Monday Reading

Giants

Hunt Football Gameplan: Football Gameplan's 2019 NFL Team Preview: New York Giants
- Positional Breakdown
- Road to the Super Bowl
- Inside Hunt's Playbook
- Training Camp Surprises
- Best Bets
- Fantasy Advice
- X Factors
..and much more (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pwcERBlIhc

Dunleavy NJ.com: Giants’ All-Decade Offense of 2010s (so far): Saquon Barkley make cut? Who is on Eli Manning’s offensive line?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/07/giants-all-decade-offense-of-2010s-so-far-saquon-barkley-make-cut-who-is-on-eli-mannings-offensive-line.html

Roberts BBV: The trades that shook the Giants
https://www.bigblueview.com/2019/7/8/20684758/the-trades-that-shook-the-giants

QB

Leonard NYDN: Eli Manning wants to play beyond 2019, but will that be with the Giants?
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-eli-manning-daniel-jones-first-team-battle-20190708-st26ejkhsbe4fe7yqu7dotvdzu-story.html

WR

Traina BBV: Giants’ 90-man roster: Can Sterling Shepard continue building on his expanded role in the offense?
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2019/7/7/18624618/giants-90-man-roster-preview-sterling-shepard-contract-extension-leadership-role

TE

Valentine BBV: Giants’ 90-man roster: Tight end Scott Simonson is coming off his best season
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2019/7/8/20611604/giants-90-man-roster-preview-2019-scott-simonson

OLB

Giants.com: Giants Insider: Markus Golden ready to make an impact on defense
Outside linebacker Markus Golden discusses what he expects to bring to the Giants defense this season and has familiarity with James Bettcher's scheme (Video)
https://www.giants.com/video/giants-insider-markus-golden-ready-to-make-an-impact-on-defense

Traina Football Maven: Training Camp Roster Preview: Avery Moss
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-avery-moss-2ovMY9LT0kGhEXt0I8gsow/

NFL

King FMIA: Guest FMIA: Indy GM Chris Ballard on Scouting and the Power of Sundays
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/07/08/chris-ballard-colts-scouting-draft-nfl-fmia-peter-king/

Vrentas MMQB: It’s the Heart of the NFL Offseason, and Anthony Lynn Is Making the Most of It
The Chargers’ head coach spent his time away from the field in Tanzania, where he helped open a school in a rural part of the country. Lynn talks about what he learned from his experience in Africa, and some of the lessons he hopes to bring back to his players in Los Angeles. Also, four lingering offseason storylines, the latest developments for the NFL in London, the story of an Italian football player and much more.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/07/08/anthony-lynn-chargers-tanzania-jadeveon-clowney-texans-nfl-offseason

ATLANTA
Ledbetter AJC: Falcons preview 2019: Can newcomers Kotwica, Tavecchio lead special teams?
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-special-teams-preview-2019-can-newcomers-kotwica-tavecchio-lead-special-teams/pOfNNBS2yZO15aPWEm3RtJ/amp.html

BUFFALO
Stuart Football Perspective: 2019 Team Records (Coach, Quarterback, Rushers, Receivers) – Bills
http://www.footballperspective.com/2019-team-records-coach-quarterback-rushers-receivers-bills/

CLEVELAND
Patsko Cleveland Plain Dealer: Can Nick Chubb continue his rise in 2019? Cleveland Browns 19 questions
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/07/can-nick-chubb-continue-his-rise-in-2019-cleveland-browns-19-questions.html

DENVER
Klis 9News Denver: 'Other guy' Hogan ready to compete for No. 2 QB job
https://www.9news.com/article/news/other-guy-hogan-ready-to-compete-for-no-2-qb-job/73-750ebb72-04e8-4f09-8286-09e3ff4898f7

INDIANAPOLIS
Walker Colts.com: 2019 Colts Burning Questions: Defensive End
https://www.colts.com/news/2019-colts-burning-questions-defensive-end

NEW YORK JETS
Mehta NYDN: Mehta’s Top 20 Jets Countdown: No. 10 WR Robby Anderson
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-robby-anderson-sam-darnold-wide-receiver-20190708-yajxmcyh7fcr7jip3im5al3kgm-story.html

Vasquez The Record: NY Jets training camp preview: Breaking down the linebackers and how C.J. Mosley will help
https://amp.northjersey.com/amp/1657917001

PHILADELPHIA
Kempski Phillyvoice: Eagles training camp preview: Quarterback
https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-training-camp-preview-quarterback-2019/

Kaye NJ.com: Eagles Training Camp: Will Nate Sudfeld show he deserves to be Carson Wentz’s backup? Examining QB position
https://www.nj.com/eagles/2019/07/eagles-training-camp-will-nate-sudfeld-show-he-deserves-to-be-carson-wentzs-backup-examining-qb-position.html

TENNESSEE
Schwab Yahoo Sports: 2019 NFL preview: Titans need Marcus Mariota to stay healthy, and play better too
https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/2019-nfl-preview-titans-need-marcus-mariota-to-stay-healthy-and-play-better-too-123922936.html

Bergman NFL.com: Titans coach reiterates Tannehill is backup
https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001035210/article/titans-coach-vrabel-reiterates-ryan-tannehill-is-backup?

WASHINGTON
Bullock The Athletic: How the Redskins can help Dwayne Haskins’ development with the middle triangle
https://theathletic.com/1063001/2019/07/08/how-the-redskins-can-help-dwayne-haskins-development-with-the-middle-triangle/?

Former Giants News

Dunleavy NJ.com: Jared Lorenzen funeral: Arrangements set to remember ex-Giants QB | How you can contribute
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/07/jared-lorenzen-funeral-arrangements-set-to-remember-ex-giants-qb-how-you-can-contribute.html

History

D’Ambrosio Flathead Beacon: The Forgotten Legend of Nick Lassa
Lassa, a Native American from the Flathead Valley, played for one of the NFL’s original teams, the Oorang Indians, and wrestled bears during halftime, carving out a legacy largely overlooked through the decades
https://flatheadbeacon.com/2019/07/08/forgotten-legend-nick-lassa/

Giants Birthdays 7-08

Andy Headen OLB D8-Clemson 1984 NYG 1984-198

NYDN 10-27-1986

“Who is the biggest Giants linebacker? Who is the fastest Giants . linebacker? A. Lawrence Taylor. B. Harry Carson. C. Carl Banks. D. None of the above. If you guessed D, you got it right Surprise! Andy Headen, 245 pounds and 4.5 seconds in the 40, is the answer to both questions. Which raises another question. Why have we heard so little about this guy? That's tougher to answer. "L.T. can't keep up with me, no contest," said Headen, "and I've put on 15 pounds since I came here. It used to be embarrassing in the weight room. I'd have to work out with the receivers. Maybe I'd lift 250 on a good day. Now, I can max 335 or 345. ... "I can see the other players have more confidence in me. I'm getting more respect from my teammates, and I'm getting noticed more around the league." The Redskins . undoubtedly have noticed and put in something for tonight's game against the Giants. But with the general public, the Giants' linebackers are notorious, and Headen isn't even famous. Late selection Maybe you have to go back to figure that out. He was only an eighth-round draft pick. He was a raw talent who had been an all-America quarterback in high school and starting quarterback at Clemson before making a difficult transition to defense beause of a separated shoulder. No one will ever forget his NFL debut Taylor was holding out and flirting with the USFL over lunches with Donald Trump in 1983 when Headen appeared onto the scene with three sacks in a preseason game against the Jets. But Taylor returned. Headen has started occasionally since then, and he might have had more sacks per play than anyone in the NFL over the last two years. Like Byron Hunt or Gary Reasons, he might be a star for anotner team when he's just a backup with the Giants.”

SI Peter King 8-01-1996

NYT: Once upon a time in the NFL, there was a Giants linebacker named Andy Headen. From 1983 to '88 Headen backed up Lawrence Taylor, the greatest outside 'backer the game had ever seen. Every year Headen would fill dispatches from training camp with the same
wistful sentiment: "I'd love to be a starter," he would say (or something like that). "But I know that's pretty tough, sitting behind Lawrence." And each summer New York coach Bill Parcells would explain that although he couldn't start Headen, he couldn't trade him, either. In a league thin in pass rushers, he
couldn't afford to lose his best blitzing insurance. When Headen played--which was seldom--he was quite effective, scratching together 19 sacks over the years. Then one day in 1987 Headen was transformed from a sub into a symbol: He became the poster child of the NFL Players Association in its fight for
free agency. When the union made its case for the right of players to move from one team to another, it said that the Andy Headens of the league deserved their chance to be stars.

https://www.si.com/vault/1996/08/01/216756/ready-to-roll-in-the-new-nfl-economy-young-players-now-get-an-earlier-shot-at-stardom-heres-the-best-of-this-years-bunch

In Memoriam

Art Faircloth B FA-1947 NYG 1947-1948 Born 7-08-1921 Died 4-01-2010

Obituary

“He attended and played football for Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C., where he earned a full athletic scholarship with North Carolina State University. After college, Art went on to play football for the New York Giants during the 1947 season in the triple threat position. Art worked for NBC Television in Washington, D.C. for 25 years retiring in the late 1970''s.”

Shipwreck Kelly B UDFA-Kentucky 1932 NYG 1932 Born 7-08-1910 Died 8-17-1986

Pro Football HOF: A Hollywood Tale

“Okay, imagine if you will a Hollywood movie script about a 1931 college All-American and social butterfly who rises to NFL ownership and secretly works for the FBI spying on Nazi planners during World War II. The leading man in this football espionage story is known as “Shipwreck” Kelly, a wealthy, good-looking athletic playboy with an appealing personality and very well connected with the social elite.
As our story goes, “Shipwreck” earned his nickname after one-upping an old sailor also named “Shipwreck” who back in the 1920’s earned a reputation by sitting atop flagpoles. Our “Shipwreck” does one better when he climbs a flagpole and somehow manages to stand on top for a few minutes. It was strange behavior, but it was a strange time.

