Friday Reading

Giants

Raanan NJ.com: Projected Giants starters and where they rank in average age
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/07/projected_giants_starters_and_where_they_rank_in_a.html

RB

Traina Inside Football: Blog Bits RB Andre Williams
http://insidefootball.com/2015/07/03/blog-bits-rb-andre-williams/

WR

Popkin Men's Fitness: New York Giants Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Talks Training and Nutrition
http://www.mensfitness.com/life/sports/new-york-giants-receiver-odell-beckham-jr-talks-training-and-nutrition

OLB

Traina Inside Football: Blog Bits LB Devon Kennard
http://insidefootball.com/2015/07/02/blog-bits-lb-devon-kennard/

Giants.com: LB Devon Kennard checks in from Arizona in this episode of BigBlueUncut! Watch:
http://www.giants.com/videos/videos/Big-Blue-Uncut-LB-Devon-Kennard/c54d1c0d-4afd-4cb8-8d61-c33044e1e26a

NFL

Benoit MMQB: Ranking NFL Quarterbacks
From Aaron and Andrew to Wilson and Winston, here's how the starting quarterbacks for all 32 teams stack up heading into summer training camp
"11. Eli Manning, Giants
Certified field general with the willingness and ability to spot tight windows and thread the ball through."

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/07/03/nfl-quarterback-rankings/

Miller B/R: NFL 1000: Ranking the top 35 3-4 outside linebackers from 2014
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2503718-br-nfl-1000-ranking-the-top-35-3-4-outside-linebackers-from-2014

Miller B/R: B/R NFL 1000: Top 60 Inside Linebackers
"Jameel McClain New York Giants
51/100

Run Defense: 11/30; Pass Rush: 3/10; Coverage: 8/20; Tackling: 26/35; Starter: 3/5

After six seasons with the Ravens, Jameel McClain moved on to the Giants in 2014. Taking on more snaps, McClain produced a high number of tackles, despite struggling against the run. He is athletic and able to pursue agile ball-carriers. McClain struggled in the box and was overpowered by interior linemen. He needs to regain strength and work on getting in position to make more plays before backs get downfield.

50. J.T. Thomas, New York Giants

Run Defense12/30

J.T. Thomas struggled against the run in 2014 and will need to show the Giants that he is able to take on and shed blockers. Thomas plays fast and has the ability to play both inside and outside linebacker. Using his burst, Thomas is able to shoot gaps and disrupt runners but is not always in position to make stops.

Pass Rush3/10

The strength to Thomas’ game is his flexibility to play different positions, which is the same skill set that allows him to be a good rusher. Thomas is quick enough to get outside and strong enough to get linemen off balance.

Coverage10/20

In man coverage Thomas is not able to use his speed as well as he should, but his two interceptions show that he is capable of making plays on the ball. He just needs to work on being in position to make those plays.

Tackling28/35

Thomas missed six tackles in 2014 but only played in just over 400 snaps. Thomas needs to play with more strength and make sure he is making good first contact to bring down runners. Thomas was able to force two fumbles this season when making good contact.

Starter3/5

Coach Gus Bradley loved what he saw out of Thomas, and the Giants are in need of someone who can play inside and outside linebacker. Thomas will be looking to catch on as a starter and solidify himself as a regular player.

Overall56/100"

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2505986-br-nfl-1000-top-60-inside-linebackers

DALLAS
Horn Dallas Morning News: How Cowboys will try to deal with Rolando McClain's 4-game suspension
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150702-horn-how-cowboys-will-try-to-deal-with-rolando-mcclain-s-4-game-suspension.ece

Sherrington Dallas Morning News: Shame on Cowboys fans who believe Rolando McClain
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-cowboys/headlines/20150702-sherrington-rolando-mcclain-s-suspension-shouldn-t-surprise-cowboys-anyone.ece

OAKLAND
Williams NBC Bay Area: Raiders' Offensive Line May be Team's Undervalued Strength
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Raiders-Offensive-Line-May-be-Teams-Undervalued-Strength-311454091.html

PITTSBURGH
Pitt Post Gazette: Brown and WR's key to explosive offense for Steelers
http://sportsblogs.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers-steelers-blog/2015/07/02/Brown-and-WRs-key-to-explosive-offense-for-Steelers.html

ST. LOUIS
Rang CBS Sports: Finding the fits, Rams hoping Jamon Brown provides iron at RG
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25231517/finding-the-fits-rams-hoping-jamon-brown-provides-iron-at-rg

SAN DIEGO
Williams UTSD: It's all falling apart for the Chargers
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/02/chargers-falling-apart/

WASHINGTON
Boswell Wash Post: Time for some straight talk, Redskins most likely will be bad for awhile
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/time-for-some-straight-talk-redskins-most-likely-will-be-bad-for-a-while/2015/07/02/1f9dc086-20e5-11e5-84d5-eb37ee8eaa61_story.html?postshare=7721435885901446

CFL

Montreal Gazette: Stampeders Coach and GM Hufnagel is the standard of excellence
http://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/stampeders-coach-and-gm-hufnagel-is-the-standard-of-exellence

Draft

Rang CBS Sports: Seven players declared eligible for 2015 Supplemental draft...a review
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25231638/nfl-seven-players-declared-eligible-for-2015-supplemental-draft


History

Birkett Detroit Free Press: Lions legend Charlie Sanders dies at 68
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/07/02/charlie-sanders-death-detroit-lions/29634347/

Sharp Detroit Free Press: Charlie Sanders was great for Lions on field, after Hall of Fame career
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/drew-sharp/2015/07/02/charlie-sanders-detroit-lions-drew-sharp/29655995/

Hague NJ.com: OBIT: Ex-Giant Tom Longo dies, 73
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/football/former-giant-longo-dies-73-1.1368033

Some thoughts on Longo:

Longo from Lyndhurst, New Jersey was a standout high school player. He would go onto Notre Dame. Initially he would begin as a quarterback, then was moved to defense where he would start in the secondary at cornerback and be a member of the 1966 Championship team.

