Oct 152013
 
Da'Rel Scott, New York Giants (October 10, 2013)

RB Da’Rel Scott – © USA TODAY Sports Images

RB David Wilson Injury Update: According to press reports, RB David Wilson visited with a neck specialist on Monday in Los Angeles to discuss his injured neck. The injury has supposedly been diagnosed as spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine) and a herniated disc. As of now, surgery is not recommended. It is believed that Wilson will have to sit out the next 3-4 weeks and see how the injury responds to treatment. If Wilson’s neck does not improve, the Giants could decided to shut Wilson down for the remainder of the season. In some cases, spinal stenosis can be career ending, but it is not believed that Wilson’s malady is that severe.

Hakeem Nicks Trade Rumors Persist: Reports and rumors that the Giants may be willing to listen to trade offers for WR Hakeem Nicks persist. Nicks will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and it is widely believed that he will be seeking a huge pay day on the open market. And Nicks has not gone out of his way to say he definitely wants to return. Unless the Giants decide to slap the Franchise Tag on him, they may risk losing him and only possibly receiving a compensatory draft pick in return.

The NFL’s trade deadline is October 29.

Newsday is reporting that “a source familiar with the team’s thinking said consideration is being given to moving the wide receiver” before the deadline. When the source was asked if such trade talk was “ludicrous” or “imminent,” the source responded, “Probably right in the middle.” However, the source also said he does not think Nicks will be traded.

The Daily News is reporting that a source indicated that the Giants do not expect to trade Nicks, but the source did tell the paper that the team will listen to offers for the receiver or any veteran player.

Kim Jones of The NFL Network tweeted on Monday, “There is no truth to rumors the Giants are shopping Hakeem Nicks or open to trading him.” Bob Papa of Giants and Sirius Radio, also says the Giants are not shopping Nicks.

Roster Moves – Da’Rel Scott Waived/Injured: The Giants waived/injured RB Da’Rel Scott on Tuesday. Scott injured his hamstring late in the game against the Chicago Bears last Thursday. The Giants did not immediately fill Scott’s roster spot.

The Giants also terminated the Practice Squad contract of LB Darin Drakeford, who was signed on October 8th.

New York Giants Work Out Running Backs: According to press reports, the Giants worked out running backs Ryan Torain (ex-Giants), Peyton Hillis (ex-Buccaneers), D.J. Ware (ex-Buccaneers), and Jeremy Wright (ex-Giants) on Tuesday. Ware also played for the Giants from 2007-2011; Wright is a rookie free agent who was with the Giants for a few weeks in May. All four backs reportedly will have team physicals on Wednesday.

DE Mathias Kiwanuka on ESPN Radio: The audio of Tuesday’s ESPN Radio interview with DE Mathias Kiwanuka is available at ESPN.com.

S Antrel Rolle on WFAN: The audio of Tuesday’s WFAN interview with S Antrel Rolle is available at CBSNewYork.com

Article on QB Eli Manning: QB greats: ‘Insane’ for Giants to replace Eli in draft by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Article on RB Michael Cox: Giants rookie Cox runs solo as absences mount by John DeMarzo of The New York Post

Article on WR Rueben Randle: Rueben Randle, Giants puzzle piece by Dan Graziano of ESPN.com

Mar 052010
 
Q&A: Running Back D.J. Ware

AD-Blaze:  Did the dislocated elbow in week 1 and the time off affect your rhythm for the 2009 season?

Yes. I guess so. I mean, I feel like I worked so hard and I was right where I wanted to be. I had a good preseason and the injury set me back. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t hold the ball. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t sleep. It hurt me.

Ed A:  After an injury-filled 2009 season, are you healthy now and do you plan on staying with the Giants?

Yes I’m healthy and yes they will tender me for the 2009 season. I plan on playing a very active role for the Giants this season.

GiantFilthy:  How intense is the competition between you and the other running backs on the team for playing time?

It’s definitely intense but we need each other and we work better because if we have guys rotating in with fresh legs it helps the team, but of course everyone wants to be that guy. It’s strenuous and gets intense but we leave it all on the field. We’re brothers off the field.

