Dec 022014
 
Geoff Schwartz, New York Giants (November 30, 2014)

Geoff Schwartz – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Giants Place Five Players on Injured Reserve: The New York Giants placed the following players on season-ending Injured Reserve on Tuesday:

  • OG Geoff Schwartz (ankle)
  • OG Adam Snyder (knee)
  • DE Mathias Kiwanuka (knee)
  • DE Robert Ayers (pectoral)
  • LB Terrell Manning (ankle)

The Giants now have 19 players on Injured Reserve and one more (CB Bennett Jackson) on the Practice Squad/Injured Reserve.

Although the Giants placed five players on Injured Reserve, the team can replace only four on the roster. Terrell Manning was signed last week from the Cincinnati Bengals’ Practice Squad. According to NFL rules, he cannot be replaced on the 53-man roster for three weeks after moving from a Practice Squad to the 53-man roster, even if he is placed on Injured Reserve.

To fill the four open vacancies, the Giants signed:

  • RB Chris Ogbonnaya (ex-Rams, Texans, Browns, Panthers)
  • OG Eric Herman (Giants Practice Squad)
  • DT Dominique Hamilton (Giants Practice Squad)
  • LB James Davidson (Giants Practice Squad)

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 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.

Herman was signed to the Practice Squad in September 2014 after being suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Herman also spent most of 2013 on the Practice Squad before being added to the active roster in late December. Herman was drafted in the 7th round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Giants. Herman is a big, strong mauler who struggled with quickness and speed at the collegiate level. He needs to develop as a pass blocker in order to make it in the NFL.

Dominique Hamilton was signed to the Practice Squad in September 2014. Hamilton originally signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2012 NFL Draft. The Raiders cut him and was on NFL practice squads in 2012 (Redskins) and 2013 (Redskins and Chiefs). The Chiefs waived him in August 2014. Hamilton looks the part with excellent size and long arms. He’s not overly quick or agile. Hamilton is a better run defender than pass rusher.

The Giants signed James Davidson to the Practice Squad in September 2014. Davidson was originally signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as a rookie free agent after the 2014 NFL Draft. He was waived on August 26. Davidson was an undersized collegiate defensive end who projects to linebacker at the pro level. Whether he has the overall athleticism and instincts for the position remains to be seen. Obviously, he is a project.

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

Giants Sign Three Players to the Practice Squad: To fill the Practice Squad vacancies created by signing OG Eric Herman, DT Dominique Hamilton, and LB James Davidson to the 53-man roster, the New York Giants signed the following players to the Practice Squad on Tuesday:

  • DE Jordan Stanton
  • LB Paul Hazel
  • OG Rishaw Johnson

Jordan Stanton was originally signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2014 NFL Draft. Stanton was signed to the Practice Squad in August 2014 but cut on September 16. Stanton earned All-Colonial Athletic Association accolades for recording 56 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 8 sacks in 2013. Stanton has decent size and flashes some ability, but he did not really standout in the 2014 preseason.

Paul Hazel was originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft. He was claimed by the Browns after the Jaguars waived him and he played in 13 games in 2013 for Cleveland. The Texans then claimed Hazel off of waivers from the Browns in March 2014, but he did not make the team. Hazel is a tall, thin pass rusher.

Rishaw Johnson was signed as a rookie free agent by the Seattle Seahawks after the 2013 NFL Draft. Since then, he has spent time Chiefs (2013), Buccaneers (2014), Cowboys (2014), and Packers (2014). Johnson is a strong player with decent size who needs to improve his pass blocking.

S Antrel Rolle on WFAN Radio: The audio of Tuesday’s WFAN interview with S Antrel Rolle is available at CBS New York

Article on S Antrel Rolle: Antrel Rolle’s contract is up, but he has ‘a lot in the tank’ by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Articles on General Manager Jerry Reese:

Article on Giants Chairman/Executive Vice President Steve Tisch: Giants co-owner takes some of the heat off Tom Coughlin by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Article on the Giants-Jaguars Game: Film Room Week 13: Blake Bortles’ read-option bootlegs on final drive vs. Giants by Nick Klopsis of Newsday

Notes: The Giants have lost their last three games by a total of 10 points.

The last two games marked the first time in their history the Giants lost consecutive games after leading by 11 or more points at halftime in each.

The Giants have been outscored in the third quarter, 109-34, a 75-point differential that is the league’s worst.