Monday Reading

Giants

OLB

Falato BBV: Film study: Is Markus Golden worth top-tier pass rusher money?
https://www.bigblueview.com/2020/2/9/21121479/film-study-is-markus-golden-worth-top-tier-pass-rusher-money-ny-giants-nfl-free-agency

NFL

King FMIA: Patrick Mahomes Reflects on LIV Turnaround By Following Dad’s Advice: ‘It’s All About The Next Pitch’

“. I think my biggest issue with the Giants in 2020 is that if they’re anything less than a rising 7-9 or 8-8 team by season’s end, Mara is going to have to fire Gettleman. And that means hiring a new GM and forcing an arranged marriage between a neophyte head coach and whoever the GM is. If they’d made a clean sweep (as unfair as it might have been with the Giants’ usually patient front-office approach) and fired the coach and GM, then they’d have gone into 2020 with a fresh look on the coaching staff and the football ops side. Hiring a new GM in 11 months could make the franchise sputter in 2021 as well. Mara had better hope the defense shows signs of life this fall so Daniel Jones in a new offense doesn’t have to score in the thirties to win consistently.”

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/10/patrick-mahomes-super-bowl-liv-fmia-nfl-peter-king/

Davenport B/R: Ranking Every NFL Team by Its Trade Ammunition for 2020 Offseason

11. New York Giants

“The last three seasons have been rough for the New York Giants, who are 12-36 over that span. And now that Eli Manning has called it a career, the Giants are Daniel Jones' team.
Making the team better in short order is the only thing standing between Dave Gettleman and the unemployment line.
Trade-wise, that won't be easy. There aren't any appealing veterans on the roster, and the Giants may well wind up using the franchise tag on defensive lineman Leonard Williams after trading for the 2015 top-10 pick during the 2019 season.
That trade cost the Giants their third-rounder in 2020, but there will be added ammunition arriving via compensatory selections. Safety Landon Collins will get the Giants back that Round 3 pick, while sevreal seventh-round compensatory picks could give them as many as four picks in the final round.
New York's first pick has a great deal of value given that it is No. 4 overall. Since the Giants already have their quarterback of the future, it's not difficult to imagine scenarios in which Gettleman trades back and stockpiles picks.”

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2874942-ranking-every-nfl-team-by-its-trade-ammunition-for-2020-offseason.amp.html

Barnwell ESPN: My offseason dominoes piece is up, laying out scenarios for how the league could change if stars like Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, and Jadeveon Clowney head to one of three new teams this offseason. This is a cool interactive one!

“CHICAGO TRADES LEONARD FLOYD TO THE GIANTS FOR A SIXTH-ROUND PICK

To free up cap room, the Bears need to move on from their former first-round pick, who has $13.2 million in unguaranteed salary left on the final year of his rookie deal. A Giants team desperate for pass-rushing help sends a late-round pick to the Bears for Floyd, whose sack total has dropped each season since a seven-sack campaign in 2016.”

http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/28600904/predicting-2020-nfl-offseason-dominoes-eight-star-players-set-144-move-chaos

Linsey PFF: Deal or no deal: 2020 free agent edition

“NO DEAL: DI LEONARD WILLIAMS (5 YRS – $15M AVG/YR)
$43m guaranteed, $75m total
Similar to the argument for Clowney, Williams is a defensive lineman who has always added more as a run-stuffer than he has as a pass-rusher. Though he was a better pass-rusher in 2019 than his one sack would indicate, Williams still only recorded a pass-rushing grade of 66.2, and he has recorded a pass-rushing grade of over 70.0 only once in his career (2018, 71.4). If the primary thing that you're bringing to the table defensively is your ability to stop the run — something that Williams does do at a high level — then you're not going to be worth a $75 million contract with $43 million guaranteed. Add in the fact that the 2019 season saw him produce the lowest grade of his career at 70.6 overall, and I would be hesitant, as a general manager, to pay him something in this vicinity. “

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-deal-or-no-deal-2020-free-agent-edition

Sobleski B/R: 2020 NFL Free Agency: The 10 Best 25-and-Under Players in This Year's Class

8. DL Leonard Williams

“Five years ago, many considered getting Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick a steal for the New York Jets, but his career hasn't gone exactly as expected.
At the time, a legitimate argument could be made that Williams was the top non-quarterback prospect in his class, and certainly the best defender. Yet three position players, including another defender, heard their names called first.
The Jets even traded the player once viewed as a franchise building block to the New York Giants prior to the 2019 deadline.
The Giants valued Williams differently than the Jets and moved him all along their defensive front to capitalize on his skill set as something more than a run defender.
"It means a lot when they want you to be one of those guys to make the plays," Williams said, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan.
Despite the renewed confidence, Williams didn't produce to the level of his 2016 and '18 campaigns. He may never develop into the player he was once projected to be, but that potential keeps him among the most intriguing options in this year's free-agent class.”

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2875047-2020-nfl-free-agency-the-10-best-25-and-under-players-in-this-years-class.amp.html

Nick Falato (@nickfalato)
2/9/20, 11:54 AM
I don’t feel $15 million a year for a 26 year old 2 way defensive player is too unreasonable; especially with the cap always growing and the NYG cap situation. The folly of that trade is real, but LW still generates good interior pressure and is good against the run

Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM)
2/9/20, 11:57 AM
Reasonable justification! I’m interested to see if Graham plays out of the 4-3 a decent amount, which would only require two interior guys, in which Dexter and Tomlinson are more than fine. I just don’t wanna pay $15 MM for a rotational guy, we shall see tho!

BALTIMORE
Shaffer Baltimore Sun: The Ravens have one of the NFL’s top rosters. League rules could still force them to spend heavily this offseason
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-salary-cap-offseason-20200210-c3yvclkunrcuzdbscysurjmv3q-story.html

CAROLINA
Person The Athletic: Ten years after a tank job for the ages, the Panthers are likely in for some rebuilding pains again in 2020
https://theathletic.com/1593799/2020/02/10/ten-years-after-a-tank-job-for-the-ages-the-panthers-are-likely-in-for-some-rebuilding-pains-again-in-2020/?

DETROIT
Monarrez Detroit Free Press: We have reasons to believe Detroit Lions can make a turnaround in 2020
https://amp.freep.com/amp/4673699002

HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Texans' Jacob Martin wants to play every down
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/amp/Texans-Jacob-Martin-wants-to-play-every-down-15042557.php

KANSAS CITY
Fowler ESPN: Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy has a Super Bowl ring. Next step: NFL head-coaching job
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28647125/chiefs-eric-bieniemy-super-bowl-ring-next-step-nfl-head-coaching-job?[__

Handel News Press: Super Bowl win starts whirlwind offseason for South Fort Myers grad, Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins
https://amp.news-press.com/amp/4694061002

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Breer MMQB: Wade Phillips Reflects on His Rams Tenure... and Still Wants to Coach
Wade Phillips just finished up the most successful five-year run of his long career, but he once again finds himself without a job. He's enjoying time with his family but would love to get back to an NFL sideline.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/02/06/wade-phillips-los-angeles-rams-reflects-wants-job

NEW ORLEANS
Triplett ESPN NO: Will Saints finally find a WR sidekick for Michael Thomas?
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-orleans-saints/post/_/id/32838/will-saints-finally-find-a-wr-sidekick-for-michael-thomas?

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: Seahawks position overview: Seattle’s linebacking corps appears pretty set heading into offseason
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-position-overview-seattles-linebacking-corps-appears-pretty-set-heading-into-offseason/?

WASHINGTON
WUSA9 TV: XFL TICKET PRICES IN WASHINGTON WERE HIGHER THAN SOME REDSKINS TICKETS LAST SEASON
https://www.wusa9.com/amp/article/sports/xfl-ticket-prices-are-higher-than-some-redskins-tickets/65-0f2cea61-ce87-4f24-a5c8-682e9437cf59


XFL

NFL.com: St. Louis edges Dallas; Guardians stifle Vipers
https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001101566/article/battlehawks-defeat-renegades-guardians-stifle-vipers?

Olson Saturday Down South: Former Florida DB Will Hill makes game-clinching INT for XFL team
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/florida-football/former-florida-db-will-hill-makes-game-clinching-int-for-xfl-team/amp/

McDonald NYDN: New York Guardians win inaugural XFL game against Tampa Bay Vipers
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/ny-xfl-guardians-vipers-20200210-r6pgihyahrakzomxezs5cez4aa-story.html

Dunleavy NYP: Guardians’ debut shows why this XFL has a chance
https://nypost.com/2020/02/09/guardians-debut-shows-why-this-xfl-has-a-chance/

Colleges/Draft

Reid The Draft Network: REID'S 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT 5.0

Giants

“4 Giants Jedrick Wills OT, Alabama The New York Giants are scheduled to make their third top-10 pick in as many seasons and faced with making another high-caliber decision. A strong case could be made that the Giants could elect to make a defensive selection here, but in the end, the mission of this offseason should be to protect their previous first-round investment in Daniel Jones. Jedrick Wills’ strength, power and dominating demeanor fits the “hog molly” mantra that general manager Dave Gettleman has drafted in years past.”

36 Giants Zack Baun EDGE, Wisconsin”

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/reid-s-2020-nfl-mock-draft-5.0

QB
Fletcher The Undefeated: Black quarterbacks in the NFL are changing the dreams of middle-school boys
https://theundefeated.com/features/black-quarterbacks-in-the-nfl-are-changing-the-dreams-of-middle-school-boys/

RB
Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41)
2/7/20, 3:09 PM
LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (5-foot-8, 209)

• Dynamic footwork + lateral quicks
• Initial burst shows up on tape
• Finds daylight in zone schemes
• Seeks contact at 2nd/3rd level
• Ability to flex into the slot

Pro comp — #Ravens RB Mark Ingram

Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks)
2/9/20, 8:47 PM
I love Arizona RB (21) JJ Taylor. He’s listed at 5’6 185 LBs. He plays angry. I’d want him on my team & you can find a role for him on special teams too. So fun to watch.

T
Pflum BBV: 2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2020/2/9/21130179/2020-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-lucas-niang-ot-tcu-scouting-report-ny-giants

DE
Hansen South Bend Tribune: Former Notre Dame DE Julian Okwara almost ready to put best foot forward for the NFL
https://www.ndinsider.com/football/former-notre-dame-de-julian-okwara-almost-ready-to-put/article_b97f396c-1862-5a7b-9995-397e36087d2b.html

LB

Q. How would you compare Isaiah Simmons to the two Devins from last years Draft?

Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout)
2/9/20, 12:33 PM
I don't see Isaiah Simmons playing linebacker like Devin Bush or Devin White. He's not a stack guy. Talked with Matt Bowen 41 about this.

He's more of a supersized Derwin James.

Baird Cleveland Plain Dealer: When will Ohio State football’s Malik Harrison be taken in NFL Draft 2020?
https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2020/02/when-will-ohio-state-footballs-malik-harrison-be-taken-in-nfl-draft-2020.html

S
Crabbs The Draft Network: I'm a huge fan of the versatility Antoine Winfield Jr brings to the gridiron. He's (to me) a top-50 talent in the 2020
https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/antoine-winfield-jr/xPHI46MyyH

History

Felser Buffalo News: Jan Stenerud's journey to NFL immortality started in Buffalo – with a lift from Larry Felser

“Defensive end Mack Yoho was the Bills’ kicker in those 1963 preseason games. That’s how it often worked then, when quarterbacks and linebackers moonlighted as placekickers and punters.
All that began to change in 1964, when the Bills introduced Pete Gogolak as pro football’s first soccer-style kicker. Gogolak’s success changed pro football history — and Stenerud’s life.
He was running the stadium steps at Montana State in 1964 when he noticed the football team’s injured placekicker (who doubled as a defensive back) on the field. Stenerud joined him and kicked a few field goals just for fun. He even asked if kicking with the side of his foot would be legal, as he didn’t yet know about Gogolak’s pioneering exploits in Buffalo.
Montana State’s basketball coach happened to see Stenerud booting the ball great distances and told the football coach, Jim Sweeney, that he had to give this Norwegian undergrad a look.

“So the next day I was running the stadium steps again,” Stenerud says, “and Sweeney calls out, ‘Hey, skier, get your butt down here!’ And that’s how it all started.”
Stenerud became the Bobcats’ kicker in 1965. That season he hit a 59-yard field goal in a win against archrival Montana, then boomed the ensuing kickoff over the end-zone bleachers – Paul Bunyan feats in cleats.
“It took like a week for them to know that 59 yards was the longest kick in college and pro football history up until then,” Stenerud says. “It wasn’t instant to know that, like it is now.”
It got to the point that when the Bobcats reached the 50-yard line, students would chant: “Put Jan in! Put Jan in!” The Sporting News named him to its All-America team in 1966 – and who else has been All-America in both football and ski jumping?”

https://buffalonews.com/2020/02/10/jan-steneruds-journey-to-nfl-immortality-started-in-buffalo-with-a-lift-from-larry-felser/

Giants Birthdays 2-10

Terrence Frederick CB W-PIT 2012 NYG 2012 2-10-1990

Sterling Shepard WR D2-Oklahoma 2016 NYG 2016-2019 2-10-1993

Giants.com: Film Room: Breaking Down Sterling Shepard's 2019 Season | Inside the Film Room (Video)
https://youtu.be/G_L90FeN8iQ

In Memoriam

Allie Sherman AC RB 1949-1952 Scout 1947-1958 OC 1959-1960 HC 1961-1968 Born 2-10-1923 Died 1-03-2015

NYT: “Alex Sherman was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 10, 1923, the son of Jewish immigrants from Russia. When he went out for the football team at Boys High School, he weighed only 120 pounds. The coach suggested he try handball instead, and so he became the school’s No. 2 handball player.
But by 1939 he was playing tailback in the single wing at Brooklyn College as a 16-year-old freshman. In the summer before his junior year, his coach, Lou Oshins, decided to switch to the T-formation. Oshins sent Sherman the book “The Modern T Formation With Man in Motion,” written by the Chicago Bears coach George Halas, with Clark Shaughnessy and Ralph Jones, all of whom had worked to revive the T after it had long fallen into disuse. Another Brooklyn-born quarterback, the Bears’ Sid Luckman, had thrived with it. Sherman read the book and became the Kingsmen’s quarterback in his final two collegiate seasons.
After graduating cum laude with a major in psychology, Sherman was signed by the Eagles’ coach, Greasy Neale, who wanted him to help install a T-formation.

“Never have I seen a player with a greater understanding of the game,” Neale, who kept Sherman as a second-string quarterback from 1943 to 1947, once said. “He was so dedicated he insisted on rooming with a lineman. He wanted to absorb the way a lineman thought. We’d look at films for hours, and when I’d had enough, he’d take the movies to his room and watch them for the rest of the night.”
Sherman was hired by the Giants’ coach, Steve Owen, in 1949 to convert Conerly, a former tailback at Mississippi, to the T-formation.
After serving as the Giants’ backfield coach and then head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Canada, Sherman was named the Giants’ offensive coach in 1959, replacing Vince Lombardi, who had become the Packers’ coach and general manager. When Jim Lee Howell retired as the Giants’ head coach after the 1960 season, Sherman succeeded him.
Sherman inherited an aging team that was not considered a contender, and he was the Giants’ second choice for the job; he was hired only after the owner, Wellington Mara, could not pry Lombardi from the Packers. But Sherman was an instant success as the Giants bolstered their offense with trades bringing in Tittle, Shofner and tight end Joe Walton.

Sherman’s teams lost only eight regular-season games on the way to Eastern Conference titles from 1961 to 1963. Sherman was voted the N.F.L. coach of the year in his first two seasons in balloting by sportswriters and broadcasters.
But the Giants plunged to a 2-10-2 record in 1964. The fans at Yankee Stadium, who had been chanting “Dee-fense, Dee-fense,” began to sing “Goodbye Allie” to protest the trade of Huff, a hugely popular middle linebacker, and the outstanding defensive tackle Dick Modzelewski before the season.
Sherman would never again have a winning team, and in January 1969, the New York Jets took over the local spotlight long enjoyed by the Giants when Joe Namath engineered their stunning upset of the Baltimore Colts in the Super Bowl. In August of that year, the Jets whipped the Giants, 37-14, in an exhibition game, the first meeting between the teams, and the Giants went on to lose all five preseason games that summer. A week before the 1969 regular season began, Sherman was fired and replaced by Webster, the former star running back who had been one of his assistant coaches.
Sherman left with a career record of 57-51-4 and five years remaining on his 10-year contract. He never again coached football, but he was part of a group that made an unsuccessful bid to buy the Jets in 1970. He became an executive with Warner Communications, oversaw marketing for Warner’s New York Cosmos soccer team, worked as a pro football studio analyst for ESPN and served as president of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation from 1994 to 1997.

Sherman delighted in telling a story not about his coaching success, but about a rare moment of triumph as a pro quarterback. In his very first play as an Eagle (the team had actually merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers for that season, and the squad, mostly made up of Philadelphia players, was known as the Steagles), in October 1943, he ran for a touchdown against the Giants in Philadelphia. After the game, when he was boarding a train to return to his Brooklyn home, he spotted the Giants’ coach, Owen, with some of his top players, including Mel Hein and Ward Cuff.
As Sherman recalled it, Owen told his men, “You guys were so lousy that you even let that little squirt from Brooklyn score on you.”
“I smiled,” Sherman remembered, “and walked to my train.”