Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Daily Blitz: 5 Takeaways from Spring Meeting

Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the media yesterday at the NFL Spring Meeting in Boston. In addition to the news that San Francisco and Houston were awarded Super Bowls L and LI, the topics ranged from moving the NFL Draft back in the calendar to playoff expansion and the future of the Pro Bowl.

Here are five things to take away from the NFL Spring Meeting:

On the possible changes to the date of the NFL Draft and the offseason calendar: 

GOODELL: For clarity purposes, there are really in some ways two distinct issues.  The draft is something – within certain parameters – that is the decision of the commissioner as far as the date.  Next year, Radio City Music Hall, which is the host of our draft, is bringing on a spring event, which I think the focus is on Easter.  It extends to a much later date and interferes with the date when we normally hold the draft.  At this late stage for us to do it the right way, we don’t see having any choice but to move the date.  We are looking at whether we can do it as early as May 8, 9 or 10 to the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th of May.  We really don’t – and we talked about this with the membership – see any choice, at least for 2014, but to select one of those two dates.  We will be doing that sometime in the next week.  Beyond that, if we want to move the draft back into the April period, we are going to have to look at other alternatives which mean other cities, other venues.  We will begin that process also.

On having the draft at other venues:

GOODELL: We did that and we have done that.  To date, the experience we have had, particularly with the event growing as popular, the sites we have been in the past, I am not sure we would look at again. We think we have found a location in New York that meets our requirements and where we think we can continue to grow the event.  If we do, that will be one of the alternatives.  One of the things we will have to do, at some point, is to look at other cities.

On playoff expansion:

GOODELL: We asked the Competition Committee to look at it.  There was a lot of discussion.  We had a report briefly at the March meeting.  We are going to continue to have more dialogue with the Players Association, which is a big part of that discussion, and the second is with broadcast partners.  Yes, we are continuing discussions on that but not today.

On the future of the Pro Bowl, including the site:

GOODELL: We committed to Hawaii, as you know, for the 2014 [Pro Bowl] game.  It will be the week before the Super Bowl.  Our intention is to keep it in that time period.  We think that it works well from a season standpoint and finishing the season on a high note with the Super Bowl.  There is interest in potentially bringing it back to the mainland in multiple sites as early as the following year.

The big focus we have had now is how to make the game more exciting from a fan’s perspective.  One of the concepts that was discussed today is the idea that the players are selected as they are now with a vote from players, coaches and fans but the actual teams are drafted by captains.  That is an idea that came from our players.  We are continuing to have dialogue with the players on that idea.  We think it is exciting.  It could have some fun attached to it.  It is something we may do this season.

On the options to modify the structure of the NFL season:

GOODELL: [The options] are all on the table.  As I have said before, I think the structure of the season is something that we consistently reevaluate.  I have been quite open about [indicating that] we have to address the quality of the preseason.  I hear from fans consistently that they want to make every NFL event more valuable.  They see the preseason as being less valuable to them because they don’t see the best players and the games do not count.  We have to address that, whether we are looking at 18 [regular-season games] and two [preseason games] or 16-and-two and expanded playoffs.  They are all on the table and things we are going to evaluate.

QUICK HITS

» Eisen’s Mailbag: David Wilson’s role

» Fact or Fiction: NFC East Predictions

» Aaron Curry optimistic about Giants career

» Cooper Taylor has high regard for Coughlin

» WATCH OTA Preview

Learn from David Wilson at football camp

Learn from the best this summer at the David Wilson Overnight and Commuter Football Camp at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J.!

The Giants’ second-year running back is teaming up with Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson – a fellow former first-round draft choice – and Sports International June 29-July 2 to instruct players ages 7-18 at all skill levels.

Some of the current and former New York Giants that have taught at this camp include:

• » Victor Cruz, Wide Receiver, New York Giants
• » Terrell Thomas, Defensive Back, New York Giants
• » Brandon Jacobs, Running Back, New York Giants
• » David Diehl, Tackle, New York Giants
• » Chris Snee, Guard, New York Giants
• » Shaun O’Hara, Center, New York Giants
• » Michael Strahan, Former DE, New York Giants
• » Mathias Kiwanuka, Defensive End, New York Giants
• » Rich Seubert, Former G, New York Giants
• » Jessie Armstead, Former OLB, New York Giants
• » Tiki Barber, Former RB, New York Giants
• » Howard Cross, Former TE, New York Giants
• » Joe Morris, Former RB, New York Giants
• » Amani Toomer, Former WR, New York Giants
• » Ike Hilliard, Former WR, New York Giants

Founded in 1983, Sports International has graduated more than 91,000 athletes, many currently playing at the college level. In 2011 and 2012, Sports International had 146 NFL players or NFL coaches attend camps and clinics as instructors. Perform Magazine rated Sports International Football Camps among the Top 10 summer instructional camps in the nation.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE DAVID WILSON FOOTBALL CAMP >>

ASU coach takes page from Coughlin’s book

When Todd Graham arrived on the Arizona State campus last year, the first-year head coach established what he wanted from his Sun Devils – and that was for them to be a team in every sense. From the start of summer workouts, he instituted a few new rules, and one was that players had to wear the same socks, same shoes, and same shirts in the weight room.

Sounds like a page taken from Tom Coughlin.

The Sun Devils went on to post an 8-5 record and a victory in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, completing the program’s first winning season since 2007. Finding that he’s onto something, Graham is going one step further in 2013 and taking a page from Tom Coughlin’s actual book “Earn the Right to Win.” He has assigned the manual to his coaching staff for summer reading.

“I think it really fits us right now,” Graham told azcentral.com. “If you get a chance, just read the beginning of it. Michael Strahan says, ‘Hey, Tom Coughlin, I couldn’t stand the guy. He comes in here, he has all the stupid, petty rules. I didn’t understand why you had to wear the same colored socks to practice. What does that have to do with winning?’ And so it really correlates to what our players went through our first year here and about building trust. Strahan said, ‘When I decided to start taking pride in those stupid, petty rules, that’s when I became an All-Pro and that’s when we won the Super Bowl.’ I thought it was a great testimony for us.”

WATCH: COUGHLIN AND STRAHAN REUNITE, TALK BOOK >>

The book, which Coughlin released in March, centers on the theme of “how success in any field starts with superior preparation.” Graham hopes his staff will identify.

“We came in and tried to establish who we are – our character, our discipline, our work ethic – but we’ve just kind of installed the minimum,” Graham said. ”I want to be a smart football team. And there are just a lot of illustrations (in that book) that will be good for us. We’re just trying to get everybody to improve.”

Giants trio makes CBS’ Top 100

Senior columnist Pete Prisco, composer of the annual list, included three Giants in the NFL Top 100 – Jason Pierre-Paul, Eli Manning, and Victor Cruz. Unlike some outlets that base their rankings on production from the previous season, Prisco looked at where they rank heading into 2013, and here’s what he had to say:

21. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants: “He didn’t have the kind of year the Giants hoped he’d have. He looked heavy and wasn’t as explosive. But he remains as talented a pass rusher as there is in the game.”

28. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants: “He didn’t have the season the Giants expected, but there were a lot of reasons why. He’s still one of the best.”

72. Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants: “He had 86 catches and 10 touchdowns, but he wasn’t as good as he was in 2011. He seemed to struggle with all the extra attention at times.”

Three quarterbacks made the top five, including Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, who came in at No. 1 for the second consecutive year. And while we’re on the subject of rankings, the crew at CBS Sports also counted down the best front offices in the NFL. The Giants came in fourth in that department behind the Ravens, Patriots, and Packers.

“I’m putting a premium on winning a Super Bowl recently, which this team has done twice,” Jason La Canfora wrote. “And they’ve done it despite a regime change with Jerry Reese expertly taking over for Ernie Accorsi, which I think gets overlooked and underappreciated. The strong hand of ownership, supporting coach Tom Coughlin through rough patches, has been vital as well.”

