Sunday Reading

Giants

Dunleavy NJ.com: 8 Giants in danger of becoming salary cap casualties | Making extra room for Landon Collins to return?
https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/9b05d03edd7148/8-giants-in-danger-of-becoming.html

Lombardo N.J.com: NFL Draft 2019: 6 prospects Giants should scout in Alabama vs. Clemson College Football Playoff National Championship game | Clelin Ferrell, Quinnen Williams, more
https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/2cf6b0f7a13097/nfl-draft-2019-6-prospects-gia.html

Dan Pizzuta (@DanPizzuta)
1/5/19, 1:01 PM
The Giants finished 17th in offensive pressure rate allowed per [pro football outsiders]. Five playoff teams were worse. Four had higher passing DVOA. Don't let the OL be the all-encompassing excuse many want it to be

Coach

Leonard NYDN: Despite all the losing, Pat Shurmur proved to his Giants that he is the boss
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-sports-pat-shurmur-giants-leonard-20190105-story.html

QB

Schwartz NYP: If Eli Manning’s Giants run is over, he leaves an unforgettable mark
https://nypost.com/2019/01/05/if-eli-mannings-giants-run-is-over-he-leaves-an-unforgettable-mark/amp/

RB

Stuart Football Perspective: Saquon Barkley Has Been Inefficient In 2018
http://www.footballperspective.com/saquon-barkley-has-been-inefficient-in-2018/

NFL

Volin Boston Globe: Sunday Football Notes:
Andrew Luck is my pick for MVP; Dealing Antonio Brown will be tough; Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores goes on interviews
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/01/05/andrew-luck-has-one-man-vote-for-mvp/YSYEVHNI2sVtlGy63LTh4K/story.html

Gramling MMQB: Wild-Card Playoffs Takeaways: Dak Gets It Done for First Playoff Win, Colts Cruise, Watson's Dud
https://amp.si.com/nfl/2019/01/06/nfl-wild-card-playoffs-analysis-breakdown-colts-texans-cowboys-seahawks-ravens-chargers-eagles-bears

Farmer LA Times: NFL quarterbacks prepare for windier weather this time of year
https://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-week-8-farmer-20181027-story.html

ARIZONA
McManaman AZ Central: Cardinals coaching search candidate pros and cons, and who else they should consider
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2019/01/05/cardinals-coaching-search-candidates-pros-and-cons/2490287002/

BALTIMORE
Lee Baltimore Sun: Ravens’ Orlando Brown Jr. seeking to continue streak of zero sacks into postseason
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-orland-brown-jr-zero-sacks-2018-regular-season-20190104-story.html

BUFFALO
Carucci Buffalo News: One-on-One Coverage: Phil Simms bullish on Bills’ future, Josh Allen’s progress

“Buffalo News: What was your overall assessment of the performances of the five rookie quarterbacks selected in the first round?

Phil Simms: Well, overall it was a tremendous success. Tremendous. Better than anybody could have ever thought. I thought, “OK, every one of them will take big lumps and it'll be rough as heck.” And it was better than that.

Baker Mayfield had the best (season), playing with the Browns with the best supporting cast. He walked into an offense that was really tailored for him. There were other reasons for his great success: a really good offensive line, weapons to throw, a tight end (David Njoku) that blossomed, a running back (Nick Chubb) they drafted who ends up being even better than I thought. I mean, he was borderline great. So Baker had the best environment to succeed in.

But besides that, I think his presence and his physical ability — which I really didn’t like coming out the draft — was much better than I expected. I'm not sure I wasn't more impressed with the way he threw the ball in Cleveland than he did at Oklahoma. At Oklahoma, there's 30 college quarterbacks that might have done what he did, but there weren't going to be 30 that came into the NFL and play the way he did. It was really, really impressive.

BN: You’ve always said that teams should not be afraid to play a rookie quarterback out of fear that if he struggles badly, it could hurt his confidence. So you must be especially pleased to have seen all five of those rookies starting?

PS: Yes, yes. Did I think all five would? I knew Baker would, of course. It was just what week would it be? I knew Josh Allen would, too. I didn't think it would be Week One, but I knew he would get on the field fairly quick. We knew right away, too, about (the New York Jets') Sam Darnold.

With (Arizona's) Josh Rosen, I wasn't completely sure he would get on the field, but the Cardinals were so bad they had no choice but to put him out there. And he worked under, by far, the worst conditions of all of them. I know it wasn't great for Josh Allen up in Buffalo, but I watched Josh Rosen almost every throw this year and it was rough. The pressure he was under, the system he was in, you name it. He got hit so much and it was so hard for him to play, it's just hard to really show who you are. But I take all that away and look at it and I go, “OK, I see what type of quarterback he is and they're going to have to build around that.” There's no question he is a very, very consistent thrower of the ball. His arm, I’m not going to say it's NFL great, but it's NFL way above average.

I wish he was a step quicker, but he did move around quite a bit for a guy that didn't move at UCLA. A lot of it was out of necessity, but he also just has a great feel and said, “Hey, man, you're not open, let me just move to the right here and see if somebody else gets open. Because in the NFL, these guys are smart that are running routes for me; they'll adjust and get open.”

BN: Who, of these rookie QBs, do you think will make the biggest jump from Year One to Year Two?

PS: The biggest, I think, would come from Josh Allen and (Baltimore's) Lamar Jackson. For Josh Allen, maybe in decision-making and (recognizing that) sometimes it's OK to hit a three wood off the tee instead of hitting a driver every time. He didn't see a window that he didn’t think he could get the football through. I think he'll learn that. That's going to come, I have no doubt about that.

With Lamar Jackson, I already see little things that are improving in his throwing, so he's learning and if he really is just handled the right way during the offseason, I think we should see a tremendous difference in him as a quarterback next year. I thought he was not the same guy early, like in preseason, that I saw in college. I think he gained weight, trying to put muscle on, and I thought that was wrong. Be who you are. You’re a muscular, thin guy, and that’s what works. Putting extra muscle on, all it does is slow you down. And I think, as he's played, he’s gotten quicker. But his throwing is where he's going to make the biggest jump. He's going to be the most interesting one of all to watch during the offseason.

BN: How much do you think Allen benefited from sitting out four games with a sprained elbow?

PS: The energy that you spend, mentally and physically, in the early part of your rookie year is extraordinary. And I thought Josh Allen and Sam Donald really benefited from getting nicked and missing a few weeks because they came back refreshed, renewed and I just thought they looked better. And each team, of course, had a little more chance to develop. It was very evident with both.

I didn't know Sam Darnold was hurt (when he actually was dealing with a foot injury suffered in Week 9), and I said on CBS to Boomer Esiason, “You know what? He needs time off. He needs a week or two where he doesn’t even study the game plan. Just rest.” Because that first year is just a brutal, grueling year for rookie quarterbacks more now than ever.

When I was coming out of college (in 1979), I didn’t have to go through 20 interviews. I did do about 20 workouts, though, but those were fun. It wasn't like the TV crew (from NFL Network or ESPN) was there at Morehead State, (with analysts saying), “Oh, he threw the ball in his workout and was 42 of 44,” and all that bull crap. The workouts I did were fun. All my receivers came out, we were on the field just throwing it around. I just said, “Hey, what do you want to see, Coach?”

“Just throw it.”

“OK, let’s go.”

But now it’s all so scrutinized. We’ve got 100 quarterback experts out there and it’s all televised. But that’s the world, that’s OK, but that does wear on you. Then, there’s the draft and then all the other stuff that comes with it once you start in the OTAs, training camp. Just the constant attention and pressure are unbelievable.

BN: When you were playing quarterback for the Giants, you didn’t show a whole lot of the side that has allowed you to have such a long and successful broadcasting career. How do you explain that?
PS: I wasn't good enough where I could be outspoken. Look, I went to work every day to keep my job and do the best I could and I never took it for granted. And I know there's a fine line between success and failure. I wasn't John Elway or Jim Kelly or Dan Marino, so I had to find a way to make it work for me.

I wasn't first fiddle or second fiddle. I was down the line with the Giants, which was really good, too. I loved that. Bill Parcells talked. We had Lawrence Taylor. And then, oh, what else? There's a quarterback there, too. I loved that part of always being able to kind of stay hidden as much as much as you can being a quarterback for the New York Giants.”

https://buffalonews.com/2019/01/05/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-phil-simms-new-york-giants-super-bowl-baker-mayfield-lamar-jackson-sam-darnold-josh-rosen-vic-carucci-one-on-one-coverage-nfl-football/

Skurski Buffalo News: Inside the Bills: Looking ahead to decisions on eight unrestricted free agents
https://buffalonews.com/2019/01/05/inside-the-bills-looking-ahead-to-decisions-on-eight-unrestricted-free-agents/

CHICAGO
Campbell Chicago Tribune: Bears tight end Trey Burton questionable for Sunday's playoff game with a groin injury
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-trey-burton-questionable-groin-20190105-story.html

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Will the Browns opt for the Patriots’ Brian Flores, another branch of the Bill Belichick tree?
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/01/will-the-browns-opt-for-the-patriots-brian-flores-another-branch-of-the-bill-belichick-tree.html

DALLAS
Hill Fort Worth Star Telegram: Grown man Dak Prescott and Cowboys are moving on in the NFC playoffs after 24-22 win
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article223987205.html

Moore Dallas Morning News: Why it's difficult to overstate the significance of the Cowboys' wild-card win over the Seahawks
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/05/difficult-overstate-significance-cowboys-wild-card-win-seahawks

George Dallas Morning News: 'I don't think teams want to see us,' says a refreshed Ezekiel Elliott after powering Cowboys to wild-card win 
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/06/refreshed-ezekiel-elliott-powers-cowboys-offense-wild-card-win-seahawks

Machota Dallas Morning News: 'He makes my job easy': Bounce-back game from Amari Cooper helps keep Dak Prescott, Cowboys' offense on track
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/06/makes-job-easy-bounce-back-game-amari-cooper-helps-keep-dak-prescott-cowboys-offense-track

George Dallas Morning News: Cowboys WR Cole Beasley could at least miss some practice time early in week with sprained right ankle
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/06/cowboys-wr-cole-beasley-could-least-miss-practice-time-early-week-sprained-right-ankle

Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
1/6/19, 2:43 AM
Cowboys’ WR Allen Hurns already has undergone surgery on his dislocated ankle injury that ended his season, per source. As difficult as the injury was to see, Hurns is expected to be ready to return to football by August if there no complications or anything out of the ordinary

DENVER
Fredrickson Denver Post: Brian Flores is latest Patriots assistant turned NFL coaching candidate. Can he break losing trend for Belichick coaching tree?
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/05/denver-broncos-brian-flores-coaching-search-nfl/

DETROIT
Ford Detroit Free Press: Lucky No. 4? Detroit Lions' OCs for Matthew Stafford haven't fared well
https://amp.freep.com/amp/2487594002

HOUSTON
Barron Houston Chronicle: Andrew Luck’s swift start is enough for Colts to beat Texans
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Andrew-Luck-s-swift-start-is-enough-for-Colts-13511488.php

McClain Houston Chronicle: A humiliating finish for Texans
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/mcclain/article/McClain-A-humiliating-finish-for-Texans-13511516.php

Smith Houston Chronicle: Texans let you down another time, at the worst time
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/brian-t-smith/amp/Smith-Texans-let-you-down-another-time-at-the-13511366.php

Solomon Houston Chronicle: Don’t put this loss on Deshaun Watson
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/solomon/article/Solomon-Don-t-put-this-loss-on-Deshaun-Watson-13511507.php

Creech Houston Chronicle: A tough end for DeAndre Hopkins
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/dialcreech/article/Creech-A-tough-end-for-DeAndre-Hopkins-13511477.php

Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans secondary still has no answer for T.Y. Hilton
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Texaans-secondary-still-has-no-answer-for-T-Y-13511520.php

Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
1/5/19, 10:53 AM
The Texans plan to keep and extend defensive stars Jadeveon Clowney and Tyrann Mathieu, both of whom are on expiring deals. They may have to franchise tag Clowney to do it.

INDIANAPOLIS
Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq)
1/5/19, 5:00 PM
Indianapolis has a league-leading $122m in cap space next year

Glaspie Indianapolis Star: Colts advance to play Kansas City, beat Texans 21-7
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/2491081002

Doyel Indianapolis Star: Colts beat up Texans to take this nasty streak into Kansas City
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2019/01/05/indianapolis-colts-beat-up-houston-texans-21-7-nfl-playoffs-advance-play-chiefs-next/2473394002/

Keefer Indianapolis Star: Insider: Frank Reich is right. 'The Horseshoe is back'
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/2475735002

KANSAS CITY
Kerkhoff KC Star: Chiefs to take on Colts, playoff history, on Saturday
https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article223984950.html

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Miller LA Times: How the Chargers and Ravens match up in an AFC wild-card game
https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/la-sp-chargers-ravens-matchups-20190105-story.html

Rapopoprt NFL.com: Bolts expected to activate Henry if they advance
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001008177/article/chargers-expected-to-activate-hunter-henry-on-monday

MIAMI
Beasley Miami Herald: Explaining the Miami Dolphins’ interest in Dennis Allen (Hint: A blast from the past)
https://amp.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article223970285.html

MINNESOTA
Coller 1500 ESPN Minn: Putting odds on which Vikings free agents are likely to return
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2019/01/putting-odds-vikings-free-agents-likely-return/

NEW ENGLAND
Shaugnessy Boston Globe: Things just got a little tougher for Patriots
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2019/01/05/things-just-got-little-tougher-for-patriots/ClzCN7Pl5f0wdVPEo8ZD2I/amp.html

Sullivan Boston Globe: ‘Bro, hands down, you’re the best corner I played with’: Stephon Gilmore wows his teammates
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/01/05/tara-sullivan-patriots-stephon-gilmore-has-his-position-locked-down/2xSZNSp2EQW3WaLxJ8Om6I/amp.html

Reiss ESPN Boston: Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the Patriots and NFL (Tom Brady spends part of bye week with his throwing coach; Trey Flowers and free agency; odds for Ty Law/Richard Seymour as Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists etc.).
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4816289/tom-brady-spends-time-with-throwing-coach-during-playoff-bye-week

NEW ORLEANS
McNulty NO Advocate: After a season of calling Saints games, why Zach Strief's path is rare and, for him, vital
https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/ian_mcnulty/article_645217ee-0607-11e9-ba2e-bf6f8b716990.amp.html

Walker NO Advocate: Drew Brees may miss out on MVP trophy yet again, but Saints QB eyeing bigger prize
https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/saints/article_e5e27802-112a-11e9-8b15-cf4041ee417e.amp.html

Johnson Nola.com: Craig Robertson, the Saints' one-man hype machine, finds energy in his love of the game
https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/craig-robertson-the-saints-one-man-hype-machine-finds-energy-in-his-love-of-the-game.html

PHILADELPHIA
Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks)
1/5/19, 7:12 PM
I think the Eagles are going to use Ertz and Goedert a ton tomorrow vs. Chicago. Not many teams attack the Bears in 12 personnel, but the Eagles have the duo to do it

Rapoport NFL.com: Foles expected to be in demand this offseason

“As far as the mechanism, the Eagles have options. They can tag Foles and trade him, as the Dolphins did with Jarvis Landry last year. They can also exercise his $20 million option, which would lead Foles to buy back his freedom for $2 million, which may lead Philly to tag him anyway.”

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001008250/article/nick-foles-expected-to-be-in-demand-this-offseason

Kaye N.J.com: What does Eagles' Jason Kelce think about a potential left guard swap? The All-Pro weighs in on Isaac Seumalo, Stefen Wisniewski
https://www.nj.com//eagles/2019/01/what-does-eagles-jason-kelce-think-about-a-potential-left-guard-swap-the-all-pro-weighs-in-on-isaac-seumalo-stefen-wisniewski.html

Kaye N.J.com: Bears' Tarik Cohen is 'extremely dynamic': Eagles coaches, players break down what it takes to slow down the versatile weapon
https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/786d72049c6618/bears-tarik-cohen-is-extremely.html

Kaye N.J.com: Here’s what Brandon Graham had to say about his potential ‘last hurrah’ with the Eagles: ‘Right now, the Bears are in the way’
https://www.nj.com//eagles/2019/01/heres-what-brandon-graham-had-to-say-about-his-potential-last-hurrah-with-the-eagles-right-now-the-bears-are-in-the-way.html

PITTSBURGH
Schefter ESPN: Steelers expected to restructure Ben Roethlisberger's deal

“But Roethlisberger is also headed into the last year of his contract, and the two sides typically have extended his deals in early March -- the first extension coming with two years left on his contract, the more recent one coming with one year remaining.
Now with the timing right, and the Steelers needing cap space, Roethlisberger is expected to give Pittsburgh an assist before the new league year begins.”

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25690796/pittsburgh-steelers-expected-restructure-ben-roethlisberger-deal?

