Fanpage
Team Giants

Fanpage

Special Report

Sent: 03-25-16

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.

WITH RUEBEN RANDLE GONE,
THE GIANTS HAVE NO ONE LEFT FROM THE 2011-2012 DRAFTS

By Dave Klein
When the Giants declined to offer wide receiver Rueben Randle a new contract (he signed a one-year "show me" agreement with Philadelphia last Wednesday), he became the last surviving draftee of 2012.

He was a second-round pick and now there are no players remaining on the roster from that draft. None from the 2011 draft, either, by the way, since first-round pick Prince Amukamara left for Jacksonville.

In fact, from 2007 through 2012, there are two - that's TWO - players on the current roster, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (first in 2010) and long-snapper Zak DeOssie (fourth in 2007).

Coincidentally, general manager Jerry Reese has been in command of the draft since that 2007 draft.

This is not intended to be overly critical of Reese. In some cases, injury played an overwhelming role (David Wilson, Chad Jones). In other cases, injuries simply could not be avoided (Amukamara), and as many general managers and scouts have said over the years, "the draft is not a science, it's a roll of the dice."

But the other point to be made here is that with the loss of Randle and the questionable condition of undrafted free agent Victor Cruz (knee, calf) the Giants are going to have to upgrade their wide receiver corps, too, in addition to so many other positional areas.

Will this affect their first-round selection, the 10th overall? Probably not. That still seems to be an offensive lineman or a linebacker or a safety, but with eyes peels and fingers on the button, a wide receiver must be claimed early in the draft.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Former Giants' offensive lineman (but briefly) Geoff Schwartz visited the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday while his brother, Mitchell, played with Cleveland but recently signed with Pittsburgh. ... Schwartz, signed as a veteran free agent for the 2014 season, was another who couldn't stay healthy. ... He played in all of nine games over his two seasons.

The various (and self-proclaimed) draft experts have narrowed down their predictions for the Giants' first-round selection, and not it appears you'll have the pleasure of observing Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd, Notre Dame guard Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley, Michigan State guard Jack Conklin, safety Jalen Ramsey of Florida State or Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. ... Not bad - that's many fewer potential picks from the 50 or so we were given just a month ago by the experts.

There is also a sleeper in the top 10, Laquon Treadwell of Mississippi, and with the departure of Randle coupled with the lack of serious depth behind Odell Beckham Jr. and the "iffy" Cruz, a wide receiver might not be a bad idea. ... Besides, the 6-2, 220-poundeer won't last until the second round. ... Tight end Martellus Bennett signed with the New England Patriots, and the Giants were more than just casually interested in re-signing "Marty B" when he became an unrestricted free agent in Chicago.

Oh, and weren't you thrilled to learn that the Giants have decided not to raise ticket prices this year? One might ask why they would, given the fact that in five of the last seven seasons they failed to make the playoffs. ... Last season was especially gruesome, in that they were part of a weak division and that they lost five games in the final 75 seconds or less. ... And word from the Denver Broncos is that they studied game tapes of the last-second (38-35) loss to the then undefeated Carolina Panthers prior to their meeting in the Super Bowl. ... Seemed to work out, didn't it?

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!

Previous Articles
Special Report
Sent:03-10-16

Free Agent Spending
Special Report
Sent:03-04-16

Free Agents
Special Report
Sent:02-06-16

Super Bowl 50
Special Report
Sent:01-27-15

Tyler Sash

[BACK to GIANTS]

Stop in and visit "Mike's Keys to the Internet"
Links to every newspaper and magazine that's available on the net.

Website by Mike