NFC East: Rhett Bomar
In case you haven't been following the Beast on Twitter, now's a good time to start. We've been tweeting and blogging throughout cutdown day. We should have some official news start to roll in at 6 p.m. ET, but we've already seen some interesting developments. Here are some nuggets and observations:
- As we reported today, the Eagles sent a seventh-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for defensive end Antwan Barnes. The Ravens have had a ton of success hitting on players in the fourth round, and Barnes was a nice player for them as an outside linebacker. He'll be a 251-pound defensive end for the Eagles. He'll immediately step into the rotation with Trent Cole and Brandon Graham. The rookie Graham will remain a starter and Barnes will likely be used as a pass-rushing specialist. A league source told me today that Moise Fokou and Daryl Tapp are safe. We'll see if that holds up.
- Our friends at ESPNDallas.com are predicting that rookie center Phil Costa, fullback Chris Gronkowski and safeties Barry Church and Danny McCray will all make the 53-man roster. The Cowboys have released guard Travis Bright, according to Calvin Watkins. They should have no trouble getting Bright onto the practice squad.
- In other Cowboys news, former SMU cornerback Bryan McCann has been informed that he'll be released. The Cowboys hope to sneak him through to the practice squad, but it will be tough. One team from the NFC and another from the AFC have already told me today that they have interest in McCann.
- Update: The Giants just made it official that second-year running back Andre Brown has been released. We'll see if they can get him through to the practice squad. I loved what he was doing during training camp, but he's been banged up in the preseason. Also the workaholic tight end Bear Pascoe has been released.
Giants cut QB Rhett Bomar, Eagles land DE
September, 4, 2010
9/04/10
1:39
PM ET
By Matt Mosley | ESPN.com
The New York Giants will release second-year quarterback Rhett Bomar on Satuday, according to Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger. The move makes sense with the Giants trading for Sage Rosenfels on Friday. But it's hard to imagine Bomar making it through waivers to the practice squad this time around.
In other news, the Eagles announced they've traded an undisclosed 2011 pick for Ravens defensive end Antwan Barnes, a former fourth-round pick. An AFC scout who's seen Barnes play quite a bit over the past three seasons said he is an explosive player who will be a good fit for the Eagles' "up the field scheme." He played outside linebacker for the Ravens, but he'll play defensive end for the Eagles. Look for him to immediately be a part of the rotation.
In other news, the Eagles announced they've traded an undisclosed 2011 pick for Ravens defensive end Antwan Barnes, a former fourth-round pick. An AFC scout who's seen Barnes play quite a bit over the past three seasons said he is an explosive player who will be a good fit for the Eagles' "up the field scheme." He played outside linebacker for the Ravens, but he'll play defensive end for the Eagles. Look for him to immediately be a part of the rotation.
Report: Giants trade for Sage Rosenfels
September, 3, 2010
9/03/10
10:08
PM ET
By Matt Mosley | ESPN.com
The New York Giants have decided to Eli Manning. On Friday, they sent a conditional draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for 32-year-old Sage Rosenfels, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk.
Rhett Bomar played well for the Giants in preseason but apparently general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin wanted more experience behind Manning.
Rosenfels has appeared in 32 games as he heads into his 10th season. He's thrown 29 interceptions. His best seasons have come with the Houston Texans.
I think it's a wise move by the Giants. Rosenfels could get you through a couple games if anything happened to Manning. I can't really say that about Bomar at this point.
Rhett Bomar played well for the Giants in preseason but apparently general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin wanted more experience behind Manning.
Rosenfels has appeared in 32 games as he heads into his 10th season. He's thrown 29 interceptions. His best seasons have come with the Houston Texans.
I think it's a wise move by the Giants. Rosenfels could get you through a couple games if anything happened to Manning. I can't really say that about Bomar at this point.
Scouts Inc.: Ranking the backup QBs
September, 3, 2010
9/03/10
1:00
PM ET
By Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson | ESPN.com
Let’s analyze the backup quarterback situations in the NFC East. As a rule of thumb, we need to remember that No. 2 quarterbacks around this league are quite horrendous at this time, but you could collectively do worse than this crew.
In Washington, backup Rex Grossman very well could end up as the opening day starter because Donovan McNabb is once again injured. Philadelphia has Michael Vick as its No. 2 and -- like last year -- he should be primed to see the field quite a bit in specific packages designed for his unique skill set. In New York, Eli Manning’s backup is Rhett Bomar, but Manning -- like his older brother -- is an iron man at quarterback. Lastly, Dallas features veteran Jon Kitna as Tony Romo’s backup.
Here’s how I rank the backup quarterback situations in the NFC East.
1. Dallas Cowboys: Kitna has had success as a starting quarterback in this league. He is a tough guy who is well respected and liked by his teammates. Kitna can be a risk-taker and force the action, but he also has a solid understanding of coverages and what it takes to succeed at this level. However, he has yet to throw a regular-season pass for the Cowboys. Still, I have faith that Kitna could be effective on a short-term basis.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Vick is a gimmick player who looks to be getting back to form as an explosive running athlete. But his accuracy is still a big problem. He just isn’t that good of a passer. If Kevin Kolb were to go down, Vick would get more snaps, but it wouldn’t shock me if Mike Kafka also played a role in a two-headed quarterback situation. Kafka is very intelligent and played quite well in the preseason game against the Chiefs. He might have a bright future.
3. Washington Redskins: Grossman once led the Bears to the Super Bowl. But inconsistency and injuries have hurt his career. He has always been someone who runs either hot or cold. And his confidence seems to waver. The Redskins’ coaching staff, namely offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, is very familiar with Grossman and seems to believe in him. However, he doesn’t move as well as he once did. He’s also short for the position and can struggle to see the entire field and find throwing lanes. And his 54 percent career completion percentage and 33/36 touchdown/interception ratio doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
4. New York Giants: Bomar has ability. He was one of the most heavily recruited players in the nation before signing with Oklahoma. His college career was derailed by off-the-field problems and he ended up at Sam Houston State. Bomar moves very well and has a good arm. He also has put together a fine preseason. He might just develop into a very solid No. 2 behind the ever-durable Manning, but is very much a work in progress. Jim Sorgi was scheduled to back up Manning, but a shoulder injury has landed him on injured reserve.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
In Washington, backup Rex Grossman very well could end up as the opening day starter because Donovan McNabb is once again injured. Philadelphia has Michael Vick as its No. 2 and -- like last year -- he should be primed to see the field quite a bit in specific packages designed for his unique skill set. In New York, Eli Manning’s backup is Rhett Bomar, but Manning -- like his older brother -- is an iron man at quarterback. Lastly, Dallas features veteran Jon Kitna as Tony Romo’s backup.
Here’s how I rank the backup quarterback situations in the NFC East.
1. Dallas Cowboys: Kitna has had success as a starting quarterback in this league. He is a tough guy who is well respected and liked by his teammates. Kitna can be a risk-taker and force the action, but he also has a solid understanding of coverages and what it takes to succeed at this level. However, he has yet to throw a regular-season pass for the Cowboys. Still, I have faith that Kitna could be effective on a short-term basis.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Vick is a gimmick player who looks to be getting back to form as an explosive running athlete. But his accuracy is still a big problem. He just isn’t that good of a passer. If Kevin Kolb were to go down, Vick would get more snaps, but it wouldn’t shock me if Mike Kafka also played a role in a two-headed quarterback situation. Kafka is very intelligent and played quite well in the preseason game against the Chiefs. He might have a bright future.
3. Washington Redskins: Grossman once led the Bears to the Super Bowl. But inconsistency and injuries have hurt his career. He has always been someone who runs either hot or cold. And his confidence seems to waver. The Redskins’ coaching staff, namely offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, is very familiar with Grossman and seems to believe in him. However, he doesn’t move as well as he once did. He’s also short for the position and can struggle to see the entire field and find throwing lanes. And his 54 percent career completion percentage and 33/36 touchdown/interception ratio doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
4. New York Giants: Bomar has ability. He was one of the most heavily recruited players in the nation before signing with Oklahoma. His college career was derailed by off-the-field problems and he ended up at Sam Houston State. Bomar moves very well and has a good arm. He also has put together a fine preseason. He might just develop into a very solid No. 2 behind the ever-durable Manning, but is very much a work in progress. Jim Sorgi was scheduled to back up Manning, but a shoulder injury has landed him on injured reserve.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
Brandon Jacobs is not pleased at all
September, 3, 2010
9/03/10
8:00
AM ET
By Matt Mosley | ESPN.com
The good news is that the New York Giants' first-team offense drove the ball down and scored on its first possession in Thursday's 20-17 preseason win over the New England Patriots. Bad news is that former starting running back Brandon Jacobs decided to blow off some steam following the game, according to ESPNNewYork.com. Jacobs, who's started for the Giants since Tiki Barber retired after the '06 season, isn't happy with his new backup role to Ahmad Bradshaw.
