Saturday Reading

Giants

RV SNY: Giants three-round mock draft: Big Blue has sights set on future QB
https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/giants-three-round-mock-draft-big-blue-has-sights-set-on-future-qb/303998462

QB

Lombardo NJ.com: If Giants bring Eli Manning back, they would be punting on 2019 | What they should do instead
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/02/watch-if-giants-bring-eli-manning-back-they-would-be-punting-on-2019-what-they-should-do-instead.html

Orr MMQB: Kyler Murray Gets His Official Draft Season Welcome

“This won’t be the last time we hear about Murray’s height this draft season, but I also think it won’t be the last time we hear about adjustments to long-standing grading systems like Young’s (and, for the record, some people I spoke to with knowledge of the Giants’ operation said there has been some elasticity built in over the years).”

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/12/kyler-murray-nfl-draft-height-new-york-giants

LB

Schneier 247 Sports: 11 Linebackers the Giants could target in 2019 Free Agency
https://247sports.com/nfl/new-york-giants/LongFormArticle/Giants-free-agency-linebacker-2019-free-agents-129112049/Amp/

SS

Thomas The Athletic: Chasing Matthew Slater: Giants’ Michael Thomas on first Pro Bowl nod and why special teamers deserve better
https://theathletic.com/820100/2019/02/15/chasing-matthew-slater-giants-michael-thomas-on-first-pro-bowl-nod-and-why-special-teamers-deserve-better/

NFL

Brooks NFL.com: Cardinals should trade Rosen, draft Murray

“I would love to believe the Cardinals' coach, but Murray's skills are a perfect match for the team's new system. At Texas Tech, Kingsbury unleashed a mobile playmaker in Patrick Mahomes with outstanding success. He could create a similar scenario in Arizona with Murray running the show. Although I'm not putting Murray in the same class as Mahomes, the reigning NFL MVP, I do believe the Cardinals should make him the top pick and wave goodbye to Rosen.
I know the thought of moving on from a first-round quarterback seems ridiculous after one season, but how often do you get to land a five-star talent who perfectly matches your system? Moreover, do you believe a franchise quarterback ideally suited for your offense is worth the price of giving up a top-10 pick and some cash (Rosen made about $11.3 million in signing bonus and base salary in 2018)?
If so, you hand in the draft card with Murray's name on it and you worry less about the draft capital and compensation surrendered to eventually land the guy. Remember, the Los Angeles Rams (Jared Goff), Philadelphia Eagles (Carson Wentz), Chicago Bears (Mitchell Trubisky), Houston Texans (Deshaun Watson) and Kansas City Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes) made significant moves to acquire their respective QB1s and they've been rewarded with playoff appearances and Pro Bowl-caliber performances...

Looking at a potential Rosen trade, I believe you could easily flip the former first-round pick for a middle-round selection based on his play and contract. Although his rookie numbers were greatly affected by instability at the offensive coordinator position and a subpar offensive line, Rosen connected on 55.2 percent of his passes with an 11:14 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Those numbers aren't bad for a classic pocket passer with limited mobility playing behind a shaky offensive line that failed to protect him.
With that in mind, I believe a team in need of a QB1 would certainly opt for Rosen over one of the signal-callers available in the 2019 draft. You could make a reasonable argument that Rosen would be the best passer in the class or cherry pick the top five and slot him in where he fits. I would rank Rosen no lower than third among the passers in this class, with the Cardinals QB slotted ahead of Missouri's Drew Lock and Duke's Daniel Jones. Although each is viewed as a better athlete and playmaker, Rosen is a more refined passer with a game that easily fits into a traditional pro-style offense.
Even if scouts disagree with how I rank Rosen against the top four prospects in the class, he is certainly viewed as a better player than this year's second-tier prospects (West Virginia's Will Grier, N.C. State's Ryan Finley, and Auburn's Jarrett Stidham). That would approximate his value at around the second round, which makes him an easier sell to teams looking for a potential starter in this draft.”

1) Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State
2) Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
3) Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
4) Devin White, LB, LSU
5) Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky
6) Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
7) Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
8) Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
9) Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
10) Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson

“At quarterback, I believe the debate for the No. 1 spot will come down to Haskins and Murray. Both are special players, but they play the position in different ways. Haskins is the big, sturdy flame thrower most offensive coordinators covet in a pocket passer, while Murray is an electric jitterbug with A+ arm talent and athleticism. Depending on the scheme and imagination of the play caller, I think teams can make a case for both guys as franchise QB1s.”

https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001018077/article/cardinals-should-deal-josh-rosen-pick-kyler-murray-in-nfl-draft?

Shook NFL.com: Ranking all 32 rookie classes

(4) NEW YORK GIANTS: A- Round 1: (2) Saquon Barkley, RB, 16 games/16 starts. Round 2: (34) Will Hernandez, G, 16 games/16 starts. Round 3: (66) Lorenzo Carter, LB, 15 games/2 starts; (69) B.J. Hill, DL, 16 games/12 starts. Round 4: (108) Kyle Lauletta, QB, 2 games/0 starts. Round 5: (139) RJ McIntosh, DT, 6 games/0 starts. Supplemental Draft, Round 3: Sam Beal, CB, 0 games/0 starts. Notable rookie FA signings: Sean Chandler, DB, 16 games/0 starts; Tae Davis, LB, 14 games/4 starts; Grant Haley, DB, 10 games/9 starts.

“The tri-state debate over whether the Giants should have drafted Barkley or Sam Darnold with the second pick in 2018, knowing that Eli Manning was on the wrong side of 37, will continue incessantly for years to come, single-handedly keeping drive-time sportstalk radio alive past its deserved expiration date. That is until New York picks the right QB of the future, which could happen as early as this spring. HOWEVAH, there is no denying the outstanding achievement that was Saquon's first year as a pro. He lived up to all expectations, making the Pro Bowl while racking up a league-high 2,028 scrimmage yards and 15 scores behind an improving (but still bottom-tier) O-line. Anchoring that line's late-season resurgence was Hernandez, who, along with Barkley, made the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Hill was an unheralded but solid selection, leading all Big Blue D-linemen in snaps, and Carter was a consistent contributor off the bench and the edge. Lauletta, meanwhile, spent more time in the news in 2018 for reckless drives than touchdown drives. The grade stands at A- for now, BUT it self-demotes to a B if NYG doesn't find a QB of the future within 15 months.”

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001017958/article/2018-nfl-rookie-report-card-ranking-each-teams-class-1-to-32

Dubin CBS Sports.com: 2019 NFL Free Agency: DeMarcus Lawrence tops a deep list of explosive edge rushers
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2019-nfl-free-agency-demarcus-lawrence-tops-a-deep-list-of-explosive-edge-rushers/amp/

McCann MMQB: Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid Settle Collusion Grievance With the NFL: What’s the Significance?
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/15/colin-kaepernick-nfl-collusion-grievance-settlement-eric-reid

Ostler SF Chronicle: It appears Colin Kaepernick brought NFL to its knees
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/ostler/article/Did-Colin-Kaepernick-bring-the-NFL-to-its-knees-13620554.php

ATLANTA
Ledbetter AJC: Falcons’ offense faltered up front in 2018
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-offense-faltered-front-2018/pNzWqkXhqtiBOzGVmwx3GN/amp.html

Ledbetter AJC: Falcons won’t tender Brian Poole 
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/report-falcons-won-tender-brian-poole/nIfXd3MapyrljEviBlywZM/amp.html

BALTIMORE
Shaffer Baltimore Sun: Ravens positional review: Running back
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-positional-review-running-backs-20190215-story.html

BUFFALO
Rodak ESPN Buffalo: Bills release tight end Charles Clay
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26005150/bills-release-tight-end-charles-clay?

Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy)
2/15/19, 4:09 PM
Belichick has been extremely complimentary of Clay, who has spent his entire career in the AFC East (Dolphins, Bills).

CHICAGO
Biggs Chicago Tribune: Bears are expected to be in the hunt for a running back. Here are 10 potential middle-round draft options
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-cb-bears-replacing-jordan-howard-nfl-draft-biggs-20190215-story.html

CLEVELAND
Lesmerises Cleveland Plain Dealer: Freddie Kitchens, Alabama's Mr. Football, was known for being tough, which is all he ever wanted: 'Built in Bama' Chapter 3
https://www.cleveland.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/fef08dced72509/freddie-kitchens-alabamas-mr-football-was-known-for-being-tough-which-is-all-he-ever-wanted-built-in-bama-chapter-3.html

DALLAS
Hairopolous Dallas Morning News: Cowboys free agents most likely to depart: Why talent alone isn't enough to save enigmatic DL David Irving
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/02/15/cowboys-free-agents-likely-depart-talent-alone-isnt-enough-save-enigmatic-dl-david-irving

Moore Dallas Morning News: Travis Frederick is closing in on the finish line after Guillain-Barre syndrome sidelined him in 2018
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/02/14/travis-frederick-closing-finish-line-after-guillain-barre-syndrome-sidelined-2018

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos LB Brandon Marshall appreciative of time in Denver after 6-year stay with team likely over
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/15/linebacker-brandon-marshalls-six-year-stay-with-broncos-could-be-over/amp/

Troy Renck (@TroyRenck)
2/15/19, 10:30 AM
As said on Sunday night on Denver7 keep an eye on C.J. Mosley in free agency. He's expected to become a target. The draft could change this, if they go after LSU's Devin White (sorry for mistake earlier). But Mosley on Broncos radar

Legwold ESPN Denver: Broncos' biggest need now is finding Chris Harris Jr. a partner
http://www.espn.com/blog/denver-broncos/post/_/id/32974/broncos-biggest-need-now-is-finding-chris-harris-jr-a-partner?

DETROIT
Birkett Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions release iron man safety Glover Quin
https://amp.freep.com/amp/2852290002

HOUSTON
McClain Houston Chronicle: McClain's Mailbag: Can Texans find tackle in free agency and what about Le'Veon Bell?
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/amp/McClain-s-Mailbag-Can-a-tackle-be-found-in-free-13619599.php

JACKSONVILLE
Frenette Florida Times Union: Jaguars need Foles, QB insurance policy before NFL draft
https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20190215/gene-frenette-jaguars-need-foles-qb-insurance-policy-before-nfl-draft

KANSAS CITY
Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor)
2/15/19, 12:51 PM
On this snowy day, according to multiple sources, Sam Madison is a leading candidate to join Steve Spagnuolo’s staff as an assistant in the secondary. Madison was a cornerback under Spagnuolo when the Giants won the 2007 Super Bowl. He could replace Emmitt Thomas

Kerkhoff KC Star: NFL analysts see two free-agent safeties as a potential fit for Chiefs
https://amp.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article226324650.html

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Posey Chargerswire USA Today: Chargers Re-sign DB Jaylen Watkins
https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/15/chargers-re-sign-db-jaylen-watkins/amp/

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Simmons Rams.com: Offseason Outlook: Options for the Rams, C.J. Anderson as the RB approaches free agency
https://www.therams.com/news/offseason-outlook-options-for-the-rams-c-j-anderson-as-the-rb-approaches-free-ag

MIAMI
Hyde Sun Sentinel: A voice of welcome experience arrives at Dolphins
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-hyde-caldwell-dolphins-20190215-story.html

Beasley Miami Herald: Exploring the Dolphins’ plan on defense, courtesy of the Ivy Leaguer making the calls
https://amp.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article226331830.html

Jackson Miami Herald: Dolphins sign former second-round defensive end and a young cornerback
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article225598580.html

NEW ENGLAND
Corry CBS Sports: Agent's Take: What type of discount will Tom Brady give the Patriots on his contract this time?
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-what-type-of-discount-will-tom-brady-give-the-patriots-on-his-contract-this-time/

Kyed NESN: Hidden Patriots: New England ‘Redshirted’ Next Slot Option As Rookie
https://nesn.com/2019/02/hidden-patriots-new-england-redshirted-next-slot-option-as-rookie/amp/

