Wednesday Reading

Giants

Slater NJ.com: Does NFL’s new playoff format in 2020 turn up the heat on Giants’ Dave Gettleman, Jets’ Adam Gase?
https://www.nj.com/jets/2020/04/does-nfls-new-playoff-format-in-2020-turn-up-the-heat-on-giants-dave-gettleman-jets-adam-gase.html

Rosenblatt NJ.com: NFL rumors: Why Giants have more cap space than expected, and what they should do with it | Re-sign Markus Golden?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/04/nfl-rumors-why-giants-have-more-cap-space-than-expected-and-what-they-should-do-with-it-re-sign-markus-golden.html

RV SNY: The scenarios that land Yannick Ngakoue on Giants or Jets via trade
https://www.sny.tv/giants/news/the-scenarios-that-land-yannick-ngakoue-on-giants-or-jets-via-trade/313180700

Schwartz NYP: Giants NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Isaiah Simmons is just start of defensive boost
https://nypost.com/2020/03/31/giants-nfl-mock-draft-isaiah-simmons-is-start-of-defensive-boost/amp/

QB

Schwartz NYP: NFL Draft 2020: Giants won’t be looking for a quarterback
https://nypost.com/2020/04/01/nfl-draft-2020-giants-wont-be-looking-for-a-quarterback/

ST

Eisen Giants.com: Nate Ebner: The most interesting player in the NFL
https://www.giants.com/news/nate-ebner-olympics-rugby-free-agency-patriots-nfl-super-bowl

Schwartz NYP: Giants’ Joe Judge will lean heavily on Patriots transplant Nate Ebner
https://nypost.com/2020/03/31/giants-joe-judge-will-lean-on-patriots-transplant-nate-ebner/

Lombardo NJ.com: Few players have played under Joe Judge longer than newest Giants special-teamer | Why he thinks Judge will succeed
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/04/few-players-have-played-under-joe-judge-longer-than-newest-giants-special-teamer-why-he-thinks-judge-will-succeed.html

Traina SI.com: Giants' Nate Ebner's Heart Breaks for Fellow Olympians Whose Dreams are on Hold Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/news/giants-nate-ebners-heart-breaks-for-fellow-olympians-whose-dreams-are-on-hold-due-to-covid-19-pandemic

NFL

ATLANTA
Ledbetter AJC: Justin McCray’s bizarre NFL odyssey heads to Atlanta  
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/mccray-bizarre-nfl-odyssey-heads-atlanta/Df6Zp7rGQCgdKjqaR0REJK/amp.html

Ledbetter AJC: Falcons lose Clayborn to Browns, Crawford to Titans
https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-lose-clayborn-browns-crawford-titans/dAkrODpzKQyBakYIjgiQKL/

BALTIMORE
Shaffer Baltimore Sun: The Ravens don’t know when the 2020 season will start, either: ‘We’re not sure what’s going to happen
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-coronavirus-season-20200331-ftdx5qvdsfgbxedh3lwglpkk6e-story.html

BUFFALO
Maiorana Rochester Democrat: Isaiah McKenzie on 2020 NFL season season: With Tom Brady gone, 'it’ll be the Bills' time to take over'
https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/5098851002

CHICAGO
Biggs Chicago Tribune: Bears Q& A: Are you sure Nick Foles is the new starting QB? Did you forget an offensive lineman in your mock draft? What’s the latest on an Allen Robinson extension? Plus lots of draft scenarios.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-cb-chicago-bears-mailbag-brad-biggs-20200401-kvyzbnfc7jb2deygrnt2d54pqi-story.html

CINCINNATI
Baby ESPN Cincinnati: Bengals cut former first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28975907/bengals-cut-former-first-round-pick-dre-kirkpatrick?

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Browns’ chances of making 2020 playoffs increase with NFL owners approving expansion from 12 to 14 teams
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/03/browns-chances-of-making-the-2020-playoffs-increase-with-nfl-owners-approving-expansion-from-12-to-14-teams.html

Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Browns and DE Adrian Clayborn agree on 2-year deal worth $5.75 million, former 1st round pick
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/03/browns-and-de-adrian-clayborn-agree-on-2-year-deal-worth-6-million-former-1st-round-pick.html

DALLAS
Machota The Athletic: This new playoff format would not have impacted the Cowboys over the last 29 years. The 1990 season is the last time the Cowboys finished with the 7th-best record in the NFC

DENVER
O’Halloran Denver Post: While adjusting to new normal, Broncos GM John Elway, coach Vic Fangio discuss new additions to roster
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/31/john-elway-vic-fangio-broncos-offseason-acquisitions/

Kiszla Denver Post: Why, like 98 percent of NFL players, Phillip Lindsay is likely headed for unhappy ending with Bronco
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/31/phillip-lindsay-broncos-unhappy-ending-kiszla/amp/

DETROIT
Monarrez Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions had better be on guard: New teammate Chase Daniel is an epic prankster
https://amp.freep.com/amp/5099601002

GREEN BAY
Demovsky ESPN GB: Reminders abound of how it might end for Aaron Rodgers with Packers
https://www.espn.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/48803/reminders-abound-of-how-it-might-end-for-aaron-rodgers-with-packers?

Wood Mil JS: Justin Jefferson's strengths align well with Packers' weaknesses
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/04/01/justin-jeffersons-strengths-align-well-green-bay-packers-weaknesses/2928142001/

HOUSTON
McClain Houston Chronicle: Expanded playoffs make it easier for Texans
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/john-mcclain/amp/McClain-Expanded-playoffs-make-it-easier-for-15170048.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Erickson Indianapolis Star: Why Frank Reich believes Philip Rivers is 'elite' despite interceptions, age, lack of mobility
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2020/03/31/why-colts-frank-reich-believes-philip-rivers-elite-despite-flaws/5099737002/

Ayello Indianapolis Star: On the Colts quasi-breakup with Jacoby Brissett and the awkwardness that awaits
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/5099967002

JACKSONVILLE
Frenette Florida Times Union: Marrone, on vision for #Jaguars: "We want to be a big, strong, tough football team. We don't want a lot of drama." Hmmm, wonder what he meant by that?

