Mar 112015
 
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (July 22, 2014)

Tom Coughlin – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Tom Coughlin Receives One-Year Contract Extension from Giants: The New York Giants have announced that they have extended the contract of Head Coach Tom Coughlin by one year. Coughlin is now under contract through the end of the 2016 NFL season. According to press reports, Coughlin is expected to make about $7 million per year.

The 68-year old Coughlin is the oldest head coach in the NFL. 2015 will be Coughlin’s 12th season with the Giants, the second-longest tenure for a head coach in franchise history after Steve Owen, who coached the Giants for 24 seasons from 1930-1953.

Since becoming head coach of the Giants in 2004, Coughlin is 96-80 (.545) in the regular season and 8-3 (.727) in the playoffs. He also won two NFL Championships with the team in 2007 and 2011. However, Coughlin’s Giants have missed the playoffs for three seasons in a row.

At the NFL Combine in  February, Coughlin was asked about his job security: “Security, security? Thank you very much,” replied Coughlin. “There are 32 guys that coach one year at a time, I don’t care how many years you have on your contract.”

Giants Waive CB Travis Howard: The New York Giants have announced that they have waived cornerback Travis Howard. Howard was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Houston Texans after the 2013 NFL Draft. He spent some time on the Practice Squad of the Patriots that season before the Giants signed him to their Practice Squad in December 2013. Howard was waived/injured and placed on Injured Reserve in August 2014.

The team also confirmed that they have waived offensive tackle Rogers Gaines, a move we had reported earlier.

Article on WR/Returner Dwayne Harris: Breaking down the financials of Dwayne Harris’ 5-year deal with Giants by Jordan Raanan for NJ.com

Mar 102015
 
Dwayne Harris, Dallas Cowboys (November 23, 2014)

Dwayne Harris – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Giants Sign Dwayne Harris: The New York Giants have reportedly signed unrestricted free agent wide receiver/returner Dwayne Harris (Dallas Cowboys). The contract is reportedly a 5-year, $17.5 million deal that includes $7.1 million in guaranteed money.

The 27-year old Harris was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. In four seasons with the Cowboys, Harris has played in 52 regular-season games with three starts, catching 33 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns. He has also averaged 26.6 yards per kickoff return on 77 kickoff returns and 11.1 yards per punt return on 87 punt returns. Harris has also returned two punts for touchdowns. Harris has decent size, speed, and quickness. He is a very good special teams players, not just as a returner but on kick/punt coverage. Harris has won the “NFC Special Teams Player of the Week” three times, including once against the Giants.

Giants Sign Marshall Newhouse: The New York Giants have reportedly signed unrestricted free agent offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse (Cincinnati Bengals). The contract is reportedly a 2-year, $3 million deal with $1 million in guaranteed money.

The 26-year old Newhouse was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was the starting left tackle for the Packers in 2011 and 2012 before losing his starting job in 2013. Newhouse signed with the Bengals as a free agent in 2014 and he started five games for the Bengals. However, he struggled at right tackle for Cincinnati and was benched. Newhouse has a very good combination of size and overall athleticism, and he is versatile. But Newhouse has been a very inconsistent player who has lost starting jobs twice in his NFL career.

Giants Sign J.T. Thomas: The New York Giants have reportedly signed unrestricted free agent linebacker J.T. Thomas (Jacksonville Jaguars). The contract is reportedly a 3-year, $10 million deal with $4.5 million in guaranteed money.

The 26-year old Thomas was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. The Bears waived him in August 2013 and he was claimed off of waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thomas played in 16 regular-season games in 2014 with 10 starts at middle linebacker. He finished the season with 84 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Thomas lacks ideal size, but he’s an athletic linebacker who can play all three linebacker positions. He is also a good special teams player.

Giants Re-Sign Chris Ogbonnaya: According to ESPN, the Giants have re-signed unrestricted free agent running back Chris Ogbonnaya.

Ogbonnaya was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. Since then he has played for the Rams (2009), Texans (2011), Browns (2011-13), and Panthers (2014). Ogbonnaya was signed to the 53-man roster of the Giants in December 2014. Ogbonnaya has played in 51 games with 12 starts and has carried the ball 158 times for 710 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 96 catches for 714 yards and two touchdowns. Ogbonnaya is a big back with good speed. He has good hands catching the ball.

Giants Waive Rogers Gaines: According to The New York Daily News, the Giants have waived offensive tackle Rogers Gaines.

Gaines was waived/injured and then placed on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury in August 2014. Gaines was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft. The Ravens waived him in August 2013. The Bears signed him to their Practice Squad in September 2013. The Giants claimed Rogers Gaines off of waivers from the Chicago Bears in May 2014.

Aug 302014
 
John Conner, New York Giants (August 9, 2014)

John Conner – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The New York Giants made 22 roster moves on Saturday in order reduce the roster to 53 players as required by the NFL.

In addition, the Giants activated linebacker Jon Beason from the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List. Beason passed his physical and can now practice for the first time since injuring his foot on June 12 during an Organized Team Activity (OTA) practice. “He’s ready to practice,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “You need that kind of dynamic leadership. The guy loves the game, he loves to play it. He’ll have the biggest smile on his face come Monday when he trots out there.”

The Giants waived or terminated the contracts of the following players:

  • QB Curtis Painter
  • RB Kendall Gaskins
  • RB Michael Cox
  • FB John Conner
  • WR Julian Talley
  • TE Kellen Davis
  • OL Rogers Gaines (waived/injured)
  • OL Mark Asper
  • OL Jamaal Johnson-Webb
  • OL Adam Gress
  • DE Israel Idonije
  • DE Jordan Stanton
  • DT Kelcy Quarles
  • LB Dan Fox
  • LB Terrell Manning
  • CB Bennett Jackson
  • CB Chandler Fenner
  • S Thomas Gordon

The Giants also placed the following players on season-ending Injured Reserve, although this doesn’t preclude the team from making an injury settlement:

  • WR Trindon Holliday (hamstring)
  • WR Mario Manningham (calf)

The Giants also placed the following players on the Reserve/Suspended List for violating NFL drug policies:

  • OL Eric Herman (4-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs)
  • CB Jayron Hosley (4-game suspension for illegal drugs)

Because of these moves, we have updated the Transactions, Roster, and Depth Chart sections of the website.

“There were a lot of good, competitive positions, even going into Thursday night’s game with New England,” Coughlin said. “Many of the young guys were competing, not only for roster spots but for the practice squad. That is an important concept as well. It is in the best interest of the clubs to be able to go to their practice squad, if the need is there, for a player who has been in your meeting rooms the entire summer and fall.”

With Painter being cut, Ryan Nassib will be the only quarterback on the roster behind Eli Manning. “Ryan Nassib made big strides,” Coughlin said. “I think that his third and fourth preseason games were outstanding. You see definite improvement. You see the work that he’s put in. He’s been a very good student and he’s applied that to the field. What I really liked is he did have a poor preseason game and he came back with two good ones. That showed me, he didn’t do it by talking, he did it by working.”

Speaking of the competition at fullback between Conner and Henry Hynoski, Coughlin said, “Two very good players. Both guys can play in this league. Very, very close. Both of them are physical. They’ll knock the heck out of you. Utmost respect for John Conner, I think he’s a heck of a player and a great competitor and a good man. He doesn’t say a word, just goes and does his job. Give me all of those you can find.”

Preston Parker, New York Giants (August 9, 2014)

Preston Parker – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Coughlin on WR Preston Parker, who made the team: “Preston’s been around a little bit. Preston also has the punt return/kickoff return ability. Right now that’s very critical for us, because Odell Beckham was going to be the punt returner.”

Coughlin on keeping Kerry Wynn over Israel Idonije at defensive end: “We had tremendous respect for Izzy (Idonije) because of the quality of man he is. He came in here and whatever we asked him to do, he did. He battled, he competed. The other night he played a lot of nice snaps. At this point in time, the idea of developing the young player was first and foremost on your minds as we put the roster together…I like the fact that (Wynn) has very good size and he runs well. He flashed in the preseason and he is a young prospect that works hard, studies hard. We think he has a lot of upside.”

“They’re great stories and that’s what this thing is all about,” Coughlin said. “Your needs are much deeper than seven picks in the draft or sometimes you’re not in position to help yourself in free agency because of the cap, so this is still the source. And when a young guy comes along and they look like they’ve got a high end, you’re excited about it. Especially when they work hard, they study hard, it’s important to them and they have great desire. You can see it on some of these kids’ faces that this means so much to them, and quite frankly it re-energizes me.

“Even on a day like this where I have to let people go, when I see what the game means to certain players and when I see that, then I think there’s hope, to be honest with you. I do. Not just hope here, hope for everybody in this world because we’re not going through the motions. They love it. They love what they’re doing, they love the game. That’s how it all starts. For the normal young person that comes along and plays this game, it started with the love of the game. You compete, it’s about competitors. It’s still about competitors and people who are determined to be the best that they can be at what they do. That’s what reinforces me.”

After noon on Sunday, the Giants can sign 10 players to their Practice Squad, if they are not claimed off of waivers first.

“The practice squad is not taken lightly,” Coughlin said. “There are a lot of things that go into making choices and one of the things that’s really important, that has to be stressed, this summer is that we’ve got it to 10. And that’s a very important thing, the fact that we can have 10 practice squad guys means a lot in terms of your ability to prepare. Because as you go through the season and you have the various nicks that occur during the course of it and players can’t practice, at least you can continue to service your first groups with your practice squad players. That helps tremendously because the drain always comes.

“If a two becomes a one, then who services the other side of the ball? That’s a major concern for us at this level, because you have to continue to improve. People don’t realize that, it is about improvement and it’s not just about games, it’s about improving and your chance to improve on the practice field is so important.”

Article on the 2014 New York Giants: Embarking on a New Path by Bill Pennington of The New York Times

NY Post Q&A with WR Victor Cruz: Serby’s Sunday Q&A with Victor Cruz by Steve Serby of The New York Post

May 302014
 
Justin Tuck, New York Giants (October 21, 2013)

Justin Tuck sacking Josh Freeman – © USA TODAY Sports Images

New York Giants Cut Josh Freeman; Claim Rogers Gaines: The New York Giants have released quarterback Josh Freeman, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent last month from the Minnesota Vikings. The team also claimed offensive lineman Rogers Gaines off of waivers from the Chicago Bears.

BBI scouting report on Rogers Gaines:

The Giants claimed Rogers Gaines off of waivers from the Chicago Bears in May 2014. Gaines was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft. He played at Tennessee State University where he was named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference. The Ravens waived him in August 2013. The Bears signed him to their Practice Squad in September 2013. Gaines has excellent size (6’6”, 329lbs) with long arms. He is a good athlete for his size. However, he is needs a lot of technique work and development.

Because of this move, we have updated the TransactionsRoster, and Depth Chart sections of the website.

Giants.com Q&A With Safety Stevie Brown: The video of a Giants.com Q&A session with safety Stevie Brown is available at Giants.com.