Now, fast-forward a year in this silver screen script and envision our flagpole-climbing football hero in New York City playing pro football with let’s say, the New York Giants. Ever the playboy, the only thing our leading man enjoys more than football is the exciting nightlife that only New York has to offer. Although he’s a good football player, playing in the NFL just isn’t enough for this flagpole and social climber. So, when he learns that an NFL team in Brooklyn might be for sale, “Shipwreck” partners with a teammate and purchases the fledgling franchise.
Now of course, like every good script, we need love interests to make it more marketable, so “Shipwreck” becomes a regular at all the hotspots in New York and is frequently seen with showgirls and the daughters of wealthy bankers. But, for our story even that isn’t enough. So, let’s add say a former Olympic figure skating star to the plot and give her part ownership of the franchise and make her the first female owner in the NFL.  Now that’s a story. But there’s more.
After a few years dabbling in the NFL, our star, “Shipwreck,” now married to a very wealthy and well-known debutante, decides to use his social connections to do undercover work for the FBI. Now, stay with me here, it gets complicated. At this point, the U.S. is very much engaged in World War II. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (pictured below), in a stroke of genius, realizes that “Shipwreck’s” social status gives him entre to gatherings in foreign countries like Argentina. Hoover determines that “Shipwreck” can infiltrate the large German social circles that exist there and covertly gather pertinent information which he can then pass on to the FBI. Our football hero happily agrees and becomes pro football’s first spy.

Alright, I know it doesn’t sound like an Academy Award winning film and probably reads a like far-fetched crazy story that only bad Hollywood writer could dream up. But, the amazing thing is, it’s all true. Or at least “Shipwreck” said it was all true.
You see, John “Shipwreck” Kelly was a halfback with the New York Giants in 1932.  In 1933, he and Giants teammate Chris Cagle purchased the NFL’s Brooklyn Dodgers where the duo continued to play.  Their partnership lasted just one year before Cagle sold his interest to Dan Topping. Now here’s the part that’s tough to substantiate. Shipwreck, in a great interview with writer Dick Whittingham in his book What a Game They Played, claims that in 1940 – after Shipwreck was officially out of football – his former partner Topping married Olympic figure skater Sonja Henie and sold her half his interest in the team. As for the spy part, Shipwreck produced a letter from J. Edgar himself to substantiate that claim.  Heck, maybe this isn’t such a bad movie script after all.”

https://www.profootballhof.com/blogs/joe-horrigans-over-time/a-hollywood-tale/

THE BROOKLYN DODGERS

“The 1933 season was a landmark season in the NFL and initiated the beginning of the modern era with many innovations, including relaxation of the rules on passing, moving the goal posts back to the goal lines, and splitting the league into two divisions. Among the more interesting happenings was the purchase of the Dodgers by two former New York Giants players, Chris Cagle and John "Shipwreck" Kelly. The price was $25,000.

Cagle had been an All-American at West Point and played three seasons for the Giants. Kelly had starred at Kentucky and played one season as a Giant. The scion of a wealthy family, he was an early day "Broadway Joe" whose off the field exploits were recorded along with his on the field feats.
Cap McEwen, a successful college coach, was brought in as coach although both Cagle and Kelly freely dispensed coaching wisdom. And Friedman, the '32 coach, was still on the scene for part of the season. In spite of the chaos that prevailed in the stategy department the team did well.
Friedman remained at tailback with Kelly catching 22 passes to lead the league in receptions. Cagle, Thomason, Karcis, Hickman, and end Tom Nash all had fine seasons as the Dodgers posted a 5- 4-1 record to finish second in the newly created Eastern Division.”

http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/12-03-399.pdf

Bill Mackrides QB FA-Hamilton CFL 1953 NYG 1953 Born 7-08-1925 Died 1-22-2019

Reno Gazette Journal: Before there was Colin Kaepernick, there was Bill Mackrides (2012)

“Mackrides was the backup for star quarterback Tommy Thompson, who was blind in his left eye, on those championships teams. After five years in Philadelphia, Mackrides played for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1952 before his final NFL season with Pittsburgh and New York in 1953.
In his six NFL seasons, Mackrides completed 131-of-315 passes (41.6 percent) for 1,583 yards, 15 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in the run-happy NFL of the 1950s. He also had 70 carries for 124 yards and three scores.”

https://www.rgj.com/story/wolfpackblog/2012/12/11/before-there-was-colin-kaepernick-there-was-bill-mackrides/5687067/