LAS VEGAS
Yates ESPN: The Raiders converted $11.6M of C Rodney Hudson's base salary into a fully guaranteed roster bonus, while adding two void years to his deal, creating $9.28M in cap space for 2020. Some extra space for the Raiders during a busy free agency period and with two first round picks.

MIAMI
Hyde Sun Sentinel: Adam Schefter reports what Steve Ross said months ago on Tua (was no one listening?)
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/dave-hyde/fl-sp-hyde5-schefter-herbert-20200401-gk6n536lt5dk5m26ab3ji6f2tq-story.html

MINNESOTA
Tomasson Twincities.com: Vikings discussing possible long-term extension for safety Anthony Harris
https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/31/vikings-discussing-possible-long-term-extension-for-safety-anthony-harris/amp/

NEW ENGLAND
Reiss ESPN Boston: Bill Belichick's 1991 scouting notes still apply today

“Fast-forward to today and many of the words still have relevance, as Jeremiah indicates.
Consider tight end -- still one of the Patriots' top needs a year after Rob Gronkowski's retirement -- and what would be the ideal prospect. "Don't let the lack of blocking ability eliminate a good player," Belichick writes and underlines, while defining how the top option "needs to be a catcher."
"Good measure of TE is also what he does with the ball after the catch," he adds.
Then there is what Belichick wrote about quarterbacks, which provides a glimpse at what he will be considering as the Patriots look to fill the void in a post-Tom Brady world.
"#1 is to make good decisions -- then arm, size, physically tough, leadership, guys look up to and have confidence in, a real competitor," Belichick writes. "Accurate rather than guy with a cannon. Emphasis on our game will be on decision, timing, accuracy -- guy needs to be confident, intelligence is important but not as much so as field awareness & judgment. Can't be sloppy fundamentally unsound guy with ball handling, [techniques] etc."
While the game itself has changed over the decades, Belichick rated the following four areas as the key for any successful offense:
1. Run ball
2. Pick up blitz
3. Pick up 3rd downs
4. Score
From an overall offensive approach, it has always been an inside-out plan.
"Make defense defend the middle of the field first by running and throwing inside -- work from the inside out in terms of blocking and protection -- when defense commits more players inside then we can attack outside (run & pass)," Belichick writes.
Nearly 30 years later, his mindset doesn't seem to have changed.”

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4819681/bill-belichicks-old-1991-scouting-notes-still-apply-today

Callahan Boston Herald: Patriots C David Andrews ‘ready to get back’ after season lost to blood clots
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/03/31/patriots-c-david-andrews-ready-to-get-back-after-season-lost-to-blood-clots/

NEW ORLEANS
Underhill New Orleans Football: Sheldon Rankins should be ready for camp after preemptive Achilles surgery
https://neworleans.football/source-sheldon-rankins-should-be-ready-for-camp-after-preemptive-achilles-surgery/

NEW YORK JETS
Mehta NYDN: Joe Douglas can turn the Jets into a winner … without internal interference
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/ny-joe-douglas-jets-20200401-oldzu764pndabdbo6rqmgdqqri-story.html

Cimini ESPN NY: Kyle Allen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen benefit from joint workouts
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28978391/kyle-allen-sam-darnold-josh-allen-benefit-joint-workouts

Costello NYP: David Fales returns to compete for Jets’ backup job
https://nypost.com/2020/03/31/david-fales-returns-to-compete-for-jets-backup-job/

PHILADELPHIA
Domowitch Phil Inquirer: Eagles’ first-round pick will be a no-brainer for Howie Roseman
https://www.inquirer.com/newsletters/eagles/philadelphia-eagles-nfl-draft-first-round-pick-howie-roseman-justin-jefferson-lsu-receiver-newsletter-20200401.html

PITTSBURGH
Klinger Penn Live: Projecting the Steelers’ offensive depth chart from free agency: With Eric Ebron, Derek Watt and Stefen Wisniewski all in the mix
https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/2020/03/projecting-the-steelers-offensive-depth-chart-from-free-agency-with-eric-ebron-derek-watt-and-stefen-wisniewski-all-in-the-mix.html

SAN FRANCISCO
Branch SF Chronicle: 49ers mailbag: Could rookies start? Corner a priority? Big jump for Jimmy?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-mailbag-Could-rookies-start-Corner-a-15169696.php

Johnson NBC Bay Area: NFL rumors: 49ers reached out to free-agent tight end Jordan Reed's agent
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/nfl-rumors-49ers-reached-out-free-agent-tight-end-jordan-reeds-agent

SEATTLE
Bell News Tribune: The Jadeveon Clowney Watch, the coronavirus and potential domino effects on Seahawks draft
https://amp.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/article241627151.html

Henderson ESPN Seattle: Seahawks part with S Tedric Thompson, TE Ed Dickson
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28977700/sources-seahawks-releasing-tedric-thompson-ed-dickson?

Tomasson Twincities.com: Source close to former #Vikings DE Everson Griffen says he definitely has interest in signing with Seattle Seahawks and they could be interested in him if they don't re-sign DE Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney remains domino that likely needs to fall before Griffen signs with any team.

WASHINGTON
Svrluga Washington Post: Whatever the Redskins do with pick No. 2 — Tua, trade, Chase Young — it’ll reflect on the new coach’s opinion of the incumbent QB. So much rides on getting that decision right.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/01/ron-riveras-tenure-with-redskins-will-be-shaped-largely-by-his-first-draft-pick/

Fortier Washington Post: Kyle Allen didn’t expect to be with Redskins. Now he’s working to win their starting job.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/31/kyle-allen-didnt-expect-be-with-redskins-now-hes-working-win-their-starting-job/#click=https://t.co/Yn8rSXEY8c

Colleges/Draft

Monson PFF: Time for another thread - this time Coverage vs Pass rush.

