Tuesday Reading

Giants

Salomone Giants.com: 30 Questions in 30 Days: Competitions to watch
https://www.giants.com/news/30-questions-in-30-days-competitions-to-watch

Traina Locked on Giants Podcast: It's NFC East preview week on the LockedOn Giants podcast. First up is a look at Washington courtesy of LockedOn Redskins host Chris Russell (Audio)
http://traffic.megaphone.fm/LKN5468262853.mp3

WR

Traina Football Maven: Training Camp Roster Preview: Cody Latimer
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-cody-latimer-F4CIFZ5DGEW2tFf7pX8Yow/

NT

Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL)
7/2/19, 9:23 AM
I still see fans AND media using the “they just drafted a Damon Harrison clone” line.
I hate seeing atrocious sports takes like that.
Lawrence is a lot more than a run stuffing NT type. His pressure per snap rate was among the best re: interior linemen.
That take is trash.

CB

Schmeelk Giants.com: Rookie CB Baker adds physicality to secondary
https://www.giants.com/news/rookie-cb-baker-looks-to-bring-physicality-to-secondary

Giants.com: Giants Insider: DeAndre Baker on making an impact as a rookie
Rookie CB DeAndre Baker says he's seen a lot of improvements in his game this spring just by matching up with Giants WRs and TEs (Video)
https://www.giants.com/video/giants-insider-deandre-baker-on-making-an-impact-as-a-rookie

Traina Forbes.com: Why Julian Love Appreciates The Giants' Rich History
https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciatraina/2019/07/02/why-julian-love-appreciates-the-giants-history/amp/

S

Training Camp Roster Preview: Kenny Ladler
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-kenny-ladler-nOxkkaB3uUGQ6LrjLmb8mw/

ST

Stapleton The Record: NY Giants training camp preview: Building on the surprising strength of special teams
https://amp.northjersey.com/amp/1566369001

NFL

Tanier B/R: Mike Tanier Fixes the NFL Fanbase Rankings

“21. New York Giants
Engagement: 8
Cuisine: 6
Savvy: 6
Internet Personality: -1
FAN SCORE: 19
Giants fans are Yankees fans in blue parkas. Even the young fans are staunch traditionalists, believers in establishing the run, loyalty to ancient quarterbacks and the wisdom of midday radio sportstalk.
With the more successful Patriots and Eagles eating away from the north and south and the Jets more attuned to the Big Apple counterculture since the 1960s, Giants fandom is mostly concentrated in a geographical strip between I-280 and I-287 and a demographic strip between CBS police procedurals and falling asleep during Wheel of Fortune. That still gives the Giants approximately seven trillion possible fans to work with, but if audience size was all that mattered, we would spend our days on Twitter arguing about CBS police procedurals.”

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2843690-mike-tanier-fixes-the-nfl-fanbase-rankings

Rothstein ESPN: Who rates players in Madden NFL 20? Go inside the ratings process
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27092399/who-rates-players-madden-nfl-20-go-ratings-process?

ARIZONA
Cardinals.com: Damiere Byrd A Cardinals Deep Threat Candidate
https://www.azcardinals.com/news/damiere-byrd-a-cardinals-deep-threat-candidate

BALTIMORE
Brown Ravens.com: Training Camp Position Breakdown: Quarterback
https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/training-camp-position-breakdown-quarterback

Han Baltimore Sun: Ravens wait for 'cream' to surface in battle for starting left guard
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-lg-competition-20190618-story.html

BUFFALO
Schmude Cover1.net: BILLS DEFENSE PRIMED FOR NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN 2019
https://www.cover1.net/buffalo-bills-defense-2019-nfl-season/

Wolf Buffalo News: Bills' defensive line gains talent, loses experience
https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/02/buffalo-bills-defensive-line-ed-oliver-kyle-williams-jerry-hughes-trent-murphy-shaq-lawson-harrison-phillips-gains-talent-loses-experience/

CAROLINA
Marks Charlotte Observer: With new vets, draft picks, Panthers’ D line should improve. But will results follow?
https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article232138147.html

CINCINNATI
Judis Cincyjungle: Jim Turner commends Cordy Glenn’s positional flexibility
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2019/7/2/19102804/jim-turner-commends-cordy-glenns-positional-flexibility

Hoard Bengals.com: Wren Looks To Reach Peak In NFL
https://www.bengals.com/news/wren-looks-to-reach-peak-in-nfl