BlueLou:  How would you describe your relationship with the other Giant running backs – Jacobs, Bradshaw, Brown, and Johnson?

Brothers. We’re all brothers. We hang out as much as we can cause we realize we need each other. We try and spend as much time together as we can.

Fred in Atlanta:  The Giants running game seems to be by committee with different running backs playing different roles that play to their abilities. What role do you see for yourself on the Giants that is different from the other running backs and what do you see in the other running backs on the Giants that make them unique?

Jacobs – power downhill runner and is smart and knows everything.

Ahmad – small, shifty tough back that grinds out every yard he gets.  He’s a threat at all times.

Me – speed, can use power, run good routes and I pick up protections pretty well.

Andre – have seen tapes…he is a tough downhill runner, has speed to make people miss, run through people. He’s a north south type runner.

We all have the same qualities but are different in certain areas (running routes, run pass protection etc.).

Semipro Lineman:  What areas of your game have you been working on this off-season?  And how are your workouts coming along?

Workouts are going great, thanks. Getting stronger everyday. Getting to 220/225 (weight they want me to be). Working on pass protections, route running (to make it more crisp so that I don’t round off routes). Overall working on getting everything as sharp as I can.

Semipro Lineman:  Can you tell us what segment of the blitz-pickup assignment the running backs are responsible for?  By that I mean how much of it is pre-snap designation by the QB and how much of it is recognition by yourself in the back field?

Eli will give us signals and protection schemes. If he changes something on the play, our protection changes. It’s kind of hard but once you learn it, it sticks with you.

walterb:  The Giants do not throw to their backs often. What in your skill set could help change that? And, what does it take for a back to get open in passing routes, especially against the types of coverages NFL defenses throw at the Giants?

We’re kind of the last option. It’s our role to get open. We have a man-beater route to try and win. We’re the last option so that’s what it doesn’t come to us that often.

Optimus-NY:  About the fumble in the Denver game last Thanksgiving?  How did Coughlin and Ingram assess your problem on that play when they looked at the film?  Were you holding the ball wrong?  What was their evaluation?

It was just one of those things. It kills momentum. Us as RBs we hate it but there are those times that it happens and you can’t do anything. They were cool. They understand. They just tell me to cover the ball up at all times when I’m in traffic.

UberAlias:  What were the primary factors that led to the decline in rushing performance last season?

The defense was putting 8 and 9 guys in the box because they thought our wide receivers were young and couldn’t do much. Turns out they were wrong thanks to Steve, Hakeem, Mario, and the crew stepping up. Defenses were just trying to tell us we weren’t going to run the ball. We’re making great strides this year though.

UberAlias:  What are your thoughts on the CBA issues and general pulse on this among your contemporaries around the league?

Nobody wants a lockout but at the same time we want a fair deal. People have to make a fair living for what they are worth. A lot of us feel that we generate a ton of money for the NFL. I don’t really know how I feel, but I do know that I want to play ball and continue to do what I love. We trust they’re working hard to work something out.

rasbutant:  DJ, who are you break out players (1 for Offense and 1 for Defense) who you think will step in 2010?

Myself and Kenny Phillips. I think he’s gonna come back stronger than ever from his injury. He got cut short cause of his injury and I think he’s going to come back hungry.

SwirlingEddie:  What’s the biggest misconception the average fan has about the NFL and its players?

Football in itself is a game that takes a lot of skill and brainpower. I could break down different plays and responsibilities, but there’s just so much thinking in addition to the athleticism. It’s not just going out there hitting each other. There’s a lot more to it than that. I hope people don’t think we’re just dumb jocks, because we are also good people off the field too.

Mar 042010
 

BBI Online Live is an internet radio show dedicated exclusively to coverage of the New York Giants. The show is co-hosted by Eric Kennedy of BigBlueInteractive.com (BBI) and John McDevitt of Side Kick Productions. This week’s guests were New York Giants running back D.J. Ware and New York Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson. Coming off of the disappointing 2009 season, Eric and John also discussed the team’s personnel needs heading into free agency.