Young Yahoo Sports: Patriots' Kyle Van Noy: Rams only ran one new play in Super Bowl
https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/patriots-kyle-van-noy-rams-ran-one-new-play-super-bowl-194936428.html

NEW ORLEANS
Johnson Nola.com: Saints to hire former Penn State assistant Phil Galiano to work with special teams: report
https://www.nola.com//saints/2019/02/saints-to-hire-former-penn-state-assistant-phil-galiano-to-work-with-special-teams-report.html

OAKLAND
Gehlken LV Review Journal: Talks to continue between Oakland, Raiders about 2019 lease
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders-nfl/talks-to-continue-between-oakland-raiders-about-2019-lease-1597987/amp/

PHILADELPHIA
Hayes Phil.com: Colin Kaepernick’s road to settlement with NFL put Eagles at center of national-anthem controversy
https://www.philly.com/eagles/colin-kaepernick-settlement-nfl-eagles-malcolm-jenkins-eric-reid-chris-long-michael-bennett-20190215.html

Kempski Phillyvoice: The draft or free agency: Where are the Eagles likely to improve each position this offseason?
https://www.phillyvoice.com/draft-or-free-agency-where-are-eagles-likely-look-each-position-offseason/amp/

McLane Phil.com: Eagles cornerback Sidney Jones’ durability remains in question. Could gaining strength help?
https://www.philly.com/eagles/philadelphia-eagles-sidney-jones-cornerback-injuries-20190215.html

PITTSBURGH
Adamski Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Steelers' Josh Dobbs proud of 2018, vows to progress more in '19
https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/14616605-74/steelers-josh-dobbs-proud-of-2018-vows-to-progress-more-in-19

Bittner Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Analysis: Advanced stats say Steelers missed Le'Veon Bell -- a lot
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/02/15/leveon-bell-trade-rumors-nfl-free-agency-james-conner/stories/201902140182

Fowler ESPN Pittsburgh: Steelers president Art Rooney II, Antonio Brown to meet next week
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26005041/pittsburgh-steelers-president-antonio-brown-meet-next-week?

SAN FRANCISCO
Biderman Sac Bee: Do the 49ers go after a big-name receiver to replace Garçon? Big names keep popping up
https://amp.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article226338615.html

Wagoner ESPN SF: 49ers trying to find best use for Solomon Thomas, Arik Armstead
http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/293946/49ers-trying-to-find-best-use-for-solomon-thomas-arik-armstead?

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: After a season of change a year ago, Seahawks appear pretty set at tight end heading into 2019
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/after-a-season-of-change-a-year-ago-seahawks-appear-pretty-set-at-tight-end-heading-into-2019/?

TAMPA BAY
Stroud TB Times: How Kyler Murray can impact the Bucs’ draft
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/02/15/how-kyler-murray-can-impact-the-bucs-draft/?

TENNESSEE
Davenport ESPN Nashville: Titans' Johnathan Cyprien ready to 'let it all out' in return
http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/294026/titans-johnathan-cyprien-ready-to-let-it-all-out-in-return?

WASHINGTON
Schreifels Refskins.com: 'Dang, You're Coaching Adrian Peterson:' Randy Jordan Reflects On His Rare Opportunity 
https://www.redskins.com/news/dang-you-re-coaching-adrian-peterson-randy-jordan-reflects-on-his-rare-opportuni

Colleges/Draft

Miller B/R: Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook: Insiders Pick Most Overrated Draft Prospects

“Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
"He's probably QB1 in this class, but that doesn't mean he's a good quarterback. This is a bad draft for passers, but he's still going top five. It's just how the league works now." — AFC scouting director
"Haskins scares me, but he has the most traits to work with. Still, he's not [Jared] Goff or anything. He would have been QB4 in last year's class." — NFC area scout”

“Noted NFL insider Jay Glazer stirred the pot when asked this week for a bold offseason prediction by writing that the New York Giants would trade Odell Beckham Jr. Glazer, who started his career covering the Giants, is rarely wrong when it comes to breaking news, but this seemed more predictive than reported.”

“It's time to update the big board after two weeks on the road evaluating at all-star games. Here's my most recent top 32:
1. Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
2. Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
3. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
4. Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
5. Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
6. Devin White, LB, LSU
7. Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
8. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
9. Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
10. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
11. Montez Sweat, EDGE, Miss. State
12. Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
13. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State”

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2820850-matt-millers-scouting-notebook-insiders-pick-most-overrated-draft-prospects.amp.html

White CBS Sports.com: NFL informs teams that Simmons, Ferguson will attend NFL Draft combine for medicals, but not interviews
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-informs-teams-that-simmons-ferguson-will-attend-nfl-draft-combine-for-medicals-but-not-interviews/amp/

RB
Brief MMQB: NFL Draft 2019 Position Primers: Josh Jacobs, David Montgomery Atop Running Back Class
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/15/nfl-draft-2019-top-running-backs-josh-jacobs-david-montgomery-damien-harris

DT
Solak The Draft Network: SIMMONS FALLING? | PRETTY PENNY V. BARGAIN BUY
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/02/15/bank-on-jeffery-simmons-falling-pretty-penny-v-bargain-buy/

History

Stapleton The Record: Rick Donohue, former NY Giants assistant general manager, dies at 75

“Donohue joined the Giants in 1980 as a scout and held several positions during his tenure, including Chief Scout and Director of Player Personnel before becoming the assistant GM in January of 1998.

As Player Personnel Director, and then Assistant General Manager for the Giants, Donohue was instrumental in building a system through which several assistant coaches passed on their way to becoming head coaches, including Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, and John Fox, among others. Donohue helped manage all phases of football operations for the Giants, including managing the draft, player recruiting, and contract negotiations. During his professional career, three Giants teams made Super Bowl appearances, winning the franchise's first two of four Vince Lombardi trophies in the 1986 and 1990 seasons.”

https://amp.northjersey.com/amp/2879982002

Giants Birthdays 2-16

George Martin LDE D11-Oregon 1975 NYG 1975-1988 2-16-1953

“TR: Let’s talk some football now. You are a Super Bowl Champion Do you remember your first official game? What was that experience like for you?

GM: I think it is almost like your first love, which I was fortunate enough to have married. (All laugh.) You remember your first game as if it was yesterday. It was up in New England. The funny thing about it is that I never had any expectations of becoming a football player. My first love in life was basketball. I always aspired to be a professional basketball player.

I can recall up in New England that Steve Grogan was the Patriots quarterback. Jack Gregory was the starting defensive end, who got hurt very early on in the game. The coach at the time Bill Arnsparger turned and yelled, ‘Martin, get out there.’
I said who is he talking to? (All laugh.) It was unbelievable. It was so surreal. As I ran onto the field the lights seemed so bright. The stage was unbelievable. The noise was deafening. I have to tell you this. I had no idea what I was doing. As luck would have it I stumbled into a quarterback sack on my first series. (All laugh.) The rest as they say is history.

AE: It seems that you should have been a tight end or a fullback in the NFL since you seemed to always find a way to score a touchdown. Even Bill Parcells believes you were in the greatest play he had ever seen. What was it about you and finding pay dirt as defensive end?

GM: I was a tight end in college. That was considered my natural position. The irony was that I was ranked second overall tight end in all of college football. The problem was that the guy who was ranked number one was also on our team. It was a guy by the name of Russ Francis. He had a stellar career in the NFL with the New England Patriots.

I always have considered myself as somewhat athletic being a college basketball player. I was an All-American basketball player in high school. I was a tight end in football. So when I would warm up for a game I would go over to Phil Simms and catch passes. It was what I loved to do.

TR: In your career which team did you love to line up against the most?

GM: I will reverse that. The team that I had the most disdain for was and still is the Dallas Cowboys. When you have this self-proclaimed America’s team it kind of sticks in the craw of everyone else. Unfortunately back in those days the Giants were the doormat of the industry. Dallas has a lot of swagger to them. They were really a good team. They were a great, great and successful team, but poor winners in many regards. That’s why we didn’t like the Dallas Cowboys all that much.”

https://www.lifeofdad.com/george-martin-my-life-of-dad/

NY Magazine:

“People must ask you about the Super Bowl against the Broncos all the time. Do you ever get tired of talking about it?

No, no, you never get tired of your accomplishments, particularly when they lead to excellence and you being crowned as world champions. No, I don’t think any of us have ever gotten tired of being quizzed or asked about it or being in a position to reminisce about what happened out in Pasadena. It’s something that I hope will last for the rest of our respective lives.

You sacked John Elway for a safety in that game. Have you ever spoken to Elway about that play or that game?

As a matter of fact, last year we were out at an event, and someone called me over to introduce me, just to say hello. And John was there, and [this person] was a friend of John Elway’s, and he starts ribbing John. He goes, “John, you know, the greatest pass I ever saw you complete was to this guy right here, George Martin,” which happened earlier in that year, that Super Bowl year, when we played the Denver Broncos at home, when I intercepted John for a 78-yard touchdown. So the guy was giving him a pretty hard time, and John laughed it off, he was good-natured about it, but it’s not something I would ever try to rib him on. Trust me, there are many, many instances that people can recall the New York Giants and George Martin being the butt end of a joke, but I took it in lighthearted fun.

Like you said, you’d played the Broncos earlier in that season. Does having faced a team earlier in the season help one team or the other? How does it affect the preparation?

It’s definitely an advantage — I think twofold. Number one, it gives coaches a definitive look at the opponent and they can make adjustments, particularly things may have hurt us in certain situations, and that’s the genius of Bill Belichick. I always said, if there’s any such thing as a football genius, in the defensive context, Bill Belichick is absolutely a football genius. He would make adjustments that just boggled our mind, because he just had this intuitive sense as to how to make either slight or major adjustments that wreak havoc on the offense. And I think it gave us a distinct advantage to have played Denver earlier that year and played them at home and, on top of that, beaten them, because psychologically I think you have a psychological edge over your opponent once you’ve already played them and beaten them. I think it did work to our advantage.

Going back to your career, you had a handful of touchdowns as a defensive player, and one as an offensive player. What do you remember about the offensive touchdown?

Well, it really hearkened me back to what my very favorite position was, and that was tight end. And unfortunately, I was drafted as a defensive end, but I made the best of it. But I was always considered the third tight end in the Giants’ offense, and I played that for many, many years. We practiced it all the time, but in that particular game against the Dallas Cowboys, it afforded me the opportunity to catch them off guard, because they thought that I was just a defensive lineman that was in strictly to block, and fortunately this was a pass play that we had in our repertoire. Phil Simms threw a perfect strike, and I called on my old tight end skills to catch it.

You walked from the George Washington Bridge to San Diego for charity a few years ago. That’s pretty ambitious, so how did the idea for that come about?
It was something that was part of my personal bucket list, probably since I was a very young child, of having that wanderlust of seeing America up close and personal. Growing up in the segregated South and really not being exposed to a lot of America because of my upbringing, I’d always wanted to see this great thing that we call the United States of America, and I didn’t want to see it from a window in the backseat of a car or from 37,000 feet in an airplane. I wanted to see it up close and personal. And after driving across country on multiple occasions did not satisfy my quest for it, I came up with the fact that I would walk across America and see it and fulfill my life ambition. And if were going to do that, I wanted to make sure that I had a worthy cause associated with it, and I could think of no better cause at the moment than recognizing people who are real heroes in the form of the first responders and rescue and recovery workers of 9/11.”

http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2012/01/catching-up-with-former-giants-de-george-martin.html

UPI 1981

“WASHINGTON -- For a New York Giants' fan, George Martin's fumble return for a touchdown Sunday was the play of the game.
For Martin, it was old hat.
Martin picked up Joe Theismann's fumble and returned it eight yards for a touchdown to seal the Giants' 17-7 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Joe Danelo's 25-yard field goal had given the Giants a 10-7 lead with 10 minutes to play after a scoreless first half and off-setting third-quarter touchdowns.
'I always enjoy scoring a touchdown, but the excitement just isn't the same after the first one because I've had four, you know,' deadpanned Martin after the game. 'Actually, I thought I was going to drop the thing before I could get it wrapped up. Getting into the end zone was the easy part.'
Martin intercepted a Theismann pass in 1977 and ran it back 30 yards for a touchdown in 1977. The following year, he took a lateral after a blocked field goal and went 11 yards for a touchdown against Atlanta. Last year, lining up as a tight end, Martin caught a 4-yard touchdown pass in a 38-35 upset of the Dallas Cowboys.
Theismann is becoming Martin's favorite victim. In 1978, Martin sacked Theismann four times in a 17-6 victory over the Redskins.
'It's nothing personal against Theismann,' Martin assured his listeners. 'In fact, Phil Tabor deserves the credit for this one. He really hammered Joe and caused the fumble.'
Tabor got to Theismann untouched from his right defensive end position and jolted the football loose. Martin just picked up the pieces and turned them into a touchdown.
'I could see I was going to have a clear shot at Theismann, even before the ball was snapped,' said Tabor. 'We had more defensive people coming after Theismann than they had on that side to block. I just ran straight at him as hard as I could go.'

In Memoriam

Dick Modzelewski LDT TR-PIT 1955 NYG 1955-1963 Born 2-16-1931 Died 10-19-2018

Giants.com: Former Giants DT Dick Modzelewski passes away
https://www.giants.com/news/former-giants-dt-dick-modzelewski-passes-away

Mara claims that he does only the leg-work for the Giants in trades. "I ask the coaches what they need and it is my responsibility to know where it is available," he says. "We keep a pretty good book on all the players in the league. We get a good part of it from reports from our own players on their opponent in each game. We got Dick Modzelewski that way. He came to us in 1956 from Pittsburgh via Detroit in a four-player deal which also involved Dick Alban, Ray Krouse and Dick Stanfel. We wanted Modzelewski because our player reports rated him as the best defensive tackle we had faced that year. We found out later that Pittsburgh was willing to give him up because, when they looked at the movies, they figured the only good games he had played were against us."

https://www.si.com/vault/1961/11/20/619082/a-successful-trader-in-giants

Al Owen HB UDFA-Mercer 1939 NYG 1939-1942 Born 2-16-1913 Died 6-11-1992

Giants sign Al Owen; ship him to Minors

Bergen Record 1938

“Al Owen of Leonla in the 1939 plans of the New York Giants. Well, the blond was purchased by the Maramen from the Cincinnati Bengals but will get his initiation with the Jersey Giants as a starter on Sunday afternoon for he will be used against the Paterson Panthers, However Paterson is not asleep at the switch. While the Giants were angling for Owen, they went right ahead and signed Joe Maniaci of the Chicago Bears, late of the Brooklyn Dodgers. When it comes to a comparison of the two players, It's my duty to tell you that Owen Isn't in the same league with the Lodl speed merchant not yet, at least. Clncy's scribes are sweet on Owen, who played with Leonia, Horace Mann, and Mercer College. He comes close to being a one-man backfield. He's speedy, can kick, and is an expert passer. If Howie Yeager can go more than ten minutes without limping off the field, they'll have the beefy Paterson club crazy.”

Jules Siegle FB UDFA-Northwestern 1948 NYG 1948 Born 2-16-1923 Died 8-20-2008

Indiana HOF:
College Attended: Northwestern University                       Graduated: 1948
College Honors: Played football 3 years on a football scholarship - 1942, 1947, 1948; college career interrupted by 3 years service in US Air Corps during WW II; played in Blue-Gray Game in Montgomery, AL, 1948.
Professional Athletic Background: Played fullback for New York Giants 1948.
Coaching Experience: East Chicago Washington "B" team coach 1949-1957, then head football coach 1958-1973, with a 71-72-3 head coaching record; retired from coaching in 1973, but continued as athletic director at Washington 1967-1986