Jacobs"No one's your friend in this business," said Jacobs. "This is a cutthroat, backstabbing business. That's just the way it goes. It's been like that before me. If you expect anything else out of a business like this, you're crazy."
Of course, this business has made Jacobs a very wealthy man, but on Thursday, he complained about the strings attached to that money.
"If I would have stayed making minimum, this wouldn't be a problem," Jacobs said. "Once you get paid, you're always in danger of running into problems like this. It doesn't matter who you are or what team or organization you play for, that's just the way it is."
It appears that Jacobs has made quite the psychological breakthrough: People expect a lot more from you when they write a check for $13 million. We'll see if Tom Coughlin responds to Jacobs' comments at all. He's preached "team first" throughout camp, so he might not like Jacobs' little rant.
OK, let's see what folks are saying about the Giants' win this morning:

Of course, this business has made Jacobs a very wealthy man, but on Thursday, he complained about the strings attached to that money.
"If I would have stayed making minimum, this wouldn't be a problem," Jacobs said. "Once you get paid, you're always in danger of running into problems like this. It doesn't matter who you are or what team or organization you play for, that's just the way it is."
It appears that Jacobs has made quite the psychological breakthrough: People expect a lot more from you when they write a check for $13 million. We'll see if Tom Coughlin responds to Jacobs' comments at all. He's preached "team first" throughout camp, so he might not like Jacobs' little rant.
OK, let's see what folks are saying about the Giants' win this morning:
- Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com manages to mix in a Janet Jackson reference in his postgame column.
- Running back Andre Brown has suffered another setback, but this time it's only turf toe.
- Mark Viera of the New York Times focused on Eli Manning and Rhett Bomar.
- Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger reports that Shawn Andrews had an excellent game at left guard.
Thursday Beastlines: The final tune-up
September, 2, 2010
9/02/10
11:15
AM ET
By Matt Mosley | ESPN.com
Let's take a quick spin around the division this morning. I'll be on assignment for the next few hours, but I'll stop by later this afternoon:
Cowboys
Cowboys
- Dez Bryant has returned to practice but the Cowboys will hold him out of tonight's preseason game, according to ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins.
- Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News says that Stephen McGee's playing for a roster spot tonight.
- Gerry Fraley from the DMN has a story on the bubble players heading into Thursday's game.
- Jeff McLane of the Inquirer presents his 53-man roster.
- Bob Ford writes the definitive Jorrick Calvin column.
- The unflappable Reuben Frank has the latest on Macho Harris' status on this roster.
- Vinny DiTrani of The Record discusses a big night for Rhett Bomar.
- Osi Umenyiora had some unique thoughts on the Giants' approach for 2010, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk.
- Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger says it's unlikely the Giants would trade for Matt Leinart.
- Rick Maese of the Post takes a look at the Redskins' bubble players.
- Here's what the Post reported on John Beck's contract extension.
- GrandPa Hogette a.k.a. Ralph Campbell died last week and Dan Steinberg of the Post writes a really nice piece on Campbell's devotion to the Skins.
Let's take a quick spin around the division this morning:
Cowboys
Cowboys
- Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com says Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland will be looking for Dez Bryant on Thursday.
- Todd Archer of the Dallas Morning News thinks Bryant might be the "tonic" for the Cowboys' offensive malaise.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com believes that Wade Phillips deserves the benefit of the doubt based on his excellent September record with the Cowboys.
- Second-round pick Sean Lee doesn't figure into the nickel defense plans, according to Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News.
- Les Bowen of the Daily News has a report on Michael Vick's first start since 2006.
- Sam Donnellon of the Daily News says this will be a big game for Chad Hall.
- John Gonzalez of the Inquirer comes up with the five most indispensable Eagles. I think John missed the boat in putting Asante Samuel fifth. Tight end Brent Celek should have been in the top five.
- Here's the latest injury report from ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk.
- The Post really forced this Rhett Bomar headline.
- Zach Berman of the Star-Ledger says the Giants have had plenty of work against 3-4 defenses.
- Plaxico Burress has been denied "work release" from prison for the second time.
- Barry Svrluga of the Post said it's likely Rex Grossman will start Thursday.
- Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan thinks Donovan McNabb will return to practice next week.
- Where does Malcolm Kelly rank among the worst picks by Vinny Cerrato, asks the Post.
Jim Sorgi, Sinorice Moss placed on IR
August, 31, 2010
8/31/10
11:44
AM ET
By Matt Mosley | ESPN.com
The New York Giants placed backup quarterback Jim Sorgi and wide receiver Sinorice Moss on injured reserve Tuesday, thus ending their seasons. The improved play of former Sam Houston State and Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar in the preseason probably made it easier for the Giants to go ahead and make this decision.
And with the emergence of rookie wide receiver Victor Cruz in the preseason games, even a healthy Moss would've been hard-pressed to make the 53-man roster. Sixth-round draft pick Adrian Tracy (dislocated elbow) was also placed on injured reserve Tuesday, and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe (pectoral) was moved to the reserve physically unable to perform list (PUP), which will keep him out at least the first six weeks of the season.
Sorgi, a seven-year veteran, suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason opener against the Jets and hasn't been able to practice since. In addition to starter Eli Manning, the Giants now have Bomar and the recently signed Dominic Randolph. We'll quickly find out how much faith coach Tom Coughlin has in Bomar. I felt like he was going to beat out Sorgi anyway, but it's still unsettling to have such an inexperienced player backing up Manning.
Moss underwent surgery for a sports hernia Tuesday morning and it's likely that he's played his final game for the Giants. He had 39 catches for 421 yards and three touchdowns in his career with the club. Moss had his moments in the preseason over the years, but he was never able to take that to the regular season.
Rookie wide receiver Nyan Boateng was also released Tuesday, so the Giants are now down to 75 players. They'll have to be at 53 by Saturday afternoon.
And with the emergence of rookie wide receiver Victor Cruz in the preseason games, even a healthy Moss would've been hard-pressed to make the 53-man roster. Sixth-round draft pick Adrian Tracy (dislocated elbow) was also placed on injured reserve Tuesday, and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe (pectoral) was moved to the reserve physically unable to perform list (PUP), which will keep him out at least the first six weeks of the season.
Sorgi, a seven-year veteran, suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason opener against the Jets and hasn't been able to practice since. In addition to starter Eli Manning, the Giants now have Bomar and the recently signed Dominic Randolph. We'll quickly find out how much faith coach Tom Coughlin has in Bomar. I felt like he was going to beat out Sorgi anyway, but it's still unsettling to have such an inexperienced player backing up Manning.
Moss underwent surgery for a sports hernia Tuesday morning and it's likely that he's played his final game for the Giants. He had 39 catches for 421 yards and three touchdowns in his career with the club. Moss had his moments in the preseason over the years, but he was never able to take that to the regular season.
Rookie wide receiver Nyan Boateng was also released Tuesday, so the Giants are now down to 75 players. They'll have to be at 53 by Saturday afternoon.
Friday Beastlines: Eagles LBs squirming
August, 27, 2010
8/27/10
10:32
AM ET
By Matt Mosley | ESPN.com
Let's go around the division to see what's happening this morning:
Cowboys
Cowboys
- Dez Bryant is getting closer to returning to the practice field, according to ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon.
- Jerry Jones wants Bill Parcells to see Cowboys Stadium in person, writes DallasNews.com's Todd Archer.
- Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Jay Ratliff has emerged as an off-the-field leader.
- Dallas Morning News sidebar specialist Gerry Fraley says the Cowboys will play it close to the vest Saturday night.
- Paul Domowitch of the Daily News says the owners have the most to gain from an 18-game regular-season schedule, which may have something to do with them constantly pushing that agenda.
- Bob Ford of the Inquirer is trying to crunch the numbers at linebacker.
- Les Bowen says there are jobs at stake in tonight's preseason tilt with the Chiefs.
- Les will have his eye on Todd Herremans and Mike Bell this evening.
- Jonathan Tamari of the Inquirer offers this preview for tonight's game.
- Rhett Bomar has closed the gap on Jim Sorgi, according to the Daily News.
- Kevin Boss spoke to New York's 1050 ESPN about his training camp.
- Brian Lewis seems to indicate that Sinorice Moss is in denial about the possibility of losing his roster spot.
- Defensive tackle Jay Alford is pushing his surgically repaired knee to the limit, writes the Star-Ledgers' mad tweeter Mike Garafolo.