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: The Browns have talked to Kareem Hunt about his incident outside a Cleveland bar, but won’t comment further for now
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/07/the-browns-have-talked-to-kareem-hunt-about-his-incident-outside-a-cleveland-bar-but-wont-comment-further-for-now.html

Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Jarvis Landry back running routes with Baker Mayfield and others in LA; Odell Beckham Jr. off his hiatus
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/07/jarvis-landry-back-running-routes-with-baker-mayfield-and-others-in-la-odell-beckham-jr-off-his-hiatus.html

DALLAS
Sherrington Dallas Morning News: If nothing comes of Ezekiel Elliott's latest meeting with Roger Goodell, this message ought to be clear to Jerry Jones
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/07/01/nothing-comes-ezekiel-elliotts-latest-meeting-roger-goodell-message-clear-jerry-jones

DENVER
Schwab Yahoo Sports: 2019 NFL preview: Replacing Peyton Manning has been tougher than Broncos expected
https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/2019-nfl-preview-broncos-have-had-harder-time-replacing-peyton-manning-than-expected-123520867.html

GREEN BAY
Hodkiewicz Packers.com: Backfield will have major part to play in Packers’ passing game
https://www.packers.com/news/backfield-will-have-major-part-to-play-in-packers-passing-game

HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans' D'Onta Foreman 'light years' ahead of last year
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/amp/Texans-DOnta-Foreman-light-years-ahead-last-season-14063647.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Walker Colts.com: Colts’ Roster Transformation Continues Into 2019 Season
https://www.colts.com/news/colts-roster-transformation-continues-into-2019-season

Walker Colts.com: 2019 Colts Burning Questions: Safety
https://www.colts.com/news/2019-colts-burning-questions-safety

JACKSONVILLE
DiRocco ESPN Jacksonville: For Jaguars' Nick Foles, bigger feats have come with better feet
https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/298295/for-jaguars-nick-foles-bigger-feats-have-come-with-better-feet?

KANSAS CITY
Stout SB Nation: Summer of Spags: 2-read coverage rules and permutations
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/platform/amp/2019/7/1/18772914/summer-of-spags-2-read-coverage-rules-and-permutations

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Simmons Rams.com: How can Darrell Henderson help improve the Rams offense? 
https://www.therams.com/news/how-can-darrell-henderson-help-improve-the-rams-offense

MIAMI
Poupart Dolphins.com: 2019 Training Camp Preview | Quarterbacks
https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/2019-training-camp-preview-ryan-fitzpatrick-josh-rosen

NEW ENGLAND
McBride Boston Globe: Patriots are loaded in the secondary, but who will make the cut?
https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/07/01/patriots-are-loaded-secondary-but-who-will-make-cut/ue3R4TIywcOnIOd6Jo6VIN/story.html

NEW ORLEANS
Teope Nola.com: ‘We are home': Saints punter Thomas Morstead loves New Orleans, and the city loves him back
https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_0f5d9060-9c25-11e9-b649-67016dbe932c.amp.html

NEW YORK JETS
Costello NYP: Brandon Copeland keeps proving to Jets he’s more than afterthought
https://nypost.com/2019/07/01/brandon-copeland-keeps-proving-to-jets-hes-more-than-afterthought/amp/

OAKLAND
Paskal Raiders.com: 2019 Position Battle: Quarterbacks
https://www.raiders.com/news/2019-position-battle-quarterbacks

PHILADELPHIA
Kempski Phillyvoice: Eagles roster 2019: Locks, not-quite-locks, bubble players, and long shots
https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-roster-2019-locks-near-locks-bubble-players-and-longshots/amp/

Kaye NJ.com: Here’s how stability on special teams has helped Philadelphia Eagles improve depth elsewhere
https://www.nj.com/eagles/2019/07/heres-how-stability-on-special-teams-has-helped-philadelphia-eagles-improve-depth-elsewhere.html

PITTSBURGH
Varley Steelers.com: Nelson likes Steelers physical style
https://www.steelers.com/news/nelson-likes-steelers-physical-style

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: Seahawks mailbag: Who will win position battles at safety and tight end?
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-mailbag-expectations-for-the-offensive-line-and-who-will-win-position-battles-at-safety-and-tight-end/

WASHINGTON
Copeland Washington Post: An improved secondary could make a big difference for the Redskins’ defense
https://beta.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/01/an-improved-secondary-could-make-big-difference-redskins-defense/?