1. Let's start with in this scenario Miami traded up to 2, so the Lions have a straight pick between Chase Young and Jeffery Okudah

2. I think Chase Young is likely a better player right now than Okudah, but the question comes down to value.

It might seem counterintuitive, but all data points to coverage being more valuable, and important in today's NFL, than pass rush.

3. Here's the first article PFF's Data Scientists did on the topic. There are 3 and counting. Google 'PFF coverage over pass rush and they all pop up'

https://www.pff.com/news/pro-pff-data-study-coverage-vs-pass-rush

4. ELITE pass rushers END 15 passing plays/year outright. There's another 50 they affect with pressure, but those need coverage on the back end to prevent passes getting through.

Then there's 500 more passes that get away and need coverage to deal with.

5. The relationship is clearly symbiotic. Pressure causes a 35-point drop in QB passer rating.

Coverage can buy pass rush time to get home. Like QB-WR, they both make each other better.

You want both, the question is one of allocation of finite resources. Here, 1 draft pick

6. Anecdotally, smart teams are starting to skew towards coverage over pass rush.

The Patriots invested in Revis as a mercenary, paid big money to Gilmore, forever retain McCourty, while letting a succession of DL walk out the door.

Ravens have attacked secondary HARD recently

7. You can make a case that the Seahawks and Broncos awesome defenses of the decade were built on coverage first. Legion of Boom and No Fly Zone.

They both had pass rush too, but they didn't get a fancy nickname...

8. In terms of PFF WAR, coverage players are more valuable than pass rushers, they impact a greater number of plays overall because of #4.

So even if you believe Young is better (I'd agree), Okudah pays off bigger if he hits.

The debate is how much is certainty worth?

9. Anybody acting like it's a slam dunk either way is crazy. I think there's value to 1) the level Young is better than Okudah and 2) the confidence we have in that being true.

But we also all need to recognize it's not a certainty. ELITE prospects have busted plenty before.

10. But ultimately all of the information is pointing to the fact that in a passing league, where the ball has never been coming out faster, pass rushers are becoming less impactful than elite coverage defenders, so Okudah's potential payoff makes him worth the extra uncertainty.

11. We also need to stop throwing out terms like 'generational talent' without context.

Quinton Nelson was a legit generational talent, but he's a guard, so we all know you pass on him for a QB, CB, elite position. There are more factors at play. Evaluate them all.

Fin.

Oh, P.S. This is all also kinda in a vacuum. There's more arguing to be done when it comes to depth at either position and the availability of talent in the pool etc.

Walter Football: Latest 2020 NFL Mock Draft

4 NYG Tristan Wirfs T Iowa
“The Giants' defense is an abomination, and they also need help on the offensive line so that Daniel Jones doesn't keep fumbling twice every week. A No. 1 receiver can be obtained as well. I've had Jerry Jeudy slotted here for a while, but the more I think about it, the more I believe general manager Dave Gettleman will address the offensive line.

Despite Mekhi Becton's freaky 40 time, Tristan Wirfs was the best offensive lineman at the combine. He also posted stellar testing numbers, and he was superb in the drills. I could see Gettleman falling in love with the prospect of Wirfs' anchoring his offensive line.”

https://walterfootball.com/draft2020.php

Schneier CBS Sports: 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins trade up for Tua Tagovailoa, Patrick Queen lands in the top 10

4 NYG Isiah Simmons LB Clemson

“If Detroit stayed at No. 3 and took Okudah, I really do feel like GM Dave Gettleman would've traded back for the first time in his career. Instead, the Giants take the highest-graded player on their board. While offensive tackle is arguably their greatest need, they can also use a defender to match up against tight ends/big slot receivers on key third downs, blitz (both off the edge and through the A gap), and one who can play the deep-half (as a safety) in coverage. Simmons can do all of those things. You can't just take an OT just to take one and Gettleman has never used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman.”

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-dolphins-trade-up-for-tua-tagovailoa-patrick-queen-lands-in-the-top-10/

QB
Klassen Rotoworld: QUANTIFYING QUARTERBACKS: ENCOURAGING DATA
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/qb-klassroom/quantifying-quarterbacks-encouraging-data

WR
MG NFL.com: K.J. Hamler turns to tech in scouting shutdown
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001107956/article/2020-nfl-draft-kj-hamler-turns-to-tech-in-scouting-shutdown

T
Cimini ESPN NY: Iowa's Tristan Wirfs ready to create 'holy crap' moments in NFL

“Mount Vernon, Iowa (pop: 4,435), sits on a paha, a long, narrow hill that stretches for a mile and rises about 100 feet above the surrounding landscape. Known for sidewalk festivals and quaint coffee shops, Mount Vernon once was named one of the "coolest" small towns in America by a travel magazine. It has also been called "one hill of a town."

In it resides one mountain of a man.
Long before he blew up the NFL scouting combine in February with feats of uncommon speed and jumping ability for a 6-foot-5, 320-pound human, and before he became one of the best offensive linemen in the long history of University of Iowa greats, Tristan Wirfs was a larger-than-life kid in his bucolic hometown.
So many stories.
Wirfs led Mount Vernon High to the state football semifinals in 2016, then dropped nearly 40 pounds for wrestling season and captured the Class 2A state heavyweight title at 285.
He threw the discus so far in track and field practice that it cleared a tall fence and landed in the middle of an occupied tennis court. "Kind of a holy crap type of moment," track coach Ryan Whitman told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Wirfs, who altered his practice schedule for the safety of the tennis team, became the fourth boy in state history to win the discus and shot put titles in consecutive years.
He dabbled in baseball for a couple of years, batting .400 with tape-measure home runs and throwing 80 mph fastballs. He started riding a bike when he was 3, won swimming medals at 5 and learned how to ice skate when he was 7.
On the lighter side, he entertained folks at the local pool with flips off the high board and, in the ultimate pool moment, he jumped out of the shallow end and onto the pool deck in a single bound. Nailed it on the second try. That happened in college and made him a social media sensation.
Spring, summer, fall or winter, Wirfs always competed in sports as a youngster. He was bigger, faster, stronger and just plain better than everyone, elevating himself to favorite-son status in Mount Vernon. He went from big fish in a small pond to the Big Ten Conference, and soon he will be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, perhaps even a top-10 choice. ESPN analyst Todd McShay projects Wirfs to be drafted No. 8 by the Arizona Cardinals.
He grew up in a town that emphasized the concept of "team" and multiple-sport participation, and yet there was something else that drove him. At the time, he didn't know what it was.
"As I got older," he said, "I figured it out."

Wirfs was smitten with football at a young age. In Mrs. Kohl's kindergarten class, the kids were given a "Very Important Person" project, which required them to list interesting things about themselves on a poster.
No. 8 on his list: "Tristan wants to be a football player."
His favorite food (pizza) and favorite restaurant (Hardee's) were higher on the list than football -- a growing 5-year-old knows his priorities -- but the sport was on his mind even before he started playing organized ball. By his senior year at Mount Vernon, he had grown to his current height and weight.
He was on his way.
Wirfs received a three-year master class in offensive line play at Iowa, which has produced 17 draft picks at the position since coach Kirk Ferentz took over in 1999. The group includes Washington's Brandon Scherff, the L.A. Chargers' Bryan Bulaga, and Marshal Yanda, who recently retired after a brilliant career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Yanda's Pro Bowl jersey hangs in Iowa's offensive line room, with photos of other Hawkeyes greats adorning the wall.
"You definitely feel the tradition," Wirfs told ESPN. "I don't know about pressure, but there's a want to continue on that legacy. You want to be great."
Iowa's unofficial football motto is "Leave the jersey in a better place," and Wirfs certainly left his mark. He was the first freshman offensive lineman to start under Ferentz, and -- the bigger headline -- he beat Scherff's legendary school record in the hang clean lift.
He did four reps at 450 pounds, one better than Scherff, the current Washington Redskins standout. It resulted in bedlam in the weight room and a viral video on social media. To quote his old track coach, it was a "holy crap" kind of moment.
Wirfs seems capable of anything at any time. He can walk on his hands, with his size-17 feet pointing to the sky. That always amazed his coaches and teammates at Iowa. Offensive line coach Tim Polasek was reviewing practice tape one time when, in the corner of the screen, he saw Wirfs, on the sideline, make a spectacular one-handed catch on an overthrown pass.
"[He's] freakishly explosive with a tremendous ability to bang and move," Polasek said. "On top of that, he has world-class strength.
"Some of the stuff big guys struggle with" -- Polasek paused to laugh -- "are easy for him."
Wirfs delivered more freakish moments at the scouting combine, solidifying his status as one of the top offensive tackles in the draft. He did 36.5 inches in the vertical jump, better than many skill-position players, and he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds -- the fastest time by a 320-pound-plus player since at least 2006.

"It was one of the best combines you will ever see from an offensive lineman," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said. "[As a blocker], he's not a finisher yet -- but he's technically sound and he's really good in a zone blocking scheme, and he's good in pass pro as well."
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Wirfs has "a chance to be an All-Pro guard. ... He can play tackle in the NFL, but he can be an elite guard."
If there's a knock on Wirfs, it's that he's shy on killer instinct. In college, his coaches reminded him of the importance of finishing blocks. He said the biggest criticism he hears from pro scouts is that he's not mean enough. Bemused by that perception, he noted he once had 14 knockdowns in a game against Nebraska.
"I'll knock 'em down, I'll help 'em up and I'll try to do it again," he said.
Wirfs hasn't failed at anything in life -- well, except for that time he gave up the clarinet after a couple of weeks in elementary school. He has generated little controversy in his career, the lone blemish occurring the summer before his sophomore season.

He was suspended for Iowa's 2018 opener because he was arrested and charged with operating a motor scooter while intoxicated.
"I was kind of feeling invincible, and nobody is invincible," Wirfs said. "It was a stupid mistake. I took my moped to the bar and picked my buddies up. I had been drinking. You stand out with three guys on a moped a little bit. It was bound to happen. I'm glad it did, because it was a big reality check."
It was out of character for Wirfs, who is known for his friendly, easygoing demeanor. His high school coach, Lance Pedersen, said Tristan is so affable that it's not in his nature to simply do a quick drive-by wave. If he's passing in his car, he will stop and chat, as he did recently for 30 minutes.
"Not only does he have amazing God-given ability," Pedersen said, "but he's the most humble person you will meet."
He was always that person.
Wirfs, who lived with his mother, grandmother and sister in Mount Vernon's Colonial Estates trailer park until he was 5, loved to visit the adjacent trailers to chat with the senior citizens. He helped them with their yard work and entertained them with his gift of gab.
"It was pretty comical," said Sarah Wirfs, Tristan's mother. "That, more than likely, is why he can talk to anyone -- and he will talk to everyone. He loves talking and being social."
The Wirfs lived in a standard-sized trailer that included two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room. It was in the trailer where one of his earliest and most profound memories occurred.
He remembers getting up in the middle of the night, sitting in a rocking chair and waiting for his mother to leave for her 4 a.m.-to-noon shift at the local Target store. It's so vivid he can recall what he was watching on TV -- a cartoon called "JoJo's Circus."
"I can't remember how old I was, probably 3 or 4," he said. "I don't know, I just have that memory tucked away in there."
It's tucked in there with the time he saw his mother crying on the phone with her sister, upset because the bills were mounting and she wasn't sure how she would pay them and have enough money to spring for Tristan's sports equipment and league fees.
Sarah Wirfs raised two kids with the help of her mother -- Tristan's father never was in the picture -- and she worked long hours to support them. She always told them they would have everything they need but not everything they want.
Tristan noticed the struggles, but he was too young to comprehend his mother's plight. Eventually, he did. That's when he figured it out, when he started to compete with a greater purpose.
"Why would I make [her sacrifices] go to waste?" he said. "It kind of motivates me. I'm like, 'I'm going to do the best I can in every sport just to make it worth it.'
"She's definitely been a big part of motivation for me. I love her more than she knows, and hopefully, I get to pay that back to her someday. That would mean a lot."

They left the trailer park when Tristan was 5, moving into a house with a spacious backyard. "The best thing ever," said Sarah, who has provided stability for her family.
She got a job at Target when she was 16, and she's still there, 28 years later. Now she's a local celebrity, as the anticipation in Mount Vernon builds toward the April 23-25 draft. Tristan is the most famous athlete in the town's history.
In 2010, an undrafted defensive lineman named Matt Kroul, who also attended the University of Iowa, played six games for the New York Jets. Kroul returned to the area and lives on a farm on the outskirts of Mount Vernon.
"It's definitely a place you'd want to visit sometime," Wirfs said of his hometown. "It's probably one of the friendliest places you will find. It's not a selfish town. Everybody is looking out for everybody. It's kind of like a big team."
A team led by Mount Tristan.”

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28962362/iowa-tristan-wirfs-ready-create-holy-crap-moments-nfl


Bremer The Herald Bulletin: Draft Preview: Jackson's sacrifice fuels NFL hopes
https://www.tribstar.com/indiana/sports/draft-preview-jacksons-sacrifice-fuels-nfl-hopes/article_30cfe504-e5ab-584c-9f7a-78514a78ec1c.html

Edge
Edholm Yahoo Sports: 34. Wisconsin LB Zack Baun 6-foot-2, 238 pounds 
Yahoo Sports draft grade: 5.98
TL;DR scouting report: “Late-developing pass rusher with fascinating upside and versatility.

The skinny: Upgraded to a 3-star Rivals recruit, Baun had two offers coming out of high school — Wisconsin and South Dakota State. He committed to the Badgers, initially as a grey-shirt signee under former coach Gary Andersen. When Andersen left, new coach Paul Chryst upgraded Baun’s grey-shirt offer to a full ride.
The high school QB switched over to defense after Chryst showed him how impactful former Badgers LB Joe Schobert was, and Baun redshirted in 2015. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Baun played sparingly (15 tackles, 3.5 for loss) early in the season before being relegated to special teams.
Baun suffered a preseason foot injury in 2017, missing the entire season. He bounced back to earn a starting spot in 2018, making 63 tackles (7.5 for loss), with 2.5 sacks and one interception in 13 games. Baun broke out as a redshirt senior in 2019, finishing tied for seventh in FBS in tackles for loss (19.5) and ninth in sacks (12.5). He also made 76 tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception and two passes defended in earning second-team AP All-America and first-team all-Big Ten.
Baun, who turns 24 in December, competed well in the Senior Bowl and at the NFL scouting combine, taking part in all the testing drills and posting solid-to-very good numbers across the board.
Upside: Well-built, fluid athlete. Offers surprising explosion and twitch. Excellent lateral range and has developing coverage skill. Loose hips to turn and run. Surprising, underrated core strength — routinely battled with tackles 60 to 70 pounds heavier and held his own.
Offers nice versatility as a hybrid rusher/run defender/coverage player. Looked far more natural in coverage as senior season progressed. Took more reps as off-the-ball linebacker at Senior Bowl and proved it wasn’t too big an ask. Should be a scheme-diverse player who can fill multiple roles in time.
This play against Michigan State is a good example of how Baun’s off-ball instincts have developed. Late in the blowout, Baun fakes the rush on the zone pressure, keeps his feet square and beneath him and reads the QB’s eyes, hauling in a tough catch for a pick-six:

Made huge strides from 2018 to 2019 as a developing pass-rush talent. Showed some excellent bend and juice as an edge rusher last season. Sneaky-quick interior pass-rush moves that caught some tackles flat-footed. Rush skill must be showcased in the NFL, even if only as a blitzer or sub-package rusher. 
Motor always revved up. Aggressive in run support — sets a good, hard edge from three-point stance and pursues well on his feet. Uses his hands very well and can shock blockers and shed very well. Nice arm length (32 3/4 inches) to extend and get into blockers’ chests. Watch Baun (lined up on the left side of your screen) use his length — the old one-arm-is-longer-than-two-arms teaching point — to keep 6-foot-6 Ohio State TE Luke Farrell at bay, forcing the JK Dobbins run back inside for a short gain:

Turned in some dominant performances (see the Michigan game) where he was the best defender on the field. Natural football instincts and football IQ — understands pass-game concepts and should pick up complex NFL playbook readily.
Mature and smart. Blue-collar work ethic. Even-keeled temperament. Perfect mentality for special-teams duty and good experience (was first man downfield on one punt-coverage rep at the Senior Bowl).
Trusted Wisconsin coaches with position conversion and made it his craft. Will be the kind of player who puts on his hard hat and goes to work in the NFL for a decade, likely with a smile on his face. Selfless, committed winner. 
Downside: Pass-rush duties could be limited on the next level. Frame appears close to maxed out at 235-240 pounds. Lacks power-rush ability. Spin and countermoves can sometimes run him out of gap assignments. Will let containment slip away at times trying to do too much. Longer tackles can get into his chest. 
Bottled up on pass-rush snaps vs. Iowa’s talented tackles, Tristan Wirfs and Alaric Jackson. Smothered a few times in Senior Bowl one-on-ones by Day 2 and 3 prospects Matt Peart and Charlie Heck. Will lose rush balance and lean too far forward.
Scouts disagree on his upside. Figures to be more of a “stack” linebacker, which could cause a short delay in his immediate impact. Had trouble finding the ball at times on option plays (see Michigan State game) and RPOs. Committed seven penalties last season — jumped offsides five times (one declined). Tries to time the snap and can get caught being too anxious.
Still learning how to read keys from two-point stances. Will be tested in deeper coverage — more of a zone/hook defender and will need to refine man-coverage technique. 
Injury history must be carefully considered — suffered torn meniscus (right knee) in 2016 and torn Lisfranc ligament (left foot) in August 2017. Also re-injured same foot and missed a week of spring practice in April 2018.

Best-suited destination: Baun’s intriguing mix of skills could make him a Pro Bowl player, but he might need some seasoning to reach that level. He figures to be a 3-4 outside linebacker or a “Sam” or “Will” linebacker in an even front where he’s allowed to use his pass-rush skills on passing downs.
Among the NFL teams that could be interested in his services include the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.
Did you know: As the pride of Brown Deer, Wisconsin (population: 12,000), Baun has a chance to be the most famous athlete from his hometown. Up until now, the most famous sports figures from the town are former NBA sharpshooter Steve Novak and former MLB umpire Bruce Froemming.
Baun was a three-sport star (along with basketball and track) and was named the 2014 Dave Krieg Award winner, given to state’s most outstanding senior quarterback. He operated a zone-read and RPO-heavy system, throwing for 1,936 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for 1,837 yards and 39 touchdowns. 
Baun’s recruitment as a QB was limited, and Wisconsin has turned a few former high school quarterbacks into NFL defensive players, including the Steelers’ T.J. Watt, the Giants’ Ryan Connelly, the Dolphins’ Andrew Van Ginkel and the Eagles’ T.J. Edwards.
NFL scouts say Baun could be the next in line of that fraternity.
They said it: “[Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst] kind of showed me what [former Badgers LB] Joe Schobert could do. He was the example. So I’m [thinking] this dude is covering, rushing the passer and doing everything? Yeah, I want to do that. I just trusted in the development program Wisconsin had, and here I am today. I’m very thankful.” 
— Baun at the combine
Player comp: Kyle Van Noy or (a smaller) Anthony Barr.
Expected draft range: Late first- or early second-round pick.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/yahoo-sports-top-2020-nfl-draft-prospects-no-34-wisconsin-lb-zack-baun-191530100.html

DT
Trapasso CBS Sports: NFL Draft 2020: Examining Javon Kinlaw, Derrick Brown and the rest of the defensive line class by type
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2020-examining-javon-kinlaw-derrick-brown-and-the-rest-of-the-defensive-line-class-by-type/amp/

LB
Foster SI.com: Alabama Is the New Linebacker U.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/03/31/modern-linebacker-u-based-on-numbers

S
Kaye NJ.com: NFL Draft 2020: Why XFL’s Kenny Robinson Jr. has unprecedented advantage over other defensive back prospects
https://www.nj.com/eagles/2020/04/nfl-draft-2020-why-xfls-kenny-robinson-jr-has-unprecedented-advantage-over-other-defensive-back-prospects.html

History

Giants Birthdays 4-01

Jason Bell S FA-HOU 2006 NYG 2006 NYG IR 2007 4-01-1978

Jumbo Elliott LT D2-Michigan 1988 NYG 1988-1995 4-01-1965

Michigan's Jumbo Elliott Named to College Football Hall of Fame (3-11-2020)

“Former University of Michigan football offensive lineman and 14-year NFL standout John "Jumbo" Elliott has been named to the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020, it was announced today (Wednesday, March 11) during SportsCenter on ESPN2. Elliott becomes the 32nd Wolverine player to receive selection for the College Football Hall of Fame.
Elliott was a four-year letterman who helped U-M to a 35-13-1 overall record and 23-9-1 Big Ten Conference mark during his four-year career (1984-87). He helped the Wolverines claim the 1986 Big Ten title and twice finish in the top 10 of the national polls, including the No. 2 ranking in 1985 after defeating Nebraska in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl.
A two-time All-American and All-Big Ten first team performer (1986-87), Elliott was a finalist for the 1987 Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. He is one of just 22 players in Michigan history to earned first-team All-America honors at least twice in a career. Elliott won the Hugh R. Rader Award as the team's best offensive lineman in 1987.
A 6-foot-7, 306-pound offensive tackle for the Wolverines, Elliott finished his career as Michigan's all-time leader in career starts among offensive linemen and currently ranks sixth in the category. He started 44 of his final 46 games in the winged helmet, with his only missed starting assignments coming due to injury. Elliott helped pave the way for Michigan's ground game led by Jamie Morris, a 1,000-yard back three straight seasons and the school's leading rusher at the conclusion of his career.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in education, Elliott embarked on a 14-year NFL career that saw him play for both New York teams. Elliott was drafted early in the second round by the New York Giants with the 36th overall pick of the 1988 draft. He played eight seasons for the Giants (1988-95) and was a key starter on the franchise's Super Bowl XXV winning squad. He collected a plethora of accolades during his time with the Giants, including 1988 All-Rookie Team, three-time All-Madden Team, 1993 Pro Bowl selection, 1995 Ed Block Courage Award winner, 75th Anniversary All-Time Giants Team and Giants All-Time Team of the Millennium/Century. Elliott started 98 games at left tackle and played in a total of 112 games for the Giants.
Elliott moved across town to play for the Jets for six seasons (1996-2000, 2002), helping the franchise reach the playoffs on two occasions. He helped a 1-15 team in 1996 reach the AFC Championship Game in 1998, earning him the New Jersey Sports Writers Offensive Lineman of the Year. Elliott started 58 of his 85 games played as a member of the Jets.
He started 156 games during his NFL career and played in 196 contests, with starts in 140 of 142 games from 1990-99. Elliott paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher during 13 of his 14 years in the NFL. He was a member of five playoff teams, two AFC East championship squads and the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXV.
A Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, native, Elliott was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 1993. He was also inducted into the Sachem High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 and had his jersey retired at the school in 1989.
Elliott will be inducted at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in New York City on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. He will be the 38th U-M honoree overall (32 players, six coaches).”

https://mgoblue.com/news/2020/3/11/michigans-jumbo-elliott-named-to-college-football-hall-of-fame.aspx

Kratch NJ.com: Former Pro Bowl tackle Jumbo Elliott has lived Giants-Jets from both sides of the river (2015)

“Left tackle John "Jumbo" Elliott played his entire career with both the Giants and Jets. (John O'Boyle | The Star-Ledger)
John "Jumbo" Elliott got his first taste of the intensity that comes when the Giants play the Jets early on. It was his first or second season after being drafted by the Giants, he believes, during training camp.

