Giants
Duggan The Athletic: Beckham’s progress, pass rush concerns and 11 other observations ahead of Giants training camp
https://theathletic.com/396176/2018/06/17/beckhams-progress-pass-rush-concerns-and-11-other-observations-ahead-of-giants-training-camp/
Lombardo NJ.com: Giants 53-man roster prediction | How is team shaping up post-minicamp?
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2018/06/giants_53-man_roster_prediction_how_is_team_shapin.html
Traina Inside Football: New York Giants Reader Mailbag: Post Offseason Program Edition
https://insidefootball.com/new-york-giants-reader-mailbag-post-offseason-program-edition/
WR
Dunleavy NJ.com: Jonathan Stewart's experience in Odell Beckham's shoes | Negotiating with Giants GM Dave Gettleman
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2018/06/jonathan_stewarts_experience_in_odell_beckhams_sho.html
NFL
Breer MMQB: In case you didn't know, Andrew Luck is throwing a football again. But here's why it's different than seemingly every other time he's attempted to come back from injury. Also, Mike McCarthy explains a longtime Packers minicamp tradition, Norv Turner's ideal situation in Carolina, why so many players are holding out from minicamps this year and more.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/06/18/andrew-luck-colts-nfl-minicamp-mike-mccarthy-packers-norv-turner-panthers
Stuart Football Perspective: Has Jordy Nelson Been As Valuable to Rodgers as Gronk Has Been To Brady?
http://www.footballperspective.com/has-jordy-nelson-been-as-valuable-to-rodgers-as-gronk-has-been-to-brady/
CAROLINA
Rodrigue Charlotte Observer: Intriguing Panthers, position by position, as team transitions from OTAs to camp
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article213258709.html
CINCINNATI
Morrison Dayton Daily News: Cincinnati Bengals: 5 takeaways from the offseason program
https://www.mydaytondailynews.com/sports/cincinnati-bengals-takeaways-from-the-offseason-program/loTp5qEN9SWU2AAwnrJzLI/amp.html
CLEVELAND
Pluto Cleveland Plain Dealer: Cleveland Browns: Story behind off-season moves
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2018/06/cleveland_browns_story_behind.html
DENVER
Denver Post: How will Broncos adapt to new NFL kickoff rules?: “Oh, we’ve got a secret plan for that.”
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/17/denver-broncos-nfl-kickoff-return-coverage-rules/
HOUSTON
McClain Houston Chronicle: GM Brian Gaine says Texans’ makeover a culture change
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/amp/GM-Brian-Gaine-Texans-makeover-culture-change-13002016.php
JACKSONVILLE
Reid Florida Times Union: Fowler ready to prove his worth to Jaguars
http://www.gainesville.com/news/20180617/fowler-ready-to-prove-his-worth-to-jaguars?
Kaye WTLV Jacksonville: FATHERHOOD HAS HELPED JAGUARS LS CARSON TINKER APPRECIATE LAST YEAR'S SEASON-ENDING INJURY
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/sports/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/fatherhood-has-helped-jaguars-ls-carson-tinker-appreciate-last-years-season-ending-injury/77-564662849
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Thiry ESPN LA: Aaron Donald wants to reset the market for non-QBs
http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/130063/aaron-donald-wants-to-reset-the-market-for-non-qbs
MINNESOTA
Coller ESPN 1500 Minn: A look at recent contracts that could affect Diggs, Hunter and Barr’s negotiations
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/06/look-recent-contracts-affect-diggs-hunter-barrs-negotiations/
NEW ENGLAND
Yang Boston Globe: 5 takeaways from Tom Brady’s interview with Oprah
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2018/06/17/takeaways-from-tom-brady-interview-with-oprah/IE5VxsLJyIXco2sPrOhZNI/story.html
Thomas Forbes.com: Rising Tide Awaits Patriots Guard Shaq Mason In 2019 NFL Free Agency
https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverthomas/2018/06/18/nfls-rising-tide-awaits-patriots-guard-shaq-mason-in-2019-free-agency/amp/
NEW ORLEANS
Holder Nola.com: 10 Saints players to remember when training camp arrives
https://www.nola.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/06/00951ac3e23398/10_saints_players_to_remember.html
Erickson NO Advocate: Native son Arthur Maulet 'tremendously improved,' 'fighting for a spot' with Saints
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/saints/article_4c79effc-725f-11e8-a32f-0f9f88b3ddf1.amp.html
PHILADELPHIA
Rosenblatt NJ.com: Eagles 90-man roster: Breaking down every player, from Carson Wentz to Rick Lovato | Post-minicamp
http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2018/06/eagles_90-man_roster_breaking_down_every_player_from_carson.html
Macy Phillyvoice: Press Taylor, just 30, right at home at helm of Eagles quarterbacks
http://www.phillyvoice.com/press-taylor-eagles-qb-coach-nick-foles-carson-wentz/
PITTSBURGH
Fowler ESPN Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger not sweating contract, hopes other Steelers 'get taken care of'
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23823286/ben-roethlisberger-not-sweating-contract-hopes-other-pittsburgh-steelers-get-taken-care-of
Fittipaldo Pittsburgh Post Gazette: See you in September: How the Steelers plan to approach another late arrival by Le'Veon Bell
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2018/06/17/The-Steelers-are-ready-to-give-a-little-more-until-Le-Veon-Bell-is-part-of-the-team-again-Ramon-Foster-Mike-Tomlin-Randy-Fichtner/stories/201806140177
Gorman Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Jaylen Samuels adds dimension to Steelers' run game
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/13764553-74/kevin-gorman-jaylen-samuels-adds-dimension-to-steelers-run-game
Benz Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Okorafor helping to prove Steelers' draft strategy made sense
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/13772000-74/tim-benz-okorafor-helping-to-prove-steelers-draft-strategy-made-sense
SEATTLE
Henderson ESPN Seattle: Can Shaquill Griffin fill the void left by Richard Sherman?
http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/276915/can-shaquill-griffin-fill-the-void-left-by-richard-sherman
WASHINGTON
Paras Washington Times: After injury-plagued season, Redskins want more time for recovery
https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/17/redskins-want-more-time-recovery-after-injury-plag/
Myers Richmond Times Dispatch: Redskins QB coach competed against Alex Smith in high school and college
http://www.richmond.com/redskins-xtra/together-again-redskins-qb-coach-competed-against-alex-smith-in/article_737da233-998e-5c3b-84a5-ba4c92154624.html
History
Giants Training Camp Previews from prior years
1951 The luck of the draw; when a prospects marital status affected prospects of being drafted in more ways than one; Kyle Rote the man for all seasons makes a business decision; plays golf and minor league baseball; becomes a Giant.
01-18-1951
CHICAGO (UP)
“The New York Giants won the National Football League's bonus draw today and chose Kyle Rote, Southern Methodist halfback. Rote was picked in the bonus selection for which nine clubs were eligible. Four other teams, the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, and the Philadelphia Eagles, had previously benefitted by bonus picks. After the bonus selection, the clubs began their regular draft. The first choice in the regular draft selected by the defunct Baltimore Colts was quarterback Bob Williams of Notre Dame, who was assigned to the Chicago Bears on the basis of a previous player 'deal.”
Y.A. Tittle for the SF Chronicle: The flip of a coin: How Y.A. Tittle became a 49er
“The New York Giants had the bonus pick in 1951 a practice since discontinued and they selected Kyle Rote, an All-American halfback out of Southern Methodist. It was common knowledge that Rote would be the first man drafted by the pros. The Chicago Bears were next, and they chose quarterback Bob Williams out of Notre Dame. I was beginning to get nervous. Two picks and old Y.A. was still waiting for his turn to come.
With San Francisco, Green Bay, and Washington all having the same dismal 3-9 record the year before, a coin was flipped to determine which club would pick next.
The coin was tossed into the air, and 49ers general manager Lou "Lucky Lou" Spadia called out "Heads!"
https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/amp/The-flip-of-a-coin-How-Y-A-Tittle-became-a-49er-3212220.php
01-18-1951
JANUARY 19th (Chicago) -
“All-American gridders for the most part went a-begging for pro jobs today after NFL moguls passed them up for men presumably safe from 1951 military call. The war-scare twist to the annual draft of collegiate talent produced the fewest national name players in pro football's history as top choices. Out of the first 48 selections yesterday by the 12 clubs, only six eligible offensive or defensive All-American specialists were picked. In this half dozen, three were plucked in the first round of the draft where a mad scramble usually develops to nail campus cuties. They were Notre Dame quarterback Bob Williams (Bears), tackle Bob Gain of Kentucky (Packers) and guard Bud McFadin of Texas (Rams). After the New York Giants won the league's bonus draw a prelude to the college draft and chose ex-serviceman Kyle Rote, SMU's married halfback, the Bears took Williams as the No. 1 pick. They got the first choice as a payoff of a former deal with the Baltimore Colts, who had the number on selection. Commissioner Bert Bell represented the money-losing Colts who were dropped from the league, and owner Abe Watner was paid $50,000 for his 65 players. This left the Baltimore cemetery owner with a personal loss of $56,000 for 1950. He later revealed that Baltimore's total deficit for four years of trying to field pro teams under various owners or groups was a staggering $760,000.”
