Mar 192020
 
Cam Fleming, Dallas Cowboys (November 22, 2018)

Cam Fleming (75) – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

GIANTS SIGN CAM FLEMING TO 1-YEAR DEAL…
Multiple media sources are reporting that the New York Giants have signed unrestricted free agent offensive tackle Cam Fleming (Dallas Cowboys) to a 1-year contract.

The 27-year old, 6’5”, 320-pound Fleming was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.  After four years in New England, he signed with the Cowboys. In six NFL seasons, Cameron has played in 75 regular-season games with 26 starts. He has experience at both tackle spots, where he has started 10 games at each position. Cameron has also played in 11 post-season games with two starts.

GIANTS SIGN NATE EBNER TO 1-YEAR DEAL…
Multiple sources are reporting that the New York Giants have signed unrestricted free agent safety and special teams ace Nate Ebner (New England Patriots) to a 1-year contract.

The 31-year old, 6’0”, 215-pound Ebner was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Patriots. In eight seasons in New England, Ebner has played in 111 regular-season games with no starts, accruing 95 tackles and one forced fumble, mostly on special teams.

GIANTS DO NOT PICK UP OPTION ON ANTOINE BETHEA…
The New York Giants have announced that they will not picked up the final year on safety Antoine Bethea’s 2-year contract, effectively making him an unrestricted free agent. Bethea was set to make $2.475 million in salary and count another $400,000 in bonus money (pro-rated signing bonus, roster bonus, and workout bonus) against the 2020 NFL salary cap.

Dec 012019
 

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

GREEN BAY PACKERS 31 – NEW YORK GIANTS 13…
As expected, the New York Giants lost their eighth game in a row on Sunday by losing to the Green Bay Packers 31-13 at a snowy MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With the defeat, the Giants fall to 2-10 on the season.

It was actually a close game for most of the contest with the Packers finally pulling away in the 4th quarter. Oddly, the Giants had more first downs (20 to 19), total net yards (335 to 322), net yards rushing (95 to 79), and time of possession (31:17 to 28:43). But the Giants lost the all-important turnover battle 3-0 and the defense kept allowing big plays on 3rd and 4th down.

The defensive issues showed up early as Green Bay scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the game. After running back Saquon Barkley was stuffed in the backfield for a 3-yard loss on 3rd-and-1, the Packers easily drove 72 yards in seven plays with quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing an 8-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Davante Adams. The drive also included a 43-yard pass completion.

New York responded on their second possession with an 11-play, 71 yard touchdown drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Daniel Jones to wide receiver Sterling Shepard on 3rd-and-3. The drive was kept alive with a 12-yard reception by tight end Kaden Smith on 3rd-and-2 and an 8-yard catch by wide receiver Darius Slayton on 4th-and-5.

However, the Packers quickly regained the lead with a 5-play, 66-yard effort that ended with an easy 37-yard touchdown pass on their second possession of the game. Packers 14 – Giants 7.

With the pressure on the offense to keep pace with the red-hot Packers’ offense, Daniel Jones threw his first interception of the day on the fifth play of the ensuing drive. Green Bay only needed 24 yards to set up a successful 47-yard field goal. Packers 17 – Giants 7.

The bulk of the rest of the 2nd quarter was eaten up by an 18-play, 66-yard drive by the Giants that took nine minutes and 31 seconds off of the clock. The Giants converted a 3rd-and-6, 4th-and-1, and 4th-and-2 on this possession. Unfortunately, the Giants were forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal rather than a touchdown. The Giants’ defense finally forced a punt on Green Bay’s fourth and last possession of the half and at the break, the score was Packers 17 – Giants 10.

After allowing one first down, the New York defense forced another punt to start the 3rd quarter. The Giants pulled closer with a 10-play, 52-yard effort on their first possession of the second half, resulting in a 45-yard field goal by place kicker Aldrick Rosas. The big play was a 43-yard pass from Jones to wide receiver Cody Latimer on 3rd-and-12. The drive sputtered after that long completion however. Packers 17 – Giants 13.

At this point, the game began to get out of hand for the Giants. Green Bay launched their third long touchdown drive of the game, traveling 75 yards in 14 plays. The possession was kept alive with an 11-yard pass interference penalty on 3rd-and-6 by cornerback Sam Beal, a 15-yard completion on 4th-and-10, and a 6-yard completion on 3rd-and-2. Rodgers fittingly finished the drive with his third touchdown pass of the day, a 17-yard completion on 3rd-and-goal despite the Giants having 12 men on the field. Packers 24 – Giants 13.

Matters got only worse when Jones threw his second interception on the ensuing drive. The Packers took over at the New York 38-yard line. After converting on 3rd-and-5 and 3rd-and-9, Rodgers threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day and the Packers were now up 31-13 with just over seven minutes to play.

Jones threw his third interception on the second play of the ensuing drive. The New York defense forced its third punt of the day. On New York’s final possession of the game, the Giants drove from their own 6-yard line to the Green Bay 17. But the drive ended with an incomplete pass on 4th-and-4. The Packers then ran out the clock to end the game.

Daniel Jones completed 20-of-37 passes for 240 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. His two leading targets were tight end Kaden Smith (6 catches for 70 yards) and wide receiver Darius Slayton (6 catches for 44 yards). Saquon Barkley carried the ball 19 times for 83 yards.

Defensively, the Giants did not accrue a sack or force a turnover. Aaron Rodgers was only officially hit twice. Not counting the kneel down at the end of the game, Green Bay scored on five of their eight possessions.

Video highlights are available at Giants.com.

INACTIVES AND INJURY REPORT…
Inactive for the game were WR Golden Tate (concussion), TE Evan Engram (foot), TE Rhett Ellison (concussion), S Jabrill Peppers (back), QB Alex Tanney, OT/OG Chad Slade, and OT Eric Smith.

CB Corey Ballentine left the game with a concussion and did not return.

QB Daniel Jones injured his ankle but continued to play despite a noticeable limp. “He hurt it, but he played through it,” said Head Coach Pat Shurmur after the game. “Tough guy, he fought through it.”

ZAK DEOSSIE PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE…
The Giants placed long snapper Zak DeOssie on Injured Reserve on Saturday with knee and wrist issues. To fill his roster spot, the team signed long-snapper Colin Holba from the Practice Squad.

POST-GAME REACTION…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Pat Shurmur and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Pat Shurmur and select players will address the media by conference call on Monday.

Nov 212019
 
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (September 15, 2019)

Saquon Barkley – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

NOVEMBER 21, 2019 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
Tight end Evan Engram (foot) and tight end Rhett Ellison (concussion) did not practice on Thursday.

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (concussion), center Jon Halapio (hamstring), left tackle Nate Solder (concussion), right tackle Mike Remmers (back), and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (concussion) fully practiced.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The New York Giants practice again on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Oct 272019
 
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (October 27, 2019)

Daniel Jones – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

DETROIT LIONS 31 – NEW YORK GIANTS 26…
The New York Giants lost their fourth game in a row, falling to 2-6 on the season, with their 31-26 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday. On the plus side for the Giants, rookie quarterback Daniel Jones had a strong performance, throwing for 322 yards and four touchdowns.

The game started off in sloppy fashion. New York’s initial drive ended with a punt. The Lions responded by gaining 47 yards and moving to the Giants’ 40-yard line before cornerback Janoris Jenkins picked off an errant deep throw from quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, three plays later, Jones was hit as he attempted a throw to the flat to running back Saquon Barkley. The errant pass was ruled a lateral and returned for a touchdown by former Giants linebacker Devon Kennard.

After a three-and-out on New York’s third “drive,” the Lions appeared to take command of the game by driving 71 yards in six plays, culminating with a 49-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open wide receiver Marvin Hall. Detroit now led 14-0.

The Giants got back into the game early in the second quarter on their fourth possession with a 10-play, 88-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jones to rookie wide receiver Darius Slayton. After the Lions missed a 53-yard field goal, the Giants tightened the game even further with an 8-play, 57-yard effort that finished with another touchdown pass from Jones to Slayton, this one from 28 yards out on 3rd-and-7. However, place kicker Aldrick Rosas missed the extra point and the Giants trailed 14-13.

Unfortunately for New York, the Lions were able to extend their lead before halftime. After it had appeared the Giants had stopped Detroit near midfield, linebacker David Mayo was flagged with a bogus running-into-the-kicker penalty on 4th-and-4. This kept alive a 14-play, 41-yard drive that ended with a 52-yard field goal with 20 seconds left. The Giants returned the ensuing kickoff 30 yards and might have had a shot at a long field goal, but Slayton dropped a deep pass from Jones.

At the half, the Lions led 17-13.

The Lions once again appeared to take command of the game on their initial possession of the second half, driving 75 yards in 10 plays with Stafford throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kenny Golladay. Lions 24 – Giants 13.

To New York’s credit, the team responsed with a 10-play, 78-yard effort of their own, with Jones throwing his third touchdown of the day, this one for two yards to tight end Evan Engram on 3rd-and-goal. However, the 2-point conversion failed. Lions 24 – Giants 19.

The Giants’ defense forced their first three-and-out of the day on Detroit’s second drive of the half. The Giants could not take advantage of the opportunity and punted the ball away as well. The Lions made the Giants pay by easily driving 80 yards in five plays, scoring on a 41-yard flea flicker from Stafford to Golladay. With just over 12 minutes to play, the Lions now led 31-19.

The Giants gained 52 yards in 11 plays on the ensuing drive but turned the ball over on downs at the Detroit 39-yard line with 6:25 left in the game. New York received a faint glimmer of hope when safety Jabrill Peppers forced Golladay to fumble, with safety Antoine Bethea recovering at the Detroit 38-yard line. However, the Giants once gain turned the ball over on downs, this time at the Detroit 14-yard line with 3:27 left to play.

After a three-and-out by the Lions, the Giants made things a little bit interesting by driving 50 yards in four plays with Jones throwing his fourth touchdown of the game, this one a 4-yarder to running back Saquon Barkley. With just over a minute left to play, the Giants onside attempt went out of bounds, effectively ending the game.

Offensively, the Giants gained 24 first downs and 370 net yards. Jones finished 28-of-41 for 322 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 124.2 quarterback rating. His leading targets were wide receiver Golden Tate (8 catches for 85 yards) and Barkley (8 catches for 79 yards). Barkley only rushed for 64 yards on 19 carries.

Defensively, the Giants allowed 17 first downs and 375 net yards, 316 of which came through the air. The Lions were 8-of-14 (57 percent) on 3rd-down conversions. The Giants did sack Stafford four times, with cornerback Grant Haley, linebacker Markus Golden, linebacker Lorenzo Carter, and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson all picking up sacks. The Giants forced two turnovers, the interception by Jenkins and the forced fumble by Peppers.

Video highlights are available at Giants.com.

INACTIVES AND INJURY REPORT…
WR Sterling Shepard (concussion), CB Corey Ballentine (concussion), QB Alex Tanney, OT Eric Smith, OT/OG Chad Slade, LB Tae Davis, and LB Devante Downs were inactive.

