Friday Reading

Giants

Thompson SI.com: New York Giants Notebook | History Lessons, Leonard Williams Gets the Monkey Off His Back and More
https://www.si.com/.amp-nygiants/nfl/giants/news/new-york-giants-notebook-history-lessons-leonard-williams-gets-the-monkey-off-his-back-and-more

Rock Newsday: First road trip for Giants in 2020 season is unlike any other
https://www.newsday.com/amp/sports/football/giants/giants-chicago-road-trip-1.49432795

Salomone Giants.com: Keys to Victory: How the Giants win in Windy City
https://www.giants.com/news/new-york-giants-vs-chicag-bears-week-2-keys-to-victory-preview

Stapleton The Record: NY Giants vs. Chicago Bears: Our expert predictions and 3 things to watch
https://amp.northjersey.com/amp/3483314001

Schofield BBV: Giants-Bears game plan: Dig route should be key part of Giants’ plan
https://www.bigblueview.com/platform/amp/2020/9/18/21443766/giants-bears-game-plan-dig-route-should-be-key-part-of-giants-plan-jason-garrett

Emory Hunt FB Gameplan: Giants @ Bears: Matchups, preview, prediction (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSdNfot6N-s

Schneier/Falato Big Blue Banter Podcast: Dan and Nick breakdown the All-22 Coaches Film of the Giants week one loss to the Steelers. How was Jason Garrett's offensive game plan and play calling? What front and coverages did Patrick Graham use against Big Ben? Will these coaching tendencies carry through week 2? Plus, players that stood out on film, and other players that struggled. Gamepass was late with the All-22, but it finally dropped!
(Audio)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-blue-banter-a-new-york-giants-football-podcast/id1387339234#episodeGuid=68bab30f-3d80-45b1-b821-8d67b097ad9f

QB

Solak The Draft Network: ANALYZING WHAT DANIEL JONES DOES AND DOESN'T DO WELL
https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/daniel-jones-giants-evaluation-successes-failures

Mike Renner PFF: Daniel Jones was under pressure on 26 of his 48 dropbacks (54.2%) Monday night. Easily the most of any QB in the NFL

The fact that he still looked good under those circumstances is very impressive

RB

RV SNY: Don't focus on Saquon Barkley -- the Giants offensive line is the real issue
https://sny.tv/articles/don-t-focus-on-saquon-barkley----the-giants-offensive-line-is-the-real-issue

Vaccaro NYP: Saquon Barkley’s Giants star comes with all of its burdens
https://nypost.com/2020/09/18/saquon-barkleys-giants-star-comes-with-all-of-its-burdens/

Raanan ESPN NY: New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley to use Tiki Barber's criticism as 'challenge'
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29908154/new-york-giants-rb-saquon-barkley-use-tiki-barber-criticism-challenge?

Farrell The Record: NY Giants: How Saquon Barkley will handle criticism from Tiki Barber
https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2020/09/17/ny-giants-saquon-barkley-responds-tiki-barber-criticism/3478021001/

Rock Newsday: Saquon Barkley doesn't care about your opinions of his performance
https://www.newsday.com/amp/sports/football/giants/saquon-barkley-stats-tiki-barber-1.49430155

Eisen Giants.com: Saquon Barkley looks to elevate all facets of game
https://www.giants.com/news/saquon-barkley-looks-to-elevate-all-facets-of-game-tiki-barber-jason-garrett

Bobby Skinner: Saquon Barkley’s blocking is a topic of discussion so I counted:
6 good blocks
4 bad blocks
1 iffy block

Art Stapleton The Record: I saw this exactly the same. This is as not an effort issue as some have made it out to be. This was recognition + Saquon missed it. Also, I am not privy to the schematics, but he’s clearly told his priority on this play is to help Andrew Thomas so he’s not singled with Dupree.

Traina SI.com: Barkley, Engram Are Willing Blockers, But Are They Able?
https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/big-blue-plus/barkley-engram-are-willing-blockers-but-are-they-able

WR

Raanan ESPN NY: Can Giants' Darius Slayton continue to produce like a No. 1 receiver?
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-giants/post/_/id/61207/can-giants-darius-slayton-continue-to-produce-like-a-no-1-receiver?

LT

Dunleavy NYP: Giants’ Andrew Thomas faces big test vs. Bears’ dynamic duo
https://nypost.com/2020/09/18/giants-andrew-thomas-faces-big-test-vs-bears-dynamic-duo/

Leonard NYDN: Andrew Thomas: Giants O-line knows Week 1 ‘wasn’t up to par’ after coaches' call-out
https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-andrew-thomas-run-blocking-20200918-vomv7ubcwvgrnaz72kklubwvnm-story.html

Defense

Serby NYP: Patrick Graham’s NFL career started by hanging up on Bill Belichick
https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/patrick-grahams-nfl-career-started-by-hanging-up-on-bill-belichick/

Dunleavy NYP: Giants must clean up coverage ahead of Bears clash
https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/giants-must-clean-up-coverage-ahead-of-bears-clash/

DT

Cihak Giants.com: Giants Now: Dexter Lawrence picks up right where he left off last season
https://www.giants.com/news/dexter-lawrence-pro-football-focus-saquon-barkley-improvement-bears-week-two

Rosenblatt NJ.com: Why this Dexter Lawrence play from Week 1 should have Giants excited about his (Pro Bowl?) potential
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/09/why-this-dexter-lawrence-play-from-week-1-should-have-giants-excited-about-his-pro-bowl-potential.html

CB

Lombardo NJ.com: Will Giants' James Bradberry travel against Bears' game-breaking WR Allen Robinson?
https://www.nj.com/giants/2020/09/will-giants-james-bradberry-travel-against-bears-game-breaking-wr-allen-robinson.html

NFL

Barnwell ESPN: 2020 NFL Week 1 stats and nuggets you might have missed: Barnwell on the Patriots, Vikings, Cowboys and more

“The Giants stood still
Another surprise from the Minnesota offense is how static the Vikings were before the snap. As ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder noted, the Vikings didn't have a single instance of a player running in motion at the time of their snaps in Week 1, the only team in football without one.
If we expand the horizon to look at any sort of pre-snap motion, the isolated team is somebody different. Every offense in the league used some sort of motion between lining up at the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball at least 22.6% of the time ... besides the Giants, who moved only 9.4% of the time before the snap in their first game under coach Joe Judge and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. (The Jets, again, were second at 22.6%.)
Walder's research found that offenses that use more motion at the snap are more successful than those that stay static. Those results actually weren't better on a play-by-play basis in Week 1, but you might also note that the 12 teams that used motion most frequently during the debut weekend also won their games.

Motion for the sake of motion doesn't mean anything, but offenses can gain edges by incorporating pre-snap motion into their schemes. The Ravens, who used motion more than any other team last season, used late motion before the snap to help create numbers advantages in the running game. Passing attacks can use it to identify coverages and to force teams into defensive checks they can then exploit. We'll see what happens in the weeks to come for the Giants, but given what we saw against the Steelers on Monday night, they could use all the help Garrett and Judge can muster.”

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/page/billbarnwell091720/2020-nfl-week-1-stats-nuggets-missed-barnwell-patriots-vikings-cowboys-more

Pat Leonard NYDN: Giants 8th in pass rush win rate in Week 1

Seth Walder ESPN: And here's team pass rush win rate for Week 1.
ESPN's win rate metrics are powered by data from NFL Next Gen Stats.

https://twitter.com/sethwalder/status/1306734024040296451?s=21

ESPN: Ranking NFL stadiums 1-28: From Lambeau Leap to D.C. disaster

21. MetLife Stadium, New York Giants and Jets, est. 2010

“Atmosphere: 17 • Features: 24
Traditions: 12 • Tailgating: 9
Location: 19 • Cost: 16
History: 23

“What's good about it: The chants. "J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!" -- famously led for many years by Fireman Ed -- is a true original. "De-Fense!" -- coined by Giants fans at old Yankee Stadium -- no longer wholly belongs to the G-Men but always feels right in Gotham. The stadium's location isn't ideal but gets a boost for having a train stop.
What needs work: The aesthetic isn't great. One NFL Nation writer described it as an "oversized air conditioner with unsightly slats." Much like Levi's Stadium in the Bay Area, getting a consistent winner in here would do wonders.

NFL Nation commentary: "MetLife Stadium has as much history and tradition as the iPhone. It has hosted only two postseason games in 10 years -- a Giants playoff game and Super Bowl XLVIII (a dud). New York-area fans are desperate for a winner and would bring plenty of energy to the drab hunk of metal and concrete if they only had a team (or two) worth cheering for." -- Rich Cimini

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29372091/ranking-nfl-stadiums-1-28-lambeau-leap-dc-disaster

PFF: NFL Week 2 Preview: Fantasy football advice, betting tips and matchups to watch

NEW YORK GIANTS @ CHICAGO BEARS
“Headline of the game: Giants’ offensive line has to give the team a better chance against Chicago than it did against Pittsburgh
Here are a few numbers to give you an idea of the problems the Giants’ offensive line had against Pittsburgh in the season-opener: 
* The Giants allowed pressure on 52.1% of their pass plays (fewer than only the Jets). 
* Saquon Barkley averaged -0.7 yards before contact per carry. He was contacted nearly a yard in the backfield on average.
That kind of production from the offensive line, both in pass protection and in the run game, is going to be tough to overcome as an offense. The Bears don’t pose quite the same threat that the Steelers do up front, but they have a few elite players to deal with in their own right between Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. The offensive line should have some bright spots between the perennially strong performances from Kevin Zeitler and the fourth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, Andrew Thomas. There weren’t a ton of bright spots this past Monday night, though. Turning that around will be the Giants' top priority heading into Week 2. 
Fantasy
Week 1 was confusing for anyone rostering Giants players. Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram were expected to be fantasy stars, but both disappointed. Darius Slayton, on the other hand, had a two-touchdown performance. Those trends have a chance to continue against Chicago. The offensive/defensive line chart shows this as a more favorable matchup for the Bears than Giants. The tight end chart and strength of schedule tool also agree that this isn’t a great matchup for Engram. Slayton and Sterling Shepard have slightly favorable matchups.
Anthony Miller has the third-best matchup of the week, according to the wide receiver/cornerback matchup chart. He played 91% of his snaps in the slot, which lines him up against Darnay Holmes, who had 100% of his snaps in the slot. Holmes allowed five of six passes thrown his way to be caught for 56 yards. Miller led all slot receivers in yards per route run in the slot (3.8) among those with at least 18 slot routes. If there is any week to insert Miller into your starting lineup, this is it.
Betting
These two teams are seemingly heading in opposite directions after their respective Week 1 performances. This market has some rogue numbers throughout the four-to-six point range still, but the consensus looks to be a half-point off the opening spread at -6. The Giants have seen the majority of cash and tickets, with no discernible difference in either category. 
The total has seen a full-point drop since the open, with a higher percentage of cash on the under, but the public is siding with the over. Both offenses are back-to-back in our offensive rankings at 22nd and 21st, but the key differentiator is the defenses — the Bears are 20 spots better than the Giants. Our predictive model gives the Bears a 69% win probability but sees little value in the current numbers available in the betting markets.”

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-2-preview-fantasy-football-advice-betting-tips-and-matchups-to-watch

Prisco CBS Sports.com: Pete Prisco's Week 2 odds, picks: Eagles rebound vs. Rams, Colts stomp Vikings, Seahawks roll over Patriots

New York Giants (+5.5) at Chicago Bears 
“The Giants showed some grit against the Steelers, but they were overmatched in terms of talent. That isn't the case here. The Bears did some good things on offense to rally to beat the Lions last week and I think they can carry that over. But this will be close.”

Pick: Bears 21, Giants 20

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/pete-priscos-week-2-odds-picks-eagles-rebound-vs-rams-colts-stomp-vikings-seahawks-roll-over-patriots/amp/

Ruiz For the Win USA Today: You should know Brennan Marion and his unique GoGo offense. The smartest coaches in football already do.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/09/gogo-offense-brennan-marion-hawaii-innovation-scheme-analysis

ARIZONA
McManaman AZ Central: Haason Reddick seems to have finally found a home with Cardinals at outside linebacker
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2020/09/17/reddick-seems-have-found-home-cardinals-outside-linebacker/3483886001/

Cardinals.com: Jalen Thompson Placed On IR; Cards Sign Curtis Riley
https://www.azcardinals.com/news/safety-jalen-thompson-injured-reserve-sign-curtis-riley

ATLANTA
Spencer AJC: Falcons see potential in rookie cornerback A.J. Terrell
https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/falcons-see-potential-in-rookie-aj-terrell/QK3OKTIZOBBOPFTJM27ENV4WDI/

BALTIMORE
Kasinitz Penn Live: As Baltimore Ravens’ defense confounds other QBs, Lamar Jackson says its complexities make him better
https://www.pennlive.com/baltimore-ravens/2020/09/as-baltimore-ravens-defense-confounds-other-qbs-lamar-jackson-says-its-complexities-make-him-better.html

CAROLINA
Simmons Panthers.com: Rasul Douglas makes most of opportunity in Panthers' secondary
https://www.panthers.com/news/rasul-douglas-opportunity-panthers-secondary

CHICAGO
Chicago Tribune: 4 things we learned from Chicago Bears coordinators, including Chuck Pagano saying the defense didn’t do its job against the Lions and Akiem Hicks missing practice with an illness

“Veteran defensive lineman Akiem Hicks missed practice Thursday because of an illness. Edge rushers Robert Quinn (ankle) and Khalil Mack (knee) remained limited.
Jimmy Graham and Ted Ginn returned to practice after being given Wednesday off as a veteran’s rest day.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-cb-chicago-bears-chuck-pagano-akiem-hicks-20200917-hvfsnfzbzjbqnp663cwmwvrkiu-story.html

Nick Whalen: Overall thoughts from the Detroit vs Chicago game:

1) Lions have a very talented offense.
Stafford
3 solid to good RBs - AP, Swift, KJ
Lots of WR talent - Golladay, Marvin Jones, Cephus, Amendola
TE - Hockenson

If they can stay healthy and the line can do well, watch out.

2) Stafford could've played better.

Thought he was late on several reads and a little off with accuracy. But he's a very talented player and people forget that sometimes. He has great arm talent and plays tough.

3) AP's rushing yards.

AP ran hard, but also had some good holes. Many of the yards were later in the game with a tired defense vs Kerryon had more carries early on.

4) Hockenson looked good.

Buy low in dynasty!

5) Chicago's offense is different.

Say what you want about Trubisky, but Matt Nagy didn't have a great year in 2019 as a play caller and coordinating the offense.

This year is lots of motion, misdirection, using players in different ways. Makes Chicago more difficult to defend.

6) Good Mitch vs Bad Mitch.

Mitchell Trubisky had some bad throws and reads. But overall, he played better than most will admit and the 2nd half was better than the 1st. Was it rust from no preseason? Is the 2nd half more of what's to come? Or always inconsistent?

7) Chicago's running game was MUUUUCH better.

Cohen, Monty, Patterson all looked better because the scheme and OL actually created holes and moved defenders.
Monty and Cohen were more decisive. But I can't lie, something is special with Patterson carrying the ball.

8) Anthony Miller is underrated.
He played well and almost had other receptions. See if he can be bought low....especially if Robinson leaves due to his contract or gets traded.

9) Jimmy Graham made plays.
Could be a cheap TE play this year.

10) Detroit's defense is tough to figure out due to all of the injuries and Jamie Collins getting kicked out early.

11) Chicago's defense looks good again. No Eddie Goldman all year and FA Robert Quinn didn't play. Danny T looked slow. But rookie CB Jaylon Johnson looked great!

Lieser Chicago Sun Times: Bears RB Tarik Cohen out to show the world he can ‘run people over’
https://chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/bears/2020/9/17/21444564/bears-rb-tarik-cohen-out-to-show-the-world-he-can-run-people-over

Graziano ESPN: Could Allen Robinson really be traded by the Chicago Bears? What we know, and why his contract is tricky
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29907890/could-allen-robinson-really-traded-chicago-bears-know-why-contract-tricky?

Potash Chicago Sun Times: Bears’ defense eager to make amends
https://chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/bears/2020/9/17/21444474/bears-defense-eager-to-make-amends

CINCINNATI
Dragon Cincinnati Enquirer: What we learned: Cincinnati Bengals' No. 1 pick Joe Burrow impressive, despite loss to Cleveland Browns
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2020/09/18/analysis-cincinnati-bengals-make-cleveland-browns-look-like-contenders/3490364001/

Ian Rapoport NFL.com: Bengals TE CJ Uzomah, who had been one of Joe Burrow’s most effective targets through two games, was carted off last night and the immediate fear is that he tore his Achilles, I’m told. He’ll have an MRI today, as the results were not conclusive. Would be a tough loss

Doug Farrar Touchdownwire USA Today: This summer, I asked a few people in the know about Lou Anarumo's Bengals defense last season. Heard a lot about guys in bad positions, lack of discipline, schematic whiffs. Matched what I saw on tape. This might still be a problem.

CLEVELAND
Cabot Cleveland Plain Dealer: Baker Mayfield outlasts Joe Burrow in the Browns' 35-30 victory over the Bengals to hand Kevin Stefanski his 1st victory
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/09/baker-mayfield-outlasts-joe-burrow-in-a-35-30-victory-over-the-bengals.html

Labbe Cleveland Plain Dealer: Browns find their offensive identity in 35-30 win over Bengals
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/09/browns-find-their-offensive-rhythm-in-win-over-bengals.html

Farrar Touchdownwire USA Today: 5 observations from the Browns' Thursday night win over the Bengals
https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/browns-over-bengals-thursday-night-football-baker-mayfield-joe-burrow/

Jones The Ringer: So the Browns Can Beat the Bengals, but What About the Rest of the NFL?
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2020/9/18/21444932/browns-bengals-baker-mayfield-kevin-stefanski-odell-beckham-jr

DALLAS
Machota The Athletic Dallas: Breaking down Aldon Smith’s Cowboys debut: ‘This guy might end up with 15 sacks’
https://theathletic.com/2073655/2020/09/17/breaking-down-aldon-smiths-cowboys-debut-this-guy-might-end-up-with-15-sacks/

DENVER
Kiszla Denver Post: With Broncos already teetering on brink, here’s how Coach Fangio can save his job. Less Uncle Vic. More cowbell.
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/09/17/broncos-coach-fangio-save-job-more-cowbell-kiszla/

Stapleton AP: Jeudy’s two drops stick out as 1st-round receivers stumble
[url] https://apnews.com/26bd54e890308c773b066c204cb27cfc?[/url\]

O’Halloran Denver Post: Broncos Briefs: Center Lloyd Cushenberry praised for NFL debut
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/09/17/lloyd-cushenberry-broncos-center-nfl-debut/

Stapleton AP: Jeremiah Attaochu finds role, voice with Broncos at age 27
https://apnews.com/fc4211753b20418d4a21382cb08191ee?

DETROIT
Rogers Detroit News: Lions' Kenny Golladay making progress but still not practicing
https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/3481398001

Farrar Touchdownwire USA Today: The Lions play more man coverage than anybody else. Why are they so bad at it?
https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/09/17/lions-man-coverage-patriots-matt-patricia/

Birkett Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions LB Jamie Collins on ejection: 'Nothing was intentional, obviously'
https://amp.freep.com/amp/3485680001

GREEN BAY
Owaczarski Mil JS: Versatile Tyler Ervin gives the Packers an additional wide receiver
https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2020/09/18/green-bay-packers-tyler-ervin-serves-additional-receiver/3481480001/

HOUSTON
Wilson Houston Chronicle: Ravens defensive coordinator on Texans' Deshaun Watson: 'LeBron James type of player'
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/texans/article/Ravens-Texans-Deshaun-Watson-LeBron-James-type-15576150.php

INDIANAPOLIS
Ayello Indianapolis Star: Colts Insider: DC Matt Eberflus’ Cover 2 scheme isn’t failing him; his players are
https://amp.indystar.com/amp/3477829001

JACKSONVILLE
Reid Florida Times Union: Josh Allen says Jaguars ready to 'shock the world'
https://amp.jacksonville.com/amp/3486570001

Smits Florida Times Union: Jaguars safety Josh Jones emerges from his 'dark place' to earn starting safety job
https://amp.jacksonville.com/amp/3483433001

KANSAS CITY
Teicher ESPN KC: Kansas City Chiefs seek improved goal-line running from Clyde Edwards-Helaire
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29907659/kansas-city-chiefs-see-goal-line-clyde-edwards-helaire-minus?

Farmer LA Times: Chiefs’ Mitchell Schwartz tasked with trying to block Joey Bosa
https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/story/2020-09-17/chiefs-mitchell-schwartz-charged-with-trying-to-block-joey-bosa

LAS VEGAS
Edwards Raiders.com: Maxx Crosby knows that Monday night could hinge on one thing: 'We've got to disrupt' Drew Brees
https://www.raiders.com/news/maxx-crosby-knows-that-monday-night-could-hinge-on-one-thing-we-ve-got-to-disrup

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Gonzalez ESPN LA: Los Angeles Chargers center Mike Pouncey having season-ending surgery
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29907938/los-angeles-chargers-center-mike-pouncey-having-season-ending-surgery?

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Klein LA Times: Rams looking to throw money, and passes, in Robert Woods’ direction
https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2020-09-17/rams-money-passes-robert-woods-direction?

Williams SII.com LA: Sean McVay says Rams working toward contract extension for WR Robert Woods
https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/la-rams-working-toward-new-deal-for-wr-robert-woods

Williams SI.com LA: Despite solid start, Rams DC Brandon Staley believes stingy defense can improve
https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/la-rams-stingy-defense-can-play-better-dc-says

MIAMI
Kelly Sun Sentinel: Dolphins exploring options to replace linebacker Elandon Roberts
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-elandon-roberts-concussion-20200917-b2j3hd3hoba7zjanu3e4ntv5pa-story.html

MINNESOTA
Ragatz SI.com Minn: Vikings Place Right Guard Pat Elflein on Injured Reserve
https://www.si.com/.amp-vikings/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-place-right-guard-pat-elflein-on-injured-reserve

NEW ENGLAND
McBride Boston Globe: Bill Belichick recalls bonding with his late mother over football games
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/17/sports/bill-belichick-recalls-bonding-with-his-late-mother-over-football-games/

Reiss ESPN Boston: Patriots' Bill Belichick reflects on football weekends with his mother
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4821036/patriots-bill-belichick-reflects-on-football-weekends-with-his-mother

Reiss ESPN Boston: Six years later, wild Super Bowl XLIX finish still felt by Patriots, Seahawks
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29907366/six-years-later-wild-super-bowl-xlix-finish-felt-patriots-seahawks

Kilgore Washington Post: It's the most compelling tactical subplot of the NFL season: How Bill Belichick deploys Cam Newton, a quarterback opposite in style from Tom Brady
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/17/cam-newton-bill-belichick-patriots-offense/

Guregian Boston Herald: Patriots QB Cam Newton and Odell Beckham Jr. another match made in heaven
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/17/patriots-qb-cam-newton-and-odell-beckham-jr-another-match-made-in-heaven/

Greg Bedard Boston Sports Journal: The Patriots JUMBO package on 4th and 1 in 4Q vs. Dolphins had to set a record for the heaviest lineup in NFL history for one play.

Total 'listed' weight: 3,230 pounds

Average ... 293.6 pounds!

Guregian Boston Herald: For Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry, there’s no time like the present
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/18/for-patriots-receiver-nkeal-harry-theres-no-time-like-the-present/

Daniels Providence Journal: Patriots use cornerback to emulate Russell Wilson in practice
https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20200917/patriots-use-cornerback-to-emulate-russell-wilson-in-practice

Daniels Providence Journal: Dugger impresses behind the scenes
https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20200917/dugger-impresses-behind-scenes

NEW ORLEANS
Just Naila.com: Saints preparing for 'hard bubble' in Las Vegas, can't go 'roll some dice' due to coronavirus rules
https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_214706f0-f92e-11ea-a8ed-6ba24bc663b8.amp.html

Adam Schefter ESPN: Despite his high ankle sprain, Saints WR Michael Thomas “felt fantastic” at practice Wednesday and there’s a “little glimmer of hope” he can play Monday night, per source. It’s still unlikely, but the Saints were pleased and surprised at Thomas’ progress and condition Wednesday.

Johnson Nola.com: Is the Saints defensive line primed for a big 2020? 'We could be special'
https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_503f2fc8-f938-11ea-8ecd-875fce064b2c.amp.html

NEW YORK JETS
Kussoy NYP: Adam Gase: I’m spoiled to have Christopher Johnson as Jets owner
https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/adam-gase-im-spoiled-to-have-christopher-johnson-as-jets-owner/

Braziller NYP: Le’Veon Bell’s injury could give La’Mical Perine big Jets chance
https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/leveon-bells-injury-could-give-lamical-perine-big-jets-chance/

Kussoy NYP: Marcus Maye is no longer in Jamal Adams’ Jets shadow
https://nypost.com/2020/09/18/marcus-maye-is-no-longer-in-jamal-adams-jets-shadow/

PHILADELPHIA
Murphy Phil Inquirer: The Eagles might not be the team many envisioned, but there’s a reason we shouldn’t leave them for dead
https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-rams-prediction-nfl-week-2-20200917.html?outputType=amp

Domowitch Phil Inquirer: After giving up 8 sacks to Washington, can the Eagles slow down Rams star Aaron Donald?
https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/philadelphia-eagles-week-2-rams-aaron-donald-defensive-tackle-all-pro-sacks-zack-martin-joe-thomas-ugly-reagor-hightower-mike-quick-20200918.html

Shorr-Parks 94 WIP Philadelphia: Eagles trying to prepare for ‘monster’ Aaron Donald
https://www.radio.com/94wip/sports/eagles/eagles-trying-to-prepare-for-monster-aaron-donald

Bowen Phil Inquirer: Eagles’ Nickell Robey-Coleman wouldn’t mind showing the Rams what they’re missing
https://www.inquirer.com/newsletters/eagles/philadelphia-eagles-los-angeles-rams-nickell-robey-coleman-20200917.html

PITTSBURGH
Flounders Penn Live: Steelers’ skill position depth was on display vs. Giants and Benny Snell, Diontae Johnson could loom large vs. Denver
https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/2020/09/steelers-skill-position-depth-was-on-display-vs-giants-and-benny-snell-diontae-johnson-could-loom-large-vs-denver.html

Fittipaldo Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Why Kevin Dotson's ascension is unfamiliar territory for the Steelers
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2020/09/18/kevin-dotson-steelers-offensive-line-david-decastro-injury/stories/202009170170

Hartman Steel Curtain: A breakdown of how dominant the Steelers’ defense was vs. the Giants in Week 1
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/platform/amp/2020/9/17/21438097/a-breakdown-of-how-dominant-the-steelers-defense-was-vs-the-giants-in-week-1-brian-baldinger-nfl

SAN FRANCISCO
Branch SF Chronicle: Where can 49ers’ JImmy Garoppolo improve? ‘Being decisive, getting the ball out on time’
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/Where-can-49ers-Garoppolo-improve-Being-15575478.php

Dubow AP: Trent Williams announces return with crushing block
https://apnews.com/6275de4fa292c75a03f70cc507e6669b?

