New York Giants News and Notes: Here Comes the Draft Edition

Good morning fellow Giants fans. It's hump day, and that means we get to look at our Hump Day calendar. There are just 21 weeks until the start of the 2012 NFL regular season. So hey, we're getting through the offseason okay. It helps, too, that the NFL Draft is just two weeks away. That sure feels like it's coming out of nowhere. I'm not here to talk about the draft this morning, but I wanted to point out that calendar-centric fact for now because it sure will be fun talking real football in a couple weeks. Meanwhile, what else is going out there this morning?

Giants free agent Jonathan Goff visits with Miami Dolphins | NJ.com
Giants free-agent linebacker Jonathan Goff visited with the Miami Dolphins today, according to Howard Balzer of 101Sports.com and Ben Volin of The Palm Beach Post. Goff and the Giants have been unable to strike a deal as he attempts to return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered just before the start of the 2011 regular season. Word is the Giants were trying to sign him to a short-term deal with compensation that didn't exactly thrill Goff, who also visited the Cleveland Browns recently.

Giants' defensive line thoughts - NFC East Blog - ESPN
That said, this is a spot -- defensive end -- where when the Giants lose a player, they notice it. Brandon Jacobs signs elsewhere? They can figure out running back. Mario Manningham? Ah, they'll find another No. 3 receiver. But defensive end, that's the Giants' bread and butter. And they just lost one that was on the field for about 40 percent of their defensive plays in 2011. Tollefson could spell Justin Tuck or Osi Umenyiora when those guys were hurt. He could move inside and play defensive tackle in those alignments the Giants like to run where they put as many pass rushers on the field as they can. He was a valuable piece, and they will, you can be sure, do something that's directed at replacing him.

That is an interesting take, but I'm not as concerned as this writer is about losing Tollefson. What do you guys think?

Bill Parcells unlikely to become Saints' interim head coach, reports claim | NJ.com
Bill Parcells is unlikely to become the New Orleans Saints' interim coach, according to multiple reports. Parcells prefers to remain retired and not replace his protégé and friend, Sean Payton, who will serve a season-long suspension for his role in New Orleans' bounty system, the reports said.

Where is the Ceiling for Victor Cruz? A Fan’s Take - Yahoo! Sports
Face it - undrafted rookies out of Massachusetts aren't supposed to post the type of numbers Victor Cruz did for the New York Giants last season. No matter how keen the pro scouts are in identifying talent, it would be pressing to find anyone who predicted an 82-1,536-9 (Rec-Yds-TDs) breakout season for the Giants wide receiver. So exactly where is the ceiling for Cruz?

Also interesting fodder for conversation. Victor has enormous potential, even when opposing teams game-plan for him.

NFL denies New Orleans Saints' suspension appeals | 7online.com
In addition to upholding Payton's suspension, which begins next Monday and runs through the Super Bowl - in New Orleans next season - Goodell also upheld suspensions of eight games for general manager Mickey Loomis and six games for assistant head coach Joe Vitt, along with a $500,000 fine for the franchise and the loss of second-round draft picks this year and next.

2012 NFL Free Agency: Reviewing the New York Giants - Niners Nation
What can I say? I was super bitter and upset about the NFC Championship Game. And well, I still am. That said, I may have been selling the team short. They do have a fairly deep roster with only a couple of holes to fill. This problem is only exacerbated by their lack of action in Free Agency, too. Traditionally, I don't think of the Giants as one of those teams to make huge Free Agency splashes (or, at least, I can't think of any huge recent signings - though I feel like I may be missing something. Tell me in the comments if I am). Also, the Giants are pretty close to have some cap issues. No big signings this time around in NY.

Interesting perspective from our sister site in the Bay area.

Witten Already Stoked About 2012 Potential
Witten made his first trip back to New York since that regular-season finale as part of last Tuesday's event for Nike to unveil the league's new uniforms. While the Cowboys' jersey has subtle changes, ones that will be felt more than seen, maybe it's also a symbol to the changes that need to be made to the entire team in order to get over the hump in 2012 and return to the playoffs. When asked about last year leaving a sour taste, Witten said it's unfortunately something the Cowboys knows all too well.

Cowlishaw: If Tony Romo is less than a Pro Bowler in 2012, Cowboys could start looking for QB competition | Dallas Cowboys News - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW
Dallas' overall talent has been overrated for years. The problem now is that the Giants and Eagles are better. The Redskins aren't, but in two or three years if RG3 develops, they could be. Romo turns 32 this month. I suspect if he has less than a Pro Bowl season in 2012, the Cowboys will start thinking about more serious competition than Kyle Orton.