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| May 13 - Okay, so it's a little early - the first day of the first mini-camp. But the head coach's first impressions were favorable after watching cornerback Aaron Ross, wide receiver Steve Smith and defensive tackle Jay Alford on the field for the first time in a Giants uniform. It
seems like a lifetime ago now, but back in the summer of 2001, Aaron Ross
was wowing everyone at the University of Texas. He was so fast and his hands were
so smooth, his coaches thought he could have been the best receiver in his freshman
class - if he wasn't already the best cornerback. By the end of two-a-days, the
18-year-old Ross had secured a job backing up Quentin Jammer, who eight months
later would become the fifth pick in the NFL draft. It was a dream come true for
a kid who grew up in nearby San Antonio. Then, one week before the season opener,
his dream was inexplicably taken away. Yesterday,
Ross was on the practice field outside Giants Stadium for Giants rookie mini-camp,
and he was not too pleased with his first workout. As a first-round draft pick
out of Texas, his spot on the roster is assured and, if things go exceedingly
well, he has a shot at a starting job. "Really, my mind is not on starting right
now," Ross said. "I'm just trying to learn the playbook and get the respect of
the team. I really can't wait for Sam Madison. I've been a big fan of Sam, and
can't wait for him and R.W. [McQuarters] to get here, I really want to meet those
guys and learn what they have, pick their brain and try to get the respect from
them." Kevin Boss and Jeremy Shockey are both from small towns. Shockey grew up in Ada, Okla., but he fought his way out and up, first to Miami, then to the Giants. Boss grew up in Philomath, Ore., a town of 5,000 only five miles from the campus of Oregon State. But OSU, and every other Division I football program, passed on Boss, who went to Western Oregon, a Division II school a half-hour from Philomath. Boss, like Shockey, is a tall tight end, adept at catching passes. "I've followed his career ever since he was at Miami," Boss said yesterday during his second trip to the New York area. The first, two weeks ago, was to visit the Giants; the second was to join the team, possibly as Shockey's understudy. One
of the top pre-draft rumors was that the Giants were going to select a wide
receiver from Southern Cal in the early rounds. That proved to be correct, but
the wideout was not New Brunswick native Dwayne Jarrett. While the Jersey guy
is off to Carolina, his USC running mate, Steve Smith, made his first appearance
in the Giants' locker room Saturday for the start of the rookie minicamp. Smith
was born in Alaska and raised in California, but he has an idea of what to expect
in his new setting. "Dwayne sent me a guide to point me in the right direction,"
said the second-round draft pick. Growing up in nearby Orange, Jay Alford remembers being a young child watching Lawrence Taylor and Michael Strahan lead the New York Giants. They were his heroes, the guys he wanted to imitate. That's what made Saturday so special for Alford. The 23-year-old was back at Giants Stadium, but this wasn't a fan thing. A third-round pick in the recent NFL Draft, Alford was wearing a Giants' uniform for the first time in a minicamp. "It's a great feeling," the defensive tackle from Penn State said. "It's a great feeling. Being 10 minutes from home, you can't beat that." It was almost as much fun as two weeks ago when Alford was drafted on a Saturday evening. He watched the first two rounds of the draft at a Hooters on Route 23 in Wayne and then decided to head back to Orange. Marc Hickok used the wind to his advantage in his tryout with the Giants, making 11 of 14 kicks, including a 55-yarder. And before the day was done he and Ohio State's Josh Huston were the two the Giants planned to bring to camp. "If they are not kicking worth a [darn] we'll go get a veteran," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "But right now, they are kicking pretty good." Charrod Taylor, a defensive end from Division I-AA Georgia Southern, appears to be just another long shot, undrafted free agent hoping to make it through training camp. And by Giants general manager Jerry Reese's admission, he might not even make the trip to Albany. But those who think the stacked odds will discourage Taylor don't know him or his story. And they don't know how much his will was strengthened on October 12, 2000. "He probably won't make it out of minicamp," Reese said. "But the patriotism in us, we felt like we should give a guy like this a chance. "He might surprise us, though." It wouldn't be the first time Taylor stunned a team. A year ago an unsigned hopeful named Kevin Dockery participated in the Giants' rookie minicamp, and earned a contract off his showing. He went on to not only make the team, but become its nickel back late in the season. There is precedence for Chris Anzano, the Wyckoff native who is part of this year's rookie camp at Giants Stadium. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Anzano once scored six touchdowns for Ramapo High in a game in which he gained 258 yards rushing against Bergenfield. "I'll be this year's miracle," the cornerback from Pace said Saturday between the two workouts. "I started out at Fordham, then went to Pace; I have to beat the odds." Despite
short notice, Ryan Glasper was happy when his agent told him Friday to report
to Giants rookie minicamp at Giants Stadium Saturday. The former Southington High
standout, who graduated in 2002 with school records for the longest punt return
(92 yards), kickoff return (98) and play from scrimmage (97), is eager to prove
his worth in the NFL after a difficult senior season at Boston College. Former
Giants May 12 - Steve Spagnuolo helped Eagles linebackers become among the most aggressive in the NFL over the last three seasons. Now Giants coach Tom Coughlin, whose job probably hinges on his performance this year, is hoping Spagnuolo can light a fire under his defense. "I was very impressed by his detail, his energy and his enthusiasm," Coughlin said when he hired Spagnuolo in January. "His resume is outstanding. He's held so many different jobs. He's been a defensive line coach, even a scout [with the Chargers in 1993]. And he's been with [Eagles defensive coordinator] Jim Johnson and that outstanding defense for many years. His philosophy is an aggressive one." Although
training camp is more than two months away, there is always an air of excitement
when the players who comprise the Giants' new draft class take the field for their
professional debuts. That time comes today for cornerback Aaron Ross of Texas,
receiver Steve Smith of USC and many others at the Giants' two-day rookie mini-camp.
There will be double-session workouts today and Monday. Players will lift weights
tomorrow morning, then are off for the remainder of Mother's Day. The first indoctrination
into how the Giants do business is always an eye-opening experience for the rookies.
Cornerback R.W. McQuarters proved to be a valuable asset to the Giants in 2006, playing in all 17 games. In addition to his nickel back duties, McQuarters started 10 of 16 regular season games and the NFC Wild Card Game for the Giants' injury depleted defensive backfield. The seven-year cornerback recorded 65 tackles (41 solo), adding two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), one forced fumble and one sack. Former Giants May 11 -
Jerry
Reese won't reveal his hand until he's ready. He was able to keep secret his
plan to convert defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka into a strong-side linebacker until
after the draft. "You won't see me sharing information until it's time," he said.
"You'll see that throughout my whole career." Reese is only a few months
into this job and has not made any attention-grabbing moves. He has been criticized
for not diving into the free-agent market or making draft-day trades. But that's
part of the plan. Count Barry Cofield among the many Giants thrilled there's a new defensive sheriff in town, coordinator Steve Spagnuolo taking the place of unpopular Tim Lewis. Cornerbacks on the team, especially press corners Sam Madison and Corey Webster, struggled last season trying to adhere to Lewis' reliance on softer zone coverage designed to prevent big plays. Spagnuolo, a graduate of the Eagles' defensive system, promises more man-to-man coverage for the cornerbacks. Tiki Barber's days of being the Giants' running game have ended. Now, for the first time in his career, Brandon Jacobs gets a chance to be "the Man." That new role, says offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, will require some change of philosophy on Jacobs' part. No longer is he a 265-pound freak of a running back, looking to run over people during his few carries a game. May 10 - MAN (Minority Athletes Networking) etc. Inc. presented Tom Coughlin with its 2007 Man of the Year award. The non-profit organization, co-founded by former Giants Ron Johnson and George Martin in 1989, is dedicated to positively influencing the lives of disadvantaged youth in the tri-state area. The MAN scholarship/mentorship program has awarded more than $800,000 to more than 200 students. Past Man of the Year winners have included the late George Young, the Giants' former general manager; Phil Simms; Bill Parcells; Michael Strahan; Tiki Barber; and Harry Carson, a MAN board member and the emcee of last night's dinner. Approximately 400 people attended the affair at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, N.J. The moment Michael Strahan retires, newly assigned linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka anticipates he immediately will shift back to defensive end for the Giants. "I don't see why not," Kiwanuka said. "That would be my understanding." The Giants coaching staff understands differently. "I don't view it as this is temporary and he'll go back there as soon as Michael hangs it up," linebackers coach Bill Sheridan said. "I don't envision it that way." Gibril Wilson said a return to narrower responsibilities will allow him more freedom to just go and play what he sees, rather than guessing all the time. "I don't understand that philosophy right there, all the thinking," Wilson said. "This is going to be more a react-and-go kind of thing. The past couple of years, Tim asked us to do certain things that somebody might not have been comfortable with. Or he asked us to see things out there the way he wanted to see things, and not what you see." And it didn't work, right Gibril? "Right." So Wilson never really fit into the concept. NFC
East News NFC
News May
9 - It
took two years, dozens of phone calls and plenty of begging, but Giants quarterback
Eli Manning finally convinced Plaxico Burress to join him for some offseason workouts
yesterday at Giants Stadium. Burress even planned to stay. "I'm not going anywhere,"
he said. Meanwhile, tight end Jeremy Shockey was still absent, presumably working
out in Miami on his own. "I'm going to give him a call and see where he's at and
see what happens," Burress said. "But you know, if I'm here I think he'll show
up." Plaxico
Burress has a career average of 15.9 yards per reception, which is first among
the 51 active players with at least 300 catches. Despite those gaudy numbers,
Burress has never been selected to the Pro Bowl. Might his chances improve now
that he is working with his team and his quarterback regularly before training
camp for the first time? Tim Hasselbeck, the Giants' backup quarterback and his wife, Elisabeth, were among the 130 guests to attend a White House white-tie state dinner Monday night in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Tim knows it wasn't his status as an NFL player that got him in the door, but rather his wife's popularity as a host on the television show The View. "I'm pretty sure that they're not big fans of backup quarterbacks for the Giants," Hasselbeck said. "I'm pretty sure it was Elisabeth who was getting that invite." Here's some roster moves the Giants made. Cut: DB Claudius Osei C Matt Tarullo TE Jason Randall RB James Sims Sims is the biggest name there, since he actually played in three games last season after Derrick Ward went down. MORE. May
8 - While
the New York Giants were on the clock making their final decision on whom
they were going to select at No. 20 in the 2007 NFL Draft, Aaron Ross, a standout
cornerback from the University of Texas was outside playing catch with his younger
nephew. Although Ross was projected to go in the first round, he didn't think
there was a strong chance the Giants would draft him. But that changed when his
mother called him into the house to let him know his name had popped up on the
TV screen as a potential selection for the Giants. May 7 - Their nomadic natures tend to bond football coaches. Give them luck and longevity and it's likely their lives will eventually intersect in careers that can carry them from coast to coast, continent to continent. "I've been married 36 years and my family has moved 19 times," said Chris Palmer, the Giants' first-year quarterbacks coach. At Giants Stadium, a reunion of perhaps the most select subsection of NFL coaches will take place on Tom Coughlin's fourth staff. Four coaches who emerged from the tiny cauldron of Connecticut high schools and colleges are Coughlin assistants, including both of his coordinators. May 6 - The idea was born out of desperation in the middle of last season when the Giants linebackers were falling apart. It was dismissed at first as too big a project to tackle in midseason. But as the weeks went on, it made more and more sense. At season's end, it had been essentially decided. Mathias Kiwanuka, a defensive end the Giants drafted in the first round a year ago and who Michael Strahan dubbed a worthy heir apparent, would be switching to linebacker. The Giants don't consider it a project or an experiment, nor do they expect the 6-5, 262-pound Kiwanuka to be an average strong-side starter: They expect him to be "great." The Giants began arriving for workouts in mid-March, and each defensive player seemed more excited than the last after having a chance to speak with Steve Spagnuolo. "There's a history there, and people know when you say 'Philly-style defense,' it's aggressive," Childress said. "Players like to be put in position to make plays." Spagnuolo doesn't have a lot of leeway. Coughlin is under pressure to win this year; anything short of the playoffs will mean a new coach in 2008, and likely a new coaching staff. The
Giants were one of the teams the Browns called when they were frantically
trying to move back into the first round to get Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn. Browns
GM Phil Savage said on Sirius NFL Radio the Giants "didn't show much interest"
in making a trade. Of course, the Browns never offered the Giants their second
round pick (No. 36 overall) and their first-round pick next year. May
5 - Special
Report - The trouble with not being allowed to talk to the assistant coaches
except on those two or three days a year when the veils are lifted is that so
much goes by that needs explaining and there is no one to do that. The concept
is for head coach Tom Coughlin to have the "only voice" from the team to the media.
In theory, it might work. In practice, it is useless. Offensive
Coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the the Giants' ground game. May
4 - Chris
Palmer was hired by Giants coach Tom Coughlin not only to work on Eli Manning's
mechanics, decision-making and other physical skills. Manning's new position coach
also is working on the quarterback's demeanor. Specifically, Palmer wants to rid
Manning of those stoop-shouldered, eyes-to-the-ground reactions he sometimes demonstrates
after throwing a bad pass. That defeatist look not only can affect the quarterback's
psyche, it doesn't promote confidence within his teammates, either. Considered a rising star after an eye-opening eight games as a rookie in 2004, Gibril Wilson hasn't ascended the way the Giants anticipated. That's why in many ways this is a make-or-break year for the 25-year old strong safety. Wilson yesterday, as expected, signed his one-year qualifying offer of $1.3 million. The Giants opted not to present Wilson with a long-term contract, but they also wanted him back badly enough as a restricted free agent to give him the second-round tender. Any team that wanted to sign Wilson had to give up a second-round draft pick, a steep price no team was willing to pay. So Wilson returns. Shaun O'Hara hasn't played a game since Tiki Barber retired, but the Giants offensive lineman said things already are different without the running back around. "For now, we haven't had much team activity, but when minicamp comes around and we get on the field, I think it's going to be very strange to not see [No.] 21 running around out there and coming out to practice," O'Hara said of Barber, who stunned many around the NFL by playing his final game last season. "It's already been weird to see somebody else get changed in his locker." During the course of the NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are bitter rivals. However, this off-season two of their premier players, both off-season residents of Atlanta, will team up to raise $1 million for health care research. Cowboys wide receiver Terrell (T.O.) Owens and Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora announced Monday that they will conduct the Charity Strike for a Cure weekend July 13-15, to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's and HIV/AIDS research in Atlanta. The three-day rolling party weekend will include a casino night and a poolside jamboree, highlighted by a celebrity bowling challenge. May 3 - Gibril Wilson and Will Demps must play better in 2007 to improve a pass defense that ranked 27th in the NFL last season. The coaching staff is confident Demps improved late last season as his awareness of the defense and his surgically repaired knee improved. But Wilson must prove he can return to being the playmaker who had three interceptions, three sacks and one forced fumble in only eight games in 2004. At this point, he remains the best option at strong safety after the team did not sign a veteran safety or draft one before the seventh round this past weekend. It
was a strange scene in the media room yesterday at Giants Stadium, an interesting
mix of new and veteran Giants assistant coaches, some of whom had connections
that stretched back decades. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, three months
on the job, talked about making the transition from the hated Eagles, where he
spent eight seasons as a defensive assistant. Steve
Spagnuolo, in his first public comments since an introductory conference call
in January, said he is pleased after his early analysis of the position. "I
think we have a good group of linebackers," he said. Of course, one of the
big reasons for the widespread confidence is Reese's Sunday revelation that Mathias
Kiwanuka, last year's top draft choice as a defensive end, is moving to strongside
linebacker. If
Chris Palmer questioned the job description for the position he applied for
with the Giants last winter, Tom Coughlin quickly quenched his curiosity. "I walked
into Tom's office and he gave me four films to look at and evaluate," Palmer said.
Palmer, 57, Coughlin's offensive coordinator in Jacksonville in 1997-98, understood
the intent. The films were of Eli Manning, the Giants' up-and-down quarterback
whose development is central to the team's success as it moves on without Tiki
Barber. Offensive
coordinator Kevin Gilbride on the need for Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress
to leave Miami and join Manning when he starts throwing to receivers in the next
few weeks: Wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan said he's been in contact with Plaxico Burress, and that Burress has told him he'll be up in the Meadowlands area in May. Whether that means he'll get together with Eli Manning before the June minicamp, as the quarterback hopes, who knows? "He's determined to pick up where he left off," Sullivan said. "He's indicated he’ll be back in the area in May. I hope he'll come here and do as much as possible." May
2 - One
year after being pursued by the Giants, Keyshawn Johnson is available again.
And though a return engagement in New York isn't likely, Tom Coughlin refused
to rule it out. Johnson, a 11-year veteran who turns 35 in July, was cut yesterday
by the Panthers. He became expendable after Carolina drafted USC receiver Dwayne
Jarrett in the second round on Saturday. Following last year's sub-par Special Teams performances, it was clear that one aspect of the Giants' overall program that needed some fine-tuning (or an overhaul depending on how you felt about it) was our kick return squad. According to the Star Ledger, the Giants are calling in J.R. Reed, formerly of the Eagles, Rams and Falcons (was waived last week by Atlanta) to workout at some point this week. While Reed has suffered from a nasty knee injury in the past, his performance, specifically in Philadelphia is enough to spark an interest in taking a look at the guy. The grandmother of Jerry Reese died Sunday afternoon, just as her grandson was wrapping up his first draft as GM of the Giants. Earlene Taylor, who was diagnosed with lung cancer two months ago, was 80. "God got a steal late in the draft when he picked my grandma Sunday," Reese said. "She was a great lady." The Giants selected eight players over the weekend during the NFL Draft. Here's a look at what some fans and members of the local media are saying about the newest additions to Big Blue. The media spoke with linebacker Zak DeOssie about following in the footsteps of his father, former Giants linebacker Steve DeOssie. In addition to drafting DeOssie in the fourth round, the Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano writes that the Giants solidified their linebacking corps by officially moving last year's first rounder, Mathias Kiwanuka, from defensive end to linebacker. The New York Times' John Branch says the Giants drafted according to need when they selected former Texas cornerback Aaron Ross with the 20th pick of the draft. On
the Scene at the 2007 NFL Draft! May 1 - Jerry Reese did not think the Giants needed to go hard in the NFL Draft for a left tackle, feeling he could add a veteran from another team via a trade or free agency, if necessary. The player Reese was interested in acquiring? Kevin Shaffer, a 27-year old lineman from the Browns. The Giants, during the draft and again yesterday, engaged in trade talks to get Shaffer, no doubt offering a second-day 2008 draft pick or perhaps spare parts such as linebacker Reggie Torbor or defensive tackle William Joseph. The scarcity of traditional blocking tight ends in college football these days has forced the Giants to turn to an offensive tackle in hopes of finding one. Gabe Hall, Texas Tech's starting right tackle the past two seasons, has been signed as a free agent with the idea that he may get a shot at tight end, the position he played when he entered college. "He could get a try at both positions," said a team official Monday after Hall joined the initial group of undrafted free agents signed by the Giants. Michael Matthews, a 270-pounder from Georgia Tech, also will audition for the blocking tight end job. The entire Manning clan, including Eli's fiancée Abby McGrew, will be attendance for the 133rd Run for the Roses this weekend. "It's turning into a family reunion," Cooper Manning said. "We don't have a chance to get together too often but we'll all be there, and I'm thrilled about it." For Cooper Manning, racing has become more than a pastime. He is a principal investor in Horse Power LLC, a consulting firm that guides potential owners through the sometimes murky world of the sport, covering everything from buying horses to picking trainers to tax advice. Apr
30 - A
few minutes after he had been drafted by the Giants yesterday, Zak DeOssie
got his first scouting report on his new team and the area to which he's now headed.
It came from his father Steve, a linebacker and long snapper for the Giants from
1989-93. "He said, 'Look for a spot in Hoboken; it's a great place,'" Zak said
on a conference call with reporters. The
Giants usually navigate the NFL's changing tide with a steady, conservative
touch. So when Jerry Reese was hired as general manager in January, replacing
Ernie Accorsi, many wondered whether the new boss would be like the old boss.
It turns out Reese might be even more vigilant. He displayed patience during free
agency, refusing to pay for players he considered overpriced. And he held firm
during his first draft, ignoring one-sided trade offers to sit tight with the
20th pick. As a result, a team with many needs filled most of them with their
eight picks - four on offense and four on defense. No trades and no surprises
- until after the draft. At
weak side linebacker, Reese said the battle is between veteran free agent
Kawika Mitchell and second-year Gerris Wilkinson. "Not necessarily in that order,''
Reese said. Reese also caught some heat for releasing starting left tackle Luke
Petitgout, seemingly forcing the Giants to shift David Diehl from left guard outside
to left tackle. That still may happen, but Reese offered a vote of confidence
for Guy Whimper, a second-year tackle from East Carolina. The DeOssies became the fourth father-son combination to play for the team, joining Joe and Barrett Green, Will and Rodney Young, and Don and Tim Hasselbeck. The Giants used their fifth-round pick on Western Oregon tight end Kevin Boss, their sixth on left tackle project Adam Koets, and their two sevenths on Arizona safety Michael Johnson and Marshall's cutback running back Ahmad Bradshaw. The most effective pick was clearly their first-rounder, Aaron Ross, who is expected to challenge Sam Madison or Corey Webster for a starting job. But Reese felt they successfully addressed all their major needs. "We got better in a lot of need positions," Reese said. "We got guys with character and team-oriented players. We plugged some holes with value picks." Giants
Day 2 selections Apr 29 - New general manager Jerry Reese and the New York Giants didn't let age scare them in taking Texas cornerback Aaron Ross with the 20th pick in the NFL Draft. Ross, who turns 25 in September, fills two immediate needs for Giants. He is a physical cover cornerback who might be able to step right in and play for a unit that was ranked 28th against the pass, and he also is a punt returner who brought back three for touchdowns in his Longhorn career. His only drawback might be his age. Ross had to sit out two years of college because of transcript problems and is a couple years older than most first-round picks. The Giants' first-round cornerback, Jerry Reese's first pick as the team's new general manager, doesn't expect to be sitting idle on the sideline for long. Anticipating the aggressive schemes of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Texas hitter said he plans to challenge Sam Madison and perhaps Corey Webster immediately for a starting job. "I'm a competitor," the 6-foot half-inch, 193-pound Ross said. "I'm not coming here to sit on the bench. I just plan to get under the veterans' wings and let them teach me, learn from them, and see what happens." The Giants targeted cornerbacks in this draft, believing they needed more help there than at linebacker. Ross wasn't their first choice, but the way the draft evolved, he was the solid, non-controversial pick. A foundation of the Eagles' defense the past decade was aggressive cornerbacks who can play press coverage. Now that Philadelphia's former linebacker coach, Steve Spagnuolo, is running the Giants' defense, that's the style he's importing. "He can play that press coverage our coordinator wants to play," Reese said. "He fits our scheme." Ross said he's most comfortable playing press coverage. "I feel like that's my strength," he said, "to get down there and lock up on a guy. I really love to man up on guys take 'em out of the game." GM Jerry Reese said Ross (a half inch over six feet and 193 pounds) is a press corner who "fits our scheme" and is suited to play against bigger receivers. Aaron Ross was the most athletic of the Texas skill players on both offense and defense in 2006. He is an all-around athlete who excelled in multiple sports in high school. In
the second round (51st overall), the Giants selected WR Steve Smith from USC.
If his name in an indication, he'll be a heck of an NFL player. Smith adds depth
to the receiver position but not a lot of size. At 5-11, he's two inches taller
than his namesake (Panthers WR Steve Smith), but he's good at finding space, getting
open and making the catch. Steve Smith is a very athletic player who has made large strides in increasing his strength and speed in the off-season. Is a dangerous runner after the catch. Can run precise routes due to his quick feet. Has good body positioning. Is able to work out of press coverage because of his quick hands and feet. Jay Alford is very athletic for his position. Displays superb quickness and agility, but although he has good strength relative to his size, he needs to become stronger to be more successful in the NFL. New Jersey Giants? - Three New York assemblymen are taking up a longtime Garden State complaint: sports teams keeping "New York" in their names even when they play in New Jersey. Apr 28 - Last year, the Giants went into the draft needing a receiver, a linebacker, a running back and a defensive tackle. In fact, they could've used almost anything other than a defensive end. So of course, after trading down to the last pick of the first round, they took defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. "In the room at the time I said, 'Does anybody in this room think Mathias Kiwanuka is not going to be a Pro Bowl defensive end?'" recalled Giants GM Jerry Reese."No hands went up. I said, 'We are going to pick this guy. I know we don't need him at this point, but at some point he is going to be a good player for us.'" That was Reese's way of saying just about anything could happen for the Giants today when they make the 20th pick in the NFL draft. If the first 19 picks go as expected, the Giants are leaning toward picking either a linebacker or cornerback, with their top choices being Texas cornerback Aaron Ross or Miami linebacker Jon Beason. At the Giants' two biggest defensive positions of need -- linebacker and cornerback -- rookie GM Jerry Reese has some options if his first choice is gone. Florida State's Lawrence Timmons appears to be at the top of the Giants' board at linebacker, with Miami's Jon Beason next; at corner, Pitt's Darrelle Revis appears to be the team's top target, with any number of corners -- Arkansas' Chris Houston, Texas' Aaron Ross and Fresno State's Marcus McCauley -- behind Revis. George Young and Ernie Accorsi were the only two men to sit in the general manager's chair from 1979 until this Jan. 16, when Jerry Reese took over. Both men are forever linked to some of their more notable draft-day decisions: Young's selections of Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor, Accorsi's trades for Eli Manning and Jeremy Shockey. Sometime Saturday afternoon, it will be Reese's turn. He has run the last four Giants drafts as the team’s personnel director. But this is his first as the tiebreaker, the one who will make the final decision. If he retires from this job 25 years from now, the stories about his departure will likely include at least a throwaway line recalling his very first draft choice as G.M. Johnny Perkins, who caught 163 passes in a seven-year NFL career spent entirely with the Giants, has died of complications following heart surgery. He was 54. The Giants said yesterday that Perkins died Wednesday at Lifecare Hospital in Fort Worth, Tex. A second-round draft pick in 1977, Perkins played in 71games and had 2,611 yards receiving and 18 TDs. He retired after the 1983 season. Apr
27 - Amani
Toomer will be 33 on Sept. 8, the day before the Giants open the 2007 season.
He had reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee
in November. He said the other day that he's on track to be ready to sprint and
cut on the knee by training camp, but can the Giants afford to be patient with
their all-time leading receiver? Tomorrow may reveal the answer. There are many
quality wide receiver prospects that should be available for the Giants, either
with the No. 20 pick or their second-rounder, which is the 51st overall pick.
Scouting
The 1st Round - Gary Myers The Giants own eight selections in this weekend's NFL Draft and sometime Sunday, perhaps in the sixth or seventh round, they may take a flier on Rashad Barksdale, a cornerback from Albany who, despite a blatantly limited football resume, has suddenly caught the attention of NFL personnel. The Giants were one of five NFL teams on March 19 to attend Albany's Pro Day, where Barksdale became more than a novelty act by clocking in at a blazing 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The Eagles have worked him out several times. A scout from the Bears told Barksdale he'd be a good fit for their Cover-2 defense. The 49ers and Cardinals have offered similar encouragement. This past Wednesday, the Packers checked in with a call. Apr 26 - Jerry Reese said last week that new Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had given the general manager a list of draft-eligible players he liked. Ultimately, it's Reese's call on whom to draft, but the Giants would benefit from taking players who fit Spagnuolo's system. In the secondary, the Giants return all four starters, plus R.W. McQuarters, who started 11 games at corner. But cornerback is still a position of need for the Giants, and there is a high volume of first-day draft talent at the position. It's
unlikely Levi Brown, generally rated as the second-best left offensive tackle
in this weekend's NFL Draft, will be sitting there for the Giants on Saturday
when the 20th overall pick rolls around. It's also debatable whether the Giants
will even be thinking offensive tackle with their first-round pick. But they have
jettisoned veteran Luke Petitgout, and last week general manager Jerry Reese did
not exactly offer a ringing endorsement of David Diehl, the versatile starting
left guard who, for now, is the heir apparent at left tackle. The NFL Draft is an unforgettable event for those players selected. Almost every veteran player can recite where he was, who he was with and who broke the news to him. With this year’s draft scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, six Giants this week looked back on the day they entered the NFL. We hear from Sam Madison, Jim Finn and David Tyree. Making
the right pick depends on instinct and risk tolerance and by the time commissioner
Roger Goodell puts the Giants on the clock Saturday for the 20th pick in the NFL
draft, they will have spent a great deal of time weighing character and talent.
"We always have paid a lot of attention to character," said Giants general manager
Jerry Reese. "We've always been conscious of a player's background. We have things
in place to try to avoid some of that [trouble]. This is not just an issue we've
become aware of now." The Giants and Jets plan to start driving piles and relocating utilities at the site of their new $1.4 billion football stadium within two to three weeks following Wednesday's tentative approval of their master plan. The stadium, to be funded by the teams, with $300 million in aid from the National Football League, will be the most expensive sports facility in the United States. The Giants and Jets hope to begin play in 2010 at the replacement for 31-year-old Giants Stadium. Sports authority Vice President James Minish said agency concerns about parking and staffing appear to have been solved since a preliminary master plan was approved in October. The teams plan to begin demolition next month of a portion of one set of escalators at Giants Stadium's Gate B -- in the northeastern corner where the new stadium will be erected. Temporary turnstiles and security checkpoints must be in place by the time concerts and soccer games are held in June and July, Minish said. Apr 25 - For those anxiously awaiting the Giants' selection of a linebacker with the 20th pick Saturday in the NFL draft, Gerris Wilkinson has a suggestion: Focus on a different position. "I definitely feel I can step into that role," the Giants' LB said yesterday. The Giants are notoriously inept when it comes to drafting and developing linebackers, forcing the need to go hunting (with limited success) to fill gaping holes with marginal veterans. If the team believes Wilkinson, in his second year out of Georgia Tech, can move in as a starter, the Giants could go elsewhere - likely to cornerback - with their first-round pick. Eli Manning and Antonio Pierce should have made up a sign to hang at the entrance to their locker room over the weekend. "All help appreciated." Whether the Giants pick up a left tackle or wide receiver, a linebacker or defensive back, the two were simply hoping yesterday that their units would find some much-needed assistance. Not that Pro Bowl middle linebacker Pierce is disenchanted with the people he has surrounding him on defense, but the linebacking corps is thin after the dismissals of LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons. At the very least, it needs depth. And not that Manning would particularly worry about his protection if David Diehl indeed takes over at left tackle, or fret about a thin receiving corps if the Giants don't pick up a wide receiver. But he could use the bodies. Antonio Pierce thinks a Giants trade for the Bears' disgruntled Pro Bowler, Lance Briggs, remains a possibility. He's certain Briggs will not play in Chicago this season, and has been lobbying for his team to make a play for him. Yet it's highly unlikely the Giants can put together a viable package for Briggs. With their first-round pick (No. 20), however, they may nab a top linebacker, either Miami's Jon Beason or Florida State's Lawrence Timmons -- whichever one gets past Pittsburgh at No. 15. Then they could get a cornerback such as UNLV's Eric Wright, Fresno State's Marcus McCauley or Syracuse's Tanard Jackson in Round 2. Amani
Toomer will be 33 in September and he is coming off a torn anterior cruciate
ligament in his left knee. Those are two good reasons for the Giants to consider
drafting a receiver in the first round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Even Toomer
admits that's a possibility. He just doesn't see the need. "I think my knee will
be 100%," said Toomer, the Giants' all-time leader in receiving yards (8,157).
"I don't have any reservations. I think I'm progressing really well. Everything
is going in the right direction. I plan on competing in training camp and playing
in the first couple of games." Jerry Reese is the man in the spotlight as the New York Giants head into the NFL draft with needs at almost every position. Will the Giants' draft philosophy change with Reese running the show as general manager instead of the retired Ernie Accorsi? Will Reese carry the dominant opinion, or will coach Tom Coughlin have more of a say in making the pick with his job on the line after an 8-8 playoff season and first-round exit. There are tons of other questions. They are all equally irrelevant. Sam Madison said he'll have no complaints if the Giants select a cornerback with their first choice in this week's NFL Draft. "Bring him in," said Madison, who is preparing for his 11th NFL season - and second with the Giants - at that position. "We need some more help - for practice. Less reps for me." Okay, so Madison was having a little fun. But like most veterans, he will keep at least one eye on the draft this weekend to see which players the Giants add to their roster. "You're always interested in who they're going to take in the draft," Pro Bowl middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "Every year some new guys come into the league that can help you out right away. So of course, if we can get somebody to help us out, I'm glad for it." Apr
24 - If
Jon Beason is taken by the Giants with the 20th overall pick in Saturday's
NFL Draft, he already anticipates one of the first calls he'll make. Time to dial
up Jessie Armstead. "That's a phone call you make April 28 about 8 p.m.," Beason
yesterday told The Post, "saying 'Jessie, man, I'm going to the Giants. Tell me
what you think about the coaching staff, the organization, dos and don'ts, how
were you so successful? That conversation is best left for after the draft." Linebacker Barry Robertson, who was allocated by the Giants to the Hamburg Sea Devils, has been one of NFL Europa's best defensive players through the first two weeks of the season. Robertson, who is Hamburg's starting middle linebacker, had a team-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in a season-opening 24-18 loss to the Cologne Centurions. On Sunday, Robertson had two tackles and a sack in the Sea Devils' 16-7 victory over the Berlin Thunder. The three-yard sack on a third down early in the second quarter forced the Thunder to punt. Robertson, who was signed by the Giants on Feb. 8, is a former captain at Louisiana Tech. The Giants have five players in NFL Europa, though only three are currently active. Apr 23 - Someone asked Jerry Reese last week if he'd prefer to be picking first overall. "Thirty-two would be better," the Giants' rookie general manager said. On Saturday, Reese will preside over his first draft as GM. He won't be able to make a big splash selecting 20th, but the Giants have eight picks and almost as many needs on both sides of the ball. But the Giants won't necessarily be driven by need. The "best player available" theory prevails for most teams, for a simple reason: Pick a guy to fill a hole now who's not as talented as you'd like, and you'll just be replacing him eventually anyway. "You take the best player for your future, not for right now," said former Texans GM Charley Casserly, an analyst for CBS. "You'll be looking to fill the same need in two years." On a recent afternoon at Giants Stadium, kicker Marc Hickok ignored the gazes of two NFL veterans and several coaches, scoffed at swirling winds and paid no heed to the 38 temperature. "Kicking a football is kicking a football," he said. "You ignore everything else." Then Hickok delivered a kick neither the coaches nor the veterans could ignore. He sailed a 55-yard field goal through the uprights. The Giants, who open camp July 27 at the University at Albany, opted this spring not to resign veteran kicker Jay Feely, leaving only Hickok and first-year player Josh Huston as the team's kickers. "It's just amazing," Hickok said. "I always assumed my first job would be behind Adam Vinatieri or something. To actually get a chance to compete for a job makes this more exciting." The Giants were interested enough in Eric Wright that they dispatched Chris Mara to his Pro Day, and then flew Wright in for an interview last week. Ralph Vacchiano spoke to Wright when he was on a plane in Atlanta last week, getting ready for his flight to Newark the night before his visit with the Giants. OK, the Giants picking 20th doesn't exactly lend itself to insanity, but if you read all the draft experts and insiders and stuff in the weeks leading up to the draft, things can seem pretty insane. Over here at the blog I'm going to attempt to use my Giants wisdom to assess their options at a variety of positions, beginning tonight. These will be short takes and all comments, complaints and compliments are welcome. NFL mock draft: A look at the first round By Ernie Palladino- The Journal News. Apr 22 -
Jerry
Reese has been an influential voice in the Giants' draft room for 12 years
running, including four in which he ran the room as the director of player personnel.
This year is different. He's never had to make the final call. "Yes," the Giants'
new GM said last week. "I'll break the ties." After spending nine seasons with the Miami Dolphins, cornerback Sam Madison brought his skill, leadership and experience to the Giants' secondary in 2006. Though forced to miss four games with a hamstring injury, Madison started all 12 regular season games in which he played as well as the NFC Wild Card Game, and provided a consistent veteran presence at the right cornerback position. Madison finished the season with 44 tackles (34 solo), two interceptions, eight passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Brandon Short has revealed the details of a part of his life to only a few of his closest friends. And recently, when he was 15 feet from a New York City gunfight that left a restaurant worker, two police officers and a suspect dead, it all came rushing back to him. Crouched in a jewelry store with the familiar pop-pop-pop of gunfire around him, Short's thoughts flashed to his brother and a dangerous childhood. They are two brothers, separated after their mother's death and sent to live with relatives in some of the most deadly Pennsylvania housing projects. One escaped to a life as a professional football player with the Giants and Carolina Panthers. The other killed a man, shot him in the head in self-defense, he says, and he now spends his days in a uniform, too -- an ugly chocolate brown jumpsuit issued by the state. Eric Wright - a player the Giants are seriously considering - has been subjected to some extremely intrusive background checks. NFL teams have spoken to his coaches from USC, UNLV and high school, old friends and even people in the Las Vegas community. Former Giants Apr
20 - The
GM is always linked to the players he selects in the draft, and Reese's legacy
starts getting shaped eight days from now. The Giants own the 20th overall pick
and are likely to lean heavily on fortifying their leaky defense. "I really don't
think about it as MY first pick," Reese said yesterday, engaging in his
first pre-draft press conference after replacing the retired Ernie Accorsi.
"It's the New York Giants pick." Reese has not exactly hit the ground running.
The Giants did not open the floodgates in free agency - their most high-profile
addition was linebacker Kavika Mitchell - leaving plenty of holes to be plugged
in the draft. Reese blamed an inflated market for the lack of signings.
Reese
has been spending much of his time since taking over getting ready for the
NFL Draft a week from Sunday. The Giants will have the 20th pick overall. They
need help at linebacker, cornerback and at left tackle with the release of Petitgout.
"I don't know if we can get a guy that can start, but I think that we can get
a real good football player," Reese said. "There are not a lot of rookies that
start in the National Football League if you look all the way across the board.
There are not a lot of guys that can jump in and start right away." Apr 19 -
The
Giants announced the signing of quarterback Anthony Wright on Wednesday, adding
a veteran who has played in 28 games with 19 starts since entering the NFL as
a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999. Wright becomes the No. 1 candidate
to back up Eli Manning this season. "I'm looking forward to coming in behind a
young guy," said Wright, who backed up Carson Palmer in Cincinnati last season,
"Hopefully, I'll offer some insight to him. The team went to the playoffs last
year, and it has the capability to go even further." Fourteen years after Steve DeOssie turned in his Giants jersey, his son may be in line for one of his own. Zak DeOssie, a linebacker from Brown University and son of the former Giants linebacker and long snapper, had a pre-draft visit with the Giants yesterday and met with team officials. The 6-4, 250-pounder was one of a large group of prospects at Giants Stadium, including USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett, Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr., and UNLV cornerback Eric Wright. Former
Giants Apr 18 - Looking for a hint as to which way the Giants are going to go in the first round of the draft? Well, if it means anything, they are spending the early part of this week interviewing some of the top defensive backs in the draft. They wrapped up a visit yesterday with Miami safety Brandon Meriweather. Pitt cornerback Darrelle Revis was scheduled to arrive for his visit. And UNLV cornerback Eric Wright is en route and will have his scheduled visit today. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce was the glue that held the 2006 Giants defense together. A sideline-to-sideline defender, Pierce, in his second Giants season, led the team with 159 tackles (one shy of the career-high he set with Washington in 2004), including 93 solo stops. He also had one sack, one interception 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. NFL
News Apr
17 - The
draft approaches more rapidly than most teams would like, and the Giants are
no different in that regard. "The one thing you want to avoid," said the late
general manager, George Young, "is to 'force' a player up into the first round,
or any round for that matter. You must take the best available athlete regardless
of his position if your need-player is listed too low." Apr 14 -
For
the third straight spring, the Giants have added a veteran backup to starting
quarterback Eli Manning. They're hoping this one will make it through the summer
and onto the opening day roster. Anthony Wright, who turned 31 last month, agreed
to terms on a two-year deal with the Giants yesterday, according to someone familiar
with the negotiations. The person requested anonymity because Wright hasn't officially
signed a contract. He is expected to do so in the next few days. The news on Wright
broke a few minutes before the Giants announced the signing of two free agents:
defensive tackle Marcus Bell and defensive back Michael Stone. Terms of those
deals were not immediately available. Also yesterday -- an uncharacteristically
busy day for April -- the Giants hosted former Lions receiver Charles Rogers.
It's unclear at this point if Rogers was offered a contract. The Giants announced the signing of two veteran free agents: defensive tackle Marcus Bell and defensive back Michael Stone. A fourth round draft choice by Arizona in 2001, the 6-2, 325-pound Bell spent the first three years of his career with the Cardinals before spending the last three seasons with Detroit. Stone, another veteran of six NFL seasons, was originally selected by Arizona Cardinals in second round (54th pick overall) of 2001 NFL draft. After spending the first four years of his career with the Cardinals, the 6-0, 201-pound Stone was with New England in 2005 and Houston last season. An outstanding special teams player, Stone has played both safety and corner in his career. Gibril Wilson started all 15 games in which he played and the NFC Wild Card Game at strong safety in 2006. In his third season with the Giants, Wilson finished second on the team in tackles with a career-high 121 (81 solo). The aggressive defensive back also recorded two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Heading into 2007 Wilson remains one of the Giants most consistent players in the defensive backfield, providing a strong presence against the run and the pass. Apr 13 - Reuben Droughns, the Giants' most recent addition to a backfield sans Tiki Barber - the first time that can be said since 1997 - anticipates a season filled with excitement. Droughns spent the last two seasons in Cleveland, where Browns went 10-22. Droughns ran for 1,232 yards in 2005 and last year had 758 yards in 14 games. The Giants will be counting on him to complement Brandon Jacobs, who was Barber's understudy since coming into the league in 2005. "We're playing a lot of 3-4 teams," Droughns said about the 2007 schedule. "That's an aggressive defense; and me and Brandon are both aggressive backs. It should work in our favor."
The New York Giants will open the 2007 season at Dallas and end at home against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. In between, they'll play the first NFL regular-season game in Europe when they face Miami in London in late October. The Giants (8-8) will play five night games for the second straight year in the schedule released on Wednesday, and they will have a Giants Stadium bragging rights game against the Jets on Oct. 7, the first regular-season game between the teams since 2003. The Giants are scheduled for five night games, including the Sunday night opener in Dallas and the Saturday night finisher against the Patriots. In addition, their Oct. 28 game against the Dolphins in London will start at 6 p.m. London time (1 p.m. EST). Back-to-back ... not! The only back-to-back home games are Sept. 30 against the Eagles and Oct. 7 against the Jets. The only back-to-back road games are in Chicago on Dec. 2 and in Philadelphia on Dec. 9. This is the second year in a row the Giants' schedule consists of five prime-time games. The kickoff times for six of the Giants' second-half games will be determined later in the season, based on the NFL's flexible scheduling policy. The 8:15 start for the Dec. 29 New England game cannot be changed. Apr 11 In the never-ending quest to bolster their backup quarterback position behind Eli Manning, the Giants this week will meet with Anthony Wright, who will make a visit to Giants Stadium to speak with the offensive coaching staff. Wright, 31, is arguably the last proven quarterback remaining on the market. The Broncos showed interest in Wright but instead opted to sign Patrick Ramsey. The Falcons also flirted with Wright but went with Joey Harrington and the Panthers bypassed Wright for David Carr. NFL News
Apr
10 Since
2003, Jim Finn has been the Giants' unsung fullback. His primary duty is blocking,
which he performs so well, Tiki Barber rushed for 6,256 yards and made three Pro
Bowls in four seasons with Finn as his backfield escort. But last month the Giants
signed Finn's potential replacement, restricted free agent Vonta Leach of the
Houston Texans, to an offer sheet. A week later, the Texans matched the offer
and Leach stayed in Houston. Apr
9 Special
Report - The question has been posed on a blog-site favored by Giant fans,
and it is deserving of some discussion. Was Lawrence Taylor the best defensive
player in the history of pro football? Former
Giants Apr 6 The Giants might not know how good newly-signed LB Jason Mitchell is going to be, but even before he's participated in one practice they are certain how tough he is. After tearing both the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in this left knee in 2005, Mitchell, risking a possible career-ending injury, strapped on a brace and stayed in the lineup. "You only get to live your college dream once," Mitchell said. "I felt I should give it all I can for the last time." Apr 4 Will Demps was one of the Giants secondary's most consistent players in the second half of 2006. In his first season with the Giants safety Will Demps started all 16 regular season games and the Giants' lone playoff game, recording a career-high 107 tackles, one sack and two interceptions. Apr
3 The
Giants and Jets each will have one nationally televised preseason game this
summer. The Jets' Aug. 17 game against Minnesota at Giants Stadium will be televised
by Ch. 5 (Fox) and the Giants' game in Baltimore will be shown by Ch. 4 (NBC).
