Wednesday Reading

Giants

Traina B/R: 5 Key Players Returning from Injury That the NY Giants Must Have Healthy in 2015
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2467973-5-key-players-returning-from-injury-the-ny-giants-must-have-healthy-in-2015

QB

Graziano ESPN: Tannehill deal is the latest evidence that Eli Manning is wise to wait
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-giants/post/_/id/42644/tannehill-deal-is-the-latest-evidence-that-eli-manning-is-wise-to-wait

C

Raanan NJ.com: What CFL import Brett Jones views as his biggest challenge with Giants
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/05/what_cfl_import_brett_jones_views_as_his_biggest_c.html

DE

Rang CBS Sports: Finding the Fits: Giants' Odighizuwa a name to remember
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25189542/finding-the-fits-giants-odighizuwa-a-name-to-remember

PK

Eisen Giants.com: Kicker Josh Brown excited for new extra point rules
http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Kicker-Josh-Brown-excited-for-new-extra-point-rules/44a2661a-89a8-463b-ac57-815a80c8a8b2

@art_stapleton: With PATs now 33-yard attempts, Giants K Josh Brown is 81-of-91 in his career between 30-39 yards ... including 16-of-17 with #NYG.


NFL

King MMQB: Don’t Grow Attached to the NFL’s New PAT Rule
Pushing back the extra point 13 yards is a huge step for the league, but the tinkering might not have ended when the owners passed the new rule. Plus, news on future Super Bowls, Robert Kraft's decision to stand down and mail
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/20/nfl-extra-point-new-rule-passes/

Maske Wash Post: Robert Kraft does what's good for NFL's business in accepting Patriots deflategate penalties
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/05/19/robert-kraft-does-whats-good-for-nfls-business-in-accepting-patriots-deflategate-penalties/

Verhei Football Outsiders: Four Downs: NFC East
"New York Giants
Biggest Post-Draft Weakness: Linebacker
The Giants were trampled on the ground last season, finishing 27th in Football Outsiders' DVOA metric for run defense. A look at our front seven statistics shows that aside from a mediocre ability to prevent short-yardage conversions, they struggled in virtually all areas of run defense. They didn’t tackle opponents for a loss very often (27th in Stuff Rate), gave up too many medium-length runs (31st in Second-Level Yards), and were burned by long runs too (29th in Open-Field Yards).
Giants linebackers also failed in pass coverage, ranking 20th in coverage against running backs, 25th against tight ends, and last by a wide margin in passes thrown to the short middle area of the field.
Jacquian Williams, perhaps the team's best linebacker when healthy last year (he missed seven games with a concussion), was not re-signed after the season. That leaves the middle linebacker spot to either Jon Beason, who missed most of 2014 with a toe injury, or Jameel McClain, whose average run tackle last year came 4.2 yards downfield. That ranked 72nd among qualifying linebackers. Both Beason and McClain will be 30 years old by the time the season starts. The top option outside will be J.T. Thomas, who was effective at times for Jacksonville last season, but there's a reason the Giants will be his third team in four years. On the opposite side, possible starters include 2014 fifth-rounder Devon Kennard, longtime backup Mark Herzlich, or new arrival Jonathan Casillas, who played primarily special teams for Tampa Bay and New England the last couple seasons.
Key Undrafted Free Agents: Maryland linebacker Cole Farrand has a chance to stick around, if only because New York's status at that position is so dire. Purdue running back Akeem Hunt could bring the home run back to a Giants team that ranked 28th in Open-Field Yardslast season. He averaged 5.5 yards per rush in his Big Ten career, and also returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns. Lineman Brett Jones is not technically a rookie—he was the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie in 2013, and its Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman last year. He played center in Canada, but will be moving to guard in New York. Richmond wide receiver Ben Edwards was a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Conference first team selection, leading the CAA with 80 receptions as a junior and adding 74 more as a senior. Southern Connecticut State defensive tackle Carlif Taylor was a two-time All-Northeast-10 Conference selection."
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/four-downs/2015/four-downs-nfc-east-0

Corry CBS Sports: Agent's Take: Forecasting WR market for Dez, Demaryius, Julio and A.J.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25189843/agents-take-forecasting-wr-market-for-dez-demaryius-julio-and-aj

PFF: PFF’s Top 101 of 2014: 10 to 1
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/19/pffs-top-101-of-2014-10-to-1/

Kahler MMQB: The Future of the Draft
The commissioner was kidding when he said, 'Seven rounds, seven days, seven states,' right? While that is extreme, the idea of a single-venue experience is all but over after Chicago's rousing display. So where to next: L.A.? Boston? Dallas?
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/20/nfl-draft-future-chicago-los-angeles/


