Sunday Reading

Giants

NJ.com: Giants' need pass rush or pass protection more? Will Eli Manning win another playoff game? | Bickering beat writers
https://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2019/02/giants_bickering_beat_writers.html

QB

Schwartz NYP: Dwayne Haskins’ inside story shows Giants could get real gem
https://nypost.com/2019/02/16/dwayne-haskins-inside-story-shows-giants-could-get-real-gem/amp/

SS

Leonard NYDN: Here's what you need to know about Landon Collins and the options the Giants have this offseason with their defensive leader
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-sports-giants-collins-odell-20190216-story.html

NFL

Volin Sunday Football Notes: Josh McDaniels a big winner at Super Bowl

“Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer made some news on Wednesday, tweeting that he believes the Giants will trade Odell Beckham Jr. this year. That would certainly be interesting, as the Giants just signed Beckham to a six-year, $98.4 million deal last August that runs through 2023.
Beckham’s contract also seems prohibitive of a trade. If traded before June 1, Beckham would count $16 million in dead cap money against the Giants’ salary cap, which is a lot for one player. An acquiring team would also have to really want Beckham, as he is due $31 million in salary over the next two years.
But I wouldn’t entirely discount a trade, either. If the Giants did it after June 1, it would cost them only $4 million in dead cap money this year, and $12 million next year — which is still a lot, but the NFL salary cap keeps increasing by $10 million each year.
The most likely scenario is Beckham remaining a Giant this year, but he seems more of a trade candidate than does Brown.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/02/16/josh-mcdaniels-big-winner-super-bowl/4e8fAiutKOUEN4BmsOWhaM/story.html

BALTIMORE
Shaffer Baltimore Sun: Joe Flacco FAQ: Answering the most important questions stemming from the Ravens QB's trade
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-joe-flacco-salary-cap-faq-20190215-story.html

CINCINNATI
Page Cincinnati Enquirer: Report: Cincinnati Bengals RB Mark Walton arrested in Miami
https://amp.cincinnati.com/amp/2890554002

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Should the Browns trade Duke Johnson and could they get a 2nd-rounder? Hey, Mary Kay!
https://www.cleveland.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/02/bbd796c8963408/should-the-browns-trade-duke-johnson-and-could-they-get-a-2ndrounder-hey-mary-kay.html

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos Analysis: With QB addressed, a status report on Denver’s other issues
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/16/broncos-issues-analysis/

O’Halloran Denver Post: Joe Flacco will join small group of traded Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/16/joe-flacco-traded-super-bowl-winning-quarterback/

GREEN BAY
Dougherty Mil JS: Why Packers should steer clear of Steelers' Antonio Brown
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/dougherty/2019/02/16/dougherty-why-packers-should-steer-clear-steelers-antonio-brown/2883509002/

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Simmons Rams.com: Offseason Outlook: Rams in good shape at WR with Cooks, Woods leading the way
https://www.therams.com/news/offseason-outlook-rams-in-good-shape-at-wr-with-cooks-woods-leading-the-way

MIAMI
Beasley Miami Herald: Dolphins hire ex-Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, the league’s 2016 executive of year
https://amp.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article226388375.html

Kelly Sun Sentinel: Dolphins coaches conspicuously non-committal on Ryan Tannnehill's future in Miami
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-ryan-tannehill-20190215-story.html

NEW ENGLAND
Guregian Boston Herald: Pondering Patriots’ franchise tag possibilities
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/16/nfl-notes-pondering-patriots-franchise-tag-possibilities/amp/

Duffy Boston Herald: Patriots likely to be in market for free agent wide receivers
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/02/16/patriots-likely-to-be-in-market-for-free-agent-wide-receivers/amp/

Reiss ESPN: Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
Rob Gronkowski has been a regular at Gillette Stadium since Super Bowl
http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4816935/rob-gronkowski-has-been-a-regular-at-gillette-stadium-since-super-bowl?