- Lorenzo Alexander says that Clinton Portis is taking his job seriously under the Mike Shanahan regime.
- Safeties Reed Doughty and Chris Horton have been through a lot together during a relatively short period of time.
- Some interesting thoughts from Trevor Pryce on the Shanahan-Albert Haynesworth feud.
You don't want to read too much into a preseason game, but Perry Fewell's unit looked pretty solid in the New York Giants' 24-17 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps inspired by his starting role, defensive end Osi Umenyiora was dominant against the run. Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka teamed up to cause some big-time minus plays against the Steelers' first-team offense.
Here are my quick-hit observations from Saturday's rumble in New Meadowlands Stadium:
Here are my quick-hit observations from Saturday's rumble in New Meadowlands Stadium:
- I don't think the final numbers for quarterback Rhett Bomar -- 13-of-26 for 167 yards -- tell the whole story of his evening. Though he had one awful interception on a tipped ball, I liked the way he used his legs to extend plays. Bomar's capable of making something happen when a play breaks down, and that's the main reason the Giants should keep him around at least one more season. He obviously has a lot more upside than Jim Sorgi, but you'd have a hard time trusting Bomar if Eli Manning was out for more than two weeks in the regular season.
- Nice interception by cornerback Corey Webster against Ben Roethlisberger. Webster has his confidence back, and he's playing with a swagger. Those are the types of plays that galvanize a defense. I think Fewell's done an excellent job of restoring confidence in all of these cornerbacks.
- Hakeem Nicks can't get drawn into a fight four plays into a game. Football fights with helmets on seem so redundant. And when you get tossed from a game that early, it can put your teammates in a bind. I'm sure Tom Coughlin will have a long visit with Nicks about that play.
- The Giants gave their old pal Flozell Adams fits at his right tackle spot. Tuck gained a small measure of revenge for that shoulder injury that Adams gave him last season by blowing past the aging player at least twice, once with a nice spin move. I liked how Fewell kept moving players around before the play. I think it confused the Steelers' offensive line.
- Steve Smith made a Victor Cruz-like catch along the sideline for 45 yards from Bomar. He turned what could've been an interception into a big gain. Cruz entered the game in the second quarter to a loud "Cruuuuuuz!" chant. But he struggled against the Steelers. The muffed punt inside the 10-yard line was tough to watch. Looked like he let the ball bounce off his knee. Just a really clumsy effort. But this will give him a chance to bounce back from a little adversity.
- Linebacker Keith Bulluck was only in there for a handful of plays, but I liked when he came racing through to drop Rashard Mendenhall near the line of scrimmage. Bulluck had two tackles and looked good calling out the signals during his short time on the field.
- It's fun watching Ahmad Bradshaw run the football now that he's healthy. He has a nice blend of power and speed. As I said last week, Bradshaw's the feature back on this team. He and Brandon Jacobs seem to have a great rapport, so hopefully things won't be too awkward. But I think it will be tough for Jacobs to watch Bradshaw get 18-20 carries in a game while he receives 8-9. That's going to happen.
- Excellent job by defensive tackle Rocky Bernard on the goal-line stand at the end of the first quarter. He showed a lot of power on that play, and I think it's something Fewell can build on.
- Aaron Ross' 44-yard punt return was a thing of beauty. And don't be too worried about Steelers punter Daniel Sepulveda fighting off blockers to make the tackle. As a Ray Guy Award-winner at Baylor, Sepulveda was known for his punishing hits.
- Jason Pierre-Paul can't break contain with Byron Leftwich. The lumbering Leftwich eluded Pierre-Paul in the open field, and there's no excuse for that.
- I'm hoping Bruce Johnson was supposed to have help from safety Michael Greco on that 68-yard touchdown. That was way too easy, and it brought back memories of matchups against New Orleans and Philly last season.
- Adrien Tracy was pretty active down the stretch and ended up with nine tackles. Regarding safety John Busing, I'm not overly impressed. He's always arriving a split-second late, and I'm being generous with that estimate.
- Phillip Dillard's a little eager at times against the run, and you'll see him overpursue. But I do like the energy he brings to the field.
- The thing I like about Bomar the most is that he gets the ball out of there quickly. He'll change arm angles and fire a ball into a tight window like he did to Sinorice Moss in the second half. The numbers weren't that great, but I sort of admired how he stood in there and took some hits. And he was fearless when it came to running for first downs. Maybe a bit too fearless for Coughlin's taste.
- I saw rookie defensive tackle Linval Joseph run a nice little twist with Kiwanuka on one play in the first half. Joseph's going to be starting by the end of the season.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been ruled out for Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers. Other than tossing a few passes while wearing a cap, Manning did not practice Wednesday afternoon. And with backup Jim Sorgi out with a shoulder injury, Rhett Bomar was the only quarterback standing.
"Eli will not play this week but I won't go any further than that," Coughlin said after practice. "There is a question as to whether what he can do with a hat on [in practice]. I am not going to rush things. If the doctors say it is OK for him to throw, then he will do some throwing. But he is definitely not going to put the helmet on."
A couple of Manning's buddies on the offensive line showed up to Wednesday's practice with large bandages on their foreheads. Coughlin said there was a possibility the Giants would sign another quarterback in the next couple days in case Sorgi's not ready to go against the Steelers.
For Manning, this will be a moment that stays with him for a long time. There's nothing like opening a brand new stadium by leaking blood all over the playing surface after a botched play.
"I always thought my first game ever versus Philadelphia would be the biggest hit I would ever take," said Manning on Wednesday. "Jerome McDougle gave me a good pop but this is right up there. Kind of a double whammy, and you get a little blood and stuff, it is always a good hit. Let's hope this will be the worst one."
And in case you're wondering, Giants camp phenom Victor Cruz is supposed to call the Beast later this evening. We'll keep you posted. If he calls, I'll probably write something up for Thursday morning. Thanks for your continued support.
"Eli will not play this week but I won't go any further than that," Coughlin said after practice. "There is a question as to whether what he can do with a hat on [in practice]. I am not going to rush things. If the doctors say it is OK for him to throw, then he will do some throwing. But he is definitely not going to put the helmet on."
A couple of Manning's buddies on the offensive line showed up to Wednesday's practice with large bandages on their foreheads. Coughlin said there was a possibility the Giants would sign another quarterback in the next couple days in case Sorgi's not ready to go against the Steelers.
For Manning, this will be a moment that stays with him for a long time. There's nothing like opening a brand new stadium by leaking blood all over the playing surface after a botched play.
"I always thought my first game ever versus Philadelphia would be the biggest hit I would ever take," said Manning on Wednesday. "Jerome McDougle gave me a good pop but this is right up there. Kind of a double whammy, and you get a little blood and stuff, it is always a good hit. Let's hope this will be the worst one."
And in case you're wondering, Giants camp phenom Victor Cruz is supposed to call the Beast later this evening. We'll keep you posted. If he calls, I'll probably write something up for Thursday morning. Thanks for your continued support.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Beast just wrapped up one-on-one sessions with Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck and Antrel Rolle, so we'll be rolling out some items throughout the afternoon. And remember to check out our Giants Camp Confidential feature Tuesday afternoon.
On Monday morning, Coughlin turned up the tempo in practice and wanted to see his players hustling between drills. He was not thrilled when a certain rookie defensive tackle (Linval Joseph) didn't know he was supposed to rotate into team drills. It was clear from the beginning of Monday's session that this coaching staff isn't going to wait for the young guys to catch up to the veterans. Either you keep up or you'll end up at the house. Here's what stood out to me during this morning's session:
On Monday morning, Coughlin turned up the tempo in practice and wanted to see his players hustling between drills. He was not thrilled when a certain rookie defensive tackle (Linval Joseph) didn't know he was supposed to rotate into team drills. It was clear from the beginning of Monday's session that this coaching staff isn't going to wait for the young guys to catch up to the veterans. Either you keep up or you'll end up at the house. Here's what stood out to me during this morning's session:
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AP Photo/Mike GrollPerry Fewell's intensity hasn't gone unnoticed in the early stages of training camp.
AP Photo/Mike GrollPerry Fewell's intensity hasn't gone unnoticed in the early stages of training camp.- It's remarkable how much of a presence new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has in practice. You can hear him from anywhere on the University at Albany campus. When Mario Manningham caught a pass across the middle, Fewell shouted, "That's [expletive!]" to no one in particular. And when cornerback Corey Webster snagged a one-handed interception, Fewell raced up the left sideline and threatened to throw a block on an unsuspecting tight end. From talking to Tuck and other players, you can tell the Giants truly missed Steve Spagnuolo's dynamic presence in practice last season. Fewell brings that same type of energy. Of course, none of that will matter if the Giants give up a ton of huge plays. But at this point, Fewell has been the story of camp. Coughlin hired Fewell years ago and then admired him from afar as he blossomed into a highly regarded coordinator. I think the fact that Fewell held the Bills together during difficult circumstances was also a big factor in him being hired by the Giants.
- For those of you who have been asking, Ahmad Bradshaw looks completely healthy to me. He had to bounce a run outside Monday because linebacker Clint Sintim came knifing through the line of scrimmage and he showed that same quickness that I remember from a couple years ago. The Giants will be very cautious with Bradshaw in camp, but he doesn't have any limitations at this point.
- Staying with running back, I can see why general manager Jerry Reese and Coughlin still have a lot of hope for Andre Brown. He ran a nice little wheel route in Monday's practice and then just exploded down the sideline. The Giants beat writers tried to identify a running back who's made it all the way back from a ruptured Achilles' tendon. They came up empty. Perhaps Brown can make some history.
- One of the few encouraging things from last season was Manning's ability to connect on some deep balls. On Monday, he put the ball in a perfect spot for Steve Smith, but the receiver had it glance off his hands. Safety Deon Grant was responsible for helping Webster on the play and he made the mistake of letting Smith get behind him.
- Rolle just has a swagger that you didn't see in the Giants secondary last season. I think he's excited about playing on a bigger stage and he acts like he's been around forever. It really has been a seamless transition and I think he'll make a ton of plays for Fewell.
- The Ramses Barden Show continued Monday morning with the wide receiver making nice catches in traffic. Manning has a lot more confidence in Barden at this point, but the second-year player still has to take it to the field. Coughlin and Reese seem convinced that Barden's on the verge of being something special. He was a big story in last year's camp, but in the two practices I've watched, I like how he's catching the ball on the run. There's none of that hesitation that some young receivers have.
- Rough day at the office for Madison Hedgecock. He dropped both of the passes that Manning sent his way. And it's not just a case of having hands of stone. For whatever reason, he doesn't look the ball into his hands.
- Duke Calhoun is a free-agent rookie out of Memphis who is displaying excellent hands early in camp. He's made a couple of catches in traffic and I could tell that Coughlin was watching him closely today.
- Catch of the day goes to second-year tight end Bear Pascoe out of Fresno State. He was racing down the seam and then he went into a full dive to haul in a Rhett Bomar pass. And speaking of Bomar, he was on the money in team drills. He's gained a lot more confidence and he gets the ball out quickly. At this rate, he may push Jim Sorgi for the backup spot. We pretty much know what Sorgi's going to be at this point. Bomar has a live arm and he's not afraid to zing it into traffic. Safeties coach Dave Merritt was frustrated a couple of times because his players couldn't get their hands on Bomar's passes. But it's not like he's floating anything out there.
- No one ever talks about defensive end Dave Tollefson, but he's a steady player. He looked solid against the run Monday morning and it looks like he's quicker off the ball than I've seen him in the past. Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka made an outstanding play in team drills to force Bradshaw to reverse field.
- Travis Beckum will receive a ton of playing time in the preseason. He's a big, speedy target for Manning. But when Bomar fired a nice pass across the middle, Beckum couldn't bring it in. With Kevin Boss only practicing once a day, Beckum's going to get treated like a starter. He has to make that play. A tight end out of Ohio State named Jake Ballard also had a bad drop on a pass from Bomar.
- I took a long look at rookie defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul today. He's extremely gifted, but he's having a tough time getting off blocks at this point. Second-year offensive tackle Jacob Bender didn't have any problems with Pierre-Paul when I was watching today. The good news is that Pierre-Paul seems to have an excellent attitude. He and Joseph are hanging out with the veteran players asking questions all the time.
- Center Shaun O'Hara (ankle) will sit out both practices today, but Osi Umenyiora (hip), Hakeem Nicks (toe) and Boss (knee) will all return. It also looks like the Giants are going to be cautious with Keith Bulluck's knee. He stayed on the sideline today while Jonathan Goff continued to run with the first team. I'm going to focus on Phillip Dillard for a little bit in practice this afternoon and see how he's coming along.
I expected all of the NFC East teams to be represented at Florida's pro day Wednesday, but it was a bit surprising to actually see Giants coach Tom Coughlin make an appearance to watch Tim Tebow. Here's the breakdown from ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
TebowApparently Tebow was good enough Wednesday to convince the NFL to invite him to New York for the draft next month. As we've seen, things can get a little awkward when players in attendance have to linger in the green room. And I haven't seen a single mock draft that has Tebow going in the first round. Perhaps Tebow will wait until Friday evening to stop by.
