Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Coughlin named 14th-best coach in NFL history

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Vince Lombardi’s birth, ESPN set out this summer to count down 20 of the “Greatest Coaches in NFL History.” Tom Coughlin, a season removed from his second Super Bowl championship as head coach of the New York Giants, was unveiled today as the 14^th-greatest coach of all time, as voted on by a panel of ESPN analysts, which includes former coaches and players.

PHOTOS: COUGHLIN THROUGH THE YEARS

Coughlin came in one place ahead of former Minnesota head coach and Hall of Famer Bud Grant, whom Coughlin trails by five in total victories. Following is ESPN’s list of the greatest coaches:

No. 20 — Tony Dungy
No. 19 — Mike Shanahan
No. 18 — Sid Gillman
No. 17 — Marv Levy
No. 16 — Hank Stram
No. 15 — Bud Grant
No. 14 — Tom Coughlin
No. 13 — Jimmy Johnson
No. 12 — John Madden
No. 11 — Bill Parcells
No. 10 — Curly Lambeau
No. 9 — Joe Gibbs
No. 8 — Tom Landry
No. 7 — Bill Belichick
No. 6 — Paul Brown
No. 5 — Chuck Noll
No. 4 — George Halas
No. 3 — Don Shula
No. 2 — Bill Walsh
No. 1 — Vince Lombardi

ESPN “Greatest Coaches in NFL History” voting panel: Chris Berman, Jeffri Chadiha, John Clayton, Colin Cowherd, Mike Ditka, Gregg Easterbrook, Herm Edwards, David Fleming, Ashley Fox, Greg Garber, Mike Golic, Suzy Kolber, Eric Mangini, Chris Mortensen, Sal Paolantonio, Bill Polian, Rick Reilly, Mike Sando, Adam Schefter, Ed Werder, Seth Wickersham, Trey Wingo.

Here are stats on where Coughlin ranks among the best:

*The Giants’ 9-7 record in 2012 improved Coughlin’s career regular-season mark to 151-121 (.555), including 83-61 (.576) with the Giants.

*Coughlin’s 151 career victories tie him with former Giants coach and Hall of Famer Steve Owen for 16th place on the NFL’s career list.

*Those two coaches are at the top of the Giants list for career victories, Owen with 151 and Coughlin with 83.

*Coughlin is 12-7 in the postseason for an overall record of 163-128 (.560). His Giants playoff record is 8-3 for an overall mark with the team of 91-64 (.587).

*The 163 total victories place Coughlin in 16th place on that list, five wins behind former Minnesota coach and Hall of Famer Bud Grant

"Be humble enough to prepare, confident enough to perform." – Tom Coughlin—
NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 29, 2013

Weatherford added to Broadcast Boot Camp

Steve Weatherford’s reaction to winning the NFC Championship Game in San Francisco will forever be remembered thanks to NFL Films. Now the punter, who’s never been shy around a camera, will head to its headquarters in Mt. Laurel, N.J., to learn how it all works, taking part in the seventh annual NFL Broadcast Boot Camp.

Twenty-four current and former NFL players, including wide receiver Ramses Barden and former Giants Jeff Feagles and Michael Clayton, will work hands-on in areas such as tape study, editing, production, and field reporting. Directed by the NFL Player Engagement and NFL Broadcasting departments, the program will take place June 17-20 with instructors from each of the NFL’s broadcast partners – CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, SiriusXM, Dial Global Radio, plus local radio and TV.

>>WATCH: Weatherford, Hynoski guest anchor “Good Day New York”

“This boot camp is more than an introduction to the many facets of the sports broadcasting industry,” Senior Vice President of NFL Player Engagement Troy Vincent said. “It is a hands-on, demanding course for current and former players who seek a career in broadcasting after their NFL playing experience.”

Of the 128 players who participated in the boot camp in the last five years, 48 have earned broadcasting jobs as a result of their participation in the program. Enrollment criteria for the Broadcast Boot Camp include NFL playing experience, essays, and demonstrated interest in media.

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Eli Manning voted No. 43 in ‘Top 100′

Eli Manning has been voted No. 43 in the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2013, bringing the Giants’ total to three players named thus far.

Manning was the sixth quarterback to be revealed on the list – the network releases 10 names each week – and dropped from 31st in 2012, when he was coming off his second Super Bowl MVP performance.  Manning passed for 3,948 yards, 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2013, becoming the 34th quarterback in history with at least 30,000 career passing yards.

“Eli, he’s become a great quarterback,” said Philadelphia defensive end Trent Cole, who has faced Manning twice a year since 2005. “I have to give him that. He gets the ball downfield, gets it to his receivers, and he’s on-target. Nobody can say otherwise because I heard a lot of people talk about, ‘Should he be here?’ He’s up there with the top five quarterbacks. You’ve got to put him there.”

Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Kerrigan agreed, having seen firsthand Manning’s magic against his Redskins this past season. In the Week 7 victory over the NFC East rival, Manning hooked up with wide receiver Victor Cruz for a 77-yard touchdown with 1:13 remaining in the game to put the Giants up 27-23.

“He just always seems to make the big throw at the big moment,” Kerrigan said. “He had the long pass to Victor Cruz that won the game against us with about 1:30 left. That was really impressive because we had a lot of momentum coming on the field as a defense. I think we rushed three or four on that play and still were able to generate some good pressure, but he got the throw off and put it right on the money. He doesn’t give up on a play, and that’s what is impressive about him.”

The Giants had five players on the Top 100 list in 2012 — WR Hakeem Nicks (90), DE Justin Tuck (62), Cruz (39), Manning (31), and Pierre-Paul (24)

Here is a look at the 2013 rankings so far:

100. TE Dennis Pitta, Ravens
99. OT Trent Williams, Redskins
98. RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
97. TE Heath Miller, Steelers
96. S Dashon Goldson, Buccaneers
95. C Max Unger, Seahawks
94. LB Daryl Washington, Cardinals
93. WR Anquan Boldin, 49ers
92. DT Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers
91. S Troy Polamalu, Steelers

90. WR Percy Harvin, Seahawks
89. LB Cameron Wake, Dolphins
88. WR Jacoby Jones, Ravens
87. S Bernard Pollard, Titans
86. LB London Fletcher, Redskins
85. CB Charles Woodson, Raiders
84. WR Steve Smith, Panthers
83. LB Lance Briggs, Bears
82. G Logan Mankins, Patriots
81. QB Colin Kaepernick, 49ers

80. DE Dwight Freeney, Chargers
79. LB Luke Kuechly, Panthers
78. OT Joe Staley, 49ers
77. TE Aaron Hernandez, Patriots
76. QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
75. CB Brandon Flowers, Chiefs
74. LB Robert Mathis, Colts
73. TE Antonio Gates, Chargers
72. DE Mario Williams, Bills
71. RB Trent Richardson, Browns

70. LB Chad Greenway, Vikings
69. CB Tim Jennings, Bears
68. WR Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
67. CB Darrelle Revis, Buccaneers
66. S Earl Thomas, Seahawks
65. WR Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
64. RB Alfred Morris, Redskins
63. LB Stephen Tulloch, Lions
62. RB Chris Johnson, Titans
61. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

60. DE Jared Allen, Vikings
59. LB Derrick Johnson, Chiefs
58. WR Victor Cruz, Giants
57. RB Doug Martin, Buccaneers
56. LB Terrell Suggs, Ravens
55. DE Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants
54. DE Julius Peppers, Bears
53. CB Champ Bailey, Broncos
52. WR Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers
51. QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks

50. CB Richard Sherman, Seahawks
49. LB Justin Houston, Chiefs
48. OT Duane Brown, Texans
47. TE Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
46. QB Cam Newton, Panthers
45. RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles
44. WR Wes Welker, Patriots
43. QB Eli Manning, Giants
42. DT Haloti Ngata, Ravens
41. TE Jason Witten, Cowboys

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» Quotes: Giants react after OTA practice

» Marc Ross named VP of Player Evaluation

» Giants add Kyle Bosworth & Chase Clement

» Remembering former OL & coach Bill Austin

JPP ranked No. 55 in best players of 2013

For the third year, current NFL players have voted to offer their ranking of the 100 best players in the league heading into 2013, and two Giants made the latest installment, which was unveiled on NFL Network this week. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul came in at No. 55, down from No. 24 in 2012, while wide receiver Victor Cruz was ranked No. 58 after previously being voted No. 39.

“I think of Jason, I think of freakish athletic ability,” former Cowboys guard Derrick Dockery said on NFL Network. “I think of explosiveness. If you don’t bring it every play, you will get embarrassed.”

Tampa Bay offensive tackle Donald Penn also lauded Pierre-Paul, who had eight tackles and a sack against his Buccaneers in their 2012 meeting.

“He’s a specimen,” Penn said. “He’s one of those beasts. His arms are so long I think if he stands straight up, he could scratch his knee without bending down, and that causes a lot of problems for a tackle. As a tackle, you’ve got to get your hands on him first, and Pierre-Paul is hard to get your hands on first because his arms are so long.”

Five members of the Giants earned a nod in 2012: WR Hakeem Nicks (90), DE Justin Tuck (62), Cruz (39), QB Eli Manning (31), and Pierre-Paul (24).

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Giants welcome Manchester City F.C. to facility

WATCH: Giants welcome Manchester City F.C. 

PHOTOS: GIANTS WELCOME SOCCER CLUB

The club was in the area for its 2013 U.S. Tour, promoting the acquisition of the New York City Football Club — Major League Soccer’s 20^th team – in partnership with the New York Yankees. The players from across the pond toured the Giants’ facility and caught the end of the first OTA practice.

“I don’t know too much about American football…but just to be here in this atmosphere is unbelievable,” defender Micah Richards told Man City’s official team website. “It’s probably the best training ground I’ve ever been to. Just coming in here and meeting some of the players is just unbelievable…You just know that they come to work hard.”

After practice, the Giants met their football kin, and Eli Manning threw passes to players not accustomed to using their hands.

“It’s great to have Man City out here at our facility,” Giants V.P. of Communications Peter John-Baptiste said. “We gave them a nice tour. It was fun seeing Eli Manning toss footballs with some of the guys. Some of the guys have good hands. The most interesting part was probably the keeper, Joe Hart, catching from the JUGS machines. Our wide receivers always use those JUGS machines after practice, and to see him catching the balls, maybe he can use that to practice and kind of help him with his skills as a goalkeeper.”

Meanwhile, Richards, who helped Manchester City finish second in the league this year with his feet and not his hands, decided to pass.

“I don’t trust my hands actually, to be fair,” he said.

Five Takeaways from NFL 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.

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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.”

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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