Sullivan Boston Globe: Rob Gronkowski’s tough decision about whether to retire? Mark Bavaro gets it

“Bavaro actually thought his career had ended four years earlier than it did, when a chronic knee injury got him released by the Giants after winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 1990 season. He sat out a year to recover, then signed with Cleveland (playing one season under then-head coach Belichick) and finished with two final years in Philadelphia, finally pushed into permanent retirement by surgery that fused a middle toe. Those final three seasons were arduous, filled with physical pain and emotional adjustments to new teammates. Yet looking back now, Bavaro wouldn’t trade them for anything, something to which Gronkowski might take note.
“I don’t want to say that I had a choice to end my career or not, I kind of did, and I think that’s what he’s going through now,” Bavaro, 55, said from his Massachusetts home. “He definitely has a choice, it doesn’t seem anyone is forcing him out. Contractually he might be between a rock and a hard place, but I think they would love to have him back. Physically I don’t think there’s any one thing forcing him out. When I was playing, the last two years, when I went to Philly, I didn’t want to go, I didn’t want to play football anymore. It was too hard, it was too painful.

“I was 28/29 when I had my comeback and I thought I was an old man. I remember saying, ‘I don’t want to play anymore,’ but my father said, ‘I know it’s hard, there might be other things you want to do, but you’re a kid, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, and you’re going to look back and you’re going to regret not playing for two or three more years.’
“My advice would be — when I left I really felt like I had squeezed every drop of football out of my body and I don’t have any regrets. I would think that a competitor like him, while it might be the wisest decision for your health and future to leave now, I think in the future you would look back and say, ‘Geez I really wish I hadn’t left some of those years on the table.’ Everyone is different. I know he also has a future in other things.
“Overall I’m glad I played those extra years. I wish I had gotten two or three more.”

Playing tight end, it’s a difficult position to play,” Bavaro said. “Overall it’s really not any more demanding than any other position. In some instances it’s less. I think running backs, back when they were the focus of offenses, they took the beating, they were the shortest careers. Middle linebackers, boy those guys dealt with a lot of bumps and bruises. Linemen, the constant pounding. But the thing with tight ends, as opposed to other positions, once they get nicked and once they start to lose a little bit of athleticism due to the wear and tear, their star drops dramatically. You can’t run out for those passes, you can’t get open. You can tough it out, sure, but you lose that explosiveness.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/02/16/tara-sullivan-rob-gronkowski-tough-decision-about-whether-retire-mark-bavaro-gets/qxjE2tMymCLgT1vvblL0NM/amp.html

NEW ORLEANS
Sikkema The Draft Network: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PRE-COMBINE 7-ROUNDS MOCK DRAFT
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/02/16/new-orleans-saints-pre-combine-7-rounds-mock-draft/

NEW YORK JETS
Costello NYP: Get ready for a Jets team that will look very different next year
https://nypost.com/2019/02/17/get-ready-for-a-jets-team-that-will-look-very-different-next-year/

PHILADELPHIA
Fierro Allentown Morning Call: Eagles facing difficult decisions on Jason Peters, Tim Jernigan and others in cap conundrum
https://www.mcall.com/sports/football/eagles/mc-spt-eagles-salary-cap-health-20190216-story.html

PITTSBURGH
Fittipaldo Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Antonio Brown takes aim at Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Tomlin in Twitter Q& A
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/02/16/Antonio-Brown-takes-aim-at-Ben-Roethlisberger-and-Mike-Tomlin-in-Twitter-Q-A-Steelers/stories/201902160053

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: After seeing vast improvement in 2018, Seahawks may look to keep offensive line together in 2019
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/after-seeing-vast-improvement-in-2018-seahawks-may-look-to-keep-offensive-line-together-in-2019/?

AAF

Self AZ Central: Arizona Hotshots hang on in Memphis for second AAF win
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/football/2019/02/16/arizona-hotshots-hang-memphis-second-aaf-win/2896952002/

Giannotto Memohis Commercial Appeal: Memphis wants to support pro football, but the Express aren't making it easy so far
https://amp.commercialappeal.com/amp/2886053002

Dudley Alabama.com: Trent Richardson scores game-winning TD in Birmingham Iron victory
https://www.al.com/sports/2019/02/trent-richardson-scores-game-winning-td-in-birmingham-iron-victory.html

Walker KSL: Salt Lake Stallions give up late lead to Birmingham Iron, fall to 0-2 in inaugural season
https://www.ksl.com/article/46492688/salt-lake-stallions-give-up-late-lead-to-birmingham-iron-fall-to-0-2-in-inaugural-season

Skurski Buffalo News: Why former Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley decided to play football again
https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/14/buffalo-bills-aj-tarpley-rex-ryan-nfl-aaf-san-diego-fleet-bank-of-america-wall-street-2019/

Colleges/Draft

The Draft Network: 2019 NFL COMBINE PARTICIPANTS
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/02/07/2019-nfl-combine-participants/

Crabbs The Draft Network: THIS WEEK IN SCOUTING: SOME DAY 2 SURPRISE GRADES
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/02/16/this-week-in-scouting-some-day-2-surprise-grades/

WR

The Draft Network: 2019 NFL DRAFT PLAYER PROFILE: STANLEY MORGAN JR.
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2018/12/09/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-stanley-morgan-jr/

TE
The Draft Network: 2019 NFL DRAFT PLAYER PROFILE: JACE STERNBERGER
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/02/16/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-jace-sternberger/

DT
Pflum BBV: Arizona State DT Renell Wren could add depth to Giants’ defensive line
https://www.bigblueview.com/2019/2/16/18223172/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-renell-wren-dt-arizona-state-scouting-report-ny-giants

Hartsell Charleston Courier: As NFL Combine looms, Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence wants answers on failed drug test
https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/as-nfl-combine-looms-clemson-s-dexter-lawrence-wants-answers/article_48557388-320d-11e9-8a9f-17709c673ace.html

LB
Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft)
2/17/19, 7:49 AM
I've done full evals on 10 linebackers this draft season, only three of them (White, Wilson, Bush) ended up with grades in Round 1-3 so far. Not the year for linebackers

The Draft Network: 2019 NFL DRAFT PLAYER PROFILE: JOE GILES-HARRIS
https://thedraftnetwork.com/2019/02/16/2019-nfl-draft-player-profile-joe-giles-harris/

History

Stuart Football Perspective: Rank The Non-HOF 2-Time Super Bowl Champion Head Coaches
http://www.footballperspective.com/rank-the-non-hof-2-time-super-bowl-champion-head-coaches/

Giants Birthdays 2-17

Reggie Carr DE UDFA-Jackson State 1987 NYG 1987 2-17-1963

Scott Laidlaw RB W-DAL 1980 NYG 1980 2-17-1953

Robert Massey DB FA-JAC 1997 NYG 1997 2-17-1967

Josh Mauro DE FA-AZ 2018 NYG 2018 2-17-1991

In Memoriam

Eddie Miller HB/QB UDFA New Mexico State 1939 NYG 1939-1940 Born 2-17-1916 Died 11-09-2000

NYT 8-19-1939

SUPERIOR, Wis., Aug. 18.--“Walt Nielsen, Arizona fullback, and his roommate, Eddie Miller of the New Mexico Aggies, today continued to stamp themselves as the prize backfield rookies in the New York football Giants' training quarters at Superior State Teachers College.”

10-21-1940

UP

“The New York Giants scoring by all knowm methods, a touchdown, extra point, field goal and a safety, the New York Giants overpowered the Pittsburgh Steelers, 12 to 0, today in the Polo grounds to stay within striking distance of the eastern division leaders of the National Pro Football league. Little Eddie Miller, the aerial artist from New Mexico State, and the veteran Ward Cuff,
Marquette star, shared the glory.

Miller completed seven out of nine tossed passes for 117 yards including one for a 61-yard gain to Cuff for a touchdown in the first five minutes of the game. Cuff, besides scoring the only touchdown, place-kicked the extra point and in the second stanza booted a 3-yard field goal. The Giants got their other two points on the third play of the last chapter when the New York line swarmed through and blocked Boyd Brumbaugh's punt in the Pittsburgh end zone. Rocco Pirro of the Steelers recovered for a safety.”

11-12-1940

NYDN: “X-rays painted a dark picture indeed yesterday for Coach Steve Owen of the Giants. Exhibit A, of Ward Cuff's spinal concussion, and Exhibit B, of Eddie Miller's torn knee ligaments, confirmed fears that both backfielders will be out of action for the game against Green Bajr's Packers at the Polo Grounds next Sunday. It is quite possible, however, that Cuff is through for the season. However, the pictures showed no fractures or breaks. That revives hope that Miller can return to the lineup for the Redskins or Dodger game. Cuff is confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital, while Miller limps around his hotel room with a bulky knee bandage.”