Giants Lend Their Practice Facility to Bucs
AUGUST 17: Giants Lend Their Practice Facility to Bucs
The New York Giants came to the rescue of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after their joint practice with the Jets on Thursday was canceled by their hosts.
The Bucs, needing a place to practice, were offered the Giants practice fields at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford instead of having to find a high school or college field.
The Giants, who host the Carolina Panthers on Friday, held a morning walkthrough, which is usually held inside their field house. The Bucs, who play the Jets on Saturday night, got to use the Giants' grass fields and some of their equipment for the practice.
“The Bucs needed a place to work since their joint practice apparently was canceled. They asked about our fields. Given our schedule, we said yes. It worked out,” the Giants said in a statement.
AUGUST 13: Daniel Jones Surprises an Eagles Fan
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones recently went undercover at a Boss store as a retail associate tasked with helping customers select merchandise.
Jones, who tried (often unsuccessfully) to convince patrons to select Giants gear, largely went unrecognized until the end of the video. But in one funny moment, the Giants quarterback encountered an Eagles fan, whom he tried to convince to buy some Giants merchandise.
When the young shopper declined by saying his parents wouldn't be too happy if he brought home any Giants gear, Jones smiled and quipped, "I'm sure you've disappointed your parents before. It's alright."
Eventually, the Eagles fan, shopping with two other friends, recognized Jones before posing for a photo with the quarterback.
No word, however, on if the young shopper gave in and bought any Giants apparel or if his parents were disappointed in their son's chance encounter.
AUGUST 13: Darren Waller Celebrates a Special Milestone
New York Giants tight end Darren Waller celebrated a very special milestone in his life this week.
Waller marked six years of sobriety this week, overcoming prior substance abuse issues that contributed to league-imposed suspensions in 2016 and 2017 while a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Waller, who opened up about his demons which included an addiction to painkillers and alcohol that began when he was 15 years old. The path of destruction nearly led to tragedy when Waller had a near-fatal overdose of drugs laced with fentanyl in 2017.
Waller entered rehab on his own free will without any intervention or coaxing from others. His rehab successful, Waller soon returned to the NFL, where in addition to being a nightmare for opposing defenses to cover, he used his platform to help others avoid the same pitfalls that nearly destroyed his life.
Today Waller continues that work through The Darren Waller Foundation. He shares his story of struggles with others to help them seek the help they need and was the Raiders 2021 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2021, given his untiring work in helping others overcome their addictions.
AUGUST 11: Jaylon Smith Joins the Saints
Linebacker Jaylon Smith, who played the last two seasons with the New York Giants, is signing with the New Orleans Saints, per a report by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
The 28-year-old Smith was originally a second-round draft choice of the Cowboys in 2016 after a successful career at Notre Dame. Smith, who earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2019, was cut by the Cowboys in October 2021. He then made a quick stop with the Packers before joining the Giants.
Over his two seasons with the Giants, he appeared in 17 games with 13 starts and accumulated 88 tackles (46 solo), four tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and two sacks.
The Saints had also worked out four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr but could not close the deal. Barr has since been linked as planning a possible visit to the Giants, though as of Friday, no such visit had been planned.
The Giants will visit the Saints in Week 15 this season.
AUGUST 3: Dexter Lawrence Joins Saquon Barkley in NFL Network's Top 100 Players List
New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence became the second member of the 2023 team to land in the NFL NEtwork's Top 100 players list, as voted on by players around the league.
Lawrence had a breakout campaign last year, finishing with career-bests in tackles (68), stops (35), as well as team-best totals in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (7, tied with Jihad Ward), and quarterback hits (28).
The 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, who debuts on the list, was voted to his first Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro. This past off-season, Lawrence signed a four-year, $90 million contract.
Lawrence joins teammate Saquon Barkley in the Top 100 list airing on the NFL Network. Barkley was voted No. 31 by his peers.
AUGUST 2: Saquon Lands in NFL's Top 100 List
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley might be a part of a position group that isn't respected as much when it comes to earnings, but as far as his peers are concerned, he's right up there with the best players in the league.
Barkley was voted to the annual NFL Top 100 Players list, a list chosen by players around the league. Barkley landed at No. 31, the same ranking as he earned in 2020m the last time he made the list.
The 26-year-old Barkley, who has made the list in three of his five years in the league, is coming off his second Pro Bowl season in which he set a new career-high in rushing yards (1,312). He also recorded his second-career double-digit performance in rushing touchdowns with 10, one shy of his career-best 11 set as a rookie in 2018 following his selection as the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
JULY 31: Giants Work Out Four O-Linemen
According to the NFL transaction wire, the New York Giants hosted four offensive linemen for workouts on Monday.
The four linemen were guard Sean Harlow, Tommy Kraemer, Chance Lytle, and James Murray.
Harlow, 6-foot-4 and 284 pounds, was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2017. However, he only lasted one year into his four-year contract with the team, who waived him in 2018.
He then had a short stay with the Colts before rejoining the Falcons. In 2021, he played for the Cardinals and then went on to play in all 17 games for Arizona in 2022, making three starts.
Overall, Harlow has appeared in 33 games with eight starts.
Kramer, 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, played his college ball at Notre Dame. He served as a key reserve along the Lions interior offensive line in 2021 at guard and center, in which he played in nine games with three starts. But then injuries cost him the 2022 season.
Murray signed as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in 2018, landing with the Chiefs, for whom he appeared in two games. He also had stays with the Ravens, Jets, Titans, and Jaguars.
Lytle, 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds played tackle in college stints at Colorado before finishing up at Duke last season. Murray, 6-foor-5 and 305 pounds played his college ball at Holy Cross and spent part of the 2018 season with the Chiefs.
Giants offensive lineman JC Hassenauer suffered what is likely a season-ending triceps injury during Monday's practice, one for which he will need surgery, per head coach Brian Daboll.
However, the Giants had the workouts planned before the injury, as the team regularly holds workouts to develop short lists of candidates in the event of an injury.
JULY 29: Giants Make Pair of Roster Moves
The New York Giants have placed defensive tackle Vernon Butler on the reserve/injured list and have waived outside linebacker Elerson Smith (heel) with an injury settlement.
Butler had initially been listed as having failed to report to camp, which resulted in his landing on the "reserve/did not report" list. Head coach Brian Daboll wouldn't reveal what was going on with the defender other than to say that he was working through some issues. The Giants then would sign defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, most recently with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL, to take the open roster spot.
Smith, the team's fourth-round pick in 2021, was besieged by injuries since leaving Northern Iowa despite having additional eligibility. Among his injuries were hamstring, neck, and calf issues that caused him to spend more time on injured reserve than on the field.
His most recent injury was a heel issue that prompted the Giants to waive him at the start of camp. Once he cleared waivers, he automatically landed on the Giants' injured reserve list, staying until he reached an injury settlement with the team.
Smith is now a free agent.
JULY 28: Former Giants Receiver John Ross Retires from NFL
Receiver John Ross, whose entry into the NFL came with much fanfare given his combine record-setting 4.22-second 40-yard dash gained him a lot of buzz, has called it a career.
Ross, drafted by the Bengals in the first round of the 2017 draft at No. 9 overall, was placed on the reserve/retired list by the Chiefs, marking the end to a disappointing NFL career in which injuries plagued Ross.
The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Ross, who played his college ball at Washington, tried to revive his NFL career with the Giants, who signed him as a free agent in 2021. But Ross's bad streak of injuries continued when he opened the season on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp.
Ross was designated for return after missing four games, but he underwhelmed in ten games played (one start) for the Giants, catching 11 of 20 balls for 224 yards and one touchdown.
JULY 26: New York Giants Sign XFL Defensive Tackle
The Giants have signed defensive tackle Kevin Atkins to their training camp roster.