01-19-1951
Kyle Rote Awaits Proposition From N. Y. Giants Team Dallas, Tex., Jan. 19 INS,
“Kvle Rote, the Southern Methodist backfield flash who was the number one choice in proies-ionai footballs annual college draft, was waiting today for the New York Giants to approach him with an attractive contract. The Giants picked Rote after they won a blind draw vesterdav to determine which club would get first choice of 300 players on the draft list .
Rote said he appreciates the Giants confidence in him and added that he will play for the New York eleven it the price is right. He explained that he does not want to be mercenary. adding that he now has a “fine” business conection in the television sales promotion department of a large Dallas firm. “I only want to take the position that will offer the most security to my family," he said.
Just what a satisfactory offer from the Giants would be Rote declined to say. However he made it clear that it would be possible for him to play pro ball and keep the TV job if a deal can he worked out with New York. Meanwhile, the Dallas Salesmanship Club is making plans to match Rote and the Giants against Doak Walker and the Detroit Lions m an exhibition game next fall.”
03-09-1951
DALLAS (UP)
“Kyle Rote, the fabulous Southern Methodist University halfback, Thursday signed a one-year contract to play pro football with the New York Giants. Neither Rote nor Wellington Mara, secretary of the Giants who got his name on the dotted line, would say how much the contract called for. But since Kyle was the bonus choice of the Giants and had set his sights high, indications were it may have exceeded $20,000. It was a straight contract with no bonus or sale receipts clause. Mara, who announced tho signing of Rote after two days of negotiating, said: "We considered him the greatest college football player in America, so you can imagine he got a good price." Rote, who turned in some of the greatest performances of alltime, notably the Notre Dame game of 1949, will in August report to the Giants.”
04-24-1951
MILB.com: NFL legend made his mark on the diamond
“SMU All-American football star Kyle Rote makes his professional Baseball debut with the Corpus Christi Aces of the Class B Gulf Coast League. Rote's pro Baseball career will end on May 23th, as he reports to the New York Football Giants training camp. Rote finishes the '51 campaign with 23 hits in 22, including seven home runs -- while hitting at a .348 clip.
He was one of the building blocks of the NFL, helping turn the league into the powerhouse it has become. Few people know, though, that Rote was actually an accomplished baseball player, having made a big splash in the Class B Gulf Coast League upon graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1951.
The former All-American and future member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame was already a legend in the Lone Star State because of a spectacular high school career in Austin and an even more impressive run at SMU. So when Corpus Christi owner George Schepps offered Rote, who ran track and played baseball in college, a contract in the spring of '51, many thought he was only capitalizing on the popularity of one of Texas' favorite sons.
The Gulf Coast League, which was in its first year of existence, would last only three seasons. But Rote quickly proved that he was more than just a publicity stunt, becoming one of the league's most popular players. He spent seven weeks there, tearing up the circuit while leading many to believe he had missed his true calling.
There is some dispute, however, as to how many games he actually played for the Corpus Christi Aces. The Minor League Baseball Encyclopedia credits him with having appeared in 22 games while Noe Torres, the author of "Ghost Leagues: A History of Minor League Baseball in South Texas," has him appearing in 16 games. The one thing the two sources agree on is that he had 23 hits, seven of which were homers. The encyclopedia doesn't list what he batted, though Torres has Rote going 23-for-64 (.360). KyleRote.org, the website run by Rote's family, says he hit .347. Torres credits him with 17 RBIs while the Encyclopedia gives him 13.
"Sure the pitchers have better control and are faster [than amateur ball] but batting against them is easier," Rote, an outfielder, told The Valley Morning Star at the season's outset. "At least they know where the plate is."
Details about much of Rote's time in the GCL are sketchy, but there are a few facts that aren't in dispute. Like the three-homer, six-RBI game he had against Galveston on April 26. Then there was the May 22 game against Harlingen when he had a homer, a triple and two singles before leaving the game in the sixth inning after getting hit by a pitch.
