Boldin drum beat continues
by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2009 8:59 AM EST
in New York Giants News
Email
PrintThe 'bring in Anquan Boldin' chatter continues to dominate any discussion of the New York Giants this off-season.
Columnists Steve Serby of the New York Post and Gary Myers of the New York Daily News are both beating the Boldin drum today.
Here's Serby.
Q Da Man.
More specifically, this is Eli Manning's man.
This is the Giants' man.
Boldin - they call him Q - has Giants fans salivating for him the way Mets
fans are salivating now for Manny Ramirez, and with good reason.
Let's make a deal, Jerry Reese.
Plaxico or no Plaxico, your quarterback needs help.
No one knows, of course, what will happen to Burress. Manning and some of his prominent team mates want him back, but that might be whistling in the dark of the jail cell Mayor Bloomberg wants him in.
Boldin - who spoke last week with Burress and is a Fort Lauderdale workout partner and friend - would be the best Go Q Guy in the NFC East the second he shows up.
Myers, in fact, pushed for the Giants to acquire Boldin not only today but also in a weekend column assessing the Giants' options for replacing Plaxico Burress.
Reese must find Eli Manning another go-to receiver like Burress.
It is the No. 1 offseason priority.
The Giants have a roster full of No. 2 receivers with Amani Toomer, who is a free agent and may not be re-signed, Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss. They need a big receiver who can command double-teams and get down the field. What they really need is the Burress who helped them win the Super Bowl last season, but that player never showed up in '08 and is not likely to play for them again. ...
Boldin, who seems to be growing tired of playing in the shadow of Fitzgerald, should be the Giants' top target if Arizona is willing to trade him, which seems possible. Until his sideline rant at Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley during Arizona's winning touchdown drive last week against the Eagles in the NFC title game, Boldin was not even close to being another annoying wide receiver diva. He's been a respected team leader.
Perhaps I was hasty recently when I said simply "Cross Arizona's Anquan Boldin off the list of potential targets for the Giants" following his sideline tirade. By all accounts, this type of outburst was an aberration for the Cardinals' standout.
Many of you here at BBV have advocated the Giants using their first-round pick to grab a wide receiver. If the Giants do that, players like Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina), Kenny Britt (Rutgers) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) would be possibilities.
But, listen to this warning from Myers' column.
Can they find somebody who can make a huge impact as a rookie?
"History says no," former Cowboys vice president Gil Brandt said. "I think next to quarterback, it's the hardest position for a rookie to come in and play. They have to learn how to run alternate routes against so many different coverages and they have to do it quickly."
The Giants, we should know, are a poster child for Brandt's assertion. Mario Manningham did nothing as a rookie. Neither did Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss or Tim Carter. Or Joe Jurevicius before them. Even Amani Toomer caught just one pass his rookie season and 16 in his second year.
The Giants' window of opportunity is now. That is one of the reasons falling short this season hurt. It is also the reason why the Giants don't have two or three seasons to wait for someone to develop into a go-to No. 1 receiver for Eli Manning. By then, it might be too late.
The Giants have extra draft picks thanks to the Jeremy Shockey trade. If the Cardinals are willing to move Boldin offer them a couple of those picks and see if you can get a deal done.
Then, go get an impact linebacker in the draft.
If you can't get Boldin, OK. But, the more I have thought about it I believe the Giants have to try.
Of course, as always In Reese We Trust.
41 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Not the best fit
I love Quan as a player, but I dont think hes such a great fit for the giants. He’s much more YAC guy- a guy who catches the ball a few yards down the field and then makes play with his strength and with his feet— but hes not the deep threat that plax is. To replace him i think we need a guy more capable of stretching the field
by Ravishing Rick Dude on Jan 27, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions
Big plays are big plays
Whether you make them w/run after catch or by getting deep on a route. Plax, remember, is not a big deep threat in terms of running by guys. He’s just tall and athletic as hell. Let Boldin draw the attention and let Hixon get deep.
by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
Double team
Exactly. We just need some one that draws the double team and can free up other options.
by losangelesmets on Jan 27, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly
Ed; oddly enough you and I are in agreement here! ;)
I think Q would be an EXCELLENT fit for the NYG. He’s a gritty guy, a pure “#1” and would command a double team to free up the passing game.
Ed: its rare that we agree on these matters but we have our love of Big Blue in common, right?!
