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Manti Te’o and Other Draft Prospects Visit Giants

April 13, 2013 – 9:14 am

Manti Te’o – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

Manti Te’o Visits Giants: According to press reports, LB Manti Te’o (Notre Dame) visited the Giants on Thursday and Friday in advance of the 2013 NFL Draft.

NFL teams allowed to invite up to 30 non-local players for pre-draft visits. Based on previous history, a pre-draft visit is not necessarily a good indication of the Giants’ overall interest in a player. For example, as The Bergen Record points out, the Giants did not invite HB David Wilson and CB Prince Amukamara in for visits.

The Star-Ledger correctly states there are a number of reasons the Giants might invite a player in for a pre-draft visit, including smokescreens to confuse other teams about the Giants’ actual intent during the draft. If the Giants are actually more seriously interested in the player, factors could include a medical exam and interviews to help determine the individual’s character. As is widely known, Te’o was involved in a very controversial and strange “catfishing” hoax in January involving the fake death of a girlfriend who did not exist.

“We’ll bring (Te’o) in, and we’ll let him explain that situation for us,” General Manager Jerry Reese said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. “But again, I think there’s people with a lot more issues than this issue.”

According to The Star-Ledger and The Daily News, other non-local players the Giants have invited in include:

  • OT Vinston Painter (Virginia Tech)
  • OG Chance Warmack (Alabama)
  • OC Patrick Omameh (Michigan)
  • DE Quanterus Smith (Western Kentucky)
  • DL A.J. Francis (Maryland)
  • DB Charles James (Charleston Southern)
  • S Alonzo Tweedy (Virginia Tech)
  • S Rontez Miles (California – PA)

The Star-Ledger also reported that the Giants held a local workout day on April 10 for players who are from, or played college football in, the Giants’ region. Players at that workout included:

  • QB Kyle Frazier (Monmouth)
  • RB Jawan Jamison (Rutgers)
  • RB Ray Graham (Pittsburgh – from Elizabeth)
  • RB Miguel Maysonet (Stonybrook)
  • WR Tim Wright (Rutgers)
  • WR Nick Williams (UConn – from East Windsor)
  • WR Ryan Spadola (Lehigh – from Howell)
  • WR K.J. Stroud (Bethune-Cookman – from Brooklyn)
  • TE D.C. Jefferson (Rutgers)
  • TE Chris Pantale (Boston College – from Wayne)
  • TE Matt Furstenburg (Maryland – from Flemington)
  • OG Zack Chibane (Syracuse – from Paramus)
  • DE Mike Catapano (Princeton)
  • DT Gilbert Pena (Ole Miss – from Yonkers)
  • LB Steve Beauharnais (Rutgers)
  • LB Khaseem Greene (Rutgers)
  • DB Duron Harmon (Rutgers)
  • DB Maurice Jones (Temple – from Belleville)
  • PK Patrick Murray (Fordham)

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BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Offensive Tackle; Yahoo Reporting That Cruz Likely to Sign Long-Term Deal With Giants

April 12, 2013 – 6:29 am

Oregon’s Kyle Long – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Offensive Tackle: BBI contributor and draft expert Sy’56 is writing a pre-draft positional preview for the website. His latest article is on his favorite offensive tackle prospects and is available in The Draft section.

Yahoo Reporting That Cruz Likely to Sign Long-Term Deal With Giants: Yahoo! Sports is reporting that restricted free agent WR Victor Cruz’s new business relationship with entertainment mogul Jay-Z will likely keep Cruz with the Giants. Two sources told Yahoo that Cruz plans to sign a long-term deal and take advantages of business and marketing opportunities in the New York area off of the football field.

“(Cruz) told his agents not to sign him with another team because he wants to work with Jay-Z,” an unidentified source told Yahoo. “There might have been a couple of teams interested, but he didn’t want to go anywhere.”

Yahoo says a second unidentified source said Cruz has no desire to leave the Giants and has made no attempt to get an offer from another team.

The New York Post is reporting that the Giants have offered Cruz a 4- or 5-year deal, worth $29-36 million that includes $12-15 million in guaranteed money. In other words, if true, the Giants’ offer is slightly over $7 million per season. For more from The Post, see Cruz Not Gonna Get Wi$h by Paul Schwartz. The Daily News reports that Cruz wants a deal around $10 million per season and to date has rejected the $7 million per season offer.

