Interesting Camp Battle #1: Safety

So, I don't have the greatest access to the internet right now which is the reason I haven't been keeping up with this blog. I don't know how often I will post but I will try to get you one article a week if I can.


The Players:

James Butler: Butler was the Giants starter at SS last year, but was considered by many, including myself, to be the worst starter on the Giants defense in 2007. Supposedly Steve Spagnuolo loves Butler's intelligence but I didn't see that as his problem last year. He seems to know where he needs to be most of the time, but he usually either isn't there or mis-times his hits. Everyone keeps pointing out that he was the leading tackler in the Superbowl. But half of his tackles fell into his lap. In my opinion, Butler will be one of the better backup safeties in the NFL nothing more.

Michael Johnson: Johnson had a pretty great rookie season. He is extremely aggressive, and he has better playing speed than Butler. Johnson actually stole snaps away from Butler at the end of the year when both were healthy as a situational player. Johnson has a potentially bright future in the NFL but needs to build on his strong rookie season.

Sammy Knight: Knight was picked up in free agency this off-season and provides excellent run support and decent coverage as long as he isn't matched up on elite players. He had an up and down season lasy year with the Jags, but I think he is a much better fit for the Giants defense.

Kenny Phillips: Our first round draft choice this year has gotten good reviews from his early practices. He comes from Miami where many great safeties went to school. Phillips has the athleticism to be an elite safety in the NFL but he needs to get the defensive plays down if he wants to play this year.

Opening Day Starters:

I think Sammy Knight's veteran presence will almost guaruntee him a starting job. I also think his run support will help fans forget about the losses of Michael Strahan and Gibril Wilson. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Kenny Phillips wins the other spot. From everything I've heard, Phillips is doing great and the coaching staff loves him. It will really come down to his comfort level and whether he is making the right reads. If he can do that, I don't think anyone will be able to beat him for the second safety spot.


Down the Line:

I think Michael Johnson has tremendous potential and will get some situational playing time again this year. Not to mention he should get plenty of special teams reps. If he continues to show what he showed last year I think he will be able to win a starting job next year. Sammy Knight is nearing the end of his career and may even retire after this season. Butler will probably remain a backup for the rest of his duration with the Giants unless he can really turn it on this year in camp or Phillips fails to get comfortable in our defense. But in the end, I think Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson will lock down the safety spots for the next 4-5 years starting next year.

Giants First Round Pick: Kenny Phillips

Kenny Phillips is the latest of several safeties from the University of Miami to be drafted in the first round. He came on strong as a youngster in college but suffered a disappointing senior year(although still not bad) last year. He has the size, speed and athleticism to succeed in the NFL, but comparisons to Ed Reed and Sean Taylor are not fair. Phillips is a different type of safety and while he's never going to be a Reed or Taylor I think he will be very solid for us. You can read any of the many scouting reports on him that are floating around out there if you want more details. Here is how I view our 31st pick.

My First Reaction: Outstanding! Phillips was the best choice available when the Giants were put on the clock at the end of the 1st round. If you saw my draft board, you will know that Quentin Groves was my top-rated player left, but I wasn't really expecting Reese to go in that direction. Kenny Phillips makes a lot of sense here.

My Prediction for Phillips: I think Phillips can come in and almost immediately full the void left by Gibril Wilson. He will most likely win the starting job along with newcomer Sammy Knight to form a fairly formiddable, although not spectacular, safety tandem. Two things that I really like about Phillips are his size and intelligence. A lot of people question his motivation so we will have to see how that goes, but I think our group of team leaders and coaches can resolve those problems better than most others. Another thing that I love about this pick is that it move James Butler from being one of the worst starting safeties in the league to being one of the best backup safeties in the league. That could prove to be a major factor as the season unfolds and it has gone largely overlooked in the few days since the draft.

I will be writing up short articles like this for the rest of our draft picks in the next few days. So check back for those.

In the meantime, here is a video of Phillips in action. Just disregard the jibber-jabber at the end...

The Official Kevros NYG Draft Board

I made this draft for fun, so please don't take it too seriously. I made it so I can cross off the guys on my list as they get drafted and then see if the Giants actually select my top remaining candidate. I'm sure this list looks a lot different than most of you are expecting, but in the spirit of fun, I went completely with my own opinion and not the majority consensus.

Before I get to the list, here are a few things that it is and is not:

• This list is NOT a mock draft. I don't think DRC is going to go #3 overall.
• This list is NOT the Giants official Draft Board that Jerry Reese will use for the draft (this is insanely obivous to most I would hope.)
• This is NOT a ranking of all players that might be drafted.
• This is simply a list of my top 75 players and how I would rank them if I were the GM of the Giants.
• I have taken into account the Giants schemes and team needs so this list does not apply to any other NFL team.
• I have completely taken some players out (i.e. there are no QBs in my top 75.)

Feel free to comment on whatever you like, just keep it civil...

The Official Kevros NYG Draft Board

1 OT Jake Long
2 DE Chris Long
3 CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
4 DT Glenn Dorsey
5 CB Leodis McKelvin
6 RB Darren McFadden
7 DE Vernon Gholston
8 DT Sedrick Ellis
9 LB Keith Rivers
10 WR Limas Sweed
11 OG Branden Albert
12 OT Chris Williams
13 LB Quentin Groves
14 S Kenny Phillips
15 CB Antoine Cason
16 WR James Hardy
17 OT Ryan Clady
18 WR DeSean Jackson
19 S Reggie Smith
20 OT Jeff Otah
21 DE Derrick Harvey
22 WR Devin Thomas
23 LB Jerod Mayo
24 DE Phillip Merling
25 CB Aqib Talib
26 CB Brandon Flowers
27 WR Mario Manningham
28 OT Gosder Cherilus
29 LB Dan Connor
30 CB Tracy Porter
31 LB Curtis Lofton
32 DT Trevor Laws
33 RB Chris Johnson
34 DE Calais Campbell
35 RB Rashard Mendenhall
36 OT Sam Baker
37 RB Felix Jones
38 OT Anthony Collins
39 RB Jonathan Stewart
40 CB Mike Jenkins
41 S Tyrell Johnson
42 LB Cliff Avril
43 S DaJuan Morgan
44 LB Erin Henderson
45 WR Donnie Avery
46 CB Patrick Lee
47 OG Chilo Rachal
48 DE Jason Jones
49 OT Carl Nicks
50 LB Xavier Adibi
51 DT Dre Moore
52 DT Kentwan Balmer
53 WR Andre Caldwell
54 RB Matt Forte
55 DE Chris Ellis
56 CB Charles Godfrey
57 CB Tyvon Branch
58 WR Jordy Nelson
59 S Quintin Demps
60 LB Beau Bell
61 WR Malcolm Kelly
62 S Josh Barrett
63 LB Tavares Gooden
64 LB Philip Wheeler
65 WR Early Doucet
66 RB Ray Rice
67 CB Justin King
68 DE Lawrence Jackson
69 DT Letroy Guion
70 S Thomas Decoud
71 LB Shawn Crable
72 WR Eddie Royal
73 OG Roy Schuening
74 RB Jamaal Charles
75 C Mike Pollak

Mock Draft 4

1. Miami Dolphins - DE Chris Long – Long’s on-the-field value is probably very similar to Vernon Gholston’s, but his off-field value pushes him inot the first pick in the draft

2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long – With Orlando Pace pretty much out of the picture, the Rams need a new franchise left tackle. Their offense is loaded at the skill positions but they were still one of the worst offense without solid blocking.

