Sept
3 Special
Report - Ready to take a swing at what the Giants 53-man roster might look
like by Saturday afternoon, Giants Nation? Well here is one man's considered take
- absent raiding someone else's waiver wire releases, which we can usually count
on for at least one change after final roster announcements. Tune in Saturday,
Giants fans, and we'll see how close I came. Comments or questions are welcome
and can be sent to: giantswest1@verizon.net
Thursday's
preseason finale between the Giants and the Patriots will be the final dress
rehearsal for both teams - and for Sarah Thomas. Thomas, the NFL's first female
full-time referee, will serve as a line judge on veteran referee Pete Morelli's
crew on Thursday night, continuing her ascent through the refereeing ranks.
Eli
Manning and Unai' Unga are as far apart as two players can be regarding professional
experience and achievement, but each is very eager to have a productive performance
in the Giants' preseason finale tomorrow night in New England.
Another
day, another injury to report for the Giants. And this time it's the kicker.
On Wednesday, the Giants re-signed kicker Chris Boswell, who had been cut in mid-August.
Boswell won't stick with the team, but he will handle kicking duties in Thursday
night's preseason finale in New England, giving kicker Josh Brown time to recuperate.
Former
Giants
Phil
Simms has been like anyone else looking in on the Giants this preseason -
just shaking his head. "The confidence level cannot be high," the former
Big Blue quarterback said Wednesday on a CBS conference call, "because they've
shown nothing in the preseason to give themselves confidence."
Sept
2 The
release of two former Giants draft choices were among the 14 moves today as
the team reduced its roster to 74 players before the NFL's 4 p.m. deadline that
required teams to be at 75.
That
would be OL Brandon Mosley, the team's fourth-round pick in 2012 who for the
second year in a row was done in by injuries (this time his back), and offensive
lineman Eric Herman, the seventh-round pick in 2013 who after landing on the practice
squad two years in a row, ran out of chances.
The
Giants trimmed their roster Tuesday to 74 players, and one of those sent packing
is punter Robert Malone, giving incumbent Steve Weatherford the win in that summer
competition. But that does not mean the competition at punter is finished.
Giants,
in need of safeties, making decision to not re-sign Antrel Rolle look terrible.
Considering the state of this injury plagued Giants team, Rolle has proven to
be remarkably durable. In his last nine NFL seasons he's missed only one game
(in 2009).
After
three straight non-playoff seasons and a head coach who turned 69 on Monday,
the consensus is the Giants must make the playoffs or the Tom Coughlin era likely
is over. The Jerry Reese era could be over, too.
It's
unlikely Manning sees any snaps in Big Blue's final tune-up on Thursday against
New England and as a result will likely finish with preseason numbers similar
to last year's.
Victor
Cruz will be a "work in progress," Eli Manning said after practice Tuesday
and after the regular season begins, it will take a while for them to regain their
timing.
Sept 1
Don't
write the next chapter in Victor Cruz's storybook comeback just yet. On Monday,
the Giants receiver for the first time revealed the slightest of doubts that he'll
be ready to suit up for the season opener in Dallas, which is less than two weeks
away.
Eli
Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. need him. Whenever he does finally return to
the field, he'll be rusty, and the timing between him and Manning will be affected.
Cruz, the eternal optimist, was asked if he thinks he can get back to where he
was whenever he is cleared.
There
was the expectation that Cruz would play in at least one preseason game as
the final hurdle of his comeback, but that is not going to happen with the summer
finale against the Patriots in Foxboro, Mass. on tap for Thursday night.
Early
this spring, the Giants, a team with no established safeties, offered Stevie
Brown the veteran's minimum and promptly saw him walk out the door. Apparently
it was a revolving door.
He
left for Houston in free agency, but after requesting his release on Saturday,
Brown was back with the safety-starved Giants by Monday morning.
But
much has changed on the Giants' defense since Brown last played here eight
months ago. Most significantly, Steve Spagnuolo has replaced Perry Fewell as the
team's defensive coordinator.
Aug
31 A
day after the Giants' stumbling preseason performance against the Jets, there
were no encouraging updates about the team's many injured stars nor were there
any uplifting assessments of the team's progress. The season opens in roughly
two weeks.
They
are not supposed to feel this way one month into the summer and after three
preseason games. This is the time for fine-tuning, for fixing their problems,
for developing an identity. But this summer, it seems the Giants have accomplished
none of the above.
Victor
Cruz, who was seemingly making a remarkable recovery from the major knee surgery
he underwent last fall, has been out since Aug. 19 and has yet to appear in a
preseason game.
Aug 30
Giants
Fall to Jets 28-18 in MetLife Bowl.
Instant
Analysis: Giants fall to Jets, 28-18.
Eli
Manning and Giants struggle against Jets in preseason game.
Giants
abysmal on both sides of the ball in alarming loss to Jets.
Putting
a finger on what Giants' defense desperately needs.
Odell
Beckham Jr. gets off schneid with five catches.
Odell
Beckham Jr. might not be enough to save these Giants.
Eli
Manning's 1st turnover of preseason a bad one.
Eli
throws off night with interception.
Giants
QB Eli Manning picks wrong time to be 'bad'.
Giants
have rough night but see a sliver of hope.
Giants
vs. Jets key takaways; O-Line continues progress.
Turnovers,
penalties plague Giants in loss to Jets.
Jets'
Darrelle Revis on Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch: 'It didn't count, man'.
Giants
announcer Bob Papa drops birthday cake for Carl Banks on air.
Aug
29 The
final score will soon be forgotten, but Prince Amukamara is looking forward
to the individual battles in Saturday night's Giants-Jets preseason game.
This
is the preseason contest that most closely approximates a regular-season game.
The starters will likely play at least the first two quarters.
There
probably won't be a lot of sleeping on the couch over this game. With any
luck, by the time the teams meet in December for their quadrennial regular-season
matchup, one or the other (or both?) will be vying for a playoff berth and trying
to establish some kind of local supremacy.
Dan
Graziano of ESPN writes that recently released S Stevie Brown returning the
Giants is something worth keeping an eye on the coming days. Graziano points out
that Brown didn't want to leave the Giants when he signed a one-year contract
with the Texans back in April, and their current safety issues leave them in a
position to offer him a decent amount of playing time.S
Aug
28 Special
Report - This weekend marks the third week of the preseason, one that normally
offers the most action for starters and other top players of any summer game.
Of course, that means those starters and top players have to be available for
action, and that might be a problem this week when the Giants "host" their roommates,
the New York Jets.
Banged
up Giants experiment with "Recovery Days" to help reduce injuries.
If the practice does manage to stop the injury epidemic and helps aid in the recovery
of those who are ailing, Coughlin said he would consider implementing it during
the regular season.
Players
chose two of six possible elements: yoga, contrast bath (hot-cold tub), massage,
self-massage stick rollers/bands, functional movement screen (FMS) exercise and
air compression boots.
It's
already being called "Spa Day" by some, but technically it's a recovery cycle
and part of what Tom Coughlin called the "GPS Week" schedule. After two seasons
in which the team has been crippled by injuries, and more of them this summer
in training camp, he's apparently willing to try anything.
Aug
27 Odell
Beckham Jr. will 'play with the same passion' despite being targeted on field.
Defenses can try all they want to knock Odell Beckham Jr. out of the game. But
they're not going to take him out of his game.
Receiver
Odell Beckham Jr. is, by all accounts and observations, a very likeable and
pleasant young man off the field. However when he gets on the field, he develops
a whole different persona that at times can be mistaken for arrogance and which
has been known to rub opponents the wrong way.
Odell
Beckham Jr. knows why he'll have a bull's-eye on his back this season. Beckham
has spoken this summer about trying to rein in his emotions on the field, and
it seemed that last week they got the better of him.
Former
Giants
Osi
Umenyiora retires after cheering Giants on Falcons plane. He took a call Tuesday
from an NFL team he did not identify - turns out it was the Jets - inquiring if
he indeed was retiring as they updated their personnel lists.
Osi
Umenyiora retired as a Giant and addressed the media with a reflection of
his career. For one more day, Umenyiora became a Giant. But, of course, he will
always be one.
Osi
Umenyiora moments. Part of a 12-sack performance by the defense, defensive
end Osi Umenyiora set a Giants record with six of them on Eagles quarterback Donovan
McNabb.
Osi
Umenyiora, who played for two Super Bowl champions and in two Pro Bowls and
was one of the best pass-rushing defensive ends of his generation.
Aug
26 Victor
Cruz: Jaguars defensive backs were 'gunning' for Giants star Odell Beckham.
All five passes in Beckham's direction fell incomplete, maybe for a reason.
Standing
on the sideline because of a calf injury, Cruz said it was obvious to him
the Jaguars defensive backs were looking to take cheap shots at Beckham.
The
encore performance of Odell Beckham never promised to be easy. Victor Cruz
just wants to make sure it's fair. He's not likely to get his wish, though.
Victor
Cruz remains confident he will be ready for the start of the season despite
a nagging calf sprain head coach Tom Coughlin said 'concerned' him.
With
two preseason games in the books, the Giants' first-team offense with Eli
Manning at quarterback has managed 104 yards and three points so far on 37 snaps.
The
Giants first-team defense didn't force a punt from Cincinnati or Jacksonville's
starting quarterback. They're also decimated by injuries as training camp comes
to a close.
Injuries
have been the story of Giants training camp, on both sides of the ball, forcing
young and inexperienced players into starting roles. It all starts in practice,
Coughlin believes, and veterans not being out there doesn't help.
Starting
middle linebacker Jon Beason is week-to-week after he sprained his knee on
a play in the end zone during Saturday's second preseason game. In his place,
Jameel McClain manned the middle in Tuesday's training camp practice.
The
Giants are still searching for a starting safety combination that will last
longer than one game. Currently they are trying out Jeromy Miles and Brandon Meriweather,
though ultimately they plan to get Landon Collins and Nat Berhe, both of whom
are coming off injury, back into the mix.
Phil
Simms says Jason Pierre-Paul staying away from Giants to protect his money,
and he has no problem with it. Jason Pierre-Paul has every right to protect his
interests when it comes to possible 'once-in-a-lifetime money' says ex-Giants
star and current CBS analyst Phil Simms.
Too
much going on with Giants to focus solely on Eli Manning deal, says Phil Simms.
Bottom line: "If everything was really stable with the Giants, that [Manning contract]
would have been done a month ago," Simms said.
Aug
25 Goal
for Giants' Prince Amukamara is to get through season healthy. When healthy,
Amukamara, the Giants' 2011 first-round pick, has proven to be a solid coverman,
a physical defensive back with the size (6-0, 207 pounds) to fight big receivers.
Until
the Giants put Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. on the field
together, the consternation about what thus far has been a lame passing attack
should be muted.
The
Giants still do not have an RSVP from JPP, but one report indicates that the
defensive end will arrive at the team's facility prior to the Sept. 13 regular-season
opener.
Former Giants
Osi
Umenyiora - The Giants don't win that last Super Bowl without Osi Umenyiora.
Osi
Umenyiora will retire as a Giant on Wednesday and address the media at 12:15
PM ET.
Aug 24 No
position on the Giants has been decimated more than safety. And now that spot
has taken more huge hits.
This
preseason cannot end fast enough for the Giants, who are losing players at
an alarming rate.
Safety
Bennett Jackson - who was working with the starters - is gone for the season
with a torn ACL, dealing a blow to a secondary and specifically a position that
has been battered all summer.
The
departures of Bennett Jackson and Justin Currie left the Giants with just
three available safeties: veterans Jeromy Miles and Brandon Meriweather, and rookie
Justin Halley.
Tom
Coughlin's frustration with his sputtering offense is growing, especially
now that it looks like it may be at least another week without a couple of his
key players on the field.
The
Giants' wide receivers, who were supposed to be the strength of this team's
offense, have spent the summer as spectators.
The
Giants lost one potential defensive starter in Saturday night's preseason
game. Jon Beason said his goal is to make sure that game doesn't cost them two
when the season opens in less than three weeks.
Beason
is officially listed as week to week. Tom Coughlin would love to have his
defensive leader on the field for a big game against a division rival. But his
many years of coaching have taught him that timetables for players recovering
from knee sprains can be easily deleted.
Aug
23 Giants
receiver Odell Beckham Jr. still has no catches this preseason.
The
Giants' first-string offense continued to sputter Saturday in a 22-12 win
over the Jaguars.
Eli
Manning and Giants offense struggle in preseason game vs. Jaguars.
Giants'
passing attack is nonexistent in another worrying dud.
Veteran
James Jones makes strong case among Giants' wide receivers.
Giants
good, bad and ugly vs. Jacksonville Jaguars.
Odell
Beckham Jr., Eli Manning have rough nights.
Giants
beat Jags, 22-12, but keep piling up injuries.
Safety
Bennett Jackson may have suffered serious knee injury.
Jon
Beason injured, defense struggles, J.T. Thomas shines.
Aug
22 Improvement.
Consistency. Health. Those three words right there are the goals of the New
York Giants in a Week 2 preseason matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After
playing roughly one quarter in the opener, the Giants' starters on offense
and defense are expected to go a little deeper in the second preseason game on
Saturday night at MetLife Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tom
Coughlin's final words to the media before Saturday night's preseason game
against the Jaguars were simple and to the point. Asked what he hoped to see from
the team, he boiled it down to one word. "Improvement," he said on Thursday. "Improvement."
This
is the year when it's all supposed to come together for Eli Manning and Ben
McAdoo and the supposedly unstoppable Giants' offense. Last season was just a
preview. This is the main event.
Eli
Manning has some very basic goals for the Giants' offense when the team plays
its preseason home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Aug
21 The
Giants practiced on Thursday, sure, but it was not exactly a thrilling endeavor.
After wearing full pads the previous two practices and with a preseason game two
days away, the Giants wore just shoulder pads and dialed things down considerably.
For
their last practice before Saturday night's game against the Jacksonville
Jaguars, the Giants were in uppers for their "cards" practice in preparation
for the game. Coughlin also said that sixth-year wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf)
will not play on Saturday.
Thursday's
training camp practice featured mainly scout team work with the defense going
off scripted "cards" against the offense -- and vice versa. Against
the scout offense, linebacker Jon Beason notched the lone interception for the
play of the day.
Scores
of fans assembled in the bleachers overlooking the fields while waiting for
the Giants' training camp practice to start Thursday night. The children in the
crowd, often accompanied by their parents, gathered behind the grandstands, throwing
footballs back and forth. Most passes were not being caught, though not for a
lack of coordination. It was more related to a new phenomenon, something that
might be termed a Beckhamism.
Arguably
the only person more interested in Eli Manning's slow-moving contract negotiations
than Manning is his backup. It doesn't take a particle physicist to know Ryan
Nassib's future with the Giants hinges on whether Manning gets the huge, multi-year
extension he's seeking, which Nassib admitted Thursday before practice at the
Meadowlands.
Aug 20 Eli
Manning came out firing Wednesday morning in response to an NFL Network report
that suggested the Giants' quarterback wants to be the highest-paid player in
the league.
Manning
slammed any thought of chasing some record payday, questioning the ethics
and reporting of those who suggested that he was.
NFL
Network's Ian Rapoport responds after Eli Manning denies report. "He
never specifically told the Giants I want to be the highest-paid player in the
game. Of course he didn't; quarterbacks never talk directly to teams. That is
why you have agents."
Now,
for those of you who are Giants fans, football fans or simply sports fans
from the area who have paid a modicum of attention to the Giants, does that sound
like anything that would come out of Manning's mouth, or something he would allow
his agent to say?
When
Manning was asked if his agent, Tom Condon, might have asked for a record-setting
contract, even as a negotiating tactic, he answered, "It was never said by
him claiming that this is the goal of what we're trying to do."
Manning,
who per Over the Cap currently averages $16.25M per year, will certainly see
a new deal that include a healthy pay bump that puts him in the same pay range
as some of the other game's top earners.
If
he does not have a new deal by next spring, the Giants likely would use the
franchise tag on him. If they use the exclusive franchise tender, that would pay
him $23.7 million in 2016. And make him the highest paid player in the league.
Damontre
Moore has had two scuffles in training camp with Ereck Flowers, the rookie
left tackle known for having a nasty streak while playing for the University of
Miami.
Moore
said he and Flowers worked out their differences later. Moore said he even
told Flowers: "'Man, I've never felt somebody that strong.' ".
Around
midday, a perturbed Tom Coughlin announced that Victor Cruz (calf) and Rueben
Randle (knee) would both miss practice with injuries. Once practice began, Odell
Beckham Jr. stayed on the sidelines as well due to dental work, according to the
team.
There
has been nothing but positivity surrounding Cruz to this point, considering
he hadn't missed a practice since training camp began July 31, and Wednesday's
absence is not believed to have changed that feeling.
Finally,
someone claims to be unimpressed with Odell Beckham Jr.'s famed one-handed
grab last season. And it is one of his Giant teammates. At least that is the premise
of a humorous new Foot Locker commercial starring Beckham and Victor Cruz.
Aug
19 No
one quite knows what the Giants have at tight end with Larry Donnell, an undrafted
player out of Grambling State who made his way up through the ranks of the practice
squad. He was one of the few pleasant surprises coming out of the dismal 2014
season.
Laser
surgery an eye opener for Giants' Andre Williams. He said it has made a huge
difference in the part of his game that has been a detriment throughout his college
and brief NFL career -- catching the football.
Aug
18 At
some point - and hopefully soon - this madness about the Giants offensive
line is going to have to stop. That's right, folks, the Giants might have Geoff
Schwartz back at right guard, but they are continuing to search for an answer
at right tackle that may or may not be on the roster.
Steve
Spagnuolo knew very little about what the Giants had and did not have on defense
when he arrived. Now, into the third week of training camp, he has a much better
handle on the hand he has been dealt. It's not exactly a full house.
Tom
Coughlin did not come right out and shout "Pay the man," but the
veteran head coach certainly let his feelings be known Monday as he contemplated
life with Eli Manning.
Manning
wants to be the highest-paid quarterback in NFL, per report. The going rate
for a star NFL quarterback these days appears to be around $20 million per season
with $60 million guaranteed.
John
Mara thinks Eli Manning "still has a lot of quality years left"
and he wants them to be with the Giants. It's just still not clear how high a
price the Giants are willing to pay.
Aug
17 With
their safety corps badly depleted by injuries, the Giants signed veteran safety
Brandon Meriweather, one of the most notorious head-hunters in the NFL.
Prior
to his signing, safety Jeromy Miles was the only Giants safety who had ever
started an NFL game, and he had only started three.
Meriweather
has 99 NFL games to his credit. He has played for the New England Patriots,
Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins since the Patriots picked him in the first
round of the 2007 draft.
Meriweather,
wearing No. 43, took part in his first Giants practice early Sunday evening.
He started 10 games for the Redskins last year, finishing with 55 tackles (36
solo), a career-high three sacks, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles and
a fumble recovery, but wasn't brought back.
It's
only one game of preseason football, but Odell Beckham Jr. agrees with Giants
coach Tom Coughlin. Friday night wasn't good enough - not by a long shot.
Late
in the first quarter of Friday night's preseason loss, running back Andre
Williams caught a swing pass from Eli Manning and went 16 yards with it. That
doesn't sound remarkable on its face. But Williams catching a pass is not something
he or the Giants take for granted.
Aug
16 At
first glance, the Giants 23-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday didn't
look good. Coach Tom Coughlin's assessment after watching the tape seems to indicate
your eyes did not deceive. Coughlin didn't come away impressed.
There
were no silver linings from Coughlin, only reports of misplays and injuries
on a team that finished last season dropping eight of its last 11 games.Even the
Giants' great strength, their receiving corps, appeared lost or limping out there.
The
Giants have gone through 11 training camp practices so far, including the
last two against the Cincinnati Bengals, their 2015 preseason opening opponent
to whom they lost a 23-10 decision on Friday night. Yet given how poorly the Giants'
first-team offense and defense played against the Bengals, it looked as though
the Giants were playing together for the first time.
The
Giants may soon be forced to add another cornerback, or two. "You certainly
can count as well as I can," coach Tom Coughlin said Saturday. The situation
at safety is perhaps more dire, considering where the Giants were heading into
training camp and how things have devolved since.
The
Giants have lost two of their inexperienced safeties. The rookie Mykkele Thompson
will miss the season with an Achilles' tendon injury, and the projected starter
Landon Collins will be sidelined for at least a week with a sprained knee, Coach
Tom Coughlin announced Saturday.
Orleans
Darkwa was one of the few rays of production for the Giants' offense in the
preseason opener against the Bengals. He ran for 52 yards on nine carries, accounting
for nearly half of the 106 rushing yards the team had on just about one-third
of their 24 carries.
Middle
linebacker Uani' Unga calls shots on defense. He's essentially driving the
second-string defense, an important role on a team with a starter who hasn't made
it through a 16-game season healthy since 2010 and a veteran backup with what
could be a career-threatening neck injury.
Aug
15 Sluggish
looking Giants fall to Bengals in Preseason Opener, 23-10.
Instant
Analysis: Giants fall to Bengals, 23-10.
Giants'
first-team offense has sluggish start.
Giants
open with complete disaster as offense does nothing.
Eli
and Giants offense sputter in 23-10 loss to Bengals.
What
we learned in Giants' 23-10 loss to Bengals.
Tom
Coughlin, Eli Manning pledge more downfield passing.
Giants'
biggest worry miserably failed its first test.
Giants
lose four defensive backs, one likely for the season.
Giants
vs. Bengals Postgame Notes; Secondary injured.
Giants
say extended trip to Cincinnati not a total loss.
Aug
14 12
things to watch in the Giants' preseason opener.
10
things to watch for against the Bengals.
Aug
13 Just
when you thought the Giants couldn't get any more banged-up, cornerback Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie is hurting. On Wednesday, Tom Coughlin revealed that Rodgers-Cromartie,
the team's top cover man, is dealing with a groin injury.
When
Victor Cruz described his day of work Wednesday as "kind of felt like
a normal, everyday thing," the words were music to the ears of the Giants.
Victor
Cruz did not catch a pass, and he barely saw any passes thrown his way, but
his comeback reached a milestone moment on Wednesday.
Aug
12 Five
things we learned during the Giants first joint practice with the Bengals.
Training camp intensity went up a notch in Cincinnati.
Bengals
safety Shiloh Keo hit Preston Parker so hard after a reception that the impact
knocked Parker to the grass, causing Parker to exchange a few words as he flipped
the ball at Keo.
Tom
Coughlin, who agreed to have his team participate in its first joint scrimmage
with another team in 10 years, seemed pleased after the nearly two-hour workout
with the Cincinnati Bengals.
NFL News
The
NFL draft is returning to Chicago, and it looks like New York won't see it
again for a long time.
Jets
QB - Geno Smith gets his jaw broken in locker room over $600 debt, out for
six to 10 weeks.
Aug
11 It's
game week. Doesn't it feel good to say that again, Giants fans? Leading up
to Friday's preseason opener in Cincinnati, the New York Giants released their
first unofficial depth chart for the base offense, defense and special teams.
Giants
head to Cincinnati already plagued with injuries. There's really only one
thing the Giants need to get from this adventure. The need to get home with nobody
else getting hurt.
Smartly,
Coughlin has already pulled Victor Cruz out of any work against Bengals defenders.
But what about Odell Beckham Jr.? You think some young Bengals defensive back
might want to make his bones by going after the league's hottest star? That could
end badly.
Giants
aware of keeping tempers under control Coughlin and the Giants got too familiar
a decade ago with how quickly those slip-ups can escalate, especially when you're
dealing with two teams instead of one.
Aug
9 Tom
Coughlin said he has little clue when Pierre-Paul will be fit for action,
so he has no idea when the defensive end will join the team. But the coach is
sure that he wants to be with the Giants.
Former
Giants
Frank
Gifford, Giants legend and Hall of Famer, dies at 84
Frank
Gifford remembered as 'the ultimate Giant' by team owner John Mara.
Aug
8 Shaun
O'Hara questioning the toughness of the Giants offensive line appeared to
have its intended effect Friday. Offensive tackle Justin Pugh said O'Hara reached
out to him Thursday night to clear the air, but didn't apologize.
Rather
than take offense to O'Hara's criticism, Justin Pugh said he understands the
former Giant's comments. Offensive line coach Pat Flaherty also reacted to O'Hara's
comments.
Giants
wide receiver Odell Beckham is enjoying one of those rare beginnings to a
professional career during which he has become an instant star without really
winning anything.
Jason
Pierre-Paul is vowing a comeback. Big Blue defensive line coach Robert Nunn
revealed Friday he has been in regular contact with Pierre-Paul since the former
first-round pick ended his silence with the team last week.
The
first conversation between Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Jason Pierre-Paul
since the injured defensive end's fireworks mishap is imminent, Coughlin suggested
after practice on Friday.
Former Giants
Tiki
Barber thinks Roger Goodell deserves to be fired.
Aug
6 Ereck
Flowers' status, Victor Cruz's progress among 3 things to watch at Giants
training camp. The club wrapped up its first fully padded practice on Wednesday,
and it has three more workouts this week before the second day off in camp, on
Sunday.
Eli
Manning's most prolific seasons came under the tutelage of quarterbacks coach
Mike Sullivan. Now, after a year sabbatical that followed two seasons with the
Bucs as offensive coordinator, Sullivan is back with the Giants and he said Manning's
arm is as strong and lively as ever.
Sullivan
isn't the only one who's made that observation, especially as Manning breezed
through the first four practices of camp without throwing an interception. And
if he is really stronger and possibly better, that's remarkable as he heads into
his 12th NFL season at age 34.
Aug
3 It
was the first practice in which the Giants could engage in contact. For the
occasion, they wore their uppers as a warm-up to Wednesday's fully padded practice
day. Of course, just because the CBA allows for contact doesn't mean the team
needs to take it to the extreme.
The
first fight of Giants training camp did not sit well with Tom Coughlin. Offensive
lineman Justin Pugh and defensive end Damontre Moore exchanged punches during
Monday's practice before they were quickly separated by teammates.
Odell
Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz makes it dream job for Giants wide receivers coach
Sean Ryan. Beckham, who missed four games with a hamstring injury last year, was
spectacular in his 12 games, catching 91 passes for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns
and easily winning The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Cruz
suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in Week 6 and had reconstructive
surgery, but he has made a remarkable recovery and is nearly back to full strength.
Aug
1 3
things we learned from Giants camp: 1. Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz will
be treated cautiously. 2. The prized rookies still have work to do. 3. Andre Williams
isn't going anywhere.
Odell
Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz saw some team reps, but on a limited basis, which
head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed was the case, at least at the initial get-go.
Chaotic
crush for Beckham autograph nearly collapses bleachers. In response to the
incident, changes immediately were put into motion. The post-practice autograph
sessions will be relocated to the Kids' Zone at the north end of the fields and
will be limited to children 12 and under.
The
Giants' backfield is full and the wide receiving corps is loaded. So where
does newcomer Shane Vereen fit? Everywhere.The Giants' backfield is full and the
wide receiving corps is loaded. So where does newcomer Shane Vereen fit? Everywhere.
In four years with the Patriots, the speedy and shifty Vereen did a little bit
of everything.
For
weeks, the Giants had barely heard from Jason Pierre-Paul. Thanks to the Daily
News, at least they've finally seen him. On Friday afternoon, team owner John
Mara got his first look at his injured defender, staring down photos obtained
exclusively by this paper.
July
30 Special
Report - There are unique and compelling reasons for optimism in specific
areas for the 2015-2016 New York Giants, and specifically on offense, we might
see wholesale performance improvement in running backs, quarterback, wide receivers,
and offensive line - leaving tight ends and fullbacks as the only two looking
roughly at "parity" with their 2014-2015 previous counterparts.
Tom
Coughlin on Jason Pierre-Paul: 'He's decided that he doesn't want our help'.
Coughlin said he has no idea when Pierre-Paul will report to the team, saying
that he does not "know what to expect anymore."
Before
the breakout, Larry Donnell was just another nobody in Giants training camp.
But a solid camp earned Donnell the starting job, and he went on to score six
touchdowns during the regular season, becoming the latest Giant to come parlay
August success into meaningful production. Here are four sleepers to watch in
Giants camp this year:
July
29 John
Mara has "no idea" when Jason Pierre-Paul will report to training
camp. Mara acknowledged it was "very disappointing to him" that Pierre-Paul
refused to see two team officials who traveled down to Florida to check on his
physical condition, and revealed no one from the organization has even seen Pierre-Paul's
damaged right hand.
It's
a radio silence that's forcing the Giants to prepare for the season without
the player who seemed most critical to new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's
'D'. When Spagnuolo last ran the Giants defense, in 2007 and 2008, he coached
a unit that relied heavily on a relentless defensive line.
The
Giants bid goodbye to three veteran safeties from last year - Antrel Rolle,
Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown - and are instead going with inexperienced players,
most of whom have never started a game before at this level. Is that a scary thought?
It could be considering that the safeties are involved in making some of the defensive
calls.
NFL News
NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the four-game suspension of New England
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Tuesday after finding that he had destroyed
potential evidence about his role in the deflation of game balls.
July
28 With
the future of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul up in the air, Giants defensive
coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is no doubt going to be looking for young leaders
who can step up on this defense to become cornerstones for the future. One such
young player who has shown himself to have a world of potential is second-year
linebacker Devon Kennard.
Former Giants
Osi
Umenyiora is expected to sign a contract with the Giants -- just not the kind
of contract that puts him back on the field to help the team's pass rush.
Osi
Umenyiora plans to sign 1-day contract in order to retire as Giant.
NFC
East News
NFL
training camp: NFC East team-by-team preview.
NFL
News
NFL
will change football procedures before games to avoid another Deflategate.
July
27 A
healthy Victor Cruz would be the perfect complement to Odell Beckham Jr.,
keeping safeties honest underneath and preventing secondaries from focusing only
on OBJ. But just how healthy is Cruz?
NFL
News
44
bold NFL predictions. It's more probable than not.
July
26 The
Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin marriage will likely end if Giants miss playoffs
again. They've combined for 91 wins, five trips to the playoffs, and of course
those two incredible Super Bowl championships. It's those last three years, though,
that hang over them as they get ready to open another Giants training camp on
Thursday afternoon.
Not
much, or anything, that Markus Kuhn says sounds as if it is coming from the
mouth of a typical NFL player, given his every word comes out tinged with a still-thick
German accent. Imagine then, how unusual the following sentence was, in cadence,
inflection and content, when spoken by Markus Kuhn: "I had a touchdown before
I had a sack," he said, quickly adding, "I don't know if that's a good
thing."
Eli
Manning stars as 'Bad Comedian Eli Manning' in new DirecTV commercial His
poor jokes include how his cable HD stands for "huge disappointment"
and asks an audience if they want to see a picture of his mother-in-law. "Niether
do I," he says. Pretty decent job for a "bad comedian."l
Odell
Beckham Jr. did not sneak up on anyone as a rookie - he was, after all, the
12th-overall pick, from football power LSU - but year No. 2 is a whole different
ballgame, as the hype for him is off the charts. Has any second-year player been
so heralded? He is the newly minted "Madden NFL 16" cover-boy, and wait
and see how quickly he comes off the board during your fantasy football draft.
July
24 Phil
Simms has a message for injured star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul: You
should have trusted the Giants in your time of need.
How
Shaun O'Hara would block JPP after finger loss - I would be pretty aggressive
with him, get my hands on him and see if he's willing to use his hand or is favoring
it.
So
where are things now with Pierre-Paul? Well to recap, he has missed the entire
spring, only popping in for the occasional classroom session while he happened
to be in town.
Former Giants
Former
Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and center Shaun O'Hara re-live
the final drive of Super Bowl XLII. And after all these years, we're still learning
new things and realizing it never gets old talking about the finish against then-undefeated
New England.
July 23 Super
Bowl trophies don't carry as much weight as they used to. ESPN polled 35 NFL
insiders to rank the league's best quarterbacks, and Eli Manning finished tied
for 12th with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The
quarterback debate is always a favorite. It gets people talking and elicits
a ton of fun debates. Giants quarterback Eli Manning is always a lightning rod
in these things. He can rank right near the top, in large part because of two
incredible Super Bowl runs, or fall somewhere near the middle because of serious
inconsistency over the course of his regular season career.
Not
everyone can play quarterback for the Giants. Tom Condon, the agent representing
Eli Manning, believes his guy is more suited for the role than anyone else. "The
Giants have always been a solid organization, and Eli obviously is a unique human
being and a terrific guy, so I think he's uniquely suited to be the New York Giant
quarterback," Condon said.
Odell
Beckham Jr. doesn't plan on letting history repeat itself. The dynamic Giants
wide receiver, who missed organized team activities because of a right hamstring
injury, is doing everything he can to avoid letting it creep into training camp
and affect his season.
Few
Giants defensive players have expressed more excitement than Jon Beason about
playing in a new scheme under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. But in order
for Beason to fill the "Mike" role that Antonio Pierce did for Spagnuolo, he has
to stay on the field.
July
22 Eli
Manning knew he might have to prove his worth heading into the final year
of his contract. But it's possible he won't have to prove himself at all.
The
Giants reportedly want to make sure quarterback Eli Manning is secured beyond
this season. Manning is in the final year of his current contract, but hasn't
been stressed by the situation.
July
21 The
Giants have announced the practice dates for 2015 Training Camp. The camp
will feature nine practice sessions open to the public at the Quest Diagnostics
Training Center, which is located at the MetLife Sports Complex.
Giants'
2015 training camp schedule - What you need to know. A different position
group of Giants players will sign autographs for fans each day following practice.
In addition, select Giants legends will sign autographs during each practice.
A full schedule will be released on Giants.com.
It's
not secret why the Giants signed Shane Vereen this offseason. They wanted
a versatile running back who could catch the ball out of the backfield. They targeted
Vereen and several other backs known for their pass-catching ability. The former
Patriots draft pick was their first choice.
Justin
Tuck spent four seasons with the Giants watching Jason Pierre-Paul blossom,
watching the defensive end develop into a fearsome pass-rushing force. Tuck, who
joined the Raiders last season, doesn't believe Pierre-Paul's stunning offseason
injury will change that trajectory this season.
July
20 Giants
2015 schedule. Here's a week-by-week look at the Giants' 2015 schedule.
Giants
Training Camp: 5 Early Storylines to Watch.
July
19 If
there's any Giants player who deserves a mulligan for their 2014 season, it's
Geoff Schwartz. The team's signature offseason acquisition - signed to a four-year,
$16.8 million contract - was supposed to help solidify their interior offensive
line, but instead battled through an injury-plagued season.
Former
Giants
Bill
Arnsparger, the former Giants head coach who was the genius behind the No-Name
defense that helped the 1972 Miami Dolphins complete the only undefeated season
in NFL history, died Friday. He was 88.
Bill
Arnsparger went 7-28 as Giants head coach, but he didn't feel like he was
given enough time to accomplish what he wanted to do. Harry Carson can only speak
to Arnsparger's third season, but the nine-time Pro Bowler said Arnsparger did
have to manage a precarious personnel situation.
July
17 Special
Report - Training camp is on the way as the Giants open the gates to the 2015
season on July 30 at their East Rutherford facility. There's already plenty of
drama to consider, like the Jason Pierre-Paul situation, the rehabilitation of
Victor Cruz, the supernova explosion of Odell Beckham Jr. and the thought that
the team at its core may be ready for greatness... or disaster.
So while we
glide through these summer days, it seems valid enough to consider the most indispensable
players on the current roster. Here are six, along with a few more who just miss
the cut.
July 16 And
then there was Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants defensive end was the only NFL
player with a franchise-player tag who failed to work out a long-term deal with
his current club by Wednesday's deadline - an entirely predictable development
in the wake of Pierre-Paul's recent fireworks injury.
Indications
are the Giants have no intention of rescinding the franchise tag, which would
make Pierre-Paul an unrestricted free agent. The Giants would like to place Pierre-Paul
on the non-football injury (NFI) list when training camp begins in two weeks,
but they can't do that unless Pierre-Paul, who is currently not under contract,
signs his franchise tender.
July
13 The
Giants always had doubts about how much of an investment they could make in
Jason Pierre-Paul because of his history of back injuries, but they always believed
he'd be part of their long-term future. That changed the moment he nearly blew
off his hand in a fireworks accident on the 4th of July.
NFC
East News
NFC
East roster rankings: Giants safeties don't fare well, Eagles only slightly
better.
July 12 Ronnie
Lott on Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul finger amputation: 'It will get better'.
Though it sounds like Pierre-Paul's damage is worse - though it's hard to tell
since even the Giants haven't seen his medical records - Lott was confident about
JPP's eventual recovery.
It
has been reported he broke his thumb, but the severity has been kept quiet.
He also underwent surgery Wednesday for skin grafts, but the location remains
uncertain. That could go a long way into determining his recovery time, said certified
hand physical therapist Stephanie Franklin-Cosgrove, who estimated based on the
information that has been reported, it will take up to three months before Pierre-Paul
can return to action.
July
10 Jason
Pierre-Paul's amputated finger is only one of many issues for him and the
Giants. Pierre-Paul suffered a variety of damage to his hands, including burns,
possible nerve damage and (as our Ed Werder reported Wednesday) thumb fractures.
Giants
will keep Jason Pierre-Paul despite amputated finger, source says. The Giants
fully intend to have Pierre-Paul on their roster for the 2015 season, a person
with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media. Unauthorized to speak publicly
on the situation, the person requested anonymity. Pierre-Paul currently has a
one-year, $14.8 million offer on the table as the Giants' franchise player.
Hospital
on warpath after JPP's finger file leaked to ESPN. Jason Pierre-Paul's firecracker
folly may cost him millions, and a hospital worker thousands. ESPN also featured
the documents on "SportsCenter" and other platforms, while defending
its right to do so. ESPN said the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) does not apply to news organizations.
NFL
News
Former
Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler died Wednesday from complications
resulting from Stage 4 colon cancer, the team confirmed Thursday. He was 69. The
Foley, Alabama, native threw for 27,938 yards during his 15-year career in the
NFL, compiling a 96-49-1 record as a starting quarterback and a win over the Minnesota
Vikings in Super Bowl XI.
July
9 A
bombshell report completely blindsided the Giants organization Wednesday evening
when they learned that Jason Pierre-Paul had his right index finger amputated
after sustaining injuries after a Fourth of July fireworks injury.
There
is precedent for an NFL player being able to compete successfully after a
major injury to a finger. The San Francisco 49ers' Ronnie Lott, whose left pinkie
was severely damaged when he made a tackle, chose to have the tip of the finger
amputated so he could return for the 1986 season.
According
to David J. Chao, a former NFL team physician and orthopedic surgeon, amputation
can help expedite recovery. As to how the alleged procedure might affect Pierre-Paul
moving forward, Chao, who pens a column for the National Football Post, shed some
light on the matter.
Under
the circumstances, it's highly doubtful the Giants will agree to a long-term
contract or that Pierre-Paul will receive an offer from a competing team that
the Giants would have the right to match. Most likely, he will have to accept
the franchise tender to have any chance of playing.
July
8 Although
the Giants' organization repeatedly has stressed that its primary concern
is the "well-being" of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who reportedly
was hospitalized for burns to both hands after a fireworks accident, club officials
who arrived Monday in Miami still had not been allowed to visit the defensive
end as of Tuesday night, according to a league source.
Details
of Pierre-Paul's condition remained sketchy, but it appeared that he wouldn't
be charged with violating Florida's law prohibiting recreational use of most fireworks.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office told the Daily News on Tuesday that it is
not investigating the incident.
July
7 The
Giants do not know if Jason Pierre-Paul will be ready for the regular-season
opener after a fireworks accident Saturday in South Florida injured the defensive
end's hands. When asked Monday about Pierre-Paul's status for Week 1, the source
said, "No idea."
Jason
Pierre-Paul did more than just damage his hand in a fireworks accident over
the weekend. He also destroyed any chance of getting a long-term contract from
the Giants this year. The chances may have been slim to begin with, but there's
"no chance" now.
The
only certainty resulting from Jason Pierre-Paul's ill-advised tussle with
those fireworks that left injuries to both of his hands on July 4 is this: His
actions were dumb beyond description.
JPP
is their best defensive player, easily their best pass rusher, and the centerpiece
of new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense. Other than Manning and
Odell Beckham Jr. and perhaps Victor Cruz, JPP is the most indispensable Giant.
July
6 It's
hard enough to understand why anyone would put their life, health and career
in jeopardy by doing something as dangerous as playing with fireworks. But it's
almost impossible to understand what was going through the mind of Jason Pierre-Paul
this weekend, considering everything else he had at stake.
It's
not going to cost him any fingers or his hand, but there remains concern about
possible nerve damage, according to multiple reports. Pierre-Paul's injuries are
not believed to be career-threatening after a fireworks accident. He has burns
on his palm and the tips of three fingers, and there remains the possibility of
some nerve damage in a finger.
July
4 Special
Report - The rumblings, during these quiet days before training camp, continue
on the subject of quarterback Eli Manning and his final contract year. There has
been plenty of public talk that the two sides could very well begin negotiations
at any moment, negotiations that aren't expected to be contentious or drawn out
or difficult. And yet, some are beginning to wonder if the 2015 season will be
Manning's last with the team.
For the sake of argument, let's say that deep
in the bowels of the Giants' home office, owner John Mara, general manager Jerry
Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin (is this his last year?) are talking about "Easy"
Eli and his future with the team. Part of that conversation would be simple: He's
going to cost a lot of money to retain, especially at 35, and that would hamstring
the team for the next several seasons.
Could
this year's passing attack surpass 2011's? Eli Manning could very well be
in line to have his finest season as a pro, despite the fact that he could theoretically
leave the Giants. The reason why Manning could be in line for his best year ever
is because he now has an ultra-talented group of skill players around him.
Will
Eli Manning set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns this year? Yes.
This Giants offense is set to explode with the return of Victor Cruz, growth of
Rueben Randle and star power of Odell Beckham Jr. A solid run game will keep opponents
offense, and the offensive line will be good enough to keep opposing pass rushers
under control in a quick release offense. He will finish with 4,150 yards and
33 touchdowns.
July 2
Defensive
back Walter Thurmond, the Eagle who spent 2014 with the Giants but tore a
pectoral muscle in Week 2 and missed the rest of the season, had plenty of time
to take note of Tom Coughlin's philosophy on injuries, and according to Thurmond,
the old-school coach doesn't subscribe to "modern medicine."
The
Giants have been decimated by injuries in recent years as they have missed
three straight postseasons since winning Super Bowl XLVI. According to Football
Outsiders, the Giants led the NFL in "Adjusted Games Lost" over two
seasons, a statistic which measures how much teams were impacted by injuries.
Defensive
tackle Markus Kuhn knows there are 'no more excuses,' it's now or never. The
Giants need to see more. Kuhn knows it. It's now-or-never time for the fourth-year
tackle. "I was always young to the game. But now I've been in the league
three years, I'm going into my fourth year, this is the end of my rookie contract,"
Kuhn said during last month's minicamp."I have no more excuses.
Odell
Beckham Jr. was offered a contract to be a pitcher Tuesday by the Can-Am League's
Rockland Boulders. This after video of him pitching a softball (80 miles per hour
or so?) at a charity event went viral over the weekend. The Boulders are an independent
league team based out of Pomona, New York.
Five
Giants who could be "Fantasy Superstars." Looking at NFL.com's projections,
rankings, and average picks and rounds, here are five fantasy Giants you'll want
on your roster this season, which begins Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys.
This
slideshow is designed to highlight five Giants who are most likely to be cut
before the regular season begins. Just to be clear, these players have almost
no chance of making New York's 53-man roster at the end of the summer. This piece
is designed to give the undiscussed players some love for once. After all, this
could be the only NFL shout-out they get.
June
28 It
took only one season away from the NFL for Giants quarterbacks coach Mike
Sullivan to get the coaching itch again. Sullivan spent 2012 and 2013 as the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator during the tumultuous tenure of former Rutgers
coach Greg Schianom.
Steve
Weatherford takes shots at the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks. "I'm
the biggest Tim Tebow fan in the world," he said. "I mean, who wouldn't
want their daughter to date a guy like that? I'll tell you want, I don't want
him taking snaps for my team."
Two
Giants named "Top Rookies of All Time." Odell Beckham Jr. came in
fifth, one place ahead of wide receiver Randy Moss and his record-breaking year
with the Vikings in 1998. Lawrence Taylor finished third, trailing only cornerback
Dick "Night Train" Lane (1952) and halfback/returner Gale Sayers (1965).
June 25 Why
a humbled Weston Richburg feels his second season with the Giants will be
better. The competition was bigger, stronger and meaner than Weston Richburg had
ever seen. The season was longer, more demanding and physically draining than
he could have ever imagined.
It's
all about the tone. That is what Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is
saying these days after his comments from an ESPN interview turned into a serious
complaint about teammates. "I have no problem with anybody on the team or
inside or anything," Beckham told The Post.
Jason
Pierre-Paul: I'm dropping weight like crazy. JPP posted a picture on his Instagram
account this week showing a scale with a weight of 274.7 pounds. He wrote he wants
to shed 10 pounds to get down to a playing weight of 265.
Like
most NFL teams, the Giants will again wear an alternate uniform in the 2015
season. But they will again break from the norm and change their pants instead
of their jerseys. For the third consecutive season, the Giants will wear white
pants instead of their traditional gray for two home games -- Thursday, Sept.
24 vs. Washington and Sunday, Nov. 15 vs. New England.
June
23 The
spring started with new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo admitting the
team had uncertainty about their nickel cornerback situation. The Giants didn't
have a surefire starter at the position. After organized team activities and minicamp,
four true candidates have emerged.
The
Giants are primed to have a big year on defense in 2015, but to accomplish
that and return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season, the
team must get the most out of its athletic secondary.
Rueben
Randle is the most underrated player on the Giants' offense. The guy is arguably
the best number-three receiver in the entire NFL, but still, nobody seems to respect
Randle. Last year, Randle's third as a pro, he finished the season with 71 receptions
for 938 yards and 3 touchdowns.
As
far as early returns go, the Giants couldn't have asked much more of their
2014 draft class. Four of the seven members became regular starters as rookies
and picked up accolades throughout the season, including fifth-round pick Devon
Kennard.
Ever
wanted to see Odell Beckham naked? Bryce Harper, Kevin Love and Odell Beckham
Jr. will be featured in ESPN The Magazine's seventh annual "Body Issue."
June
21 The
football resources available to star quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning are
abundant. While they have access to some of the great minds if the NFL, there's
even more: In their contact lists, or sometimes just hanging out in the kitchen,
is a great wealth of football knowledge -- someone who has been in their cleats.
Archie Manning is only a phone call or short flight away.
June
19 Special
Report - As the Giants' three-day mandatory minicamp (except for Jason Pierre-Paul,
one assumes) closed its doors Thursday afternoon, there was concern that the team's
two most electrifying offensive weapons hadn't produced enough. Or anything. Neither
of the two spectacular wide receivers, Victor Cruz or Odell Beckham Jr., participated
in practice sessions. Cruz is coming back from a torn patella tendon while Beckham,
last season's NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year, was hobbled by a sore hamstring.
Head coach Tom Coughlin tried to assure everyone that there is no reason to worry.
The
Giants held an abbreviated practice session for their third and final day
of the mandatory minicamp, a session that wasn't quite as intense as the first
two days and one that even head coach Tom Coughlin really didn't acknowledge when
he spoke to the media afterwards. The players are now off for six weeks until
the start of training camp on July 30.
It
was the most dynamic and electric move Odell Beckham Jr. had made in weeks.
And all it did was get him past the media and clear of the questions about his
recent thin-skinned comments about his teammates.
After
complaining to ESPN earlier in the week that ribbing from teammates about
missing practice with a hamstring injury "bothers" him, Beckham blew
off his only scheduled interview session with the media of the three-day camp.
Was
the second-year pro wrong to duck questions about his ongoing hamstring troubles,
an opposite leg occurrence of the injury that delayed (but didn't dampen) his
NFL debut a year ago, that kept him out of full participation in this minicamp?
He probably was.
The
Giants needed a new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo needed a new job,
Tom Coughlin needed a trusted lieutenant and ownership and the front office needed
a proven guy. Connect the dots, sign on the dotted line and welcome back, Spags.
It is a return with a risk.
Ereck
Flowers was "close" to agreeing to terms on a rookie contract with the Giants
on Wednesday. It's a done deal on Thursday, just before he hopped on a plane home
to Florida for the summer.
Flowers
did not use an agent and instead negotiated the contract himself. "It
was great," he said. "(I) talked to them. Got a great deal done. Everything
went good. It was smooth."
June
18 Looks
like the proliferation of drones across the globe has extended to Giants minicamp
as well. It was a rather bizarre sight to see, but in the early portion of practice,
a small white helicopter-esque device was seen hovering above the Giants practice
field during team drills.
During
a series of 11-on-11 drills, the UFO-like drone, which retails for more than
$1,000, surveyed the session. It was controlled by a team official via a tablet,
and it went nearly unnoticed by Giants players.
The
Giants' football video department practiced using the drone above an unoccupied
field for three weeks before having it hover over the players and coaches. Tom
Coughlin deferred comment until he has more detail regarding exactly what the
drone will provide and has had an opportunity to review the video shot from the
drone.
The
team was outdoors at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center for the second
round of its three-day mandatory minicamp. From drones to interceptions and a
former player returning to the sidelines, Wednesday had it all. Steve Spagnuolo's
defense won the day again at minicamp.
Both
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara came up with interceptions
today, Rodgers-Cromartie's being an acrobatic one-handed grab on a pass intended
for Rueben Randle. Amukamara appears to be seeing more of the pass targets, which
isn't a bad thing.
NFC East News
Eagles
- High-priced veterans are becoming extinct in Philadelphia under Chip Kelly.
First came DeSean Jackson. Next was LeSean McCoy. And now there's Evan Mathis.
All three have one thing in common: They clashed with Kelly and ended up elsewhere.
June 17 Steve
Spagnuolo's eagerness to restore the Giants to the heights they enjoyed in
his first tenure as defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 was readily apparent
when he met with reporters Tuesday at the start of a mandatory three-day minicamp.
So were his limitations.
Spagnuolo
is an immensely popular coach around here, thanks to his brilliant work with
the Giants' defense in 2007, when he overcame a rocky start and went on to help
the team win its first Super Bowl of the Tom Coughlin era. After leaving the team
following the 2008 season.
Jason
Pierre-Paul may have made the tough business decision to stay away from this
week's Giants minicamp, but his coaches still believe the talented defensive end
will be ready to take care of business when it's time to hit the field.
He
did make it out to the Giants' facility early in the OTA schedule and he met
privately with defensive line coach Robert Nunn, who gave the team's top defensive
end a look-see into the new defensive scheme implemented by coordinator Steve
Spagnuolo.
The
media has only had access to four Giants practices this spring - the first
day of the mandatory minicamp was the fourth one for those keeping score at home
- and without question, the first minicamp practice was probably the best of the
bunch.
Eli
Manning overthrew Rueben Randle twice. That might be a good thing. "I don't
recall that ever happening," Randle said after the first workout of minicamp Tuesday,
taking it as a sign that the quarterback's arm strength may be at its highest
level in years. "That's something we noticed when we were down at Duke working
with him [in the spring], we noticed that his arm is stronger."
Odell
Beckham appears done for the spring, out for Giants minicamp with hamstring
problem.
Minicamp practice (6/16) - Photos
| Photos
June 15 The
Giants have a three-day minicamp starting Tuesday and then they go their separate
ways until training camp. The coaching staff certainly won't mind if Corey Washington
joins Odell Beckham Jr. in Arizona for workouts, rather than work out at home
in Greenville, South Carolina, as the more of Beckham that rubs off on Washington,
the better.
Former Giants
David
Wilson's track debut did not go as he had planned, but his goal of competing
in the Outdoor Championships at the end of June is still very much alive.
David
Wilson's former Giants teammates put the "Once a Giant, Always a Giant" mantra
into practice on Saturday, with several players showing up at Icahn Stadium on
Randall's Island to watch the former running back compete in the triple jump at
the Adidas Grand Prix.
June
13 Eli
Manning reveals meaning of "Omaha". Eli Manning and his older brother and
fellow quarterback, Peyton, used 'Omaha' for years as a pre-snap call that has
grown into its own legend. 'Omaha' just told everybody to put their hand in the
ground, shut up, and the ball's about to be snapped.
Ereck
Flowers on negotiating his own contract with Giants: 'It's going good'. With
first-round pick compensation pretty much predetermined nowadays, there isn't
a lot of wiggle room in Flowers' rookie contract. The one real negotiable point
is the "offset."
NFC East News
Cowboys
- The Giants could catch a huge break in the season opener if contract talks between
the Cowboys and Dez Bryant remain at a stalemate. The All-Pro wide receiver would
consider sitting out Dallas' Week 1 home matchup with the Giants.
Eagles
- It was likely a confluence of factors that led to the release of Evan Mathis
on Thursday. But Kelly would have never parted with the two-time Pro Bowl guard
unless he was convinced the offense could function at a high level with what on
paper looks like a weaker offensive line.
Redskins
- Two months after he was dealt from the last-place team in the NFC South to the
last-place team in the NFC East. Does Dashon Goldson still have the muscle and
moxie to help a struggling secondary?
June
12 Offensive
coordinator Ben McAdoo's star is rising. No longer hidden behind the greatness
of Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, McAdoo is being recognized by respected
NFL minds as one of the top candidates to become a future head coach.
After
a day off, the Giants resumed organized team activities on Thursday at the
Quest Diagnostics Training Center. It was their second-to-last OTA practice before
next week's mandatory minicamp at the same location.
As
the Giants put their slate of 10 OTA practices into the books - the final
OTA is set for Friday, with the following week consisting of the mandatory three-day
minicamp - Tom Coughlin now has a better idea of what they have at some spots
and how that will affect what they hope to do on the field.
New
Giants linebacker Tony Johnson is currently the 90th-man on a 90-man roster.
It still doesn't necessarily mean he should be an afterthought. Wide receiver
Victor Cruz was once in a similar situation. Wide receiver Marcus Harris and tight
end Jerome Cunningham, too.
Defensive
tackle Jay Bromley reflects on his lost rookie season, and how he's improved.
Bromley knows he wasn't good enough - especially against the run - in his first
season after being a surprise third-round pick out of Syracuse.
Former
Giants
David
Wilson will be making his professional track and field debut this Saturday
at the Adidas Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium in New York City, competing in the triple
jump.
June 10
The
Giants entered this spring without a true safety who has started an NFL game
on their roster. There was/is undoubtedly an opportunity for any safety to play
themselves into a starting role. Nat Berhe had as good a shot as anybody at claiming
one of those spots.
How
Eli Manning borrowed from baseball to develop arm 'with pop' The most telling
indication Eli Manning will be armed and dangerous this season comes from Rueben
Randle. "His arm, it seemed like it got stronger throughout the season,"
Randle said. "He's never overthrown me -- and he's overthrown me twice already."
Injuries
create opportunities, and so far, at this early juncture of the Giants' offseason
program, wide receiver Corey Washington is taking advantage of his chance to fill
in for Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz on the practice field.
The
Giants are coming down the home stretch in their spring football schedule.
Out of 10 allotted days of organized team activities, the Giants now have eight
in the bag with the completion of Tuesday's outdoor practice at the Quest Diagnostics
Training Center.
Former Giants
David
Wilson, who was forced to retire during training camp last season after multiple
neck injuries, will be competing in the triple jump at the Adidas Grand Prix NYC
event at Icahn Stadium on Saturday.
June
9 Corey
Washington is getting every chance to show what he can do this spring. Victor
Cruz has not participated in the drills as he continues to rehabilitate from his
knee surgery, and Odell Beckham Jr. has been held out of team drills for two weeks
because of hamstring soreness.
Predicting
the impact of every Giants 2015 draft pick. In the draft, the Giants were
able to fill some major needs while still managing to get talented players. Here's
a look at the impact their draft class will have.
June
8 The
spring OTAs are just the very start of what will be a lengthy evaluation process
for the Giants' coaching staff. Here's a look at five such players who have stood
out for all the right reasons.
Former
Giants
Henry
Carr, a sprinter who captured two gold medals in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and
later played defensive back for the Giants, died on May 29 in Griffin, Ga. He
was 73.
June 6 As
the countdown to the 2015 kickoff turns to double digits, Giants.com looks
at five major storylines to keep an eye on from now until Sunday night, Sept.
13 in Dallas. - Restoring the defensive tradition; McAdoo, Year 2; The new-look
offensive line; Safety valves; The NFC East pecking order.
Health
of starting cornerbacks is paramount for Giants. This year, the only proven
quantities are the starters. And if one or two of them get hurt, the Giants get
to the question marks a lot more quickly at this vital position.
TE
Jerome Cunningham is seeing first team reps at OTAs, after spending most of
last season on the practice squad. He's a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end who went
undrafted out of Southern Connecticut State in 2013 and is still looking to play
in his first NFL game.
NFL News
If
you've ever wondered what the inside of NFL Films headquarters looks like
then scroll through the photo gallery.
June
4 Linebacker
Jon Beason is on the fifth defensive coordinator in eight professional seasons.
Clearly, the cerebral middle linebacker has seen plenty of schemes and defensive
approaches. Still, he's admittedly never seen anything quite like what new defensive
coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is bringing to the table.
Why
Marshall Newhouse believes he's better prepared to be a starting tackle with
Giants. Newhouse must prove to his new team they can trust him as their right
tackle. He was signed to a two-year, $3 million deal as a free agent this offseason.
Earlier
this week, Prince Amukamara was asked about replacing Antrel Rolle as the
leader of the Giants defensive backfield. Rolle, a team captain, was the unquestioned
unofficial captain of the secondary, but he's gone, signed with the Bears. Remarkably,
Amukamara, entering his fifth season with the Giants, is the longest-tenured defensive
back on the roster.
June
3 Giants
fans did not get to see what Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is capable of last
season. Neither did he.When the cornerback looks at clips from his 2014 injury
plagued season, he said he often has the same thought: "I know that's not me."
Rodgers-Cromartie
arrived for the Giants offseason workout program at a career-high 208 pounds.
He believes it will help him become a more physical and complete cornerback. "I
know Spags' mentality. He want you to get your hands on people. So I had to bulk
up a little bit, you know what I mean ... That's the Spags mentality."
Giants
rookie safety Landon Collins really wanted to honor his idol, the late Sean
Taylor. That's why Collins wore No. 26 (Taylor's number at the University of Miami)
when he played at Alabama. It's why Collins will wear No. 21 (Taylor's number
in the NFL for the Redskins) with the Giants.
The
Giants were again inside the field house on Tuesday for another day of organized
team activities at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Here is a recap of OTA
No. 5 - Photos
NFC East News
ESPN
analyst thinks Eagles are favorites over Giants, Cowboys to win NFC East.
June
2 The
Giants held their fourth of 10 organized team practice activities on Monday
at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. This is the time of year when teams
begin to come together and players set the stage for training camp before rosters
are finalized and the season commences.
The
practice report. Remember as you read these reports that a) there is no contact
in the team drills and b) these are still voluntary workouts. With Larry Donnell
sidelined (tendonitis in his Achilles), Jerome Cunningham had a chance to work
with the starting unit as did Adrien Robinson. Without any question, Cunningham
was the star of the practice.
It's
only June and already the Giants are in midseason form. Several key players
weren't on the field during Monday's organized team activities workouts because
of injuries. Fortunately there is plenty of time between OTAs and the regular
season. Three-plus months. So at least there is ample time to heal. Still, it's
starting to reach the point of absurdness. The Giants have suffered the most games
lost due to injuries each of the past two seasons.
If
Odell Beckham Jr. is trying to replicate his record-setting rookie season,
he's off to a good start -- at least when it comes to his offseason availability.
The wide receiver was held out of team drills at Monday's OTA with a hamstring
injury.
Odell
Beckham Jr. claims his new balky hamstring isn't anything like last year's.
And the more he does that (after making a point to avoid the media, no less),
the more things seem so much like last year.
Prince
Amukamara was talking about his leadership style when he mentioned that he
played point guard on his high school's basketball team. In many ways he's the
Anti-Antrel, the soft-spoken, good-natured, hardly-ever-worked-up player who now
finds himself as the longest-tenured player in a Giants defensive secondary that
lost several of its leaders this offseason.
June
1 Steve
Weatherford went from the joy of new parenthood to the terror of a car accident
in just 36 hours. Weatherford was involved in an accident early Monday morning
in which he totalled a rental car on the New Jersey Turnpike and walked away.
The crash came just after Weatherford's wife gave birth to baby Josie Jaclyn Weatherford
on Sunday.
Stadium News
MetLife
Stadium installs magnetometers for fan use. Unless there are extenuating circumstances,
no more wanding or pat-downs.
May
30 Tight
end Larry Donnell introduced himself to the world with three touchdown receptions
on a Thursday night in Week 4. Over the next 13 weeks, he slowly faded, eventually
evolving into a part-time player. Donnell's blocking had made him a liability.
Donnell knew his weakness, had a goal and attacked.
Before
breaking for the weekend, the Giants were back on the fields on Friday for
organized team activities. They're just about one-third of the way through their
allotted 10 non-contact OTA practices, which include individual, 7-on-7, 9-on-7
and 11-on-11 drills.
The
Giants completed the first week of their annual OTAs, a week that saw them
complete three workouts in which offense vs. defense was permitted, though, with
no contact. How close are the Giants to answering some of the big questions about
their team?
Former Giants
Plaxico
Burress will not get jail time for his tax evasion charges. Burress, who was
indicted on charges he failed to pay taxes in New Jersey last month, had been
facing up to a decade in prison. Burress was charged in April for failing to pay
$48,000 in state income taxes on his 2013 return.
May
29 After
yesterday's start of organized team activities (OTAs), Big Blue took the field
for their second of 10 practices during the third and final phase of the offseason
workout program. With the second day in the books, here is a recap of OTA No.
2.
The
regular season is still more than three months away, so a lot can change before
the Giants take the field to do battle with the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13. Training-camp
competitions will burn throughout the summer, and stars are sure to emerge in
the preseason. Injuries, of course, will undoubtedly occur too. Still, we can
glean something from these early OTA workouts.
Damontre
Moore may be the Giants player who benefits most from the change at defensive
coordinator this season. Which is why he is summing up 2015 with three quick thoughts.
His mantra: "New coach. New opportunity. Same old goals." He clearly wasn't getting
the opportunities under former coordinator Perry Fewell.
NFC
East News
Eagles
- Tim Tebow might be fourth on a quarterback depth chart that Eagles coach Chip
Kelly said won't have more than three names on it come September, but that didn't
keep the sport's most polarizing player from being the center of attention Thursday.
Cowboys
- "Is the Cowboys offensive line the best in the NFL?" They are very
good. So much so, that they have allowed DeMarco Murray to walk away and their
front office and fan base seem to have limited concerns about whether it will
affect their product. But, how good are they really?
Redskins
- After yet another last-place finish in the NFC East, the talk was of getting
better as the Redskins gathered for the start of on-field workouts this week.
Coach Jay Gruden was no exception. Among last season's four first-year NFL coaches,
Gruden finished last in games won and in improvement over the previous season.
May 28 The
Giants seem to have sidestepped a major injury in their first OTA of the offseason.
Defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. was carted off the field after trainers examined
his left leg during the workout Wednesday, but tests showed no serious damage
to either his knee or ankle.
Based
on Tom Coughlin's reaction, he was concerned, not just for the player, but
because of how the injury, which took place on the first play of the team drills,
happened. "For some reason, [Ayers] went low and got pushed down into the
ground, and how he did that, I'm not exactly sure.
They
assembled for the first of 10 organized team practice activities (OTAs), which
include individual, 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills but no live contact. The
play of the day went to second-year wide receiver Corey Washington, who won a
jump ball against cornerback Prince Amukamara on a pass at the goal line from
Eli Manning.
There
was a time not long ago when Justin Pugh did not really want to engage in
conversation about a possible position change, because he considered himself a
right tackle now and in the future. Times have changed.
After
two years of starting at the outside position, Pugh is moving inside. And
as he spoke about the virtues of his new place in the lineup, it was hard to tell
who he was trying to convince -- himself of the reporters asking about the switch.
The
way it all shook out on the field, the Giants offensive line looked like this
(from left to right): Left tackle Ereck Flowers, left guard Justin Pugh, center
Weston Richburg, right guard John Jerry/Geoff Schwartz and right tackle Marshall
Newhouse.
How
close is Victor Cruz? On Wednesday, he was just a few yards away. Cruz said
he feels he is about 80 percent recovered from the torn patellar tendon and he
remains on schedule to return to the field for the start of training camp in July.
As
his teammates worked, Cruz was nearby on a side field, running routes, running
hard. Then he iced his surgically repaired right knee. He tore his patellar tendon
Oct. 19 in Philadelphia and nearly is all the way back.
This
summer, for the first time in 10 years, the Giants will take part in a joint
practice, as they will work out with the Bengals Aug. 11 and 12 in Cincinnati
in advance of their preseason opener August 14 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Eli
Manning says the joint training camp with the Bengals should stay civilized
this year because there is no Jeremy Shockey around like the last time the Giants
did one.
May 26
After
a relaxing Memorial Day Weekend, the Giants get back to work this week to
start Phase Three of their offseason program. What exactly is Phase Three, you
ask? And what were the other two phases?
Competitions
will kick off this week as the Giants head into organized team activities.
Several positional units are swelling with talent after being bolstered through
free agency and the draft this offseason.
May
23 In
optimal situations, Eli Manning sits among the NFL's beset quarterbacks, in
some cases between the Colts' Andrew Luck and Patriots' Tom Brady. In non-optimal
situations, the comparisons aren't as favorable. In some cases, he ranks below
the Jets' Geno Smith, Kyle Orton and Josh McCown. He ranks above nobody. Manning
was rated Pro Football Focus' worst quarterback under pressure in 2014.
The
Giants have not yet indicated who would replace Will Beatty, but Ereck Flowers
was already taking reps at left tackle during minicamp, and the team brass have
indicated that they see him at that position long-term.
May
22 In
the week before organized team activities begin, the Giants were thrown a
curveball when Will Beatty suffered a torn pectoral muscle during weight training.
The left tacklehas an expected recovery time of approximately five to six months
after undergoing surgery Wednesday.
The
left tackle spot could fall to Pugh or Flowers, as both played on the left
side in college, although scouts are nearly unanimous that neither is best-suited
to left tackle. The Beatty injury means the anticipated move of Pugh from right
tackle inside to a guard spot must be shelved.
May
21 Left
tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle on Wednesday, an injury that is
not considered as serious as the dreaded ACL or Achilles tear, but is still serious
enough to warrant a lengthy recovery period.
It's
unclear what the Giants will do to fill the position. They selected Ereck
Flowers (University of Miami) in the first round of the draft and have spoken
of him as their left tackle of the future, but it's unclear if he will be prepared
for the important job of protecting Eli Manning's blind side as a rookie.
How
will Landon Collins' rookie year compare to previous safeties taken in the
first two rounds. The higher the draft pick, the greater the expectations. That's
the unavoidable reality for rookies in the NFL, but Landon Collins doesn't mind.
In fact, he's out to prove he should have been taken earlier.
May
20 Ryan
Tannehill's new deal and what it means for Giants' Eli Manning and the QB
market. If Manning puts up comparable statistics this season to 2014, he should
be in Roethlisberger range, especially when quarterbacks such as Tannehill, Smith
and Kaepernick are collecting their whopping paychecks.
The
ex-Giants player formerly known as the "Touchdown Maker" thinks this year's
group of receivers has the potential to score lots of them. Stephen Baker, a wide
receiver with the Giants from 1987-1992, won a Super Bowl with the team in 1990,
including a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Hostetler late in the 2nd quarter.
Baker still keeps a close eye on his former team.
Brett
Jones is 23 years old and entering his third professional season. He spent
the past two years playing (and excelling) in the CFL, where the rules and level
of play are in stark contrast to what he's going to see in the NFL. The speed
of the players is different. The size of the players is different. Even the rules
are different.
NFL News
After
years of internal complaints, proposals and experiments, the owners voted
overwhelmingly Tuesday at their spring meetings to overhaul the PAT starting with
the 2015 season.
NFL
to change extra-point kicks to longer distance. The vote was 30-2. Washington
and Oakland voted no. The change was approved only for 2015, then will be reviewed.
May
18 The
most intriguing rookie storylines at New York Giants' OTAs. This rookie class
- both draft picks and undrafted free agents - is being counted upon to fill in
some of the cracks along the foundation of a Giants team that has missed the playoffs
in the last three seasons.
May
14 Odell
Beckham Jr. will appear on the cover of this year's Madden 16 video game,
an honor that typically goes to the most exciting player in the league. He is
the first Giants player and the youngest player ever to earn the distinction.
But
will he continue to be an amazing player? That's the question that's asked
about every athlete who lands on the cover of Madden. For years, the game has
been known for "cursing" its coverboys, with struggles befalling many
NFL stars in the season that they've landed on the box.
Beckham
was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after catching 91 passes
for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. His on-field exploits included his famed one-handed
touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys, and a slew of Giants franchise records
broken.
NFC East News
The
NFL Draft is over, and free agency is well in the rear view mirror. So which
team in the NFC East did the most to help itself?
NFL
News
Brady
used illegal footballs back in 2004: opposing QB.
Jon
Stewart mocks Tom Brady suspension: 'He wins again!'
Tom
Brady could have strong chance at winning DeflateGate appeal
May
12 Giants
sign four undrafted free agents following rookie tryouts. The newest Giants
are running back Kenneth Harper of Temple, wide receiver Ben Edwards of Richmond,
tight end Will Tye of Stony Brook and defensive tackle Carlif Taylor of Southern
Connecticut State.
Eli
Manning wasn't happy at all to hear the news that his friend, Tom Brady, was
suspended by the NFL in the wake of DeflateGate. Then again, the Giants quarterback
said, rules are rules.
Eli
Manning says Deflategate revelations 'didn't look good,' feels for Patriots'
Tom Brady. "Any time you lose a starting quarterback for four games and draft
picks, it's a pretty big statement."
NFL
News
The
NFL suspended Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady for the first four games of the season,
fined the New England Patriots $1 million and took away two draft picks Monday
as punishment for deflating footballs used in the AFC title game.
Please,
Tom Brady, tell us your side of Deflategat.
Brady's
new rep as a lying cheat hurts worse than 4-game ban.
Why
Robert Kraft is Deflategate's biggest loser.
May
11 The
Giants undrafted free agents (UDFAs) aren't the draft picks. They're aren't
strictly tryout players either. The group of six are somewhere in between. But
history says that at least one of the Giants' UDFAs has a chance of sticking.
May 10 For
the first time since taking over as defensive coordinator almost four months
ago, Steve Spagnuolo talked publicly about what Giants fans can expect from the
defense this season. They should be excited if it's anywhere near what they saw
the first time around.
Does
Giants' mad defense scientist have any magic left? Steve Spagnuolo wasn't
a magician as a head coach for the Rams and he wasn't a magician as defensive
coordinator for the Saints. Coughlin brought him back because he believes Spagnuolo
has more magic left in him.
Ben
McAdoo and the offensive staff immediately went to work breaking down film
of the 2014 season, but he sounded most excited about tailoring his West Coast
system to suit the Giants' offensive personnel, including the "new toys"
the team acquired this offseason.
No
more installation. No more getting-to-know-you. No more unearthing something
new every day. No more first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. "It's
not a system any more, it's our offense," McAdoo said on Saturday after rookie
minicamp practice.
Ben
McAdoo thought the Giants finally brought to the field the concepts and system
he had been preaching and they played with some success in the final six games
of the 2014 season. But don't dare ask him if they will hit the ground running
in 2015 because of that.
The
majority of the Giants' rookie minicamp is in the books after a roughly two-hour
practice on an overcast and chilly Saturday afternoon. Here are a few observations
from Saturday's practice.
Undrafted
free agent tight end Matt LaCosse, who stood out in Day 1's workouts for his
work in blocking (or what passes for blocking in a non-contact drills), showed
off his pass receiving abilities on Day 2, catching every catchable ball thrown
his way.
Five
takeaways from Giants Rookie Mini-Camp, which wraps up Sunday. 1. The Giants
are emphasizing the defensive history of the franchise. 2. Jackson officially
switched to safety. 3. Flowers and Collins set stage for OTAs, training camp.
4. Odighizuwa, Thompson, Davis, Hart get their feet wet. 5. Players to keep an
eye on.
May 9
The
Giants held their first practice of rookie mini-camp on Friday. Sixty-five
players -- the Giants' six draft picks, rookie free agents and prospects on a
tryout basis -- hit the field for drills along with their coaches and coordinators.
Rookie
Minicamp Report: Day 1. First, no tackling is allowed. The players are not
in full pads, so drills and any teamwork is being conducted at half speed. Second,
just because a player did work at a certain position doesn't mean anything at
this point. Third, the purpose of the minicamps is for the coaches to teach and
evaluate.
Bennett
Jackson didn't even play defense in high school. He was a wide receiver, recruited
by Notre Dame at the position and playing it for his first two seasons in South
Bend. Coaches decided that he would be better off on the other side of the line
of scrimmage and he was converted to cornerback. So moving from corner to safety
this offseason? That's hardly a switch at all.
NFL
News
What's
that old saying again? Something about sinning and casting the first stone?
That seems to be the idea behind Youteamcheats.com,
a site that breaks down the misdeeds of all 32 NFL teams, including the local
franchises.
Patriots
quarterback Tom Brady will be suspended in the fallout of Deflategate with
an announcement coming next week according to a New York Daily News report.
Tom
Brady will be the highest-profile player ever suspended in the 96-year history
of the NFL. Roger Goodell's decision is expected to be announced next week, and
it is no longer a matter of if the NFL commissioner will suspend Brady, but for
how long he will suspend him.
May
8 Giants
upbeat about DB Mykkele Thompson's potential. he was as shocked as anyone
when the Giants selected him in the fifth round. On Friday he'll be one of 60
to 65 players on the field for the start of the team's rookie minicamp.
The
Ereck Flowers scouting report, courtesy Chris Snee.Impressed, but not blown
away. Snee sees some real technical flaws that Flowers must clean up if he is
to excel at the next level.
Giants
sign 6 undrafted free agents, including running back Akeem Hunt.
The
Giants made several roster moves as players reported for rookie minicamp.
NFL
News
With
Wednesday's release of the long-awaited investigation into the infamous deflation
of footballs in New England, it was Patriots quarterback Tom Brady who took the
hardest punch.
Tom
Brady declined to discuss his thoughts about the 243-page report that said
that he was likely at least aware two team employees were breaking rules by deflating
footballs for him.
May
7 When
Landon Collins was still on the board at the top of the second round, general
manager Jerry Reese felt that the picks they would have to give up to land him
at No. 33 (their fourth round pick, No. 108 overall, and an extra seventh rounder,
No. 245) was well worth getting what is essentially an extra first rounder.
What
can you expect from Giants Rookie Mini-Camp? Giants.com's Dan Salomone highlights
three things you can expect to happen at Rookie Mini-Camp.
Donte
Rumph, humiliated on 'Hard Knocks' while with Falcons, invited by Giants to
rookie minicamp. Rumph knows there will be dozens of tryout players at Giants
camp, and maybe one or two might get a contract. But he's refusing to quit because
quitting is not what the "Tent of Faith" is all about.
NFC
East News
Eagles
- Chip Kelly 'ran all the black players' out of town: LeSean McCoyn.
Cowboys
- Jason Garrett wants the "right kind of guys" in his locker room.
Redskins
- Mayor Muriel Bowser says she's reached out to the Redskins about returning to
D.C.
NFL News
After
three months of breathlessly waiting, we are left with a 243-page Wells Report
that should leave Roger Goodell (and Troy Vincent) no recourse other than to suspend
Tom Brady for a minimum of two games when the 2015 NFL season begins.
The
stud Patriots quarterback all but certainly knew that footballs were illegally
deflated to his liking for this year's AFC Championship game, according to a damning
NFL-commissioned report -- which also exposed how Brady was reviled over his demand
for soft pigskins.
May
6 Giants'
Super Bowl 50 odds better than expected after losing season. Odds to win Super
Bowl 50: Seahawks 11/2 Packers Patriots 15/2 Colts 8/1 Cowboys 10/1 Broncos 14/1
Eagles 18/1 Cardinals 20/1 Ravens 25/1 Giants: 25/1.
Was
Giants' draft enough to make them Super Bowl contenders again? There's little
room for long-term projects at this stage, and the Giants appear to realize that.
In the first three rounds of the draft, they added three prospects who should
have a chance to make this team better immediately.
Let's
suppose for a minute that the Giants are "in the mix". Let's go
even further. Let's suppose the Giants are the team that eventually signs La'el
Collins if and when he is completely exonerated in the murder of Brittany Mills.
What would the Giants do with Collins?
Former
Giants
Stevie
Brown signed for the veteran minimum with Houston Texas. If the Giants wanted
veteran safety Stevie Brown back with the team this season, it wouldn't have taken
much.
May 5
Alabama
coach Nick Saban knows a first-round draft pick when he sees one, as he's
coached 16 of them the past five years. That's why Saban does not understand why
safety Landon Collins dropped out of the first round this year. The Giants were
delighted Collins slid.
Two
Giants named biggest steals of NFL Draft. Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated
named the top steals of the 2015 NFL Draft, which concluded Saturday in Chicago.
His list led off with All-American safety Landon Collins out of Alabama, whom
the Giants traded up to select with the first pick of the second round. Burke
also mentioned defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, the Giants' third-round pick
from UCLA.
This
is how the Giants operate in the NFL Draft. They make their evaluations and
worry almost exclusively about themselves. It doesn't matter if they are the only
team speaking to a prospect or if the reported interest is strong.
Just
when you thought Odell Beckham Jr. couldn't rack up any more accolades, he's
in the running for another one. On Monday, EA Sports announced that Beckham, the
Giants' up-and-coming star receiver, is a candidate to be on the cover of the
next Madden football video game.
May
4 The
Giants left the 2015 NFL Draft with six new players, and likely at least two
immediate Day 1 starters. With their highest pick (No. 9 overall) since 2004,
was that enough? Did they address enough needs and collect talent commensurate
with their draft position?
5
Giants takeaways: Did they draft the next Justin Tuck? This seemed to be a
workmanlike draft for the Giants, who filled needs with sensible picks. The six
new players could be contributors and never touch the ball. A year after securing
Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants bulked up.
For
the last five seasons, Antrel Rolle was a key figure for the Giants, reliable
and durable on the field and an emotional leader off of it. Landon Collins knows
all about this legacy, but the Giants' second-round pick isn't the least bit worried
about replacing Rolle.
NFL News
The
shocking, unprecedented and touching from NFL draft. He wasn't drafted and
probably won't make the Seahawks' roster, but Nate Boyer will have no shortage
of people pulling for him.
Boyer
did tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was part of the Green Berets and earned
a Bronze Star. And then he learned how to be a long snapper.