Friday Reading

Giants

Schneier 247 Sports: The Giants' 10 greatest needs heading into the 2019 offseason
https://247sports.com/nfl/new-york-giants/LongFormArticle/Giants-Offseason-needs-2019-127969991/Amp/

Lombardo NJ.com: NFL Draft 2019: Giants own No. 6 overall pick | What type of player can they expect? How many Pro Bowlers since 2000?
https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/ea63e7676e1730/nfl-draft-2019-giants-own-no-6-overall-pick-what-type-of-player-can-they-expect-how-many-pro-bowlers-since-2000-.html

Duggan The Athletic: Recapping a demolition: What happened to the players Giants GM Dave Gettleman let go this season

"Culture change" is a great thing to say when your win now plan ends up 5-11. Kennard, Okwara, Adams and Fluker were positive locker room guys. Not everything can fall under the "culture" umbrella. It's still an NFL team, not the Big Brothers program.”

“Gettleman made good moves and bad moves. But to excuse every personnel miss as "culture" is as silly as his explanation that the Omameh signing was more about "fixing the locker room" than on-field play.”

“I mean he cut Omameh so it’s not like his feelings were a mystery. He could just say obviously it didn’t work out rather than that silliness.”

https://theathletic.com/768765/2019/01/16/recapping-a-demolition-what-happened-to-the-players-giants-gm-dave-gettleman-let-go-this-season/

QB

Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL)
1/17/19, 10:03 AM
It's funny how narratives take form. Eli Manning's 2018 is seen as one of the worst seasons while Case Keenum's 2017 is seen as a breakout
Case 2017: 67.6%, 21:7 TD:INT, 3,547 yds
Eli 2018: 66.0%, 21:11 TD:INT, 4,299 yds
You'll say "check downs" but Eli had a higher YP

Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL)
1/17/19, 10:07 AM
And I'm not even for keeping Eli Manning or defending him or all the crap that comes with it on here...but I just think it's hilarious how we all get set in these narratives and sometimes when you dig a little deeper they look odd. Case also had Thielen, Diggs, Rudolph w/ CooK

RV SNY: Keep Eli, draft, trade: What should Giants do at quarterback in 2019?
https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/keep-eli-draft-trade-what-should-giants-do-at-quarterback-in-2019/302832900

Schwartz NYP: The Nick Foles money question Giants need to ask themselves
https://nypost.com/2019/01/17/the-nick-foles-money-question-giants-need-to-ask-themselves/amp/

Risenblatt/Lombardo NJ.com: Should Giants target Eagles' Nick Foles or Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins as Eli Manning's replacement? Debating top QB options
https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/fcef66f05a7206/should-giants-target-eagles-nick-foles-or-ohio-states-dwayne-haskins-as-eli-mannings-replacement-debating-top-qb-options.html

S

Traina Locked on Giants Podcast: The safeties are up next in the LockedOn Giants podcast’s position-by-position review. Chris Bisignano of Giant Insider helps me break it all down (Audio)
http://traffic.megaphone.fm/LKN8182346100.mp3

NFL

Breer MMQB: Building a Winner: How the Rams’ Blueprint Stacks Up With the Saints, Patriots and Chiefs

“So what to take away? Three things I noticed:

One, more players on these rosters are landing there via trade or waiver claims than before. The 2015 quartet of Arizona, Carolina, Denver and New England had acquired a total of 18 of their players that way going into championship weekend. In 2016, that number dipped to 12 for the conference finalist. Last year, it was up to 26. This year, it’s 29. So these teams are working the waiver wire and trade market.

Two, there’s a huge gap in age at quarterback and in method of their acquisition. Brady is 41 and Brees is 40. Goff is 24 and Mahomes is 23. Brady and Brees came into the NFL as non-first-rounders, and Brees was allowed to hit the free-agent market by his drafting team (the Chargers) due to injury. Both Goff and Mahomes were traded up for in the Top 10. Conclusion? Quarterbacks don’t slip through the cracks much anymore.

Three, the investment in linemen, as we said, is noticeable. Take the five highest cap numbers on the rosters of the Chiefs, Rams and Saints, and 11 of those 15 players (including Houston, an on-ball linebacker) are linemen. And the Patriots spent three of their last four first-round picks on linemen, and have three offensive linemen on second contracts playing for trench wizard Dante Scarnecchia.”

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/17/nfl-conference-championship-games-rams-saints-patriots-chiefs-roster-construction

Clark The Ringer: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and the Era of the Forever QB
Patrick Mahomes II might win MVP but the NFL is still in a golden age of ageless quarterbacks. Players like Brees, Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Philip Rivers are getting better as they get older, and they show no signs of slowing down.

“So the NFL took a stance: When the Vikings play the Packers, ‘We are not interested in DeShone Kizer against Trevor Siemian,’” Hasselbeck said, referring to those teams’ backups. “They’ve said, ‘We don’t care if it is unfair to defensive players and the result has been that quarterbacks will get to play longer.’ Those guys, especially Brady and Brees, they could probably play until they are 45 if they really wanted to.”

There’s a theory, according to the people I spoke with, that Brady, Brees, Eli Manning, Rivers, Rodgers, and Roethlisberger benefited from coming into the league during a time of unlimited football education and practice time. These players have aged gracefully because halfway through their tenure, the grueling, physical practices they were accustomed to were virtually banned. Before the 2011 CBA, there were basically no limits on practice time, but now teams can have only 14 padded practices during the regular season. Hasselbeck called the practice restrictions an “absolute game-changer” for his health.

Defensive coordinators assume that they can’t blitz Brady or Brees because they’ve seen everything. Since they don’t face as many blitzes as they should, they stay healthier and perform better. Another way of avoiding contact is to get the ball out quickly. Roethlisberger, Brees, Eli Manning, and Brady all rank among the top 10 in the percentage of passes thrown in under 2.5 seconds, according to Pro Football Focus...”

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/1/17/18186326/tom-brady-drew-brees-golden-generation-aging-quarterbacks

Belson NYT: The N.F.L.’s Obesity Scourge
The effects of head trauma have gotten much of the attention, but huge weight gains have also damaged N.F.L. retirees
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/sports/football/the-nfls-obesity-scourge.amp.html

Fainaru ESPN: For the NFL and all of football, a new threat: an evaporating insurance market
http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25776964/insurance-market-football-evaporating-causing-major-threat-nfl-pop-warner-colleges-espn

ARIZONA
Somers AZ Central: Cardinals' staff solid so far under Kliff Kingsbury, despite lack of offensive coordinator
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2019/01/17/cardinals-coach-kingsbury-searching-offensive-coordinator/2607060002/

ATLANTA
Ledbettter AJC: Falcons’ OL draft record is not sterling
https://www.ajc.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/falcons-draft-record-not-sterling/5O1wi3SxOtozbpXilt86hP/

BALTIMORE
Preston Baltimore Sun: Nearly a month after announcement he'd return, Ravens' John Harbaugh still has no new contract
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/mikeprestonreportcards/bs-sp-harbaugh-20190117-story.html

Shaffer Baltimore Sun: Ravens running backs coach Thomas Hammock expected to be named Northern Illinois coach
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-thomas-hammock-northern-illinois-20190117-story.html

BUFFALO
Carucci Buffalo News: Josh Allen: Bills are ‘looking to build something special’
https://buffalonews.com/2019/01/17/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-lorenzo-alexander-kyle-williams-nfl-football-vic-carucci/

Maiorana Rochester Democrat: Shaq Lawson was improved in 2018, but should Bills invest a fifth year in him?
https://amp.democratandchronicle.com/amp/2595208002

CAROLINA
Jacques Charlotte Observer: Panthers analysis: It’s Christian McCaffrey’s backfield, we’re all just living in it
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article224473110.html

Strickland Panthers.com: Can Jermaine Carter seize the opportunity?
https://www.panthers.com/news/can-jermaine-carter-seize-the-opportunity

CHICAGO
Kane Chicago Tribune: Bears’ Matt Nagy named Pro Football Writers’ coach of the year
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-matt-nagy-pfwa-coach-of-year-20190117-story.html

Wiederer Chicago Tribune: 3 players — including Kareem Hunt and Robbie Gould — who could be on the Bears' offseason shopping list
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-bears-robbie-gould-kareem-hunt-20190117-story.html

CLEVELAND
Labbe Cleveland Plain Dealer: Browns adding Joe Whitt, John Parrella to their coaching staff, per reports
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/01/browns-adding-joe-whitt-to-their-coaching-staff-per-report.html

DALLAS
Machota Dallas Morning News: Cowboys VP Stephen Jones: 'Laughable' to think Jerry Jones cares more about money than winning another Super Bowl
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/17/cowboys-vp-stephen-jones-laughable-think-jerry-jones-cares-money-winning-another-super-bowl

Moore Dallas Morning News: Cowboys evaluations: Amari Cooper's impact was obvious, but which other players are trending up?
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/17/dallas-cowboys-player-evaluations-trending-upholding-steady-sliding

Dallas Morning News: Cowboys DT Antwaun Woods undergoes surgery for torn labrum suffered vs. Rams
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/01/17/cowboys-dtantwaun-woods-undergoes-surgery-torn-labrum-suffered-vs-rams

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos Briefs: Wade Harman hired as TE coach; Zach Azzanni, Curtis Modkins set to return
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/17/wade-harman-broncos-hire-coach/

DETROIT
Wojnowski Detroit News: Lions' offensive coordinator hire shifts heat from Matthew Stafford to Matt Patricia
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2019/01/17/detroit-lions-offensive-coordinator-darrell-bevell-hire-shifts-heat-matthew-stafford-matt-patricia/2603159002/

Monarrez Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions hiring Darrell Bevell like getting meatloaf for dinner
https://amp.freep.com/amp/2605797002

Rogers Detroit News: Tough cuts? Important salary, roster decisions loom for Lions

“Defensive tackle Damon Harrison
2019 cap hit: $7 million
Dead money: $0
Analysis: A midseason trade brought Harrison to Detroit and the move seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for a struggling defense. After adding the man they call Snacks, the Lions had the second-best run defense in the NFL. There's zero chance they let him go”

https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/2592987002

GREEN BAY
Owaczarski Mil JS: Nathaniel Hackett hire part of Matt LaFleur’s offensive process for Packers
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/01/17/nathaniel-hackett-hire-part-matt-lafleurs-process-packers/2604583002/

HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Source: Texans' J.J. Watt has minor knee surgery
https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Source-Texans-J-J-Watt-minor-knee-surgery-13542471.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Keefer Indianapolis Star: Seven things we learned from the Colts' 2018 season
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/2596574002

JACKSONVILLE
Heilman Florida Times Union: 5 things Jaguars OC John DeFilippo should have on his to-do list
https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20190117/5-things-jaguars-oc-john-defilippo-should-have-on-his-to-do-list

DIRocco ESPN Jacksonville: Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette challenges void of guaranteed money
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25786300/jacksonville-jaguars-rb-leonard-fournette-challenges-void-guaranteed-money?

KANSAS CITY
McDowell KC Star: This could be the key to the Chiefs’ chances against the New England Patriots
https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article224705855.html

Pryor KC Star: How agents used an old-school playbook to market Chiefs’ Mahomes, a new-age phenom
https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article224707210.html

Sleezer KC Star: Chiefs trying to figure out New England Patriots Tom Brady
https://www.kansascity.com/latest-news/article224704940.html

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Williams ESPN LA: Chargers ready to discuss new contract with Philip Rivers
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25788654/los-angeles-chargers-talk-new-contract-philip-rivers?

Miller LA Times: Philip Rivers 'not going anywhere' any time soon, Chargers GM says

“Rivers, who turned 37 in December, just finished his 15th season with the Chargers, the past 13 as the starter. He has said he’d like to play at least through 2020, when the team moves into a new stadium in Inglewood.
“I couldn’t put a number on it,” Telesco said when asked how many more seasons Rivers could play. “Six years I’ve been here, he’s playing better now than when I first got here.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/la-sp-chargers-tom-telesco-20190117-story.html

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Plaschke LA Times: Get ready L.A., the Rams are headed to the Super Bowl
https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-rams-saints-plaschke-20190117-story.html

Killion SF Chronicle: The first time I saw him, he was a 15-year old sophomore at Marin Catholic, crushing an opponent. It was the only time that I have looked at a kid from the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge and thought, “I’m going to cover that one in the pros.”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/From-bust-to-Bayou-NFC-Championship-Game-Bay-13542385.php

Weller SIS Blog: The Rams’ Rushing Success is More Than Just Todd Gurley or C.J. Anderson
https://sportsinfosolutionsblog.com/2019/01/17/the-rams-rushing-success-is-more-than-just-todd-gurley-or-c-j-anderson/

Brewer Washington Post: The Rams’ Todd Gurley has become the ideal modern NFL running back. His response? Shrug
https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/sports/the-rams-todd-gurley-has-become-the-ideal-modern-nfl-running-back-his-response-shrug/2019/01/17/4591a5a4-1a8e-11e9-8813-cb9dec761e73_story.html

Klein LA Times: Ndamukong Suh finally looks like player who can help Rams tackle Saints
https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-saints-20190117-story.html

Thiry ESPN LA: Years of sorrow haven't taken everything from Rams CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/39705/lifetime-of-sorrow-hasnt-taken-everything-from-rams-cb-nickell-robey-coleman

Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball)
1/17/19, 8:01 PM
The Rams DEF has been destroyed by WRs in 12 personnel. Since wk 5:
68% success rate (#26)
13.2 YPA (#30)

Haven't improved even w Talib back (64% success, 14.9 YPA)

The Saints went 68% run from 12 last mtg (runs=2.2 YPC, 23% success). Need to pass more from 12 on Sunday

MIAMI
Thamel Yahoo Sports: Brian Flores' rise began in a Brooklyn housing project and will continue soon when he's expected to be named Miami Dolphins coach. Profile of his ascent through the three places that shaped him -- Poly Prep, BC and the Patriots
https://sports.yahoo.com/rise-brian-flores-042515678.html

Salguero Miami Herald: Brian Flores must hit ground running with Dolphins to address these roster issues
https://amp.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/article224615390.html

NEW ENGLAND
Keegan Boston Herald: Bill Belichick, Andy Reid foes and friends
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/17/bill-belichick-andy-reid-foes-and-friends/amp/

Volin Boston Globe: Is Andy Reid an all-time great coach? He needs this win a lot more than Bill Belichick does
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/01/17/andy-reid-has-lot-more-line-here-than-bill-belichick/7ZuHmgeCiG45oNlZw05XhI/amp.html

Gienieczko Boston Herald: Patriots notebook: It’s different for Rob Gronkowski at this stage of his career
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/17/patriots-notebook-its-different-for-rob-gronkowski-at-this-stage-of-his-career/amp/

NEW ORLEANS
Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball)
1/17/19, 8:10 PM
Saints rushing v Rams by grouping:

11: 86% success, 9.9 YPC, 7 att
12: 23% success, 2.2 YPC, 13 att
21: 33% success, 2.2 YPC, 6 att

The Rams are much worse defending runs from 11. YTD:

55% success (#28)
6.3 YPC (#32)

Saints must call more runs from 11, less from 12/2

Terrell ESPN NO: How Saints' Benjamin Watson lasted 15 years in the NFL
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/31459/how-saints-benjamin-watson-lasted-15-years-in-the-nfl

Smith NO Advocate: Saints defense will try to avoid another slow start vs. Rams: 'We have to come out rolling'
https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/saints/article_a069a462-1abc-11e9-bed1-e38f4c7407b7.amp.html

Johnson Nola.com: Saints rookie Taylor Stallworth embracing next man up role after Sheldon Rankins injury
https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/saints-rookie-taylor-stallworth-embracing-next-man-up-role-after-sheldon-rankins-injury.html

NEW YORK JETS
Mehta NYDN: It’s put up or shut up time for Jets GM Mike Maccagnan this offseason
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m/sports/football/jets/ny-sports-mike-maccagnan-mehta-20190117-story.html

OAKLAND
Velotta LV Review Journal: Greener on the inside
Portable grass trays will move Raiders' surface indoors for games
https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/stadium/challenge-for-las-vegas-raiders-stadium-is-moving-grass-field-inside-1568670/

PHILADELPHIA
Sielski Phil.com: There was a lesson in the Eagles' hiring of Doug Pederson as head coach. Are other teams learning it?
http://www.philly.com/eagles/nfl-coaches-kliff-kingsbury-adam-gase-doug-pederson-philadelphia-eagles-20190117.html

Kempski Phillyvoice: Eagles stay or go: Running back
https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-stay-or-go-running-back-2019-offseason-darren-sproles-josh-adams-wendell-smallwood-corey-clement-jay-ajayi/

PITTSBURGH
LaBriola Steelers.com; Rooney: Kicking, turnover ratio the big problems
https://www.steelers.com/news/rooney-kicking-turnover-ratio-the-big-problems

Zeise Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Trading Antonio Brown will not fix the Steelers
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/paul-zeise/2019/01/17/Trading-Antonio-Brown-will-not-fix-or-come-close-to-fixing-the-Steeler/stories/201901170147

SAN FRANCISCO
Branch SF Chronicle: The 49ers won their last Super Bowl in Miami. Will their win their next Super Bowl in the same city?
The chances aren’t great.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/amp/49ers-in-next-season-s-Super-Bowl-What-are-the-13542878.php

