Thursday Reading

Giants

Duggan The Athletic: The Giants will have a boatload of cap space next offseason. Here’s what to expect
https://theathletic.com/1082208/2019/07/18/the-giants-will-have-a-boatload-of-cap-space-next-offseason-heres-what-to-expect/?amp#click=https://t.co/t5XqWaxMWH

Lombardo NJ.com: How much damage did Dave Gettleman’s offseason do to Giants’ future?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/07/how-much-damage-did-dave-gettlemans-offseason-do-to-giants-future.html

Dunleavy NJ.com: 6 reasons Giants will return to playoffs | Are you really doubting ‘elite’ Eli Manning again?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2019/07/6-reasons-giants-will-return-to-playoffs-are-you-really-doubting-elite-eli-manning-again.html

Getzenberg Dallas Morning News: Cowboys enemy report: New York Giants
-- Eli Manning is the starting QB in New York ... for now
-- Why a regression is unlikely for the Giants in 2019
Discussion with Paul Schwartz
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2019/07/17/cowboys-enemy-report-eli-manning-starting-qb-new-york-now-regression-unlikely-giants

QB

Serby NYP: Welcome to Eli Manning’s last stand
https://nypost.com/2019/07/17/welcome-to-eli-mannings-last-stand/amp/#click=https://t.co/ENqfgpkWS3

Schwartz NYP: Daniel Jones still hasn’t signed his Giants contract
https://nypost.com/2019/07/17/daniel-jones-still-hasnt-signed-his-giants-contract/

RB

Traina Football Maven: Training Camp Roster Preview: Rod Smith
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-rod-smith-JFeZYCXbNUaGb3oo1dqt9w/

WR
Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate)
7/17/19, 3:39 PM
Gotta keep the YACKing crown! Grinding to stay on the throne in & #8294;New York

PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants)
7/17/19, 4:57 PM
He’s not lying!
Here’s Golden Tate’s finishes in YAC by year since 2013:
2018: 10th
2017: 1st
2016: 2nd
2015: 5th
2014: 1st
2013: 8th

Valentine BBV: Giants’ 90-man roster: UDFA Alex Wesley competing for wide receiver spot
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2019/7/17/20690128/giants-90-man-roster-preview-udfa-alex-wesley-competing-for-wide-receiver-spot#click=https://t.co/ZPTUFtcEhp

TE

Traina BBV: Value of tight ends keeps increasing for Giants
With Odell Beckham Jr. in Cleveland, the tight ends could see a bump in their workload this year
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2019/7/17/20697220/ny-giants-tight-end-preview-evan-engram-rhett-ellison-scott-simonson-cj-conrad

LT

Traina Football Maven: Training Camp Roster Preview: Nate Solder
https://footballmaven.io/nygiants/api/amp/nygiants/news/training-camp-roster-preview-nate-solder-xCSnnfTgfUS4K4OpNuKtug/

Defense

Krosnowski SNY: Why the Giants' defense is looking to Cardinals for inspiration
Four key defenders played for Giants' DC James Bettcher in Arizona
https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/why-the-giants-defense-is-looking-to-cardinals-for-inspiration/309172808

Cohen Giants.com: Secondary coming together under veteran Bethea
https://www.giants.com/news/secondary-coming-together-under-general-bethea

FS

Williamson BBV: Film study: In his 14th season, can Antoine Bethea really be a center fielder at safety?
Bethea brings leadership and knowledge, but can he still do the job physically?
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2019/7/18/20697278/ny-giants-film-study-antoine-bethea-free-safety-pass-coverage

NFL

Graziano ESPN: 2021 NFL CBA negotiations: The nine biggest looming issues
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27103713/2021-nfl-cba-negotiations-nine-biggest-looming-issues

ESPN: How it started: First jobs in football for all 32 NFL head coaches

Pat Shurmur

First football job: Graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1988

What he learned: “Shurmur took a job under George Perles after serving as his starting center. His first lesson was how to slice reel-to-reel film. Shurmur remembers putting together a punt reel in preparation to play Rutgers and mixing the dull and shiny sides of the film. The result? The special-teams cut-up from the Rutgers-West Virginia game started playing backward on the screen. "So when it shined up on the screen, the state of West Virginia was backwards," Shurmur said. "The next year they went to Beta tape. That was a bit nostalgic."
Coaching was the natural progression for his career. He considers himself a grinder and a teacher.
"The thing I think I took from it was how much work goes into it, how much preparation coaches do behind the scenes," Shurmur said. "To go out there and run a play, there is a lot that goes into it, from how you prepare to teach the players, the time you spend teaching them. So that is the first thing I was impressed by." -- Jordan Raanan

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26955877/how-started-first-jobs-football-all-32-nfl-head-coaches?