3. Atlanta Falcons – DT Glenn Dorsey – Dorsey should easily fill the void left by Rod Coleman. They could take Matt Ryan here but new GM Dimitroff is smart enough to know rebuilding a team starts in the trenches.

4. Oakland Raiders - RB Darren McFadden – Al Davis continues his whacked out spending spree taking the flashiest pick in this year’s draft.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Chris Williams – KC’s O-line has steadily been declining and they need to get it back on track if they ever want a QB to succeed there again.

6. New York Jets - DE/LB Vernon Gholston – The Jets pass rush was weak last year. Gholston should provide some immediate help with that.

7. New England Patriots (from 49ers) - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – I could see the Pats taking DRC, Keith Rivers or trading either up or down. McKelvin doesn’t seem like a Belichick type player and the Pats just signed Hobson allowing them to wait until the 2nd round for a LB.

8. Baltimore Ravens - QB Matt Ryan – McNair is extremely close to the end of his career and Kyle Boller hasn’t shown enough to take the job away from him. The Raven have never had a true franchise QB and this is their chance to finally get one.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sederick Ellis – They tried to trade for several DTs already this off-season. Since they were awesomely unsuccessful, they take Ellis who is probably better than anyone they were trying to trade for anyway.

10. New Orleans Saints - LB Keith Rivers – The Saints seem happy (not sure why) going into the season with Mike McKenzie and Randall Gay as their starting CBs. Taking Rivers, immediately makes their LBs a feared group having already acquired Vilma from the Jets.

11. Buffalo Bills - WR Limas Sweed – The Bill need someone to take some focus away from Lee Evans and Sweed will be a huge target for their mediocre QBs.

12. Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady – Their legendary zone blocking offensive line has been declining and Clady instantly provides a boost.

13. Carolina Panthers - OG Branden Albert – Albert can play OG or OT and the Panthers need a LT so that Jordan Gross can stay at RT. Albert is their man.

14. Chicago Bears - OT Jeff Otah – Another offensive line that has recently declined, the Bear need help.

15. Detroit Lions – RB Rashard Mendenhall – Kevin Jones is a great runner when he’s healthy, but unfortunately that isn’t very often, which forced DET to cut him. Mendenhall is probably the best every-down back in the draft.

16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Leodis McKelvin – Most people don’t think McKelvin will drop this far, but I think there are a lot more teams looking for linemen this year. However, the Cardinals can’t resist the value here.

17. Minnesota Vikings – DE Derrick Harvey – The Viking need more pressure on opposing QBs. Harvey can definitely provide that.

18. Houston Texans - RB Jonathan Stewart – Ahman Green is old and injury prone. They need somebody better than Ron Dayne to come in when Green goes down.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Devin Thomas – Thomas looks to have the potential to be a number one WR in the NFL, which is what Philly needs since Curtis is more of a number two.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Aqib Talib – Talib should thrive in the Tampa 2 and the Bucs are happy to get the heir to Ronde’s throne.

21. Washington Redskins - DE Phillip Merling – The Redskins D line was pretty bad last year and Merling is the best DE left on the board.

22. Dallas Cowboys (from Browns) – CB Mike Jenkins – Anthony Henry is getting up there in age and Dallas lost their nickel, Reeves to free agency.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - DE/LB Quentin Groves – Groves is an absolute animal and the Steelers will jump at the chance to grab him since there are no OGs available here to replace Faneca.

24. Tennessee Titans - WR DeSean Jackson – It’s pretty simple. Vince Young needs more weapons and Jackson is probably the second best offensive weapon after McFadden

25. Seattle Seahawks - S Kenny Phillips – The Seahawks have the luxury of taking the BPA here and it happens to be Phillips. They could use a TE but it would be a reach to take one here.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Calais Campbell – Campbell has been dropping down draft charts recently but the Jags need a DE and not much else. They could pick an offensive lineman or trade down with another team trying to get back into the 1st round.

27. San Diego Chargers – OT Gosder Cherilus – The Chargers cut Shane Olivea and they need his replacement at RT.

28. Dallas Cowboys – RB Felix Jones – For some reason Jerry Jones isn’t comfortable with Marion Barber as his every-down back and since he wasn’t able to get McFadden he goes for the other RB from his alma mater.

29. San Francisco 49ers (from Ind.) – WR James Hardy – Whoever is starting at QB will need a better target than Isaac Bruce. Hardy is huge with great speed for his size.

30. Green Bay Packers – CB/S Reggie Smith – The Packers could use him as their nickel back or free safety. Either way he would be an upgrade.

31. New England Patriots (forfeited) - NO PICK

32. New York Giants - CB Antoine Cason – It would be the Giants dream if Cason fell to them. He is considered to be this year’s Aaron Ross and could instantly be one of the best nickels in the NFL.

Quentin Groves on Youtube

I really hope we get this guy at 31:

Early Round Talent

I haven't written anything in a while, but there isn't much to write about. Except, of course, about the upcoming draft. So, I decided to name a few guys that I would love the Giants to draft. They aren't necessarily likely to be available to pick at 31. I by no means, think that these guys are "unknowns" or "sleepers." Just guys that I think would fit in really well with our team and current schemes. For the most part, these are the guys that I probably have ranked higher then the common mock draft would. So here are the two 1st round guys, that I have ranked higher than most.

CB - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 6' 2" 184 lbs., Tennessee State - DRC is one of my favorite players coming out in this year's draft. Most people have DRC as their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th ranked CB. But I think he is the best CB for the Giants in this year's draft. His size and amazing athletic ability make him a perfect fit for the attacking style of the Giants defense. He is still a little raw for a top CB prospect, which is why many have McKelvin listed higher than him, but in NY he wouldn't have to start right away. He could take a year to play nickel and work on his technique. His weaknesses, though, are all correctable. He is already working with Deion Sanders on his technique and should be even better than he showed at the combine, by the time camp rolls around. Another reason I would choose DRC over McKelvin is his attitude and intelligence. It's not that DRC's are off the chart, just that McKelvin's leave a whole lot to be desired. Plus, the guy just makes plays. He ran a 4.26 40 (unofficial) and has that ability to change the momentum of the game in the blink of an eye. I really love this guy, even though it's highly unlikely he will be drafted by the Giants.

Pass Rusher - Quentin Groves 6' 3" 259 lbs., Auburn - I listed him as a "pass rusher" because he could play either DE or LB for the Giants. He has a similar build to Mathias Kiwanuka and that lends itself to versatility. Imagine rotating Groves and Kiwi from LB to DE while at the same time moving Justin Tuck from DE to DT. We would have so many pass rushers coming from everywhere and coming from different places on every play, offense would have no idea how to block them. And even if they could figure it out, they wouldn't be able to keep up for a full 60 minutes. All the scheming aside, Groves is an absolute animal. Vernon Gholston is hogging all the glory for being so athletic but this guy is almost as good. In fact, I have him listed as the 3rd best pass rusher behind Chris Long and Gholston. Groves is only 7 pounds lighter than Gholston, ran the 40 in 4.53 seconds (VG in 4.65), and got 30 reps in the bench (VG had 37). Plus, when you watch him play, he just wows you on every play. He has a non-stop motor and would be absolutely devastating in Steve Spanuolo's defense.



