Football is back! Well kinda, sorta. At least the first glimmer that the 2015 NFL season will get here eventually is here. That is because veteran members of the New York Giants gather for the first time on Monday when offseason training activities (OTAs) begin at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Players were taking to social media over the weekend to talk about getting started preparing for a new season.
Can't wait to get around my teammates and start learning this new defense tomorrow!!! LETS GOO!! #GMEN
— Devon Kennard (@DevonKennard) April 20, 2015
Tonight feels like the night before you head back to school. Anxious to get back, see your friends and get after it! Go @Giants!
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) April 19, 2015
OTAs are voluntary for players and are divided into three phases and governed by strict rules in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Here is what is allowed in Phase One, which is the strength and conditioning phase.
Phase One activities shall be limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only. During Phase One, only full-time or part-time strength and conditioning coaches, who have no other coaching responsibilities with the Club, shall be allowed on the field; no other coaches shall be allowed on the field or to otherwise participate in or observe activities. No footballs shall be permitted to be used (only "dead ball" activities), except that quarterbacks may elect to throw to receivers provided they are not covered by any other player. Players cannot wear helmets.
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The Giants' best-known fan, 'License PLate Guy,' tweeted something Monday morning I have never seen before. A photo of current GM Jerry Reese as a player. Here it is:
OTA'S GIANTS football 2015. This guy has been around the game a long time let's trust what he does. #inreesewetrust pic.twitter.com/EpJJ1tpFI7
— LPG - NYG (@LicensePlateGuy) April 20, 2015
Pat Traina has a list of late-round sleepers in the 2015 draft class who would be fits for the Giants.
Jesse offered Georgia running Todd Gurley as a dark-horse candidate for the Giants at No. 9. SB Nation compares Gurley and Melvin Gordon, the other top running back in this draft class.