The two teams will meet the next weekend in the Meadowlands (probably Aug. 25
or 26). The exhibition game scheduled for China in August was postponed Monday by the NFL, which said it wanted to concentrate its "global resources" on next October's regular-season game in London. The game had been set for Aug. 9 in Beijing, the second of two consecutive contests between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, who had been scheduled to meet in Seattle the previous week. NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Monday that game also had been called off. Although San Francisco and Arizona met in Mexico City in 2005, the NFL has never played a regular-season game outside North America. The first will take place in London on Oct. 28 between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins, with Miami designed the "home" team. The Giants announced the signing of linebacker Jason Mitchell. A 6-1, 230-pounder, Mitchell did not play football in 2006 after suffering a knee injury in his final season at the University of Tennessee. Mitchell played in 49 games with 26 starts for the Volunteers. He recorded 165 tackles, including 114 solo, five sacks, 13 tackles for 43 yards in losses, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Mitchell's finest season was his junior year in 2004, when he started all 13 games and had 57 tackles (41 solo), two sacks and 5.5 tackles for losses. Jason's older brother is Brandon Mitchell, a defensive tackle who played for New England and then Seattle from 1997-2005. NFC
East free agency review: Mar 31 The Giants are two weeks into their formal offseason conditioning, with many players lifting weights and running four times a week as they get in shape for the 2007 season. Eli Manning is a daily participant in the program and four months before training camp, he appears to be in condition to take the field. But Manning's training involves much more than working his body into shape. Manning is about to intensify his mental preparation. As he did last year, Manning is going to closely study virtually every play he ran in 2006, both by himself and with new quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer. Mar
30 Tom
Coughlin barely hung onto his job after the Giants collapsed in the second
half of last season. He tried to make it seem he was oblivious when there was
so much speculation he was about to be fired. The final two months of the season
were filled with reports that Coughlin was coaching for his job. His daughter
would call and tell him he had to read what was being said about him. The day
after the season, he met with co-owners John Mara and Jonathan Tisch and was required
to present a plan how he was going to make the team better. For a proud man such
as Coughlin, the speculation that he was about to lose his job bordered on humiliation.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin is under intense scrutiny once again -- only this time it has nothing to do with a coaching decision. During a coaches' breakfast on Wednesday at the NFL owners' meetings in Phoenix, Coughlin fielded a question from a football Web site reporter about the way the media portrays him. Coughlin responded by saying only Adolf Hitler received harsher criticism than he has, the New York Daily News reported. "I hear some of it and I see it. You know (Giants VP of communications Pat) Hanlon tells me about it, what's going on," the paper quoted Coughlin as saying. "Hitler and then me, in that order. Unfortunate, but it is." The quotes did not sit well with Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Giants
coach Tom Coughlin won't be disciplined and his job is not in jeopardy after
he was quoted saying he is almost as hated as Adolf Hitler. The Giants had no
official comment yesterday after the Daily News quoted Coughlin saying this, in
response to a question about the battering he received in the New York and national
media near the end of last season. Coughlin has never had the warm relationship
with New York writers and radio hosts that his predecessor, Jim Fassel, enjoyed. Former New York Giants superstar running back Tiki Barber recently retired from football at the peak of his career, but his days in the spotlight - and on your television - are far from over. Barber, who rushed for more than 3,500 yards combined in his final two seaons with the Giants, has signed on with NBC as a correspondent for the "Today" show and as an NFL analyst. With these new roles, Barber will maintain his high profile, but he will also have time to be even more of a family man. For a team equipped with two Pro Bowl defensive ends, rookie Mathias Kiwanuka came in pretty handy in 2006. When defensive ends Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck went down for major portions of the season, Kiwanuka stepped in and provided significant depth to the Giants defensive line. By season's end, Kiwanuka, the player that many assumed would struggle to find playing time in a talented front seven, saw action in all 17 of the Giants' regular season and playoff games with 10 starts. Kiwanuka led the defensive line with 55 tackles, adding four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Say goodbye to drab concrete and hello to shining aluminum and glass. After more than a year of debate, the Giants and Jets are closing in on a final design of their $1.2 billion stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Earlier this month, the teams revealed the essence of the building they will construct, as well as the new Giants practice facility, in a preliminary planning document they submitted to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. As the documents reveal, there is a little something for everyone here: tailgate zones, lined football fields in the parking lot for pickup games, field-level suites for the team owners, multiple stadium clubs and a plaza area that connects a new rail station to the stadium. Mar 29 When
a few of their players were given an unfamiliar game plan last week, the Giants
called in a specialist to help accelerate the learning process: Bill Murray. The
Giants, through Director of Player Development and former fullback Charles Way,
have a mentoring program called Giants Steps to Success. "We were going to
the same schools over and over again," Way said. "Most of the kids have
gone to the assembly before and I got a feeling when I was talking to them that
they were starting to become disinterested." Mar 28 Eli Manning has made previous pleas to Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress asking them to attend the Giants' offseason workout program, and they have always said "No." There's no reason for Manning to believe they have changed their minds. But it never hurts to ask, so he did. "Yeah, I've talked to both of them," Manning said yesterday. "I said, 'Hey, I probably won't start throwing until mid-April. That's when I'd like you here. Right now if you want to be training someplace else, that's fine with me.' I'll talk to them as that gets closer and see what everybody is planning." The
Giants are getting used to things being different. Old faces such as tackle
Luke Petitgout are gone, and that's not a pleasant thought. But the absence of
defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, fired after last season, brings hope to at least
a couple of his former players. "Hopefully, it'll be a fresh start for me," cornerback
Corey Webster said yesterday. "It's a chance to really show what I can do ...
Sometimes [the past two years], I got mixed signals. I didn't really know what
the coaching staff was asking for. It's never a good thing when a player and the
coach aren't on the same page. We're all here to win." Kawika
Mitchell admitted that his free-agency experience was not what he expected
it to be. More than three weeks into signing period, there were few NFL teams
interested in his services, but he sounds happy to have landed with the Giants.
"It was an interesting process," Mitchell said yesterday at Giants Stadium. "I've
never been through it before. You learn something new every year. I ended up in
a good situation." It could be a temporary situation, though. Mitchell signed
a one-year contract for $1 million ($750,000 base salary, $200,000 signing bonus,
$50,000 workout bonus), unusual for a player who is young (27) and healthy (he's
missed one start in three years). The
digging on the $1.7billion stadium the Giants and Jets are building at the
Meadowlands is scheduled to begin in May with a couple of the luxury boxes expected
to be priced at an incredible $1 million per year. But the average fan may be
asked to dig a lot deeper, too, if one or both of the teams require them to pay
personal seat licenses to retain their season tickets. Giants co-owners John Mara
and Steve Tisch said yesterday no decision has been made whether they will make
PSLs part of their pricing plan to help pay off the debt. The Giants have made plenty of changes to their backfield after Tiki Barber's retirement and will explore all options to replace him over the next couple of months. This might be the perfect chance for Ryan Grant to grab a roster spot. Last off-season, the Nyack, N.Y., native and Don Bosco grad was at a club in Manhattan with a few of his Giants teammates, including defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Adrian Awasom, when he suffered an injury that ended his 2006 season before it began. Grant said he slipped and fell backward onto a table holding several glasses. One of them cracked under his weight and gashed his forearm, damaging a tendon and nerves in his arm. NFL NewsReplay is here to stay in the NFL. Or at least as permanently as any rule can be in pro football. League owners voted 30-2 on Tuesday to make the video replay system a permanent officiating tool. All but three stadiums will be equipped with high-definition equipment and will be recabled before the upcoming season, at a cost of as much as $300,000 per club. The stadiums being replaced in Irving, Texas, Indianapolis and East Rutherford will not get the updates. Cincinnati and Arizona voted against the proposal, as they nearly always do on replay issues. Total compensation in the fifth year of the NFL's "Performance Based Pay" system increased by 21 percent, from $79.4 million to $96 million. Players become eligible to receive Performance Based Pay in any season during which they play at least one down of the regular season.
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