The next day he announced he was leaving the Aces to get ready for football. Whether getting hit by the pitch expedited his departure -- NFL training camp didn't start until July -- isn't clear. But it was obvious that he had left a mark on the GCL, where Corpus Christi was atop the standings with a 24-18 mark.
Torres quoted Schepps in his book about Rote's departure.
"It is with regret that we have to lose Kyle Rote. It is my opinion that he has a bright future as a prospect in baseball," Schepps said.
Torres, who is a Texas baseball historian, concurred with Schepps.
"If Rote had focused all his attention and abilities on baseball, he would surely have been one of the "giants" of the diamond rather than the gridiron," Torres said. "I assert this based on the documented evidence that Rote was a successful ballplayer at every level in which he played. He was considered a top baseball prospect coming out of high school.
"The fact that he played Class B baseball in 1951 was not an indication of weak baseball skills as much as it was a reflection of how fearful the New York Giants were of allowing their top rookie to play another sport prior to NFL camp. They grudgingly permitted it but apparently kept hounding him to give it up for fear of injury. As it turned out, Rote played very well in the Gulf Coast League and did so against some excellent ballplayers."
June 1951
“Rote was a terrific golfer, too. In June of ’51, before reporting to the Giants’ training camp as a rookie, he competed in a celebrity tournament in Washington, D.C.
The Sporting News:
“Rote was placed in the football division and easily took that prize with rounds of 75 and 70. There were 15 pros in the event, and Kyle’s total would have ranked seventh among them. His round of 70 was the best for the entire event except for a 69 shot by Cary Middlecoff.”
Middlecoff, of course, is a Hall of Famer who won two U.S. Opens (1949, ’56) and a Masters (’55).”
http://profootballdaly.com/tag/bears/page/9/
7-29-1951
AP
“Stout Steve Owen, right, coach of the New York Giants of the National Professional Football League, chats with Kyle Rote, former Southern Methodist backfield star, at the Giants' training camp at Saranac Lake, N.Y. Rote was the Giants' bonus selection in the league's draft of college players. A Dallas resident, Rote will perform before the home folks next month when the Giants meet the Detroit Lions in an exhibition game there.”
August 18, 1951
Cleveland Pros Trounce College Squad 33 to 0
CHICAGO (IP)
“The Cleveland Browns riddled the 1951 College All-Stars with. Otto Graham's bullet passes and sniping runs by Dub Jones and Marion Motley last night for a 33 to 0 victory, before the largest money crowd in the 18 year history of the series. Though only 92,180 fans paid their way through the gate, their cash, plus receipts from television and radio, made the net receipts $428,000, far surpassing the previ ous gate set up by the record crowd of 105,840 in 1947.
Coach Paul Brown's National Football League champions started slowly, with only a safety registered when Bob Williams of Notre Dame recovered a fumble by Kyle Rote of Southern Methodist behind the goal line, to show for the first period.
BECOMES A RUNAWAY But after that they began to breeze as Graham, a long time passing and signal-calling star, began opening up with his aerials to his star ends, Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie. Jones accounted for two of the four touchdowns. He scored the first on a 2-yard plunge which finished off a 56-yard parade in fire plays. He carried the ball for 25 yards in 3 tries during the drive while Graham accounted for 34 in 2 passes. Jones' next touchdown wound up a 62-yard march, largely on the ground, and thereafter Graham took over with his aerial at tack.
COMPLETES 16 OF 30 , Altogether he completed 16 of 30 attempts for 263 yards and two touchdowns. His payoff throws went to Lavelli for 14 yards and to fullback Emerson Cole for two. The Browns scored in every fashion known to football except by forfeit. Lou Groza, the canny tackle whose specially is place kicking, converted after every touchdown and he drove home a field goal from the 20 yard line alter a ground drive, in which Motley and Jones had each turned in 21 yard runs, shuffled to a halt. The All-Stars, though boasting several running stars such as Arizona State's Whizzer White, Kyle Rote, and Everett Grandelius, never could spring them loose.”
08-24-1951
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Doak King, Rote Crown Prince in Dallas Inferno By Lyall Smith
“This really is a football hotbed and if you don't believe It, then how else can yon explain the fact that 60,000 cash customers are paying their way into the Cotton Bowl Friday night to watch a preseason exhibition game between Doak (Detroit Lions) and Kyle (New York Giants). What really makes such a huge crowd look even bigger is that up until right now the temperature in these parts has steamed itself up over the 105-degree mark for days.
It isn't even football weather, but' that isn't stopping the football fans. The game is giving them their first chance actually to compare Walker and Rote.