Rutter Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Glassport's Jesse James among 14 Steelers entering unrestricted free agency
https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/14472908-74/glassports-jesse-james-among-14-steelers-entering-unrestricted-free-agency

Collier Pittsburgh Post Gazette: The price of narcissism? Steelers have nearly 10 weeks to get an estimate
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/gene-collier/2019/01/05/antonio-brown-trade-rumors-steelers-mike-tomlin-nfl-offseason/stories/201901060077

Chris Mortensen (@mortreport)
1/5/19, 12:26 PM
Steelers have no issues with a $21 million dead cap hit on Antonio Brown if he is traded, as expected. The team will receive a $14.5 million cap credit back in 2019 for Le'Veon Bell that hasn't been calculated yet

SAN FRANCISCO
Branch SF Chronicle: Kyle Shanahan’s message to 49ers’ rookies: Don’t exhale
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/amp/Shanahan-s-message-to-49ers-rookies-Don-t-13510921.php

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: Seahawks fall to Cowboys, tumble out of playoffs after wild-card thriller in Dallas
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-fall-to-cowboys-tumble-out-of-playoffs-after-wild-card-thriller-in-dallas/

Calkins Seattle Times: Seahawks just wouldn’t quit running into wall, and it cost them playoff win
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-just-wouldnt-quit-running-into-wall-and-it-cost-them-playoff-win/

Vorel Seattle Times: Seahawks running game finally betrays them in season-ending wild-card loss to Cowboys
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-running-game-finally-betrays-them-in-season-ending-wild-card-loss/

Rob Rang (@RobRang)
1/6/19, 12:12 AM
Expect another off-season of transition in Seattle, where the Seahawks have 12 pending unrestricted free agents including DE Frank Clark, FS Earl Thomas, OLB K.J. Wright, OG D.J. Fluker, nickel Justin Coleman, DE Dion Jordan, RB Mike Davis, OG J.R. Sweezy, K Sebastian Janikowski

TAMPA BAY
Stroud TB Times: Bucs interview former Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, the frontrunner to replace Dirk Koetter
https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/2019/01/05/bucs-interview-former-cardinals-head-coach-bruce-arians-the-front-runner-to-replace-dirk-koetter/

Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss)
1/5/19, 2:20 PM
Adding to this: if Arians get the Bucs job, I’m hearing it’s very likely he’ll try to get the band back together with as much of his staff from Arizona. That means there’s a good chance Todd Bowles ends up as Tampa Bay’s DQ

Bassinger TB Times: 2019 NFL playoffs: Why the Buccaneers’ window for contention has closed
https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/2019/01/05/2019-nfl-playoffs-tampa-bay-buccaneers-coaching-rumors-quarterback-salaries-jameis-winston/?

Stroud TB Times: As Jameis Winston turns 25, here’s how he compares to other NFL quarterbacks at that age
https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/2019/01/05/as-jameis-winston-turns-25-heres-how-he-compares-to-other-nfl-quarterbacks-at-that-age/?

WASHINGTON
Allen Washington Post: This is the world’s most incredible and depressing collection of Redskins QB jerseys
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/01/04/this-is-worlds-most-incredible-depressing-collection-redskins-qb-jerseys/

Colleges/Draft

T
Braziller NYP: Alabama’s ‘silent assassin’ is Tua Tagovailoa’s biggest protector
https://nypost.com/2019/01/05/alabamas-silent-assassin-is-tua-tagovailoas-biggest-protector/

History

Feinstein Washington Post: George Welsh was a Hall of Fame coach, and even that doesn’t cover how good he was
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/george-welsh-was-a-hall-of-fame-coach-and-even-that-doesnt-cover-how-good-he-was/2019/01/04/1579ed4c-105a-11e9-831f-3aa2c2be4cbd_story.html

Mosqueda Optimum Scouting: QUANTIFYING THE BEST PLAYOFF QUARTERBACKS SINCE THE MERGER
http://www.optimumscouting.com/news/quantifying-the-best-playoff-quarterbacks-since-th

Giants Birthdays 1-06

Greg Cox S Plan B FA SF 1989 NYG 1989 1-06-1965

Grant Haley CB UDFA-Penn State 2018 NYG 2018 1-06-1996

Bob Kratch RG D3-Penn State 1989 NYG 1989-1993 1-06-1966

Sean Landeta P FA-LA USFL 1985 NYG 1985-1993 1-06-1962

Roger Lalonde LDT W-DET 1965 NYG 1965 1-06-1942