That was a surprising result and fun game to watch against a Rams defense that supposed to be a shutdown. Not surprising is that most of the post-game threads are about OBJ, Eli, and the Rams Headhunter, I mean headhunting, and deservedly so about Giants' phenomenal rookie, Eli's very good day, RR's very good day. There's another player who deserves props, although he didn't see that many snaps yesterday.
Preston Parker's role with this team this year I think has been way, way underestimated and underrated. It's popular on BBI to diss him as "at best a 4th WR" who adds nothing to the passing game. Folks pointed at "underrunning his route" on Eli's bad overthrow a few games back (when it was pretty clear it was a badly thrown ball, two yards deeper in his route or not).
I disagree strongly with these views: He doesn't have elite speed or size, he just consistently makes plays. No, Preston Parker hasn't done much, he's only given the Giants:
- the strongest, most consistent, balls to the wall KOR presence they've had in years (DW fumbled and was more of a long threat, but didn't have this consistency)
- an edginess on O, a "don't tread on me" attitude (along with OBJ), that has given the offense a chip, a nastiness that the O hasn't had in many years because of the Giants' tendency to draft/bring in' lily white (non-racial) good guys
- a consistent, sure-handed slot or WR look with tough YAC, and (notwithstanding the alleged short route) reliable route runner
- a teammate who doesn't hesitate to have his mates' backs
At the time of the OBJ out of bounds attack he led the offensive players who were on the field in defending OBJ and attacking the attackers, taking no shit from Gregg Williams' assassins. He's not and never will be a superstar, but a team doesn't need to have superstars at every position; he's one of those lunchpail guys who makes plays and is key to chemistry.
I love this kid being on the Giants, and I think McAdoo does too.
He earned his roster spot yesterday and I hope he is retained as the KR/4th WR next season.
I think he's been more than a decent backup receiver for us. He's definitely been reliable (for the most part besides that one game with all those drops) and a great team player.
However, getting thrown out of a game is not praise worthy. He is an Offensive starter, and has a respnsibility to the team. he lost his head and got thrown out. just not smart.
I like that this team won't be intimidated and has some fire, but they were all warned (Im sure) what STL was gonna do and try to do. You gotta be smarter than that.
I think he's been more than a decent backup receiver for us. He's definitely been reliable (for the most part besides that one game with all those drops) and a great team player.
If his role was as a 4th or 5th WR and special teams ace in the mold of Tyree or Willie Ponder, he could serve a very valuable role on this club going forward.
Technically, he has about 2x as many catches this year, if you count the times he has caught it off his chest.
Its a spot that needs to be upgraded.
However, getting thrown out of a game is not praise worthy. He is an Offensive starter, and has a respnsibility to the team. he lost his head and got thrown out. just not smart.
I like that this team won't be intimidated and has some fire, but they were all warned (Im sure) what STL was gonna do and try to do. You gotta be smarter than that.
He's a "starter" due to injuries. Standing up and protecting his star teammate who had taken multiple cheap shots at that point is absolutely praiseworthy.
While it was good to see NYG finally take their aggression up a couple levels and play with a chip on their shoulder, the demonstrative stuff and the histrionics often leads to damaging penalties. Thus, the coach saying Beckham needs to clean up some of the histrionics moving forward. There's really no debate on that front, even though many fans would prefer to look past it.
As he should be.
If Cruz and Jernigan didn't get hurt, Parker would be #5 on the depth chart. The fact that he's a #3 is solely due to injuries. I'll take him as the #5 any day.
The value added at ST, slot, WR and field and locker room presence is very, very significant.
While it was good to see NYG finally take their aggression up a couple levels and play with a chip on their shoulder, the demonstrative stuff and the histrionics often leads to damaging penalties. Thus, the coach saying Beckham needs to clean up some of the histrionics moving forward. There's really no debate on that front, even though many fans would prefer to look past it.
Jon, in the main, I agree. But I really think Headhunter's perspective is the better one: in a game meaningless to the Giants' post-season, as the team has none, Parker and OBJ gave the team some long, long needed personality and identity. I think TC had to be very pleased with that, part of the reason he didn't want to delve into the "has no place in the game" behavior.
This was, imo, very good for the team, some spine, some fight, some nastiness.
I agree. I'm hoping we sign/draft a better receiver to replace Randle and keep Parker as our 4th.
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I agree. I'm hoping we sign/draft a better receiver to replace Randle and keep Parker as our 4th.
Randle will be back. He's got 1 year left at a reasonable cap hit and little cap savings. How far along Cruz is in his rehab when FA rolls around will significantly impact their plans. I think they likely grab a solid vet to compete with Cruz/Randle for the 2-4 WR spots. Parker likely the #5 and then guys like Washington + late round pick/UDFA competing in camp.
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He is prone to some drops, and mental mistakes really need to be cleaned up.
While it was good to see NYG finally take their aggression up a couple levels and play with a chip on their shoulder, the demonstrative stuff and the histrionics often leads to damaging penalties. Thus, the coach saying Beckham needs to clean up some of the histrionics moving forward. There's really no debate on that front, even though many fans would prefer to look past it.
Jon, in the main, I agree. But I really think Headhunter's perspective is the better one: in a game meaningless to the Giants' post-season, as the team has none, Parker and OBJ gave the team some long, long needed personality and identity. I think TC had to be very pleased with that, part of the reason he didn't want to delve into the "has no place in the game" behavior.