The Giants and the Jets were practicing together, and Elliott remembers that head coach Bill Parcells "was on my butt, as Parcells is known to do." The linemen got together for one-on-one pass rushing drills. Elliott was paired up with Jets defensive tackle Marty Lyons, now the team's radio analyst.
"Marty's got both hands through my facemask, trying to gouge my eyes out. But he got his hand caught up in my facemask, and he snapped his knuckle," Elliott recalled during a phone interview with NJ Advance Media, before laughing. "It was great."
The Giants and Jets will meet again Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and Elliott, a Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., native now enjoying retirement on Long Island, has one of the most unique perspectives on the "rivalry" you will find.
Fifty-three men have played for both the Giants and the Jets, but Elliott is the quintessential Giant/Jet. The Pro Bowl offensive tackle was a second-round pick by the Giants in 1988, playing eight seasons and 112 games in blue. He then moved to the Jets for six seasons and 85 games in green.

"It's kind of unique," Elliott said. "I got to play almost equally in each place. That's kind of neat."

When Elliott was with both teams, the annual preseason game between the two teams was always contentious. So much so, memories of the regular season meetings - amazingly, Elliott never won a Giants-Jets game, going 0-2 with both teams - almost blend in with the summer exhibitions over time. But when Elliott was with the Giants, he said, they most definitely saw the Jets as below them.
"When I was on the Giants, back before free agency really took off, we had a very deep, very talented team," he said. "And we always looked over at the other side of the river there and thought the Jets were like, maybe not even the little brother, they're the riff raff."
But he eventually joined the riff raff. Elliott signed with the struggling Jets before the 1996 season, reuniting with Jets offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt, who had been Elliott's offensive coordinator with the Giants when they won Super Bowl XXV. And he learned the Jets were, in many ways, the team the Giants perceived them to be...

The Jets went 1-15 in 1996, the disastrous final season under Rich Kotite. But then Hess went out and won an arms race with the Giants, hiring Parcells (and Bill Belichick) after they had led the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
"Then within two years, we're in the (AFC) championship game, and 15 minutes away from going to the Super Bowl," Elliott said. "That would have been great; I would have a ring from both teams."
The Jets' sudden surge - they went 9-7 in 1997, then 12-4 the next year, winning the AFC East and getting to the conference title game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos - began to change the dynamic of Giants-Jets as "the whole attitude shifted."
"The organization came back to respectability after it had been floundering for a while," Elliott said. "That just increased when we would see [the Giants], on the field, the Jets, we would feel like we were the legitimate New York team now."
But there were still inequalities. The stadium and facility issue was a big one for the Jets. The two teams now share MetLife Stadium, which has accommodations for both clubs and almost feels like a neutral site. And the Jets are located in New Jersey now, a half-hour away at their Florham Park headquarters.

Things were not quite as favorable when Elliott was a Jet. Those were the days where the franchise was located on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and playing in what was clearly Giants Stadium.
"As a Giant, we lived and breathed in that stadium. I did all my wind sprints running up and down those stairs, everything, you name it," Elliott said. "Back in the old Meadowlands (with the Jets), they'd change the end zone and roll out some different colors, there were some banners, and that was it. It was really like playing an away game.
"I would play a game, sometimes you get off the field, if it's an early season game, and on the field it's around 100 degrees or so, and you're on the turf, which makes it hotter. And you're stuck in three-and-a-half-hours traffic, trying to get home, and you're getting full body cramps. That's not a home game. It was definitely the Giants' home turf. Whenever you're paying multiple tolls and crossing a couple of bridges and going through a tunnel to get to your game, it's not a real home field."
Elliott retired after the 2002 season. He won a championship with the Giants.”

https://www.nj.com/giants/2015/12/former_pro_bowl_tackle_jumbo_elliott_has_lived_gia.html

Don Hasselbeck TE W-MIN 1985 NYG 1985 4-01-1955

GIANTS STAMPEDE PAST 49ERS (12-30-1985)

“They took a 17-3 lead with a 77-yard touchdown drive to start the second half. After Morris` run, the Giants fooled even themselves with a 3-yard play- action touchdown pass to [Don] Hasselbeck, who was completely uncovered.
''I haven`t thrown to Don even in practice,'' said Simms.
Parcells said the short passes to the tight ends and the dump passes to the backs worked well because the 49ers played a lot of zone defense, something the Giants won`t see against the Bears.@

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-12-30-8503300666-story.html

Owamagbe Odighizuwa DE D3-UCLA 2015 NYG 2015-2016 4-01-1992

In Memoriam

Doc Alexander C/LG 1925 NYG 1925-1927 Head Coach 1926 Born 4-01-1897 Died 9-12-1975

National Football Foundation HOF:

“Joe Alexander was a three-time All-America choice, making it as a guard in 1918-19 and center in 1920. He was Syracuse captain two years and also captained the lacrosse team one season. Alexander graduated from medical school and began practicing medicine in New York City. He specialized in lung treatment and helped found one of the first tuberculosis centers in New York. For seven years 1921-27 he played in the National Football League on weekends while practicing medicine. He was playing coach of the New York Giants in 1926 posting an 8-4-1 record. Playing for Syracuse in 1918 against Rutgers, he picked up a loose ball and ran 75 yards for a touchdown. He starred in a 1919 conquest of Pittsburgh. It was Pitt's first loss in four years. Against Colgate in 1920 he lined up on defense on the one-yard line. Colgate ran four plays. Alexander made the tackle on the first three and intercepted a pass on the fourth. He stood 5-11, weighed 210 pounds, and Walter Camp called him "a whirlwind with weight." In 1937 the New York World-Telegram named him on an all-time All-America team. In 1954 Syracuse University started the Joseph Alexander Award, given each year to a Syracuse player for excellence in football, scholarship, and citizenship. Alexander was born April 1, 1898, and died September 12, 1975.”

Lee Mulleneaux C UDFA-Northern Arizona 1932 NYG 1932 Born 4-01-1908 Died 11-14-1985

“The Mulleneaux’ were two large brothers out of the west in the 1930s and 1940s for Green Bay.
Older brother Lee was a 6-2 220 pound center who attended Northern Arizona and joined the New York Giants in 1932. Moving to the expansion Cincinnati Reds in 1933, Mulleneaux stayed with the team until it went bankrupt during the 1934 season. At that point the 0-8 Reds were purchased by the semipro St. Louis Gunners, and Mulleneaux was one of firve Cincinnati players to transfer to St. Louis to finish the season.
Lee spent 1935-36 with Pittsburgh and then jumped to the rival American Football League in 1937. Playing for the original Cincinnati Bengal franchise, he was named All-League at center. When the AFL folded, Lee signed with the Chicago Cardinals in 1938. At midseason, Curly Lambeau acquired Lee to join his brother Carl in Green Bay. The next season, 1939, Lee spent the entire season on the inactive list, but earned a full championship share anyway.
Younger brother Carl was nicknamed “Moose” and the 6-3 210 pound end played opposite Don Hutson for five years, interrupted by three years of military service. Carl was not drafted out of Utah State and spent a year out of football before signing with Lambeau as a free agent in 1938. He was named second-team All-Pro in 1940, missed the 1942-44 seasons due to the War and then returned in 1945. His career ended abruptly in week one of 1946 when a brutal blind side hit by John Schiechl of the Bears dislocated five vertebrae, broke Carl’s nose and five teeth and left Mulleneaux with a concussion.@

https://packerspastperfect.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/the-mulleneaux/amp/

Tom Roberts T D10-DePaul 1939 NYG 1943 Born 4-01-1916 Died 4-8-1990

From his obituary:

“Though he saw professional football evolve into a much more complex-and lucrative-game, Mr. Roberts did not regret playing in the earlier era, said his son, Dean. ''He felt lucky to be paid at all to play football when people were working for half as much in paint factories,'' his son said.
''He felt very strongly that the discipline was a good thing, and the camaraderie,'' he said. Mr. Roberts regularily gathered with former teammates from De Paul University, where he was captain of the football team in 1938.”

Sammy Stein E FA-Staten Island 1931 NYG 1931 Born 4-01-1905 Died 3-30-1966

“Stein didn't attend college, but instead gave boxing a whirl before getting into football during its early days.

He played four seasons in the fledgling NFL, from 1929 to 1932. Stein started with the Newark Bears of the American Football League, but the team ceased to exist partway through the 1936 campaign, and the league folded after the season. The unemployed Bears were gobbled up by the Staten Island Stapletons, an independent team that fought for inclusion in the NFL, which was finally granted in 1929. (Stein played with wrestler Cy Williams in 1929.) Stein played for the Stapletons during the 1929 and 1930 seasons, and played for the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers in subsequent years before devoting himself to pro wrestling.”

“On January 25, 1932, he faced the great Jim Londos at Madison Square Garden in New York. About 15 minutes into the match, he tried a flying tackle, went out of the ring, hit the floor with his head and was unconscious for 10 minutes; it took five policemen to carry Stein to the dressing room.
Over the next few years, Stein would face the likes of Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Joe Malcewicz, Mike Mazurki, Jerry Monohan and Martin Zikoff at the Garden, and would main event on March 6, 1933, losing to Jim Browning after 46:32, and on December 4, 1933, losing again to Browning, this time in 25:03.”

“As an actor, Sammy Stein (or Sam Stein as he was occasionally credited), rubbed shoulders with some greats:
* Charlie Chaplin in 1936's Modern Times, where Stein is a Turbine operator
* Abbott & Costello in 1945's Here Come the Co-eds, where Stein is uncredited, but plays Tiger McGurk aka the Masked Marvel
* Fellow grunt-and-groaner Nat Pendleton, in 1943 Swing Fever, where Stein is a wrestler
* That great ape, Mighty Joe Young, where he is a strongman.”

Marsh White RB D12-Arkansas 1975 NYG 1975-1976 Born 4-01-1953 Died 7-13-2016

NYT (8-13-1975)
“[Joe] Dawkins's demand for a hew contract, however, could play a significant role in shaping the backfield for the season, particularly with the fine showing at fullback by Larry Watkins in the preseason opener and the presence of Marsh White and Steve Crosby, two promising young players.”

NYT (11-15-1976)

“The longest losing streak in the Giants' 52 year history ended today with a 12 to 9 victory over the Washington Redskins and George Allen, of all people.

The Redskins were driving again, early in the final period, when Thomas fumbled again and Carson recovered on the Giants' 27. There were 12 minutes 24 seconds remaining and the Giants used up much of that time with their final drive. Thirteen times in a row, Snead called a running play. Marsh White, playing a lot for the injured Doug Kotar, took turns with Kotar and Larry Csonka as the offensive line moved the ball down the field.

The drive stalled at the Redskin 33 and after an incompleted pass, it was time again for Danelo, the 5 foot 8 inch kicker who had made good on only two of eight field goal attempts before converting his only kick last week.

“[Ralph] Hill snapped, Mallory held, and Danelo, whose longest previous N.F.L. kick was 48 yards, aimed the ball to the left because the 10 mile an hour wind was to the right. The kick cleared the crossbar easily, right between the goal posts.
And so George Allen, who had beaten the Giants 14 straight times, including three when he was coaching the Los Angeles Rams, saw his team's won-lost record drop to 6 and 4 and its playoff chances impaired.”

After leaving football, he taught at Southwestern Bible Baptist Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary. He also did ministerial work not only in the United States, but around the world as well.”