POST-GAME REACTION…
Video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Pat Shurmur and the following players are available at Giants.com:

  • Head Coach Pat Shurmur (Video)
  • QB Daniel Jones (Video)
  • WR Golden Tate (Video)
  • CB Janoris Jenkins (Video)
  • CB Deandre Baker (Video)
  • S Jabrill Peppers (Video)
  • S Antoine Bethea (Video)

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Head Coach Pat Shurmur and select players will address the media on Monday. The players are off on Tuesday and return to practice on Wednesday.

Oct 022019
 
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (September 22, 2019)

Saquon Barkley – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

OCTOBER 2, 2019 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), right guard Kevin Zeitler (shoulder), and linebacker Alec Ogletree (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday.

Barkley appears ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from his high ankle sprain as he was spotted doing light running and change of direction maneuvers on the sidelines at practice. Cornerback Sam Beal, who is currently on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury, was spotted running sprints. He is eligible to return to practice after the sixth game.

Running back Wayne Gallman (neck), left tackle Nate Solder (neck), linebacker Lorenzo Carter (neck), and linebacker Tae Davis (concussion) were limited in practice.

“We have a bunch of guys here that this time of year, it’s just game soreness. I’m not really concerned about… I guess Zeitler’s on here and Lorenzo Carter,” said Head Coach Pat Shurmur. “Tae Davis is coming back. He had a good day today, considered a non-contact day in the (concussion protocol), obviously. Wayne Gallman, Nate (Solder). Just game soreness stuff. This time of year, it kind of creeps up. By the end of the week, most, if not all, of these guys will be ready to go. This is a tough team.

“(Barkley is) progressing… Some people’s doctors had him (out for) eight weeks. Not my doctors… I don’t know yet (if he can play this weekend)… He said he felt good.”

JANORIS JENKINS NAMED “NFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK”…
New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been named “NFC Defensive Player of the Week” for his performance last Sunday against the Washington Redskins. In that game, Jenkins was credited with four tackles, three pass defenses, and two interceptions.

HEAD COACH PAT SHURMUR…
The transcript of Pat Shurmur’s press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The New York Giants practice on Thursday, with the team’s coordinators also addressing the media.

Sep 232019
 
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (September 22, 2019)

Saquon Barkley – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY UPDATE – SAQUON BARKLEY TO MISS 1-2 MONTHS…
According to ESPN, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley’s MRI confirmed a high-ankle sprain injury. Barkley is expected to miss 4-8 weeks of the 2019 NFL season with longer timeline being more likely.

In addition to Barkley, it was revealed that wide receiver Russell Shepard suffered a sprain to his left foot and is being further evaluated. As reported previously linebacker Alec Ogletree (hamstring) and LB Tae Davis (concussion) were also injured in the game.

MONDAY PAT SHURMUR CONFERENCE CALL…
New York Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur addressed the media by conference call on Monday to discuss the team’s 32-31 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Opening Statement: I really don’t have a lot to add to what I wanted to say last night with regard to the game. I’ll just try to give you some injury updates on the significant ones. Saquon Barkley has a high ankle sprain—I don’t have anything to add, time frames, anything—I’ll just say it’s a high ankle sprain and we’ll just have to see. Alec Ogletree has got a left hamstring strain. Tae Davis left the game with a concussion, so he’s in the protocol. Then, the last injury that kind of popped up that would be somewhat significant, Russell Shepard has a left foot sprain that he’s getting evaluated. I don’t have much information on him, he’s going through the process of final evaluation as to the extent of the injury. Aside from that, I really don’t have much to say. It was a great win for us, it just goes to show you that you never know what’s going to happen right down to the very end. We did many things not well early in the game, and we found a way in the second half of the game to play well enough to win. Let’s just leave it at that. So, I’ll try to answer your questions.

Q: How big of a hit is it to lose Saquon if it’s for an extended period, which high ankles usually tend to be?
A: Well, we’re just gong to have to see, first off. We certainly believe in Wayne Gallman and we certainly believe that he’ll be able to step in and do his very best, and we’ll just have to see. At some point, we may have to add a running back behind him as we go forward here. But it’s like any injury, it’s very unfortunate to have Saquon out of the lineup. We all know what he brings to the team, but it’s going to fall on all of us to move forward and do what we can to win games.

Q: What are you looking for in a running back? I assume you’ll have to add one to the roster.
A: I’m sort of on record as saying it’s very important that, number one, they’re able to run with the football and gain yardage. I think it’s also super important that they’re able to understand pass protection and who to block with regard to protecting the quarterback. Then, I think one of the things that’s super important is their ability to catch the ball. A lot of times the running back is the outlet and that’s the best choice. Even though you try to keep your eyes downfield, sometimes the runner with the ball in his hands with a little bit of space in underneath coverage is where it needs to go. So, they have to really be able to do all three things.

Q: You guys are always making your free agent lists, what you’re looking for at every position, but with Saquon out, do you re-evaluate whatever list you’ve put together?
A: That’s a dynamic process. Depending on what happens in the game on Sunday, certainly the (pro personnel) guys are ready to go with their different lists of players and what their role might be.

Q: Is there anything you can put your finger on that was different in the first half than the second half as far as things switching up defensively?
A: I can tell you that the calls weren’t much different. I do think sometimes it’s just a mindset. They scored on six possessions—they had the ball six times and scored six times—and then they came out in the second half, and we had some backups playing, but they came out in the second half and I thought we were more disruptive, we created an interception—unfortunately, we turned it over right back—but we created an interception, and ultimately they only scored three points. We still gave up big plays, but they only scored three points in the second half. I think we’re always talking about situational football and this was a game where defensively, I guess it would be their offense, but defensively they were one for five in the red zone, where we were much better, and I think that’s where it comes to. So, even in the midst of playing through the big plays that they made against us when the rubber sort of hits the road and they were in the scoring zone, we did a better job of getting them stopped.

Q: If the defensive calls weren’t much different first to second half, what does that say about your defensive group? Do they have to get a feel of the game early, or is it an effort thing, is it a confidence thing?
A: Well, it’s a young group, as we know, and it got younger when Tree (Alec Ogletree) went out, and I think Ryan Connelly has done a really nice job—he sort of switched his positions, went from being told the calls to making the calls. It’s a young group, so there’s a lot to be learned from each time we go on the field. I think a week ago it was the same story—we weren’t very good in the first half and then we played much better in the second half. We gave up one scoring drive against Buffalo in the second half. So, what it tells me as a coach is we can do it. We’ve just got to do it better starting out the game, and I think that’s going to be the challenge moving forward. It’s just like offensively, we scored on the first drive the first three games, then we have little pockets in there where we’re punting the ball and then all of the sudden we find a way like we did yesterday to score again. So, it’s about consistency—we always talk about starting strong and finishing fast, and we certainly have to handle the first half better.

Q: From an outside perspective, it seems like Saquon’s injury puts more pressure on Daniel to produce as a catalyst to the offense. How do you do that, and will you have to do some things to kind of relieve that pressure, if you view it that way?
A: Well, I don’t view it that way. I’ve already acknowledged the fact that when you lose a player like Saquon, it hurts in some ways, but it creates opportunities for others. That’s just the way it is. Daniel’s just got to do what he can do. I still think it’s important to spread the ball. We’re going to need to run the ball more effectively than we did yesterday—we faced a pretty good front. That was a very good front, our guys battled up front, certainly. But we’ve got to run the ball better, regardless of who’s carrying it.

Q: What was Eli’s demeanor like on the sideline during the course of that game? Was he more involved than a typical backup would be? Can you walk us through that?
A: He was very involved. He was very involved in a way that I would expect any backup to be. He was there… Listen, we were all there in support of Daniel. Me trying to give him the right plays and the people off to the side trying to give him the right advice. It was actually a really good situation for Daniel. Can you imagine being in your first start and sitting next to a guy that’s done it for over 15 years, and done it at a very high level? That had to be very reassuring for Dan.

Q: After seeing how the offense responded to Daniel, do you have any thoughts of maybe you should have done this earlier?
A: No. Nope. Not at all. We found a way to win a game. There were a lot of things we did well, and there are certainly a boatload of mistakes that we have to correct. I make light of it in some ways by saying we’re doing Monday things right now, and we’re getting those things corrected. But no, I feel like I did what I thought was best. At least in this scenario, it played out well for Daniel. He had a good performance the first week out.

Q: In that regard, how much do you believe a change like this can sort of rejuvenate the group, or sort of give them a jolt? I’m wondering how much you believe in that in general, that one move like that can help the whole?
A: I think certainly there are things that become catalysts for whatever. Early in the game… Lost in some of this was we ended up blocking a (PAT) early in the game. So, you don’t know how that affects the last field goal. You never know. A guy that goes in and plays well might give guys confidence. I think everything that we do is connected. There was great excitement on our sideline like there always is. We just found a way to make enough plays to win the game.

Q: You were talking about the running game. Were there times that if Eli were the quarterback, he would have checked out of certain situations, and that’s something that Daniel has to learn?
A: No. There weren’t any of those situations last night if that’s what you’re asking. In terms of run-pass checks, we had a couple that I think were executed properly. Daniel did it in a way that Eli would.

Q: Did you not run Daniel in the preseason intentionally so as to not show everybody exactly what he can do?
A: No. No, there was only one call there that was going to become a potential run. Most of the running around were drop back passes where he felt like it was right to scramble.

Q: Obviously, your last offensive drive, everybody is looking at the clock, seeing the way things are going down. Because it was Daniel out there, was it harder to kind of pay attention to the clock? What was your mindset in that situation? You had to get into the end zone but you didn’t want to leave too much time for them to come back down. Is that a lot on the quarterback out there, you have to see when to snap the ball, that kind of thing? Is it a growing situation or did it play out the way you wanted?
A: No. Listen, there’s a lot made of that now, too. When you need one score to win the game and you’re in a two-minute scenario, you’re doing everything that you can to win it. The ideal scenario, obviously, is to leave them no time to then go back down and score. I get that. But we got down in there low and we were choosing to throw the ball. There were a couple of incompletions, which stopped the clock. Let’s say for instance you convert, and you have another set of downs. Then you still want to have time to do that. Then we didn’t have timeouts. It played out well that we scored. Ideally, you have obviously less time for them. We have to stop them on defense, too, now. But the prime objective is to score. With the time that was left on the clock and a fourth down call, in terms of messing with the clock, your hands are sort of tied.

Q: I know Jackrabbit is your top cornerback and one of your top players on defense, but as that game was going on and Mike Evans was doing to him what we all saw he did to him, was there any thought to giving Jackrabbit help? The last pass obviously could have lost the game for you, and throughout the game, it was a struggle for Jackrabbit.
A: Listen, there are a few calls in every game where a safety will lean one side or the other, or we’re in a split shell or shell coverage, or there’s pressure. Everybody every once in a while gets a little bit of help. That’s just the nature of playing football. Listen, they have really good receivers, and they did a good job of getting them the football. Our guys challenged, and there’s certainly stuff we can learn from that scenario. We don’t want to give up big plays like that. But the thing that we’re going to build on is that when they did get close, we were able to stop them. We’ll work on that. We’ll try to improve it. We’re always looking for ways that we can help the players on a rep or two, and we’ll continue to do that.

Q: The touchdown to (Sterling) Shepard with the two defenders right there. He’s, I think, at the pylon so he’s right by the boundary as well. I’m looking at that thinking that’s a ridiculous throw. Did that one stand out to you for any reasons?
A: That was an outstanding throw and catch. It’s probably a standard route concept, but Shep did a good job. Actually, Shep was interfered with on the way into the end zone. That’s what I think the flag was. But Daniel knew it was a clean look. In his mind, he trusted that Sterling was going to be where he was going to be. No, that was an outstanding play on both parts.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts of Monday’s media conference calls with the following players are available in The Corner Forum:

POST-GAME NOTES…
The Giants trailed at halftime, 28-10. This was their first victory when trailing by 18 or more points since November 15, 1970, when they fell behind Washington, 33-14, but scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win, 35-33.

The Giants trailed entering the fourth quarter, 28-25. They had lost their previous 23 regular-season games in which they were behind after three quarters. The Giants had last rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to win in the 2016 game against the Bengals.

QB Daniel Jones became the second player since the 1970 merger to throw at least two touchdown passes and run for two scores in his first NFL start (Detroit’s Erick Hipple  was the other in 1981).

Jones is the first Giants rookie quarterback to win his initial career start since Scott Brunner on December 7, 1980 against Seattle.

Evan Engram’s 75-yard touchdown reception was the longest ever by a Giants tight end. The previous long was a 71-yarder by Aaron Thomas vs. Philadelphia on October 17, 1965.

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players are off on Tuesday and return to practice on Wednesday.

Sep 052019
 
James Bettcher, New York Giants (August 16, 2019)

James Bettcher – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
WR Darius Slayton (hamstring) and TE Garrett Dickerson (quad) did not practice on Thursday.

Right tackle Mike Remmers (illness/back) was “limited” in practice.

LB Nate Stupar (concussion) and CB Antonio Hamilton (adductor) fully practiced.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The New York Giants practice again on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jul 272019
 
Golden Tate, New York Giants (July 25, 2019)

Golden Tate – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

JULY 27, 2019 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants held their third full-team summer training camp practice on Saturday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The complete public training camp schedule is available at Giants.com.

GOLDEN TATE FACING 4-GAME SUSPENSION…
It was revealed on Saturday that New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate is appealing a 4-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing (PED) Substance policy. His appeal is currently scheduled to be heard during the first week of August. If Tate loses the appeal, he will miss the first four games of the regular-season. He will be able to continue to practice with the team this summer and play in the preseason.

Tate issued the following statement on Saturday:

       This past April, during the off-season, my wife and I decided to see a specialist for fertility planning. I started the treatment prescribed to me and just days later I discovered it contained an ingredient that is on the league’s banned substance list. I immediately discontinued use, I reported the situation to the Independent Administrator of the NFL Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances, and I spoke with my coaches and general manager. I did all of this well before a failed test was even confirmed.

Per NFL protocol, an initial suspension was imminent, but myself and the Giants organization are confident in the fact, and eagerly await my appeal to put this behind us.

During the entirety of my 10 year career I have taken great pride in playing this game the right way, have been an ambassador for the NFL and have never had any issues with the league’s policy. The treatment this past April had no effect on the upcoming season, and I did not, and could not have undergone this treatment in April for any competitive advantage. I deeply appreciate the support from the New York Giants Organization, and will continue to hold the highest level of character and integrity, while being a leader in the locker room.

In respect to the team and my teammates I won’t be speaking on this again until after the appeal. I’m focusing on football, and will not let this be a distraction.

“I think he’s going to have an appeal,” said Head Coach Pat Shurmur before practice on Saturday. “I think he released a statement, so I really have nothing to add to that. We’ll just see what happens with it… When this situation arose, he’s been very honest with us.”

GIANTS SIGN AMBA ETTA-TAWO AND T.J. JONES…
The New York Giants have signed wide receivers Amba Etta-Tawo and T.J. Jones. To make room on the roster, the team placed wide receiver Corey Coleman on Injured Reserve and cut place kicker Joey Slye.

The 6’1”, 208-pound Etta-Tawo was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the 2017 NFL Draft. He has spent time on the Practice Squads of the Jaguars (2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2017), Giants (2017-2018), and Houston Texans (2018). Etta-Tawo also played for the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football in 2019.

The 6’0”, 190-pound Jones was originally drafted in the 6th-round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. In four seasons with the Lions, Jones played in 42 regular-season games with nine starts, catching 64 passes for 814 yards and four touchdowns. Jones also has experience returning both kickoffs and punts.

Coleman tore an ACL in one of his knees on Thursday. Coleman was originally drafted in the 1st round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. An explosive athlete but an injury-plagued bust in Cleveland, Coleman has also had brief stints with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots in 2018. The Giants signed Coleman to the Practice Squad and then the 53-man roster in October 2018. He ended up playing in eight games with one start, finishing with five catches for 71 yards. Coleman’s primary contribution came on special teams as as kickoff returner (averaging 26 yards on 23 returns).

The Giants signed and waived Slye in May 2019, and then re-signed him in July 2019. Slye graduated from Virginia Tech and did not play pro football in 2018. As a senior, he converted on 15-of-22 field goal attempts (68 percent) and 37-of-37 extra point attempts.

INJURY REPORT…
Wide receivers Darius Slayton (hamstring), Brittan Golden (groin), and Alex Wesley (PUP List – unknown) did not practice on Saturday. Cornerbacks Sam Beal (groin) and Henre’ Toliver (unknown) also did not practice.

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (fractured thumb) was limited to individual drills in practice, not catching any passes. “Hopefully in a couple weeks I get out of this deal (splint) and I will be able to catch the ball,” said Shepard on Saturday.

Linebacker Mark McLaurin (foot stepped on) left practice early.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • The first-team wide receivers were Golden Tate, Cody Latimer, and Bennie Fowler.
  • Julian Love saw reps at second-team safety along with Michael Thomas. Julian Peppers and Antoine Bethea remained the first-team safeties.
  • RB Rod Smith cut back against the second-team defense for a decent gain.
  • DL Jake Ceresna broke through the third-string line to “sack” the quarterback.
  • WR Da’Mari Scott turned around CB Corey Ballentine for a deep catch over the middle on a pass from QB Alex Tanney.
  • DB Julian Love punched the ball out of TE Scott Simonson’s hands for a fumble that LB Kareem Martin recovered. Love then broke up a QB Daniel Jones to WR Russell Shepard.
  • George Asafo-Adjei received first-team reps at right tackle.
  • S Jabrill Peppers had a “sack” and tackle for a loss against RB Wayne Gallman.
  • CB Corey Ballentine picked off QB Kyle Lauletta on an obvious miscommunication between quarterback and receiver. Ballentine returned the interception for a touchdown.
  • Spencer Pulley received some first-team reps at center.
  • CB Grant Haley broke up a low pass from QB Eli Manning. Haley had a good day, playing both in the slot and outside.
  • In the red zone, S Antoine Bethea made a nice break-up on a pass from QB Eli Manning to RB Wayne Gallman.
  • LB Nate Stupar made a diving break-up of a QB Daniel Jones pass intended for RB Paul Perkins.
  • QB Daniel Jones was 8-of-13 with an impressive deep sideline throw to WR Alonzo Russell (Russell couldn’t get his second foot in-bounds). Jones has not thrown an interception at camp thus far. Jones also threw two touchdowns in the red zone, including one to TE Garrett Dickerson.
  • QB Eli Manning had a strong practice and connected a number of times with WR Golden Tate and WR Cody Latimer. Manning finished 10-of-14 with two touchdowns, including one to TE Evan Engram and another to Tate.
  • QB Kyle Lauletta threw two red zone touchdowns, one to TE C.J. Conrad and another to WR Russell Shepard.
  • DLs R.J. McIntosh and Dexter Lawrence were active.
  • LB Oshane Ximines received some first-team snaps.

HEAD COACH PAT SHURMUR…
The transcript of Pat Shurmur’s press conference on Saturday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

Jul 222019
 
Oshane Ximines, New York Giants (May 4, 2019)

Oshane Ximines – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

NEW YORK GIANTS ROOKIES REPORT TO TRAINING CAMP…
As scheduled, New York Giants rookies have reported in for the start of summer training camp in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Rookies and some select veterans will practice on Tuesday and Wednesday. All veterans are scheduled to report by Wednesday. Head Coach Pat Shurmur will also address the media on Wednesday.

The first full-team practice will be held on Thursday. There are 21 training camp practices currently scheduled, but only 10 are open to the public. For a complete public training camp schedule, see Giants.com.

GIANTS SIGN OSHANE XIMINES…
The New York Giants have signed linebacker Oshane Ximines, the team’s 3rd-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Of the team’s 10 picks in the draft, only quarterback Daniel Jones remains unsigned.

TWO SAFETIES TRY OUT FOR GIANTS…
Unrestricted free agent veteran safeties Tre Boston and Jonathan Cyprien visited the team on Monday.

The 27-year old, 6’1”, 205-pound Boston was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He has spent time with the Panthers (2014-2016), Los Angeles Chargers (2017), and Arizona Cardinals (2018). Boston has played in 72 regular-season games with 44 starts.

The 28-year old, 6’1”, 211-pound Cyprien was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has spent time with the Jaguars (2013-2016) and Tennessee Titans (2017-2018). Cyprien has started all 70 regular-season games that he has played in. However, he missed the 2018 season with a torn ACL.

GIANTS SUSPEND KAMRIN MOORE…
The New York Giants indefinitely suspended safety Kamrin Moore on July 15 pending further investigation after learning he was arrested in Linden, New Jersey for an alleged domestic violence-related incident.

MITCH PETRUS PASSES AWAY…
Mitch Petrus, who was drafted in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Giants and played for the team from 2010-2012, died of heat stroke in Arkansas on July 18th. He was 32. “We are saddened to hear of Mitch’s passing,” the Giants organization said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to Mitch’s family and friends.”

ARTICLES…

Jul 092019
 
Deandre Baker and Julian Love, New York Giants (June 5, 2019)

Deandre Baker and Julian Love – © USA TODAY Sports

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

With New York Giants training camp beginning in late July, BigBlueInteractive.com (BBI) breaks down each of the team’s positional groups until the players report at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL BREAKDOWNS HERE

POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN: Defensive Backs

2018 YEAR IN REVIEW: In just three seasons, the Giants went from having one of the best secondaries in the NFL in 2016 to one of the worst in 2018. Three Giants were named to the All-Pro team in 2016. In 2018, the Giants had arguably the worst starting free safety (Curtis Riley) and worst starting cornerback (B.W. Webb) in the League. For the second year in a row, overrated strong safety Landon Collins could not replicate his 2016 performance and finished the year on Injured Reserve. The best player in the secondary, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, gave up too many big plays. The Giants decided they had seen enough of top-10 draft pick Eli Apple and traded him in October to the Saints.

The rest of the unit was manned by players such as Grant Haley, Antonio Hamilton, Tony Lippett, Donte Deayon (waived in October), Michael Thomas, Sean Chandler, Kenny Ladler, and Kamrin Moore. Who? Most fans never heard of any of these guys before 2018. In a way, encumbered with one of the worst pass rush units in the NFL, it’s a minor miracle that the secondary was not more abused than it actually was. The Giants finished 23rd in pass defense.

ADDITIONS/SUBTRACTIONS: The Giants re-signed cornerbacks Tony Lippett and Antonio Hamilton in free agency as well as Practice Squad cornerback Ronald Zamort. Landon Collins signed a huge, 6-year, $84 million contract with the Washington Redskins. Curtis Riley signed with the Oakland Raiders and B.W. Webb signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Giants obtained safety Jabrill Peppers in a trade from the Cleveland Browns. They signed safety Antoine Bethea after he was cut by the Arizona Cardinals. Street free agent cornerback Henre’ Toliver was also signed.

The Giants selected cornerbacks Deandre Baker (1st round), Julian Love (4th round), and Corey Ballentine (6th round) in the 2019 NFL Draft. Rookie free agents safety Tenny Adewusi, safety Jacob Thieneman, linebacker/safety Jake Carlock, and linebacker/safety Mark McLaurin were all signed after the draft. Thieneman has since been waived due to an injury.

TRAINING CAMP STORY LINES: The Giants have almost completely revamped their secondary. Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea replace Landon Collins and Curtis Riley as the starting safeties. 2018 3rd-round Supplemental Draft pick Sam Beal, who missed his rookie season due to an injury, as well as three 2019 draft picks will have the inside track at making the roster at cornerback. Deandre Baker has already been moved into the starting line-up. Aside from Bethea, Jenkins, and reserve safety Michael Thomas, this is a very young group.

On paper, the Giants are better set at cornerback. Jenkins and Baker should be one of the better starting cornerback duos in the NFL. By all accounts, Baker was one of the most impressive newcomers during Spring workouts. Both will be pressed by Julian Love and Sam Beal. Perhaps the best battle will be for the starting nickel corner spot between Grant Haley and Julian Love.

Safety is a bit more unsettled. Jabrill Peppers played much better during his second year in Cleveland and the belief is that Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher sees him as a cornerstone to the team’s rebuilt defense and will employ him in a variety of ways to take advantage of his physical attributes. Bethea turns 35 in July and is obviously nearing the end. But he will provide leadership and inside knowledge on Bettcher’s schemes, making sure everyone is lined up properly. Depth at safety is a concern as there are no clear up-and-coming players behind the starting two.

Keep in mind that both defensive backs coaches are new with Everett Withers and Henry Baker coming from the collegiate ranks.

ON THE BUBBLE: As I discussed in my linebacker preview, the Giants may view some of these players as hybrid linebackers/safeties such as Jake Carlock and Mark McLaurin. So one of these guys could make the roster as a “linebacker.”

The Giants are likely to carry 9, 10, or 11 defensive backs. Some think Janoris Jenkins could be traded. My belief is that Jenkins, Deandre Baker, Julian Love, Sam Beal, Jabrill Peppers, and Antoine Bethea are the sure bets to make the team. Others with a good shot are Grant Haley, Corey Ballentine, and Michael Thomas, but they are not completely safe. Everyone else is on the bubble.

FROM THE COACHES: Head Coach Pat Shurmur on Deandre Baker: “He has been (making plays) on a pretty steady basis. I think he has made a play or two at each practice. Again, just learning how to compete at this level. Unfortunately, you can’t do a whole bunch of bump-and-run and press coverage, so the corners are at a little bit of a disadvantage. However, you need to learn to play off and for him to be able to make plays in those situations is good.”

Shurmur on Jabrill Peppers and Antoine Bethea: “They are doing a good job. You saw Antoine had an interception today. They communicate extremely well. They are very strong guys. Typically, one guy takes the lead on that, but they both can do it. When I watch, they are getting us in the right coverages and pressures. They are in the right spots and trying to play the techniques within the defenses that are called. That is the thing that you can work on this time of year defensively. All the communication. We are really pleased with where they are. It is only going to get better.”

Shurmur on Jabrill Peppers: “He has a very charismatic personality and he loves to play the game. He picked up quickly what we were doing on defense well and he is extremely smart. He is very tough and very competitive. When you see guys like that on the field, you feel their presence immediately. He got to it quickly… He is very vocal. Sometimes you don’t have to be very vocal and you can be a leader. You can look to him and see that he has that about him. He has a great presence. If you are around him on a day-to-day basis, you can see that he will quickly become one of the guys where you say, ‘OK, he’s got it.’ He loves playing football and has a lot of fun doing it and a lot of fun competing. I think that is part of his charm and what makes him special. He is so darn competitive. It shows up naturally.”

Defensive Coordinator James Bettcher on Jabrill Peppers: “Jabrill is a highly talented and ascending player in this league. A guy that has the flexibility to play strong safety and could come down in the box and play some money. He is a really talented blitzer and when you watched his tape in Cleveland, you saw all the different roles he played. You saw snaps where he plays nickel, high in the middle of the field, high and outside, where he plays down low. A guy that has a lot of versatility. A guy that when he learns this system, he is going to have a lot of fun playing in this system… I flew from Arizona to Michigan and spent a bunch of time with him when he was coming out (in the draft). I thought he was a dynamic kid and the people that were around him loved him. I got multiple texts from coaches that worked with him in Cleveland and it was not something I asked for, this was after we traded for him and they said that we were going to love him. He is going to work exceptionally hard and is going to be about what it is supposed to be about. You see him out here, we are doing stuff against the air and he is moving, sliding and running around. He is in a stance and sometimes you want to be like, slow down, this is on air. He is exciting.”

Bettcher on Antoine Bethea: “We have a chance to add Antoine Bethea, a guy who is one of the highest character players I have ever been around, smart, intelligent and an unbelievable leader. As you have an opportunity to wrap your hands around him and embrace him a little bit, you will see what I am talking about with him. I was talking to him the other day and I was joking with him telling him that as time goes on, I get more gray hair. As time goes on, he gets younger. That is just when you see his play, that is what it has been. The years in the league have progressed for him. He has played fast and played young. That what impresses me about him.”

Bettcher on Deandre Baker: “The thing I would say about Baker is that he played in a very, very tough league. We all know how long it was before he gave up a touchdown pass. He competed and covered some of the best players that have come out of that league on offense. His tape speaks for itself. One of the best, if not the best, tackling corner in the draft, period. Excited to have him. He did an outstanding job at camp this past week.”

Bettcher on Janoris Jenkins: “Janoris has been not great but unbelievable with our young guys. He has had great, teachable moments where as a coach you just have to let it go. You are starting to go coach the young guys and he is already on it. I see the ownership in year two that he is starting to take with those guys. It is outstanding and it is going to help us be a better defense and not just those guys be better players themselves.”

Bettcher on Julian Love: “Naturally, he is a nickel. What is the second position, is he a safety or a corner? Time tells with that and more reps tell us that. You have to be smart and pretty intelligent like he is to be able to handle that.”

Defensive Backs Coach Everett Withers on his cornerbacks: “It is exciting when you bring in all these young men. That is the biggest thing. Talented guys that can play. We are adding Sam Beal into the mix too. You take a guy like Janoris Jenkins, a guy that has been in the league for 10 years and look at him more as an assistant coach. He has taken that role so far this offseason and has done a really good job.”

Withers on Janoris Jenkins: “I think when he is in the meetings, he has such a vast amount of experience in this league that he can help guys not only schematically but understanding the game, splits of receivers and those things. He has done a really good job in the meeting rooms and on the field so far… He has been awesome.”

Withers on Jabrill Peppers: “I am excited. He has a lot of ability and does a lot of things. Our role right now is to try and help Jabrill schematically. Help him grow into what we do and add things into his playbook. He is a guy that comes to work everyday with a lot of energy. He has been really fun to watch so far.”

Withers on Deandre Baker: “He is a really talented guy. When you watch his tape, he is a guy with a lot of competitive experience. To have another guy over there next to Janoris, he is talented enough to go over there and be a factor over there opposite Janoris.”

Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey on Jabrill Peppers: “High energy, the guy is a for sure ball handler. Can make all the cuts full speed. He just brings juice. I’ve known the kid since he was 16 years old. I recruited him when I was at LSU. Jabrill is a special athlete. He can do anything – run the football, catch the football, whatever. He’s just a great athlete.”

PREDICTIONS: The guy who is flying under the radar is Deandre Baker. Keep in mind that despite drafting him late in the first round, he was the first cornerback selected in the draft. In other words, the Giants believe he was the best corner in this draft class. Thus far, he has not disappointed. Baker has the look of an old school, aggressive, physical corner who likes to mix it up both against the run and the pass. Janoris Jenkins has always done better when his team is playing better. I expect him to regain his 2016 All-Pro form as long as he stays healthy. Grant Haley remained the first-team nickel throughout the Spring practices. However, it is difficult to see him holding off Julian Love for long. Love may lack ideal long speed, but he a smart, aggressive player who makes plays on the football. Sam Beal provides quality depth provided he is over his shoulder issues.

The Giants also look to be upgraded at safety. Landon Collins was not as good as advertised. Most Giants fans know he had issues in coverage. He never regained his 2016 form. Curtis Riley was a train wreck at free safety. James Bettcher insists that Antoine Bethea can still play. At the very least, the team is already thrilled with the leadership and guidance he is providing. He’s like having a coach on the field. The real question mark here is what is Jabrill Peppers’ upside? Is he another one of those better-athlete-than-player types or is he about to experience his breakout season in his third year? It’s obvious the Giants are going to use him in a variety of ways, moving him around quite a bit and even have him blitz. The good news, again, is his attitude. The team is thrilled with his character. Depth at safety is a concern. Michael Thomas is a solid reserve/special teams type who also provides a good locker room presence. But it would be great if one of the young safeties came out of nowhere to surprise.

Don’t be surprised to see the Giants play with a lot of five and six defensive back packages throughout the year. Because of that, I would not be shocked to see the team keep as many as 11 defensive backs. Special teams will also be a big factor in deciding who stays and could help a guy like Antonio Hamilton.

This secondary has a chance to be very good for a number of years.

FINAL DEPTH CHART: Janoris Jenkins, Deandre Baker, Sam Beal, Julian Love, Grant Haley, Corey Ballentine, Jabrill Peppers, Antoine Bethea, Michael Thomas, Sean Chandler