QUICK HITS

» Aaron Curry optimistic about Giants career

» Cooper Taylor has high regard for Coughlin

» RB Michael Cox on football influences

» QB Ryan Nassib talks first impressions

» WATCH Eisen’s Mailbag: How will rookies perform in NFL

WATCH: Giants do “Roll Call” at Yankee Stadium

WATCH GIANTS PARTICIPATE IN ROLL CALL AT YANKEE STADIUM

Accustomed to having fans chant their names, three Giants had their roles reversed on Wednesday night in the Bronx.

David Wilson, Rueben Randle, and Bear Pascoe took in the Yankees game against the Seattle Mariners with the Bleacher Creatures, assisting “Bald” Vinny Milano and the fan group in the “Roll Call” tradition.

PHOTOS: GIANTS ON THE MOUND

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that. One guy screaming and the whole crowd is involved,” Wilson, a Virginia native, told MLB.com. “This was my first time being a part of something like that.”

Before the game, which the Yankees lost 12-2, the Giants trio toured the stadium and watched from the field during pregame warm-ups.

“It was really fun. That was the first time I got to be there at that level and just to see guys getting ready and preparing for the game and getting ready to go out,” Pascoe said.

“It was pretty neat. It was pretty similar to us before a game – we go out and each guy does his own thing and does what he has to do to prepare for the game.”

That included batting practice, where Wilson believed he could hit one out of the park if given some time.

“Give me a little while, a little practice,” he said. “[Give me] about a week.”

Randle, a fellow second-year draft pick, disagreed.

Thanks to @Giants Bear Pascoe (L), David Wilson (C) & Rueben Randle (R) for joining in Bleacher Creatures Roll Call. http://t.co/Eafa67huvg—
Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) May 15, 2013

Batting practice at Yankee Stadium, awesome!! Thank you @LicensePlateGuy http://t.co/iuHlVspScR—
Bear Pascoe (@BearPascoe) May 15, 2013

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks instagram.com/p/ZWNahCjX7Z/—
David E. Wilson (@4stillRunning) May 15, 2013

Giants’ preseason dates & times

The NFL has confirmed the dates and kickoff times for all 65 preseason games on the 2013 calendar, beginning with the annual Hall of Fame Game between the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday, Aug. 4.

For the Giants, their preseason schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 10
NY Giants at Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, August 18
Indianapolis at NY Giants (FOX) 7:00 p.m. ET

VIEW COMPLETE 2013 SCHEDULE >>

Saturday, August 24
NY Jets at NY Giants 7:00 p.m. ET

Thursday, August 29
NY Giants at New England 7:30 p.m. ET

QUICK HITS

» RB Michael Cox on football influences

» QB Ryan Nassib talks first impressions

» Giants add six to roster after mini-camp

» WATCH Giants Insider: Safety Cooper Taylor

NJ Senate passes “Steve Sabol Day”

The New Jersey Senate approved on Monday a resolution to make Oct. 2 “Steve Sabol Day” in honor of the late NFL Films president, who passed away last September at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with brain cancer.

Sponsored by Senators Diane Allen and Dawn Marie Addiego, the day – which coincides with Sabol’s birthday – will remember the creative force behind the unique brand of storytelling and cinematography who brought America closer to the game of football for the past five decades.

“Steve Sabol is one of New Jersey’s most innovative entrepreneurs and his creativity has revolutionized both sports and documentary cinematography around the world,” Allen said. “He has made Mount Laurel the home of America’s favorite sport, having created a model business employing hundreds of people and boasting the world’s largest sports film library. He showed us the passion of the game — and made it our passion, too.”

“With ingenuity and grace, Steve Sabol has humanized America’s favorite sport bringing people inside the hearts and minds of their football heroes,” added Addiego. “Continuing Steve Sabol’s passion, NFL Films will continue to make Burlington County proud, as it chronicles the season of Super Bowl XLVIII.”

