Gee, let's talk about the Giants and ... wide receivers

by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2009 7:00 AM EDT in News Comment 28 comments

When it comes to talking about the New York Giants this off-season, it is all wide receiver all the time. Why should today be any different?

From the esteemed Ralph Vacchiano comes word that General Manager Jerry Reese is not inclined to fork over first- and third-round draft choices for Arizona's Anquan Boldin. Vacchiano seems to indicate that Reese might, however, be willing to give up that much for Cleveland's Braylon Edwards.

“For the right player, you do whatever you can to make it happen,” Reese said, in response to a question about the Cardinals looking for at least a first- and a third-round pick in return for Boldin. “I don’t know if that’s the best thing for us to do, to package up a deal that valuable. We like our draft picks. We like developing players. We won’t force anything.”

Asked if that would be forcing it for Boldin, Reese said “It could be.”

Asked if it would be too high a price for anyone, Reese said “Maybe not for anybody available. There’s a couple guys that might be worth that price.”

I think we are all getting tired of this discussion, getting tired of speculating about what receiver will be coming to New York, and getting tired of waiting for a move to happen.

It seems quarterback Eli Manning is feeling the same way.

"I think Jerry Reese and the coaches and the owners, they've been studying all the receivers, whether it's rookie receivers in the draft or free agents who are available and what might happen. So I think they're on top of it," Mannning said. "They know we have some good receivers here, some young guys who can play football for us, but that we might need a No. 1 receiver. So I think that's what they're going to look for right now and I'm sure something will happen either during the draft or before the draft or right near it to help us out."

It was even more interesting that Manning got specific by talking up the Browns' Braylon Edwards.

"You just see him make big plays," Manning said. "I know last year maybe wasn't his best year, but two years ago, he scored a lot of touchdowns. And I think you want a guy who can catch the ball and make big plays and get in the end zone."

Mike Garafolo wonders if that is the understated quarterback's way of turning up the heat on Reese. Interesting. In this case I am hoping Eli gets what he wants.

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I say screw all this WR talk

its getting old.

Maybe study the Cardinals and Seahawks games and look how Eli was spreading the ball around. I know the Hawks suck and the Cards weren’t a SB team then, but still Eli had his best games then.

Lets get DHB on the team and develop him. Start Hixon and Smith and let Moss and Manningham battle it out for #3. Give DHB some time of course.

Make sure Gilbride knows too.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 17, 2009 8:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Talk about beating a dead horse...

There’s nothing left but a hole in the ground in the shape of one!!

by NY17NE14 on Apr 17, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

I am tired of it, too. Unfortunately, Reese and Eli’s comments made it the news of the day. I can’t wait to get away from it myself.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's gotten so bad, I don't even mention RUCKER unless "someone" brings him up!!

by NY17NE14 on Apr 17, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm more tired of it

cuz the media keeps asking these guys what they think. Its almost like they are pressuring them so much into thinking that they do NEED one of these mopes on the team.

I’ve always thought that in the games without Plaxico (and Shockey of course) that Eli spreads the ball around. When he does this, the guy can be an elite QB regardless of what anyone says.

What happened at the end of last season is a concern, but I think its just plain wrong to say that the Giants can’t be as good or better in the passing game without trading for one of these ""elite""" receivers.

I think it was more of a gameplan issue, the Meadowlands in December on is never good to play in regardless of the precipitation cuz of the wind. The Giants didn’t do a good job gameplanning.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 17, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've seen Coughlin's teams do it before

in turning a few ""no name"" receivers into absolute beasts.

Dominck Hxon and Steve Smith are exactly like Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell in their early years. Why can’t they just use these guys and try to do the same.

I know an infusion of talent like DHB or Nicks or Britt may be coming if no trade happens, but there is no reason Hixon and Smith can’t be like these guys. Maybe not production wise cuz the Giants run more and don’t play in Jacksonville either, but if Mark Brunell and those 2 receivers can come almost out of nowhere, why not these guys?

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 17, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

man

I completely blanked Jimmy Smith from my head

by queler on Apr 17, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not forget that

TC, JR and co. attributed the end of year slump to a worn out D (front seven) unlike what seems to be the majoity of BBVers who attribute it to the loss of Plax.

by blue gonz on Apr 17, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

George

I think it was both. Although with the defensive players the Giants have collected they are in a better position now to pass on a trade if they choose. Although, with all the picks they have, I still believe they will make a move.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it was both, but

a lot of BBVers attribute it to the loss of Plax alone as opposed to the stance of the Giants brass who are more or less on record as IDing the D as first priority. I’m thinking of JR’s comments concerning the 4th and twenty something pass completion in the second Eagles game. I get the feeling that the Giants brass believes they can get the points they need to win with what they have as long as they have an intimidating D as in the SB year. This is not to say they won’t make moves to improve the WR position, just that they they don’t see the urgency that others do concerning it.

by blue gonz on Apr 17, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I REALLY

don’t want the Giants to go WR with their first pick. I just don’t see the value there – I highly doubt that a rookie WR will be given the proper chance to shine in a Tom Coughlin/Kevin Gilbride offense and think it would essentially be a wasted pick (especially when they come down with the inevitable training camp leg problem). I don’t think the Giants NEED a #1 WR in the sense that I think they can definitely make the playoffs and compete w/o one, but I’d much rather them target someone they know is going to be the #1 rather than waste a pick. If they’re not gonna make a trade, I’d still prefer them to draft a LB with the first pick, but that’s just me. I don’t like inexperienced WR’s, I think they’re far too big a gamble and think we could probably get as much value with a 3rd round WR as a 1st rounder.

by cjmulrain on Apr 17, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you re WRs, cj, but

for first pick I’d like an LB or LT (but only one of the top 2 or maybe3 of those.)

by blue gonz on Apr 17, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think any of the top 4 LT's are gonna drop

and even #5 and 6 (beatty and Britton) may be gone too.

The LB’s I think Lauranitis is gonna be there, but I really don’t want him. His problem is speed, and my problem with Pierce is his speed, so if Lauranitis is a long term solution to LB then I don’t want him.

I bet that the Giants first round pick is gonna stay and #29 and will probably be a lineman, but probably either Alex Mack, Max Unger or Duke Robinson. All 3 are elite at their positions, and all could be given time to learn multiple positions. In the case of Unger, he is probably the perfect pick although he may be a reach at #29, but he has played all the line positions.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 17, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Loving Unger

I have never seen the guy play, but his rep is that he can fit anywhere across the line. That’s a perfect depth pick for a team that has no one dependable beyond the starting group.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You may be right, and I like the Unger pick.

I just want to see how they wheel and deal with those ten picks. Another thought is that they pick at 29 and grab Britt. I don’t like the idea of a WR pick in the first round but you know that ,with him playing in the Metro area, they’ve had the kid under a microsope for years (going back to HS). They will know if he’s worth the risk. I admit this scenario is doubtful, but it has crossed my mind.

by blue gonz on Apr 17, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Britt is fine with me

Between him and Nicks, both have had very productive college careers, almost too quietly. THey really are more like Reggie Wayne type prospects or Anthony Gonzalez or Dewayne Bowe. The scary WR that these 2 guys are NOT is Robert Meacham, who is more like DHB.

The main thing of course, is that the guy stays healthy. If the guy gets hurt, like Meacham, it could kill his career. Tim Carter is another example, the guy may have had talen but he couldn’t stay on the field.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 18, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm getting the impression more and more that

JR’s more or less satisfied with what he has and doesn’t feel an urgent need to do something dramatic to get another WR. I know most BBVers don’t share my projection of JR’s so called satisfaction.

by blue gonz on Apr 17, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You're not alone in thinking that.

I said awhile back after one of his public comments, that being a run first kind of team and having a number of WRs that NYG has ivested time and money into, he may stay where he is.

Now, on the other hand, he is ONE TOUGH guy to read!!! He’s capable of saying one thing and surprisng the daylights out of you. I think he sees bigger issues to be addressed then this receiver issue that we have debated to death.

by NY17NE14 on Apr 17, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reese

Even if he wants Edwards the last thing any GM wants to do is show the teame he is negotiating with any sign of weakness. If he shows any desperation, the price goes up.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does anyone remember a guy named Burress??

Free Agent visits us, things got ugly some sort of verbal back and forth and he left with us saying we will not sign him…. he fires agent and comes crawling back and bam we got Plax… We never know what is going to happen or what they are going to do, this is texas hold em’ it’s a poker face business and i believe JR is doing his best at keeping everyone guessing… just by reading theese blogs and all of us back and forth on what we want or what we think, he’s got us the media and the rest of the NFL right where he wants them, clueless with a feeling that we just a drank a 7-11 slurpee wayyyy too fast…. i don’t care who you are you gotta love this guy..

by gobs56 on Apr 17, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by kendynamo on Apr 17, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the draft

talk is fine..let mr. reese find a way through the draft .that will enhance the Giants…Action works better than talk…No Trade..BUILD with the DRAFT. This, usually makes our team better coachgreg1

by coachgreg1@aol.com on Apr 17, 2009 6:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs