New York Giants news, 2/2: Sam Darnold — “amazing” if he became a Giant

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here are your Friday morning headlines.

Sam Darnold: ‘It would be amazing’ if Giants drafted me | New York Post
Asked how he would feel about being mentored by Manning as a New York Giant, Darnold said: “It would be amazing. If I do get drafted by New York and he was there, it’d be an amazing opportunity to get better.”

Ex-Giant Tiki Barber thinks Eli Manning has 'a couple good years left' | NJ.com

"I think it's the right move," Barber told NJ Advance Media on radio row at the Super Bowl. "There were so many things I could have pointed to last year like, 'This is the problem. This is the problem.' Never once was I saying, 'Eli is the problem.' I think he's got a couple of good years left in him. If they stay healthy - Odell (Beckham Jr.) was hurt for most of the year - and they get a couple of free-agent offensive lineman or draft someone, they can turn this thing quickly if they figure out how went from 11-5 to 3-13 last year."

Does Eli Apple have future in Giants locker room? 1 teammate's take on 'disappointing' 2017 | NJ.com

"There were some things going on on a personal level that I don't know about and I'm not going to speak on," [Devon] Kennard told the Afternoon Drive with Carlin, Maggie and Bart, "but I think he needs to come with a new attitude and a fresh start. He's a hell of a player, and I think he's going to play some really good ball. He needs to get back focused and on the right track."

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Odell Beckham Jr. tried to recruit LeGarrette Blount to Giants | Newsday
Blount, who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots last season, has a chance to win another after landing with the Eagles.

Blue feeling: Eagles' Duce Staley could follow Pat Shurmur to the Giants - Philly
As Andy Reid apostles, they have a long history together, and similar approaches to offense.

- Les Bowen, Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News

Bart Oates remembers a calm Bill Parcells leading up to Super Bowl XXV | Newsday
The former Giants’ center said he couldn’t speak on Parcells’ demeanor during the actual game.

Devon Kennard more enticed to return to Giants after coaching changes | Newsday

Kennard, appearing on Radio Row at Super Bowl LII, said he’s heard great things about head coach Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator James Bettcher.

“I know a lot of guys who play for the Cardinals from going back home and training with them,” Kennard, an Arizona native, told Newsday on Thursday. “They have great things to say about him, his defense, and what he can do. It’s multiple and he likes versatile linebackers. That sounds right up my alley.”

There is some speculation that Bettcher will employ more 3-4 schemes in his defenses.

“That’s very advantageous to my skillset,” said Kennard, who was listed as a starter on the Giants’ depth chart but rarely played more than half the defensive snaps due to sub packages in the 4-3 system.

Winners, losers of the Alex Smith trade: Kirk Cousins benefits - NFL.com
Gregg Rosenthal digests the Kansas City Chiefs' agreement to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, identifying winners (like Smith and Kirk Cousins) and losers.

NFL’s biggest nightmare: Catch/no-catch rule deciding Super Bowl - NY Daily News
It’s a game of survival. It just better not be a game of surviving the ground.

Super Bowl 2018: Here’s how the Patriots will beat the Eagles - SBNation.com
Retired NFL defensive end Stephen White has a track record of making uncannily accurate Super Bowl predictions. Here’s how this year’s game will unfold.

Giants will 'do right by' Odell Beckham, Victor Cruz thinks | What Cruz did with his 1st big check | NJ.com
Victor Cruz got a big contract from Giants before he was injured. Odell Beckham is due for one coming off injury. Cruz says Beckham wants 'to be a Giant for a long time.'

Three teams that could use RB Jeremy Hill after he announces departure from Bengals | NFL | Sporting News