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Today marks the final Monday without New York Giants football for the 2013 season, as players report to the Timex Performance Center for training camp on Friday. The first practice will be held Saturday. [Full training camp schedule]
Truth be told, there isn't much in the ways of news right now as camp approaches. One topic of conversation continues to be the idea that free-agent fullback Vonta Leach could still become a Giant, so let's explore that a bit.
The New York Post reported over the weekend that the Giants have a standing offer on the table for Leach, an All-Pro each of the last three seasons. As we have figured all along, that offer is apparently one year at the veteran minimum.
I still don't believe that Leach will come to the Giants. Indications appear to be that incumbent fullback Henry Hynoski could return from May knee surgery early in the season, if not the Week 1 date he has targeted. I simply can't see Leach coming to a team where he could be a stop-gap until Hynoski is healthy. I can't see the Giants cutting Hynoski, probably the game's best young fullback, in favor of Leach. I can't see the Giants using two roster spots on fullbacks, since a fullback plays maybe 35-40 percent of offensive snaps.
The only way I see this happening is if all the optimism about an early Hynoski return is a bunch of hogwash and he's never activated from the PUP list where he is almost certain to begin training camp.
[CLARIFICATION: One thing I didn't have quite right here is that a play CAN remain on the PUP list for an entire season without being placed on IR. 'Kudos' to Inside Football's Pat Traina for setting me straight on that one.]
Whether Leach to the Giants happens or not, however, maybe there is one thing we can take away from the Giants' apparent continuing interest in the veteran fullback. I wrote Sunday that 2013 is an important season for the Giants' franchise, and I think the flirtation with Leach is something that verifies that the organization sees the same thing -- a short window of opportunity for the Giants as currently constructed.
Thus, if they can upgrade from Bear Pascoe at fullback for a few games to Leach they will try to do it. They have come up one game short too many times in recent seasons not to try. Even if it eventually leaves them with an awkward decision to make.