Branch SF Chronicle: 49ers hope for best regarding Richard Sherman’s leg injury
https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-hope-for-best-regarding-Richard-Sherman-s-15576612.php

SEATTLE
Condotta Seattle Times: Is Russell Wilson underrated? Patriots coach Bill Belichick sure thinks so.
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-notes-russell-wilson-underrated-bill-belichick-thinks-so/

TAMPA BAY
Laine ESPN TB: Tom Brady focused on leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers to first win after rocky debut
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29908568/tom-brady-focused-leading-tampa-bay-buccaneers-first-win?

TENNESSEE
Wyatt Titans.com: Titans RB Derrick Henry Built for Success – and a Boatload of Carries
https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-built-for-success-and-a-boatload-of-carries

WASHINGTON
John Keim Report ESPN Washington: John is joined by former WFT TE Logan Paulsen who breaks down the win over the Eagles in week one and shares some experience being DeAndre Hopkins teammate in Houston.
ESPN Cardinals Reporter Josh Weinfuss joins the pod to preview week two in Arizona. He describes whether Kyler Murray and the offense is willing to take shots down the field.
(Audio)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/john-keim-report/id1455645619

Colleges/Draft

Forde SI.com: After a Summer Saga for the Ages, the Big Ten Is Back
https://www.si.com/college/2020/09/16/big-ten-football-return-fall-season

Defense
Weiszer ABH: UGA football returns most of last season’s elite defense. Kirby Smart says that ’does nothing for you this year’
https://www.onlineathens.com/sports/20200917/uga-football-returns-most-of-last-seasonrsquos-elite-defense-kirby-smart-says-that-rsquodoes-nothing-for-you-this-yearrsquo

DT
Jordan Reid The Draft Network: Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike announces his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. Highly intriguing prospect who has a solid anchor at the point of attack, and outstanding stack-shed strength.

CB
Jordan Reid The Draft Network: OhioState CB Shaun Wade announces on ESPN that he will be returning for his junior season after originally opting out and declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft on Monday

History

RIP former Giants RT Rich Buzin. Selected in the second round of the 1968 draft, he became a starter following a knee injury to Steve Wright. He was traded after the 1970 season to the LA Rams. He also played for the Bears and in the WFL.

RT D2 Penn State 1968 NYG 1968-1971

https://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=richard-buzin& pid=196801384& fhid=27673

NYT: 11-30-1969
“One of the Giants looking forward to the meeting is offensive tackle Rich Buzin. "When we played them in the opening exhibition game I was pretty nervous," recalls the 250-pounder. "It was my first start in the pros and going against Willie Davis left me not knowing what to expect." Buzin played a good game and has been a regular ever since. "The exhibition season was a great place to learn. After Davis I faced Jerry Philbin, Tim Rossovich and Carl Eller. It was sort of an education going up against some of the best in the business." Now Buzin will face Davis again: "This time I feel a lot more confident in going against him because of the experience I've had. But he's so smart I won't be able to rest. He seems to be relying more on his experience these days, looking to come up with the big play." Last Sunday Buzin had very little trouble blocking out Cleveland's Ron Snidow and drew the raves of coach Alex Webster: "Rich has the size and speed to be a really top lineman. He played one of his best games against the Browns."

Buzin also started at tight tackle for the 9-5 Giants team in 1970. However in 1971 he was traded to the Rams for another RT Joe Taffoni.

His son also played at Penn State...

Buzin — Rich (’66-67) and Mike (’96, ’98). Rich was a first-team Academic All-American

“At the age when I was getting recruited, that's the age when you rebel from your parents," Buzin said. "I was like, 'I'm not going to Penn State, Dad. I'm going to Notre Dame or Michigan.' "
For Rich Buzin, Mike Buzin's dad and a former Nittany Lion football player, statements like that can be hard to swallow.
A starting tackle on Penn State's offensive line in 1966 and 1967, Rich Buzin was one of the first players Joe Paterno guided as a head coach.
Following his college career, Rich Buzin spent several seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears.

Rich Buzin bleeds blue and white.
Mike Buzin, though, wanted to form his own football identity -- away from the shadows and the inevitable comparisons.
When the time came to pick a college, Mike Buzin decided to shop around -- without luck.
"I went to (high) school in downtown Cleveland, and I didn't want to go to another downtown-type area," he said. "That's why Ohio State, I didn't particularly like. Even Michigan, that was a little too big for me. (Penn State) was just about perfect, because there was more to do here than at Notre Dame."
So much for a rebellion.

"They're two different types of people," Paterno said. "Mike's dad was the same kind of worker and had the same kind of character and loyalty. Mike's more enthusiastic and he's got more bubble and bounce than his dad had."

https://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_8d594ac9-4ae3-51d3-b182-c76f27248880.html


Giants/Bears: It all began in 1925...with Red Grange helping to chart a course for both franchises:

12-06-1925 Bears 19 Giants 7

Dave Anderson NYT: When Grange Put the Pros In New York

“PRO football is all so structured now, so financially solid. Approaching the 75th anniversary of the game that captivated New York, the National Football League has 31 teams, a billion-dollar television contract, a salary cap and a draft of college players. But in 1925 the Giants were in their infancy and in jeopardy.
Tim Mara, the legal bookmaker who for $500 that year had purchased the New York franchise in what was then a mostly midwestern N.F.L., was about $45,000 in the red. He was hoping to sell the team -- if he could find a buyer. But first, he was counting on Red Grange, the football legend of those Roaring Twenties, to rescue him.
Having just signed with the Chicago Bears, Harold (Red) Grange, the Galloping Ghost, the all-American from the University of Illinois, was coming to New York for the first time to play the Giants at the Polo Grounds on Dec. 6 and everybody wanted to see him.
Even though all 60,000 tickets, priced from $2.50 at midfield to 50 cents in the bleachers, had been sold, Tim Mara was worried about the weather. If it didn't stop raining, it would dampen the excitement that Grange's presence had inspired.

''But at 3 o'clock that Sunday morning,'' remembered Wellington Mara, then a 9-year-old and now the Giants' co-owner, ''one of my father's friends woke him up with a phone call and told him: 'Look out the window. The moon is out.' ''
By game time, people were climbing over the wooden fences into the ballpark at Eighth Avenue and West 155th Street, where high-rise apartment houses are now. The police couldn't control the crowd, which had swelled to nearly 70,000, when the photographers surrounded Grange as he trotted onto the field for the warm-up.

