Giants
Traina Forbes.com: New York Giants OTA Preview
https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciatraina/2019/05/19/new-york-giants-ota-preview/amp/
QB
Lombardo NJ.com: Does Giants’ Eli Manning have it in him to be a mentor to Daniel Jones, as Kurt Warner was to him?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/05/does-giants-eli-manning-have-it-in-him-to-be-a-mentor-to-daniel-jones-as-kurt-warner-was-to-him.html
RB
Cross Lancaster Online: At Penn State, 'everybody loves Saquon'
https://lancasteronline.com/sports/football/pennstate/at-penn-state-everybody-loves-saquon/article_b1ab2664-7a7b-11e9-8c5a-ff6549bcfc6d.html
OL
Schwartz NYP: Giants’ revamped offensive line is Eli Manning’s last hope
https://nypost.com/2019/05/19/giants-revamped-offensive-line-is-eli-mannings-last-hope/amp/
Schwartz NYP: O-Line guru: Giants trio can restore unit’s glory days
“Where the fans and the organization should probably be most excited is with Hernandez and Jon Halapio,’’ former NFL center LeCharles Bentley told The Post. “Those two guys, that’s your future. That’s what people should be excited about. As well as Chad Wheeler. That guy at times he flashes really good potential.”
Halapio
“When you watch his film and you watch him play, this dude is a football player, period. Now, he doesn’t have the pedigree everyone loves to talk about but not everybody in this league is going to be one of those 4 percenters that has the pedigree. He’s the type of person you want to do well because he’s had to fight for every single thing throughout his career. I thought last year if he had stayed healthy he would have finished as one of the top five centers in the league in terms of performance. With Hernandez, with Zeitler next to him, that dude, end of the year, if he’s healthy, he will be a top-five center in the National Football League.’’
https://nypost.com/2019/05/20/o-line-guru-giants-trio-can-restore-units-glory-days/amp/
OLB
Dunleavy NJ.com: Giants’ Markus Golden once lived in rarefied air | Putting 12.5-sack season in context for Dave Gettleman’s big bet
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/05/giants-markus-golden-once-lived-in-rarefied-air-putting-125-sack-season-in-context-for-dave-gettlemans-big-bet.html
NFL
King FMIA: Smart NFL People Share 25 Ways To Make Pro Football Better
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/05/20/25-ways-improve-nfl-fmia-peter-king/
Breer MMQB: The Colts Are Quietly Winning the Offseason
In his third year as Indy’s GM, Chris Ballard has learned that less is more on the draft board, pricey free agents don’t solve all your problems and the best thing for any team is to be unified behind a long-term plan. Without making any big splashes, the Colts may have set themselves up for a major statement in 2019. Plus, pros and cons of an NFL draft lottery, Chris Long’s retirement and more on the league that never sleeps.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/05/20/colts-are-quietly-winning-offseason
Rosenthal NFL.com: NFC East projected starters: First-round QBs must bide their time
“NEW YORK GIANTS
QB: Eli Manning
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Sterling Shepard
WR: Golden Tate
WR: Corey Coleman
TE: Evan Engram
LT: Nate Solder
LG: Will Hernandez
C: Jon Halapio
RG: Kevin Zeitler
RT: Mike Remmers
DE: B.J. Hill
DT: Dexter Lawrence
DT: Dalvin Tomlinson
OLB: Markus Golden
ILB: B.J. Goodson
ILB: Alec Ogletree
OLB: Lorenzo Carter
CB: Janoris Jenkins
CB: Deandre Baker
S: Jabrill Peppers
S: Antoine Bethea
» The signing of Golden Tate made sense in the wake of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. He's a quality pro who plays a position the Giants were incredibly thin at. Corey Coleman could be anywhere from a starter to off the roster. The same is true for Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler.
» There is virtually no chance Daniel Jones will beat out Eli Manning for the Week 1 starting job. If Jones has a Russell Wilson-like preseason showcase, however, Manning's leash will be shorter than it was when Geno Smith or Alex Tanney were in the No. 2 spot.
» Manning has a chance to match or top his production from last season with this group. His skill-position talent is strong overall, even after losing Beckham, and he fits pretty well in Pat Shurmur's offense. I only expect to see Jones if the season goes sideways.
-The Giants' line looks better, but it's hardly settled. Mike Remmers was just signed over the weekend. Jon Halapio initially entered the NFL in the 2014 draft, yet has started only eight games in the league. The team would also love for big-money left tackle Nate Solder to play more consistently.
» The Giants have plenty of beef up front after drafting Dexter Lawrence, which is how general manager Dave Gettleman prefers to roll. On paper, the Giants don't have nearly enough edge-rushing talent after passing on Josh Allen and Montez Sweat in the first round.
» Despite all the attention on the quarterback position, the Giants' defense has much further to go. It's a bottom-five defensive roster in overall talent. They are replacing both starting safeties. Baker is a late first-round pick who should start at cornerback, and I didn't include a third cornerback partly because I have no idea who is next in line.
Biggest change from a year ago: A talent-poor defense looks to be in full rebuild mode, without many standout young players to build around.”
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001030639/article/nfc-east-projected-starters-firstround-qbs-must-bide-their-time
ARIZONA
McManaman AZ Central: Story lines worth watching at Cardinals' OTAs, whether Patrick Peterson shows up or not
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2019/05/19/arizona-cardinals-otas-patrick-peterson-report-more-story-lines/3734772002/
BUFFALO
Neiburg Buffalo News: Blitz newsletter: Are the Bills too thin at defensive end?
https://buffalonews.com/2019/05/20/bn-blitz-newsletter-are-the-bills-too-thin-at-defensive-end/
CAROLINA
Jacques Charlotte Observer: ‘Doesn’t have to make sense to anybody but you’: How Cam Newton operates as a mentor
https://amp.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports/nfl/article230427349.html
CLEVELAND
Grossi ESPN Cleveland: Odell Beckham's mercurial personality poses an added challenge to Freddie Kitchens' first year as Browns coach
http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland/post/_/id/6553/odell-beckhams-mercurial-personality-poses-an-added-challenge-to-freddie-kitchens-first-year-as-browns-coach?
DENVER
Klis 9News Denver: ROOKIE EXPECTATIONS: ROLES FOR BRONCOS' FIRST-TIME PLAYERS
https://www.9news.com/amp/article/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/mike-klis/rookie-expectations-roles-for-broncos-first-time-players/73-4c9d2366-f066-48ef-bdde-c00c0520a208#click=https://t.co/vGEY2WmKKU
O’Halloran Denver Post: Despite inexperience, Broncos confident in rookie linebacker Justin Hollins’ versatility
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/19/justin-hollins-broncos-rookie-linebacker-versatility/amp/
GREEN BAY
Wussow Packerswire USA Today: Breaking down Darnell Savage's skill set and fit in Packers defense
https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/19/breaking-down-darnell-savages-skill-set-and-fit-in-packers-defense/
HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans have a youth movement at tight end
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Texans-have-a-youth-movement-at-tight-end-13857373.php
INDIANAPOLIS
Walker Colts.com: Nyheim Hines A Top Returning Red Zone Threat In 2019
https://www.colts.com/news/nyheim-hines-a-top-returning-red-zone-threat-in-2019
NEW ENGLAND
Volin Boston Globe: OTAs start tomorrow for the Patriots. They’re actually kind of important this year. Here is what they can accomplish in the next four weeks
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/05/19/phase-otas-are-important-for-patriots-this-year/V0wGWGc9dtQhc5dFO0EBKL/story.html
NEW ORLEANS
Katzenstein Nola.com: How Saints rookie Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s mother instilled confidence
https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/05/how-saints-rookie-chauncey-gardner-johnsons-mother-instilled-confidence.html?
NEW YORK JETS
Glauber Newsday: Former NFL exec says Jets made 'an obvious play' and were overdue to dump Mike Maccagnan
Michael Lombardi believes Adam Gase didn't orchestrate the ouster of Maccagnan and Brian Heimerdinger and says owner Christopher Johnson ''finally took time to learn about his own organization.''
https://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/bob-glauber/adam-gase-mike-maccagnan-christopher-johnson-jets-1.31230838
OAKLAND
Johnson NBC Sports Bay Area: NFL rumors: Raiders questioned if Josh Allen 'had enough dog in him'
“But The Athletic's Vic Tafur reported Friday that the Raiders had some concerns with Allen, who fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 7.
"Basically I heard that the Raiders weren’t that impressed," Tafur wrote. "I reported pretty early on he wasn’t in play for them at No. 4. I would never question a player’s toughness but there were concerns that he got pushed around a little on some plays at Kentucky and he may not have had enough dog in him for Gruden and Guenther’s liking."
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/raiders/nfl-rumors-raiders-questioned-if-josh-allen-had-enough-dog-him
PHILADELPHIA
Schwartz Allentown Morning Call: From bleeding green to wearing it, PSU’s Ryan Bates could be valuable depth piece for Eagles
https://www.mcall.com/sports/eagles/mc-spt-eagles-bates-20190519-lywenhrgd5dlnllfuipfjn7e5m-story.html
PITTSBURGH
Rutter Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Steelers OTA preview: Team ready to turn the page at right tackle
https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-ota-preview-team-ready-to-turn-the-page-at-right-tackle/
TENNESSEE
Bacharach The Tennessean: 3 key questions facing Titans heading into 2019
https://amp.tennessean.com/amp/3664896002
Colleges/Draft
Farrar Touchdownwire USA Today: Despite his wrong-headed threats, Dabo Swinney will never coach in the NFL
https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/05/18/despite-his-wrong-headed-threats-dabo-swinney-will-never-coach-in-the-nfl/
QB
Trapasso CBS Sports: Ranking the 2018-20 NFL Draft QBs from Baker Mayfield and Tua Tagovailoa to Josh Rosen and Daniel Jones
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-the-2018-20-nfl-draft-qbs-from-baker-mayfield-and-tua-tagovailoa-to-josh-rosen-and-daniel-jones/
Former Giants News
Welsch The Advocate: Former NFL linebacker Corey Widmer finding sanctuary from CTE with rescued draft horses
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/article_c229944a-325e-512e-bd87-d62f13e62fb4.amp.html
History
Giants Birthdays 5-20
Tramain Jacobs CB W-BAL 2015 NYG 2015 5-20-1992
Chris Ogbannaya RB W-CAR 2014 NYG 2014 5-20-1986
Defense
Duggan The Athletic: Breaking down how first-round picks Dexter Lawrence and DeAndre Baker will fit in the Giants defense
https://theathletic.com/984024/2019/05/20/breaking-down-how-first-round-picks-dexter-lawrence-and-deandre-baker-will-fit-in-the-giants-defense/?
NFL
Barnwell ESPN: NFL offseason agendas: Barnwell's to-do lists for all 16 NFC teams
Giants
“Establish a succession plan for Daniel Jones. The first time the Giants tried to move on from Eli Manning went about as disastrously as any benching in recent memory. The fans had already turned on then-coach Ben McAdoo in the middle of a disastrous 2017 campaign, but the move to bench Manning for unloved former Jets backup Geno Smith attracted universal scorn. Ownership quickly backtracked from the decision, fired McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese, and promoted Manning back into the starting role.
This will be different, in part because there's a more significant candidate looming behind Manning in the No. 6 overall pick Jones. Opinions are split on the Duke quarterback, but the vast majority of Giants fans want to see him suit up and start getting NFL reps. There was no such groundswell for 2017 third-round pick Davis Webb, who never ended up playing for the organization.
If ownership remains concerned about letting Manning save face on the way out, it should establish a transition plan before the season even begins. Make it public that this will be Manning's last season in a Giants uniform, given that he is in the final year of his deal. (This would go against GM Dave Gettleman's suggestions that the Giants could sit Jones for three years, but it's hardly as if Gettleman's news conferences should be treated as gospel after the OBJ trade.) Admit that the team will turn to Jones if the Giants fall out of playoff contention. Induct Manning into the team's ring of honor for the home finale against the Eagles in Week 17.
In sort, get ahead of the Manning transition instead of springing it with a moment's notice or daring the fans to chant for Eli's head every time he throws an interception during September. The Giants screwed things up last time, but this is their chance to get it right.
Add an edge rusher. The Giants were already thin on the edge before trading Olivier Vernon; while they took a flier on Markus Golden and spent a third-round pick on Oshane Ximines, defensive coordinator James Bettcher could still use at least one more meaningful contributor to rotate in at outside linebacker. Nick Perry is still available as a free agent, and while the Packers grew frustrated with their former first-round pick, he is only two seasons removed from an 11-sack campaign.”
http://tv5.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26781838/nfl-offseason-agendas-barnwell-do-lists-all-16-nfc-teams
Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier)
5/20/19, 8:06 AM
The division of duties in a front office is so complex that it's even hard for someone with inside info to tell if someone is some rising star NFL exec. "Big Name" GM candidates are often ones with the proper gift for getting mentioned as such
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