Giant Football Blog

Giants sign last draft pick

For the fifth straight year, the Giants have all of their rookies under contract before the start of training camp.

The team announced defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has signed his contract. ESPN is reporting the first-round pick received a five-year deal worth $20,050,000 with $11,629,807 guaranteed.

Pierre-Paul, a raw but talented pass rusher, will likely see limited playing time as a rookie but could be on the field in obvious passing situations. (Ledger)

Giants finally draft MLB in 4th round

Phillip Dillard says he’s at home in the center of the action, calling the shots, directing traffic. And if he can handle all that, the Giants may have found their middle linebacker.

The Giants waited until the third day of the NFL Draft to address a glaring need, and the selection yesterday of Dillard should not be viewed as a cure-all. But it can’t be ignored that Antonio Pierce wasn’t even drafted, so perhaps Dillard, picked in the fourth round, comes out of Nebraska as someone who eventually — and maybe immediately — can be Pierce’s replacement. Continue

Giants don't draft MLB

Giants general manager Jerry Reese has been saying all offseason he’s hopeful some of the linebackers on the team’s roster will step up as viable options to start in the middle.

After the first two days of the NFL Draft, those are still the only options the Giants have.

One day after missing out on Alabama’s Rolando McClain and selecting defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in the first round, the Giants picked two more defensive players: DT Linval Joseph in the second round and safety Chad Jones in the third round.

The Antonio Pierce-sized hole in the middle of their defense remains unfilled, though the team indicated they weren’t going to reach for a player just to fill it. Continue

Giants select DE Jason Pierre-Paul with 15th pick

The Giants watched Rolando McClain come off the board to the Raiders at No. 8 last night. Then, with the next pick, the Bills took C.J. Spiller.

At that point, it was about best value in their mind. And they believed that value was South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, whom they selected with the 15th overall pick.

Somewhere in Georgia, Osi Umenyiora might have be smiling. But somewhere in the Giants’ facility – at the post-pick press conference, to be exact – Jerry Reese was putting out the fire before it could spread.

“We’re not trading Osi,” the Giants’ general manager said. “You don’t even have to ask that question. I know that’s the question on everybody’s mind. … We’re excited about having the defensive ends we have.” Continue

Giants have Spiller's number

C.J. Spiller hadn't heard a word from the Giants throughout the pre-draft process. No workouts, no visits, no indication that they liked him at all.

Until they called him a few days ago to make sure they had the right cell-phone number in case they need to reach him Thursday night.

And they might because, according to multiple team sources, the Giants are enchanted with the Clemson running back whom many scouts believe is the most dynamic offensive player in this year's draft. He likely won't be there when the Giants make the 15th pick of the first round. But those sources said the Giants could consider trading up to get him if he escapes the Top 10 and if the price is right. Continue

Giants O-line getting long in the tooth

There is no doubt last season the Giants lost their way on defense, lost their identity and the physical nature to the way they used to stomp on opponents. But tucked into the retreat from toughness was a blatant and disturbing departure from smash-mouth offensive football.

The simple yet difficult formula of pounding away on the ground played such a huge role in the Super Bowl triumph and carried the Giants through most of the 2008 season. The power running game took a vacation last season and without that identity and production too much of a burden was placed on the right arm of Eli Manning. Continue

Who will start at MLB for Giants?

Despite their secondhalf swoon and late-season meltdown, the Giants do not possess a roster devoid of talent, and there are few glaring deficiencies. A case can be made that there is only one position where a first-round pick in this week’s NFL draft would have any realistic chance to start on Day 1.

That spot? Middle linebacker.

The loss, first to injury then the release of Antonio Pierce left a hole in the center of the defense, an absence that certainly contributed to the despicable way that side of the ball went in the tank down the stretch. The Giants allowed 40 or more points five times and in the last two games gave up a ghastly 85 points. Continue

MLB McClain to visit Giants

Rolando McClain, the top middle linebacker available in the NFL draft, will be making a visit to the Giants.

McClain said Tuesday he will meet with the Giants on April 12, just 10 days before the draft. The Giants have the 15th pick and need a new middle linebacker since they released Antonio Pierce in February.

McClain, a 6-3, 250-pounder out of Alabama, also plans to visit Jacksonville (10th) and Atlanta(19th) and just finished a trip to Miami (12th). Teams are allowed to visit with 30 prospects, plus an unlimited number of "local" players. (Daily News)