''I'll have to sue that bum,'' joked Babe Ruth, sitting near the 50-yard line. ''They're my photographers.''
Mara had tried to sign Grange after the Illinois season ended, but C. C. Pyle, a dynamic promoter whose nickname was Cash and Carry, had delivered him to George Halas, the Bears' owner. Bob Zuppke, the Illinois coach, had tried to dissuade Grange from joining the pros, where most of the players were being paid a few hundred dollars a game while playing both offense and defense.

''You get paid for coaching, Zupp,'' Grange replied. ''Why should it be wrong for me to get paid for playing?''
For a 50-50 split of the Bears' gate between Pyle and Halas, with Grange collecting 60 percent of Pyle's share, Grange would finish the N.F.L. season with the Bears by playing 10 games in less than three weeks, then go on a nine-game barnstorming tour from Miami to Seattle in January -- a brutal grind of 19 games in less than 10 weeks.
In his first game, Grange didn't do much in a 0-0 tie with the Chicago Cardinals before 36,000 at Wrigley Field on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1925 -- 75 years ago today. (Interestingly, the Bears play the Jets today at Giants Stadium before the Giants oppose the descendants of those Cardinals tonight in Arizona.)
But in a 14-13 victory over the Columbus Tigers on Nov. 29 in the snow, Grange rushed for 140 yards and threw a touchdown pass. On Dec. 2 he scored four touchdowns in a 39-6 rout of the Donnelly All-Stars in a St. Louis snowstorm, and on Dec. 5, the day before the Giants game, he scored both touchdowns in a 14-7 victory over the Frankford Yellow Jackets in the rain in Philadelphia.

As mud-splattered as the Bears' uniforms were that day, they would wear the same uniforms against the Giants.
''This tour will make you so wealthy,'' Pyle told Halas, ''that next year you'll be able to afford two sets of uniforms.''
When the Bears arrived in the lobby of the Astor Hotel that Saturday evening, Tim Mara was waiting for them.
''It's been raining here for days,'' he told Halas, ''but we've got more than $100,000 in the bank already.''

And after it stopped raining, that big crowd got its money's worth. Grange rushed for 45 yards on 11 carries, completed 2 of 3 passes, caught another pass and as a defensive back completed the Bears' 19-7 victory with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown.
When the January tour ended, Grange had earned a reported $90,000, a bonanza in those years, plus another $75,000 from endorsement deals Pyle had negotiated for cigarettes, clothing, a candy bar, a doll, socks, shoes, a fountain pen, even a recipe for meat loaf.
Grange's biggest single check was his $30,000 share of the $143,000 gate at the Polo Grounds, then an N.F.L. record.
''That financial success,'' Wellington Mara said, ''convinced my father that pro football had a future in New York.''

Suddenly operating at a profit, Tim Mara built the Giants franchise into an N.F.L. flagship, thanks to Grange.
''I founded the Giants on brute strength and great ignorance -- my players' strength and my ignorance,'' Tim Mara said at the time. ''I was about ready to toss in my hand until Grange turned pro. He proved that pro football didn't have to be a losing proposition. That, more than anything else, kept me in football.''
And kept the Giants in the Mara family.”

12-13-1925 Giants 9 Bears 0

NYT: GIANTS OVER POWER GRANGELESS BEARS; McBride Kicks Field Goal, Paves Way for Touchdown, New York Winning, 9-0. GAME ATTRACTS 15,000 Thousands Troop to Park for Refund on News That Star Would Not Play -- Gets Police Escort.

CHICAGO, Dec. 13. -- “Chicago's travel stained Bears without Red Grange were ground down to defeat again today when they tackled the fresh and well pointed New York Giants. It was the fifth game the Halas-Sternaman outfit has reeled off since it trimmed the New Yorkers one week ago in Gotham and lame and leg-weary, the players yielded to defeat, 9 to 0, after a game battle against the powerful New York attack.

Zappomatic: Red Grange's Barnstorming Tour (Part 2/3): In November/December 1925, shortly after joining the NFL, Red Grange and the Bears embarked on a barnstorming tour that saw them play 10 games in 18 days.

"I felt badly about disappointing the fans when I had to withdraw from the Pittsburgh game and then not play at all against Detroit and New York," Grange said.[1] "But I couldn't risk permanent injury. One doctor really scared me when he said the blood clot which formed in my arm as a result of the ruptured blood vessel might travel through my body and, if it reached my heart, could be fatal."

On December 13, the Bears returned to Chicago to host the Giants. With Grange still out, many canceled their ticket reservations, leaving only 18,000 to watch as the Bears suffered their third consecutive shutout. Scoring a first quarter field goal and fourth quarter touchdown, the Giants walked away with the 9–0 win...”

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/c3sfnw/red_granges_barnstorming_tour_part_23_in/?utm_source=amp& utm_medium=& utm_content=post_body

Rock Newsday: One car showroom, two pages, 15 men and the birth of the NFL a hundred years ago
https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/nfl-100-ralph-e-hay-canton-1.49356359

Sports History Network: Ultimate Guide To The 14 Original NFL Teams
https://sportshistorynetwork.com/football/nfl/nfl-original-teams/

Borden ESPN: Amid a racial reckoning, a 50-year-old USC-Alabama football game carries new meaning
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29898540/amid-racial-reckoning-50-year-old-usc-alabama-football-game-carries-new-meaning

Shaffer Baltimore Sun: 'He would’ve been a star’: 50 years before Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, there was Eldridge Dickey
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-eldridge-dickey-20200917-y4pdymihfnfqfmli4tjvo45i4y-story.html

Before Eldridge Dickey, there was Hank Washington:

Geno Smith became the first black QB to start for the Giants, but in 1967 another young QB was hoping for his chance:

Whatever their failings in the 60's and 70's the Giants were somewhat ahead of the NFL's slow curve on race. Emlen Tunnell joined the Giants in 1948, he not only became the first black NFL Hall of Famer, but upon his return to the Giants one of the very few blacks in assistant coaching and later one of a few to hold a front office position.

In fact as recently as 1970 there were only 4 black assistant coaches in the NFL, 2 were with the Giants Tunnell and Rosey Brown. The first black coach of a professional football team was a former Giant, the late Allen Webb who became head coach of the minor league Long Island Bulls in 1971. He later would use that experience to become an important part of the 49er front office.

One story that has faded into obscurity is the Giants signing of QB Hank Washington in 1967. Washington had talents that many believed would make him the leading candidate to become the NFL's first black starting QB. Washington 6-4 212 from Los Angeles was the nation's fifth leading passer and fourth in total offense at West Texas State in 1966. West Texas State produced not only Washington but Mercury Morris, Duane Thomas, and yes Rocky Thompson. With his fine senior year Washington was invited to the Senior Bowl and the North South game. Draft publications listed him along with Steve Spurrier of Florida, Bob Griese of Purdue, and Don Horn of San Diego State as the top QB prospects in the 1967 draft. However while Spurrier went third overall to SF, Griese fourth overall to Miami, and Horn 25th overall to GB, Washington in a 17 round draft was not among the 445 players selected.