NOTE: I am working on a "Big Board" of my favorite top 75 players in the draft. I will post it on here either this weekend or the following weekend. During the draft, I will be crossing off the guys that get drafted to see if my top remaining player is actually the Giants pick. So check back to see my board.

Defense Gets the Green Dots but it Leads to some Interesting Questions

First off, I'd like to state that I really like the idea of allowing defensive players to have radios in their helmets. It evens out the playing field. The NFL seemingly tries to pass rules that benefit offense which in turn leads to more scoring, which then translates into more viewership. That's all fine and good for the marketing big-wigs but to me that just leads to more annoying people watching football and trying to tell me that Quinn Gray is better than Eli Manning because his QB rating was better in week 7 (I have no idea if it really was). I personally love low-scoring, defensive battles. In fact Superbowl 42 was a pretty good example of how exciting they can be. Anyway, on to the radios.

The first question I have is, why can only two defensive players have the radios? Both players will be required to have the green dots on their helmets and only one green dot can be on the field at one time. I don't get why every defensive player (or at least more than 2) can't have a second helmet on the sideline equipped with a green dot and radio? Having only two players can create a big logistical problem. Which leads me to my next question.

Which two players on the Giants defense will get the green dot? I think the obvious answer is that MLB Antonio Pierce will get one, but who gets the other. If the second player is his backup, Chase Blackburn, that would make sense in case Pierce got injured. However, that would mean that a MLB has to be on the field at all times. What if Spags decides he wants Gerris Wilkinson to be the Dime LB? Wilkinson is much faster and better in coverage than Pierce. So, in that case nobody with a radio would be on the field which could cause confusion.

Another problem was brought up by TB LB Derrick Brooks. Brooks feels that this system will not work because there are actually 3 signals that need to be given to the defensive players on each play. One for the line, one for the linebackers, and one for the backs. I get the feeling that Pierce is smart enough to get all 3 calls and relay them to each area of the defense. However, I can see this posing problems for some teams that don't have as much intelligence and leadership as the Giants currently do on their defensive roster.

Like I said, I like the rule change. It's a good thing, but it brings up a lot of questions. Probably more than I have thought of. But none of them are insurmountable. Most of them don't take more than a few minutes to figure out a solution for. But they ARE interesting questions (to me anyway) that need to be dealt with by every team in the NFL. When preseason starts, I will be almost as interested to see who is wearing the green dots on defense as I will be to see who won the starting jobs after training camp. But only time will tell...

Mock Draft 3

Here is my 3rd shot at formulating a 1st round mock draft. You can compare it to my 1st attempt and my 2nd attempt by clicking on the links. I'm going to add short explanations to my 4th or 5th attempt when I feel like I'm pretty close to my final version.

1. Miami Dolphins - DE/LB Vernon Gholston
2. St. Louis Rams - DE Chris Long
3. Atlanta Falcons – QB Matt Ryan
4. Oakland Raiders - DT Glenn Dorsey
5. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Jake Long
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots (from 49ers) - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
8. Baltimore Ravens - CB Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sederick Ellis
10. New Orleans Saints - LB Keith Rivers
11. Buffalo Bills - WR Malcolm Kelly
12. Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady
13. Carolina Panthers - RB Rashard Mendenhall
14. Chicago Bears - OT Chris Williams
15. Detroit Lions - CB Aqib Talib
16. Arizona Cardinals - RB Jonathan Stewart
17. Minnesota Vikings – WR Limas Sweed
18. Houston Texans - CB Mike Jenkins
19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Devin Thomas
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OT Jeff Otah
21. Washington Redskins - DT Kentwan Balmer
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Browns) – RB Felix Jones
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG Branden Albert
24. Tennessee Titans - WR DeSean Jackson
25. Seattle Seahawks - TE Fred Davis
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Calais Campbell
27. San Diego Chargers - S Kenny Phillips
28. Dallas Cowboys – LB Dan Connor
29. San Francisco 49ers (from Colts) - DE/LB Quentin Groves
30. Green Bay Packers – CB Antoine Cason
31. New England Patriots (forfeited) - NO PICK
32. New York Giants - WR Mario Manningham

Rich Seubert gets an Extension

Starting left guard, Rich Seubert signed a contract extension that will keep him in a Giants uniform through 2012. The terms of the contract have not been disclosed, but it's not likely that he got a big raise. In all likelihood, his average salary is right on par with what he makes now. Which, in my opinion, makes it a great signing, but brings up a few other topics:

• It probably means that Reese is comfortable with David Diehl as the starting left tackle.
• If the Giants can now reach a deal with Coughlin's son-in-law, Chris Snee, the Giants will have locked up the entire offensive line for the next 4 years. This is already a top 5 unit in the NFL (in my opinion) so keeping them together for that long should make them even better. Jerry Reese will deserve major kudos if he can get Snee extended by next year.
• The Giants probably aren't looking as hard as some might think at OTs in this draft. Though the Giants can use some depth along the offensive line so it still wouldn't surprise me if they take one or two early.

NOTE: Rumors are coming from everywhere about Shockey being traded to New Orleans. Some rumors are even conflicting each other and none really seem to make sense. I still firmly believe that Shockey will be a Giant next year. I just wish the rumors would stop until a deal is done. We have Peter King to thank for stirring the pot this time.

Draft Prediction: Giants Won't Land a Top Pass Rusher, And It's Their Own Fault

You're probably thinking that it's pretty obvious the Giants won't take a pass rusher with their 1st round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Giants aren't thin at defensive end. They have all-pro "Chief" Osi Umenyiora at right DE. They just re-signed DE Justin Tuck, a future all-pro, who can pass rush from either DE spots or a DT spot. Future hall-of-famer Michael Strahan will probably be back for another year at left DE. And Mathias Kiwanuka, a former 1st round pick, can rush the passer from either the strong-side linbacker position or as a defensive end. Not to mention, DT Fred Robbins gets a few sacks here and there, and Jay Alford is a DT specializing in rushing the passer. With all those guys, even the casual fan has to step back and say, "Wow, the Giants are loaded with pass rushers."

So, it would make sense for the Giants to use the draft to strengthen a different position that currently has little depth, right? I mean, that's generally what teams do in the draft. They take players that can strengthen a weak spot on their team.

But that's not why the Giants won't take a pass rusher in the 1st round. Giants general manager, Jerry Reese has stated to the media several times, "you can never have enough pass rushers." The Giants are one of those teams that likes to put tremendous pressure on the quarterback. In order to do that you have to have a lot of pass rushers on your roster to rotate them and keep them a step quicker than the opposing offensive lineman. Nobody thought the Giants would take Kiwanuka in the 1st round of the 2006 draft. But they did. They value pass rushers more than jut about any other position.

So, why am I writing this article stating that I don't think the Giants will take pass rusher in the 1st round?

They won't take one because their won't be one available that is worth picking with the 31st overall selection. Not because this is a weak draft class for defensive lineman, but because the Giants proved to the league that you can't, in fact, have too many pass rushers.

The Giants led the NFL in sacks during the 2007 regular season with 53 and also in the post season with 8. The New England Patriots were 2nd in the NFL with 47 sack during the regular season and 5 in the post season. Is it any coincidence that these two teams played each other in the Superbowl? Probably not.