This was, imo, very good for the team, some spine, some fight, some nastiness.
CHP, with that I don't disagree, and it's likely why TC tossed the blame over the fence to the Rams sideline. Hopefully, they learn to walk the line because no football will consistently survive 12+ penalties and 150 yards.
Jerrel Jernigan (this is not for you Jon, but for the poster who said PP wouldn't be starting were JJ and VC not on IR): really? A guy who is soft, always injured, has his own dropsies, who has been tried at KOR for years--the Giants REALLY wanted JJ to become the KOR guy--and he failed at all these chances. JJ, who would step up and have his teammates' back? That JJ? LOL
For a rational coaching staff, the only way JJ would make the team over a multi-mode contributor like PP is if its primary interest was to make the front office charged with picking him in the 3rd round look good.
Technically, he has about 2x as many catches this year, if you count the times he has caught it off his chest.
Its a spot that needs to be upgraded.
He was never supposed to be anything more than. 4-6. Decimated by injuries he was forced up the ladder. And Id take him over Jernigan 7 days a week
He has been above serviceable this year on ST and as a WR and while his snaps will likely go down to start next season, its great to know that you have someone on the bench who knows the system and has played reasonably well in it.
Loved the fact that he had Beckham's back yesterday -- wish him and Moore could have sustained from throwing punches and just gone with the the old rip the guys helmet off for 15 yards instead of suspension. Especially would have liked to have seen Damonstre get more reps given he seems to be a bigger part of the puzzle moving forward.
Junior Year: arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana
Senior Year: police found him along the road passed out behind the wheel of his car after a night of drinking and smoking dope.
Just took a look at this. That block had some nastiness behind it. Hines ward-esque. He just needs to improve on his consistency. Solid job otherwise.
Why would you assume they didn't?
Junior Year: arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana
Senior Year: police found him along the road passed out behind the wheel of his car after a night of drinking and smoking dope.
Dope you say?
Junior Year: arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana
Senior Year: police found him along the road passed out behind the wheel of his car after a night of drinking and smoking dope.
oipolloi, love you, man, because you know your football and not afraid to state an opinion, based on observation and logic, even if it's one some, many, or most disagree with, so:
"stealing a DVD player" - isn't that how Giants were able to draft Ahmad Bradshaw in the 6th Round. That pick is often used to demonstrate Reese's acumen, but fact of the matter is that it was a no-brainer. He's still one of my all-time favorite Giants (did you see his "heart" on the field in his last game this season before going, again, on IR?).
That is exactly what I mean when I refer to PP being a very desirable departure from the Giants' history of drafting lily white (non-racial) "good guys". You need a Parker in the locker room. Ok, concealed handgun (Plax--remember him), drunk behind the wheel...Christian Peter comes to mind, too. You need wahoos like LT, McConkey, Bradshaw, Archer, yeah, even Plax, who, we might recall, didn't come from the Steelers with exactly a pristine reputation.
I'm not trying to defend deviance or dangerous behavior, but BBI, comprising privileged folks who have the luxury of posting on an NFL team's message board, do many of us have a clue about the lives that many NFL players lived before being drafted or coming into the league as undrafted FAs?
Most of America does not live in a Mary Poppins, Jim Cramer, Jamie Dimon, George Bush, Michelle Obama, Tom Friedman, R&R (another Princeton guy) world of privilege (I know I'll regret penning this line). His "pedigree" at FSU precedes the immaculate Jameis Winston, who will cart off tens of millions when he signs his first pro contract.
Except I don't see any rape charges in that rap sheet, no battery, no assault, mostly crimes of youth and high spirits and bad judgement. The Giants need to lose their goodie two shoes persona, they'll be a lot more enjoyable to watch, as they were Sunday. The only thing PP did wrong was to protect the team's new most valuable asset.
And, oipolloi did a bit of crafty editing in Googling PP's past:
From Wiki:
"Throughout his career at Florida State, Parker gathered numerous charges. In November 2006, he was arrested after Tallahassee police said he tried to steal a DVD. He entered a diversionary program and the charge was later dismissed.[3] On April 2008, he was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm (felony) and possession of marijuana (misdemeanor).[4][5]
On January 2009, Parker was arrested for DUI after police found him passed out behind the wheel of his car. His blood alcohol content was 0.054, which is well below the Florida legal limit of 0.08. Police said a urine sample was a "presumptive positive" for marijuana.Police also stated that Parker admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana the night before.[6] With this being his third arrest, he was dismissed from the team.[3] He finished his collegiate career at the University of North Alabama.
We know police don't target young black males. Again, I don't condone the behavior, but the kid is making good on the field and good for the team we root for.
And why wasn't McDonald (#52) ejected, as the first player to be sent off? Terrible judgement by the refs.
He may not be a "good guy" yet but he isn't a criminal either.
Now, all of a sudden, people love him for his "fury" or intensity or getting a guy's back. Sorry, but a guy getting himself ejected is not something worthy of praise. If was half as good as some of you are making him out to be, then an ejection os the last thing you want. It is very possible to come to your teammates aid without getting ejected. What he did was stupid and irresponsible. When you couple it with overall inconsistent and mediocre play, what is the big deal? Ideally, he is a guy you have as a 5th WR, not playing a significant role each week.