NFC East: Steve Smith
Welcome to the weekend, and to the weekend mailbag, where I try to round up some of your more interesting questions from the week and answer them the best I can. We shall get right to it.
Dave from Brookfield, Conn., would have picked left tackle Will Beatty for the New York Giants' entry in Friday's "Pressure Point" series. I went with Ahmad Bradshaw, as you can see if you click on that link.
Dan Graziano: That's a great call, Dave, and probably a better one than Bradshaw. The offensive line's play (particularly as a run-blocking unit) improved dramatically last year after Beatty's eye injury knocked him out for the season. And while that might have been a coincidence or the result of other factors, it did happen, and questions do still remain about Beatty after he struggled in his first season as the Giants' starting left tackle. The Giants still believe in Beatty and will continue to give him the opportunity to show he can do the job, but they're not convinced yet, and if he struggles again it could be a position they have to address moving forward beyond 2012.
Matt from San Diego asks: "Assuming Fletcher Cox has a solid rookie year, could the Philadelphia Eagles have the best [defensive] line in the league?"
DG: There are some great ones out there, Matt, including the one that's up the highway in N.J. defending the Super Bowl title. But yeah, the Eagles have a remarkable depth of talent on their line. They have the great bookend pass-rushers in Trent Cole and Jason Babin, a versatile defensive tackle in Cullen Jenkins and plenty of depth behind the starters inside and out. They drafted Cox because they believed he could be an impact pass-rusher from the get-go at the defensive tackle spot, and they have their fingers crossed that 2010 first-round pick Brandon Graham can finally stay healthy and contribute to the defensive end rotation. If they get contributions from Cox and Graham, the Eagles will be in that discussion.
David from Fairfax, Va., (and a number of other people) have challenged my repeated answers to the question of whether the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III could have a rookie year similar to the one Cam Newton had for Carolina in 2011. I don't believe they're similar players, but part of my stock answer has been, "He doesn't have a Steve Smith in his wide receiver corps." David agrees, but thinks the overall talent level of the Redskins' wide receivers is better than what the Panthers had last year behind Smith.
DG: It is, David, and Griffin will have a wider array of options than Newton had last year. My point is that the Newton-Smith hookup provided the Panthers with a number of long, explosive plays that helped drive up Newton's incredible rookie-season numbers. Because of the lack of anything that approximates that, I don't see Griffin approximating Newton's rookie numbers. But Griffin could have a very excellent and successful rookie season without coming close to Newton's numbers, which were unprecedented. I think there are a number of differences between the two players, though, and the way they play. And I think you'll see what I mean once you watch Griffin operate a multi-faceted offense that isn't likely to rely on him to do quite as much as the Panthers relied on Newton to do last year.
Daniel in San Antonio, Texas, disagrees with the notion that the Dallas Cowboys can replace No. 3 wide receiver Laurent Robinson with some sort of committee of what they have on the roster already. To make his point, Daniel asks: "How many games over the last two years have Miles Austin and Dez Bryant missed due to injury?"
DG: Well, Austin missed six games last year and none the year before. Bryant missed one last year and four the year before. So the answer to your question is 11, and your point is well taken. Robinson really exploded onto the Cowboys' scene last year because of how well he played in place of Austin during Austin's hamstring-injury problems. If Austin and Bryant and Jason Witten are healthy, there's really not much need for a No. 3 wide receiver in Dallas. But even if Austin (or Bryant) should have to miss games again, the Cowboys could surely get by with a replacement who doesn't produce the way the starter did. Most teams do, when it comes to injury. Robinson was a surprise exceptional case, and because of the way he played he got more looks. If he hadn't looked as good as he did, those looks likely would have gone to Bryant or Witten, as they likely will if similar circumstances arise in 2012.
Finally, Justin from B-More has a procedural complaint. He thought doing the daily breakfast links according to the division standings during the season was fine. But as someone whose last name begins with Z, he has a long-held hatred of simple reversion to alphabetical order. He's also a Redskins fan, and doesn't like seeing his team listed last in the links every day.
DG: Your point is well taken, Justin, and in the interest of fairness, here is what I propose: From this point forward until the season starts and we do them in standings order again, I will change the order of the breakfast links every day from Monday through Thursday, so that each of the division's teams is listed first at least once per week. And I will devise some sort of reader contest to allow one reader to determine the Friday order each week. Something like, whoever sends me the best printable joke in the mailbag that Thursday, or whoever answers a trivia question first on Twitter. Details to follow, but the new system goes into effect Monday. We'll call it "The Justin from B-More Doctrine."
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, folks.
Dave from Brookfield, Conn., would have picked left tackle Will Beatty for the New York Giants' entry in Friday's "Pressure Point" series. I went with Ahmad Bradshaw, as you can see if you click on that link.
Dan Graziano: That's a great call, Dave, and probably a better one than Bradshaw. The offensive line's play (particularly as a run-blocking unit) improved dramatically last year after Beatty's eye injury knocked him out for the season. And while that might have been a coincidence or the result of other factors, it did happen, and questions do still remain about Beatty after he struggled in his first season as the Giants' starting left tackle. The Giants still believe in Beatty and will continue to give him the opportunity to show he can do the job, but they're not convinced yet, and if he struggles again it could be a position they have to address moving forward beyond 2012.
Matt from San Diego asks: "Assuming Fletcher Cox has a solid rookie year, could the Philadelphia Eagles have the best [defensive] line in the league?"
DG: There are some great ones out there, Matt, including the one that's up the highway in N.J. defending the Super Bowl title. But yeah, the Eagles have a remarkable depth of talent on their line. They have the great bookend pass-rushers in Trent Cole and Jason Babin, a versatile defensive tackle in Cullen Jenkins and plenty of depth behind the starters inside and out. They drafted Cox because they believed he could be an impact pass-rusher from the get-go at the defensive tackle spot, and they have their fingers crossed that 2010 first-round pick Brandon Graham can finally stay healthy and contribute to the defensive end rotation. If they get contributions from Cox and Graham, the Eagles will be in that discussion.
David from Fairfax, Va., (and a number of other people) have challenged my repeated answers to the question of whether the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III could have a rookie year similar to the one Cam Newton had for Carolina in 2011. I don't believe they're similar players, but part of my stock answer has been, "He doesn't have a Steve Smith in his wide receiver corps." David agrees, but thinks the overall talent level of the Redskins' wide receivers is better than what the Panthers had last year behind Smith.
DG: It is, David, and Griffin will have a wider array of options than Newton had last year. My point is that the Newton-Smith hookup provided the Panthers with a number of long, explosive plays that helped drive up Newton's incredible rookie-season numbers. Because of the lack of anything that approximates that, I don't see Griffin approximating Newton's rookie numbers. But Griffin could have a very excellent and successful rookie season without coming close to Newton's numbers, which were unprecedented. I think there are a number of differences between the two players, though, and the way they play. And I think you'll see what I mean once you watch Griffin operate a multi-faceted offense that isn't likely to rely on him to do quite as much as the Panthers relied on Newton to do last year.
Daniel in San Antonio, Texas, disagrees with the notion that the Dallas Cowboys can replace No. 3 wide receiver Laurent Robinson with some sort of committee of what they have on the roster already. To make his point, Daniel asks: "How many games over the last two years have Miles Austin and Dez Bryant missed due to injury?"
DG: Well, Austin missed six games last year and none the year before. Bryant missed one last year and four the year before. So the answer to your question is 11, and your point is well taken. Robinson really exploded onto the Cowboys' scene last year because of how well he played in place of Austin during Austin's hamstring-injury problems. If Austin and Bryant and Jason Witten are healthy, there's really not much need for a No. 3 wide receiver in Dallas. But even if Austin (or Bryant) should have to miss games again, the Cowboys could surely get by with a replacement who doesn't produce the way the starter did. Most teams do, when it comes to injury. Robinson was a surprise exceptional case, and because of the way he played he got more looks. If he hadn't looked as good as he did, those looks likely would have gone to Bryant or Witten, as they likely will if similar circumstances arise in 2012.
Finally, Justin from B-More has a procedural complaint. He thought doing the daily breakfast links according to the division standings during the season was fine. But as someone whose last name begins with Z, he has a long-held hatred of simple reversion to alphabetical order. He's also a Redskins fan, and doesn't like seeing his team listed last in the links every day.
DG: Your point is well taken, Justin, and in the interest of fairness, here is what I propose: From this point forward until the season starts and we do them in standings order again, I will change the order of the breakfast links every day from Monday through Thursday, so that each of the division's teams is listed first at least once per week. And I will devise some sort of reader contest to allow one reader to determine the Friday order each week. Something like, whoever sends me the best printable joke in the mailbag that Thursday, or whoever answers a trivia question first on Twitter. Details to follow, but the new system goes into effect Monday. We'll call it "The Justin from B-More Doctrine."
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, folks.
The NFL draft is now two weeks away, and the teams in our division continue to do their fine tuning in advance of it. Heck, even the Giants got into the act and started acquiring some guys Wednesday. Crazy, I know. Links.
Dallas Cowboys
Rainer Sabin thinks Jerry Jones' reputation as a stubborn owner is outdated and that Jones deserves credit for a willingness to admit and acknowledge his mistakes. Not a bad point, though Cowboys fans would probably respond by saying they'd simply prefer he stop making so many.
Were you wondering if someone would take a chance on recently released cornerback Terence Newman? No? Nobody? How about you there in the back? Did you raise your hand? Yes? Well, here you go. He's a Bengal.
New York Giants
The Giants capped off a busy Wednesday by signing former Patriots cornerback Antwaun Molden. They hope to have the Keith Rivers trade finalized and announced today, and maybe once that happens we'll get some clarity about their plans for where all of their linebackers are going to play.
The knee injury tight end Jake Ballard suffered in the Super Bowl was more serious than we originally knew. Ballard had microfracture surgery in addition to the surgery to repair his torn ACL. It's going to be a very tough road back for Ballard.
Philadelphia Eagles
The way Demetress Bell's contract is structured allows the Eagles to get out after a year if Jason Peters is back and ready to go, but it also gives them the option of keeping Bell around as a long-term replacement if that's what they end up needing. Reuben Frank has the details.
Former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook wants the team to give current running back LeSean McCoy his long-term contract. As we have discussed at length here, I believe Westbrook and McCoy will get their wish at some point.
Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who helped Cam Newton flourish as a rookie quarterback in 2011, says the Redskins can have success with a rookie quarterback in 2012 as long as the receivers are open-minded about working with one.
Defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins, who was a star in his first training camp last year before a preseason injury knocked him out for the season, has been cleared to resume playing football. This helps make the defensive line perhaps the deepest position group the Redskins have, and it should be a strength of their team in 2012.
Dallas Cowboys
Rainer Sabin thinks Jerry Jones' reputation as a stubborn owner is outdated and that Jones deserves credit for a willingness to admit and acknowledge his mistakes. Not a bad point, though Cowboys fans would probably respond by saying they'd simply prefer he stop making so many.
Were you wondering if someone would take a chance on recently released cornerback Terence Newman? No? Nobody? How about you there in the back? Did you raise your hand? Yes? Well, here you go. He's a Bengal.
New York Giants
The Giants capped off a busy Wednesday by signing former Patriots cornerback Antwaun Molden. They hope to have the Keith Rivers trade finalized and announced today, and maybe once that happens we'll get some clarity about their plans for where all of their linebackers are going to play.
The knee injury tight end Jake Ballard suffered in the Super Bowl was more serious than we originally knew. Ballard had microfracture surgery in addition to the surgery to repair his torn ACL. It's going to be a very tough road back for Ballard.
Philadelphia Eagles
The way Demetress Bell's contract is structured allows the Eagles to get out after a year if Jason Peters is back and ready to go, but it also gives them the option of keeping Bell around as a long-term replacement if that's what they end up needing. Reuben Frank has the details.
Former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook wants the team to give current running back LeSean McCoy his long-term contract. As we have discussed at length here, I believe Westbrook and McCoy will get their wish at some point.
Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who helped Cam Newton flourish as a rookie quarterback in 2011, says the Redskins can have success with a rookie quarterback in 2012 as long as the receivers are open-minded about working with one.
Defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins, who was a star in his first training camp last year before a preseason injury knocked him out for the season, has been cleared to resume playing football. This helps make the defensive line perhaps the deepest position group the Redskins have, and it should be a strength of their team in 2012.
Breakfast links: Giants 'slow-playing' market
March, 27, 2012
Mar 27
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- We are all up bright and early this morning for the first of two "coaches breakfasts" at the NFL owners meetings. Pretty cool deal, actually. Today, all of the AFC coaches sit at tables for an hour and you can sit with them and ask them anything you want. The NFC coaches do it tomorrow. So, in my capacity as NFC East blogger, I will of course be working those tables tomorrow for information and insight from Jason Garrett, Tom Coughlin, Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan. But I'm going to today's session, too, to do some work on another project and because you never know what you might learn.
I don't know if they'll have links there. I do know you have them here.
Dallas Cowboys
After saying he'd talk with reporters Monday about the salary cap penalty issue, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to do so and in fact stayed very much out of sight all day. (I mean, I was looking for the guy from 8 am until 10 pm, and I saw him once, and he was in a room I wasn't allowed to enter.) It sounds as though the Cowboys and the Redskins will both keep quiet on this, though you should stay tuned because you never know with Jerry, right?
Wanna hear what Tony Romo thinks about Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow? Here you go. What? Hey, at least it's not about Romo playing golf. I know you guys just love it when I give you the Romo golf updates...
New York Giants
Giants general manager Jerry Reese spoke with Sirius XM Radio about several issues, including the team's ongoing hunt for a middle linebacker and the idea of "slow-playing" free agency. I'm amazed that I still get questions from Giants fans about why they haven't done much in free agency. They don't have much cap room, first of all. And second of all, this is how they usually handle free agency, and it seems to be working well for them, no?
Former Giants wide receiver Steve Smith signed with the Rams, which could be an Eagles link because he "played" for them last year and could be a Cowboys link because some Cowboys fans were wondering if their team might sign him to replace Laurent Robinson but is ultimately a Giants link because Smith was much more a Giant than he ever was an Eagle or certainly a Cowboy.
Philadelphia Eagles
Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly is doing a periodic draft diary for Philly.com, and Sheil Kapadia has the latest installment. We don't know if the Eagles will end up picking Kuechly in the first round, but he's a guy who would fit nicely there, and he's someone who's been on the minds of Eagles fans, so there you go -- a little look into the pre-draft process through his eyes.
Jeff McLane explains why he thinks the Eagles could use one of their first three draft picks on a quarterback.
Washington Redskins
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that commissioner Roger Goodell has the "full support" of the league's other owners on the matter of the salary cap penalties against the Redskins and Cowboys. Of course, Kraft also said Goodell was "in the best position to speak to that," and a few hours later Goodell refused to do so. So, you know. Whatever.
My old friend LaVar Arrington thinks this is a case of two NFL owners bucking the "old-school" approach the others are so determined to preserve. And in truth, this does feel more and more like a vindictive personal issue among the owners involved. That's probably why the league doesn't want anyone talking about it anymore. If the arbitrator assigned to the case thinks there's some kind of personal motivation behind the penalties, that might make him more likely to overturn them.
I don't know if they'll have links there. I do know you have them here.
Dallas Cowboys
After saying he'd talk with reporters Monday about the salary cap penalty issue, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to do so and in fact stayed very much out of sight all day. (I mean, I was looking for the guy from 8 am until 10 pm, and I saw him once, and he was in a room I wasn't allowed to enter.) It sounds as though the Cowboys and the Redskins will both keep quiet on this, though you should stay tuned because you never know with Jerry, right?
Wanna hear what Tony Romo thinks about Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow? Here you go. What? Hey, at least it's not about Romo playing golf. I know you guys just love it when I give you the Romo golf updates...
New York Giants
Giants general manager Jerry Reese spoke with Sirius XM Radio about several issues, including the team's ongoing hunt for a middle linebacker and the idea of "slow-playing" free agency. I'm amazed that I still get questions from Giants fans about why they haven't done much in free agency. They don't have much cap room, first of all. And second of all, this is how they usually handle free agency, and it seems to be working well for them, no?
Former Giants wide receiver Steve Smith signed with the Rams, which could be an Eagles link because he "played" for them last year and could be a Cowboys link because some Cowboys fans were wondering if their team might sign him to replace Laurent Robinson but is ultimately a Giants link because Smith was much more a Giant than he ever was an Eagle or certainly a Cowboy.
Philadelphia Eagles
Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly is doing a periodic draft diary for Philly.com, and Sheil Kapadia has the latest installment. We don't know if the Eagles will end up picking Kuechly in the first round, but he's a guy who would fit nicely there, and he's someone who's been on the minds of Eagles fans, so there you go -- a little look into the pre-draft process through his eyes.
Jeff McLane explains why he thinks the Eagles could use one of their first three draft picks on a quarterback.
Washington Redskins
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that commissioner Roger Goodell has the "full support" of the league's other owners on the matter of the salary cap penalties against the Redskins and Cowboys. Of course, Kraft also said Goodell was "in the best position to speak to that," and a few hours later Goodell refused to do so. So, you know. Whatever.
My old friend LaVar Arrington thinks this is a case of two NFL owners bucking the "old-school" approach the others are so determined to preserve. And in truth, this does feel more and more like a vindictive personal issue among the owners involved. That's probably why the league doesn't want anyone talking about it anymore. If the arbitrator assigned to the case thinks there's some kind of personal motivation behind the penalties, that might make him more likely to overturn them.
The NFL has announced that 15 teams have been awarded a total of 32 compensatory picks in next month's draft. The New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys are two of those teams, each picking up an additional pick at the end of the fourth round as a result of their 2011 free-agent activity.
The Giants now have the 36th pick in the first round (131st pick overall) because they lost free agents Barry Cofield, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss last offseason and signed David Baas and Steve Weatherford. The Cowboys get the 40th pick in the fourth round (135th overall) because they lost Stephen Bowen and Sam Hurd in free agency and signed Abram Elam.
Not every free agent is deemed to have compensatory-pick value, based on the league's formula that takes into account salary, playing time and postseason honors. But if the overall value, according to that formula, of compensatory free agents lost in a given offseason outweighs the value of compensatory free agents signed, teams are compensation with these additional picks. The placement of the picks is determined by the formula as well.
The Eagles and Redskins do not get compensatory picks, because the overall value of the free agents they signed in 2011 is deemed by the formula to be equal to or greater than the overall value of the free agents they lost.
The Giants now have the 36th pick in the first round (131st pick overall) because they lost free agents Barry Cofield, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss last offseason and signed David Baas and Steve Weatherford. The Cowboys get the 40th pick in the fourth round (135th overall) because they lost Stephen Bowen and Sam Hurd in free agency and signed Abram Elam.
Not every free agent is deemed to have compensatory-pick value, based on the league's formula that takes into account salary, playing time and postseason honors. But if the overall value, according to that formula, of compensatory free agents lost in a given offseason outweighs the value of compensatory free agents signed, teams are compensation with these additional picks. The placement of the picks is determined by the formula as well.
The Eagles and Redskins do not get compensatory picks, because the overall value of the free agents they signed in 2011 is deemed by the formula to be equal to or greater than the overall value of the free agents they lost.
Good morning to you in the East. After a long stretch in which not much has happened, this past weekend saw the start of some very real action. The Redskins' trade up to get the No. 2 pick in next month's draft was the first truly significant offseason move by any of our four teams, and this week will bring more. Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET is the start of free agency, and in a few days the shifting, updating 2012 rosters of our division's four teams will begin to give us some clues as to what might happen in the coming season. It's an exciting time, for me as well as for you, and I look forward to a fun week.
We'll have the usual free-agent bells and whistles. Those of you who remember "How was your day?" from last summer will be happy to know I'm planning to bring that back, for instance. And the goal is to have a post reacting to every signing as they happen, so it shouldn't be a problem to keep the blog fresh and updated.
One thing on which you know you can always count, however, is the reliable morning presence of your hot, fresh links.
New York Giants
Ohm offers a Giants free-agency primer over at ESPNNewYork.com. It's very thorough and will get you set up to follow the Giants in the coming week. Interesting that Ohm seems to think the return of Steve Smith as the team's No. 3 wide receiver is a very real possibility.
It looks as though the Giants have completed their 2012 coaching staff with the hiring of Temple assistant coach Matt Rhule to replace Jack Bicknell Jr. as assistant offensive line coach. The Giants' coaching staff was picked over a bit in the wake of their Super Bowl victory, as often happens, but replacements have been found for everyone.
Philadelphia Eagles
The run of free-agency primers continues with Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer breaking down the decisions the Eagles have to make with their own free agents, including important players such as Evan Mathis, Antonio Dixon and Derek Landri. Jeff thinks that, if they lose Mathis, they'll try to mine the middle rounds of the draft for a replacement, since Howard Mudd-type linemen (like Jason Kelce) are available later in the draft.
And Les Bowen of the Daily News takes a look at what the Eagles might do externally on the free-agent market. Again, as I and many others have been writing recently, don't expect a repeat of last year's Eagles free-agent frenzy. They may go out and add a piece or two, but they're not likely to be this year's offseason headline-grabbers.
Dallas Cowboys
Tim MacMahon and Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com have a Hot Button debate about what the Cowboys' free-agency priority should be. Tim says they'd be wiser to spend on a guard such as Carl Nicks than to throw money at big-name cornerbacks who will end up disappointing them. Calvin says the need for cornerback is their most glaring and should be addressed. I'm inclined to side with Calvin, but Tim makes his case very convincingly. Anyway, you can vote!
Blogging the Boys has some Cowboys free-agency predictions. It believes the team will swiftly come to an agreement with wide receiver Laurent Robinson (I'm not so sure) and sign both cornerback Brandon Carr and guard Carl Nicks, effectively taking both sides in the aforementioned ESPNDallas.com Hot Button debate. Hey, everybody's allowed to dream.
Washington Redskins
Sally Jenkins believes that Robert Griffin III's background and upbringing as a self-described "military kid" tells you more about who he is and why he's worth betting on than anything he's done on the field.
The Redskins' big draft trade Friday night has had the effect of energizing the fan base and prompting some season-ticket renewals, Rich Campbell writes. This is a look into one of many reasons quarterback is so important in the NFL. If you have a viable quarterback (or, in this case, the chance to get one), your fans have reason to believe. If you don't, they don't.
We'll have the usual free-agent bells and whistles. Those of you who remember "How was your day?" from last summer will be happy to know I'm planning to bring that back, for instance. And the goal is to have a post reacting to every signing as they happen, so it shouldn't be a problem to keep the blog fresh and updated.
One thing on which you know you can always count, however, is the reliable morning presence of your hot, fresh links.
New York Giants
Ohm offers a Giants free-agency primer over at ESPNNewYork.com. It's very thorough and will get you set up to follow the Giants in the coming week. Interesting that Ohm seems to think the return of Steve Smith as the team's No. 3 wide receiver is a very real possibility.
It looks as though the Giants have completed their 2012 coaching staff with the hiring of Temple assistant coach Matt Rhule to replace Jack Bicknell Jr. as assistant offensive line coach. The Giants' coaching staff was picked over a bit in the wake of their Super Bowl victory, as often happens, but replacements have been found for everyone.
Philadelphia Eagles
The run of free-agency primers continues with Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer breaking down the decisions the Eagles have to make with their own free agents, including important players such as Evan Mathis, Antonio Dixon and Derek Landri. Jeff thinks that, if they lose Mathis, they'll try to mine the middle rounds of the draft for a replacement, since Howard Mudd-type linemen (like Jason Kelce) are available later in the draft.
And Les Bowen of the Daily News takes a look at what the Eagles might do externally on the free-agent market. Again, as I and many others have been writing recently, don't expect a repeat of last year's Eagles free-agent frenzy. They may go out and add a piece or two, but they're not likely to be this year's offseason headline-grabbers.
Dallas Cowboys
Tim MacMahon and Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com have a Hot Button debate about what the Cowboys' free-agency priority should be. Tim says they'd be wiser to spend on a guard such as Carl Nicks than to throw money at big-name cornerbacks who will end up disappointing them. Calvin says the need for cornerback is their most glaring and should be addressed. I'm inclined to side with Calvin, but Tim makes his case very convincingly. Anyway, you can vote!
Blogging the Boys has some Cowboys free-agency predictions. It believes the team will swiftly come to an agreement with wide receiver Laurent Robinson (I'm not so sure) and sign both cornerback Brandon Carr and guard Carl Nicks, effectively taking both sides in the aforementioned ESPNDallas.com Hot Button debate. Hey, everybody's allowed to dream.
Washington Redskins
Sally Jenkins believes that Robert Griffin III's background and upbringing as a self-described "military kid" tells you more about who he is and why he's worth betting on than anything he's done on the field.
The Redskins' big draft trade Friday night has had the effect of energizing the fan base and prompting some season-ticket renewals, Rich Campbell writes. This is a look into one of many reasons quarterback is so important in the NFL. If you have a viable quarterback (or, in this case, the chance to get one), your fans have reason to believe. If you don't, they don't.
Breakfast links: Skins the favorite for RG3?
March, 5, 2012
Mar 5
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
I am back, and as Mike and Mike like to say, better than ever. Yeah, of course I missed you guys. Won't ask if you missed me. Plenty of time over the coming weeks and months to invite that kind of abuse.
It was a lovely week off, spent relaxing and watching college basketball conference tournament games. I did keep half an eye on what was going on in the NFL, but the fact is, if you'd been reading this blog regularly, you knew way ahead of time that the Eagles were going to franchise DeSean Jackson and the Redskins were going to franchise Fred Davis. Will the Cowboys do the same with Anthony Spencer? We find out today.
We are eight days from free agency and 52 days from the NFL Draft, and the best way to embark upon an offseason odyssey like this is to fill up first with some links.
New York Giants
If Mario Manningham signs elsewhere as a free agent, the Giants are likely going to need someone from their current group of wide receivers to step forward and replace him. They don't necessarily need a repeat of what Victor Cruz did to replace Steve Smith last year, but they need someone productive. Domenik Hixon, re-signed in spite of having played just two games the past two years due to two tears of the same ACL, would like to be that guy.
Former Giant Mark Bavaro talked to the New York Post about his experience -- or what he believed was his experience -- with "bounty-hunting" defensive players during his time in the NFL. Not a new problem, but the Saints' story isn't going away anytime soon, either.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeff McLane is wondering what the Eagles will do at safety, where they've spent high draft picks but have received little production over the past couple of years. McLane seems to think it's likely that they'll stick with Nate Allen and his fellow youngsters, maybe adding a "second or third-tier" veteran in free agency. But he lists some of the higher-end targets anyway in case they decide to go big-game hunting. The first guy on his list, Tennessee's Michael Griffin, is probably getting franchised, according to Adam Schefter.
I did hear that there was a fair amount of chatter in Philadelphia last week about the possibility of the Eagles trading up with the Rams and drafting Robert Griffin III at No. 2 overall in the draft. Bleeding Green Nation doesn't think this will happen, and neither do I. I totally understand that Andy Reid loves to be deep at quarterback, and I'm not about to rule out the possibility. But given the competition the Eagles will have from teams who need Griffin to start for them next year -- as opposed to sit behind Michael Vick -- I don't see how it becomes worth it for the Eagles to spend their resources that way.
Dallas Cowboys
Calvin Watkins reports that the Cowboys will franchise Spencer, which would guarantee him $8.8 million this year. I know Watkins has believed all along the team would get a deal done with Spencer, and of course they still might. That's what the original intent of the franchise designation was, after all -- to hold a guy in place while you worked on a long-term deal with him. But if the Cowboys don't get a deal done with Spencer, this still isn't a terrible idea. Other than Mario Williams, who's likely to break the bank, there just aren't very many pass-rushers on the market who would qualify as an upgrade over Spencer, disappointing though he may be. And yeah, they can draft a pass-rusher, but even if they did, that would create depth and give them options a year from now when Spencer was up again. So, sensible move, even if it doesn't smell quite right to Cowboys fans.
Oh, and since we did this with the Eagles, let's briefly revisit last week's flare-up over Jerry Jones saying he wouldn't trade Tony Romo to move up to draft Griffin or Andrew Luck. It's draft season, so things get crazy, but it's important to remember that Luck and Griffin are basically children who, while they seem likely to succeed in the NFL, aren't guaranteed to be anything at all. If either of them is ever half as good an NFL quarterback as Romo already is, they'll be overjoyed, and so will the teams that draft them. Jones is the voice of reason here, folks. Ain't that something?
Washington Redskins
Are the Redskins the favorites to land that coveted No. 2 pick in a trade with the Rams? Could such a deal be agreed upon this week? Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks so on both counts, reporting that the Browns don't want to give up both of this year's first-rounders just to move up two spots and get Griffin. Thomas also writes that the Redskins, while willing to deal this year's first-rounder and next year's, are balking at the idea of adding this year's second-rounder to the deal, and that that's a hangup for the Rams. I think the Redskins should move up to get Griffin if it's at all reasonable. If all else is equal, he's their best option. Peyton Manning is a good option if healthy and if they can't get Griffin, but Griffin is the ultimate offseason prize for Washington this year. I think that, if they can do it for two first-rounders, they should. I also think they're wise to not jump to meet St. Louis' asking price just yet, since other suitors may drop out and reduce that price. But as for this week ... yeah, it makes sense that something could get decided this week (even if it couldn't be announced until March 13), because if the Redskins can't get that No. 2 pick, they're going to need to figure out how to get a quarterback in free agency which, as I've already mentioned, starts in eight days.
The Washington Post spoke with former Redskins players and coaches about the way the "bounty" system was administered during Gregg Williams' time there. The league is looking into Williams' time with the Redskins, but it sounds as though the Saints are the team in real trouble here.
It was a lovely week off, spent relaxing and watching college basketball conference tournament games. I did keep half an eye on what was going on in the NFL, but the fact is, if you'd been reading this blog regularly, you knew way ahead of time that the Eagles were going to franchise DeSean Jackson and the Redskins were going to franchise Fred Davis. Will the Cowboys do the same with Anthony Spencer? We find out today.
We are eight days from free agency and 52 days from the NFL Draft, and the best way to embark upon an offseason odyssey like this is to fill up first with some links.
New York Giants
If Mario Manningham signs elsewhere as a free agent, the Giants are likely going to need someone from their current group of wide receivers to step forward and replace him. They don't necessarily need a repeat of what Victor Cruz did to replace Steve Smith last year, but they need someone productive. Domenik Hixon, re-signed in spite of having played just two games the past two years due to two tears of the same ACL, would like to be that guy.
Former Giant Mark Bavaro talked to the New York Post about his experience -- or what he believed was his experience -- with "bounty-hunting" defensive players during his time in the NFL. Not a new problem, but the Saints' story isn't going away anytime soon, either.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeff McLane is wondering what the Eagles will do at safety, where they've spent high draft picks but have received little production over the past couple of years. McLane seems to think it's likely that they'll stick with Nate Allen and his fellow youngsters, maybe adding a "second or third-tier" veteran in free agency. But he lists some of the higher-end targets anyway in case they decide to go big-game hunting. The first guy on his list, Tennessee's Michael Griffin, is probably getting franchised, according to Adam Schefter.
I did hear that there was a fair amount of chatter in Philadelphia last week about the possibility of the Eagles trading up with the Rams and drafting Robert Griffin III at No. 2 overall in the draft. Bleeding Green Nation doesn't think this will happen, and neither do I. I totally understand that Andy Reid loves to be deep at quarterback, and I'm not about to rule out the possibility. But given the competition the Eagles will have from teams who need Griffin to start for them next year -- as opposed to sit behind Michael Vick -- I don't see how it becomes worth it for the Eagles to spend their resources that way.
Dallas Cowboys
Calvin Watkins reports that the Cowboys will franchise Spencer, which would guarantee him $8.8 million this year. I know Watkins has believed all along the team would get a deal done with Spencer, and of course they still might. That's what the original intent of the franchise designation was, after all -- to hold a guy in place while you worked on a long-term deal with him. But if the Cowboys don't get a deal done with Spencer, this still isn't a terrible idea. Other than Mario Williams, who's likely to break the bank, there just aren't very many pass-rushers on the market who would qualify as an upgrade over Spencer, disappointing though he may be. And yeah, they can draft a pass-rusher, but even if they did, that would create depth and give them options a year from now when Spencer was up again. So, sensible move, even if it doesn't smell quite right to Cowboys fans.
Oh, and since we did this with the Eagles, let's briefly revisit last week's flare-up over Jerry Jones saying he wouldn't trade Tony Romo to move up to draft Griffin or Andrew Luck. It's draft season, so things get crazy, but it's important to remember that Luck and Griffin are basically children who, while they seem likely to succeed in the NFL, aren't guaranteed to be anything at all. If either of them is ever half as good an NFL quarterback as Romo already is, they'll be overjoyed, and so will the teams that draft them. Jones is the voice of reason here, folks. Ain't that something?
Washington Redskins
Are the Redskins the favorites to land that coveted No. 2 pick in a trade with the Rams? Could such a deal be agreed upon this week? Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks so on both counts, reporting that the Browns don't want to give up both of this year's first-rounders just to move up two spots and get Griffin. Thomas also writes that the Redskins, while willing to deal this year's first-rounder and next year's, are balking at the idea of adding this year's second-rounder to the deal, and that that's a hangup for the Rams. I think the Redskins should move up to get Griffin if it's at all reasonable. If all else is equal, he's their best option. Peyton Manning is a good option if healthy and if they can't get Griffin, but Griffin is the ultimate offseason prize for Washington this year. I think that, if they can do it for two first-rounders, they should. I also think they're wise to not jump to meet St. Louis' asking price just yet, since other suitors may drop out and reduce that price. But as for this week ... yeah, it makes sense that something could get decided this week (even if it couldn't be announced until March 13), because if the Redskins can't get that No. 2 pick, they're going to need to figure out how to get a quarterback in free agency which, as I've already mentioned, starts in eight days.
The Washington Post spoke with former Redskins players and coaches about the way the "bounty" system was administered during Gregg Williams' time there. The league is looking into Williams' time with the Redskins, but it sounds as though the Saints are the team in real trouble here.
» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Arrow indicates direction team is trending.
Final Power Ranking: 9
Preseason Power Ranking: 15
Biggest surprise: Second-year wide receiver Victor Cruz. One of the big questions back in training camp was how the Giants would replace key passing-game targets Steve Smith and Kevin Boss, who had left in free agency. Quarterback Eli Manning even expressed his concern on that very subject. But Cruz had been working with Manning during the lockout and was ready to burst onto the scene more brilliantly than anyone could have expected. He caught 82 passes, nine for touchdowns, and set a Giants team record with 1,536 receiving yards -- a figure that ranked third-best in the NFL. He surpassed Hakeem Nicks as the team's best big-play threat and helped the Giants be able to basically ignore a down year from Mario Manningham.
Biggest disappointment: Has to be a run game that ranked 32nd in the NFL. People want to point out that it seems to have gotten better in recent weeks with both running backs -- Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs -- finally healthy together. But all season, the problem with the Giants' run game was not the backs but rather a poor run-blocking offensive line. Things did get better once Will Beatty got hurt, David Diehl moved to left tackle and the surprising Kevin Boothe got into the mix. But these Giants are more a passing team than ever, and have been unable to put games away on the ground with very few exceptions.
Biggest need: Even if cornerback Terrell Thomas and middle linebacker Jonathan Goff come back from the season-ending injuries they suffered in preseason, the Giants will need to beef up in the secondary and linebacking corps. Just too many coverage problems this year. No matter how good the pass rush is, you need to be able to cover opposing receivers or you're going to keep being vulnerable to the big play.
Team MVP: Manning. With no run game to speak of, a shaky offensive line and a leaky defense for much of the year, Manning elevated the Giants over and over again in games they seemed to have no business winning. His five fourth-quarter comebacks are as big a reason as any that they're still playing. Manning finished the season with 4,933 passing yards, which ranked fourth in the league in this pass-happy season, and established himself as one of the best clutch quarterbacks in the league.
Down with JPP: A close second in that team MVP race is second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had 16.5 sacks, won the first Cowboys game almost by himself and kept the pass rush viable in spite of injuries to Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. He's the Victor Cruz of the Giants' defense.
Arrow indicates direction team is trending.
Final Power Ranking: 9
Preseason Power Ranking: 15
[+] Enlarge
William Perlman/The Star-Ledger/US PresswireVictor Cruz had a breakout season for the Giants in 2011.
William Perlman/The Star-Ledger/US PresswireVictor Cruz had a breakout season for the Giants in 2011.Biggest disappointment: Has to be a run game that ranked 32nd in the NFL. People want to point out that it seems to have gotten better in recent weeks with both running backs -- Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs -- finally healthy together. But all season, the problem with the Giants' run game was not the backs but rather a poor run-blocking offensive line. Things did get better once Will Beatty got hurt, David Diehl moved to left tackle and the surprising Kevin Boothe got into the mix. But these Giants are more a passing team than ever, and have been unable to put games away on the ground with very few exceptions.
Related Coverage
• Clayton: AFC grades | NFC
• Clayton: 2011 All-Pro Team
• Schatz: NFL's most underrated 
• Schatz: NFL's most overrated
• 2011 NFL Power Rankings
• MVP Watch | Rookie Watch
Team MVP: Manning. With no run game to speak of, a shaky offensive line and a leaky defense for much of the year, Manning elevated the Giants over and over again in games they seemed to have no business winning. His five fourth-quarter comebacks are as big a reason as any that they're still playing. Manning finished the season with 4,933 passing yards, which ranked fourth in the league in this pass-happy season, and established himself as one of the best clutch quarterbacks in the league.
Down with JPP: A close second in that team MVP race is second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had 16.5 sacks, won the first Cowboys game almost by himself and kept the pass rush viable in spite of injuries to Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. He's the Victor Cruz of the Giants' defense.
William Perlman/The Star-Ledger/US Presswire"It's been an amazing ride," Victor Cruz said of his breakout season and the Giants' division title.But what they did see was talent, and a chance to develop that talent. And that is what the Giants do. They stay the course. In an era that demands instant gratification, instant success, the Giants preach and exercise patience as the best way to get better. Cruz's breakout season began last summer, when he showed up for every lockout workout Manning called and worked with his quarterback on every detail he could process. It crescendoed with a 99-yard touchdown catch in Week 16 and a 74-yard touchdown catch in Week 17 against the Cowboys -- two huge plays that keyed two huge victories and a surprise division title. The fact that an undrafted second-year wide receiver who didn't catch a pass last season was so central to that effort is nothing short of vindication for a franchise determined to do things its own way.
"It's about having a very good organization -- an organization that believes in their guys," veteran left tackle David Diehl said. "If you're here, you're a Giant. You're here because they want you here. And everybody here is going to work to make sure you become as good as you can possibly be."
This was the offseason, remember, in which the Eagles loaded up and the Giants did nothing. Philadelphia's free-agent frenzy was the story of the league in August, and it pushed the Eagles to the top of the preseason prediction lists for the NFC East. The Giants did nearly nothing, and in fact lost players to free agency. They let a couple of prime Manning targets walk out the door and declined to replace them, and they got roasted for it, here and in many other places. They did not know that guys like Cruz and Jason Pierre-Paul were going to blow the NFL's doors off in 2011, but they knew they had those players, didn't have the ones who left or got hurt, and that the best chance they had to make something of the season was to work as hard as possible with the guys on the roster.
"A realistic goal for me was just to get a catch in a real game that mattered, in a real game that counted," Cruz said, looking back over his season to the expectations with which it began. "Due to some injuries, I was able to come in and play a significant role. It's been an amazing ride. It's been a roller coaster for me. But I'm excited that we're here, we won our division and we're going to the playoffs."
The Giants needed some external things to happen to make this possible. They needed the Eagles and Cowboys to blow a bunch of fourth-quarter leads, helping make this the first full season in history in which the NFC East could be won with fewer than 10 victories. But at the end of a season that could easily have slipped away while they were losing four straight to some of the league's best teams, the Giants stiffened up.
"It's one thing to be regarded for your toughness," Coughlin said. "But also to play tough in important and big games. I like that our guys rallied around and did that."
Few did it better than Cruz, who had five touchdown catches this season longer than 65 yards. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he had three catches this season on which he gained at least 60 yards after the catch, including Sunday night's big touchdown. He's a quarterback's dream -- a receiver you can trust not only to catch the ball in a big spot but to make the absolute most of it once he does.
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Tim Farrell/The Star-Ledger/US PresswireThe emergence of Jason Pierre-Paul has helped the Giants overcome injuries.
Tim Farrell/The Star-Ledger/US PresswireThe emergence of Jason Pierre-Paul has helped the Giants overcome injuries.Cruz is the emblem of what the Giants have just pulled off -- a player who has developed quickly and brilliantly thanks to the coaching and the environment provided by one of the league's proudest and most stable franchises. They could have traded Osi Umenyiora out of spite when he threw his tantrum, called the general manager a liar and sat out training-camp practices. They didn't, and there was Umenyiora, wrecking things for the Cowboys on Sunday night in the biggest game of the season. They lost left tackle Will Beatty in the second half of the season, center David Baas for crucial games, and they were able to patch it together by moving Diehl back out to tackle and getting big performances from guys like Kevin Boothe and Mitch Petrus. Steve Smith and Kevin Boss leave? Mario Manningham struggles? No problem, because Cruz turned out to be a superstar. Umenyiora and Justin Tuck struggled with injuries all year, but Pierre-Paul made up for it by becoming one of the most fearsome pass-rushers in the league.
"You know coming in that there are going to be injuries, that things are going to happen to make it tough on you," Diehl said. "But when you play here, you really believe everybody on that roster has a chance to make a play that helps you win a game. Or in this case, a division."
Yeah, nobody saw Victor Cruz coming. Not even the Giants -- not to this extent. But that's not the point. The Giants exist and sustain themselves on the belief that someone is coming -- that someone is going to step forward and perform in a way that leads them to great things. They're willing to believe it can be someone different every week, but the point is that they always believe they have enough in their own locker room to get it done. This year, they turned out to be right.
Halftime thoughts: Ugly at Meadowlands
November, 20, 2011
11/20/11
10:08
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Well, the New York Giants have the Philadelphia Eagles right where they want them.
An Eagles team that has held fourth-quarter leads in five of its six losses this year has a 10-3 halftime lead on a Giants team that has come back to win four times in the fourth quarter. There's still a third quarter yet to be played, but given the way the Eagles' season has gone, they'd be wise to build that lead a lot bigger between now and the fourth.
It's going to be tough, though. Vince Young, filling in at quarterback for the injured Michael Vick, looks extremely rusty. He's 8-for-18 for 89 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown while running back LeSean McCoy, who I thought was the Eagles' best chance to win this game, has just 11 carries for 36 yards.
The Eagles seem to be winning the physical battles up front against the Giants, so if I were them I'd go to a heavy dose of the run game when the second half starts. But if I were them, I'd have done that from the beginning. And in spite of leading the NFL in rush yards per game and not having their starting quarterback they opened the game with four straight pass plays.
As for the Giants... a lot of their weaknesses have been exposed in this game: Poor run blocking, spotty coverage downfield (against below-average receivers, with Jeremy Maclin also out for the Eagles and DeSean Jackson looking like his head is 19 in different places), dropped passes and poor special teams coverage, mixed with an ill-timed penalty here and there. Many thought they'd win this game easily, what with the Eagles so beaten up, and the Giants certainly may win it yet. They've been a great second-half team this year while the Eagles have been one of the worst in history. But they're going to have to tighten some things up, and that starts in the trenches.
Some other thoughts on the ugly first half:
An Eagles team that has held fourth-quarter leads in five of its six losses this year has a 10-3 halftime lead on a Giants team that has come back to win four times in the fourth quarter. There's still a third quarter yet to be played, but given the way the Eagles' season has gone, they'd be wise to build that lead a lot bigger between now and the fourth.
It's going to be tough, though. Vince Young, filling in at quarterback for the injured Michael Vick, looks extremely rusty. He's 8-for-18 for 89 yards, two interceptions and one touchdown while running back LeSean McCoy, who I thought was the Eagles' best chance to win this game, has just 11 carries for 36 yards.
The Eagles seem to be winning the physical battles up front against the Giants, so if I were them I'd go to a heavy dose of the run game when the second half starts. But if I were them, I'd have done that from the beginning. And in spite of leading the NFL in rush yards per game and not having their starting quarterback they opened the game with four straight pass plays.
As for the Giants... a lot of their weaknesses have been exposed in this game: Poor run blocking, spotty coverage downfield (against below-average receivers, with Jeremy Maclin also out for the Eagles and DeSean Jackson looking like his head is 19 in different places), dropped passes and poor special teams coverage, mixed with an ill-timed penalty here and there. Many thought they'd win this game easily, what with the Eagles so beaten up, and the Giants certainly may win it yet. They've been a great second-half team this year while the Eagles have been one of the worst in history. But they're going to have to tighten some things up, and that starts in the trenches.
Some other thoughts on the ugly first half:
- The Eagles are absolutely crushing the Giants at the point of attack. Philadelphia's defensive line is dominating an overmatched Giants offensive line, cutting off the run game and limiting what time Eli Manning has to throw the ball downfield. People are hollering for more Da'Rel Scott in the Giants' backfield, but the fact is, whether it's been Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, D.J. Ware or Scott, the problem with the Giants' run game this year has not been the backs -- it's been an offensive line that absolutely can't open holes for them.
- I have no idea what happened on the Jackson taunting penalty that negated a 50-yard catch. I mean, I know why he got flagged. I just don't understand why the ball went all the way back to the previous spot. The officials said it was an offsetting penalty with Linval Joseph's, but to me it seemed like Jackson's was a dead-ball foul and the Eagles should have only lost 15 yards from the spot where he went down. And if the reason it wasn't called that way was because of the Joseph penalty, why wouldn't the Eagles have just been able to decline that penalty and get the ball up the field? Seems like somebody screwed up on that one. But it was that kind of first half.
- Jackson nearly had his first punt-return touchdown of the year just before halftime, but punter Steve Weatherford forced him out of bounds at the 14-yard line. That just made the pain worse for Giants fans, though, as Young hit former Giants receiver Steve Smith for a touchdown pass on the next play.
Eagles' Vick, Maclin officially out Sunday
November, 19, 2011
11/19/11
2:16
PM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
The Philadelphia Eagles will play the New York Giants on Sunday night without the help of starting quarterback Michael Vick and top wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. The team officially announced Saturday that Vick and Maclin have been downgraded from "questionable" to "out" due to their injuries and will not travel with the team.
Vick broke two ribs in Sunday's loss to Arizona and Maclin is dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries. Neither player practiced at all this past week.
Backup quarterback Vince Young, whose only pass so far this season was intercepted by Washington's DeAngelo Hall, is likely to start in Vick's place, though the team made no official announcement on that. Maclin is likely to be replaced by Jason Avant, Riley Cooper or possibly former Giant Steve Smith as a starting wide receiver opposite DeSean Jackson. Avant started last week opposite Maclin in place of Jackson, who was benched for that game because he missed a team meeting the day before.
Vick broke two ribs in Sunday's loss to Arizona and Maclin is dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries. Neither player practiced at all this past week.
Backup quarterback Vince Young, whose only pass so far this season was intercepted by Washington's DeAngelo Hall, is likely to start in Vick's place, though the team made no official announcement on that. Maclin is likely to be replaced by Jason Avant, Riley Cooper or possibly former Giant Steve Smith as a starting wide receiver opposite DeSean Jackson. Avant started last week opposite Maclin in place of Jackson, who was benched for that game because he missed a team meeting the day before.
Breakfast links: Run, Cowboys, run
November, 17, 2011
11/17/11
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
It's Thursday of a rivalry week here in the NFC East, and with mere days left until Cowboys-Redskins and Eagles-Giants, I can think of no better way to prepare than with a hot, steaming plate of links.
New York Giants
It sounds as though the experience that Victor Cruz and Chris Canty had while at a New York City nightclub where a fatal shooting took place the other night was fairly harrowing. They're both fine and neither was involved in the problem, but Cruz at least got a bit of a talking-to from Tom Coughlin about the whole thing. Nothing good ever happens at 2:30 in the morning, was the message from coach to player.
If you're a Giants fan and you were planning to boo Steve Smith when he returned with the Eagles on Sunday night... well, he gave you another reason or two. Man says he'd rather have the extra guaranteed money he got from the Eagles than have been back with the Giants.
Dallas Cowboys
John Clayton's expecting Tony Romo and the Cowboys to navigate the odd upcoming portion of their schedule (which includes next week's annual Thanksgiving home game) somewhat expertly, in part because the veterans on the team are so used to it. The quality of their opponents over the next three weeks could help with that as well, though Sunday's is a rivalry game, and those are never to be taken lightly.
Clarence Hill says the impending return of Felix Jones as DeMarco Murray's backup, the emergence of fullback Tony Fiammetta and the overall improvement of the offensive line as a run-blocking unit make it more important than ever that the Cowboys prioritize the run game in their offense. I don't have much to add. He's 100 percent correct.
Philadelphia Eagles
Bob Ford takes an insightful look at the DeSean Jackson situation, concluding that while Jackson may have a point and the team should have prevented this from becoming this much of a problem when they had a chance, Jackson needs to understand that the team is in no mood right now to address his contract to his satisfaction.
There's also some dispute in the Philadelphia media about the point during Sunday's game at which Michael Vick actually broke his ribs. Andy Reid says second play of the game. The professional skeptics whose job it is to question everything the coach says are doing their jobs. I just wish the doubt didn't seem to be based on something LeSean McCoy said offhand in a postgame interview. But these are the kinds of things that happen when you were picked to finish first and you're 3-6. I'll bet the 2010 Cowboys could tell them some stories.
Washington Redskins
Rex Grossman didn't learn he was starting last Sunday's game until Saturday, which he says was fine since he was ready anyway and wishes he could go back to the Week 5 loss to the Eagles, do things differently and not have lost the job to John Beck in the first place. But if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride, and if turnips were watches I'd wear one by my side.
Jason Reid says Redskins GM Bruce Allen needs to take more of a significant role in player-personnel matters whether Mike Shanahan likes it or not. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the deal when Shanahan signed on for his five-year contract. Impatience seems rampant in Washington, and Shanahan has three more years after this one. Just because he didn't get a quarterback for this year doesn't mean he won't or can't figure out a way to get one for next year.
New York Giants
It sounds as though the experience that Victor Cruz and Chris Canty had while at a New York City nightclub where a fatal shooting took place the other night was fairly harrowing. They're both fine and neither was involved in the problem, but Cruz at least got a bit of a talking-to from Tom Coughlin about the whole thing. Nothing good ever happens at 2:30 in the morning, was the message from coach to player.
If you're a Giants fan and you were planning to boo Steve Smith when he returned with the Eagles on Sunday night... well, he gave you another reason or two. Man says he'd rather have the extra guaranteed money he got from the Eagles than have been back with the Giants.
Dallas Cowboys
John Clayton's expecting Tony Romo and the Cowboys to navigate the odd upcoming portion of their schedule (which includes next week's annual Thanksgiving home game) somewhat expertly, in part because the veterans on the team are so used to it. The quality of their opponents over the next three weeks could help with that as well, though Sunday's is a rivalry game, and those are never to be taken lightly.
Clarence Hill says the impending return of Felix Jones as DeMarco Murray's backup, the emergence of fullback Tony Fiammetta and the overall improvement of the offensive line as a run-blocking unit make it more important than ever that the Cowboys prioritize the run game in their offense. I don't have much to add. He's 100 percent correct.
Philadelphia Eagles
Bob Ford takes an insightful look at the DeSean Jackson situation, concluding that while Jackson may have a point and the team should have prevented this from becoming this much of a problem when they had a chance, Jackson needs to understand that the team is in no mood right now to address his contract to his satisfaction.
There's also some dispute in the Philadelphia media about the point during Sunday's game at which Michael Vick actually broke his ribs. Andy Reid says second play of the game. The professional skeptics whose job it is to question everything the coach says are doing their jobs. I just wish the doubt didn't seem to be based on something LeSean McCoy said offhand in a postgame interview. But these are the kinds of things that happen when you were picked to finish first and you're 3-6. I'll bet the 2010 Cowboys could tell them some stories.
Washington Redskins
Rex Grossman didn't learn he was starting last Sunday's game until Saturday, which he says was fine since he was ready anyway and wishes he could go back to the Week 5 loss to the Eagles, do things differently and not have lost the job to John Beck in the first place. But if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride, and if turnips were watches I'd wear one by my side.
Jason Reid says Redskins GM Bruce Allen needs to take more of a significant role in player-personnel matters whether Mike Shanahan likes it or not. I don't know this for a fact, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the deal when Shanahan signed on for his five-year contract. Impatience seems rampant in Washington, and Shanahan has three more years after this one. Just because he didn't get a quarterback for this year doesn't mean he won't or can't figure out a way to get one for next year.
How you feeling? Redskins-Panthers
October, 23, 2011
10/23/11
10:30
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
As you get ready for the game Sunday afternoon against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, here's one reason for Washington Redskins fans to feel good and one reason for concern:
Feeling good: The running game should come back this week. The Panthers are the second-worst team in the league at stopping the run, and the Redskins seem to have all three of their running backs healthy again. Sure, they didn't run as much as many anticipated they would against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, but a lot of that had to do with the Eagles getting out to a quick early lead. Even if the Panthers do that, Carolina turns the ball over enough that the Redskins should have plenty of possessions and plenty of opportunity to work their run game -- assuming they can patch up the injury holes on their offensive line.
Cause for concern: As good as Redskins cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson are, they're not the best man-coverage guys around. Carolina will look to get top wide receiver Steve Smith in one-on-one situations against them, and when they do you can expect Carolina quarterback Cam Newton to find Smith, potentially for a big gain. If the Redskins can't cover Smith one-on-one with Hall or Wilson, they're going to need to make sure and help with a safety, or he could beat them badly.
Feeling good: The running game should come back this week. The Panthers are the second-worst team in the league at stopping the run, and the Redskins seem to have all three of their running backs healthy again. Sure, they didn't run as much as many anticipated they would against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, but a lot of that had to do with the Eagles getting out to a quick early lead. Even if the Panthers do that, Carolina turns the ball over enough that the Redskins should have plenty of possessions and plenty of opportunity to work their run game -- assuming they can patch up the injury holes on their offensive line.
Cause for concern: As good as Redskins cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson are, they're not the best man-coverage guys around. Carolina will look to get top wide receiver Steve Smith in one-on-one situations against them, and when they do you can expect Carolina quarterback Cam Newton to find Smith, potentially for a big gain. If the Redskins can't cover Smith one-on-one with Hall or Wilson, they're going to need to make sure and help with a safety, or he could beat them badly.
Well, it wasn't the deal for which Philadelphia Eagles fans were hoping in advance of Tuesday's trade deadline, but the Eagles did make a trade -- sending running back Ronnie Brown to the Detroit Lions for running back Jerome Harrison and a seventh-round 2013 draft pick. Eagles fans will remember Harrison as last year's sound backup to LeSean McCoy -- a role he'll assume again now alongside impressive rookie Dion Lewis. And Eagles fans will forever remember Brown for his ridiculous, inexplicable fumble at the goal line against the 49ers a couple of weeks ago when he decided at the last second to lateral the ball as he was being tackled.
That play is likely to be the lasting legacy in Philadelphia of a player whose surprise early-August signing was a symbol of the Eagles' gleeful, free-wheeling 2011 free-agent spree. In truth, Brown was always a luxury, much the way receiver Steve Smith and maybe even cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie appear to be on a team that could have used some of the money it spent on those players to add help at a position like linebacker. Harrison makes more sense as a backup to McCoy than does Brown, who gives the Lions the power runner they need to offset Jahvid Best but didn't really have a role in Philadelphia, where McCoy can handle the between-the-tackles grunt work as well as the open-field razzle-dazzle.
There had been rumors in advance of the deadline about a deal (maybe even with Detroit) involving cornerback Asante Samuel for linebacker help. But it now appears the Eagles, as they've said they were all along, are intent on keeping Samuel, Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha at cornerback and finding a way to get them all on the field.
There had been rumors in advance of the deadline about a deal (maybe even with Detroit) involving cornerback Asante Samuel for linebacker help. But it now appears the Eagles, as they've said they were all along, are intent on keeping Samuel, Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha at cornerback and finding a way to get them all on the field.
Breakfast links: Manning getting comfy
September, 29, 2011
9/29/11
8:00
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
A little groggy this morning. Was up late watching baseball, which ... wow. But I know you gotta have your links.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Garrett says Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is "arguably the best player in the National Football League," and Johnson is a main focus of Dallas' preparation for Sunday's game. Practice squad receiver Andre Holmes is 6-foot-5, same height as Johnson, and the Cowboys are using him this week in practice to try to simulate Johnson's ability to out-jump defenders for the ball, especially in the end zone.
I'd thought, if Dan Bailey could kick the ball into the end zone Sunday with David Buehler on the shelf, the Cowboys could cut Buehler, get down to one kicker and pick up a roster spot. But Jerry Jones says it's not happening, and Buehler's in no danger of losing his job.
New York Giants
Eli Manning admits it took him a while to develop rhythm and a comfort level with the Giants' offense this season as he adjusted to life without Steve Smith and Kevin Boss. But since the second quarter of the Rams game, he's looked like a different guy, and he thinks the key was to stay patient. He'll have to stay as patient going forward as he was Sunday in Philadelphia, where he waited for his shot at big plays and then hit them. Eli gets in trouble when he tries to force a big play.
Sam Borden's got a look at the Giants' goal-line defense, which was another key to the win Sunday and represents the kind of thing in which they'll need to and should be able to rely on as the year goes along.
Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Vick sounds like a different guy than he did Sunday, saying things like, "I'm tired of letting my guys down" and promising to do whatever he can to finish games from here on out. Phil Sheridan wonders if NFL players lean too much toward trying to tough out injuries. He may have a point, but it's doubtful that's going to affect Vick as much was watching Tony Romo on Monday night apparently did.
The Eagles are making another switch at linebacker, in case you didn't hear, sending Casey Matthews to the bench and replacing him at the weak side with fellow rookie Brian Rolle, who says he'd like to get a chance to cover 49ers tight end Vernon Davis on Sunday. Well, hey, you might as well find out how good you are right away, huh?
Washington Redskins
Sick of all the praise Romo's getting for toughing out that victory over the Redskins on Monday? Well, Brian Orakpo's right there with you. "I mean, they tried to make it seem like the guy was hospitalized the night before the game," said Orakpo, who left the same game with what the team said were cramps. Orakpo's point seems to be that Romo played the way Romo always does, but I guess I'd counter by saying people reacted the same way people always react to Romo's performances, be they good or bad. Over. People always over-react to Romo.
DeAngelo Hall has thought about it, and he's not as upset as he was Monday about the decision to zero-blitz Romo on third-and-21 Monday night in Dallas. Says he'd have done the same thing if he were faced with the same situation in Madden. That's got to be nice for Jim Haslett to know.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Garrett says Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is "arguably the best player in the National Football League," and Johnson is a main focus of Dallas' preparation for Sunday's game. Practice squad receiver Andre Holmes is 6-foot-5, same height as Johnson, and the Cowboys are using him this week in practice to try to simulate Johnson's ability to out-jump defenders for the ball, especially in the end zone.
I'd thought, if Dan Bailey could kick the ball into the end zone Sunday with David Buehler on the shelf, the Cowboys could cut Buehler, get down to one kicker and pick up a roster spot. But Jerry Jones says it's not happening, and Buehler's in no danger of losing his job.
New York Giants
Eli Manning admits it took him a while to develop rhythm and a comfort level with the Giants' offense this season as he adjusted to life without Steve Smith and Kevin Boss. But since the second quarter of the Rams game, he's looked like a different guy, and he thinks the key was to stay patient. He'll have to stay as patient going forward as he was Sunday in Philadelphia, where he waited for his shot at big plays and then hit them. Eli gets in trouble when he tries to force a big play.
Sam Borden's got a look at the Giants' goal-line defense, which was another key to the win Sunday and represents the kind of thing in which they'll need to and should be able to rely on as the year goes along.
Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Vick sounds like a different guy than he did Sunday, saying things like, "I'm tired of letting my guys down" and promising to do whatever he can to finish games from here on out. Phil Sheridan wonders if NFL players lean too much toward trying to tough out injuries. He may have a point, but it's doubtful that's going to affect Vick as much was watching Tony Romo on Monday night apparently did.
The Eagles are making another switch at linebacker, in case you didn't hear, sending Casey Matthews to the bench and replacing him at the weak side with fellow rookie Brian Rolle, who says he'd like to get a chance to cover 49ers tight end Vernon Davis on Sunday. Well, hey, you might as well find out how good you are right away, huh?
Washington Redskins
Sick of all the praise Romo's getting for toughing out that victory over the Redskins on Monday? Well, Brian Orakpo's right there with you. "I mean, they tried to make it seem like the guy was hospitalized the night before the game," said Orakpo, who left the same game with what the team said were cramps. Orakpo's point seems to be that Romo played the way Romo always does, but I guess I'd counter by saying people reacted the same way people always react to Romo's performances, be they good or bad. Over. People always over-react to Romo.
DeAngelo Hall has thought about it, and he's not as upset as he was Monday about the decision to zero-blitz Romo on third-and-21 Monday night in Dallas. Says he'd have done the same thing if he were faced with the same situation in Madden. That's got to be nice for Jim Haslett to know.
Giants beat Rams, lock in on Eagles
September, 20, 2011
9/20/11
1:23
AM ET
By
Dan Graziano | ESPN.com
AP Photo/Julio CortezIt wasn't pretty, but New York capitalized on St. Louis' mistakes to beat the Rams on Monday night.Because the game the Giants really want is the one they're playing Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. And even though the issues they're facing in the present are serious enough to threaten this season, the memory of the way they lost the last game they played against the Eagles has not faded one bit.
"Last year will linger with me until I die," Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said.
He could not have been more serious, and he's not the only Giant who feels that way. The Giants played the Eagles here in Week 15 of last year and had a 31-10 fourth-quarter lead in a game that would have given them control of the NFC East. But they lost that game, giving away that 21-point lead to Michael Vick and losing on that fateful final-seconds punt return by DeSean Jackson. It was their sixth straight loss to the Eagles, and it cost them a spot in the playoffs. And it still stings.
"Everybody in that locker room feels like we owe the Eagles a little something," Tuck said.
And so this was big, this survive-and-advance "Monday Night Football" victory over the Rams. The Giants have too many well-documented injuries, depth and inexperience problems right now, and they didn't need to be dealing with an 0-2 start on top of it all. That they were able to hold the Rams to field goals at the end of long first-half drives, convert a slew of St. Louis miscues into points, and even out what began as a very uneven performance by Eli Manning and the offense was vital for reasons that have nothing to do with bad memories or division rivalries.
"Obviously, there's much that can be improved upon, but that's okay. We accept that," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "But to be 1-1, to have Dallas 1-1, to have Philadelphia at 1-1 and to have Washington leading the division at 2-0, it was important for us to keep the pace."
The Giants are not yet whole. They are not yet as healthy as they will eventually be. The rookies and young players they're using at key spots like middle linebacker and left tackle and defensive end are not as reliable and seasoned as they will be later this year, or next season, or the season after that. "We haven't jelled yet," is the way Tuck put it, and because of that, a win at this point in a season like this is welcome relief. They get one in the bank when they don't yet have their team, and that's precious.
"It may not have been pretty, but we got the win," said linebacker Michael Boley, whose alert fumble recovery and return for a touchdown gave the Giants a 14-6 lead early in the second quarter. "That's the most important thing, and the small details and everything else can be worked out in the week leading up to the next game."
The next game, though, is the big one, and everybody connected with the Giants knows it. They want the Eagles, and they want them bad. They want LeSean McCoy and the summertime Twitter trash-talk he fired off at Osi Umenyiora. They want Steve Smith, the former Giant and symbol of an offseason in which the Eagles kicked their tails at every turn. They even want Vick to be recovered from his concussion and healthy enough to play and start at quarterback, because the Giants want revenge.
"That guy's a tremendous athlete, and as he goes so goes their offense, but you always want to beat teams at their best," Tuck said. "I think he brings out the best of us, too. Maybe we go down there and he doesn't play and we start thinking, 'We've got this.' We want their best, and we want to beat them."
The short week means the Giants have to wait one less day to try and take their revenge. It also means they have one less day to address the concerns they carried into Monday's game -- struggles in the secondary, inability to get the run game going -- and the new ones that cropped up -- injuries to Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon, and whatever the issue was with Aaron Ross that got him benched. But the win they got Monday means they get to do all of that coming off a victory, however ugly and unimpressive it may have been. Their record says 1-1, which is the same record Sunday's opponent has, by the way.
"It's going to be a pretty intense game, especially after the way we lost to them the last time," Boley said. "It's going to be heated. I'm looking forward to it."
Aren't we all.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Graziano
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