Washington commented on his failure to be drafted, "I definitely was disappointed, but I really couldn't say why I wasn't picked. Maybe I was the victim of newspaper stories saying how great I was. They exaggerated a bit and possibly scared some teams off, thinking my price would be too high." But right after the draft, six or seven teams from both pro leagues contacted me, and just about everyone from Canada." "I signed with the Giants because I like the way they talked to me. They were really interested. Wellington Mara (Giants president), Emlen Tunnell (defensive backfield coach), and Head Coach Allie Sherman treated me great."

The Giants despite having traded for Fran Tarkenton, having 1965 and 1966 starter Earl Morrall still on the roster along with 1966 Continental Football League callup Tom Kennedy, gave the undrafted free agent Washington a then sizeable $40,000 bonus to sign with them. The Raiders, Cardinals, and Browns were among the teams interested although none could explain to Washington why he hadn't been drafted.

In early training camp rookie scrimmages Washington impressed Head Coach Allie Sherman with a strong throwing arm. In one rookie scrimmage he went all the way at QB and he hooked up with Olympic sprinter Dick Stebbins of Grambling for five pass receptions. Allie Sherman would call him "a quarterback with fine potential." However he was sent to the Giants minor league affiliate in Westchester soon after the veterans arrived.

Washington would practice with the Giants 4 times a week in the morning and with the Westchester Bulls 3 times a week in the afternoon. He would make the Giants Taxi Squad but play for the Bulls.

Tom Scott former Giants LB and the GM of the Bulls explained, "Washington was sent down here to break some bad habits, which every rookie has. He'll also get the chance to play every game. That's the main reason he's here. With the Giants he wouldn't have had that opportunity." But he's a clean cut kid, and a hard worker.
He might be up with the Giants next year or the year after. He might just take right off and make it sooner you never know."

Washington would show brilliance and at times struggle as QB for the Bulls. He would alternate with veteran John DeNoia at QB. During a seven game win streak he would throw two TD's against Lowell in a 14-10 win, and complete 11 out of 20 vs Wilmington. The Bulls would make the championship game.

In 1968 he was back in training camp and was to have had his chance at starting a football game against the St. Louis Cards in Memphis if the veteran players followed through with their threats to strike. But that opportunity did not materialize and he was back with Westchester. He threw four TD's in a exhibition game against the Jets affiliate but remained in the minor leagues. Again dsiplaying moments of brilliance but also inconsistent performances which would again lead him to alternate at QB. For the 1969 season he joined the Hartford Knights.

On January 31, 1971, Washington at the age of twenty five died of cancer in Hartford. He never made the NFL, Marlin Briscoe drafted by Denver in 1968 would be the first starting black QB.

Giants Birthdays 9-18

Jayron Hosley RCB D3-Virginia Tech 2012 NYG 2012-2015 9-18-1990

Butch Wilson TE TR-BAL 1968 NYG 1968-1969 9-18-1941

Non-Fumbler Fumbled Away Viking By SID HARTMAN Minneapolis Tribune Staff Writer

NEW YORK, N.Y.-“Gene Washington has never had the reputation of being a fumbler. The former Michigan State Ail-American fumbled only one pass all last year. It. was ironic that his fumble on the Vikings' 36- yard line with 2:57 left to play Sunday turned a 23-17 Vikings lead into a 24-23 New York Giants' victory. "I had taken , two or three steps when I got hit hard by Spider Lockhart," recalled Washington who had made the first down. "He hit my elbow and the ball bounced out. "Normally, the guy who covers me on this pattern is the cornerback. Ozzie (Dave Osborn) was trying to clear out the weakside linebacker on this play. I was surprised when Lock-hart came up from safety to make the tackle." It didn't help that Washington had suffered a hyper-extension of his knee early in the game after he had caught a 48-yard touchdown pass. On the plane returning to Minnesota, Earsell Mackbee still didn't know for sure what did happen when Don Herrmann, a rookie receiver, caught his second touchdown pass of the fourth quarter to turn defeat into victory for the Giants. "We were on about the five yard line at the time and in this particular situation outside move. I don't know whether I took a step or just froze when he broke ation we had man on man coverage," said Mackbee. "I had to make up my mind whether to take the inside or outside away from Herrmann. "I chose to take the inside and I lined up right on the ball. He gave me the for the inside. "I did think the ball was thrown low by (Francis) Tarkenton. I was really surprised when he caught it for the score." Herrmann, the 15th draft choice from Waynesburg, Pa., college earlier in the quarter had battled Paul Krause and Bobby Bryant for a Tarkenton pass that wound up falling in the hands of tight end Butch Wilson the five yard line set up his first touchdown catch. He said the pass play was just a quick down and out. "All I did was step inside like I was going to the corner, fake, and come back. Francis threw it right on the money." Krause and Bryant were still shaking their heads on the plane ride back about the catch by Moore. "I just threw the ball up in the air in desperation," said Tarkenton about the pass. "It was third down and long yardage. When I saw two of our receivers in the corner of the end zone I decided to throw it rather than eat the ball for a big loss." Jack Patera, Vikings assistant coach who was on the telephones from the press box to the bench, said the ball rolled off Krause's back into Moore's hands after Krause and Bryant had collided fighting for the ball with Herrmann. "I saw Francis scrambling and felt he was going to let it go," said Moore. "Then the next thing I knew the three puys went up for the ball and it bounced right into my hands." Tarkenton claimed that the hard Vikings rush forced him to go to a ground game even in the final quarter though the Giants were behind by two touchdowns. "We really wanted to pass to try to score in a hurry," said Francis. "But Alan Page. Carl Filer, Jim Marshall and Gary I.arsen gave mo the toughest rush I've had in my nine years in pro football. "When we got behind, they were smoking us so hard that we finally had to turn to the draw play even though they always play the draw so well. "We were keeping seven and eight men in to block. And they were still getting to us. "Herrmann is one fantastic receiver and he made the touchdown passes work not me in both cases in the fourth quarter." "I'm just glad we don't have to play the Vikings again. Giant coach Alex Web-, ster said the game plan was to try to hold the Viking front four loii enough to throw short passes and run the ball as much as possible. "W?.n Minnesota scored on those early bombs we were n real trouble," s;iid Webster. "What actually won the game for us was our defense. They stopped the Vikings from scoring touchdowns and forced them to settle for three points once after they had marched to our eight and another time to the six. "It turned out that the draw plays and the fumble by Washington won the game for us. "The big thing was that we stayed in there and fought even when it looked like a hopeless task. This victory will do us a lot of good."

He had to pass and the Vikings knew it; they were going to go after Tarkenton with everything they had and he knew it. The Giants' line could not keep the Vikings' front four out. They poured in after Tarkenton, , forcing him to run for the left sideline?. Just as he was about to go under he threw a desperation pass, lofting it high and hoping. Cornerback Bryant and. free safety Paul Krause had it covered all the way, screening Hermann from the play. Both went high for the ball and both got a piece of it. Just a piece. Reserve tight end Butch Wilson got the whole thing. The ball bounced off a player's back and right into the hands of Wilson, who had run over to assist. He went down under a mob of Vikings at the nine-yard line, but the Giants had a first down. The crowd erupted again, frightening every pigeon in the stadium off its roost. The crowd, the same fans who had booed earlier when Tarkenton was off target with his passes, was with him now. He was their master. He raised his arms for quiet so the players could hear his signals and the fans hushed as one. He dropped back and rifled a pass to Herrmann, cutting between Roy Winston and Earsell Mackbee, for the touchdown. There were 59 seconds remaining to play. The Vikings took the kickoff, couldn't move and turned the ball over on downs. Tarkenton ran out Continued From Page 37 strictly for show. But the Giants were firing for leal when they opened up in those final minutes. Although the Vikings front four chased Francis Tarkenton all over the field, knocking him down three times and forcing him to run for safety on seven other occasions, the Georgia General kept on shooting until he hit his target. Neither fourth quarter touchdown was easy, and the winning one was a trick shot, a two-cushion carom. Tarkenton faced third down and nine at the Minnesota 19 and lofted a pass to rookie flanker Don Herrmann, who made a leaping catch at the two and bulled past Bobby Bryant and Wally Hilgenberg to go in for the score that brought the Giants within 23 17. Only 4:48 remained and the Vikings had the football. But not for long. Gary Cuozzo passed to Gene Washington for a first down on the Minnesota 34, Washington was ripped by Spider Lockhart, fumbled, and Ralph Heck recovered at the Vikings' 36. The clock said 3:26 remained to play. The crowd exploded into a roar ... the Giants had 3:26 in which to cover the 36 yards. The hubbub lasted for two plays, until the Giants were penalized for holding back to the 43, end it was deathly silent when Tarkenton's second - down pass went incomplete.

Tarkenton now faced third down and 17 at 43. He had to pass and the Vikings knew it; they were going to go after Tarkenton with everything they had and he knew it. The Giants' line could not keep the Vikings' front four out. They poured in after Tarkenton, , forcing him to run for the left sideline?. Just as he was about to go under he threw a desperation pass, lofting it high and hoping. Cornerback Bryant and. free safety Paul Krause had it covered all the way, screening Hermann from the play. Both went high for the ball and both got a piece of it. Just a piece. Reserve tight end Butch Wilson got the whole thing. The ball bounced off a player's back and right into the hands of Wilson, who had run over to assist. He went down under a mob of Vikings at the nine-yard line, but the Giants had a first down.

The crowd erupted again, frightening every pigeon in the stadium off its roost. The crowd, the same fans who had booed earlier when Tarkenton was off target with his passes, was with him now. He was their master. He raised his arms for quiet so the players could hear his signals and the fans hushed as one. He dropped back and rifled a pass to Herrmann, cutting between Roy Winston and Earsell Mackbee, for the touchdown. There were 59 seconds remaining to play. The Vikings took the kickoff, couldn't move and turned the ball over on downs. Tarkenton ran out the final seconds and the crowd unleashed its biggest roar of the day when the Giants mobbed coach Alex Webster and carried him off the field on their shoulders. It was his first game as a head coach after replacing Allie Sherman. It had looked for much of the game like his debut was going to be as a loser. Cuozzo had burned the Giants with the bomb, hitting Washington with passes of 50 and 48 yards (one for a touchdown) and John Henderson for 47 yards and a score. The Giants seemed to be doing their darndest to lose at that point, drawing penalties at crucial times and failing to give Tarkenton any protection. But the Vikings had saved their bungles for when they really counted. They fumbled twice and lost them both. They had one pass intercepted. Their kicking game was, in coach Bud Grant's words, "bad." Bob Lee punted six times for a 36.7 average and three were especially poor 27, 30 and 31 yards. Fred Cox reached the end zone only once in six kickoffs and four didn't even get to the five-yard line. The Vikings missed two tackles on Homer Jones that allowed the Giants' end to complete a 54-yard scoring pass play. They lost to an inferior football team. "With the opportunities we had, it could have been a 42-24 game," Grant said. "Like that one time when we were inside their 10. We throw to the guy (Bill Brown) who has the best hands on the team and he drops the ball in the end zone." i "Every time they seemed i ready to roll over we'd do I something that would give i them new life." So the game the V'ikins i should have won is over. They will not have such an opportunity for some time. Next Sunday it's Baltimore.”

In Memoriam

Len Barnum B TR-PIT 1938 NYG 1938-1940 Born 9-18-1912 Died 11-24-1998

Gene Johnson DB W-MIN 1961 NYG 1961 Born 9-28-1935 Died 8-04-1997

Skippy Minisi D1-Pennsylvania 1948 NYG 1948 Born 9-18-1926 Died 5-05-2005

NYT: MINISI, PENN STAR, WITH GIANT ELEVEN; New York Club Strengthens Backfield as All-Around Ace Signs for a Year (2-25-1948)

“First draft choice in both major professional gridiron circuits, Anthony (Skippy) Minisi, backfield ace of the University of Pennisylvania, has decided to cast his lot with the New York Giants of the National Football League. The announcement, hardly a surprise, was made yesterday at a luncheon at Leone's.”

Legends of the Philadelphia Bar Association

“Anthony S. Minisi
Anthony S. Minisi (1926-2005) was best known by his college nickname, "Skippy." He was a civil trial lawyer whose courtroom skills mirrored his aggressive style of play on the football field. He specialized in the defense of personal injury cases, including negligence, products liability and toxic tort claims, as well as domestic relations disputes. He was chairman of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association, chairman of the Committee of Seventy, chairman of the Easttown Township Board of Supervisors, and a leader in many other civic organizations. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame by reason of his record as a halfback for the University of Pennsylvania and the United States Naval Academy..”

Orville Tuttle RG/LG 1937 NYG 1937-1941, 1946 Born 9-18-1912 Died 4-1978

Willis PFJ: The NFL's Best-ever Pre-WWII Guards

23. “Orville Tuttle (1937-41, 1946) Standing only 5-feet-9, 210-pounds, Tuttle played bigger and tougher than his height during his six years (60 games) with the New York Giants’ playing alongside Hein at center and Del Isloa at the other guard, Tuttle helped the Giants win the 1938 NFL Championship: fast for a linemen and very smart player, who would go on to a coaching career later (line coach with Boston Yanks, Washington Redskins); elected to 2 Pro Bowls (1938-39 All-Star games); consistently named Second-team All-Pro during his career, by UP (1938-39), INS (1937-38), Football Writers (1938), and the NFL (1939); Honorable mention NFL in 1937-1938 and Football Writers in 1940.

“As a player at New York, he (Tuttle), was probably the fastest linesman, and very hard to hurt. He knew how to take care of himself and was usually the last regular to be taken out of a game”-wrote the Daily Oklahoman in 1942 about Tuttle.”

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