbaugh told The Post. asserted

Harbaugh → sign → Post

“A normal ball, it’s natural to swing it away [from your body] when you run because it’s so light. asserted

it → ’ → body

A weighted ball, you swing it away, and it falls. asserted

it → swing → it

You can’t even hold onto it. asserted

You → hold → it

They are forced to hold that position all the way through the run.” asserted

They → force → run

The Giants (3-1) have survived seven fumbles (only two lost) in four games. asserted

two → survive → games

Is the drill working? asserted

drill → work → ?

Giants, John Harbaugh taking heavy approach in hopes of fixing fumble woes

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Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)