Atkins played this past season for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL. He tied for second in the XFL with a pair of fumble recoveries and recorded a sack to go with 14 tackles in 10 games for St. Louis.
Atkins, a fifth-round pick by the Battlehawks, played his college ball at Fresno State, where he accumulated 141 tackles (71 solo) and 16.5 sacks over five seasons. He was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft but didn't make the final cut.
He worked out for the Giants on Monday.
The Giants have an opening at defensive tackle after Vernon Butler failed to report to training camp. He is currently on the "reserve/did not report" list.
JULY 25: Giants Waive Two Defenders, Add One
The New York Giants have waived/injured outside linebacker Elerson Smith and have waived defensive back Trenton Thompson. The two moves create roster spots for running back Saquon Barkley, who signed his franchise tag tender today, and newly signed outside linebacker Tashawn Bower.
Smith was a fourth-round pick by the Giants in 2021 out of Northern Iowa. Despite having some intriguing skillsets and size, injuries kept him from getting on the field, his most recent being an Achilles injury. He was listed as being waived with a heel issue.
JULY 24: Giants Waive Two Receivers
The New York Giants have waived receivers Dre Miller and Makai Polk ahead of the start of their training camp.
The roster moves were made to fit in the additions of defensive lineman Brandin Bryant, signed Monday, and running back James Robinson, signed last week.
JULY 21: Saquon Removes Mention of Giants from Social Media Profiles
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has yet to sign the franchise tag, which means he's technically not a member of the team until he does so. And because he's not a member of the team, Barkley has scrubbed any mention of the Giants from his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Barkley's contract negotiations with the Giants didn't end with the two sides reaching a deal by Monday's deadline, leaving Barkley with no choice but to either skip the 2023 campaign altogether and forfeit the $10.1 million guaranteed money or sign the tag and gamble on himself.
Barkley said in a recent interview that sitting out the season is not something he wants to do, but it's clear that he won't be reporting to training camp any time soon.
What Barkley could do as a final form of protest against how things worked out is to sign the franchise tag a day or two before the Giants' regular-season home opener against Dallas, as the timing would ensure he gets a paycheck but without probably having to play to get it given it would be so late in the week.
JULY 21: Saints Release Former Giants O-Lineman
Guard/center Billy Price, who spent one season with the Giants as their starting center in 2021, was released by the New Orleans Saints on Thursday with a non-football injury designation, according to Thursday’s transaction wire.
The 28-year-old Price was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2018 draft, chosen by the Bengals. He spent three seasons in Cincinnati, starting 19 games before being traded to the Giants in 2021 for defensive lineman B.J. Hill.
JULY 20: NFL Owners Unanimously Approve Washington Commanders Sale to Josh Harris
It's been nearly a quarter of a century, but the rocky tenure of now former Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder is finally and officially over.
During a special league meeting held in Minneapolis, the NFL owners, including the New York Giants' Mara and Tisch families, voted unanimously to approve the record-setting (for a sports franchise) $6.05 billion sale to a group led by billionaire Josh Harris.
“Congratulations to Josh Harris and his impressive group of partners. Josh will be a great addition to the NFL," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement released by the league. "He has a remarkable record in business, sports, and his communities. The diverse group that Josh has put together is outstanding for its business acumen and strong Washington ties, and we welcome them to the NFL as well.
With the sale officially completed, the league also released the findings of a special investigation into alleged misconduct and financial improprieties brought about by former Commanders employees conducted by former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White and her colleagues from Debevoise & Plimpton.
Snyder is to pay $60 million to the league in resolution of Ms. White's findings and all outstanding matters.
JULY 19: Giants Make Three Roster Moves Ahead of Training Camp
The New York Giants have waived defensive back Leonard Jonhson with an injury designation, placed inside linebacker Jarrad Davis on injured reserve, and signed defensive back Darren Evans.
Johnson, who played his college ball at Duke, was trying to launch his NFL career after suffering an ill-timed torn ACL while training for the 2022 NFL Draft. He signed with the Giants earlier this year, but his injury misfortunes continued. However, it's unknown if his injury designation is a result of the same knee or a different matter.
Evans returns for a second training camp with the Giants. He originally signed with New York as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft but was among those waived as part of the final camp cutdowns last summer.
Evans stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 179 pounds. The 25-year-old played two seasons of college ball at LSU, where he appeared in 22 games with six starts, accumulated 33 tackles (25 solos), and recorded four pass breakups.
He was most recently with the Arlington Renegades of the XFL. Evans recorded five tackles and an interception in nine games (seven starts).
JULY 12: Tom Coughlin Among Six Former Giants Eligible for 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame
Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin was one of six men with tie3s to the New York Giants franchise who were among those eligible for inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2024.
Coughlin was the Giants’ head coach from 2004-2015. He led the franchise to its last two Super Bowl victories, both coming over the New England Patriots, including the first one where Coughlin's Giants ruined New England's chance at a perfect season.
Coughlin was just the second man to coach the Giants for at least 12 seasons, finishing second in tenure behind Hall of Famer Steve Owen, who served as the team's head coach for 23 full seasons (1931-1953). Coughlin was 102-90 in the regular season and 8-3 in the postseason.
The late Dan Reeves, the Giants head coach from 1993-1996, was also head coach of the Broncos (1981-1992) and Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003). His overall record was 201-174-2 (.536), putting him ninth among NFL coaches in career victories. Reeves was also a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year, including in 1993 with the Giants, with whom he posted a 31-33 regular season record and a 1-1 mark in postseason play.
Another semifinalist, the late Marty Schottenheimer, a Giants assistant coach from 1975-1977, is also a semifinalist. Schottenheimer was famously responsible for converting Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson to the middle linebacker role in which Carson excelled throughout his Giants career.
The players who are up for consideration for next year's Hall of Fame class are quarterback Charlie Conerly, running back Ottis Anderson, linebacker Carl Banks, and defensive back Everson Walls.
Coughlin, Conerly, Anderson, and Banks are all in the Giants’ Ring of Honor.
The respective selection committees will now consider the candidates and vote to send 12 seniors and 12 coaches/contributors to the next stage. The results of those reduction votes will be announced on July 27.
JULY 11: Chiefs Receiver Kadarius Toney Can't Get Giants Off His Mind
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney should be on top of the world these days, and why not? His rap career seems to be doing well, and, oh, by the way, he just won a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ah, but the former New York Giants draft pick just can't let go of his lingering bitterness toward the team that selected him out of Florida in the first round of the 2021 draft.
Toney has not only taken to social media to razz the Giants and their fans with a round of childish, incoherent gibberish that included a video of him giving the finger to New York, but he also allegedly upped the ante through a direct message posted to a Giants fan account in which he unleashed yet another verbal, NSFW tirade.
After word got out about Toney's antics, the receiver took to social media again on Tuesday afternoon to claim his social media account was hacked.
Toney never seemed to fit in with the Giants or New York, partly due to injuries and his immaturity.
Last year, new head coach Brian Daboll and new general manager Joe Schoen tried to make it work with the talented receiver. However, things fell so badly apart that the Giants traded the receiver before the deadline, landing a third-round pick they later flipped to the Raiders for tight end Darren Waller and a sixth-round pick.
JULY 8: Pat Shurmur to Join Colorado's Coaching Staff
Former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is returning to the college ranks to join Deion Sander's staff at the University of Colorado.
Shurmur, the Giants head coach from 2018-2019, was last with the Denver Broncos as their offensive coordinator in 2021. After a year away from the game, the 58-year-old is going back to the college ranks for the first time since 1998 when he was the offensive line coach at Stanford.