But back to the Giants. Why would Coughlin be in Gainesville, Fla., for a pro day when he has Eli Manning, the immortal Jim Sorgi and Rhett Bomar on the roster? Well, maybe he wanted to see that new delivery for himself. I think we're about to see Tebow come roaring up draft boards. It's not like the Giants are going to take him at No. 15, but I wouldn't rule them out of trying to land him on Friday of the draft. And don't think the presence of Rex Grossman in Washington will prevent Mike Shanahan from taking a long look at Tebow.
But back to the Giants. Why would Coughlin be in Gainesville, Fla., for a pro day when he has Eli Manning, the immortal Jim Sorgi and Rhett Bomar on the roster? Well, maybe he wanted to see that new delivery for himself. I think we're about to see Tebow come roaring up draft boards. It's not like the Giants are going to take him at No. 15, but I wouldn't rule them out of trying to land him on Friday of the draft. And don't think the presence of Rex Grossman in Washington will prevent Mike Shanahan from taking a long look at Tebow.
New York Giants backup quarterback Jim Sorgi is in line to make roughly $1.15 million in 2010, according to Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger. If he sees significant playing time, the contract could grow to $1.8 million. But the Giants are obviously hoping that Sorgi never has to play a meaningful down, something that he's familiar with from his time with the Colts.
I'm still trying to determine exactly how Sorgi injured his shoulder in '09 -- since he wasn't playing. There were rumors that it was a non-football injury, but even folks close to the situation haven't come up with an explanation. I'm sure the Giants did their due diligence in determining how the injury occurred. And if I ever hear the story, I'll be happy to pass it along.
By the way, do you guys feel like Rhett Bomar will have a legitimate opportunity to win the No. 2 role? One more question: Who has the best backup quarterback in the NFC East? Here's how I'd rank them (I'm leaving a certain Wildcat quarterback out of the mix):
1. Kevin Kolb
2. Jon Kitna
3. Jim Sorgi
4. Colt Brennan
If you determine that Michael Vick is the backup quarterback in Philly rather than Kolb, then he'd also head the list. Thoughts? Concerns? Praise?
I'm still trying to determine exactly how Sorgi injured his shoulder in '09 -- since he wasn't playing. There were rumors that it was a non-football injury, but even folks close to the situation haven't come up with an explanation. I'm sure the Giants did their due diligence in determining how the injury occurred. And if I ever hear the story, I'll be happy to pass it along.
By the way, do you guys feel like Rhett Bomar will have a legitimate opportunity to win the No. 2 role? One more question: Who has the best backup quarterback in the NFC East? Here's how I'd rank them (I'm leaving a certain Wildcat quarterback out of the mix):
1. Kevin Kolb
2. Jon Kitna
3. Jim Sorgi
4. Colt Brennan
If you determine that Michael Vick is the backup quarterback in Philly rather than Kolb, then he'd also head the list. Thoughts? Concerns? Praise?
Once the New York Giants determined that former Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi's injured shoulder was healing nicely, they signed him to a one-year contract. He seems like the perfect fit because he offers insurance for the Giants while they try to bring along second-year quarterback Rhett Bomar.
SorgiSorgi's probably resigned himself to being a backup in the league, but that's not a bad thing. I don't think you want to bring a high-strung guy like Jeff Garcia into a daily meeting room with the laid-back Eli Manning. Sorgi's served as Peyton Manning's understudy for six seasons, so there are no surprises here. If Peyton didn't have a great opinion of Sorgi, there's no way he'd be with the Giants this afternoon.
My biggest concern would be that Sorgi always seems to get banged up in the preseason, which is pretty much the only time he plays. Obviously, the Giants are hoping they never have to turn to Sorgi during the regular season, and given Eli's ability to play through pain, there's a good chance that will happen.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin love creating competition in training camp and I bet they're hoping Bomar and Sorgi feed off each other.
My biggest concern would be that Sorgi always seems to get banged up in the preseason, which is pretty much the only time he plays. Obviously, the Giants are hoping they never have to turn to Sorgi during the regular season, and given Eli's ability to play through pain, there's a good chance that will happen.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin love creating competition in training camp and I bet they're hoping Bomar and Sorgi feed off each other.