QUICK HITS

» Giants owners remember NFL Films’ Steve Sabol

» QB Ryan Nassib talks first impressions

» Giants Insider: Tackle Justin Pugh

» BBK – 5/13: Rookies who impressed

Twitter: Rookies wrap up mini-camp

Great rookie mini camp in the books! #NYGiants—
Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh67) May 12, 2013

Chillin with my boyz #RookieClass #giants—
Damontre' Moore (@tmoore94) May 12, 2013

New beginning instagram.com/p/ZOranlJc5I/—
Damontre' Moore (@tmoore94) May 12, 2013

Rookie Mini Camp officially over, lovin the offense. Now getting ready for the next stage #gmen—
Ryan Nassib (@Ryan_Nassib) May 12, 2013

The Giants are all coming together tomorrow, I don't think I will sleep tonight. #AnotherStep #dreams #Giants—
Eric Herman (@Hermans_House) May 13, 2013

Loving the new hat. instagram.com/p/ZGiXZUGqLC/—
Eric Herman (@Hermans_House) May 09, 2013

#Rookie minicamp has finished. Another great start to the #2013 #nyg #giants season. #nfl #nygiants instagram.com/p/ZN3hMrhIbw/—
Joseph Skiba (@JosephSkiba) May 12, 2013

MINI-CAMP QUICK HITS

» Giants add six to roster after mini-camp

» DT Johnathan Hankins adjusting to Giants

» Quotes: Coaches assess rookies at camp

» NYG signs former 1st rounder Aaron Curry

» Quotes: Coordinator Kevin Gilbride

» Eli helps Rookies Pugh & Nassib adjust

WATCH: Rookie Mini-Camp Wrap-Up Report

NFC East: Who’s coming, going, or staying

With rookies reporting to mini-camp this week, Giants.com takes a look at the comings and goings around the NFC East as the league moves one step closer to competition:

Washington Redskins

Coming: QB Pat White, T Jeremy Trueblood (from Tampa Bay), DE Phillip Merling (Green Bay), CB E.J. Biggers (Tampa Bay), LB Darryl Tapp (Philadelphia)
Going: LB Lorenzo Alexander (to Arizona)
Staying: CB DeAngelo Hall (released, re-signed), TE Fred Davis (UFA), G Kory Lichtensteiger, FB Darrel Young, DT Kedric Golston, LB Bryan Kehl, P Sav Rocca, LB Rob Jackson, TE Logan Paulsen, LS Nick Sundberg, T Tyler Polumbus, QB Rex Grossman (UFA)
TBD: DE Chris Baker (RFA), WR Brandon Banks (UFA), T Jordan Black (UFA), T Jammal Brown (UFA), TE Chris Cooley (UFA), SS Cedric Griffin (UFA), FS Madieu Williams (UFA), LB Chris Wilson (UFA)

Drafted: CB David Amerson (N.C. State), TE Jordan Reed (Florida), S Phillip Thomas (Fresno State), RB Chris Thompson (FSU), OLB Brandon Jenkins (FSU), S Bacarri Rambo (Georgia), RB Jawan Jamison (Rutgers)

Dallas Cowboys

Coming: LB Justin Durant (from Detroit), S Will Allen (Pittsburgh)
Going: CB Mike Jenkins (to Oakland), DE Kenyon Coleman (to New Orleans), DE Marcus Spears (released, signed with Baltimore), S Gerald Sensabaugh (released), LB Dan Connor (to NY Giants), WR Kevin Ogletree (to Tampa Bay), TE John Phillips (to San Diego), LB Victor Butler (to New Orleans)
Staying: LB Anthony Spencer (franchised), C Phil Costa, LB Ernie Sims, WR Anthony Armstrong (released, re-signed), S Danny McCray
TBD: RB Felix Jones (UFA), P Brian Moorman (UFA), S Danny McCray (RFA), G Derrick Dockery (UFA), S Charlie Peprah (UFA), S Eric Frampton (UFA)

Drafted: C Travis Frederick (Wisconsin), TE Gavin Escobar (San Diego State), WR Terrance Williams (Baylor), S J. J. Wilcox (Georgia Southern), CB B.W. Webb (William & Mary), RB Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State), OLB DeVonte Holloman (South Carolina)

Philadelphia Eagles

Coming: LB Connor Barwin (from Houston), S Kenny Phillips (NY Giants), DT Isaac Sopoaga (San Francisco), S Patrick Chung (New England), CB Cary Williams (Baltimore), FB James Casey (Houston), CB Bradley Fletcher (St. Louis), LB Jason Phillips (Carolina), P Donnie Jones (Houston)
Going: DT Cullen Jenkins (released, signed with NY Giants), CB Nnamdi Asomugha (released, signed with San Francisco), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (to Denver), DT Mike Patterson (released; signed with NY Giants), T King Dunlap (to San Diego), DT Derek Landri (to Tampa Bay), DE Darryl Tapp (to Washington), QB Trent Edwards (released), LB Akeem Jordan (to Kansas City)
Staying: S Colt Anderson, LS Jon Dorenbos
TBD: G Jake Scott (UFA)

Drafted: OT Lane Johnson (Oklahoma), TE Zach Ertz (Stanford), DT Bennie Logan (LSU), QB Matt Barkley (USC), S Earl Wolff (N.C. State), DE Joe Kruger (Utah), CB Jordan Poyer (Oregon State), DE David King (Oklahoma)

Three Giants make PFF’s ‘Top 101′

Every year, the people over at Pro Football Focus get together to rank the top 101 players from the previous season. Their countdown is over, and three Giants have made the list: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 46), LT Will Beatty (No. 85), and QB Eli Manning (No. 90).

Here is a look at what PFF had to say about the Top 101 of 2012, and keep in mind players were graded solely on 2012 with all positions weighted equally.

46. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants (Last year: 17^th)

The danger was always there with how people viewed “JPP”. As good as his 2011 season was the emphasis placed on his sack numbers were always going to come back to bite him. And while it’s true he didn’t have quite the same impact as he did when the Giants won it all, it shouldn’t take away from a tremendously complete season he put forward. Excellent against the run, there’s no shame in the 55 QB disruptions he managed.

Best Performance: Week 14 versus New Orleans, +6.0 WATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Key Stat: His 30 defensive stops in the run game were the third-most of any 4-3 defensive end.

85. Will Beatty, LT, New York Giants (Last year: Unranked)

Injury meant Beatty didn’t start the season as the Giants’ left tackle. Whether injuries handed him his starting job back, or it was the Giants’ plan all along, the former second-round pick didn’t take much time showing everyone what he was capable of. A fine pass protector, Beatty is one of those left tackles who can actually generate some movement in the run game as well.

Best Performance: Week 3 at Carolina, +5.4 WATCH HGHLIGHTS
Key Stat: Allowed just three sacks and zero quarterback hits all season long.

90. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants (Last year: 8^th)

While Eli was unable to replicate his marvelous 2011, let’s not pretend he didn’t play extremely well for most of the season. While some performances disappointed (notably against Pittsburgh and Atlanta) Manning was able to almost carry his struggling Giants into the playoffs with his usual array of clutch throws.

Best Performance: Week 2 versus Tampa Bay, +6.3 WATCH HGHLIGHTS
Key Stat: Completion percentage under pressure dropped to 47.9% in 2012, after it was 55.6% a year earlier.

While the 49ers led all teams with 13 selections, the top player ranked was DE J.J. Watt (Texans), followed by RB Adrian Peterson (Vikings), DT Geno Atkins (Bengals), LB Von Miller (Broncos), and CB Richard Sherman (Seahawks).

QUICK HITS

» Eisen’s Mailbag: Stevie Brown’s role

» Giants add Bill Parcells to Hall of Fame wall

» Fact or Fiction: Which rookies will start?

» Senior Bowl scouting helped Giants Draft

» O-Line preps Justin Pugh for initiation