WHILE IT ISNT EXPECTED to answer completely the debate as to which is the greater player, it matches them as rivals after they had played on the same team for two brilliant years. . Walker seems to be winning the debate as of today. It Is almost impossible to explain the idolatry of the talented Detroit halfback In this, his home town. There was huge crowd at the airport to greet him. The hotel lobby is jammed with fans who mill around all day waiting for Walker to just walk through. It reminds you of autograph-seekers at a World Series. The concensus seems to be that Doak is the greatest all-round football player ever to come out of Texas. And when a Texan admits that, all he is saying is that Doak is the greatest all-round player in the whole darned land. Rote, who took up at SMU when Walker left off, is only half-step removed from all this fuss about Doak. His camp insists that when they were teammates, he was overshadowed simply because Walker did so many things so well. They point to the Notre Dame game two years ago when Walker was injured. Rote went wild and practically defeated the Irish in a terrific one-man show which still is referred to here as "that game."
ROTE CONTINUED last year in great style to win All-America honors while Doak was wrapping up the professional league scoring title in his freshman season with the Lions. Now they are back again as rivals and if the game is doing nothing else, it is turning local conversation away from the heat wave. Funny thing about the heat though, a rainstorm Thursday put a dent in the 100-plus temperatures, and I thought I detected just a bit of regret in the voices of the Texas citizens. "You'll have to admit," they are saying, "that while the heat wave was on, it was hotter in Texas than any place in the country ." No kidding, they were proud of it.
IT IS THIS SAME unbridled enthusiasm for "anything Texan" which will load up the Cotton Bowl Friday night when Walker and the Lions make their debut under Coach Buddy Parker (a Texan) against Rote and the New York Giants. Just to prove how much the return of the two SMU stars really means to Dallas is the fact that thousands of tickets have been sold in Fort Worth. When you can make residents of these bitter rival cities get together on anything, you're in business.”
08-26-1951
Doak Walker Leads Lions To 31-21 Win Over Giants DALLAS (UP)
“Doak Walker came home to treat the fans to his usual football legerdermain last night as his Detroit Lions whipped the New York Giants 31-21 in a National Football league exhibition game. The great little man from Southern Methodist not only badly overshowded his erstwhile S.M.U. pal, Kyle Rote, in a heralded duel but was the outstanding star of a slamming, passing, running game that saw four touchdowns scored in a wild last period. Walker made 18 points with two touchdowns, one on a 95-yard run and a field goal, plus three extra points. A crowd of 56,000 -the largest ever to see a professional football game in the southwest sweated in 87 degree heat in the Cotton bowl.”
10-15-1951
NEW YORK UP
“New York pro football fans are skeptics. They claim that "seeing ' is believing." That's why they are waiting eagerly to see "Mr. 44 do his stuff for the New York Giants. "Mr 44" is the fabulous Kyle Rote, former SMU star. In 1949 the tow-headed youngster from San Antonio practically single handedly fought off and nearly whipped a Notre Dame juggernaught that hadn’t tasted defeat in four years. The score was 27-20 with the Irish eking out the win in the last quarter. Kyle scored all 20 of his team's points and had the Notre Dame defenders gasping.
Long a legend in Texas football Rote began collecting his accolades in high, school. He was named the most valuable high school player in the state in 1946. Rote was named the outstanding player in the East-West game in San Francisco last year.
The Giants were very fortunate to obtain the services of the 23-year-old halfback. Literally, the New Yorkers picked Rote out of a hat. He was a bonus pick.. Each year the NFL coaches dip into a hat which contains 14 pieces of paper. All the pieces are blank except one with a star on it The coach who picks that one is entitled to name any senior college footballer in the land provided the boy wants to play pro ball. II the player doesnt seek to take a fling at the pro game, said picker is out of luck. But coach Steve Owen of the Giants got the lucky piece and '' the name "Rote" was the next word out of his mouth. Owen who has been guiding the destinies of the Polo Grounders since 1931 was well aware of the prowess of Rote. Steve coached the South team in the Senior Bowl game last year at Mobile, Ala. Rote played for the North. Amonf other things Rote kicked off three times and booted the ball well over the endzone and into the grandstand each time.”
Giants Birthdays 6-18
Jim Leo LB D3-Cincinnati 1960 NYG 1960 6-18-1937
Visanthe Shiancoe TE D3-Morgan State 2003 NYG 2003-2006 6-18-1980
