E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat
writer for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995. He is the author of 26 books
and he is one of only three sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.
SPEAKING AS THE GIANTS' COACH COUGHLIN WOULD LIKE TO SEE JPP AND ROLLE ON
THE 2015 ROSTER By Dave
Klein Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin,
speaking at the on-going rookie tryout combine in Indianapolis, offered up his
wish list for the coming season - and as things turn out, it seems to be an identical
version of what the fans would like, too. "I
would like [defensive end] Jason Pierre-Paul to play for the Giants forever and
to retire as a Giant," he said. "I also want to see us re-sign veteran
[safety] Antrel Rolle. He is a spirited, professional player who helps our team."
He was also asked about a one-year contract
extension (which is on the way, according to reliable sources), and he said: "I
don't have any opinion about that. All I want is to stay at the Giants' head coach.
You know, there are 32 guys out there who coach year-to-year to keep their jobs,
and at this point I don't think money has much to do with it." He
also added: "I don't care how many years they have on their contract, it's
always a year-to-year proposition. Security? Thank you very much, but I don't
think there is any such thing." But evidently, negotiations are underway
and another one-year agreement should soon be announced. As
to his new defensive coordinator, who has been here before in that same role,
he said he expects Steve Spagnuolo's schemes to be "somewhat more sophisticated"
than they were in his previous term. "There are areas of the defense that
need improvement, and I'm sure Steve is aware of them," he added. "I
am hoping the production will be a lot different [then it was last season]."
That item on his wish-list, a better and more productive defense, feeds into his
desire to see the Giants re-sign JPP and Rolle, because when Spagnuolo was here
last time he had Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck, among others,
on the defensive line. If JPP toddles off to somewhere else, the defense is left
with such pass-rushers as Damontre Moore, Robert Ayers Jr., possibly Cullen Jenkins
(if he doesn't go back to defensive tackle) and a few not yet familiar hopefuls.
So JPP is a vital cog to both Coughlin's
plans and Spagnuolo's success, as well as the football-savvy Rolle. EXTRA
POINTS - The Giants announced that they have re-signed offensive lineman Dallas
Reynolds but Coughlin wouldn't comment on how things are going, if they are going
at all, with a new contract for veteran defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. ... The
consensus opinion is that Kiwi has played his last game as a Giant, and that various
injuries might in fact cause him to announce his retirement. Other
veterans who might face the prospect of being released include Kiwanuka, middle
linebackers Jon Beason and Mark Herzlich, guard John Jerry, defensive tackle Mike
Patterson, tight end Adrien Robinson, center J.D. Walton and tackle James Brewer.
Following the signing of Canadian League
all-star Brett Jones, a center, Coughlin was asked who he envisioned as being
the Giants' starting center when the season starts. "Weston Richburg,"
he responded, referring to last year's No. 2 draft pick who played guard all year
but was drafted out of Colorado State as a center. Will he actually play there?
"He'll get the chance," the coach said. Check
out Dave's website at E-GIANTS
where you can subscribe to his newsletters which
run much more frequently than what is available here. - Team Giants
NOW
- Send a request to davesklein@aol.com
for a free week's worth of news!
|