Colleges/Draft

QB
Crabbs The Draft Network: HOUSTON'S D'ERIQ KING NEEDS ELITE 2019 SEASON TO CONTINUE DRAFT TREND
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/houston-s-d-eriq-king-needs-elite-2019-season-to-continue-draft-trend

WR
Kelly The Draft Network: SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT PROSPECT MARCUS SIMMS IS WORTH THE PRICE
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/supplemental-draft-prospect-marcus-simms-is-worth-the-price

Former Giants News

Price Greenville News: Former Gamecocks football QB shot in domestic dispute north of Charlotte, NC police say

“Former University of South Carolina quarterback Anthony Wright was shot multiple times in a dispute in North Carolina overnight and remains in stable condition at a hospital near Charlotte, police say...He helped lead the 2003 Ravens to the playoffs, going 5-2 as a starter down the stretch, and was the third-string QB for the 2007 Giants Super Bowl team. That was his last non-preseason game, as an injury ended his career the next season. As of 2016, he was training young players in the Charlotte area.”

https://amp.greenvilleonline.com/amp/1626270001

History

Turney PFJ: Separating the Two-Win Super Bowl Coaches—Is It Possible?
http://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/2019/02/separating-two-win-super-bowl-coachesis.html

Giants Birthdays 7-02

Joe Pisarcik QB FA-Calgary CFL 1977 NYG 1977-1979 7-02-1952

CFL

“Pisarcik played three seasons (1974-76) with Calgary.  He became the Stamps starting QB partway through his rookie season in 1974 when the Stampeders dealt Peter Liske to BC.  In his first full season as a stater in 1975, Pisarcik had a good season, competing 56.5% of his 320 passes for 2252 yards.  In 1976, PIsarcik shared the QB duties with John Hufnagel...”

The rest is history..

Brian Williams CB FA-ATL 2011 NYG 2012 7-02-1979

In Memoriam

Curley Johnson P W-NYJ 1969 NYG 1969 Born 7-02-1935 Died 6-12-2016

After a long career with the Titans/Jets the Giants Signed Johnson making him the first Jet/Giant as opposed to Giant/Jet of which there several...Giants had used Ernie Koy as their punter but because he was also a regular RB he was at times injured...after using the late Earl Morrall and Spider Lockhart and even Gogolak as emergency punters in 67-68, the Giants went through Curley Johnson and Dave Dunaway in 1969 with horrendous results...the Giants had a good punter in training camp in 1969 in Dave Lewis who the Giants drafted as a QB/P in 1967 out of Stanford in the fifth round. He went to the CFL instead and after being waived by the Giants in 1969, he became the NFL punting leader in 1970 and 1971 for the Bengals.

Johnson’s time with the Giants was short and less than spectacular...

Phil Inquirer (11-03-1969)

“The Eagles, who won for the third time in seven games, were hardly overpowering when they had the ball. As a catalyst, however, no more perfect figure could be found than Curley Johnson, the new Giant punter. Johnson displayed a new man ner of four-step punting that led to all kinds of trouble. He was forced to run for his life without punting on one series, had one kick blocked by emotional linebacker Ike Kelley, and had an arc on his successful punts that resembled so many dying ducks. The Eagles turned the blocked punt and Johnson's abortive run into two field goals...”

Cliff Livingston LB UDFA-UCLA NYG -1961
Born 7-02-1930 Died 5-23-2010

Obituary

“Livingston, who played defensive end at UCLA under Coach Red Sanders in 1950 and '51, became a linebacker and special teams player in New York from 1954 through the 1961 season.
During his time with the Giants, the team won the NFL championship game in 1956 over the Chicago Bears and appeared in three more title games, losing to the Baltimore Colts in 1958 (often called "the greatest game ever played") and 1959 and to the Green Bay Packers in 1961.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Livingston was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1962 and he retired after one year there. He came back to play for the Rams the next season, when his former Giants teammate Harlan Svare became the Rams' coach. After three seasons, Livingston retired for good.
Born July 2, 1930, in Compton, Livingston served in the Army between his time at UCLA and with the Giants. His older brother Howie also played in the NFL.
When Livingston's football career ended, he capitalized on his rugged good looks by landing minor acting roles in TV shows and commercials.”

“Finally, Andy Barall,  NFL historian on the New York Times’ Fifth Down blog, remembers Cliff Livingston.  
For the upcoming 1958 championship game against the Giants, the Colts scouting report on Cliff Livingston read as follows: “#89 Livingston LB 6’3& #8243; 215 Plays on either side- has good speed- gets back well on passes- really comes across if he is strong side plugger and play is run at him.”

