Giants training camp, 8/31: Joe Judge — roster cuts “not a fun part of the job”

Joe Judge and the New York Giants know what time of year it is. With cut down day this Saturday, it’s the time when hard decisions are going to have to be made about players’ livelihoods, and no one looks forward to it.

“This time of year is tough on the players. It’s tough on the coaches as well,” said Giants’ rookie head coach Joe Judge. “You’ve got a lot of players right now wondering where they’re at ... we’re in the business of trying to keep as many good football players as we can.”

Judge is having to cut players for the first time.

“That’s the unfortunate part of the business, and that’s a reality for every coach and player in the NFL. It’s not an easy thing to do,” Judge said. “No one likes to sit there and have to tell a player that they’re going to have to move on from them at that point in time. It’s not a fun part of the job. It’s not something you enjoy.”

Transition time

Judge pointed out that this is a difficult time not only because of the looming roster cuts. The Giants are also trying to finish training camp, and beginning to turn their attention to preparations for their early-season games.

Judge called this a “tough transitional phase.”

“This is a time of year where we’re preparing for a lot of different scenarios, game-wise, roster-wise ... in a perfect world you keep as many of your players as you can every year. That’s just not the reality of it.”

Secondary depth

There have been rumblings, including here, about the Giants looking at adding veteran defensive backs like Prince Amukamara or Logan Ryan. Judge wanted to keep the focus on the players currently on the roster.

“We’ve got one more week right now to really look at these guys and evaluate them and see what kind of progress they can make,” he said.

Roster construction

Judge said that is is important when constructing a roster to be able to see not only what players are today, but to be able to project correctly what they might become.

“You can’t survive on pacifiers. You can’t have a guy out there just because he knows what to do right now and may have a general edge of somebody just based on some experience. Ultimately you have to see the upside of somebody and what you can develop him into,” Judge said.

“It’s important not to go ahead and build your entire roster based on where it is right now. It’s important to look long term. Where are they going to be Week 6, Week 8, Week 10. How is each individual going to progress and what do we think our unit os going to look like by the end of the year.”

Injury updates

Looks like the Giants might have to worry about Golden Tate and Blake Martinez.

Linebacker Jaquarius Landrews and tight end Rysen John also did not practice. Defensive back Montre Hartage was also apparently injured at practice. Hartage may have a quad injury. We will get you more on all of that when and if it becomes available.

On the field

Tuesday practice and media schedule

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Practice
Approx. 2:40 p.m. – Head Coach Joe Judge Available
Approx. 2:55 p.m. – Player Interviews