New York Giants' notes, 03.03.09

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 10:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Here are a few New York Giants notes for your reading pleasure today.

Former Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. thinks Browns' wide receiver Braylon Edwards would love to be a Giant.

"For some reason I don’t," Winslow said. "I know Braylon would love to go to New York. The Giants would fit him to the T and he would have so much fun up there. I know he loves Cleveland, but New York would be a great fit for him."

Winslow added: “He would love it there. He’s a city guy and, yeah, I know he would love it there.”

Considering all the extra draft picks the Giants possess (10 in all), I think there is a pretty decent possibility this move could happen.

Ernie Palladino has a great interview with Tom Coughlin, in which he discusses a recent visit with legendary 98-year-old coach John Wooden. Coughlin described meeting Wooden this way:

“You know, people have those lists of 100 things they want to do before they die?” he said. “This was a top-10 for me. Top-10.”

True Blue says the Giants might be eyeing USC wide receiver Patrick Turner as a late-round selection.
Speaking of the draft, Mocking the Draft has a report that USC linebackers Clay Matthews III and Brian Cushing allegedly tested positive for steroids at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. Several other plays also reportedly tested positive for marijuana. If this is true, I think you can assume that Matthews and Cushing will see their draft stock plummet.

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Dirty USC players...

now maybe that’s part of the reason that although they produce so many top prospects to the NFL, they haven’t really produced a superstar(just Polamalu, maybe Palmer).

by daneptizl on Apr 3, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

If this is true

it makes me very, very leery of Matthews. He’s a guy who wasn’t even on anybody’s radar until his senior year. Now he is considered a first-round pick. That’s a big red flag, IMHO.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I remember reading a feature on him in Sports Illustrated last fall. The basic thrust of the article was about how he walked-on at USC (I guess he could have accepted a scholarship at Arizona or something like that) but played his ass off at USC and worked his way up the depth chart throughout his time there. Then, his senior year, he “came out of nowhere” and ended up something like 1st Team All Pac 10 for Defense. Everyone marveled at what a gym rat he was and how bulked-up he became.

But he was a beloved guy on the team; the whole team stood up and applauded when Pete Carroll announced that he got all-Pac 10, etc. He seems like a really solid guy.

BUT! I will say this. There had been whispers of performance-enhancers associated with him for some time. You have to wonder how much of this is related to steroids and how much of it is a guy who “naturally” grew into his body.

Either way he’s a tremendous risk. One must wonder/question how many of his tackles were a result of double-teams on Cushing/Mauluga and the ability of the excellent USC D-line to free up LB’s to make plays.

I would definitely be disappointed if Reese drafted Matthews.

by Cody K on Apr 3, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Couldn't agree more...

I have argued this over and over with friends who believe all 3 USC LBs are for real and will be All-Pros in the NFL… Really? Seriously? Anytime you have players demanding double teams everyone else on D benefits. I understand USC is a top school who will get some of the top recruits in the nation, but are all 3 really first -round talent? Honestly, I’m not so sure any of them are true first-rounders (OK, maybe Rey) and more of beneficiaries from the system/players around them. I hope the Giants don’t go after Matthews or Cushing in the 29 spot, maybe in the 2nd if they’re still on the board.

by one-bar on Apr 3, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

REALLY??

by Cody K on Apr 3, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t want Matthews regardless tho, he just seems a whole lot like Bobby Carpenter…….Cushing at least has been productive since he was a freshman.

Id rather have CUshing and if his situation is the case where a steroid was detected cuz it contaminated a supplement, or it was just something tat he didn’t know was banned, then I guess this could help him drop to us…..

Percey Harvin too. Im sure there are more than a few players who smoke weed on ever NFL team. For some reason teams may look at this a put up a red flag. Id say who the hell cares. Weed obviously hasn’t hurt them so far and unless they get caught with Nate Newton and his 30Kilo’s of weed, its fine with me.

This happened wit ha few guys last year, but they weren’t high picks to begin with. I know Luis Castillo tested positive before the draft, and he slid until the bottom of the first round. He hasn’t tested positive since so it can be done…

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 3, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Where does the league stand on this kind situation?

Shouldn’t the league have a, test positive for steroids, you’re not eligible for the draft policy? I would think that would be the message to send to college students, no?

by NY17NE14 on Apr 3, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

No idea

First, I think we need to find out more — like whether or not this is actually accurate.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Also true

Its only from Mocking the Draft, no other sourse has come up with specifics although Im sure we’ll here more.

Patrick TUrner would be an excellent selection later in the draft. Along with that Carr dude from Florida State, Id say both would be great options in they lasted until the 5th round or later.

Braylon Edwards can love NY all he wants. Im sure a lot of sports stars in Cleveland would love NY. But I just am put off more and more by those stone hands of his.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 3, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Source

Well, MTD is running w/it based on a report from another source that it considers credible. But, I do think we need to wait and see what comes out of this before we condemn all these guys.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 3, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

LORD KNOWS we won't want to go around condemning people here at BBV

by NY17NE14 on Apr 3, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

No surprise...

That Cushing tested positive, I’ve read a few posts on various sites claiming Cushing was a roid-freak in high school and college. But once again, we have to consider the sources. Matthews comes as a big shocker to me… more disappointing than anything.

As far as Edwards goes, I would love to see him as a Giant. I’m sure it would also help bring along Manningham (who I believe could be a top WR in a few years), seeming they were both teammates at Michigan. Sure he had a tough season last year, but dropped balls is something that can be worked on and corrected. I remember Week 6 when he torched us for 154 yards, his best game all season. Bottom line, he would drastically help stretch the field and open up the underneath routes for the other guys.

by one-bar on Apr 3, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Nice post, Edwards i think would fix the drop ball problem(everyone drops a catch at times, even wide open) if he got to the Giants, our coaching staff knows what they are doing so if we do trade for him i trust he will be a good fit.

I really think this Patrick Turner guy seems like a good option in the draft. Anyone else like him? I watched alot of his games last year didnt know who he was until this post then i remembered. He is big and uses his body really well to make the catch and keep the corner away from the ball. Plus unlike Burress the guy trys to make a tackle if the ball is turned over. I’d take him last pick 3rd round, maybe 4th rd but I’m not sure he is going to fall that far…

by gobs56 on Apr 3, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

He can cure it

But drops and Giants receivers are usually synonymous. They always dropped a lot of balls, Plax Shockey, Hilliard, Toomer, whoever all throughout the years there have been a ton of drops that hurt Eli a whole lot. even our secondary was stone-handed and still is somewhat

I don’t think coming to the Giants can cure stonehands, so I think that unless we only have to give up a 3rd rounder for Edwards, I think the price is too high.

Lets just either hope that Nicks and/or Britt fall to us and maybe we take a chance on Jared Cook in the 2nd round. The Bears were a real player for these guys so maybe that helps us too now that they don’t have a first rounder ( and our 2nd rounder is ahead of theirs).

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 3, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions