Tagged: Braylon Edwards
Getting closer
I really hate to rush the summer but we are only a little over a month away from training camp and I can’t wait for the 2009 NFL season to start. When I was traveling to Albany with the Giants I would always look forward to the smell of the fresh cut grass and watching the sprinklers go back and forth as the players marched out for their morning practice. I always enjoyed everything from the coaches’ whistles blowing at the end of every play to watching kids’ faces as they lined up for autographs from players at the end of every practice. I know the players hate it, but training camp provided some of the best memories for me when I was a part of it.
Nothing major to report on the Giants as their minicamps wrap up. The main buzz has been the wide receiver situation and the rumors that are still swirling about Braylon Edwards and Anquan Boldin. After they drafted Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, it would be hard for me to believe the Giants would look to make a deal not because of the trade compensation, but rather the huge salary that both will demand. At this point I think we owe it to give Jerry Reese the benefit of the doubt with his moves.
I love the attitude that Rex Ryan has already brought to the Jets; knowing who is father is this should not surprise Jets fans and I think that even though they have not played a single down of football, he is giving his team a confidence that was missing the last couple of years with Eric Mangini. It also looks as if Mark Sanchez will be given the opportunity to start in a competition with Kellen Clemens in camp this summer. I’d also be very surprised if the Jets do not add a veteran wide receiver before camp begins, Edwards, Boldin and Plaxico Burress are all real possibilities.
If anyone has any comments or ideas on the Giants and Jets wide receiver situations or any thing about the NFL, please do not hesitate writing them. We are all fans and there is no right or wrong answers.
Jets score with Sanchez pickup
Day one of the 2009 NFL Draft is now over and the Jets wasted no time making the first big move of the day when they traded up to the No. 5 spot to grab Mark Sanchez. I have always said that in the weeks leading up to the draft there are all smokescreens created by teams so other teams cannot determine what players they are really interested in. Now in this situation we did hear that the Jets were one of the few teams that would make a move for Sanchez but there were more aggressive teams such as the Redskins and Broncos who were expected to make a trade to get him. I like Sanchez, he comes from a winning program and seems to be a guy that other players would rally behind. He does however only have16 starts but I look at it this way, Matt Cassel came out of the same program and never started a game in college. Rex Ryan also came from Baltimore were he saw rookie Joe Flacco lead his team to the AFC championship so he will have no problem letting Sanchez start from day one.
Usually the rule of thumb with a rookie quarterback is that the fans have to be patient for a year or two and wait for him to develop, but in the last couple of years we have seen guys like Flacco and Matt Ryan have immediate success and other young quarterbacks like Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger win Super Bowls so well see how long the Jets and their fans can be patient with Sanchez. Overall I like the move because they didn’t really have a solid starter in the first place.
On the other hand, the Giants made news by not making news. Over the last month there was so much speculation that they would trade for either Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin and the first day of the draft came and went with no such move. Now that’s not to say that they didn’t get what they were looking for because they quickly decided on Hakeem Nicks when it was there turn in the first round. Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you that he was the guy they wanted all along because we just don’t know, but what I will say is that he is just the type of player that they were looking to get in Edwards and Boldin. He is big, physical and may just be the most NFL ready receiver in the draft. Now after today you wouldn’t think that Cleveland plans to trade Edwards, but they did select not one but two wide receivers in the second round. So well see where Mangini goes with this one.
The Giants then used both of their picks in the second round to address other areas of need. They selected linebacker Clint Sintim from the University of Virginia and expect him to make an immediate this season. He has started 48 games in a row and has emerged as a very good pass rusher. The Giants rounded out the day by selecting offensive tackle William Beatty from Uconn. He is a guy that was projected to go earlier in the day and will provide some backup on the O-line this season.
Jets, Giants have receiver fever on draft day
With the 2009 NFL Draft finally coming this weekend, the two New York teams share a similar need that they will address in the early rounds on Saturday. Both the Jets and the Giants released their best receivers during this offseason and will be looking for playmakers that can upgrade their offenses.
The Giants may end up getting that receiver before they make their first round selection because it has been rumored for weeks that they have an interest in Braylon Edwards. He is only 27 and has the downfield presence that the Giants need. Now it’s no secret that Eric Mangini doesn’t want him on the team, and he has no intention of resigning with Cleveland after this season, but the Browns would be foolish not to ask for a good return in exchange. I’m guessing it will cost the Giants a first- and a third-round pick, and if they really do want him, they will get him. Jerry Reese is a very aggressive GM much the way that Ernie Accorsi was, and he has no problem being aggressive with trades. Anquan Boldin remains a possibility here too, and the Cardinals have already said they would want a #1 and #3 in return.
If a trade for Edwards or Boldin does not happen, then look for the Giants to still be aggressive in the first round and move up to get a player that they covet. Possibilities include any of the top receivers — like Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks or even Jeremy Maclin — or a linebacker. They will also look to get some depth at offensive line and in the defensive backfield. My guess is that the trade for Edwards will happen if the Browns take Michael Crabtree early in the first round
Unless the Jets end up making a trade for a veteran wide receiver they will take one in the early rounds as well. They have also been mentioned as one of the landing spots for Mark Sanchez, but it would require a trade to move up to get him. Rex Ryan is an aggressive defensive mind, so don’t be surprised to see them take some playmakers on that side of the ball. They also have a need for some depth on the O-line and running back.
Some interesting names that Jet fans should watch for are Chris Wells and Knowshon Moreno. Thomas Jones had a good season, but the Jets maybe looking for a future starting running back and Wells and Moreno could add some fresh legs to go with Leon Washington. Another interesting possibility for the Jets is Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman who might be there when the Jets are on the clock.
Giants forced to play waiting game with Burress
March 31 has come and gone, and the Giants still have no answers on the status of their star wide receiver.
Plaxico Burress’ case has been adjourned until June 15 and the Giants will be forced to make a decision soon, because it looks more likely that Burress will not be participating in the 2009 season.
The Giants have made it clear the last couple of weeks that they would indeed welcome Burress back to the team if and when he clears all of his legal hurdles, but the problem is that they know that they can not afford to go into the upcoming season without having a clear cut No. 1 wide receiver. All of the receivers on the Giants roster are young and have a good upside, but none of them can command the double coverage that Burress does. Domenik Hixon is a good receiver and has shown flashes of his physical skills, Steve Smith is a very good third-down possession receiver, Sinorice Moss is quick but inconsistent, David Tyree is coming off an injury and Mario Manningham has talent but is young and unproven. In the next couple of weeks it will be crucial for the Giants to address this situation whether it is through the draft or a trade.
It would be easy for me to say that they should just make a trade for a star wideout like Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin, but I don’t know what the price would be for either. Boldin has been in contract negotiations with Arizona for two months now and every day the story seems to change about his trade status. We did, however, hear whispers that the Giants inquired about Edwards, but I don’t think a move for anyone would be made until we’re closer to the draft. The Giants have shown no interest in Torry Holt, or any free agent receiver for that matter, so it will basically come down to a choice between a trade or a high draft pick to fill the position.
I see the Giants using one their first two draft picks on a receiver, but I would only be guessing if I said who it will be, so I’ll leave that up to Mel Kiper Jr. and the other draft gurus to debate. In my opinion, both Boldin and Edwards would be a better option than an unproven draft pick because they are still young and have shown that they can play at a Pro Bowl level. The bottom line is that this is a tough situation for the Giants because Burress is such a hard player to replace and his destiny is out of his own hands.
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