Meanwhile, ESPN is reporting that Cruz will not report to the Giants’ “voluntary” offseason program that begins on April 15. Cruz has been working out with QB Eli Manning and fellow wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Louis Murphy in North Carolina.

The deadline for other teams to attempt to sign a restricted free agent to an offer sheet is April 19.

DE Justin Tuck on ESPN Radio: The audio of yesterday’s ESPN Radio interview with DE Justin Tuck is available at ESPN.com.

Article on DE Justin Tuck: Justin Tuck Hopes Victor Cruz Attends Offseason Program in ‘Good Faith’ by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger

Quotes: DE Justin Tuck on losing DE Osi Umenyiora: ”You can never replace a guy like Osi. Everyone knows what he does on the field. A lot of people don’t understand how much of a help he is in the locker room and as a motivator. You see the things he’s able to do on the football field. We always have worked together to try and polish our game. Losing him is going to be a huge burden…He’s an All-Pro player. You don’t just go out to the market and pick out those. Plus, he’s been here all of his career, all of my career. You get accustomed to knowing things that don’t show up on tape, that don’t show up in the play call. There’s a certain chemistry you have with guys knowing the situation in games what they’re thinking. They know what you’re thinking. That takes time. You have to build that back with whoever it is who’s going to be in their place next year.”

Tuck on his offseason conversation with General Manager Jerry Reese about Tuck returning to his previous form: “It wasn’t like he had to tell me that. That’s where I was hoping we went. I came out of the meeting refreshed and feeling good about where we are and the rapport we have with Mr. Reese. Just play the game the way you know you can. That’s why I’m trying my best to get back to.”

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Manning Working Out With Nicks, Cruz, and Murphy

April 11, 2013 – 6:29 am

Eli Manning – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

Manning Working Out With Nicks, Cruz, and Murphy: QB Eli Manning is working out and throwing passes to three of his teammates at Duke University this week in advance of the Giants’ offseason program that begins on April 15. Also working with Eli is his brother Peyton and three receivers from the Broncos. Eli and Peyton are receiving pointers from their old college coach David Cutliffe, who sometimes works with both on fundamentals.

The three Giants’ receivers at the informal passing camp are Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Louis Murphy. Cruz is still a restricted free agent and Murphy was signed by the Giants this offseason from the Carolina Panthers.

“(I’m) here with Coach Cutcliffe (to) have him work with my mechanics, get everything sharp and get everything prepared,” said Eli Manning. “So when we start our workouts next week, I am going there ready to go and improving and ready to get better. It has been good work having Louis Murphy, a new guy, having Hakeem Nicks, having these guys here to get some work and get us prepared for this coming season.”

WR Julian Edelman Re-Signs With Patriots: Unrestricted free agent WR Julian Edelman, who visited the Giants last week, has re-signed with the New England Patriots.

Shop at the New York Giants Official Store Through BBI: New jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, polos, jackets, accessories and a lot more are available at the Giants’ official team store.

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BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Tight End; Giants Draft Discussion on BlogTalkRadio Archived

April 10, 2013 – 6:22 am

Michigan State’s Dion Sims – USA Today Sports Images

BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Tight End: BBI contributor and draft expert Sy’56 is writing a pre-draft positional preview for the website. His fourth article is on his favorite tight end prospects and is available in The Draft section.

Giants Draft Discussion on BlogTalkRadio Archived: Last night’s in-depth Giants’ draft discussion with Eric from BBI, John McDevitt of the Chat Pack, and Colin Lindsay from the Great Blue North Draft Report is archived at BlogTalkRadio.com. The Giants’ talk begins around the 38-minute mark.

Article (Updated) on the Giants and the Upcoming NFL Draft: Giants Scheduling NFL Prospects for Pre-Draft Visits by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger

Article on Giants President/CEO John Mara: Giants President John Mara on Rule Changes by Michael Eisen of Giants.com

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BBI on BlogTalkRadio Tonight; Giants Re-Sign OC Jim Cordle

April 9, 2013 – 7:11 am

Jim Cordle – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

BBI on BlogTalkRadio Tonight: Eric from BBI will join John McDevitt and his guest Colin from the Great Blue North Draft Report to discuss the Giants and the upcoming NFL Draft tonight. The show begins at 9:00PM and will be streamed over the internet at BlogTalkRadio.com. Eric will join the show around 9:35PM.

Giants Re-Sign OC Jim Cordle: According to ESPN, the Giants have re-signed exclusive rights free agent OC Jim Cordle. Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions, Free Agent Signings (with scouting report), and Free Agent Scorecard sections of the website.

Giants Might Bring Back Brandon Jacobs: According to The New York Post, the Giants have not ruled out bringing back HB Brandon Jacobs. The Giants terminated Jacobs’ contract in March 2012. He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers but only played in two games with five carries. The 49ers cut him in December 2012.

“He’d love to return to New York, obviously,’’ an unidentified source told The Post. The paper says there have been no formal discussions between the Giants and Jacobs.

HB Andre Brown Changes Agents: According to the Sports Business Journal, restricted free agent HB Andre Brown has changed his agent. Brown was tendered at the $2.023 million (2nd round) level. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign with other teams is April 19.

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BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Wide Receiver

April 6, 2013 – 9:35 am

Oklahoma WR Kenny Stills – USA Today Sports Images

BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Wide Receiver: BBI contributor and draft expert Sy’56 is writing a pre-draft positional preview for the website. His third article is on his favorite wide receiver prospects and is available in The Draft section.

CB Aaron Ross on The NFL Network: The video of yesterday’s NFL Network interview with CB Aaron Ross is available at Giants.com.

Quotes: CB Aaron Ross on CB Corey Webster: “I am sure everybody is going in (this season) with a chip on their shoulder. He wants to perform at a high level at all times. I know Corey personally and we are very close and he wants to be the best corner in the NFL.”

New York Giants Draft Hats Now Available: The New York Giants draft hats for the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft are now available. BBI is an affiliate of the Giants’ official team store.

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BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Running Back; Preseason Schedule Announced

April 5, 2013 – 6:21 am

Wisconsin’s Montee Ball – USA Today Sports Images

BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Running Back: BBI contributor and draft expert Sy’56 is writing a pre-draft positional preview for the website. His second article is on his favorite running back prospects and is available in The Draft section of the website.

Preseason Schedule Announced: Many of the details of the Giants’ 2013 preseason schedule were announced yesterday. For the specifics, see the 2013 Schedule section of the website.

Giants $4 Million Under the Cap: According to the NFL Players Association, as of yesterday, the Giants were $4,076,958 under the 2013 salary cap. That figure may not include DT Mike Patterson’s contract.

P Steve Weatherford on ESPN Radio: The audio of yesterday’s ESPN Radio interview with P Steve Weatherford is available at ESPN.com.

Articles on Head Coach Tom Coughlin:

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Giants Sign DT Mike Patterson; Domenik Hixon Signs with the Panthers; Julian Edelman and Antoine Caldwell Visit

April 4, 2013 – 6:17 am

Mike Patterson – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

Giants Sign DT Mike Patterson: DT Mike Patterson, who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles in February, officially signed with the Giants yesterday. The deal is reportedly a 1-year contract.

“I’m happy to be a part of the Giants,” Patterson said. “They have a lot of good players. It’s going to be good. I’m happy the Giants signed me and believe in my talents and allowed me to be there this year. I’m looking forward to this opportunity.”

The Giants have now signed both defensive tackles the Philadelphia Eagles released in February, Patterson and Cullen Jenkins. “It’s good to be (reunited with Jenkins),” said Patterson. “He’s a good player and I enjoy his company. It’s going to be great. They also have other players I played with (at USC) (Terrell Thomas and Keith Rivers), so I’m happy to see those guys.”

Patterson underwent brain surgery in January 2012. He only played in five games last season before being placed on the reserve/non-football illness list with pneumonia in December 2012.

“Everything is good,” said Patterson. “I had a physical and a workout (with the Giants) and everything was good.”

“I thought I was going to still be (with the Eagles), but you never know how things are going to turn out,” said Patterson. “I’m just happy I was able to land on my feet with the Giants. Even though I didn’t play that much last year, it wasn’t due to football injuries. It just came down to me getting sick and me recovering from my surgery. It was nothing to do with on-the-field stuff, so I know I’m perfectly healthy when it comes to playing football.”

Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions, Free Agent Signings (with scouting report), Free Agent Scorecard, Roster, and Depth Chart sections of the website.

Domenik Hixon Signs with the Panthers: Unrestricted free agent WR Domenik Hixon has signed a 1-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Hixon had been with the Giants since 2007. During his Giants’ career, Hixon caught 102 regular-season passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns. He was also a productive kickoff and punt returner for the Giants with touchdowns on each type of return. Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions, Free Agent Losses (with scouting report), Free Agent Scorecard, Roster, and Depth Chart sections of the website.