In Superbowl 42, the New York Giants were heavy underdogs because the Patriots electric offense and great pass rush carried them to 18-0. The Giants had some inconsistency on offense through the middle of the season, but their defense, and most notably their pass rush, carried them into a wild card spot. What happened next, will go down as one of the great Superbowls in the history of the NFL. The Giants sacked Tom Brady 5 times and stole the Superbowl away from the favored Patriots.

That was a smack in the face to the rest of the league. It opened their eyes to two facts: defense wins championships and the key to a great defense is the pass rush.

So, in reality, it is the Giants own fault for showing the world, so blatantly, that you need pass rushers to win. Pass rushers will be in huge demand early and often in the upcoming draft. There are several teams that don't even have a good starting tandem, let alone a group of 4 or more quality pass rushers. And, therefore, this is the biggest reason why I just can't see the Giants being able to select a pass rusher with the 31st pick in the draft.

Future Tight End Quandary for Giants

Recently there have been rumors that the Giants are shopping tight end Jeremy Shockey for a first round draft pick. A few teams have even offered second draft picks for his services. However, NYG GM Jerry Reese has repeatedly stated to the media that Shockey is going to be our starting tight end this season. And, personally, I don't think it makes a bit of sense to get rid of him right now.

Shockey was draft in the first round of the 2002 draft to be a dynamic pass catching tight end. In his 6 years with the Giants, he has started 83 of the possible 96 games. For the first few years, he was the dynamic player that the Giants hoped he would be despite missing time with injuries and dropping big passes from time to time. When Tom Coughlin took over as head coach, he needed a better blocking TE to run his style of offense.

And Shockey has become just that. He is arguably the best blocking tight end in football, absolutely mauling defensive players in the running game. He has also maintained his status as a top 10 receiving tight end and plays with an intensity that is tough to match. This combination is what makes him, in my opinion, the most valuable tight end in the NFL right now.

So why would there be so many trade rumors flying around if he is so valuable? The answer is Kevin Boss. Boss was the Giants 5th round draft pick last year and filled in wonderfully at the end of the season after Shockey went down with a broken fibula. The offense actually seemed to get better and many of the NFL "experts" attribute that to the absence of Jeremy Shockey.

However, in reality Kevin Boss played well enough to command respect in the passing game while rookie RB Ahmad Bradshaw had his breakout game in Buffalo. Bradshaw busted out the longest run of the 2007 NFL season and established himself as a real weapon. In my opinion, Bradshaw had way more to do with the increase of offensive production than either Shockey or Boss.

But not so fast. Just because Reese doesn't want to get rid of Shockey right now, doesn't mean it won't happen sometime down the line. If Boss continues on his current steady pace of improvement, it could spell trouble for Shockey in a few years. Cutting or trading Shockey this year would actually cost the Giants $1.1 million more than it would to keep him on the team. That alone, should be enough to convince any fan that he's not going anywhere just yet.

Shockey is under contract through the 2011 season. Each year, the money that the Giants would save by cutting or trading Shockey increases; going from just over $2 million next year to over $5 million after the 2010 season. That also happens to be the year the Kevin Boss's rookie contract ends. Which means that is when Reese needs to make a decision about who stays and who goes.

Admittedly, it's possible that Boss never drastically improves and stays at the mediocre level. If that's the case, the Giants would most likely be able to afford both TEs and not think twice about it. But if Boss does make the jump, there is no way the Giants could afford 2 TEs each making $4-$5 million a piece each year. So Reese will have a tough decision to make. Does he stay loyal to his proven vet and one of the faces of the franchise? Will he go with youth over experience? Who knows?

But it will be interesting to see how this one plays out in the years to come.

NOTE: I have added a new sidebar section for pro day visits a scouting workouts. It's far from a complete list of every player that the Giants scout, but I haven't found anywhere that compiles a list that is even this comprehensive. If you click on the links it will take you to a scouting report of the player at nfldraftscout.com.

Giants Interested in Boston College's Cherilus?

Boston College held it's pro day workout today, with QB Matt Ryan and OT Gosder Cherilus getting most of the attention. The New York Giants organization sent Dave Deguglielmo (offensive line assistant coach), Pat Flaherty (offensive line coach), and Chris Petit (scout) to the workout. Considering two of the three representatives are offinsive line coaches, and QB Eli Manning was the Superbowl MVP, it's safe to assume that the Giants were there to see Cherilus.

Cherilus is a 6' 7", 314 pund tackle that has never missed time with injury throughout his college career. He started his entire junior year at right tackle before moving to starting left tackle for his senior year. He believes that he can successfully play either tackle position for the team that drafts him. Cherilus is projected to play right tackle in the NFL by many scouts, but he would most likely compete for the starting job at left tackle if the Giants do, in fact, draft him.

As it stands David Diehl, who is a natural guard, is the starting left tackle. However, I'm sure Tom Coughlin would like to get Diehl back inside at left guard if he could find a suitable replacement in the draft. But even if Cherilus is not ready to start right off the bat, he would be a welcome addition to add depth at tackle for us.

Tom Coughlin, former head coach of the Boston College Eagles, has a reputation for drafting BC alum early. In the past few years, he has drafted OG Chris Snee and DE/LB Mathias Kiwanuka. Snee happens to also be Coughlin's son-in-law.

Overall, if most of the talent at the Giants' positions of need (safety, linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver) is off the board by the time pick 31 comes around, I would love to have Cherilus pushing for playing time on the line.

NOTE: Another BC player that I hope the Giants took a look at today is safety, Jamie Silva. He has amazing instincts, works hard, and is a major ball-hawk. However, I don't have any indication that the Giants have shown much interest in him so far.

Let the Linebacker Battle Begin

By now, most Giants fans should know that both Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor have left NY to sign free agent contracts elsewhere. Mitchell was the starter linebacker on the weakside while Torbor was a backup but ended up starting 5 games on the strongside after Mathias Kiwanuka broke his leg. The Giants are also rumored to want to move Kiwanuka back to his natural position at defensive end meaning that it's possible the Giants could be down 3 linebackers.

To the outsider, it might look like the Giants are have gotten weak at linebacker. However, with the free agent addition of Danny Clark, who played for the Texans last year, and two good young linebackers in Gerris Wilkinson and Zak DeOssie, the Giants should have a fierce competition in camp this year. And of course there is a distinct possibility that the Giants draft yet another linebacker to add even more competition.

In a recent interview, Danny Clark boldly declared that he was going to come in and win the starting job at weakside linebacker. He explained that the weakside position in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme is very similar to the 3-4 strongside position he played last year in Houston. He also was very happy to get the chance to play for Coughlin again. Clark was drafted by Coughlin and the Jaguars in the 7th round of the 2000 draft. He was also extremely excited to be able to play in Spagnuolo's attacking-style defense. His good friend and former Eagles linebacker Shawn Barber told him that playing weakside in Spags' defense is going to send him to the pro bowl this year.

Unfortunately for Clark, there is a pretty big obstacle in his way. Gerris Wilkinson the Giants 3rd round pick in 2006, has been waiting to win that starting job for the past 2 years. Wilkinson is probably the fastest linebacker currently on the roster and would provide a much-needed boost to the pass coverage ability of the linebacking corps. In the few days between Kawika Mitchell signing with Buffalo and the Giants signing Danny Clark, many football "experts" practically handed Wilkinson the starting job so it should be a great battle to watch as we get closer to next season.

On the other side (strongside), we have Kiwanuka who may or may not be back at linebacker and last year's 4th round draft pick Zak DeOssie. I love what DeOssie brings to the table and would love it if he get convince Spags to let him start on the strongside. DeOssie has almost as big of a frame as Kiwanuka at 6' 5" and around 255 pounds (Kiwanuka is 6' 5" 265 pounds but a natural DE) but he's much faster. DeOssie is one of those blue-collar hard workers who has a motor that doesn't stop. He likens himself to Patriots' linebacker Mike Vrabel. Whether it's this year or next, I really think DeOssie is going to be a great starting linebacker for the Giants.

In the middle, there is no competitions really. It's pretty firm that Antonio Pierce will start with Chase Blackburn as his backup. Pierce is known for being the quarterback of the defense, often getting everyone lined up properly before the snap. He is a former pro bowler and a captain on defense.

So even though it may seem the Giants have lost some talent at linebacker, I think they have at least as much and probably more talent waiting to shine. It's all a matter of who stands out in camp and who Coach Spagnuolo feels is best at attacking opposing offenses.

New York Giants Mock Draft 2

Here is my 2nd attempt at predicitng the 1st round of the 2008 NFL Draft. If you want to compare it to my first attempt you can see that one here. I also added a countdown to the Draft in the right sidebar. Enjoy...

1. Miami Dolphins - DE/LB Vernon Gholston
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons – QB Matt Ryan
4. Oakland Raiders - DT Glenn Dorsey
5. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Chris Williams
6. New York Jets - DE Chris Long
**Predicted Trade**
7. Dallas Cowboys (from NE via 49ers) - RB Darren McFadden
8. Baltimore Ravens - CB Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sederick Ellis
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
11. Buffalo Bills - WR Malcolm Kelly
12. Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady
13. Carolina Panthers - RB Rashard Mendenhall
14. Chicago Bears - OT Jeff Otah
15. Detroit Lions - CB Aqib Talib
16. Arizona Cardinals - RB Jonathan Stewart
17. Minnesota Vikings – WR Limas Sweed
18. Houston Texans - CB Mike Jenkins
19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Devin Thomas
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Mario Manningham
21. Washington Redskins - DT Kentwan Balmer
**Predicted Trade**
22. New York Giants (from NE via Cowboys via Browns) – LB Keith Rivers
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG Branden Albert
24. Tennessee Titans - WR DeSean Jackson
25. Seattle Seahawks - TE Fred Davis
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Calais Campbell
27. San Diego Chargers - S Kenny Phillips
28. New England Patriots (from Cowboys) – LB Dan Connor
29. San Francisco 49ers (from Ind.) - DE/LB Quentin Groves
30. Green Bay Packers - RB Felix Jones
31. New England Patriots (forfeited) - NO PICK
32. New England Patriots - CB Brandon Flowers

I Heart Plaxico Burress

In case you didn't know about my love affair with Plax, I have a man crush on him. Not really but I love WRs and I love his style and ability. Anyway, the NFC championship game was one of my favorite games of all time. Obviously, the Superbowl stole the thunder from this game, but I will never forget Plax's amazing performance against arguably the best press corner in the league while hobbling back to the huddle on god knows how many leg injuries...




In real news, the Giants re-signed RB Derrick Ward today. He signed a 1 year deal worth $1.1 million. This is great news for the Giants. Ward is a borderline starter and would be great on any team that utilizes a runningback-by-comittee system. Having him back as our 3rd string RB is just insane depth.

Giants Add LB Danny Clark

The New York Giants have officially signed LB Danny Clark to a 2 year $4 million deal. I reported last night that he was close to signing but left without a contract. That report was correct. At the last minute, the Oakland Raiders made an offer to Clark and he had not made a decision by the time his meeting with the Giants ended. Late last night, however, he decided on the Giants and has officially signed.

This is another pretty solid signing by Jerry Reese and Kevin Abrams. Clark plays the SAM position which was played last year by Mathias Kiwanuka. I'm hoping that Kiwi moves back to his natural DE position and leaves Danny Clark and 2nd year LB Zak DeOssie to battle it out at the SAM position. So, at the very least Clark will be one of the better backup lineman in the division if not the league. I mean, Clark is a close to, if not actually, better than all of Philly's LBs.

David Carr Newest NYG

QB David Carr has signed with the NY Giants. He signed a 1 year deal worth $1 million with incentives. The Giants front office has made it clear to him that he is not competing for a starting job and he accepts that. I think he is just happy to be on a team with a good offensive line. The guy has had absolutely no protection at any point in his pro career. And while poor blocking hasn't been the sole problem in his game, he is a much better option than Anthony Wright. I'd also like to mention that the Giants have arguably the best QB coach in the league in Chris Palmer. Palmer also happened to have been the offensive coordinator when Carr played in Houston.

If Carr happens to get some playing time during the season and wins a game or two behind the Giants O-line, he could instantly revive his career. Take all the factors of Carr's ability, Giants line, Giants coaching, NY media spotlight and this seems like a great signing for both sides.

Ideally, in my eyes, Carr won't get any playing time (because Eli is not going to get hurt) and Carr doesn't draw any attention in free agency next year. That would hopefully persuade him to stay in New York and play out his career as Eli's backup and best friend forever.

NOTE: LB Danny Clark has also visited with the Giants today and is reportedly extremely close to signing. Well, actually, he was reported to have signed and only minutes later more reports surfaced that another team put in a last minute bid. It's still likely that he signs with the Giants and it could happen any minute so stay tuned for more...

UPDATE: The New York Post is reporting that LB Danny Clark has signed with the Giants. However, every other source is reporting that he left without a contract and no official word has been given by the Giants. Since the Giants Organization put out an official report within an hour of signing QB David Carr, I would expect one for Danny Clark if Danny Clark signs as well.

My First Attempt at a 1st Round Mock

1. Miami Dolphins - DE Chris Long
2. St. Louis Rams - DT Glenn Dorsey
3. Atlanta Falcons - OT Jake Long
4. Oakland Raiders - DT Sederick Ellis
5. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Chris Williams
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots (from 49ers) - DE/LB Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - CB Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati Bengals - DE Phillip Merling
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - WR Malcolm Kelly
12. Denver Broncos - OT Ryan Clady
13. Carolina Panthers - RB Rashard Mendenhall
14. Chicago Bears - OT Jeff Otah
15. Detroit Lions - CB Aqib Talib
16. Arizona Cardinals - RB Jonathan Stewart
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Derrick Harvey
18. Houston Texans - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Devin Thomas
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Brian Brohm
21. Washington Redskins - DT Kentwan Balmer
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Browns) - RB Felix Jones
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG Branden Albert
24. Tennessee Titans - WR DeSean Jackson
25. Seattle Seahawks - TE Fred Davis
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Calais Campbell
27. San Diego Chargers - S Kenny Phillips
28. Dallas Cowboys - WR Mario Manningham
29. San Francisco 49ers (from Ind.) - DE/LB Quentin Groves
30. Green Bay Packers - S/CB Reggie Smith
31. New England Patriots (forfeited) - NO PICK
32. New York Giants - LB Keith Rivers

UPDATE: QB David Carr has been contacted by the Giants to play as a backup to Eli Manning. Although not a huge upgrade, he is better than Wright and Lorenzen in my opinion. Carr was coached by current NYG QB coach, Chris Palmer while he was in Houston. If he can be had for the right price, I'm all for it.

Brian Kelly Leaves Without Signing

The Giants met with former Tampa Bay cornerback, Brian Kelly, today. However, Kelly has reportedly left without a contract. It is possible that the Giants offer him a contract later on, but it's unlikely.

That's fine with me. No disrespect to Mr. Kelly. From all I hear he's a great guy, but he's played in a Cover 2 scheme for his ENTIRE pro career. I'm all for adding in the vets for experience and the not-so-flashy roleplayers, but to me, Kelly just doesn't fit our scheme. He was never known for being fast even in the Cover 2, so I'm glad I don't have to watch him try to cover Patrick Crayton or Antwan Randle-El twice a year. On top of that, we already have Sam Madison to fill the player-coach role for the younger CBs.

I wish Brian the best of luck finding a job. Just not on the Giants...

Kevros's Depth Chart Prediction V1.0

So here is my first stab at predicting what the 2008 depth chart will look like in Week 1. I probably don't have the full 53 man roster listed yet, but it's still early. There's plenty of changes to be made in the next six months. Changes from the previous version will be shown in italics. As I update the chart, I will change the version numbers for each one. The numbers in the tenths place will increase at each update. The whole numbers will increase as follows:

1 - Between now and April 1st.
2 - Between April 1st and the draft (after April 1st I will predict exactly which rookies will make the team.)
3 - Between the draft and June 1st cuts
4 - Between June 1st and 1st Pre-season game
5 - During Pre-season

For example, if I update again before April 1st (which I'm sure I will if we sign another free agent) the next version will be titled V1.1. And similarly, my first update after the draft will be V3.0.

So, on to the predictions...



QB1 – Eli Manning – Superbowl MVP, enough said…

QB2 – Anthony Wright – The Giants tried to upgrade and they are still talking to Trent Green, but I think Wright is still our best option for the money right now.

QB3 – Jared Lorenzen - The Round Mound of Touchdown!


RB1 – Brandon Jacobs – The Beast has a career 4.6 ypc average with 1009 yards last season in 11 games. Not too shabby.

RB2 – Ahmad Bradshaw – The Lightening to Jacobs’ Thunder, Bradshaw had an impressive rookie season after being 2 picks away from Mr. Irrelevant.

RB3 – Rueben Droughns – Good lockerroom presence that can help coach up the 2 young guys. Stills runs with intensity despite a low ypc average.


FB – Madison Hedgecock – An awesome pickup midseason by Jerry Reese got a contract extension through the 2013 season. Great run blocker and decent hands for a true FB.


WR1 – Plaxico Burress – Is there any doubt he is our number 1?

WR2 – Amani Toomer – I think he has one more year before he slides down the depth chart. I don’t think he will retire for another 2 years.

WR3 – Steve Smith – After missing time with injuries, he came on strong in the playoffs. I like him in the slot.

WR4 – Sinorice Moss – I still have hope for Moss, but he needs to show up this year or he’s gone.

WR5 – Dominik Hixon – Has potential to contribute on offense. Good gunner and decent kick returner.

WR6 – David Tyree – Special Teams Ace and had “The Catch” in the Superbowl.


TE1 – Jeremy Shockey – Hopefully he matures and works on his routes. He’s sill a top 5 TE in this league. His blocking is extremely underrated.

TE2 – Kevin Boss – Good rookie season with great hands. Needs to work on his blocking.

TE3 – Michael Matthews – Undrafted rookie free agent last year is a huge TE and good blocker. He filled in at FB before Hedgecock was signed and Daryl “Moose” Johnston described him as the best H-back in the league.


LT1 – David Diehl – I think he is a better guard, but is by far our best option at LT right now.

LT2 – Guy Whimper – Whimper is highly thought of by Giants coaches and he played great against Tampa Bay in the wildcard game. I haven’t seen enough of him to make me think he can move Diehl back to guard.


LG1 – Rich Seubert – He has one more year as our starter. I can see the Giants taking a tackle or guard early in the draft to take over for Seubert next year. If a tackle, it would allow Diehl to move to the LG spot next year.

LG2 - Kevin Boothe - Boothe is you average backup offensive lineman. Nothing exceptionally good or bad about him.


C1 – Shaun O’Hara – Just got an extension last off-season, he’s the captain of the O-line and a solid center.

C2 - Grey Ruegamer - He is one of the best backup interior lineman in the NFL. He would probably come in to play either of the guard positions before either Boothe or Koets as well as being the backup center.


RG1 – Chris Snee – Has just missed the pro bowl in every season since being drafted. Will probably get there very shortly.

RG2 - Adam Koets - He can play either tackle or guard, but he's not great at either.


RT1 – Kareem Mckenzie – I love this guy. He goes out and does his job. Top 5 RT in the NFL.

RT2 - ROOKIE - Could be anyone in any round.


DEFENSIVE LINE NOTE– These guys shift around and rotate so much it’s hard to predict who will play where. The obvious starters are listed below, but Justin Tuck will see a lot of time at all D-line positions. Kiwanuka will probably play both DE positions and maybe some linebacker. Dave Toellefsen will be a back DE and Jay Alford is a great pass rushing DT to rotate in.

RDE1 – Osi Umenyiora – Only NYG to make the pro bowl last year. Will be dominant for years.

RDE2 – Mathias Kiwanuka – A great pass rusher with great quickness and agility. I hope to see him back at DE this year.


LDE1 – Michael Strahan – I think Giants will pay him more to come back. But this position will get a heavy dose of Justin Tuck and Matthias Kiwanuka as well to keep the old-timer fresh.

LDE2 – Justin Tuck – Considered by some as the defensive MVP of the defense last year. This guy is the perfect replacement for Strahan when he finally retires.

LDE3 – Dave Toellefsen – Primarily a special teamer but he is a solid backup at DE.


DT1 – Fred Robbins – This guy might be the most underrated NYG. He’s no probowler, but he works hard and gets no respect.

DT2 – Barry Cofield – Solid run stuffer and good at eating up blocks. He has no pass rush though and this spot should see a lot of Justin Tuck and Jay Alford on passing downs.

DT3 – Jay Alford – Lacks the size and strength of a good run stuffer, but his pass rush is pretty good for such a young DT.

DT4 – Manny Wright – Another good run stuffer. Has weight issues but has vowed to correct them. I’d like to see him follow through with that because he was considered a 1st round talent after his junior year in college.


WILL1 – Gerris Wilkinson – He was a 3rd round pick in 2006 and this is his chance to prove he can start in this league. Kawika Mitchell went to Buffalo and left him as his heir to the WLB spot.

WILL2 – ROOKIE – Could be any number of players. I like Erin Henderson and Xavier Adibi.


MIKE1 – Antonio Pierce – Has lost some speed but is the smartest player on our defense. He lines everyone up where they need to be and as a result makes them all better players. He is automatic to start in the middle.

MIKE2 – Chase Blackburn – Blue collar guy. He works hard, tackles well and plays through the whistle. He lacks the speed to be an NFL starter.