ARIZONA
McManaman AZ Republic: Arizona Cardinals scouting report: Specialists
https://amp.azcentral.com/amp/1651697001#click=https://t.co/FovwWHLzEC

ATLANTA
McClure ESPN Atlanta: After battle with depression, Falcons assistant hopes to change NFL culture
https://www.espn.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/34306/after-overcoming-depression-falcons-assistant-takes-aim-at-nfl-culture?

Ledbetter AJC: Falcons agree to contract extension with Deion Jones 
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-trying-lock-deion-jones/94HwsXGUukXhcbxG0JcWrL/

BALTIMORE
Zrebiec The Athletic: ‘The injury that keeps on giving’: Why Marquise Brown’s first challenge could be his biggest
https://theathletic.com/1082504/2019/07/18/the-injury-that-keeps-on-giving-why-marquise-browns-first-challenge-could-be-his-biggest/

BUFFALO
Parrino NY Upstate: Bills’ Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane detail how they avoid coach-GM 'relationship fracture’
https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2019/07/bills-sean-mcdermott-brandon-beane-detail-how-they-avoid-coach-gm-relationship-fracture.html

Turner Cover1.net: INSIDE THE PLAYBOOK | THE ERHARDT-PERKINS PLAY STRUCTURE AND TERMINOLOGY
https://www.cover1.net/inside-the-playbook-the-erhardt-perkins-play-structure-and-terminology/

Gaughan Buffalo News: Will Levi Wallace win the No. 2 corner job with Bills?
https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/17/levi-wallace-buffalo-bills-cornerback-starter-training-camp-alabama-undrafted-kevin-johnson-ej-gaines/

CAROLINA
Newton ESPN Charlotte: Undrafted Elijah Holyfield has a fighter's chance to make Panthers
https://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/32158/undrafted-elijah-holyfield-has-a-fighters-chance-to-make-panthers

CLEVELAND
Schwab Yahoo Sports: 2019 NFL preview: Browns have a loaded roster, but one enormous question lingers
https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/2019-nfl-preview-browns-have-a-loaded-roster-but-one-enormous-question-lingers-124057949.html

Leonard NYDN: Baker Mayfield should let Odell Beckham Jr. move on from the Giants once and for all
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-baker-mayfield-odell-beckham-jr-giants-fans-20190717-u7hik6sycbe2dag5it6kk7jhpq-story.html

Shook Browns.com: Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the offensive line
https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-2019-training-camp-preview-offensive-line

DALLAS
Ruiz For the Win USA Today: Ezekiel Elliott isn't as valuable to the Cowboys offense as you've been led to believe
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/07/ezekiel-elliott-value-cowboys-dak-prescott

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: As Broncos training camp begins, Elway talks offseason, Fangio and second-year players
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/17/john-elways-broncos-training-camp-report-day/

Breer MMQB: How John Elway and the Broncos Plan to Get Back to Their Winning Ways
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/07/18/john-elway-denver-broncos-nfl-training-camp

O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos Training Camp 2019 Primer: Position battles, players with most on the line, what to watch at practice
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/17/broncos-training-camp-2019-primer/

Fredrickson Denver Post: Broncos, quarterback Drew Lock agree to terms, source says
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/17/broncos-drew-lock-contract-agreement/

Kiszla Denver Post: There’s only one way beautiful bro-mance between Broncos Chris Harris Jr. and Von Miller can continue beyond 2019
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/07/17/kiszla-broncos-chris-harris-jr-von-miller/amp/#click=https://t.co/d1SdQ271N9

DETROIT
Birkett Detroit Free Press: Agent for Darius Slay, Damon Harrison set to meet with Detroit Lions this week
https://amp.freep.com/amp/1764702001

HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans rookie Javier Edwards in 'right spot' with hometown team
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Texans-rookie-Javier-Edwards-in-right-spot-with-14102272.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Walker Colts.com: Colts Bucking The League Trend By Going Away For Training Camp
https://www.colts.com/news/colts-bucking-the-league-trend-by-going-away-for-training-camp

Walker Colts.com: Howard Mudd Talks Blocking Technique, Quenton Nelson On ‘Move The Sticks’ Podcast

“On his “fast-slow-fast” approach to the rhythm of a block:
Mudd: “There’s a rhythm to a block. When I say “fast-slow,” as the ball is being snapped you have to go somewhere; you have to go somewhere to make contact. You make contact, and then there’s another rhythm, OK? So this is a little strange, but I look at it in a different way, as you know; I’m different. When you’re run blocking, you don’t go fast first. You go slow your first step or two — might be slow to gather your position and lower your center of gravity — then you move fast, quickly, to make contact, and then you slow yourself down to maintain your leverage on the guy so that you don’t lose contact. Because if you go into a run block and you’re fast at the beginning, you might miss. You want to make contact and leverage that man at the point of attack and keep the pads under his, and when you make contact, if you start making driving steps and you don’t have the strength advantage he’s going to throw you off. So the most important thing is that after contact you maintain contact so that you don’t have to start over. Don’t let that guy stop your momentum, OK? Maintain your momentum. Well, that’s run blocking. In pass blocking, interesting — I believe that you go fast, and then you slow yourself down for the moment of contact and put your hands in there, put your head in there, put whatever it is, and you’ve gone fast, settle was the word I used — which slows your momentum down — so it’s fast, then you settle, then when you finish the guy then you start moving your feet again, or your body, quickly, hands and feet, to finish him. OK, Jason Peters, who we both know — a lot of people know Jason Peters; he’s a great player. So when I introduced this stuff to him in the pass protection stuff — you know, go somewhere real quickly, and then settle your feet; like, I’m going to come and crowd you, you’ve got the ball in your hand and I’ve got to guard the basket, which is the quarterback, I’m gonna get real close to you and I’m going to loosen my body up so that I can redirect myself when you try to go around me, OK? So I call that settling your feet; fast-slow-fast. Jason Peters called that ‘soft feet;’ when you get there, have soft feet. I just loved it.”

On how defensive coaches emphasize “come to balance,” and how it sounds like pass protecting employs a similar approach:
Mudd: “Right. And so, coming to balance is settling. You’re settling your momentum so that you have control over the next movement that you make — reaction, if you will — where hopefully it’s appropriate, you’ve gotten close enough to do it; if he’s a better athlete than you are, you probably don’t have good control of it. But the point is, yeah, coming to balance is exactly what I’m describing, and it’s getting yourself in a position so you can redirect and shuttle off the guy’s angle to the ball carrier, or you can shut him off. If you’re a tackler, you come to balance — I call it settling — so that you can redirect yourself and execute a tackle, or you can execute covering the guy that’s making a move, and you’re a corner and you’re covering a guy, and you can redirect yourself without being out of control.”
With how much the game has evolved in recent years to so pass-heavy, how do you break up your time in practice between the run game vs. the pass game?
Mudd: “I think you spend the most amount of time on the most difficult thing. The most difficult is pass protection. And even if it’s an inordinate amount — if it’s disproportionate, whatever that phraseology is; if you spend, let’s say you’ve got individual time, practice time, that sort of thing, if you throw the ball 60 percent of the time, I’d spent 80 percent of my time doing something in pass protection. When I can pass protect, I feel so good about where I’m at because all of the body movements that are required to react to the man and redirect myself, get myself in the right position, don’t get faked out, know what to do with each little movement he makes, if he bull rushes me — I know how to do that. I’m a maverick; I spin and hop and do all kinds of stuff. I do everything I can to keep myself in front of that guy. Most of all of them are athletic things, because football as an offensive lineman isn’t played with strength and power; it’s played with leverage, quickness. That’s what it’s played with. If you are strong and you’re quick and agile and have balance, now you’ve got a Hall of Famer.”

https://www.colts.com/news/howard-mudd-talks-blocking-technique-quenton-nelson-on-move-the-sticks-podcast

Horner Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard has crazy goals for 2019
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/1760530001

JACKSONVILLE
Reid Florida Times Union: Rookie OT Jawaan Taylor ready to prove his worth with Jaguars
https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20190717/rookie-ot-jawaan-taylor-ready-to-prove-his-worth-with-jaguars?

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Henne Chargers.com: Camp Questions: How Will Hunter Henry Change the Offense?
https://www.chargers.com/news/camp-questions-how-will-hunter-henry-change-the-offense

MIAMI
Kelly Sun Sentinel: Is Dolphins GM Chris Grier the right person to get Miami on the right track? | Countdown to camp
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-camp-countdown4-20190718-gpdqxpanp5ewbdp7vn32uaqmdu-story.html

Deen Sun Sentinel: How does QB Josh Rosen fit into the Miami Dolphins’ plan in 2019 and beyond? | Countdown to camp
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-camp-countdown3-20190717-jayv5gioibft7hksy7tsvmfnza-story.html

MINNESOTA
Hasan The Athletic: Finding Kirk Cousins’ best route, and how the Vikings can unlock its potential
https://theathletic.com/1073986/2019/07/17/finding-kirk-cousins-best-route-and-how-the-vikings-can-unlock-its-potential/?

NEW ENGLAND
Thomas Forbes.com: Patriots Defensive Tackle Adam Butler Has Proven To Be A Valuable Change Of Pace
https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverthomas/2019/07/17/patriots-defensive-tackle-adam-butler-has-proven-to-be-a-valuable-change-of-pace/amp/

NEW YORK JETS
Vasquez The Record: NY Jets training camp preview: Breaking down Le'Veon Bell and the running backs
https://amp.northjersey.com/amp/1736537001

Costello NYP: Kelechi Osemele could go from Raiders collateral damage to Jets savior
https://nypost.com/2019/07/17/kelechosemele-could-go-from-raiders-collateral-damage-to-jets-savior/

Mehta NYDN: Mehta’s Top 20 Jets Countdown: No. 2 LB C.J. Mosley
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-cj-mosley-countdown-20190718-ghrzp7tv4rcnfhpjtotekrssoi-story.html

OAKLAND
Williams NBC Bay Area: Joseph May Not Be in Raiders' Long-Term Plans
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Joseph-May-Not-be-in-Raiders-Long-Term-Plans-512834821.html

PHILADELPHIA
Berman The Athletic: Four themes from head coach Doug Pederson as he enters Year 4 with Eagles
https://theathletic.com/1082721/2019/07/18/four-themes-from-head-coach-doug-pederson-as-he-enters-year-4-with-eagles/?amp#click=https://t.co/pkMIOnlSje

Rosenblatt NJ.com: Inside the mind of Eagles’ Doug Pederson entering Year 4: Thoughts on what he’s thinking | Is this roster better than the Super Bowl team?
https://www.nj.com/eagles/2019/07/inside-the-mind-of-eagles-doug-pederson-entering-year-4-thoughts-on-what-hes-thinking-is-this-roster-better-than-the-super-bowl-team.html

Kaye NJ.com: Eagles LB breakdown: Who will start next to Nigel Bradham, Kamu Grugier-Hill?
https://www.nj.com/eagles/2019/07/eagles-lb-breakdown-who-will-start-next-to-nigel-bradham-kamu-grugier-hill.html

Kempski Phillyvoice: Eagles training camp preview: Cornerback
https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-training-camp-preview-cornerback-2019/

PITTSBURGH
Adamski Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Steelers 2-a-days: Will JuJu Smith-Schuster become a superstar? Can Tuzar Skipper make team?
https://triblive.com/sports/steelers-2-a-days-will-juju-smith-schuster-become-a-superstar-can-tuzar-skipper-make-team/

Klinger Penn Live: Previewing the Steelers’ tight ends of 2019: Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble & Co.
https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/2019/07/previewing-the-steelers-tight-ends-of-2019-vance-mcdonald-xavier-grimble-co.html

Klinger Penn Live: How Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt & the rest of the Steelers defensive line are set up for the 2019 season
https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/2019/07/how-cameron-heyward-stephon-tuitt-the-rest-of-the-steelers-defensive-line-are-set-up-for-the-2019-season.html

Bombulie Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Versatile Tyson Alualu unsung contributor to Steelers’ defensive line
https://triblive.com/sports/versatile-tyson-alualu-unsung-contributor-to-steelers-defensive-line/

SAN FRANCISCO
Biderman Sac Bee: 49ers mailbag: Can Jason Verrett win the starting cornerback job opposite Richard Sherman?
https://amp.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article232792562.html

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: Seahawks place four rookies — including Marquise Blair and Ben Burr-Kirven — on PUP list
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-place-four-rookies-on-pup-list-including-marquise-blair-and-ben-burr-kirven/?

Condotta Seattle Times: Ranking the Seahawks’ roster | Positions 75-61: Some veteran players start to make the list
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/ranking-the-seahawks-roster-positions-75-61-some-veteran-players-start-to-make-the-list/?

TAMPA BAY
Vitali Buccaneers.com: Behind the Buccaneers: Carl Nassib
https://www.buccaneers.com/news/behind-the-buccaneers-carl-nassib

TENNESSEE
Sobleski B/R: Marcus Mariota Is Already On the Verge of Busting as an NFL Quarterback
https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2845798-marcus-mariota-is-already-on-the-verge-of-busting-as-an-nfl-quarterback.amp.html

Wyatt Titans.com: Titans Training Camp Preview: A Look at the Tight Ends
https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-training-camp-preview-a-look-at-the-tight-ends

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

Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball)
7/17/19, 2:55 PM
This cannot be correct!!
Is this correct?
Out of the 52 players Bruce Allen drafted whose 4-year rookie deals expired...
& #9658; only 7 received another contract in DC
& #9658; only 1 received multiple contract in DC
(34 of the 52 are out of the NFL or FA)
Draft 'em & trash 'em. Gross

Carpenter Washington Post: Redskins rookie Bryce Love has always had the same goals: Football, then med school
https://beta.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/18/redskins-rookie-bryce-love-has-always-had-same-goals-football-then-med-school/?

Colleges/Draft

QB
Trapasso CBS Sports: 2020 NFL Draft: Here are the flaws next year's top quarterback prospects must fix
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-here-are-the-flaws-next-years-top-quarterback-prospects-must-fix/amp/

Crabbs The Draft Network: GRIND TIME: EPISODE IV - OREGON QB JUSTIN HERBERT
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/grind-time-episode-iv--qb-justin-herbert

RB
Edholm Yahoo Sports: NFL draft: Is Najee Harris Bama's next great pro runner? Or a bad NFL fit?
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-is-najee-harris-bamas-next-great-pro-runner-or-a-bad-nfl-fit-200421446.html

OL
Marino The Draft Network: OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ARE NO LONGER "SAFE PICKS"
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/offensive-linemen-are-no-longer--safe-picks-

T
Davison Fort Worth Star Telegram: NFL’s top overall pick? TCU’s Lucas Niang determined to prove he’s worthy
https://amp.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article232776432.html

DE
Solak The Draft Network: A.J. EPENESA IS UNQUESTIONABLY EDGE1
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/a.j.-epenesa-is-unquestionably-edge1

LB
Sikkema The Draft Network: 5-PLAY PROSPECT: ALABAMA LB DYLAN MOSES
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/5-play-prospect--alabama-lb-dylan-moses

History

Judge Football Maven: Could Shaughnessy, Parker be wild-card coaching candidates for Class of 2020?
https://footballmaven.io/talkoffame/api/amp/talkoffame/nfl/could-shaughnessy-parker-be-wild-card-coaching-candidates-for-class-of-2020-KXxeY687oUG0RkNu-YtMBg/#click=https://t.co/GzCJaIPj5C

Willis PFJ: The NFL's Top Pre-WWII Ends

“
4)      Ray Flaherty (1926-1929, 1931-1935) Known for his Hall of Fame coaching career, Ray Flaherty was a standout end in the NFL before that. After playing one year in the rival AFL in 1926, the rangy, 6-0, 190-pound Flaherty played 8 seasons (88 games) in the NFL with the New York Yankees (1927-28) and New York Giants (1928-29, 1931-35). Member of 1 NFL championship team, 1934 Giants, and 3 divisional winners (1933-35 Giants)…Very intelligent player, a coach on the field- as his coaching career would prove- as he spent his last 3 years with the Giants as player, captain, and assistant coach…Paired with fellow Hall of Famer, Red Badgro, to form NFL’s best end duo (1931-1935) with Giants…Suggested to Giants head coach Steve Owen that they should wear basketball sneakers in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, which they won 34-13 over the Bears, after playing in “sneakers”…First-team All-Pro four times by Collyers (1929, 1932-34); three times by Green Bay Press-Gazette (1928-29, 1932); and once by the NFL (1932), Chicago Tribune (1929), Leroy Andrews (1929), Curly Lambeau (1931) and UP (1932)…Second-team there times by NFL (1928, 1931, 1933); twice by UP (1933-34); and once by GBPG (1933) and Tribune (1928)…elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976 (player-coach)…Scored 21 career TDs (20 on receptions)- when Flaherty caught a TD pass his team was 17-2-1, including a perfect 7-0 in 1929…Led NFL in TD catches 3 times (1927, 1929, 1932); had career-high 8 in 1929 (catching TDs from Benny Friedman)…maybe had best year in 1932 (first year NFL kept stats) when he led all receivers in receptions (21), receiving yards (350), and TDs (5)…In 1927 while playing with the New York Yankees, became the 2nd player in NFL history to catch 3 TDs in a single game in a 26-6 victory over the Bears…Giants retired his no. 1 jersey.

“Ray Flaherty was another one of our favorites on the team. He was a tremendous competitor. We had two of the toughest players ever at our two ends in those days- Flaherty and Red Badgro- and at the same time they were two of the nicest guys you’d ever meet.”— Wellington Mara, former Giants Hall of Fame owner.

6)      Morris “Red” Badgro (1927-28, 1930-1936) Teaming with Flaherty was another great end, “Red” Badgro, who got his nickname from his flaming red hair.  Great athlete who also played a few years of major league baseball with the St. Louis Browns. The 6-foot, 191-pound Badgro played 9 seasons (94 games) in the NFL with 3 different franchises- New York Yankees, New York Giants and one year with the Brooklyn Dodgers. But it was his time with the Giants that got him to Canton...Member of 1 NFL Championship team, 1934 Giants…Became an excellent blocker and defender; Flaherty was a better receiver…Caught the first TD in NFL Championship Game history in 1933 (23-21 loss to the Bears)…Named 3 times First-team All-Pro by the NFL (1931, 1933-34); as well as by the Green Bay Press-Gazette in 1933 and the Chicago Daily News in 1934…Second-team in 1930 by GBPG…had 8 career TDs (7 receiving) and led the NFL in receptions (16) in 1934…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981 (senior vote)—at the time was the oldest player ever inducted into Hall at the age of 78 (since passed by Jack Butler).

“I played with Red (Badgro) one year with the New York Yankees and against him for five seasons with the Giants. Playing both offense and defense he was one of the best half-dozen ends I ever saw.”—said Red Grange about Badgro.

“Badgro could block, tackle and catch passes equally well. And he could do each with the best of them.”—Steve Owen, Giants Hall of Fame coach.

“Red Badgro was a rugged, fierce competitor and a 190-pound defensive end was pretty big in those days. He was very mild-mannered guy but murder on the field. He was a clean player.”—Wellington Mara, Giants Hall of Fame owner.

(Badgro) was a tireless competitor, big, strong, fast and injury-proof. Also a guy who could make tough catches and carry them home. I must have played in the same game with him five or six times and I can assure you he was for real!”—Johnny “Blood” McNally, former Packers Hall of Fame back.

“Playing against Red Badgro and Ray Flaherty was an afternoon’s work. Red was All-Pro several times, an excellent player in all departments of the game. He was an outstanding credit to the game.”—Cliff Battles, former Redskins All-Pro back.

12)  Jim Poole (1937-1941, 1945-1946) Tall and thick at 6-foot-3, 218-pounds, Poole played 6 of his 7 seasons (78 games) with the New York Giants (one with Cardinals). Very productive in passing game with excellent hands, had 65 career catches for 895 yards and 13 TDs…averaged 13.8 yds. per catch…Member of 1938 Giants that won the NFL Championship…In 1939 played great on the defensive side of the ball, named First-team All-Pro by the NFL, UP, Football Writers, and I.N.S….Had best offense year in 1940 with 10 catches for 156 and 3 TDs and earned First-team All-Pro by the UP and I.N.S and Second-team by the NFL and Collyers…”Poole is easily the league’s best defensive wingman and also is a good pass catcher,” wrote George Kirksey of UP in naming Poole First-team All-Pro in 1940…Honorable mention by the NFL three times, 1937-38, 1941…3 Pro Bowls (1938-40).

http://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-nfls-top-pre-wwii-ends.html

Willis PFJ: The NFL's Top Pre-WWII Tackles

“1)      Cal Hubbard (1927-1933, 1935-1936) Number one on the list is the great Cal Hubbard, considered the “most feared lineman of his time.” The 6-2, 253-pound Hubbard played 9 years of pro ball (105 games) with the New York Giants (1927-28, 1936), Green Bay Packers (1929-33, 1935) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1936)….he played his first two years as an end, making All-Pro both years…moved to tackle when he joined Curly Lambeau’s Packers in 1929…member of 4 NFL Championship teams, 1927 Giants, 1929-1931 Packers…excelled as a blocker on offense, and backed up the line on defense (sometimes standing up like a linebacker)… “I never played harder than I did against the Bears. I can still hear Halas hollering from the sidelines for me to lay off his center, George Trafton. Trafton was a mouthy guy. He was always lipping off. So I knocked the hell out of him every chance I got,” said Hubbard in 1976…First-team All-Pro three times by the NFL (1931-1933) and UPI (31-33); as well as being named twice First-team by Collyers (1932-33) and once by Chicago Daily News (1933)…Named to NFL 1920s All-Decade Team…scored 2 career TDs, including an interception return against the Giants in 1935 (16-7 win)…Elected as Charter Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963)…Named NFL’s All-Time Tackle for the 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 1969…Named to NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Two Way Team (1994)…only man to be elected to the Pro Football and Baseball Hall of Fames (as an umpire)…Elected to Packers Hall of Fame in 1970.

“I never saw a better lineman, either on offense or defense.”—Curly Lambeau, Packers Hall of Fame coach.

“Hubbard is the best tackle I’ve seen…He’s very fast, I’ve tried to block him out, and it can’t be done. I’ve seen him on defense start through the line and shove it entirely out of position. He must be 35 now, but he is all man, and I’ve never seen a better football player.”—Dutch Clark, Hall of Fame back, about Hubbard in 1932.

“There never was a better lineman than that big umpire.”—George Halas, Bears Hall of Fame end and coach, told Arthur Daley of the New York Times.

“The best lineman I ever saw was Cal Hubbard.”—Jimmy Conzelman, former NFL back and Hall of Fame coach.

“A giant of a man who could outrun any back in the league for 30 yards…Cal, with his combination of speed, weight, and timing, was a devasting blocker. On defense he made them run the other way.”—Steve Owen, former Giants tackle and head coach.
         
“The greatest tackle I ever played against or got clobbered by.”—Red Grange, former Bears Hall of Fame halfback.

“Probably the greatest tackle I ever played against was Cal Hubbard of the Packers. Hubbard was the left defensive tackle and he stopped everything.”—Mel Hein, former Giants Hall of Fame center-linebacker.

10)  Len Grant (1930-1937) The underrated Grant lands at number ten. The huge, 6-3, 235-pounder was a mainstay on the New York Giants line for 8 seasons (92 games) throughout the 1930’s, playing mainly left tackle. Strong like a bull, Grant could do everything very well on both sides of the ball…A former college boxer, Grant always showed toughness while playing the tackle position…Member of 1 NFL Championship team with Giants, 1934 (won Sneakers Game)…Started at left tackle in the first NFL Championship Game against the Bears in 1933…First-team All-Pro twice by the UPI (1931-1932) and once each by the New York Post (1931), Collyers (1932) and the Brooklyn Eagle (1933)…Second-team by the NFL and Green Bay Press-Gazette in 1933 and Collyers in 1931…Honorable mention by NFL in 1935-1936 and Collyers in 1930…a year after retiring from the NFL in 1938 tragedy struck Grant when he was hit by lightning while playing golf, he died at the age of 32.

14)  Steve Owen (1924-1931, 1933) “Stout” Steve played 9 years (97 games) in the NFL with three different franchises, but mostly with the Giants (1926-31, 1933)…won 1 NFL Championship with the Giants as a player, 1927- helping the defense allowed only twenty points all season and pitching ten shutouts in 13 league games (playing alongside Cal Hubbard and Al Nesser)…Commonly referred to as a “bull-dozer with a brain”…Had best years in 1929-1930 being named First-team All-Pro by Collyers (1929), Leroy Andrews (1929) and the NFL (1930)…Second-team in 1926 by the Green Bay Press-Gazette and honorable mention in 1929…Selected to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team…went on to coach the Giants for 24 years…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 (as a tackle-coach).

“No doubt he was the toughest man I ever knew. He was bigger than most of the players then, and he loved to mix it up. If you liked that kind of action, you just had to love watching Steve in action.”—Tim Mara, Giants Hall of Fame owner.

15)  Bill Owen (1926-1936) The younger brother of Hall of Famer Steve Owen (he’s one spot below), gets overlooked but was just as good a player as his more popular brother. Stocky, at 6-foot, 210-pounds, Bill bounced around the NFL in his first three seasons playing one year each with Kansas City, Cleveland and Detroit. But found a home with his brother with the Giants, playing 8 seasons at right tackle in New York… Played 11 total seasons (138 games)…Member of 1 NFL Championship team with Giants, 1934…Had his best years in 1930-1931, Named First-team All-Pro by Collyers (1930-31); Chicago Daily News (1930); Red Grange (1930) and Curly Lambeau (1931)…Second-team by UPI (1931) and the NFL (1931)…Honorable mention by the NFL in 1932-1933.

“Owen had a great year on the gridiron for Detroit. He was a 60-minute line man and wanted more. Built on powerful lines, Owen made good use of his strength and there wasn’t a line that was able to hold him out.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Owen, in naming him First-team All-Pro in 1928.

17)  Ed Widseth (1937-1940) Widseth replaced Grant-B. Owen when he arrived in New York in 1937 as a first-round draft pick (fourth overall). The 6-1, 223-pound Widseth played just 4 seasons (44 games) with the Giants, but was highly respected by opponents and his coach Steve Owen….Very strong at point of attack, used his strength to make plays in the backfield…Member of 1 NFL championship, 1938 Giants…Had best year that championship season by being Named First-team All-Pro by the NFL, UP, I.N.S., Collyers, Football Writers and New York Daily News- voted ahead of Kinard and Edwards…Second-team in 1937 by UPI, Collyers, and NYDN…Named Second-team by the NFL in 1937 and 1939 and honorable mention in 1940—also named H.M. by the AP in 1940

24)  Frank Cope (1938-1947) Built like a brick wall, the 6-2, 225-pounds Cope played 10 years with the New York Giants (98 games), mostly at left tackle…member of 1 NFL Championship team, 1938 Giants…First-team All-Pro in 1944 by UPI, Pro Football Illustrated, and I.N.S. and in 1945 by the AP…Second Team by I.N.S. in 1940; UPI in 1945; and by the New York Daily News in 1944-1945…Honorable mention by the NFL in 1942…Cope was a master at blocking kicks-punts.

25)  Bill Morgan (1933-1936) The powerfully built Morgan, at 6-2, 232-pounds, played just 4 seasons in the NFL, all with the New York Giants. Playing for Steve Owen, Morgan had a highly successful tenure on the line, playing in 48 games.  Playing on the same line as Hein, Del Isola, Grant and Gibson, the stout Morgan fit in quite well with the rotation of stars. The Giants went a combined 33-17-1 in his four seasons, won 3 division titles and won 1 NFL Championship in 1934 (winning the Sneakers Game)…His best years were in 1934 and 1935, Morgan was Named First-team All-Pro both seasons by the NFL, Chicago Daily News and the Green Bay Press-Gazette…in the NFL vote he beat Edwards and Lyman in 1934 and Edwards and George Christensen in 1935…in 1935 was also named First-team by UPI, Collyers, and the Boston Post…Honorable mention by the NFL in 1933 and 1936; and by the Brooklyn Eagle in 1933…played excellent in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, known as the Sneakers Game, afterward Bears fullback Bronko Nagurski was asked who played well for the Giants, he mentioned “Ken Strong and Bill Morgan, the big left tackle.”  Lou Little, Columbia head coach who attended the game said afterward “Morgan turned in the greatest tackle job I’ve ever seen. It’s a perfect example of what a one-man rampage can do to a great running attack”…retired after just 4 seasons, deciding to go back home to Oregon, where he was a successful salesman for United States Rubber Company.

“Morgan climaxed a great season by playing super-ball in the championship game against the Bears. Morgan is a lively customer on the defense and he seemed to have a super sense when it comes to solving plays.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette in naming Morgan First-team All-Pro in 1934.


“Bill Morgan again earned All-American recognition for his performance at tackle with New York. He was the slashing type of forward and generally spent a lot of time in the opponents’ backfield. Morgan started off at a fast clip and gained speed as the season went on. On offense, Coach Steve Owen used him as the ace hole maker and he seldom left anything standing up.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette the following year in 1935.

29)  John Mellus (1938-1941, 1946-1949) Compact at 6-0, 214-pounds, Mellus played 4 years with the New York Giants (41 games) before joining the service for WWII…he came back to play in the AAFC for San Francisco and Brooklyn….but his four years with the Giants gets him on the list…Member of the 1938 New York Giants that won the NFL Championship…although he didn’t start for the Giants in 1938 he made the Pro Bowl; making another one in 1941…First-team All-Pro in 1941 by Collyers and AP…Named Second-team in 1939 by Football Writers, I.N.S. and the New York Daily News; and by the NFL for two years, 1940-1941…Also named First-team by the Chicago Herald-Examiner in 1939 and Second-team in 1941…scored 1 career TD, returning a fumble 21-yards to help beat the Redskins, 21-7, in 1940 (a year that the Redskins only lost 2 games in the regular season)

30)  Dick Stahlman (1924-1925, 1927, 1931-1933) The 6-2, 219-pound Stahlman played 7 years in the NFL for 7 different teams. A nomad, Stahlman played in 69 games, mainly for the Giants (17 games) and Packers (27 games)…Member of 3 NFL Championship squads, Giants in 1927, Packers in 1931 and the Bears in 1933, but was never a true star but solid contributor…Had his best year in 1931 with the Packers, earning First-team All-Pro honors by Collyers and his head coach Curly Lambeau; while earning Second-team honors from the NFL…In 1925 with the Akron Pros, he earned Second-team team honors from the Green Bay Press-Gazette and honorable mention honors from the Ohio State Journal.

Here are three players who I wanted to get on the list but just couldn’t fit them—

Al Blozis (1942-1944) Gentle giant, Blozis stood 6-feet-6, 250-pounds. He played just 3 years with the Giants and only 23 games. But made an immediate and lasting impact. When on the field, truly dominated the line of scrimmage, both on offense and defense. In 1943, just his second season, was named First-team All-Pro by UPI, Pro Football Illustrated and AP…life was cut down when killed in France during World War II, he was just 26 years old…thought so highly of, he was named to the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team.

Century Milstead (1925-1928) The 6-1, 213-pound Milstead took the NFL by storm with the New York Giants in 1925, making First-team All-Pro as a guard, Collyers. Then in 1926 signed with the Philadelphia Quakers of the rival AFL, teaming with fellow tackle Bull Behman to help the Quakers to the title…after the league folded returned to the Giants to play just two more seasons (1927-1928), playing tackle. In 1927 was named First Team by the Chicago Tribune and Second-team by the Green Bay Press-Gazette and helped the Giants win the 1927 NFL Championship (on the line with Hubbard, Nesser, Stahlman and Owen).”

http://nflfootballjournal.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-nfls-top-pre-wwii-tackles.html

Giants Birthdays 7-18

Jerry Kimmel ILB D10-Syracuse 1986 NYG 1987 7-18-1963

Curtis Riley FS FA-TEN 2018 NYG 2018 7-18-1992

Dick Shiner QB TR-PIT 1970 NYG 1970 NYG Training Camp 1971 7-18-1942