Of course we do
As I always say, disagreeing is fine provided we do it respectfully. Which. with you, has been the case.
by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
I dont know that he would be ideal
Plax is really adept at erasing Elis mistakes b/c of his size, something which Boldin lacks, Id be worried that he wouldnt be able to get to as many as Plaxico, thus making eli look even worse
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Here's an option for replacing Plax
How about Plax replacing Plax. Where has it been said that he will definitely not be back with the Giants? Yeah, we heard some stuff about what TC said about this and that, but has anyone noticed that the Giants have not cut or released Buress? They’d be fools to just let him go and they know it. 6’5" WR’s do not grow on trees. I think that they are waiting for the legal ramifications to work themselves out. If Plax gets through it all, I’d say there is at least a 50-50 chance we will see number 17 out there next season. As to Anquan Boldin, he’d be a nice replacement for Toomer who I think will in fact be leaving the Giants. Even if he does not, if the Giants can get hold of Boldin, they should, but not necessarily to replace Plax.
Plax
Let’s be realistic. I think we all have to understand that the chances of Plax being back are very, very slim. The Giants can’t wait around for his legal stuff to be settled, then get stuck with nobody. Plus, when it’s all said and done Plax is the one who destroyed this season for the Giants. Are you really willing to risk him destroying another one? I say move on.
by Ed Valentine on Jan 27, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
March Hearing
I think Plax is at least 6 months away from finding out the legal result. Giants cannot go into Camp without a solution.
by losangelesmets on Jan 27, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Anyone else remember the suitcase full of money
They found at Plax’s house? If that gets to Bloomberg maybe the legal troubles go away! LOL!
Boldin would look good in blue
I think Boldin would be a good fit, even if he’s not really fast as a deep threat. He’s a big target who can catch balls in coverage on short and mid range routes — which are the passes I’d rather see Eli throwing anyway. Hixon’s a deep threat and I think Boldin will draw 2 defenders much of the time or win one on one battles if single covered. If Plax comes back, well that’s a nice problem to have. The only question is the price. I’m ultimately more concerned about upgrading the linebacker position and I wouldn’t want the G-men to compromise their ability to do that just to get Boldin
I’m also not so convinced that a rookie WR can’t make an impact. It depends on how advanced they are, how smart they are, and how much they are used. Avery, Royal and Jackson all made big contributions this year, and none of them were first round picks. Many of the young receivers that didn’t do much weren’t given a whole lot of opportunities. Obviously Boldin is a known quantity and a rookie is a gamble, but sometimes if you just throw the rookies out there they produce.
Bottom line: I’d love to have Boldin if we can get him at a fair price and still upgrade our linebackers, but if we don’t get him it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
by Tucker Fredrickson on Jan 27, 2009 10:04 AM EST reply actions
I agree
The last rookie receiver I can recall that came in the league and made an immediate impact was Randy Moss. And he had Chris Carter to help take some pressure off of him.
The question is will Anquan want to come to NY? Will he want to put up with the kind of scrutiny he’s going to receive here?
Colston
he signed an extension with the Saints where they locked him up for another 4+ yrs. – no way the Saints trade him.
Boldin's rookie year
103 rec, 1,377 yds, 8 TD.
Moss had 17 TD his rookie year, but had almost 40 less catches.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 27, 2009 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
Perhaps
we would have some impact rookies if we changed whatever part of our minicamp leaves EVERY rookie WR with a strained quad
Ain't that something?
The Giants should give them instructions on how to train before training camp.
More than onc,
some BBVers have asserted we need Plax because he’s a deep threat, he can stretch the field. He’s a dangerous receiver for a variety of reasons (draws double coverage, height that enables him to reach balls most receivers can’t, strength that can overpower most coverage guys, good blocker when he chooses to be) but he doesn’t have the speed to stretch the field, He’s never had it.
Moss has it. Hixon has it. Problems: Moss’s hands; EIi’s inability to throw the long ball with accuracy. The long ball problem has been Eli’s inaccurate throws. He can learn and I believe he will. He’s not a classic bomber, butI think he has the the arm to be good enough at it.
I’ve also seen Hix accused of bad hands for dropping one sure long ball TD. It happens to the best. He has good hands and speed and has the potential to be a long ball threat.
It would be nice if we could incorporate that into our offense, but If TC and JR bring back Plax, it won’t be because he can stretch the field.
It’s going to be interesting to see how they deal with and priortize the LB and WR problems.
i'm not as concerned about losing Plax
as a “deep threat” – i think what really hurt the Giants was losing Plax in Red Zone situations (and the reason why they should’ve done whatever it took to get Tony G before the deadline, but that’s a different argument for a different day).
i agree with gonz that Eli hasn’t been known to throw the long-ball with accuracy anyway. losing Plax was huge because he was a huge security blanket for Eli. all he had to do was throw it in the vicinity of Plax and he’d come down with it.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 27, 2009 1:18 PM EST reply actions
I too wish they got Tony G
and I was a big advocate of it at the time, so it’s not just revisionist history, but to be fair to the front office, they didn’t see the Plax thing coming. We didn’t need Gonzalez in week 6 the way we needed him after week 12, unfortunately.
I actually don't think the NYG "needs" Tony
With Boss’s continued development, why trade picks for someone that is on the downhill side of their career?
Besides, you are operating under the assumption that Gilbride would even know HOW to use Tony G.!
Gilbride sure as hell didn’t take full advantage of Boss at the end of this season, when he’s clearly a great threat, a 6’6" TE with great hands, in the red zone…
good point
and going forward, I don’t think we really need him (assuming we get a WR or Plax back), but he could have really helped down the stretch this year. I know Boss has talent, but he’s no Tony G, and probably never will be. I would like to think that Gilbride would have enough brains to use Gonzalez if he had him, although that might be giving him too much credit.
You're point re red zone is well taken.
I don’t know why they didn’t go to Boss down there. He’s 6’7", can leap (remember that leap over a tackler he made a while back—he was a good five feet off the ground) and has great hands
I think part of it
is the same reason that rookie WRs have issues having immediate impact … there is something very difficult in route running, grasping offense, or whatever else might allude me. Boss will get there, but he’s only scratched the surface of his potential. But I definitely agree that Boss can be that guy.
Buy low
No matter what happens, I really think that unless you can get Q (and Mosley said it would take a #1 and a #3, for what’s that is worth) I think you have to buy guys low. I don’t want to see Reese do something rash and trade the farm for someone.
So if you can’t get Q (and you almost need to have him hold a gun to the Cards’ head or else you gotta pay through the nose for him) I think that the GMen should buy low on guys like Braylon Edwards or Chad Johnson; guys that have the obvious talent but need a change of scenery.
Otherwise, I’d rather go back to battle next year with the same personnel group; if Gilbride figures out how to use the personnel differently (ie more effectively) we might be looking forward to watching the Giants defend their Super Bowl title rather than watching someone else in there….
When is Plax's trial/hearing whatever?
Is it before the draft, b/c that could go a long way in deteriming what they do or do not do with those picks
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Aggressively recruit a WR
Ed is right about Plax. There is no doubt that Jerry Reese and the rest of the staff is moving forward without Plax in the offensive game plan. In addition, there is a very good chance we will part ways with well dressed Amani Toomer.
If we don’t add a deep threat or at least a big target like Boldin our opponents will put 8 in the box and stop our bread and butter running game.
Could that mean we could get Boldin in addition to Plax?
That would be bananas
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
bananas is right
the thought of 6’5 plax, 6’7 boss, and then bolden and smith is a wet dream for any OC, think of the red zone with that.. the defense would shit its pants what are you gonna do
even if it happens tho
which it probably won’t, if eli gets his new contract it would be impossible to hold them
I mightve misread the original post
But I dont think Boldin would do what Plax did in this offense, Eli still throws high, and Plax prevented a lot of errors, something which I dont think Boldin could do-but Boldin still is under contract, so they could afford them both for a while, but they shouldnt give Eli 120M
So i guess it would depend on how any deal is structured b/t bonuses and cap numbers; but Plax, Boldin, Smith and Manningham would be nasty
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Adam Schefter Reported
yesterday during the NFL networks Super Bowl Coverage that Lary Fitzgerald is willing to re-do his contract so they can sign Boldin long term. He might not be an option after all.
Hakeem Nicks from UNC
really impressed me in the bowl game. By far the best player on the field.
Kenny Britt is a tall WR whos also a local kid.
Both would be decent options to fill the Plax roll.
Nicks vs. Britt
Probably the two receivers Gmen have a shot at/look hard at:
Nicks: 68 rec, 1222 yds, 12 tds, 5 carries, 34 yds, 1td (plus ridiculous effort in bowl game)
Britt: 87 rec, 1371 yds, 7 tds, 7 carries, 75 yds, 1 td, 1-1 for 28 yds
For what it’s worth, pretty even actually
Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!
by bigbluethruandthru on Jan 28, 2009 3:42 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on Big Blue View
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Get Your Giants' Gear
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Report: Tebow sends cease and desist letter to maker of Jesus-y Jets T-shirts
- Joe McKnight says too much McDonald’s helped him gain 16 pounds in offseason
- Nick Mangold says goodbye to some chest hair on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’
- Saints will honor suspended Sean Payton with empty chairs
- Junior Seau’s home burglarized just days after his death