Livingston lined up mostly at strong side linebacker that day, head-up on tight end Jim Mutscheller, but it was as the end man on the line of scrimmage in the Giants goal-line defense where he made one of the biggest plays, in one of the most famous games, in N.F.L. history.
Baltimore led at halftime, 14-3. After an exchange of punts to start the third quarter, the Colts began a drive on their 41. Unitas didn’t waste any time. He hit Mutscheller on a deep seam route on first down for 32 yards to the Giants 27. On third and nine from the 26 Unitas hit Raymond Berry on a curl for the first down on the 15. On the next play Lenny Moore lined up at flanker and caught a slant in front of cornerback Linden Crow for 12. First and goal from the three. If the Colts score a touchdown here, the game would probably be over. Certainly, at 21-3 there would’ve been no sudden death and no “greatest game ever played.”
On first and goal Unitas gave it to fullback Alan Ameche on a weakside slant. With no room at the intended hole, Ameche bounced it outside and was tackled at the one by Sam Huff and Emlen Tunnell. Unitas then tried the quarterback sneak but the Giants stayed low and stopped him just short of the goal line. On third down Ameche tried the slant again, this time inside behind Jim Parker, a powerhouse drive blocker. Parker, however, was stood-up in the hole by Rosey Brown and Ameche was stopped again (Brown, a hall of fame offensive tackle, played defensive end in the Giants goal line defense).
On fourth down, Baltimore coach Weeb Ewbank went for the knockout. Unitas called for a strong side toss to Ameche, who was to then throw a pass to Mutscheller in the end zone. As it developed, Mutscheller was wide open, but, in the heat of the game, Ameche forgot the play. He later told N.F.L. Films: “I completely blew it.” He added: “I thought it was a sweep.” Livingston came aggressively across the line of scrimmage, took the perfect angle, and caught Ameche before he could turn the corner, back at the five yard line. The Giants took over as the crowd went wild.
Here’s where the game turned. On third and two from the 13, quarterback Charlie Conerly faked a toss left to Frank Gifford and hit flanker Kyle Rote on a post pattern behind cornerback Milt Davis at the Giants 35. Rote was caught from behind at the Colts 35 and fumbled when he was hit by safeties Ray Brown and Andy Nelson. The ball rolled forward and Giants fullback Alex Webster, trailing the play, scooped it up at the 25 and took it all the way to the one before being knocked out of bounds by Carl Taseff. Two plays later, Mel Triplett punched it in and the Colts lead was narrowed to 14-10.
Twelve future hall of famers played in that game, six from each team, including Don Maynard, who returned kickoffs and punts for the Giants that day. Ewbank is also enshrined in Canton along with two of the Giants assistant coaches, Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry.
The 1958 Championship was, if not the greatest, then certainly one of the most important, games ever played. For the first time, the action and excitement of the National Football League was readily apparent to the broad american public. It was on that December afternoon at Yankee Stadium that the symbiotic relationship between television and pro football was cemented forever. By the mid-1960s pro football had overtaken baseball as the number one spectator sport.
If not for that goal line stand mid-way in the third quarter, all that drama would never have happened.”

Wee Willie Smith DB UDFA Idaho 1934 NYG 1934 Born 7-02-1910 Died 9-04-1996

Idaho HOF

“Willis Smith may have stood at 5-feet, 6 inches and weighed 147 pounds, but the “Little Giant” played much bigger than that on the football field for the Vandals. Smith played in both the offensive and defensive backfield for Idaho from 1929-32. He compiled a career rushing total of 3,029 yards – which lasted as the Idaho school record for 62 years – on a career average of 8.73 yards per carry. After his Idaho career, Smith moved on to the professional ranks, where he helped the New York Giants win a 1934 NFL Championship in the famous “Sneakers Game” upset of George Halas’ mighty Chicago Bears team. Newspaper stories from the championship game against the Bears reported that “Wee Willie” Smith made several key tackles of Bronko Nagurski, an NFL Hall of Fame fullback – who outweighed Smith by 100 pounds.”

Albuquerque Tribune (12-03-1969)
Smith Made It Big...what It takes to make the pro racket. Blocked well mUtd bii played well. "THE MANNER IN which he gained captured the imagination of the faithful." McLemore, who was with the United Press, interviewed Smith on the steps at the old clubhouse in the Polo Grounds. His appraisal: "Feed Willis Smith a dozen alligator pears, drape him in a double-breasted overcoat, give him the Dionne Quintuplets to hold and he might weigh all of 145 pounds. "HE IS A PIGMY among the Martui Johnsons. He can shed ladders like raindrops as he weaves down the field." When Smith went to the Giants at the beginning of the 1934 season, Ned Irish, then the Giants public relations expert gave him a special build up, Irish had a special jersey knitted for the 147 pounds dynamite. It carried the numeral zero. This may have been the only time in history that the Giants used a zero. Alone Irish gave Smith the title of Little Mr. Zero and it stuck with him.

SMITH CAME TO THE Giants from the University of Idaho at Moscow where he had starred for three years. Idaho played then in the old Pacific Coast Conference with such opponents as UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford and Montana. He completed his eligibility at Idaho in 1933 and was signed by the Giants. "I got my job through Ray Flaherty, who was a Giants end and assistant Smith recalled. "Flaherty had been at Gonzaga at Spokane and had beard about me."

SMITH WENT TO work with the Giants at a lower wage than the pros get today. His contract was for $100 a game. He also got as his share of the payoff when the Giants won the NFL title in the 1934 playoff. The cut now runs from to a player, Smith noted.

SMITH DOESN'T remember too many details of the games he played in 35 years ago. When I was in the game, calling the plays was mine he said. "Steve Owen rarely sent in a play. "I can't recall ever being injured. I don't think I ever had the wind knocked out of me.

“IT WASN'T LIKE today. I had to play on offense and defense. My main job was to call the plays, run with the ball and block. I seldom passed. Ken Strong did our kicking. He was one of the best. "Our backs got good protection. The defense didn't get to us too often. "One of the toughest jobs I had was running back punts. I believe that the hardest 1 ever was hit was at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Hewlett and Carr of the Bears both decked me just after I caught a punt."

ONE OF THE BEST games Smith ever played was in his sophomore year at Idaho. It was in November of 1931 at California. He had runs of 44 and 27 yards and twice went 17 yards. Idaho lost that game, 12-0. Pop Warner, Stanford coach, saw the game and told a sports writer that Smith had "bewildering speed." AT IDAHO, SMITH was coached by Leo Calland, who had been a star at USC and also had coached there with Howard Jones. Glen Jacoby, now athletic director at Wyoming, was the backfield coach. Smith went to Idaho from Boise High School where he had played for four years. He was a 10 second man in the 100 yard dash. How does pro football compare now with 1934? "IT'S ABOUT THE SAME Smith said. "There is one difference, however. The emphasis in 1934 was on the running game. Now it is on passing. "We had one advantage they don't have now. After you were hit and knocked down you could get up and run again. We made a lot of yards in thott day that way. But you had to be a tough cookie or you would get a trip to the sidelines on a stretcher." Strong and Danowski, some of the other Giant stars of those days were big Mel Hein and Bo Melinda

ONE OF THE MEN he played against was the famed Red Grange when Grange was with the Chicago Bears. George Halas was the Bears owner and coach. Smith doesn't remember too much about Grange except that he was not as fast as he had been in college. "He was a good defensive he recalled. WHY DID SMITH LEAVE the Giants after just one season? "Just say it was a conflict of personality with he said. "They gave me my release." Owen apparently didn't like to be told whom to play by a roaring, chanting crowd in the Polo Grounds grandstand. SMITH IS ONE OF two former N. Y. Giants quarterbacks living in Albuquerque. The other one is Eddie Miller, former NMMI and New Mexico Aggie star who made it good real good in.the pro bigtime. Smith, who is 59, is still an active person. He has a deep tan that comes with an outdoors man. He skis, plays golf and likes to fish. He weighs 175 now but would like to get down to 160. HE MOVED TO Albuquerque about 17 years ago. In World War II he served for three years at Fort Warren, Wyo., where he was the coach of the Army team that played and beat some of the best service elevens in the nation. He left the Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. For the last seven years he was been in the real estate business. He also is owner of the Old Town Laundry and Dry Cleaning establishment in the Old Town Shopping Center.

MR. AND MRS. SMITH have two sons. They are Steve, 21, a specialist 5 in the Army in South Vietnam and Bernard, 20, a sailor on the USS Virgo carrying ammunilion between the Philippines and South Vietnam. And what is Wee Willie Smith's advice for the midget quarterbacks of today? "Learn to take evasive action. Be shifty. For goodness sake don't meet the big boys.”

Tarik Cohen Makes NFL History With Touchdown Pass vs. Ravens (10-25-2017)

“According to Pro Football Reference, Cohen’s touchdown pass was the first by a player 5-foot-6 or shorter since New York Giants tailback Wee Willie Smith accomplished the feat all the way back in 1934.”

https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/grizzly-detail/tarik-cohen-makes-nfl-history-with-touchdown-pass-vs-ravens-451007333.html