Nice piece this morning from Ralph Vacchiano in the New York Daily News detaling the expectations the Giants have for their recent draft choices.
Here's the stuff from Ralph dealing with Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden, the two wide receivers whom the Giants are pinning their hopes on.
The Giants have some hopes that first-rounder Hakeem Nicks, who has drawn comparisons to Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, can make a push for a starting job this year. And though third-rounder Ramses Barden, out of Division I-AA Cal Poly, will likely begin a little further behind, Reese said he expects the 6-6 receiver to "contribute right away as a threat down in the red zone."
It's hard to undersell the importance of the two receivers, given the departures of last year's starters, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, and the Giants' inability to land (Braylon) Edwards or Anquan Boldin in a trade. The Giants' prospects for the 2009 season certainly would've been a lot clearer if they had been able to get one of those Pro Bowlers.
Beginning today, they'll get their first up-close look at what they got instead.
"I'm excited about getting them in here," Tom Coughlin said. "They've got to come in and practice and get themselves in a position where we think they can compete against these great players that they're going to face. That's why we drafted them. We drafted these players with a specific purpose and need in mind."
Let's just hope both of these guys avoide the Giants' Curse of the Rookie Receiver Quad Injury, and give themselves a chance to be productive players in 2009.