BUFFALO
Carucci Buffalo News: Bills notebook: Greg Roman says EJ Manuel’s still in the thick of a wide-open QB race
http://bills.buffalonews.com/2015/05/19/bills-notebook-greg-roman-says-ej-manuels-still-in-the-thick-of-a-wide-open-qb-race/

CAROLINA
Person Charlotte Observer: Panthers’ Thomas Davis takes 180 mph spin with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article21408987.html

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleve Plain Dealer: Browns' Chris Tabor thinks longer PAT hurts cold-weather teams more
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/05/browns_special_teams_coordinat.html?utm_source=dlvr.it& utm_medium=twitter

DALLAS
Gosselin Dallas Morning News: Cowboys found a hidden gem in Romo; have they discovered another?
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/columnists/rick-gosselin/20150519-gosselin-cowboys-found-a-hidden-gem-in-romo-have-they-discovered-another.ece

DENVER
Jhabalva Denver Post: Broncos kicker Barth doesn't like NFL's new rules on extra points
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_28148509/broncos-connor-barth-not-happy-nfls-pat-change

GREEN BAY
Reischel Mil JS: Interesting future awaits Packers rookie QB Brett Hundley
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/interesting-future-awaits-packers-rookie-qb-brett-hundley-b99500152z1-304378881.html?ipad=y

Dunne Mil JS: Plans for inside linebacker drafted a bit later
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/plans-for-inside-linebacker-drafted-a-bit-later-b99503639z1-304355821.html?ipad=y

INDIANAPOLIS
Holder Ind Star: Todd Herremans at right tackle? Colts could do worse
http://www.indystar.com/story/colts-insider/2015/05/19/colts-offensive-line-todd-herremans/27573379/

MIAMI
Beasley Miami Herald: Ryan Tannehill's new deal with Miami Dolphins has risk and reward
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article21413535.html

Salguero Miami Herald: New blog. Agent's view: How the Ryan Tannehill deal happened:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2015/05/agents-view-how-the-tannehill-deal-happened.html

NEW ENGLAND
Volin Boston Globe: Robert Kraft says Patriots won’t appeal Deflategate punishment
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/05/19/robert-kraft-deflategate/QMbGil3hhmzkbl9VGaFHsN/story.html

NEW ORLEANS
Holder Nola.com: Dustin Hopkins, Zach Hocker next up in Saints kicking carousel
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/05/dustin_hopkins_zach_hocker_hop.html

Terrell Nola.com: Saints rookie Hau'oli Kikaha says playing special teams would be 'awesome'
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/05/kikaha_3.html

OAKLAND
Durkin San Jose Mercury News: Injured Raiders quarterback Derek Carr sidelined; may require surgery
http://www.mercurynews.com/raiders/ci_28148327/raiders-quarterback-derek-carr-sidelined-by-mysterious-injury

PHILADELPHIA
Berman Phil.com: Early Birds: State of the Roster: Running back
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/Early-Birds-State-of-the-roster-Running-back.html

SAN DIEGO
Williams ESPN SD: San Diego Chargers add ex St. Louis Rams RT Joe Barksdale
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12914109/san-diego-chargers-add-ex-st-louis-rams-rt-joe-barksdale

Krasovic UTSD: Telesco stirs OL pot with Barksdale
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/may/19/barksdale-chargers-nfl-draft-raiders-rams-telesco/

SAN FRANCISCO
Maiocco CSN Bay Area: 49ers' Justin Smith: 'You don't have the tools, you can't do the job'
http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-smith-you-dont-have-tools-you-cant-do-job

Branch SF Chronicle: Dead-eye Dawson: 49ers K has flourished from NFL's new PAT spot
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Dead-eye-Dawson-49ers-K-has-flourished-from-6274324.php

TENNESSEE
Glennon The Tennessean: Titans rookie Tre McBride uses draft snub as motivation
http://www.tennessean.com/story/titansinsider/2015/05/19/titans-rookie-tre-mcbride-using-draft-snub-motivation/27598435/

WASHINGTON
Jones Wash Post: Redskins mailbag: Rookies who impressed, why Robert Griffin III and the 2012 offense aren’t coming back, and why La’el Collins wasn’t drafted
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2015/05/19/redskins-mailbag-which-rookies-impressed-why-robert-griffin-iii-and-the-2012-offense-arent-coming-back-and-why-lael-collins-wasnt-drafted/

History

Football Perspective: Guest Post: Brad Oremland’s Best QBs in History: Pre-Modern Era
http://www.footballperspective.com/guest-post-brad-oremlands-best-qbs-in-history-pre-modern-era/

Pelissero USA Today: Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson sympathizes with Brady
http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/05/20/hall-of-fame-qb-sympathizes-with-tom-brady-deflategate-nfl/27630621/

Former Giants News

Clark NJ.com: Giants Hall of Famer gives spirited sendoff to FDU grads
http://www.nj.com/education/2015/05/fdu_students_graduate_at_metlife_stadium.html