Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here are a few Giants-related headlines to get your Wednesday started.
John Mara discusses rules changes
Giants co-owner John Mara, a member of the NFL Rules Committee, sat down with Giants.com this week to discuss the league's rules changes for 2016. Perhaps the most controversial rule change for 2016 will be placing the ball at the 25-yard line after touchbacks on kickoffs rather than at the 20. Here is part of what Mara said about that change:
"The theory there was that the kickoff return remains the most dangerous play that we have in the game, has the highest rate of concussions," Mara said. "You see more and more returners bringing the ball out from eight or nine yards deep. The hope is that if they're catching the ball that deep in the end zone, knowing that they're going to automatically get it at the 25, maybe that would discourage them from coming out." ...
"We're not at the point where we want to take the kickoff out of the game completely, although we may be moving in that direction," Mara said. "One of the concerns is what do you do in a situation where you've scored late in the game and you're down by less than a touchdown, and it takes away the onside kick. As I say, you could very well see the kickoff eliminated at some point in time in the future, but I don't think we're at that point yet. It still does remain an exciting play, but it's also a dangerous play. Obviously concussions are on the top of our list in terms of our concerns for the game going forward."
Mara also noted that former Giants coach Tom Coughlin filled in on the committed this time around for Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher, saying Coughlin was "very helpful."
More headlines
Maybe he's not at Johnny Manziel levels of notoriety or crisis, but the life of former Giant wide receiver Preston Parker appears to be on a downward spiral. Parker was arrested on drug charges Monday for the second time this month.
Jordan Ranaan of NJ Advance Media has compiled his list of the 10 most likely targets for the Giants at No. 10 in the 2016 NFL Draft. Ranaan, trumpeting the fact that he correctly had Ereck Flowers at No. 1 on his list last season, has Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd in the top spot this time around.
If you are a Shaq Lawson guy, you will be interested in what Tony Pauline, writing at Walter Football, had to say about the Clemson defensive end:
I'm told the guy is a warrior; not only on game day, but on the practice field, and his motor is always on. He's someone teammates are drawn to, and the feeling is Lawson will be a major asset on game day, on the practice field and in the locker room.
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