More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

New York Giants quarterback David Carr (8) throws a pass to Danny Ware during last month's mini-camp.

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Since I am still annoyed by the Giants quarterback group being ranked 17th by FOX Sports (which is, basically, a diss of David Carr) I thought I would go down the list of backups and see where Carr fits.

I am going to break these guys down into tiers, rather than rank them 1-32. I think that is pretty impossible.

The top tier.

• Jeff Garcia, Oakland -- This guy is not a superstar, but he is good enough that he shouldn't be stuck in Oakland backing up Jamarcus Russell.
• Derek Anderson/Brady Quinn, Cleveland -- Both of these guys should be starting somewhere.
  
• Jon Kitna, Cowboys -- I really hate to give Dallas credit, but this was a great move. If Tony Romo gets hurt Dallas actually has a real player they can turn to.
• Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City -- This guy was pretty good last season despite winning just one of 11 starts. Not a horrible safety net for Matt Cassel.
• Matt Leinart, Arizona -- On reputation alone. Only Kurt Warner's brilliance is keeping him on the bench.

Then, I believe there is a second tier. I think Carr goes in here. The others in that group include.

• Seneca Wallace, Seattle.
• Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh.
• BIlly Volek, Chargers.
• Chad Henne, Miami. This is based purely on potential, and what Bill Parcells apparently thinks of his future.
• Todd Collins, Washington. Terrific fill in for a game or two.
• Byron Leftwich, Tampa Bay. Always liked this guy's competitiveness.
• Sage Rosenfels/Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota. Putting them both here because you know who will be quarterbacking the Vikings this season.

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Good Morning Giants fans, and Happy July! It's almost time for training camp. In the meantime, here are some of the stories making news around the NFL:

• Looks like the NFL draft may be starting a little later next year.
• The Fifth Down has come up with what it thinks is a better alternative to decide Overtime in the NFL. Pretty interesting scenarios.
• Dante Stallworth had marijuana in his system when he ran over that guy and killed him in Miami. You remember, the one he got 30 days for.
• Pete Prisco says the Lions shouldn't waste any time getting Matt Stafford's career underway.
• Steve Wyche from NFL.com says that players attending the rookie symposium have plenty of recent events to learn from.
• Interesting article from the National Football Post on the path to becoming an agent.  
• The Packers have 15 players whose contracts will be up at the end of the season.

Just FYI, Blueshirt Banter Radio returns tonight at 7:30 PM, for a 90 minute show. We'll be talking about the Rangers,  the NHL Draft, the first day of free agency, and the big Scott Gomez trade. 

Have a very Happy and Safe Independence Day!

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

New York Yankees manager Brian Cashman, left, stands on the field with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo before the Yankees' baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium in New York, Tuesday.

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I love the New York Yankees, which you might know from my work over at Pinstripe Alley.

But, the photo at left from last night's Yankee game made my skin crawl.

Of course, if Dallas quarterback Tony Romo wants to spend his time going to Yankee games and playing golf with Tiger instead of working out, I should be OK with that.

[UPDATE: So, I am picking on Romo and Cashman. Here, though, is the real story for why Romo was at Yankee Stadium. Read the story. Can't pick on the man for that.]

Couple of quick notes on a very slow Wednesday morning.

• Giants' linebacker Danny Clark is running a camp for kids this summer, like many athletes do. But, this is hardly a traditional athlete-sponsored camp.

Danny Clark could have posed for a few photos, signed autographs and made everyone happy.

But the New York Giants linebacker and Hillcrest High School grad didn't do any of that this week at a camp he sponsored in his native Country Club Hills.

Clark instead organized discussions about sexually transmitted diseases with boys ages 12 to 18. He invited speakers to tell the girls that the way they dance at school functions doesn't give off a very ladylike vibe. He tried to show the kids that Flamin' Hot Cheetos aren't a good breakfast.

Not exactly jock stuff.

Good for Clark. It's nice to see athletes use their celebrity to try and make a real difference in people's lives.

• Eli Manning knows that he has to shoulder some of the responsibility for helping the Giants' young wide receivers in 2009.

"When you lose some veteran guys, Plaxico and Amani, guys who've been around, now it's a younger receiver corps there's more put on the quarterback. You got to make your players better."

To me, whether or not Eli can actually do that will actually determine if he is a very good quarterback or a great one.

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

New York Giants running back Andre Brown, left, runs past safety Sha'reff Rashad during rookie mini-camp.

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(From the Giants) -- Running back Andre Brown, the fourth-round selection from North Carolina State, today became the sixth 2009 draft choice – and the second in two days – to sign with the Giants. The other draft picks who have signed their contracts are the team’s two third-round picks, wide receiver Ramses Barden and tight end Travis Beckum, quarterback Rhett Bomar (fifth round) and cornerbacks DeAndre Wright a (sixth) and Stoney Woodson (seventh).

The only unsigned draft choices are wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, the first-round selection from North Carolina, and second-round picks Clint Sintim and William Beatty.

To clear space on the roster for Brown, the Giants waived rookie Alex Derenthal, a free agent from Temple.

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

New York Giants quarterbacks David Carr (8), Rhett Bomar (5), Eli Manning (10) and Andre Woodson (3) walk off the field after practice during a recent New York Giants' mini-camp session.

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FOX Sports recently came out with a ranking of the quarterback groups of all 32 NFL teams. FOX has listed the New York Giants group of Eli Manning, David Carr, Andre Woodson and Rhett Bomar 17th.

All I can say to this, are you serious? Or, how about, are you out of your friggin' mind?

Here is what FOX said about the Giants' quartet.

If former Super Bowl champion Eli Manning gets hurt for an extended period, watch the Giants' offense go into "three yards and a cloud of dust" mode. Somehow, former mega-draft bust David Carr has found a home as New York's backup — despite being scarred seemingly beyond repair from being a pinata in Houston for five seasons. Behind Carr are two youngsters sans snaps at this level, meaning Big Blue fans should offer armed escorts and bubble-wrap any time Eli steps outside his door.

I can shoot so many holes in the arguments for placing 16 groups ahead of the Giants' quarterbacks that it isn't even funny.

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More photos » by Gene Puskar - AP

David Tyree makes the most famous catch in New York Giants' history in Super Bowl 42.

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I haven't wanted to write this, though when I started my 'Spotlight' series on New York Giants' players I knew I would have to. I just don't see any way possible that Super Bowl 42 hero David Tyree can be a member of the 2009 team.

We know Tyree's story. Great special teams player early in his career, generally only playing as a wide receiver in emergencies when injuries left no one else available. He has just 54 pass receptions in a five-year career, including just four before making the two catches in Super Bowl 42 (a touchdown reception and the Harrison catch) that will forever cement him as a hero in Giants' lore.

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From the Giants.

The Giants have another draft choice in the fold.

The team today announced that it has signed Travis Beckum, the second of their two third-round selections in this year’s NFL Draft. Beckum, a 6-3, 239-pound tight end from Wisconsin, was the 100^th overall choice in the draft.

He is the fifth of the Giants’ nine draft choices to sign a contract, joining wide receiver Ramses Barden (the other third-round selection), quarterback Rhett Bomar (fifth round) and cornerbacks DeAndre Wright and Stoney Woodson, who were taken in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively.

To make room on the roster for Beckum, the Giants waived rookie Alex Field, a free agent defensive end from Virginia.