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS in Denver, Shurmur will serve as an offensive analyst on Sanders's staff, joining another former NFL head coach in Mike Zimmer (Vikings), who was on Sanders's staff at Jackson before joining him in Boulder with the Buffaloes.
Shurmur compiled a 9-23 record during his two seasons with the Giants.
JULY 7: Giants Lose Assistant Coach to XFL
Dr. Anthony Blevins, the New York Giants special teams coordinator, has been named head coach of the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.
"Following a nationwide search, we are proud to introduce Anthony Blevins as the head coach of the Vipers," said XFL President Russ Brandon. "Our players will have an incredible opportunity to learn from a coach with NFL and NCAA experience, and we look forward to seeing his impact on the field and in the locker room."
“Anthony’s talent and potential were evident throughout the interview process and in speaking with some coaches, staff and former players from the New York Giants, it was clear that he knows how to connect with players and staff," said Executive Vice President of Football Operations Marc Ross, the Giants former Vice President of Player Personnel.
“He is a very bright coach who has made stops at every level of football from coaching high school in Atlanta to the Giants with collegiate and NFL stops in between. On top of his coaching experience, he knows what opportunity our league can provide to players and staff."
Blevins served as the assistant special teams coach with the Giants last season under head coach Brian Daboll, also having served in that role for the Giants from 2018-2019. He was an assistant linebackers coach in 2021 and the assistant defensive backs coach in 2020.
JULY 6: Former Giants Super Bowl Champion Passes Away
Johnie Cooks, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, has passed away at the age of 64.
"Johnie Cooks is without question among the very best to ever put on the maroon and white while also standing as one of the most decorated college football players of his era," said Mississippi State athletic director Zac Selmon in a statement, per CBS Sports.
"He truly did it all in his career, from earning accolade after accolade as a Bulldog, to winning a Super Bowl in the NFL. Johnie will be remembered forever in Starkville as he is cemented as an MSU legend."
Cooks joined the Giants after being released by the Colts in 1988. in his second to last NFL season, Cooks helped New York win its second Super Bowl championship in 1990, a 20-19 win at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Cooks retired in 1991 after 10 seasons.
June 27: Tiki Barber Expanding Broadcast Career
According to the New York Post, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber is taking his broadcasting career to the next level starting this fall.
Barber, currently co-host of WFAN's mid-morning program with Brandon Tierney, will soon be paired with Evan Roberts for WFAN's afternoon drive. In September, he will take on an analyst role for a full slate of NFL games for CBS Sports.
Barber is no stranger to breaking down games for television, having done so in the past, as has his twin brother Ronde, a former cornerback for the Bucs who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 5.
Barber, who retired from football following a ten-year career with the Giants, is no stranger to calling NFL games, having done a handful of such assignments for CBS in the past. Barber is the Giants' franchise rushing yardage leader with 10,449 yards on 2,217 carries.
JUNE 26: Giants Dodge HBO's Hard Knocks Series; Jets Not So Lucky
The New York Giants, who have made no secret of their desire to avoid being the featured team on the HBO series Hard Knocks, will get to go another year without having television cameras recording their every move.
According to Pro Football Talk, the New York Jets have been chosen as this year's team of interest for the popular series.
The Jets are one of four teams eligible as per the criteria set by the NFL for participation in the series, which is as follows:
- Teams that have not made the playoffs in the past two years.
- Teams without a new head coach.
- Teams that have not been featured on the show in the last decade.
The selection for this year's participants came down to the Jets, Saints, Bears, and Commanders.
Under the parameters, the Giants will not be eligible for Hard Knocks in 2024 either, thanks to their appearance in the 2022 playoffs. And as long as the Giants make it to the postseason, they won't have to worry about being selected for the show.
The Jets, meanwhile, are said to be reluctant to participate. Still, given the interest that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has brought to the team, plus the playoff aspirations that the Jets have their eye on, the league and Hard Knocks producers likely felt that Gang Green would make for good viewing.
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