WR Julian Edelman Visiting the Giants: According to ESPNNewYork.com, unrestricted free agent WR Julian Edelman (New England Patriots) met with the Giants yesterday and will continue to meet with the team today. Edelman was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Patriots. Edelman caught 21 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns last season. He also has experience returning punts and kickoffs, including three punt returns for touchdowns with the Patriots.

OG/OC Antoine Caldwell Visiting the Giants: According to The Daily News, unrestricted free agent OG/OC Antoine Caldwell (Houston Texans) will meet with the Giants today. Caldwell was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Texans. Caldwell has started 19 games in the NFL, including six last season.

WR Anthony Armstrong Visits But Re-Signs With Cowboys: WR Anthony Armstrong visited the Giants on Tuesday, but he re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. The Cowboys cut Armstrong last month.

QB Pat White Signs With the Redskins: As expected, QB Pat White (ex-Miami Dolphins) was signed by the Washington Redskins yesterday. White had been scheduled to visit with the Giants this week but cancelled that visit in order to meet with the Redskins first.

Articles on the Giants and the 2013 NFL Draft:

Article on WR Victor Cruz: Cruz Will Also Work with Jay-Z by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on P Steve Weatherford: Giants’ Steve Weatherford Expects ‘Very Fair’ Jerry Reese to Work Out Deal with Victor Cruz by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger

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BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Quarterback; WR Anthony Armstrong and LB Jameson Konz Visit Giants Today

April 3, 2013 – 6:32 am

Anthony Armstrong Celebrates Against Giants – USA Today

BBI 2013 Draft Preview – Quarterback: BBI contributor and draft expert Sy’56 is writing a pre-draft positional preview for the website. His first article is on the quarterback prospects and it is available in The Draft section of the website.

WR Anthony Armstrong and LB Jameson Konz Visit Giants Today: According to The Daily News, WR Anthony Armstrong will visit the Giants today. Armstrong spent time with the Redskins, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Cowboys last season, but each team cut him. His best season was in 2010 when he caught 44 passes for 871 yards and three touchdowns with the Redskins.

ESPNNewYork.com is reporting that LB Jameson Konz will also visit the Giants today. Konz was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 7th round of the 2012 NFL Draft as a tight end/H-Back, but later converted to the defensive side of the football. He tore an ACL in one of his knees against the Giants in 2011. The Seahawks waived him September 2012.

QB Pat White Cancels Visit With Giants: QB Pat White (ex-Miami Dolphins), who was scheduled to meet with the Giants yesterday, canceled that visit. CBSSports.com is reporting that White is visiting the Washington Redskins today and will likely sign there.

WR Domenik Hixon Leaves Carolina Without a Deal: According to The Charlotte Observer, unrestricted free agent WR Domenik Hixon did visit with the Carolina Panthers but left Carolina yesterday without a deal. However, the paper indicated that both sides may still be talking about a contract. Hixon has also already visited the Lions and Raiders and has draw some interest from the Browns.

Rookie Mini-Camp Dates Set: WFAN is reporting that the Giants will hold their rookie mini-camp after the draft on May 10-11. For a list of key upcoming dates, see the Important Dates section of the website.

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Giants to Meet with DT Mike Patterson Today and DE/LB Eric Norwood Tomorrow

April 2, 2013 – 6:34 am

Eric Norwood – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

Giants to Meet with DT Mike Patterson, QB Pat White, and HB Tim Hightower Today: According to The Daily News, the Giants will meet with DT Mike Patterson (ex-Philadelphia Eagles), QB Pat White (ex-Miami Dolphins), and HB Tim Hightower (ex-Washington Redskins) today.

The Giants’ interest in White and Hightower was previously reported. Patterson, who was drafted in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Eagles, was released by Philadelphia earlier this offseason. Patterson had brain surgery (arteriovenous malformation) in January 2012 but did play in five games last season before ending the year on Injured Reserve with pneumonia.

Giants to Meet with DE/LB Eric Norwood on Wednesday: ESPN is reporting that the Giants will meet with DE/LB Eric Norwood (ex-Carolina Panthers) on Wednesday. Norwood, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Panthers, was cut by Carolina in August 2012. He did not play in the NFL last season but did play in the Arena League.

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