SAM1 – Zak DeOssie – This is a bold prediction, but I think this guy can step up for us. He would allow Kiwi to move back to DE. He will be a monster against the run and has had a year to learn how to cover at an NFL level. I think he steps up and does an admirable job for us this year.

SAM2 – Tank Daniels – A special teams ace that will fill the role that Reggie Torbor left behind. Much more valuable as a special teamer than on defense, this could be another rookie or free agent.


CB1 – Aaron Ross – Played great as a rookie and showed grit by playing in the playoffs with a dislocated shoulder. He’s a great physical man CB.

CB2 – Corey Webster – He really turned up the heat at the end of last season. It remains to be seen if he can keep that up and win back his starting spot. He played much better in man than the zone coverages he was asked to do in the past.

CB3 – Kevin Dockery – Lack size but one of the quickest players on the field Dockery can stay on just about anyone’s hip. He needs to improve locating the ball as well as catching the ball. His ability to change direction makes him ideally suited as a nickel where he has to cover a lot more options.

CB4 – Sam Madison – Madison might start some games against the bigger slower WRs. He could also be asked to cover some of the better TEs we play. He’s lost a step but he won’t back down from anyone.

CB5 – ROOKIE – Could be any number of guys. Reese has said you can never have enough CBs so this could be an early draft pick. I like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tracy Porter, Antoine Cason, and Brandon Flowers. The CB class is fairly deep this year.


S1 – Sammy Knight – Just signed to the Giants, Knight is a force against the run. He leaves a little to be desired in the pass game but he brings good veteran leadership to the secondary.

S2 – Michael Johnson – Johnson had a good rookie season as a backup and if he improves his ball skills he could win the 2nd safety spot. He’s much quicker than Knight and Butler.

S3 – James Butler – Butler was the starting safety last year, but he didn’t impress many people. Spags thinks he is one of the smartest safeties in the league but so far that hasn’t translated into much on the field.

S4 – ROOKIE – I like Reggie Smith, DaJuan Morgan, Jamie Silva, and Thomas Decoud. There are a few CBs that could be converted to safety as well like Aqib Talib.


K – Lawrence Tynes - Started last year a bit shaky but finished strong and will most likely be our kicker for the next 4-5 years.


P – Jeff Feagles – One of the best directional punters in the game returns for another season.


KR1 - Dominik Hixon - Above average KR last year.

KR2 - Ahmad Bradshaw - A better returner than Hixon but the coaches won't want him returning kicks with such a prominent role in the running game.


PR - Sinorice Moss - I think Moss could win this job if RW McQuarters is cut. Not many people like Sinorice but I am one of the few that does.

Sammy Knight, Newest NYG

The Giants have signed S Sammy Knight to a 3 year, $5 million contract. Not bad considering his stats from last season were slightly better than Gibril Wilson's. However, Sammy is a much bigger liability in coverage.

If I had to guess, Knight will be one of the starting safeties with James Butler, Michael Johnson and a rookie battling for the remaining safety spot. Unless the rookie is a first round pick like Reggie Smith or Kenny Phillips (I don't like Phillips for the record), I can see Michael Johnson winning the job. He is by far the most athletic safety on the team right now.

But nothing would surprise me. Reese could sign another free agent safety, like Eugene Wilson, to start at the other spot. He could also decide to move Aaron Ross or Corey Webster to safety. I don't like the idea of moving one of our CBs to the safety position but there have been rumors that it will happen, so there it is.

Other News: The Giants remain interesting in Trent Green as a backup QB, but have not scheduled a meeting yet. The Giants also remain interested in LB Clark Haggans and LB Victor Hobson. Both of these guys would most likely play the SAM position which leads me to believe Reese does not want to keep Kiwanuka there. I'm hoping to see him back at DE myself.

Sammy Knight to Visit NYG

The title pretty much sums it up. Eight-year veteran safety, Sammy Knight has scheduled a visit with the New York Giants in the next few days. After seeing 4 or 5 Jaguars games this past year, I can honestly say the only value Knight would bring to the Giants is veteran advice to the young guys and to be a decent backup. Knight was horrible in coverage all year long. He's still a big hitter and solid against the run, but aren't 90% of the safeties in the NFL? I like my two choices in my wishlist article (McCree and Wilson) much better. I hope he leaves New York without a contract just like he did yesterday in Denver.

UPDATE: Eugene Wilson is scheduled to meet with the Bucs today and the Steelers and Titans after that. Meanwhile, Sammy Knight is in the NY area and will meet with the Giants later tonight. It's looking like Sammy Knight will be the Giants' first free agent signing and Eugene Wilson now seems like a long-shot. Still no talk from any teams about Marlon McCree. Stay tuned for more...

My Free Agent Wishlist

My Wishlist isn't very long really. The Giants don't have many pressing needs at the moment. And most areas that aren't outstanding are manned by young guys with plenty of room to improve between now and September. Reese seems to be following the same trend that he did last year and it worked out well. He inquires about just about everyone on the market to explore all his options and then makes small signings to supplement his draft picks.

Anyway, on to the list...

Wide Reciever: Amani Toomer seems like he will be back so this position isn't a desperate need. But there are a few guys out there that should be too expensive and could provide a boost to our WR core. Keep in mind I like Steve Smith in the slot. I think he could play as our #2 very well but his route running and ability to create space where there is none is awesome in the slot.

Bryant Johnson: He has been overshadowed by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin but he has the ability to emerge as our #2 WR for years to come. Not the greatest speed but still has to be respected deep.

D.J. Hackett: I think if we landed Hackett, Smith would move to the #2 spot when Toomer retires. Hackett can get open and has great hands. Again, not elite, but a cheap option to keep our WR core energized.

Jabar Gaffney: An underachieving 1st round pick in Houston to a great roleplayer in New England. Could play the same role in NY and could push to win the #2 when Toomer retires.

Outside Linebacker: The Giants lost starter Kawika Mitchell and backup Reggie Torbor to free agency. Matthias Kiwanuka was rumored to be switching back to his natural position of DE, but that might not happen now that Mitchell has left. Former 3rd round pick Gerris Wilkinson had a great game against New England in the final regualr season game and has shown some promise. So, potentially our starters at LB are already on the team. However there are a few guys that would look great in Blue for the right price.

Michael Boley: Emerged as a great LB last year with great blitzing ability. However, he's a restricted free agent with a 1st round tender. The chances of the Giants getting him this year are VERY slim. But his pass rush plus man coverage skills are PERFECT for our defense. Someone to look for next year if Reese doesn't want to give the 1st round pick.

Landon Johnson: This guy is a faster version of Kawika Mitchell in the sense that he is a tackling machine. He also does well in coverage which would help considering we have to play LJ Smith, Chris Cooley and Jason Witten each twice a year. He was my top free agent (because Boley is restricted) before we lost Gibril.

Safety: I discussed the safety position in the previous article, but I'll give you the quick and dirty. I don't like James Butler as anything more than a backup and I like Michael Johnson but he's extremely inexperienced. I'd like to add two safeties to the roster this year. One free agent and one in the draft.

Eugene Wilson: Wilson has had injury trouble and just a general dropoff in production since his first few seasons. However, if Reese can sign him to a reasonable contract that is either a 1 year trial or an incentive based contract, then he is my most coveted free agent. Wilson can play safety or corner which makes him a multi-purpose signing. It also means he has the ability to run with WRs which our safeties have lacked. If we can get Wilson to somehow play up to his original level, he would provide a phenomal boost to our weakest position.

Marlon McCree: McCree is past his prime but would be serviceable for another year or two. Plus he would add leadership to a young group of safeties and would most likely improve the play of Michael Johnson. I wouldn't sign McCree to anything longer than two years and wouldn't give him much more than the veteran minimum, which would be $730,000 for an 8 year vet.

Other Positions: Reese will no doubt sign some depth guys at various positions. He will most likely add some guy to rate in along the defensive line. He has already contacted N.D. Kalu. He will probably add another RB like Mewelde Moore. He has bid on several backup QBs but missed out and has been in contact with Trent Green. The only two QBs left on the market besides green are Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich. I, personally think Anthony Wright is a better option than any of those three. There could also be a minor offensive lineman, but none have been contacted thus far. And a trade for CB DeAngelo Hall still isn't out of the question, just very unlikely.

NOTE: Defensive tackle and former first round pick, William Joseph, had the final two years of his contract voided and is now an unrestricted free agent. He never showed much of anything and after being a waste of a 1st round pick, I'm glad to see him go.

Be sure to read my article on Gibril Wilson and the safety situation below!

Gibril Leaves, Safeties a Mess

Well, S Gibril Wilson has officially signed with the Oakland Raiders. The contract he agreed to is worth $39 million over 6 years with a $16 million signing bonus.
Al Davis seems to be on a rampage this year. First, trying to get head coach Lane Kiffin to quit his job, then signing above average DT Tommy Kelly to a contract that makes him the highest paid DT in NFL history, and now signing Gibril to this huge contract. Don't get me wrong, I love Gibril Wilson and I'm very sad to see him leave New York, but he isn't a top 5 safety as this contract suggests.

This loss leaves the Giants with a decent-sized hole at the safety position. The only safeties that are currently on the roster are last year's starting SS, James Butler, and last year's 7th round draft pick Michael Johnson.

Butler was undrafted in 2005 and one of the worst starting safeties in the league last year, but defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, loves his intelligence. He is a restricted free agent and was given a 2nd round tender which means he's virtually a lock to be on the roster for at least one more year. I, however don't want to see him on the field again until he significantly improves.

Michael Johnson showed a lot of promise in his rookie season playing in every game on special teams, rotating in as a situational player on defense, and even starting 3 games in place of Gibril Wilson. Johnson's most notable play of the year was a diving open-field tackle of Chicago backup RB Adrian Peterson that saved the Giants from giving up a potentially game winning touchdown to the Bears. I wouldn't mind Johnson winning the starting SS spot next year, however, he is still a risky player to have to count on to start in just his second year.

There are some safeties worth looking at in the draft. I will get into the draft later on but right now the safeties that I like are Reggie Smith, DaJuan Morgan, Jamie Silva, and Thomas Decoud in that order (I do NOT like Kenny Phillips from Miami and I wouldn't pick him with anything higher than a 4th rounder.) But who knows whether any of them are will be ready to start in their first year.

Another option would be to choose from one of the veteran, free agent safeties. The Giants have been in contact with a few including Erik Coleman from the Jets and Sammy Knight from the Jags. Coleman is average, but still young so there is some potential for improvement. Knight is aging and a huge liability in coverage for the Jags last year. I think I would prefer Eugene Wilson from New England or Marlon McCree from San Diego. McCree is old but not as slow as Knight and would provide a 1 to 2 year stop-gap to allow a rookie to develop. Eugene Wilson is risky because of injury concerns, but when healthy he has good coverage skills and can play safety or cornerback. Right now, Eugene is getting absolutely no interest from any team which is leading me to believe Reese will be able to sign him to a low money "prove yourself" type contract, similar to what he did with Kawika Mitchell.

No matter what happens, next year's Giants safety tandem will probably not be as good as it would have been with Gibril on the field.

NOTE: With Asante Samuel signing a huge contract with the Eagles, the chances of trading for DeAngelo Hall have dropped significantly. Hall will most likely want a similar contract and GM Jerry Reese will most likely not give it to him, especially after having to give up 1st and 5th round picks to get him here.

UPDATE: The Giants have shown interest in WR Javon Walker. My guess is just to see what he's asking. It's most likely too much for Reese to bite. Also, S Erik Coleman has signed with the Falcons, taking him out of the running to be the next NYG safety. The Giants are now reported to have interest in S Eugene Wilson and LB Clark Haggans.

I'll be back later with a free agent wishlist. That is, unless Al Davis decides to give me millions to go play in Oakland...

Free Agency: First Day Happenings

• LB Kawika Mitchell was signed by the Buffalo Bills to a 5 year contract worth about $17.5 million. Reports say the Giants were offering Mitchell approximately the same amount of money per year but were only willing to give him a 3 year deal.




• LB Reggie Torbor was signed by the Miami Dolphins. I'm not sure about the contract details.




• S Gibril Wilson is reportedly extremely close to a 6 year $30 million contract with the Oakland Raiders. Gibril is from the Bay area and excited to live closer to home.




• The Giants have been in contact with the agent of Chicago LB Lance Briggs and are considered a top 3 contender for his services as of this morning.




• The Giants were in the running for Redskins backup QB Todd Collins, but Collins was re-signed by the Skins.




• They were later in a simliar situation with Cleo Lemons, but Lemons ended up signing with Jacksonville.




• The Giants have inquire about or have been in contact with all the following free agents: DE N.D. Kalu, QB Trent Green, QB Billy Volek, RB Maurice Hicks, RB Mewelde Moore, S Eugene Wilson, S Erik Coleman, S Sammy Knight, CB Jason Webster, and probably a few others.




• S Madieu Williams is one free agent that I had high on my wishlist but he already been signed by the Vikings. He got a larger contract than I would have liked the Giants to give him though.




• A few free agents I hope the Giants will look into (but have yet to) are LB Landon Johnson, LB Kevin Bentley, LB Ian Gold, and S Marlon Mcree.

I will probably post a free agent wishlist in the next few days...

GIANTS CLOSE TO DEAL WITH HALL!!!

Per G101, the Giants are very close to completing a trade with the Atlanta Falcons for star cornerback DeAngelo Hall. The Giants were, earlier this morning, rumored to be interested in sending their 1st round pick (31st overall) to the Falcons in exchange for Hall.

More recent rumors say that several other teams (all obviously having higher 1st round picks than the Giants) are also interested in sending 1st rounders to the Falcons for Hall as well. But the Giants have thrown in an unknown late round pick and are said to be very close to completing the deal.

DeAngelo Hall was the Falcons 1st round pick (8th overall) in 2004. He went to the pro bowl in 2005 as well as winning the NFL's Fastest Man competition while there in Hawaii. He considers himself a complete cornerback, not just a shutdown corner or run-stopping corner.

I will provide more of my opinons about Hall if we do, in fact, get the deal done.

New Blog

I'm a HUGE Giants fan and recently decided to start a blog about the New York Football Giants. I'm working on the new layout so bear with this generic template layout for now. This blog will be a combination of Giants news and my own opinion. Please feel free to comment on my opinions as long as you don't insult anyone including me. Inappropriate comments will be deleted. Enjoy!