Longo's contributions were part of Ara Parseghian's pushing the Notre Dame hierarchy to make more scholarships available

"When Ara came to Notre Dame, the Irish were far behind in the scholarship arms race. It started with the neutering of Leahy and Notre Dame didn’t wake up until Ara. When Parseghian came in he convinced Hesburgh to increase scholarships from 24 to 34. Still far behind the land grant schools, but that move gave Notre Dame a chance to build a program and, importantly, signaled that Notre Dame was serious about competing again.

Parseghian continued to push the administration along, earning concessions where Brennan and Kuharich failed. When he learned that Nick Rassas didn’t have a scholarship, Ara called up Father Joyce and said “I’m sitting here with Nick Rassas and he tells me he doesn’t even have a scholarship. I think he should have one.” Joyce took care of it. When Rassas told him Tony Carey deserved a medical red-shirt, Ara purportedly called Joyce again and Joyce handled it. Then he did the same with Tom Longo."
http://ndnation.com/archives/3722

Carey, Rassas and Longo were to become important parts of the secondary. At Notre Dame Longo completed against the best, the great athletes of USC, the loaded Michigan State team featuring Clint Jones...his performance led him to being drafted by the Eagles. Waived he signed on with the Giants affiliated minor league Westchester Bulls and learned the nuances playing safety.

After impressing with the minor league Westchester Bulls, he was signed by the Giants in 1969. Longo recovered two Steeler fumbles on punt returns in a 10-7 Giants win. When starting FS Spider Lockhart suffered a dislocated shoulder, Longo earned playing time at FS. head Coach Alex Webster called him "rugged and determined."

The Giants met the explosive Dallas Cowboys that very week and it took a 19 point fourth quarter Dallas eruption to put the game away 25-3. Longo was credited by the NY Times with 11 tackles and 11 assists. When Lockhart was ready to return in early November Webster kept Longo ahead of him in the starting lineup claiming the secondary had been in recent weeks the best part of the team. Longo according to Webster "is strong and playing well." Longo also continued to impress on special teams as well, his recovered fumble off a Cardinal punt return set up the first score in the Giants feel good 49-6 rout of St. Louis to close the season.

By the end of the season Lockhart had regained his starting position but the Giants secondary was regarded as the team's most talented and deepest position. So much so that trades were speculated using that depth to improve the all too many weak areas of the team. Longo was thought to be in line for a starting spot in 1970. With 1969 fourth round pick Rich Houston, Jim Holifield and Al Brenner, veterans Willie Williams, Bruce Maher, Scott Eaton, and even Lockhart were speculated as trade bait.

There would be no trades in the 1968-1970 offseason, but when Maher the SS retired to his home in Detroit when the Giants did not meet his contract requests, a spot opened. Unfortunately in preseason Longo suffered a chipped vertebrae pacing him on injured waivers. Once the season started he suffered a broken knuckle but the injuries only delayed but did not stop the determined Longo from gaining the starting SS slot.
The Giants after a 0-3 start were the surprise of the NFL and Longo contributed. Against the Jets with the Giants leading 19-10, TE Pete Lammons batted a away a uncatchable pass to keep the Giants from intercepting but there surprisingly was Longo to intercept at the Giants one. The Jets would not threaten again as the Giants winning streak continued. Longo would add another interception that season as the Giants went 9-5.

The small rosters and the need to play kept players on the margins uncomfortably aware of how tenuous a NFL roster spot was. A injured ankle in the 1971 preseason placed Longo on the taxi squad. The Giants then made one of their bizarre trades sending a 1972 number one pick to the Bears for Bob Hyland and Bennie McRae. With McRae a aging veteran available at LCB, Eaton could be moved to SS when healthy. The versatility of young Giants DB's Joe Green and Pete Athas left Longo strictly a SS vulnerable. When injuries caused the inevitable roster crunch, Webster reluctantly told the popular Longo that he had to release him. Webster said, "this is the toughest part of a coach's job...Here's a guy of the type you wished you had 40 on your team...he's here at the stadium working out, busting his back, on a day off for everybody else. he's a local kid everybody likes. But you just can't afford sentiment in these situations."

So Longo was waived but picked up by the Cardinals as his NFL career would come to close in 1971.

Stein NJ Herald: Eleven's hour: Giants legend Simms mentored Pangborn, local players
http://www.njherald.com/story/29457679/elevens-hour-giants-legend-simms-mentored-pangborn-local-players

Williams AP Detroit News: Former NFL star Reggie McKenzie tackles overgrown field for camp
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2015/07/02/former-nfl-star-tackles-overgrown-field/29645213/

Tanier B/R: First in War, Third in the AAFC: The Story of Pro Football's Yankees and Dodgers
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2511021-first-in-war-third-in-the-aafc-the-story-of-pro-footballs-yankees-and-dodgers

King MMQB: One Team, 25 Years On
In 2011, Sports Illustrated conducted a first-ever comprehensive survey of football's long-term effects on an entire NFL roster. We polled the former members of the 1986 Bengals, whose physical and psychological conditions a quarter century later ranged from near complete normalcy to near total disability
http://mmqb.si.com/2015/07/02/nfl-cincinnati-bengals-1986/