Land of the Giants: Goff has much to prove

by Ed Valentine on Jun 13, 2009 7:30 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Here are a few stories of interest to Giants fans today.

MIddle linebacker Jonathan Goff, who missed most of his rookie season with a variety of injuries, is looking forward to a new opportunity to show what he can do.

"I’ve been itching just to be out there on the field again," he said. "Being out there running plays, executing the defense, learning and getting better. And doing what I can to put myself in a position to contribute as many ways as possible."

Goff said it was difficult dealing with his injuries, especially since he'd never experienced anything like the three that dogged him last season and ultimately landed him on injured reserve by late December.

"I went through all of college with no injuries, no nothing," he said. "Didn’t miss a game, didn’t miss a practice, didn’t miss a snap in practice. Really it just felt like it was bad luck, one thing after another.

We have speculated so much throughout the off-season about the eventual need to replace Antonio Pierce. I would love to see Goff stay healthy and show whether or not he can be that guy.

ODD COUPLE: You would think first-round pick Hakeem Nicks, a wide receiver, would be leaning on guys like Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith to show him how to do things right in the NFL. Nope. Offensive tackle David Diehl has become Hicks' mentor.

"I've been here for seven years now. I know my way round. I know how things are run here, I know what it takes to be a professional and get it done each and every Sunday," Diehl said. "I think that's a comfort to a guy being a rookie coming into a whole new situation that he has a veteran that he can come up to me and say 'Hey, what do you think about this?' Just bounce things off of me."

The connection? Both players have the same agent.

Plaxico Burress' court case, scheduled for Monday, appears headed for another delay. Ralph Vacchiano speculates on the possibility this might allow Burress to play in 2009.

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Burress

He shouldn’t be allowed to play until his case is done plain and simple. I don’t care how many times he pushes his case back or when the hearing will be, he shouldn’t be allowed to play till its done. The reason he wants to postpone it is so he can play this year but i say until his case is settled he isn’t allowed to play, after all he is still band isn’t he? NFL should tell him we will give a verdict of playability when the court case is herd and done not postponed, only at that time will they give a verdict and hand him fines or suspensions.

by giantsscuba on Jun 13, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

Don't quote me on this

As of now, he hasn’t been found guilty of any wrong doing (though we know better) through the court of law. Even though he was suspended by the Giants (employer), which i would catergorize this as “conduct detrimental to the team”, i don’t know if the league has any right in doing so to this point. I’m solely basing this off any speculative sections within the current CBA/players union!

Your innocent until proven guilty type of thing. You really can’t suspend/jail an innocent person without the proof of their negligent actions! But i do agree, given Plax’s availability (FA), it’s still a league. Seems like they can let whoever in at their own discretion. In the end though, there’s the union to consider and with these postponements, they must know something. Sad, but probably true!

by Hootman on Jun 13, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions