New York Giants, Osi and Jones in the News

July 27, 2010

The New York Giants had a couple of players hit the newswire today. Rookie safety Chad Jones has finally left the hospital after weeks of painful surgeries and rehabilitation. Jones will not be able to play during the 2010 NFL Season and was placed on the IR list.

Jones’ situation (not you Jersey Shore Mike) reminds me of RB Andre Brown and what he had to endure his rookie season. Brown is healthy this year and eager to do his thing on the field. Do not sleep on Andre in 2010, he can still prove to be the steal of the 2009 NFL Draft, like some experts have predicted. Jones will also miss his entire rookie year and have to concentrate on a long rehab process. Get well soon Chad.

Going to the defensive side of the ball now, DE Osi Umenyiora was told by doctors that they recommend hip surgery. Osi took the recommendation and discussed things with the team but has decided to wait for the surgery. The doctor (Marc Philippon) is well known in the sports world and recently did A-Rod’s hip surgery, among other stars. This could explain why the front office drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul in round one of the 2010 draft. That is a move that had some fans scratching their heads. Once again, there are things going on that we might not be aware of, so it’s best to trust the opinions of those who have the entire story. Have faith in the coaches and staff. I’m sure that all of the Giants fans are behind you Osi and want you to get healthy.

The Giants still have to concern themselves with the status of star safety Kenny Phillips. Kenny was quoted as saying he felt great and ready to hit the field during training camp. Big Blue will have an extremely dangerous tandem with Phillips and Rolle, proceed with caution NFL receivers.

– In other NFL news, WR Terrell Owens has signed a one year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

RD – nygreporter.com

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2010 New York Giants: NYG Notes 07-10-10

July 10, 2010

Hello Giants Fans, I thought we could take a look back on a busy week and make some notes. We are now only 3 weeks away from the beginning of training camp in Albany and still questions remain. Big questions. Like the annoying fly buzzing around a room, the middle linebacker position continues to evoke concern in Giants fans. The team has talked about LB’s Goff and Blackburn taking over for AP and have also mentioned rookie LB Phillip Dillard. Speaking of Antonio Pierce (AP), our former defensive general has officially retired from the NFL to work a gig at ESPN. Good Luck from the NYG Reporter AP!

We are now on the cusp of beginning training camp and the football news world is dead. This cruel summer dead zone happens every year. The floodgates will open for writers in three weeks, when the 2010 training camp starts. Until then, we will have the Pierre-Paul and Joseph contracts to discuss. We may have some roster moves to work with too. I expect the team to bring in another WR or CB before camp begins.

Another question people aren’t really discussing is, how will all of those 2009 injured players come back from their ailments? The G-men had a ton of players who were banged up and almost a dozen who landed on season ending IR. Two players that I’m very interested in seeing are DT Jay Alford and RB Andre Brown. Hopefully, they have both completely healed from their injuries and can contribute in 2010.

Let’s take a look at some of the recent summer news about the New York Giants.

– The 2010 New York Giants training camp begins in 3 weeks.

– Antonio Pierce officially retires from the NFL to join the ESPN TV crew.

– Rookie safety Chad Jones continues to recover from his season ending car accident. Get well soon Chad.

– Giants LT David Diehl rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Friday 7-9-10.

– The New York Giants have signed five of seven 2010 draft picks so far.

-The Giants still haven’t signed their first round pick DE Jason Pierre-Paul.

-The Giants second round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft Linval Joseph remains unsigned as well.

– The Giants Special Teams have lost two players for the season already.

– The Manning family held their annual passing camp in Louisiana.

– Giants WR Steve Smith has asked for a new contract. He is scheduled to make $550,000 in 2010.

– The 18 game expansion for regular season games is still a hot topic in New York.

– Questions still remain about safety Kenny Phillips’ status and condition. Get well soon Kenny.

– Giants WR Hakeem Nicks has been putting in some extra work during the offseason.

– New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell continues to win the respect of his players and earn praise from the front office.

When do you think rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul will sign his contract? Do you think he could be a possible hold out?

RD – nygreporter.com

SUPPORT THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT!!


New York Giants sign Rookie Safety Chad Jones

June 12, 2010

The New York Giants signed 2010 3rd round pick S Chad Jones to a 4-year contract on Friday. The former LSU standout is 6’2″ 218 pounds. He was asked to lose some weight when he first arrived at 230 pounds. He has cut 12 pounds since then and seems to be a sponge when it comes to learning the system. He is a tremendous athlete who could have played in the MLB if he decided to stick with baseball. He was a two sport athlete in college playing football and baseball.

Jones will wear No.35 for the New York Giants.

The New York Giants had one of the worst defensive backfields in the game of football in 2009. It was absolutely atrocious and painful to watch. The coaches and front office made swift and harsh changes to the team after one of the worst overall defensive performances in years. They signed safety Antrel Rolle via free agency and picked up safety Deon Grant. They also drafted safety Chad Jones in the third round. Jones is a player that I featured as a possible super star on the next level, so I was very happy to see the team steal in in the third round. I have big expectations for this kid and want to welcome him to New York.

I think it is safe to say that the defensive backfield has been thoroughly addressed. Let’s not forget new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell who is known as a DB coach. The 2010 New York Giants will look nothing like the team that took the field in 2009. Chad Jones will just add to the mix, in what is becoming a crowded backfield talent wise. If S Kenny Phillips can return to the team fully healthy, he will start opposite S Antrel Rolle. One of the three safeties, Johnson, Jones and Grant will surely not be with the team next season and possibly even this season. Kenny Phillips is the wild card in the whole DB scheme.

– Kicker Sam Swank was also waived by the team yesterday.

What do you think about the New York Giants signing rookie safety Chad Jones to a 4-year deal? Do you think he will become a solid NFL player?

RD – nygreporter.com


New York Giants Have Some Injured Players

May 22, 2010

The New York Giants have some players who are banged up and could miss playing time. The most serious of them all is backup offensive lineman Kevin Boothe. Boothe will be having surgery next week to repair a torn pectoral muscle and he will miss at least 4 months. This should open up an opportunity for one of the younger players to step up and give the team some depth at the offensive lineman position. It would not surprise me to see Giants GM Jerry Reese grab a free agent before the season started either. Protecting Eli Manning is priority number one when it comes to the offense.

Speaking of Eli Manning, one of his favorite targets will be going under the knife as well. Giants tight end Kevin Boss will be having surgery on his ankle and is expect to miss 4-6 weeks during his rehabilitation process. The reports are saying that he should be ready for the start of training camp. This is good news for Giants fans because Kevin Boss is more then just a safety valve for the offense. Boss showed his toughness last year by making some very difficult catches in traffic and holding onto the ball. Getting that kind of skill and toughness from the tight end position is a rarity. It sounds like Boss will not miss any playing time but if he has a set back, it could mean that Travis Beckum could see an increased role in 2010.

DT Jay Alford and RB Andre Brown are two players who missed the entire 2009 season, they were back at practice and reportedly feeling good. This is extremely good news for the fans and team because those guys just make us deeper and stronger at two positions that require depth. I’m curious to see what Andre Brown can do on the field and I hope that Jay Alford can return healthy and motivated. RB Brandon Jacobs and RB Ahmad Bradshaw also participated in practice, which is great news since they both had off season surgery as well.

The Giants have been very quiet when it comes to discussing safety Kenny Phillips. The fact that the team addressed the safety position so much during this off season doesn’t comfort fans in the least. Phillips is a difference maker and someone the G-men cannot afford to lose. If Phillips is unable to pay during the 2010 season, it would be a huge loss. If it goes deeper then that and Phillips’ career is in jeopardy, then this might be one of the saddest stories in recent NFL memory. One thing is for certain, Kenny Phillips is working his tail off to get back on the field.

What do you think about the latest New York Giants injury reports? Will Kenny Phillips play in 2010?

RD – NYGReporter.com


nygreporter Calls “Eisen’s Insight LIVE” on Giants.com

May 5, 2010

NYGReporter was representing on Tuesday, as we called into the Giants.com radio podcast “Eisen’s Insight LIVE” and talked to the guys over at the stadium. The show is hosted by Michael Eisen and John Schmeelk. I called in as “Robert from New York” and can be found at the halfway mark of the show. I asked the guys about safety Kenny Phillips’ injury status and how he is progressing. Michael Eisen said that he was coming along well but he will need to give it the final test on the field to really know for sure. He also said the team is being “cautious” about announcing anything definitive concerning Phillips. I’m sure that I am not the only Giants fan concerned about Phillips’ situation because he is one of the most promising athletes the Giants have. We all wish him a full and speedy recovery.

I also asked about RB Andre Brown (ruptured achilles) and CB Aaron Ross (hamstring) and how they were doing, after both had suffered injuries in 2009. Again, Michael Eisen said that both of them were coming along fine and that it was a good thing (as good as it can be) that Brown got injured last August, so he had time to fully heal. Eisen also mentioned that Ross will need to get on the field and see how the hamstring feels before he will know anything for certain. Aaron Ross plays a huge role in the Big Blue secondary and Brown was touted as a possible break out star when he was drafted in 2009. The fans certainly hope that both of these men will be good to go in 2010.

It was a brief talk during the podcast but I found both Eisen and Schmeelk to be good guys. I have followed their work for quite some time and had a lot of fun being on their show. I was going to ask if I could say a plug for NYGReporter.com but wasn’t sure if that would be a conflict of interest, maybe next time. Enjoy!

I will leave a link to the Giants Radio podcast below, so that our readers can listen to it for themselves. Remember to have the volume turned up on your computer when you click the link.

RD – NYGReporter.com


New York Giants: Seven Rounds in Seven Days, Rd.1

April 20, 2010

They say that all good things must come to an end. With that being said, we have reached the final day and round of our “Seven Rounds in Seven Days” segment. It has been a pleasure to do these comparisons for our readers and we hope you learned as much as we did. We are now only 2 days away from the 2010 NFL Draft. Although, I do not like the NFL experimenting with this new 3-day NFL Draft event, I am excited to have finally reached draft week. I believe that Roger Goodell will find it to be an unsuccessful venture and return to the traditional 2-day draft weekend that all football fans have grown to love. They are trying to generate an air of excitement for something that doesn’t need any promotion and it is coming off as an over dramatic soap opera. They are doing the same thing with releasing the 2010 NFL schedule TONIGHT at 7:00 PM EST. A 3-hour television event for releasing the 2010 schedule? Really Roger?

Be sure to check back with us tomorrow, as we do our final New York Giants draft analysis, breakdown and needs assessment. Then come back on Thursday when we begin our LIVE coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft for three days (rolls eyes) through Saturday.

Let’s take a look at the New York Giants first round picks for the past six years.

ROUND 1

Ernie Accorsi

2004 Draft – Round 1 – QB Eli Manning

2005 Draft – Round 1 – No picks available

2006 Draft – Round 1 – DE Mathias Kiwanuka

Jerry Reese

2007 Draft – Round 1 – CB Aaron Ross

2008 Draft – Round 1 – S Kenny Phillips

2009 Draft – Round 1 – WR Hakeem Nicks

NYGReporter

2010 Draft – Round 1 – Position Prediction – Linebacker

There are some very good players listed here for round one. This is going to be just as difficult to choose a winner, as it was in round two. With QB Eli Manning staring us in the face, I don’t know how we can choose Jerry Reese outright. Once again, Accorsi is missing a pick this round and Jerry Reese has held on to all of his. We have some Pro Bowl players listed here and some that have had extremely short NFL Careers thus far. WR Hakeem Nicks should have an outstanding season in 2010 and if Kenny Phillips can return healthy, he will be a force at the safety position. DE Mathias Kiwanuka continues to push his case for a starting role and if Osi talks his way out of New York, he will get his shot.

Taking everything into consideration from the history we have shown here, I have to give round one to Ernie Accorsi. Eli Manning is just too much to pass over because he is the cream of this crop and a Super Bowl MVP. CB Aaron Ross and S Kenny Phillips have had injuries that have limited their careers thus far but that isn’t Jerry Reese’s fault. Both of these players could have outstanding careers if they can remain healthy.

What do you think about the New York Giants first round picks from the past six years?

RD – NYGReporter.com


2010 New York Giants: The Safeties

April 7, 2010

This was the number one need for the New York Giants and it seems like Jerry Reese knew it. After signing Antrel Rolle to a big contract and bringing on Deon Grant, the Giants made a statement by these moves and by cutting safeties Aaron Rouse and CC Brown. This leaves the Giants with five safeties on the team as of today. With Michael Johnson as the number one backup to the Kenny Phillips/Antrel Rolle tandem, I see no reason why this won’t be one of the best defensive back groups in football. The only thing that could derail this plan is if Kenny Phillips is not fully healthy. Remember, it was not very long ago that Kenny Phillips was being compared to the great Ed Reed. The future of the Giants safety group resides with Phillips’ health.

Safety Deon Grant was brought in as a reliable safety, who doesn’t miss games. Grant is 31 years old and the oldest player in the safety corps, automatically making him the veteran voice. The safety position was the worst of the bunch in 2009. Having Perry Fewell work with the defense is a plus. Bill Sheridan was released after an atrocious 2009 campaign. The defensive backfield will be under a microscope in 2010 and I expect the Giants players to be ready. I am assuming that the signing of Grant means that Rashad will not be on the final roster for 2010. This is an area that was thoroughly addressed already this offseason.

What do you think about the current New York Giants safety situation? Is there any reason to pursue another Safety in the 2010 NFL Draft?

Here is a list of the current New York Giants Safeties:

1. Kenny Phillips #21

2. Antrel Rolle #26

3. Michael Johnson #20

4. Sha’reef Rashad #30

5. Deon Grant # TBA

RD – NYGReporter.com


Oh, the smell of a new season….

March 17, 2010

After the beginning of free agency and since last Monday, when the players went back to work, there is a fresh smell in the air. Us Giants fans can all try and forget about the 2009 season and focus on what lies ahead in 2010.

Will the roster moves, the coaching staff changes and even more importantly, the rehabilitation of several players be the catalyst to jumpstart a playoff season for Big Blue? Will Eli Manning continue his growth with new quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, and the help of new backup Jim Sorgi, the very man who helped his older brother prepare for games?

Can Brandon Jacobs return to his bruising self, who terrorized linebackers with his low shoulder blow? Will our defense become respectable again under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell? What about Chris Canty proving his value, Osi Umeniyora showing what he is really made of, and Justin Tuck being able to use both arms again, will that happen? Moreover, can Kenny Phillips return at 100% and fulfill his star potential and will Antrell Rolle become the leader that this defense needs him to be?

So many questions…amongst all these doubts, there is only one thing that is certain: I can’t wait until September!

Saulo Padua – NYGReporter.com


Rolle excited to play with Kenny Phillips

March 7, 2010

After Antrel Rolle signed with the Giants, he expressed how excited he is to be playing with Kenny Phillips. Both attended the University of Miami (The U) and seem to have been friends before the deal got done. There is no question that with a healthy Phillips in the mix, the G-Men have one of the best safety combos in the league. All of the Giants fans out there are pulling for Kenny Phillips to make a speedy and full recovery. Reports came out last month saying that he was ahead of schedule in his rehab. That is good news for the team and fans. As I have said repeatedly, I still believe that Big Blue will grab another safety in the 2010 NFL Draft. As much as we love Phillips, as of right now and today, he is still out of the mix. The team must prepare itself, as if Phillips will not be on the field. Even though, we all hope he will be.

RD – NYGReporter.com


Welcome to the NYG Reporter!

March 6, 2010

This is a website for New York Giants fans and writers to come and discuss New York Giants football. There is nothing left out of the discussion here concerning the G-Men during the season and off season. We are looking to build a strong network of solid New York Giants writers.

We have been featured on CBS Sports, USA Today, Giants.com, Giants 101, SB Nation and bleacher report just to name a few. The goal was to create a stress free environment for Giants writers to come and share their thoughts and strategies, without feeling suffocated or pressured to constantly write new material for the site. All are welcome here, from the established and seasoned sports writer, to the beginner trying to make sense of it all. Welcome to the NYG Reporter!

This site was born on March 6, 2010. I hope you decide to check us out and stay a while!

Robert Domaine – nygreporter.com