Eli Apple

New York Giants: Eli Apple Is Transforming In-front Of Our Eyes

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As New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple attempts to rebound from a devastating 2017 season, his teammates and fans have surrounded the athlete with good thoughts and confidence.

As a third-year player, Apple has not lived up to the expectations set forth by a top 10 pick, and his weaknesses have been on full display ever since his drafting in 2016. One scout raved about Apple’s on field abilities and his coverage skills, but another pointed out a significant flaw in his game – his maturity.

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Apple entered the league with an inability to cook or maintain his life-style in a healthy manner. Scouts began to question his future simply based on his level of maturity and potential. While the Giants completely pushed that assessment aside and took a flier on the former Ohio State corner, they have paid the price dearly.

MUST READ: Surprise safety earning first team reps in OTAs

Going into the 2018 season, we have seen a transformed Apple on the practice field and in the locker room. The new players are astounded that he was ever a distraction and they have raved about his skills on the playing field.

Freshly signed corner, William Gay, stated:

“You just see the things that he can do on the field. I’m excited for this upcoming year,” Gay said after Monday’s practice, via Big Blue View. “I’m ready to help him in any type of way that I can because I want to be in his speech when he becomes a Hall of Famer. He’ll say I had an old guy William Gay that helped me a little bit.”

Coming from a seasoned veteran, it’s nice to see a vote of confidence for the troubled corner. His support will play a huge part in seeing Apple return to his college form and begin to resume his development.

While Apple has undoubtedly learned from his mistakes and has begun to take on a higher level of maturity, his most significant on the field issue was locating the ball in the air.

During OTAs, Apple has worked relentlessly at fixing this issue. By turning his head and locating the ball, he was able to make several essential pass breakups – these plays are a metaphor for the upward trend he’s experiencing in his revitalized career.

New York Giants: 5 Offseason Questions That Remain

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We have hit the doldrums ladies and gentlemen. Fans of the New York Giants, much like fans of any other NFL team, can only sit and wait for the next two months. The front office has done the bulk of their job, and whether or not you agree with their agenda, you can’t help but be excited to see a better brand of football coming from our squad in the upcoming season.

By all accounts (including those coming from our defensive players) Saquon Barkley is at least as good as advertised.  Will Hernandez and Nate Solder will elevate our O-line play to no less than ‘average’…a vast improvement over the mostly laughable production by the unit in 2017.

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While we have many good reasons to feel content right now, a sober look at our team should leave you wondering about a few areas of our roster. The NFC is about as stacked as I’ve ever seen since the early 90’s. For the Giants to truly be relevant come January, there are some questions that must be0 answered during training camp come August.

1.) Who will be our starting right tackle?

Until further notice, this is a two man battle between Chad Wheeler and twitter pariah Ereck Flowers. Wheeler came to us after last year’s draft as an undrafted free agent.  As four year starter at USC, Chad ranked high among 2017 tackle prospects as far as physical traits and talent go, but he slipped in the draft due to inconsistent play and his smaller frame. 6’7” is more than ideal height, but he weighs in at 310 lbs. and looks slight for the position.

Given the state of our offense last year, it should surprise no one that Wheeler was pressed into duty during his rookie season at several times and at different positions.  While he should be commended for his versatility and general aptitude, his ceiling as a starter is probably league average at best. He has earned the shot to prove he can be more than that (word is that he’s bulked up this offseason) and hold down the position, but I’m not betting that way.

I believe Ereck Flowers wins the job. Or maybe I should say keeps it since he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup…once he bothered to show up. The 2015 9th overall looks exactly like your starting tackle. 6’6”, 325 lbs. with long arms and quick feet. Too bad his play has been about as consistent as Wi-Fi in Antarctica.

Here’s a peek of what I’m talking about:

https://twitter.com/12upSport/status/985992738977058816

To be fair, the Wi-Fi in Antarctica probably is consistent as long as you’re in the right area.  Maybe Flowers works the same way. At left tackle he was getting no signal, but possibly for him right tackle is like the 1% of the south pole where you get 5 bars.

MY ANSWER: Flowers keeps the job and performs well.

2.) Do we have enough depth at cornerback?

I am actually wondering do we even have two good starters? The Jackrabbit..aka Janoris Jenkins, is coming off an injury plagued 2017 season that included a team enforced suspension. At least we have seen him play at an All-Pro level. The same cannot be said for Eli Apple. The enigmatic cornerback has flashed the elite skills that prompted us to select him with the 10th pick two years ago, but he better known for repeated benchings and disrupting team chemistry.

Behind them, the depth chart gets alarmingly thin. William Gay had a nice career in Pittsburgh, but he is on the wrong side of 33! And behind him there’s Teddy Williams, B.W. Webb, Jeremiah McKinnon, C.J. Goodwin & Chris Lewis-Harris. I’ve said before that you can’t rub a bunch of back-ups together to make a starter, but it feels like that’s exactly what we’re gonna try at nickel CB…sounds like a risky course of action in today’s NFL.

MY ANSWER: We get exposed if Jenkins or Apple get injured. Make that when it happens

3.) Who is our #3 receiver?

Dez Bryant.

Just kidding, but only a little bit. As of this moment, Dez is still waiting for us to call. He is hoping that Cody Lattimer does in New York exactly what he did in Denver…which isn’t much. He underwhelmed for four seasons at mile high, but possesses the tools to be an effective possession/slot receiver. The G-men picked him up rather early in free agency, and right now he’s penciled in at #3, but there is competition for that spot.

Enter Roger Lewis. Coming to us in 2016 as an UFA, Lewis has had a few highlight moments for the G-men.

That was one of the few bright spots of a 2017 season where Lewis was inserted into the starting lineup due to the injury bug, no, injury bazooka hitting the receiver corps. Almost nobody on the Giants offense last year looked good, but Lewis didn’t look bad which is saying something.

After Lattimer & Lewis, we get into a lot of names you have no reason to know. Amba Etta-Tawo has an intriguing skill set, but not much else to speak of in his career.  Ramses Barden also had an intriguing skill set for the record.  The rest of the depth chart excites me as much as Barden did.

If the stars stay healthy, these ‘other guys’ should do fine, but if the injury bazooka comes back we’re in trouble.

MY ANSWER: We sign Dez in mid-August when his price is low…he catches 3 td’s against the Cowboys in week 2. Gets benched by week 6.

4.) Will our defense return to 2016 form?

I almost wanna give any defensive players left from last year a mulligan. Our putrid offense left our defense in the worst possible position incessantly. I’m talking about an offense that averaged 15.4 points per game and a 32% 3rd down conversion rate (both good for 31st in the NFL). That’s hard for any defense to deal with.

But a defense that ranked 27th or lower in the 4 major categories (points, total yards, passing & rushing yards) cannot be blamed solely on poor offensive production, bad coaching, or even locker room revolt.  The eyeball test says that last year many players just weren’t performing for whatever reason.

The coaching staff house cleaning brings us not only a new coordinator in James Bettcher, but a new defensive scheme. I wrote earlier how the return of the 3-4 defense will place more emphasis on our linebackers. Free agent Alec Ogletree and returning vet B.J. Goodson will man the inside, while Olivier Vernon will have to adjust to a stand-up role as an outside backer. Rookie Lorenzo Carter is in line to play on the opposite side and help Vernon pressure opposing QB’s.

A little peek at what we hope Carter will bring to our squad:

I talked earlier about the secondary…and you know I don’t like how thin we look.  Thankfully, I love how thick we look on the D-line. Giants vets Damon Harrison and Dalvin Tomlinson will eat up blockers, and free agent Kareem Martin rounds out our starting unit. Martin was a solid 3-4 end in Arizona for the past 4 seasons and should ease the transition for our front 7. This defense needs to hit the ground running to stand a chance in the NFC this year.

MY ANSWER: After a slow start, the defense becomes an above average unit due mostly to the front 7 and Landry Collins.

5.) Does Eli Manning still have it?

There it is. The 100 million dollar question. Can Eli still play? If you ask some people, he never was all that good to begin with. If you ask most people, he’s been bad for at least 2 years…although that does coincide with the tenure of a coach who recently had his keycard taken away.

I’ll put my cards on the table: I believe he still can play at a very high level…but I haven’t really seen it for nearly 2 seasons. I’ve been an Eli fan/supporter since day 1, so it isn’t easy for me to admit that the end is near for my favorite QB. His arm strength is lessened (although not as much as others would have you believe). He can no longer move well enough to be effective behind a porous O-line.

Maybe most alarmingly, his yds per attempt has been trending down for years. In 2011, the 2nd Superbowl win for Eli, he averaged a robust 8.4 yds per attempt. In 2014 it was 7.3 yds per. Last year was his career low at 6.1 yds per attempt.

Despite those and other stats that suggest Eli is done, the Giants brass from top to bottom still see Eli as a championship level QB with years left to play. I can understand their reasoning. He’s as good as it gets at pre-snap at the line of scrimmage getting the G-men in and out of the right plays. Last season proved what kind of leader and teammate he is and how much New York fans truly love him, even when they hate him.

Behind an offensive line that can provide sufficient time and with what on paper looks like the best cast of skill players he’s ever played with, the New York Giants believe there is some magic left in Eli’s 37 year old arm.

MY ANSWER: I think they’re right. Eli enjoys a great statistical season.

Where Does Landon Collins and Eli Apple’s Relationship Stand?

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The New York Giants went through some tumultuous times in 2017, but the road is clearing up and the players are changing their mentality wholeheartedly.

The biggest feud last season was between star safety Landon Collins and struggling cornerback Eli Apple. After anonymous rippings of the coach and players, Collins began to publicly attack Apple for his transgressions, claiming he was a “cancer” in the locker room. This began to spill over into games, as Apple would lack effort completely and eventually would be benched.

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It’s important to recognize the factors that played a part in the demise of Apple — his mother was having brain surgery and was cheating on her husband with his best friend. Apple’s step-father was his biggest influence, and his departure left the young corner in total disarray. Now that his personal life seems to be in a better place, his efforts on the field are improving as well.

In OTAs, Apple made several highlight plays, blanketing receivers and defending several passes. It’s nice to see the No. 10 overall pick is finally taking his role seriously. The Giants will need his services in 2018.

Where does his relationship stand with Landon Collins?

When Collins was asked about his current relationship with Apple, he stated:

“It was a great building [experience], getting on the same page, and making sure [we know] how we feel about one another,” Collins said on Tuesday at a Thuzio question and answer event at Slate with Tiki Barber in Manhattan, via The Post. “That’s my little bro.’”

Earlier in the offseason, Collins stated that he had buried the hatched with Apple and things were on the up-and-up. Since saying that, it has proved to be true. For new defensive coordinator James Bettcher, Apple is perfect for his system. He’s an aggressive cover corner with elite speed and the ability to cover one-on-one. Being that Bettcher loves to utilize his linebackers, he will expect the secondary to hold it down in single-coverage, or cover two.

“Yeah, I’m glad to see him back,” Collins said to reporters, via Big Blue Interactive. “He’s a great corner. He is very smart, I love that he comes up and lays the boom on guys and he’s a great coverage guy. We need him and we’re glad to have him back.”

After new general manager Dave Gettleman allowed Apple a second chance at life with the Giants, the young corner stated:

“I’m going to come in with a different attitude and just be positive out there on the field and just do everything that I can to make myself better as a player, and everybody else better as a team,” Apple said to reporters after Monday’s practice. “This offseason, I just cleared my head and talked to the guys I needed to talk to, the veterans, speaking to the coaches and spending some good quality time with good people… Was I embarrassed? Of course. Nobody wants to go out the way I went out…I mean, it was all over the place, so of course.  I think I’m growing every day as a person. I’m still young, so I just want to continue to grow and try to learn as much as possible…I think I’m a 22 year-old guy, just ready to get to work and continue to work hard and just build on that.”

At 22 years-old, Apple has not even entered his prime. He will have a chance at redemption in 2018, and if things go well, he could complete a major turnaround in his playing career, and his personal life.

Eli Apple Trying To Resurrect Relationship With Landon Collins

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Well, it seems as if the New York Giants front-office overhaul is finally spurring the change in culture the team so desperately needed.

Cornerback Eli Apple plagued the team with bad energy and drama throughout the 2017 season. He was suspended in the season finale and was torn apart by teammates on a weekly basis.

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He was continuosly attacked by star safety Landon Collins and not to mention the fan base. But Apple might finally be turning a corner, as he took to Instagram to refurbish his relationship with Collins.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be88KdoFOHi/

Apple is actually trying!

Apple posted a picture of him standing next to Collins, expressing how excited he is to get back to playing.

Of course, we can’t let Apple off the hook just yet, but at the very least we can assume he’s trending in the right direction.

It’s also safe to say Dave Gettleman made it very clear to the young corner that any more drama would result in the end of his career with the Giants, and would likely spell trouble for him in the future with any NFL team.

The change in culture is exactly what the team and Apple needed, as the shenanigans that ensued last season won’t be tolerated in ’18.

New York Giants Free Agents: Keep Or Dump List

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New York Giants Free Agents:
Unrestricted Free Agents:
D.J. Fluker (OL) – The Giants signed Fluker to a one-year prove it deal in 2017, and now they will be face with the decision to either retain him, or let him walk. Fluker insisted that he feels he proved his worth last season, so he expected a longer deal.
Verdict: The Giants would be wise to keep Fluker on the pay-roll, as the big bodied guard would be a decent starter but an even better backup if the Giants are plagued by injuries again.
Keenan Robinson (LB) – The cover linebacker has been plagued by injuries throughout his career.
Verdict: Letting Robinson walk would be the best move for the Giants, as his injuries have restricted him from really contributing towards the success of the team.
Shane Vereen (RB) – The versatile running back finished his three-year, $12.35 million deal in 2017, and he certainly didn’t earn the money that Jerry Reese splashed on him. In his first year, Vereen recorded solid numbers, but it only declined from there. Injuries are the story for this player as well.
Verdict: Letting Vereen go should be on the agenda for general manager Dave Gettleman. With Wayne Gallman rising as a change of pace back, the Giants are better off moving on from the former Super Bowl winning running back.
Jonathan Casillas (LB) – Another injury prone player the Giants need to decide on. The linebacker suffered a neck injury this season, and will be 31 in this year. His ability to lead will be the decision maker here if the neck injury doesn’t end up forcing him to retire.
Verdict: Casillas is one of the few players on the team that is a serious locker-room presence and leader on the field. A stand up guy all around, and deserves at least an opportunity on the defense. He’s not the best player of the bunch, but he is a solid reserve linebacker. A one-year deal with minimal guaranteed money would be fair given his current situation.
Justin Pugh (OL) – Pugh only featured in eight games this season due to a re-occurring back injury. In 2016, he played in only 2011, making him a risky decision due to his injury history. When Pugh does play, he is one of the league’s best guards, making hi a commodity.
Verdict: The Giants need to address the offensive line, and Pugh’s injury history makes this a tough call. If they can get him to agree to a deal with a lot of game-incentives and minimal guaranteed money, it would be a good one. The problem is that lineman will be sought after in free agency, and somebody is going to drop the cash for the young lineman.
Kerry Wynn (DE) – A quality reserve lineman that can push the pocket.
Verdict: Wynn has been on the Giants for several years as a reserve defensive lineman, but he didn’t contribute much this year. It’s better to let him walk.
Weston Richburg (C)- The center is coming off his rookie deal and will be looking for a pay-increase and stability.
Verdict: If the Giants feel as though he’s a necessity, then by all means splash the cash. I think the Giants can survive without him and use that money to sign Pugh.
Geno Smith (QB) – Smith is looking for a second chance at being a starter.
Verdict: Smith is a goner, simply because he’s tired of being a backup. Goodbye!
Ross Cockrell (CB) – The former Pittsburgh corner was signed mid-season to aid the Giants’ ailing secondary. He’s been a bright light on the defense, finishing the season with three interception in two games.
Verdict: Keeping Cockrell on the defense should be a priority, as his play down the stretch is deserving of a deal.
Orleans Darkwa (RB) – The Giants’ starting running back this year had a decent season, but he will likely not come 2018. His only use would be as a backup, and with Wayne Gallman rising, Darkwa might not be needed in the backfield.
Verdict: Let him walk, unless he’s open to a team-friendly deal with heavy incentives.
John Greco (OL) – The former Brown was brought in mid-season to help on the offensive line, but never really stood out in limited action.
Verdict: The guard is 32 years old and a 10-year veteran. If he’s open to fighting for a starting role and agreeing to a simple contract, there’s no problem with keeping him around to compete.
Kelvin Shepard (LB) – The former Miami middle linebacker was always an average player, but when the Giants brought him back this season he played valiantly.
Verdict: For a team with little to no linebacker help, bringing Shepard back on a veteran deal in a reserve role would be a smart move.
Mark Herzlich (LB) – The linebacker spent the season on injury reserve.
Verdict: The Giants’ long time special teams connoisseur has managed to hang around the organization for some time. Herzlich is a professional and is a pleasure to have in the locker room. He’s one of the guys you keep on the roster because of his culture presence.
Akeem Ayers (LB) – Signed to fill in at linebacker this season.
Verdict: Let him walk, he didn’t produce enough to deserve anything.
Jay Bromley (DT) – Has failed to live up to the hype.
Verdict: After having a solid pre-season, Bromley failed to live up to his potential once again. Better to let him walk and find another team to play mediocre football for.
Darryl Morris (CB) – Was a late-season signing, but wasn’t anything to write home about.
Verdict: The Giants could choose to keep him around to compete, but he will likely end his time with the Giants on the practice field if anything, No harm in giving him an opportunity.
Nick Becton (OL) – Unknown player that didn’t make a name for himself… Literally.
Verdict: Let him walk.
Tavarres King: This was King’s most productive season, but with a healthy number of receivers returning in 2018, he may be useless in the long-run.
Verdict: Letting him compete for a backup receiver position would be the best move for the Giants in 2018.
Nat Berhe (S) – A failed safety who has struggled heavily with concussions
Verdict: With Berhe’s history of concussions beginning to jeopardize his career, it may be better to cut-ties with him and avoid a catastrophic scenario.
Devon Kennard (LB/DE) – The dual-threat player had a solid season, and he could be valuable as a rotational guy in the future.
Verdict: Kennard is a solid contributor and can be thought of as a dynamic player. Keeping him on to keep defenses on their toes would be the best move for the Giants.

Source: Sportoversu

The No. 1 Reason Odell Beckham Jr. Is Going To Light Up The NFL In '18

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OBJ is ready to roll:
When Odell Beckham Jr. went down with a devastating ankle injury in week five of the 2017 season, the New York Giants went down with him. Righting a ship after losing the captain and most dynamic ship-mate is nearly impossible, and we saw what happened when the Giants lost their only source of life on offense.
Beckham’s broken ankle has healed nicely, and several training videos will back up that assumption.
The questions is: Can he return to form in 2018? Or will he see a fall of due to the injury?
I vote on the first option, because Beckham Jr. wants to compete, and he won’t let nerves or caution on his ankle stop him from succeeding.
The Giants’ star-receiver spoke with new head coach Pat Shurmur over the weekend, and Shurmur stated that Beckham Jr. "sounds inspired."
With the new coaching tandem in place, OBJ has every right to feel like the culture is changing and success is on the horizon. And despite all of the antics he pulls in games and the passion he lets flood onto the field with every catch or touchdown, he’s exactly the type of player Shurmur wants on his side.
During Shurmur’s introduction, he expressed his want for players that love to play the game and that aren’t just there for the money. OBJ is one of those players.
I’ve heard people disgracing Beckham Jr. for his antics and immaturity, but we must remember that he was thrown into a world of celebrities over-night (due to "The Catch"). For the most part, he’s handled the stardom with ease, staying out of legal trouble and being an exemplary player off the field. Of course, his passion spills over onto the field every now and then, but all of the great players lose their cool sometimes…
I bet everybody would want Terrell Owens on their team, even after all of the skeptical actions he carried out. Or Randy Moss, who pulled down his pants in-front of an entire crowd. How about Michael Crabtree and Aqib Talib who got into a ferocious fight last season… Or maybe Andre Johnson for fighting Cortland Finnegan a few seasons ago.
The greats fight, and they whine (Tom Brady), but that’s why they’re great… You can’t be a star without confidence, and of course, some people are better than others (Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan), but everybody is different, and we shouldn’t expect them to all be the same.
Excuse me for the rant, but in needed to be said.
Beckham Jr. is just a kid, and kids do stupid things… The guy is more passionate about the game of football than the entire offense was last season combined. That’s the No. 1 reason he will have an amazing season in 2018, not because he’s skilled, but because he channels his passion into his abilities.

Source: Sportoversu

Giants Undrafted Defensive End Primed For Comeback Season In 2018

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It’s comeback season for this undrafted player:
The New York Giants’ defense was putrid in 2017, with factors like injuries, time on the field, and the the lackluster abilities of the offense contributing to their fatigue and performance.
The injuries began to pile up early in the season, with previously undrafted defensive lineman Romeo Okwara being one of the first to go down with a sprained knee.
In his first season in the NFL, Okwara finished strong, taking on a big role after Jason Pierre-Paul suffered a sports hernia against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Notre Dame product amassed 25 total tackles, 12 solo, and a sack during the Wild Card loss to the Green Bay Packers back in 2016.
Needless to say, Okwara was expected to make a developmental jump in 2018, but the injury bug caught him right when he was getting into the groove.
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Here’s what Okwara said in regard to his injury according to Giants.com:
“That was definitely a damper for me,” Okwara said. “I’m not used to missing time. I’ve never missed time ever in my life.”
“It was definitely a down year for us but we learned a lot of things,” Okwara expressed. “We went through a lot of ups and downs but it was definitely great to finish on a win. That’s going to add some fuel to us when we train this offseason and hopefully come back next year very strong.”
Okwara returned from his sprained knee in week 16 of the 2017 regular season and suited up for the season finale against the Washington Redskins — a game the Giants won by the way.
The talented third-year edge rusher will be returning to a completely overhauled coaching staff and front-office, which will surely shake things up a bit. Ultimately, the change in culture should help Okwara reach his full potential; hopefully as well as he performed against the Dallas Cowboys in week 13 of the 2017 season (eight combined tackles and one sack).

Source: Sportoversu

New York Mets 40-Man Roster Overview: Jeurys Familia

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After a disappointing 2017 season, Jeurys Familia looks to return to being the top level closer that led the Mets to the postseason in 2015 and 2016.
In 2007 the Mets signed him out of the Dominican Republic for $100,000. After spending five years in the minor leagues as a starter the Mets moved him to the bullpen to be a reliever after the 2012 season. In 2013, Familia had an opportunity with the Mets in April but only pitched in eight games before a bicep injury in his throwing arm sidelined him for all but one game he pitched in September. Familia broke out in 2014 as the Mets set-up man to another starter converted to a reliever in Jenrry Mejia and had a 2.21 ERA. The Mets thought their bullpen was set in 2015 but an opening day injury to Mejia and a suspension led to Familia becoming the Mets closer. He had 43 saves en route to a terrific postseason that led the Mets to the World Series. An Alex Gordon home run and fielding blunders put a damper on his brilliant season in the World Series. Familia was an all-star in 2016 and led the MLB with 51 saves but once again a home run in the Wild Card game against the Giants was a tragic end to his season. In the offseason a domestic violence case led to a 15-game suspension to start the 2017 season and it was beginning to a season where Familia never found his footing. Familia was sidelined with an arterial clot in his right shoulder and underwent surgery to remove the blockage. Familia returned on August 25 and struggled to regain the success he had but finished the season on a good note with three saves and a win to end his season.
Manager Mickey Callaway had talked about not having a set closer and pitching the best pitcher at the given situation but all signs point to the closer job being Familia’s to lose. Using the offseason to rest and clear his mind going to Spring Training should allow him to return to the dominant closer he was and if the Mets want to contend he will need to return to his all-star form.

Source: Sportoversu

What Should The Giants Do With Left Tackle Ereck Flowers?

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What should happen with Ereck Flowers?
For the New York Giants, figuring out to do with left tackle Ereck Flowers should be at the top of the priorities list going into the offseason.
The 2015 first-round pick was selected in the top 10, making him a tough cut if the Giants decided to part ways with the below average tackle. But, there are several things Big Blue can do with the No. 10 overall pick that don’t involve sending him to the wolves.
1.) Move him to right tackle
The consensus since Flowers was drafted was that he was never a good fit at left tackle, and his traditional position at right tackle seconds that assumption. It’s a tough sell for Dave Gettleman to let Flowers walk, so they might as well keep him for one more season. The 2018 campaign will be Flowers’ last on his rookie deal, and he will be making a mere $4.5 million for his less than adequate services.
Giving him a shot at his former position might be the best move for the Giants, since letting him protect Eli Manning’s blind-side is not advisable. If Flowers succeeds at right tackle, it opens up the door for him to be resigned for a fraction of the cost of a potential free agent, and it allows the Giants to draft a left tackle.
2.) Make him a depth player at left tackle
I would assume it’s in everybody’s best interest to keep Flowers away from the left tackle position, and making him a depth player could be more along the lines of his current stature with the team. Every team needs a reserve left tackle, and Flowers could be the guy for the job in case the worst possible situation comes to reality.
3.) Keep him starting at left tackle
Flowers was the only player on the offensive line to not miss a snap for injury related reasons in 2017. Unfortunately, that didn’t help the Giants offense succeed any more than if he were injured… In fact, when he was de-activated in the season finale for "checking out," they won.
To put this into perspective, if Flowers remains the starter at left tackle in 2018, we made a serious mistake with Dave Gettleman at general manager.

Source: Sportoversu

The Absolute Worst Signing From Jerry Reese's Reign In New York

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The worst contract from the Jerry Reese era:
Four years, $62 million, $40 million total guaranteed.
That’s the contract former New York Giants’ general manager Jerry Reese made for veteran defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
After a season (2016) where JPP recorded seven sacks and only played in 12 games, Reese decided that giving him a monster contract was not only deserved, but expected.
The Giants’ edge-rusher played in all 16 games last season, amassing eight sacks and 48 tackles.
Let’s compare JPP’s number to a player that has a similar contract — Calais Campbell.
Campbell signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season with only $30 million total guaranteed compared to Pierre-Paul’s $40 million.
Here’s where things get interesting:
Campbell finished the 2017 campaign with 14.5 total sacks and 47 tackles — let’s not forget that Campbell hasn’t missed a game in three years. So, with these stats in mind, can we officially say Jerry Reese was taking drugs?
The Jaguars and dare I say Tom Coughlin inked Campbell to a stellar deal, and the edge rusher produced his worth. The Giants on the other hand paid top-dollar for a man with less than an adequate number of fingers who was coming off a sports hernia and has seen his career plagued with injuries…
In 2018, JPP will cost the Giants $17.5 million towards the cap-space, allocating nearly as much money as Eli Manning makes. To make things even worse, the potential out on his contract is in 2020, which would cost the Giants $49.5 million with an additional $5 million in dead cap.
Well, I think we can all agree Reese was out to destroy the organization once and for all… Luckily we caught him just in time to draft a punter in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Stats collected from Spotrac.com.

Source: Sportoversu