Branch SF Chronicle: 49ers: Kyle Shanahan, Kris Kocurek and ... Bill Belichick?
https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-Kyle-Shanahan-Kris-Kocurek-and-Bill-13541959.php

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: Seahawks sign former first-round pick Paxton Lynch as backup QB candidate behind Russell Wilson
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-sign-qb-former-first-round-pick-paxton-lynch-as-backup-candidate-behind-russell-wilson/

TAMPA BAY
Bassinger TB Times: To be playoff contenders, the Buccaneers need more than Bruce Arians. Here’s the proof
https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/2019/01/17/bruce-arians-tampa-bay-buccaneers-nfl-one-score-games-dirk-koetter-jason-licht-arizona-cardinals-thomas-bassinger/?

WASHINGTON
Keim ESPN Washington: Greg Manusky is returning, but Redskins' need for change remains
http://www.espn.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/38045/greg-manusky-is-returning-but-redskins-need-for-change-remains?

Colleges/Draft

GBN: 2019 GBN Big Board
https://gbnreport.com/preliminary-top-50-prospects-for-2019/

GBN: SHRINE WEEK 2019
https://gbnreport.com/shrine-week-2019/

Trapasso CBS Sports: 2019 Senior Bowl: Offensive prospects who'll have great value later in 2019 NFL Draft
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-senior-bowl-offensive-prospects-wholl-have-great-value-later-in-2019-nfl-draft/amp/

Patterson CBS Sports: An early look at the top 32 NFL draft-eligible college football players taking the field in 2019
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/an-early-look-at-the-top-32-nfl-draft-eligible-college-football-players-taking-the-field-in-2019/amp/

QB
Dunleavy NJ.com: NFL Draft 2020: Can't get Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins? This QB class is loaded | Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon's Justin Herbert, more
https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/f0d67900334391/nfl-draft-2020-cant-get-ohio-states-dwayne-haskins-this-qb-class-is-loaded-tua-tagovailoa-justin-herbert-and-more.html

WR
Kelly The Draft Network: 2019 SENIOR BOWL PREVIEW: WIDE RECEIVERS
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/01/16/2019-senior-bowl-preview-wide-receivers/

Sikkema The Draft Network: BEST PROSPECT I SAW THIS WEEK: WR KEESEAN JOHNSON
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/01/17/best-prospect-i-saw-this-week-wr-keesean-johnson/

T
Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski)
1/17/19, 7:45 AM
Offensive line draft picks are never sexy, yet seven offensive tackles--Jonah Williams, Greg Little, Cody Ford, Yodny Cajuste, Jawaan Taylor, Dalton Risner and Andre Dillard--display first-round traits/ability. A couple may switch positions, but it's a talented group

Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL)
1/17/19, 9:44 AM
Interestingly enough, at least one of these tackles should be there at the Giants pick in Round 2. If multiple are there, it could be another no brainer for them ala Will Hernandez. They didn’t flinch when Will was on the board. Other needs too, but tough to pass on OT talent

Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski)
1/17/19, 7:53 AM
All you have to do is look at the four teams still playing to see how valuable offensive line play is.

All four ranked top-nine in fewest sacks allow.

Saints: Second (20 sacks)
Pats: Third (21)
Chiefs: Fifth (26)
Rams: Ninth (33)

Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski)
1/17/19, 7:55 AM
Rams had the same starting five all season.

Pats feature the game's best offensive interior.

Saints own the league's best tackle duo.

Chiefs' line has the game's best right tackle and a former No. 1 overall pick on the blind side

History

Hobson Bengals.com: Bengals mourn Turk [Schonert]
Schonert coached the Giants’ QB’s in 2003
https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-mourn-turk

Giants Birthdays 1-18

Bruce Anderson RDE/LDE TR-LA 1967 NYG 1967-1969 1-18-1944

Dominque Hamilton DT W-KC 2014 NYG 2014 1-18-1989

Jim Holifield DB D12-Jackson State 1968 NYG 1968-1969 1-18-1946

Ryan Kuehl LS FA-CLE 2004 NYG 2004-2006 1-18-1972

Chris Snee RG D2-Boston College 2004 NYG 2004-2013 1-18-1982

In Memoriam

Brian Sisley DE UDFA-South Dakota State 1987 NYG 1987 Born 1-18-1964 Died 1-31-2013