Wednesday Reading

Giants

Macysyn CBS Radio: Giants Losing Talent Acquisition Battle To Eagles, Cowboys
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/10/21/giants-losing-talent-acquisition-battle-to-eagles-cowboys/

Powell NJ.com: Do the Giants have enough talent to be successful?
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/10/do_the_giants_have_enough_talent_to_be_successful.html

Powell NJ.com: Giants game-by-game prediction: Tough upcoming schedule puts them out playoff hunt
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/10/prediction_giants_tough_november_schedule_puts_them_out_of_the_playoff_hunt.html

Traina B/R: NY Giants: Booms and Busts at the Halfway Mark
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2236561-ny-giants-booms-and-busts-at-the-halfway-mark

Raanan NJ.com: QB Terrelle Pryor, WR Jon Baldwin, TE Tony Moeaki headline Giants bye week workout
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/10/qb_terrelle_pryor_wr_jon_baldwin_te_tony_moeaki_headline_giants_bye_week_workout.html

Hanzus NFL.com: 'Finding Giants' gave us access to Big Blue machine
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000415137/article/finding-giants-gave-us-access-to-big-blue-machine

RB

@art_stapleton: Best part of Finding Giants series imo is on now: fact they almost traded up to 1st pick of 4th rd for Andre Williams, but gambled + waited.

Willis NYP: Giants' Jennings issues reading challenge to students
http://nypost.com/2014/10/21/giants-jennings-issues-challenge-to-n-y-students/

WR

Samuel NYDN: With Victor Cruz out, NY Giants say Odell Beckham Jr.’s no rookie anymore
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/victor-cruz-giants-odell-beckham-jr-s-rookie-anymore-article-1.1982652

Schwartz NYP: The lofty expectations Giants threw at Odell Beckham Jr.
http://nypost.com/2014/10/21/the-lofty-expectations-giants-threw-at-odell-beckham-jr/

Graziano ESPN: Odell Beckham Jr.'s 'got that desire'
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/11738544/new-york-giants-tell-odell-beckham-jr-no-longer-rookie

Canavan AP: Giants rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. a rising star
http://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2014/10/21/giants-beckham-adapting/17684415/

Stapleton The Record: Giants' Victor Cruz talks about life on sidelines
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/giants-victor-cruz-talks-about-life-on-sidelines-1.1114399

TE

Powell NJ.com: Giants' Larry Donnell has to work on ball security, run blocking
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/10/giants_larry_donnell_has_to_work_on_ball_security_run_blocking_says_coach.html

G

Rock Newsday: Giants working Geoff Schwartz into game shape
http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/giants-working-geoff-schwartz-into-game-shape-1.9530263

DE

Schwartz NYP: Giants face costly decision with Pierre-Paul
http://nypost.com/2014/10/21/giants-face-costly-decision-with-pierre-paul/

DT

@ebenezersamuel: Bright spot in Dallas: Johnathan Hankins: Sixth positive run grade in seven games per @PFF, and he's fifth-ranked DT this season.

Bromley Giants.com:Jay Bromley's Rookie Blog: Goals for after the bye week
http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Jay-Bromleys-Rookie-Blog-Goals-for-after-the-bye-week/9017f0d5-2986-4f87-9bbe-fe3f10b040ab

MLB

Samuel NYDN: Jon Beason meets with foot specialist, NY Giants linebacker thinks he may take rest of 2014 off to heal
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/jon-beason-meets-foot-specialist-shut-rest-2014-article-1.1982293

Powell NJ.com: Giants' Jon Beason 50-50 to shut it down for the season because of injured foot
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/10/giants_jon_beason_hopes_to_play_against_the_colts_after_the_bye.html

NFL

Maske Wash Post: The demise of the Falcons, in NFL 1st and 10 weekend review...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2014/10/20/first-and-10-headline-tk-dont-exceed-three-lines-on-preview-week-7s-top-nfl-storylines/

Pelissero USA Today: A look at risk/reward of trading first-round picks for players, with help from Ron Wolf, Joe Banner and Mark Dominik.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/10/21/trade-first-round-picks-percy-harvin-seattle-seahawks/17694381/

Farmer LA Times: NFL to survey LA market in possible step toward team relocation
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-la-20141021-story.html

ATLANTA
Schein NFL.com: Mike Smith helped save Atlanta Falcons, but a change is in order
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000414246/article/mike-smith-helped-save-atlanta-falcons-but-a-change-is-in-order?campaign=Twitter_writers_schein

BALTIMORE
Wilson Bal Sun: Ray Rice files formal grievance against Ravens for wrongful termination, sources say
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ray-rice-files-formal-grievance-against-ravens-for-wrongful-termination-of-contract-sources-say-20141021-story.htm

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleve Plain Dealer: Cleveland Browns' Terrance West on losing to the 0-6 Jaguars: 'They wanted it more than we did' http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/10/cleveland_browns_terrance_west_2.html?utm_source=dlvr.it& utm_medium=twitter

DALLAS
George Dallas Morning News: Why handing out new contracts now would be a bad idea for 6-1 Cowboys
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20141021-why-handing-out-new-contracts-now-is-a-bad-idea-for-6-1-cowboys.ece

Helman Cowboys.com: Scout’s Eye: Zack Martin Grades Out The Best On Giants Tape; Escobar’s Role
http://goo.gl/Nn2gMF

Hill Fort Worth Star Telegram: Sack-starved Cowboys have high hopes for rookie DeMarcus Lawrence
http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/10/21/6218702/sack-starved-cowboys-have-high.html

DETROIT
Birkett Detroit Free Press: Reggie Bush's ankle is OK, but Lions run game is not
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2014/10/21/detroit-lions-rushing-offense/17667887/

GREEN BAY
Hendricks Mil JS: 3 Rodgerses at Lambeau Field
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/3-rodgerses-at-lambeau-field-b99372242z1-280013492.html?ipad=y

Dunne Mil JS: Six concussions forced Cap Burnett to give up football, so he helped his little brother make it to the NFL.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/loss-of-football-strengthens-bond-between-burnett-brothers-b99374994z1-280004142.html

INDIANAPOLIS
Keefer Ind Star: In Mathis' stead, Colts pass rush holding up just fine
http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/10/21/in-mathis-stead-colts-pass-rush-holding-up-just-fine/17677809/

NEW ENGLAND
Young Boston Globe: Patriots trade for Akeem Ayers, sign Alan Branch
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/10/21/patriots-trade-for-akeem-ayers-sign-alan-branch/OSMyEHjew70Td1JoF4cUbO/story.html

Reiss ESPN Boston: Gathering a few key points on Chandler Jones void after Boston Globe report that he'll miss about a month (hip).
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4770617/key-points-with-chandler-jones-void?ex_cid=espnapi_public

Layman Boston Herald: Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery pose tall task for Pats DBs
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2014/10/brandon_marshall_alshon_jeffery_pose_tall_task_for

Guregian Boston Herald: Patriots opponents take advantage over middle
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2014/10/patriots_opponents_take_advantage_over_middle

NEW ORLEANS
Terrell Nola.com: New Orleans Saints center Tim Lelito ready and waiting behind injured Jonathan Goodwin
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2014/10/tim_lelito_1.html

PHILADELPHIA
Hayes Phil.com: Eagles buy into Kelly's culture
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20141022_Eagles_buy_into_Kelly_s_culture.html

Berman Phil.com: Mychal Kendricks, Darren Sproles, Jason Kelce, Chris Polk all return to practice
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/Mychal-Kendricks-Darren-Sproles-Jason-Kelce-Chris-Polk-all-return-to-practice.html

Schorr Parks NJ.com: Eagles coach Chip Kelly on visiting Giants' Victor Cruz after injury: 'We're all competitors'
http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/10/chip_kelly_on_visiting_victor_cruz_after_injury.html

Lombardo NJ.com: Fletcher Cox: Giants' Weston Richburg deserved fine for 'dirty hit' vs. Eagles
http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/10/fletcher_cox_giants_weston_richburg_deserved_fine_for_dirty_hit.html

PITTSBURGH
Monson PFF:
What if I told you the best wide receiver in football was just 5’10, 186lbs? Not some 6’3, 220lb monster who destroyed defensive backs with physicality, but a guy who beat them the traditional way, by getting open and catching passes. That he is a former sixth round pick who at the time I remember thinking wouldn’t translate well to the NFL.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/10/22/analysis-notebook-week-7-4/

SEATTLE
Bowen B/R: Seahawks are dealing with some adversity & that's part of being a defending champ. But it's not time to panic.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2239629-seahawks-arent-perfect-but-thats-hardly-reason-to-panic

TAMPA BAY
Kaufman Tampa Bay Tribune: Home not sweet to Bucs so far this season
http://tbo.com/sports/bucs/home-not-sweet-to-bucs-so-far-this-season-20141022/

Auman Tampa Bay Times: NFL suspends Bucs' Da'Quan Bowers
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/nfl-suspends-bucs-daquan-bowers/2203101

WASHINGTON
Bulluck Wash Post: Here's why the Redskins are considering making changes along the offensive line
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/10/22/heres-why-the-redskins-are-considering-making-changes-along-the-offensive-line/

Clarke Wash Post: Redskins' running-game struggles rooted in multiple causes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/10/21/redskins-running-game-struggles-rooted-in-multiple-causes/

History

Borges Talk of Fame: Sharpe Argument for Hall Entry
http://www.talkoffamenetwork.com/sharpe-argument-for-hall-entry/

Today in Giants History 10-22

10-22-1927 Giants 13 Frankford Yellow Jackets 0
It was home and away, back to back games with the Frankford Yellow Jackets on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23. In game one the Giants traveled to Philadelphia where the neighborhood of Frankford was located. The identification with a close-knit neighborhood in the industrial part of Philadelphia was occasioned by football's early affiliation with small towns where clubs and teams were formed. Eventually the depression, a fire damaging their 9,000 seat stadium, and the city of Philadelphia's intention to build major road through where their stadium was located caused the franchise to fold after the 1931 season. Frankford had the best overall record in 1926 at 14-1-2, without a playoff format in existence they were champions of the NFL. However, during the offseason there were changes in management and the eventually the head coach, Guy Chamberlin also departed. The 1927 season found Frankford with new a head coach in Uncle Charlie Moran, but he had to hand off coaching duties to his son, Tom because Charlie was umpiring the 1927 World Series. As a result, Frankford struggled during the early season.

The Giants took the field at Frankford Stadium in front of a crowd 9,000 strong. The NYT described former Penn State star and Giants back Hunky Haines as having played a "whirlwind" of a game. After a scoreless first half, the passing of Jack McBride (Syracuse), the running of Haines, Phil White (Oklahoma) and the pass catching of Paul Jappe (Syracuse) made the difference for the Giants.

After the game the teams boarded a train for Sunday's game in New York.

10-22-1933 Giants 21 Brooklyn Dodgers 7
The 1933 game featured the services of the original Giants QB Jack McBride who had returned to the team, the current Giants QB Harry Newman and former Giants star QB Bennie Friedman, now with Brooklyn. The star though was Giants' rookie back Kink Richards formerly of Simpson College in Iowa. Richards rushed for 107 yards on the day including a 70 yard run to put the Giants ahead 21-0. Richards had sent a letter to Giants' coach Steve Owen over the summer telling of his college exploits, stating "I could be a pretty good back" and offering to pay his own expenses just for the opportunity to tryout. Owen wrote back, "Come on along." It would be the start of a seven year Giant career. Richards became the second Giant in history to rush for 100 yards, one week after his roommate Newman accomplished the feat.

10-22-1939 Giants 16 Chicago Bears 13
Two of the top teams in the NFL met at the Polo Grounds and well into the fourth quarter it was all Giants as they built a 16-0 lead. Ten of the points came on the strong leg of talented wingback Ward Cuff. On this day Cuff would kick field goals of 43, 40, and 24 yards as well as a XP. The most notable achievement for the Bears was a move that would instigate a late rally, and benefit the franchise for the next several years. Sid Luckman would move from halfback to quarterback and throw his first NFL touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. He would be the Bears quarterback throughout the 1940's in a career that would take him to the HOF.

10-22-1944 Giants 23 Chicago/Pittsburgh/Card-Pitt 0
Bill Paschal rushed for three touchdowns as the Giants defeated the merged franchises of Chicago and Pittsburgh known as the Card-Pitt or mockingly during their 0-10 season as the "carpets." During World War II there was a shortage of athletes to play professional football. The Steelers merged with the Eagles in 1943 to provide enough manpower to field a team. In 1944 they merged with the Cardinals, meaning home games were played in two different cities, two sets of coaching staffs, and unfortunately one group of players. On the first day of training camp in Waukesha, Wisconsin, six of fourth-five players collapsed with heat stroke. They were shutout in both exhibition games they played. Miraculously they led 28-23 against Cleveland in their opener in Pittsburgh, however the committee of coaches elected to punt from their one instead of taking a safety late in the game. The kick went 10 yards and Cleveland scored a touchdown for a 30-28 victory. The Card-Pitt had a respectable QB in Coley McDonough but he was drafted into the Army after the first game. Four other quarterbacks were used during the season, they combined for eight touchdowns and fourty-one interceptions.

The Card-Pitt did defeat the Giants in a exhibition on October 2, 17-16. Exhibition games on bye weeks were allowed to help teams through extra gate receipts.

Bill Paschal of the Giants was a most welcomed find in this era of manpower shortages. He was let out of Georgia Tech after playing two minutes in one season either because of a knee injury, or to support his family as railroad watchman. His discovery was either the product of a conversation between Steve Owen and Georgia Tech coach Bill Alexander during a train ride they shared where Owen mentioned he needed backfield help and Alexander later writing Owen about Paschal or he was recommended to the Giants by sportswriter Grantland Rice . The end result was no matter how he came to NY, he signed for $1,500 after a tryout and became the first NFL player to win back to back rushing titles in 1943 and 1944. Those two years were also his first two seasons in the league.

10-22-1950 Giants 17 Cleveland Browns 13
In a matchup of 4-1 teams, the Giants defeated the Browns for the second time in the 1950 season. At half the Giants trailed 13-3, the final score coming on a mental mistake by the Giants' return man Jim Ostendarp who let a kickoff hit the ground and roll to the Giants' one where the Browns recovered. Otto Graham the Browns' QB scored from there. However, a defense that intercepted Graham three times and tackled him behind the line of scrimmage eight times kept the Giants in the game. The Giants linemen Ray Poole and Al De Rogatis were his tormentors. In one series in the third quarter, Graham was tackled for a nine yard loss twice and intercepted on third down.

The strength the Giants' defense demonstrated should have come from a switch in tactics by the Giants designed specifically to stop the Browns. The Giants earlier in the season moved from a six man line to a 4-3-4 where the old six man front ends, Jim Poole and Jim Duncan would drop back to cover the flats, the four down linemen rushed the passer and contained the run, and the one true linebacker John Cannady was charged with stopping the fullback. It became known as the umbrella defense because if you watched it from high above it looked like an open umbrella.

However, once Giants' down linemen Arnie Weinmeister left the game with a knee injury, the ends no longer dropped back, instead Poole and company rushed the QB with great success.

Eventually the Giants running game produced results. The leading rusher on the day, was Joe Scott who used his speed on sweeps for 121 yards, and put the Giants up 17-13 with a two yard run in the fourth quarter. The run involved a bit of trickery as Giants' QB Charlie Conerly faked a handoff to FB Eddie Price and flipped the football behind his back to Scott who raced around end for the touchdown. Scott is still alive today at the age of 88.

10-22-1961 Giants 24 LA Rams 14
The 1-4 Rams gave the Giants all they could handle leading 14-10 entering the fourth quarter. The combination of Jon Arnett 118 yards rushing and Red Phillips 154 yards receiving appeared strong enough to cause an upset. However Charlie Conerly came off the Giants' bench to replace a struggling Y.A. Tittle, tossing two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the final one to former Ram Del Shofner to secure the victory.

10-22-1967 Green Bay 48 Giants 21
The Giants at 3-2 were tied for the division lead, already having tripled their win total from 1966, while the defending Super Bowl champion Packers were 3-1-1, coming off a shocking loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers would welcome back QB Bart Starr who had missed two weeks with a assortment of injuries. The Giants would get placekicker Pete Gogolak back from military leave.

Hopes were high that the Giants with a high powered offense featuring Fran Tarkenton were once again contenders. In the first half Tarkenton went 10 for 15 passing and confounded Green Bay with his scrambling, leading the Giants to a 14-10 halftime lead. He tossed touchdown passes to Homer Jones and Joe Morrison as the Giants seemed to have the momentum.

In their first drive of the second half, the Packers seemed to stall, but a pass interference penalty on third and long by the Giants gave them new life. The Packers went to a grinding ground attack with FB Jim Grabowski and HB Elijah Pitts leading a 249 yard team rushing effort. When the Packers' needed a key completion Starr was there completing passes of 28, 23, and 33 yards that set up rushing touchdowns. He also threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to Grabowski. The Packers scored on six out of seven opportunities in the second half and held Giants to 79 yards of offense.

10-22-1972 Giants 27 St. Louis Cardinals 21
The Giants overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to win their fourth straight game. The Cardinals had scored two touchdowns in last 65 seconds of the half. After a interception of Norm Snead, the Cards moved from their 37 on passes from Jim Hart and the rushing of Johnny Roland, with Roland scoring to make it 14-7. The Giants after the kickoff threw three long passes, all incomplete. Tom Blanchard's punt was blocked by the Cards' Conrad Dobler giving St. Louis first down at the Giants' eight with twenty-eight seconds left. A Hart completion and a Roland run made it 21-7

The second half comeback began with a LB Pat Hughes recovery of a Donnie Anderson fumble. Snead then found Don Herrmann in the end zone for a sixteen yard TD pass. Following the kickoff, the Cards were pushed back to their nine, where after Hart threw into a crowd, Spider Lockhart picked it off and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. The Cards then moved downfield, but a Richmond Flowers interception on the Giants' sixteen of a long pass ended that threat. Giants FB Charlie Evans gave the ball away with a fumble on the Giants' 37, but the Giant defense held and Jim Bakken missed a FG attempt from the nineteen.

The Giants then moved to the Cardinal nine, the key play being a long pass from Snead to TE Bob Tucker. A Pete Gogolak FG gave the Giants the lead 24-21. They then forced a punt and the subsequent drive led to another Gogolak FG. The Giants PK had been mired in a slump in recent weeks.

The Giants held again and appeared to have the game in control when Evans fumbled again at the Cardinal 48 with 55 seconds left on fourth and inches. However the Giants new defensive star, DE Jack Gregory sacked Hart for a ten yard loss and his pressure led to a subsequent final incompletion.

10-22-1978 Giants 17 Washington 6
Could it be eight games into the season the Giants find themselves 5-3? Is it possible a team can win when their QB Joe Pisarcik goes 3-10 for 111 yards? They both happened on 10-22-1978. The Giants on the road trailed Washington 6-0 at the half. It was the Giants' defensive front of George Martin, John Mendenhall, Troy Archer (two sacks), and Jack Gregory that kept things close sacking Billy Kilmer six times. Mendenhall at the age of 28 who had been part of many losing campaigns while being a standout when healthy, had three sacks of his own causing two fumbles. He took particular joy in the victory after so many years of Redskin coach George Allen running up the score against the Giants.

Another Giant star was Ray Rhodes, converted from WR to CB just eight weeks prior. he had a fumble recovery and his first interception since 11th grade. Bill Bryant the other CB who was burned three times by the 49ers the previous week had five deflected passes and made five tackles.

10-22-1989 Giants 20 San Diego 13
The mistake prone but now 7-1 Giants overcome their miscues and a sprained knee to TE Mark Bavaro to defeat their old nemesis Jim McMahon and the Chargers. The Chargers had a chance with the ball on their 40 late in the game, but consecutive false starts, a Erik Howard sack (the Giants first of the day), and two incompletions including overthrows of the speedy Anthony Miller and Wayne Walker ended the game.
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/23/sports/sloppy-giants-hold-on.html

10-22-2001 Philadelphia 10 Giants 9
The Giants surrendered a 9-0 lead and despite controlling the clock for three quarters, their settling for FG's came to haunt them as the Eagles rallied late.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/games/2001-10-22-phi-nyg.htm