New York Giants News, 7/31: Nat Berhe “Cool” After Concussion-Filled Season

When rookie free agent safety Jadar Johnson announced his retirement on Sunday, the statement from his agent made reference to Johnson valuing his health. We will never know if that was a reaction to the devastating results of a recently released study finding that 110 of 111 brains of former NFL players that were studied found signs of CTE.

Safety Nat Berhe suffered two concussions last season, missing nine games. He said Sunday he never thought about leaving the game.

“I don’t think I ever considered that as an option,” Berhe said. “Just was just thinking about football,”

What about the CTE study and the risks?

“The study – I don’t really want to get into all that. It is what it is,” Berhe said. “I think a lot of the times guys have been playing since six-seven years old. So, I mean, is your brain fully developed then? Who knows? I’m not a scientist.”

Berhe also missed the 2015 season with a calf injury, so it has been two trying seasons for the 26-year-old, a fifth-round pick by the Giants in 2014.

“I had a long offseason. Did a lot of soul-searching and I’m cool,” Berhe said. “It’s like the stock market. You can’t stay down for too long. Eventually, you know, you’ll come up. So, I’m not worried.”

Engram: Blocking Is Biggest Challenge

The biggest question about first-round pick Evan Engram has been whether or not he can handle the blocking duties that inevitably will come with being a tight end. He said Sunday that learning the blocking aspect is “the biggest thing on my plate right now.”

“I’m comfortable putting my face in there. There is a lot of technique stuff I’m trying to get down and working on,” Engram said. “It’s something I embrace. It’s something I know I can get down. There is a lot of technique, a lot of small things that go into being successful at it.”

Coach Ben McAdoo said Saturday that tight end is “one of the most challenging positions on the team to play and learn” because of the multitude of things required of players at that spot. Here is Engram’s take on that:

“Honestly, the offense in college, the tight end was by far the toughest position to learn so I was already kind of adjusted to that, being asked to do a lot,” Engram said. “But like I said with the blocking, this is a lot of different technique stuff that I have to learn that I didn’t really get to master and nearly get the reps in college. Tight ends are kind of the Swiss army knife, especially like ours, so there’s a lot we have to learn. But, there’s a lot of technique for us to learn so we can be successful in the things we have to do.”

Jonathan Casillas Praises B.J. Goodson

Perhaps the biggest question about the Giants’ defense is whether or not B.J. Goodson, who barely played as a rookie last season, can handle the responsibilities of a middle linebacker. Defensive captain Jonathan Casillas likes what he sees so far:

“He’s doing a really good job. The mike linebacker position is a very difficult position to play. And for a young guy to come in and basically be named the starter on a very good defense, with some really known and integral parts on the back end and the front end. For him to be the middle, which is the glue, the captain, the pilot of our defense, that says a lot. He’s been doing a really good job. I mean, he’s definitely had his mistakes. I’ve had my mistakes playing weak side linebacker. But I think he’s doing a really good job and as time progresses, I think we’re going to see him mind expand and also his game expand, as well.”

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Second-year Giants safety has one goal and a lot of competition | New York Post

“I think about that every night before I go to sleep,’’ Adams told The Post after practice Sunday. “There’s nothing like Sundays and being able to contribute to the team for the better. We have big goals as a team and to be able to contribute to that, it’s just a great feeling.

“I have goals, personal goals and team goals. [Starting] is definitely a goal.’’