New York Giants' Notes: Great Read On Marvin Austin

by Ed Valentine on May 15, 2011 8:05 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Good morning, New York Giants' fans! Let's get you some reading material for what looks like a soggy Sunday here in the Northeast.

Spend some time today reading Ralph Vacchiano's terrific piece on second-round draft pick Marvin Austin in the Daily News. It will leave you feeling optimistic about the young man's NFL future.

Here is the money quote from North Carolina coach Butch Davis, talking about what he told NFL teams who inquired about Austin prior to the NFL Draft:

"The character question always came up," says Davis. "And I said 'Look, this kid busts his butt at practice, he plays hard, he made a bad decision.' In my own personal opinion there are different types of character flaws. None of this stuff has anything to do with arrests or felonies or all of the charges that you see proliferating through the NFL. No domestic violence issues. Marvin doesn't drink, he doesn't do drugs, he doesn't do any of that.

"He made a bad choice. He paid an enormously heavy price. That was tough. But I think it's a one-time thing."

I neglected to post an update Saturday on the condition Giants' running back Charles Scott following a car accident earlier this week. The Star-Ledger reported that Scott just came away with "cuts and bruises." Forgetting football for a minute, that is good news.

There appears to be plenty of skepticism around the league as to the value of player organized workouts such as Camp Eli, organized by Giants quarterback Eli Manning. All I know is I like the idea of players at least showing the intitiative and desire to do something.

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sounds like a

STEAL

Revis island? Prince's Kingdom!
Dream draft pick for knicks : Klay Thompson

by espnsucks on May 15, 2011 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

Meh

“He made a bad choice. He paid an enormously heavy price. That was tough. But I think it’s a one-time thing.”

I don’t see it as a “one-time” thing, looking at the history of his twitter account it seemed more like a lifestyle than a one-time thing. I’m not high on arguing about morals and whats right and wrong, but in Austin’s case it seemed more than just a “one-time” mistake. What wesyle saunders did was a “one-time thing”, marvin austin was the ringleader of it all reading some reports.

by Nfpdawg on May 15, 2011 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

good news is

he’s allowed to get paid in the NFL

Prove me wrong TC.

by Flynner on May 15, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

What in the world is on his twitter that shows you he took money more than these trips?

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on May 15, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

it wasnt indirect proof ofc, but it showed that (seemingly, not fact or anything) that the money he borrowed wasn't only used on trips as a one-time ordeal

the things he posted at his twitter account is what started the investigation anyway and led him to get kicked off the team unlike quinn and little. Just sayin.. don’t attack the messenger

by Nfpdawg on May 15, 2011 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

His twitter accout?

c’mon…

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on May 15, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Weslye Saunders

also skipped a team meeting saying he was meeting with NCAA investigators, which was untrue. That pretty much sealed his fate at SC.

by YankeeDudeL on May 16, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

If this is true, I do not ever want to see this guy

Bad attitude, liar for no reason.

Sorry you are not good enough to get away with that.

All the Giants should play like Mark Bavaro.
Tom Quinn Must Go!
On second thought, let's not blame players or coaches, they are not responsible. The unsupportive fans are to blame.

by UnknownJintsFan on May 17, 2011 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions

If he was the ringleader of a

taking trips that add up to $13,000 racket, I’m all for him. These aren’t major transgressions, I wouldn’t want to get into the habit of drafting guys who lost their eligibility for their senior year but the risk in taking him is nile. Those issues aren’t there anymore, he has his own now. Doesn’t drink, smoke or do any of those things that spell trouble and above all he has the backing of those who know him. Great pick.

by Robin's-meats-and-vegetables on May 15, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

+1

Even if he partied, I wouldn’t care. Don’t embarrass the organization and play hard on game day. That’s all that matters to me.

by GhostDini on May 15, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I like this attitude

sigh...

by nywins42 on May 15, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

im talking mostly about his twitter account as far as ringleading/lifestyle

he did get kicked off the team because of what he posted there (whereas the others just got suspended). all that stuff he posted there like those parties or hotel renting can be suspected because of benefits which then in turn becomes a lifestyle on the basis that he’s been doing it for a while as oppose to just a one-time thing

now again i dont care about morals, theres nothing wrong with throwing a party or something. just saying… this seemed like something he must’ve been doing for a long time and isnt really sorry until he got caught. not that i dont blame him.. i wouldnt care either but just making that point out there

by Nfpdawg on May 15, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I cannot say because I never met him

but I would assume TC and JR have extensively studied him and they will be up his butt to keep him in line. Would also be good if some of the team leaders (Eli and Tuck) keep him close for a while to make sure he does not screw up.

They drafted him knowing he was a work in progress, time to apply the effort.

All the Giants should play like Mark Bavaro.
Tom Quinn Must Go!
On second thought, let's not blame players or coaches, they are not responsible. The unsupportive fans are to blame.

by UnknownJintsFan on May 15, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know if they expected him to be available at 52...

but knowing how they love linemen I wouldn’t have been shocked if they took him at 19. They had to do background work but I’m not sure how extensive it would have been. I don’t think they studied Amukamara at all because it was thought he would be gone between 7 and 13…didn’t happen so they pounced.

sigh...

by nywins42 on May 15, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

This should put to rest the idea that Austin was some lazy, low-motor player at UNC

I don’t care about his twitter, I don’t care that he partied in college(duh what else is there to do in college?) I care that his coaching staff, AFTER the drama stuck by him and still does to this day. I don’t care about anyone’s impression of this kid other than Butch Davis and his UNC staff.

Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitudes...

by Major on May 15, 2011 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

This is good news for me.

I was (am) very skeptical when we picked him because of the scouting reports I had read that described his work ethic as “spotty.” Reading things like “he quits when losing an engagement with an offensive lineman”, or how he didn’t bring forth his best effort on every play, has made me really worry about him as a Giant.

I needed to hear this from his coaches at UNC. It eases my fears SOME. The cynic in me says of course thats what his coaches will say because they essentially have something to gain from talking up their programs players, but nonetheless, I am encouraged. He is a Giant now and I want that Dline greatness to continue….

Just get it done already...

by tommy d. on May 15, 2011 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

Being Honest

Of all the picks, this is the one I didn’t like. I say that because I have watched about every tape out there on him……. to be honest, I don’t see what so many are so excited about. Its clear that when he gets driven out of the play, he will often time quit on it. And he was routinely getting pushed around in alot of the tape I saw…. Also, its clear he plays very high which is trouble at that position. Add baggage to that, and I can;t find a real reason to get excited.

Will reserve judgement.

by dubsrub on May 15, 2011 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

Same here, ive also scouted some of his game not on youtube (ga tech, virginia tech) and he doesnt seem great

People keep saying hes top 15 talent but I don’t see it. I see a 2nd/3rd rounder. he flashes some nice ability but he plays high and can get driven out of holes. you also read reports about his motor/effort all throughout scouting reports.

if this were quinn or fairley, guys who dropped but are dominant on the field — id be happy. but in austin’s case, he was quite inconsistent and needs a lot of work on the field.

by Nfpdawg on May 16, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Other than recently Ndamukong Suh

there’s not a single college lineman that looks dominant on every play.

If you actually looked at Quinn or Fairley’s tape, you’d realize that Austin takes no more or less plays off than those guys. Its just something that happens in college football.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on May 16, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Where in that post did I say fairley or quinn play with a great motor. the reason why i didnt say it because it goes without say, everyone knows about fairley's issues

motor and dominance are two different things as im sure you know. what i said dominant i did not mean look great on every play. dominant meaning playing at a high level on the field, austin only shows flashes and needs loads of work in terms of his technique, discipline, and instincts. I don’t see a dominant player or top 15 pick, we got him probably where he should’ve gotten drafted.

by Nfpdawg on May 16, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

well that's what I'm saying...

everything you’re trying to label as a negative on Austin you can say about Quinn or Fairley…especially Fairley.

If Austin didn’t have this incident on his record, he probably goes ahead of Fairley. As an athlete he dwarfs Fairley. He might have underachieved a bit at UNC as compared to the hype coming out of HS (he was a top 3 DL by most ratings, #1 by many)

He also didn’t stand out as much as Fairley cuz he’s got a ton of NFL talent around him, like Quinn, Bruce Carter, Sturdivant, etc. Similar to our LBs production, tough to stand out and make plays what that Justin Tuck bully is doing it before you can blink.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on May 16, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

im trying to rationalize it as

although fairley and quinn both had a lot of concerns and question marks with motor/injuries/character/etc., they still went in the top 15 which in my opinion speaks about them on the field. same thing with jimmy smith. the fact that marvin austin dropped all the way to 52 for simply borrowing money just for a trip, i feel, sort of speaks about his film and play on the field as well.

i dont know how you can make those sweeping generalizations about austin going ahead of fairley and quinn if not for the suspension. i agree with you, austin is a feak. but based on his junior season tape, i dont think he gets drafted in the top 15. i remember mike mayock saying around east/west shrine week that without the suspension austin is a late 1st/early 2nd talent. i know for years mock drafts have had austin going in the top 15 for like 2-3 years now but a large part of that is because of his popularity and reputation

by Nfpdawg on May 16, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

however

i do believe in austin doesnt get suspended, played in his senior year, and made the necessary improvements in his motor, technique, discipline, and instincts, he’s a top 10 pick. but if he declared after his junior year, i absolutely don’t see that

by Nfpdawg on May 16, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

this is the problem of going strictly off the game tape

or at least the game tape that any one of us has. Fairley was a #1 overall pick just off the game highlights and the popularity and reputation that he had. He fell due to closer analysis and that he’s not as good an athlete as others like Marcel Dareus.

Austin showed enough in his three years at UNC to be a top 25 pick at worst. After the combine and team visits, should he not have had the incident its easy to see how he’d be a top 15 pick and go higher than Fairley. Fairley’s been known to be a douche also.

Mayock is wrong all the time too. He said that before he threw up 44 reps and ran a 4.8 at 310lbs.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on May 16, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I also believe that just like Fairley fell because of that reason

Marvin Austin fell with closer analysis that his technique, consistency, and instincts aren’t very good and he isn’t as dominant as his reputation/popularity he’s had since high school. He’s a freak athlete with great upside, but I think if he declares after his junior year he isn’t a top 15 pick. Maybe late 1st. I disagree that he’s shown enough, his senior year was supposed to the year he finally honed his craft, showed more consistency, and become the complete player to ensure a lock for the first round. As an athlete the kid is absolutely phenomenal and one of the best in the draft, but I don’t think that alone would have made him a top 25 pick at worst, especially when he didn’t really play at a top 25 pick aside from showing some flashes (although he did play with a ton of talent on that defensive line which had to hurt his stats i guess)

by Nfpdawg on May 16, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

almost comes off as a Warren Sapp story

A bad choice was basically given the perception of a murder trial when all he did was go on vacation. I remember being so broke in college that if someone asked me to go somewhere like the beach I wouldn’t have even thought on that one for a second.

I hope he comes out like Warren Sapp ready to bust heads – we need someone on the other side of Tuck to let that guy get off of the constant double teams.

Please get Phil Simms in the Hall of Fame

by The Curse on May 16, 2011 1:23 AM EDT reply actions

This kid

Has all the physical tools and athleticism to be a very dominant player. If Austin works hard every day and plays with a chip on his shoulder this kid could very well become the next Warren Sapp.

Why is Tom Quinn still here?

by costanza! on May 16, 2011 8:38 AM EDT reply actions