Saquon Barkley makes his long-awaited return this week, joining his teammates on the field for the first time since the devastating knee injury that ended his 2020 season after two games.

This is what the Giants want and need to happen, now rather than later, as hope remains that he is able to suit up and play in the season opener against the Broncos. That Sept. 12 game is still five weeks away, and Barkley and the Giants will use that time to determine how far his right knee has come and how much further it has to go before he is ready to carry the football and get hit and tackled in live action.

Barkley finally will be activated off the physically unable to perform list, a source told The Post, as the Giants ramp up practice this week in advance of Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Jets. Barkley will not play in that game, of course, and is not expected to play in the next two preseason games, either.

The Giants will not rush their star running back in any way, shape or form, acclimating him into individual drills until he shows he can handle more of a workload. The goal is to make sure Barkley, 24, does not experience any setbacks and that his progress, unhurried, remains steady.

“We’re going to have conversations on a daily basis about his rehab and conversations on a weekly basis at times on where we think he is coming up,’’ head coach Joe Judge said late last week. “In terms of the timetable, I’m not a doctor. I let the medical team tell me a guy is good to go and put him on the field, I know he’s good to go. 

“In terms of a player like Saquon and a timetable coming back, he’s making daily progress. I know it sounds like a broken record, but that’s important for us to see coming off an injury like this. You want to make sure that it’s not push forward and take a step back.’’

Barkley worked on a side field in the first two weeks of training camp, running and cutting and, at times, simulating what the other running backs were doing in practice, all under the supervision of the training and medical staff.  

Barkley went down early in the second quarter in Chicago on Sept. 20, suffering a torn right anterior cruciate ligament and also damage to his meniscus. After strengthening the area around the knee, Barkley underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the ACL and the partially-torn meniscus on Oct. 30. He was the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,307 yards, catching 91 passes and scoring 15 total touchdowns.  He missed three games with a high ankle sprain in 2019 and finished with 1,003 rushing yards.

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll see,” Barkley said on July 19, asked about his availability for the first regular season game.  “Whenever I’m able to get out there, make sure that I’m 110 percent not just for the safety and health of myself and my well-being, but just so I can go out there and compete at a high level, and show the world who Saquon is again.”

Saquon takes another step in that direction this week.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Of course not.

Garrett on Thursday, for the first time since he was hired last year as the Giants offensive coordinator, met with the media in person. His first season was all Zoom access because of COVID-19 protocols. He lauded Daniel Jones, took a little dig at those who did not like how little pre-snap motion he used in 2020 and certainly did not pull a Deion Sanders with a “Call me Coach’’ decree.

Here is what transpired:

As Garrett’s time came to an end, he said “Good to see you guys’’ and then bent down to pick up his practice notes from the ground. There was no real response from the media assembled around him, socially distanced.

Garrett straightened himself out and then repeated himself, a bit more forcefully: “Good to see you guys.’’ This was met by responses of “Likewise’’ and “Good to see you in person.’’

Garrett smiled and said “Yeah, we say ‘Good to see you, coach,’ that’s how we do it.’’ The tone was similar to a parent instructing his kid how to respond politely to another adult. Then he smiled and walked off.

Garrett was referring to how the interaction is with his players in meetings. He greets them, they greet him back and call him “Coach.’’

That’s it. Nothing much to see here.

WR Kenny Golladay continues to receive treatment for a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him off the field for 2-3 weeks. Coach Joe Judge did not offer any date for a return, saying he did not want to “create some kind of fabricated timetable for people in the public.’’ … TE Kyle Rudolph, coming off foot surgery, has taken much of his rehab inside after working outdoors earlier in camp. … G Shane Lemieux (knee) was able to participate in the slow-paced walk-through practice.

The Giants had two veteran players, OL Joe Looney and LB Todd Davis, retire this week, only days after signing with the team. If they opt to play again, there could be a place for them on the roster.

“In the brief time we had both of them, they both made strong impressions,’’ Judge said. “These are tough decisions on guys. As you get vets later in their career, they started training camp, it’s not uncommon for this to happen. Now, you don’t want it to happen, but you have to respect the decision each person makes for their family. I’d say in both these cases, not to speak for the players, but both of them had family situations that they had to attend to, and that was a large part of the decision.

“I think both guys could’ve helped us. We left the door open for both guys based on what may open up in the future.’’

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

At this point, it looks as if the hamstring injury that sent wide receiver Kenny Golladay walking off the field Tuesday before the end of practice is not a serious setback and should not keep him out of training camp action for an extended period of time.

The injury is more a tweak than a strain, according to a source. Golladay will be monitored and certainly will be held out for a bit as a precaution. Hamstring strains can keep a receiver out for weeks, sometimes more than a month, but that should not be the case with Golladay, who does have a history with this particular injury. He missed five games as a rookie with the Lions in 2017 with a strained hamstring and sat out the first two games last season with the same issue.

The Giants have not yet featured the deep passing game in training camp and Golladay has not made many eye-catching plays in his first six practices with his new team. He crossed over the middle Tuesday to haul in a short pass on the first play of a 7 on 7 drill and linebacker Tae Crowder arrived to knock the ball away, slightly impeding the progress of Golladay. The receiver was knocked to the grass, got back up and immediately reached to grab the back of his leg. 

Golladay signed a four-year deal worth $72 million on March 20. His addition, along with rookie first round pick Kadarius Toney, is supposed to trigger a rejuvenation of the passing attack. One week into camp, this has not materialized. 

Toney recently came off the COVID-19 list and Tuesday was the first time he took the field to participate in individual drills. Golladay got off to a slow start in the new offense and now will miss some time with a hamstring issue.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Paul Schwartz

Saquon Barkley faces obstacles in crucial return to Giants

Dave Gettleman's bold NFL Draft moves reveal his Giants plan

Giants beholden to risky offensive line strategy

Joe Judge was Giants' biggest asset in NFL free agency

Giants' Kenny Golladay visit has plenty riding on it

Nice going, Daniel Jones.

Now, never do that again.

Jones sticking his nose in amid a wild melee, winding up at the bottom of a very large pile of very large and overheated men shows the quarterback of the Giants has some guts.

“I’m part of the team,’’ Jones said Tuesday after, as they say, cooler heads prevailed. “Part of the team and part of the offense and we’re competing, so I don’t see myself separated from that.”

Whoa now, young fella. You are separated from that. Training camp fisticuffs are for meaty linemen and scrappy defensive backs swatting at lithe wide receivers. Jones, at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, is a good-sized dude. But at the bottom of a pile, with angry teammates yanking and pulling and stomping and shoving, a shoulder can get strained or a finger on a throwing hand can get sprained. Jones wears a “do-not-touch’’ red jersey on the practice field, but underneath all that humanity, all caution flags are null and void. It is every man for himself, and that man should not be the starting quarterback.

Near the end of the first full-padded practice of camp, safety Xavier McKinney hit running back Corey Clement too hard — defenders are supposed to “thud’’ the ball-carrier, not level him — sending Clement to the grass. Tight end Evan Engram did not appreciate this over-aggressiveness by the defense and shoved safety Jabrill Peppers to the ground. Safety Logan Ryan, witnessing all this, came up behind Engram and shoved him down. That is when players of all shapes and sizes joined in. Jones tried to play peacemaker and ended up with tons of pounds of Giants on top of him.

“Goll-lee. I love it,” Clement said. “At the same time, we don’t want to get our quarterback hurt. Pretty sure Daniel knows that as well. I hope he thinks twice before jumping back in there again.”

Did this earn Jones some added respect?

“Yeah, s–t,” Clement said. “That’s what you want to see.’’

Camp fireworks are a tale as old as time. But it was a bad look for Ryan to shove a teammate in the back. He is a team leader. Engram did not need to exacerbate the situation. He is one of the longest-tenured Giants. These were not long-shot rookies desperate to make a name for themselves. These are players head coach Joe Judge must lean on, a reason Judge was particularly incensed and demanded the entire team run the length of the field, up and back, drop down for push-ups, then run the field, again, spewing F-bomb after F-bomb while breaking several grammatical rules.

“It was a lot,’’ Ryan said. “I’m happy my kids weren’t at this practice.’’

Judge’s family was at this practice, and he greeted them after calming down, another day at the office.

Jones needs to learn from this. Eli Manning would have jumped into the middle of a karaoke set before he would have dove into a fracas in progress. He never missed a game, but he wasn’t going to risk getting bulldozed on a practice field in the summer.

“No, he was never in the pile,’’ Rich Seubert, a former Giants offensive lineman and Manning protector, told The Post. “I was usually at the bottom of the pile. I never noticed where Eli was.’’

Seubert, undrafted, undersized and largely unnoticed as a rookie in 2001, made the final roster, went on to start every game for the 2007 Super Bowl team and became one of the franchise’s legendary training camp brawlers. If there was a scrap, No. 69 was most likely the igniter.

“Keith Hamilton taught me how to fight in practice when I was a rookie and in the locker room he would tap me on the ass and say ‘Good job, rook,’’’ Seubert said.

Clement said it was “back to laughing and jokes’’ in the locker room immediately after the brawling. Seubert recalled “It never carried over — you’d sit down and have lunch with the guy you were trying to beat the s–t out of in practice.’’ He figures Jones gained some street cred from all this.

“Eli was tough too, but we never let Eli get in that situation,’’ Seubert said. “I’m sure the O-line is laughing and busting [Jones’] chops and I’m sure Daniel was told he better not ever end up at the bottom of the pile again.’’

Jones said the lesson learned is that “We’ve got to control our energy and our enthusiasm and wanting to compete.’’ He surmised “It’d probably be pretty surprising’’ if, after seeing Judge’s disgust, that such antics happen again.

There will be fights and altercations to come. When they arise, Daniel Jones should remain on the outskirts of the action. The Giants need him upright.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Something good

It was a quiet first week for WR Kenny Golladay, but the big-ticket free agent addition was more noticeable on Monday. He did not have many receptions in the 11-on-11 team periods, but he did leap about a mile (okay, that’s an exaggeration) into the air, completely stretching his 6-foot-4 frame, to haul in a Daniel Jones missile over the middle.

Something bad

All of a sudden, the entire defensive unit began jogging around the field, a sure sign one of the Joe Judge penalty laps was going down. Judge was not happy (putting it mildly) that the field goal defense unit had only 10 men on the field and sent everyone – defensive coaches included – for a run.

Caught my eye

We all know by now Judge is obsessed with special teams. We did not know he was an active participant. Judge kicked the ball off the tee in an onside kick recovery drill. He hit a knuckler that squirted out of the grasp of Jabrill Peppers, who dove and missed. Judge signaled for a first down for his side.

Medical report

There is going to be some catching up needed for rookie OLB Elerson Smith, the fourth round draft pick from Northern Iowa. Smith missed time in the spring and thus far in training camp has not done much. Judge said “a small setback’’ is keeping Smith working with the trainers and that he should be considered day-to-day for now.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Morris’ return had been in the works for the past week.

Morris, 32, is an interesting player to bring back, considering he was an unexpected signing to the practice squad last season after Saquon Barkley went down in Week 2 and Rod Smith was cut. Barkley started training camp this summer on the physically unable list following reconstructive knee surgery but is making steady progress, as his workload on side practice fields has increased in recent days.  There is still plenty of optimism he will be ready for the start of the season.

Morris is trying to make it into his 10th NFL season.  He played in nine games for the Giants in 2020, rushing for 238 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. He also caught one touchdown pass. Both of the touchdowns came in the same game, the 17-12 upset of the Seahawks in Seattle on Dec. 6.

Morris broke into the NFL with a flourish, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns for Washington in 2012. He cracked the 1,000-yard mark the next two seasons but never again attained his rookie totals. He has also played for the Cowboys, 49ers and Cardinals.

The addition of Morris adds more experienced depth to a backfield that included Devontae Booker, Corey Clement and rookie Gary Brightwell.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

The site of this practice — Newark, N.J. — was different, as the Giants held a community outreach program and worked in front of fans for the first time since the end of the 2019 season. The new player on site, Joe Looney, was signed earlier in the day and adds depth to a unit that could undergo even more change as training camp moves on.

Looney, 30, nearly became a member of the Giants last year, as there was an offer on the table when Looney was a free agent. He re-signed with the Cowboys, though, and ended up starting 12 games at center after the retirement of Travis Frederick.

With the Giants, Looney moves in as a backup to starting center Nick Gates — for now. It is certainly possible there are machinations to come on the offensive line and the presence of Looney gives the Giants more options. Could Gates move to a guard spot? Could Looney? Looney did make one start last season at right guard.

The Giants got a scare this past week when Shane Lemieu, the starting left guard, went down in practice with a knee injury and was carted off. It turned out to be nothing serious and Lemieux should be back soon. The incident does further magnify the need for quality depth across the board on the offensive line and Looney provides some of that, with 104 games played in the NFL, including 42 starts. He played all 1,076 snaps while starting all 16 games for the Cowboys in 2018. In his five years with the Cowboys, he played the first four with Jason Garrett as his head coach, Garrett is now in his second season as the Giants’ offensive coordinator. Garrett no doubt had good things to say about Looney a year ago, when the Giants almost signed him, and again this year, when they landed him.

Looney was a 2012 fourth round draft pick of the 49ers out of Wake Forest and he also played for the Titans. His arrival on the roster affects Jonotthan Harrison, a 29-year old backup center signed during the off-season who is currently on the physically unable to perform list.

Earlier in the day on Saturday, the Giants signed inside linebacker Todd Davis and wide receiver Damion Willis, as the roster shuffle continues.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

It is a knee issue for Lemieux, and he was undergoing further evaluation to determine the extent of the damage.

Just like that, the youth movement the Giants are going with on their offensive line could be in flux. Lemieux, 24, started the final nine games as a rookie last season, earning high marks from the coaching staff for his toughness and ability to block in the running game. The metrics on him as a pass blocker were poor, but the Giants felt strongly enough about Lemieux’s potential that Will Hernandez was moved to the right side to play right guard, opening up a permanent spot for Lemieux.

The Giants did not make any moves of great significance in the offseason to bolster their offensive line — they did not take an offensive lineman in the NFL Draft and they did not sign a starting-caliber player in free agency. They did sign Zach Fulton, 29, who has 90 NFL starts on his resume, and they also have Kenny Wiggins, 32, an eight-year veteran with 38 career starts. Wiggins was on the Giants’ practice squad late last season. There were additions as depth pieces.

Losing Lemieux would test the depth. He sat with his arms crossed, with no wraps or ice on his legs, as he was carted off the field on the second practice of training camp. He was replaced by Wiggins, who took the left guard spot with the starting unit for the next series of drills.

Lemieux is a fifth-round draft pick out of Oregon.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Benjamin might as well have kept on walking. The Giants released him later in the day. A source told The Post Benjamin’s weight was “an issue.’’

The 30-year-old was an extreme long shot to make the final roster. He has not played in the NFL since 2018 and was trying out at a new position, tight end. The Giants took a flier on Benjamin, signing him May 16 out of a rookie minicamp to a one-year deal worth $990,000.

Benjamin told NJ.com that he arrived at camp at 268 pounds and that Judge wanted him to weigh in at 251. Benjamin passed the conditioning test on Tuesday, but said Judge told him he was going to fine him for being overweight and that he could not practice on Wednesday.

“I just felt like from Day 1, once I stepped on the field, once I put on the colors, [Judge] never liked me,” Benjamin told NJ.com. “He didn’t even want me there.

“The day before practice, he didn’t bring all of this up. I just felt like the dude didn’t like me. Mr. Gettleman knew exactly what went down. Everybody in the building was telling me I looked great. I was feeling good.’’

As for Judge, Benjamin added: “He’s not a coach that can ever win a Super Bowl because he sits there and cusses all day. You can tell he’s one-sided about everything. He’s a know-it-all. That’s not how it’s supposed to work.’’

Benjamin caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie, but he missed the 2015 season after tearing his ACL and his career never fully recovered from that injury.

The Giants still have seven tight ends on the roster. One of them, Rysen John, was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Get ready.

Stay healthy.

What the Giants embark on this week is more endurance test than anything else, with Sept. 12 out there blinking in neon, a target date that is never out of mind.

The full squad will report Tuesday, and the first of 22 scheduled practices will kick off Wednesday. Every snap, movement, decision and gaffe in the coming days will be videoed, analyzed, discussed and corrected. Nothing will be dismissed as trivial. Joe Judge, heading into his second year as the head coach, will examine every workout session, assessing the talent, or lack thereof, on his roster.

All of it is important, but nothing supersedes the need to keep as many players as possible fit enough to take the field when the season finally starts in seven weeks against the Broncos at MetLife Stadium. Until then, the continued development of Daniel Jones, the recovery status of Saquon Barkley, the incorporation of newcomer veteran Kenny Golladay and rookie Kadarius Toney into the mix at wide receiver and the investigation of various edge rushers all will warrant time and effort. Nothing, though, will take precedence over getting to the finish line — or, more precisely, the season’s starting line — still standing.

Judge and his new staff did a good job of that in 2020, though rookie second-round pick Xavier McKinney, who was expected to play immediately at safety, went down late in training camp to a broken foot. That Barkley was lost in Week 2 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee was crushing for both Barkley and the Giants, but at least he got to the season. Getting hurt before the games even begin is about as bad as it gets.

One year ago, Judge, new on the job, was hit with swift (and silly) criticism — mainly from those nowhere near the vicinity of the Giants’ training facility — when word got out that he doled out penalty laps for mistakes (players and coaches had to jog around the field) and that he put his team through full-contact goal-line drills only one day in. Judge gave an early indication of how he would handle shots at him, stating, “We can’t go out there on a practice field and just sing ‘Kumbaya’ together.’’

Some were agog when Judge said, “We’ll pop his pads in a little bit in a controlled environment.” Then, when referring to how to best test Jones, Judge offered this sarcasm-laced rejoinder: “We’re just going to take him out back and wale on him for a while.’’

Judge stepped in last year amid unprecedented uncertainty. He was a 38-year-old, first-time head coach, having to deal with keeping his team as safe as possible amid a global pandemic. This time around, Judge is tasked with protecting a roster of (mostly) vaccinated players, once again dealing with situations that never made their way into the coaching manual.

The Giants went 6-10 in Judge’s debut season, missing out on the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year and for the eighth time in the past nine years. That the Giants were able to run off four straight wins and go 5-3 in the second half of the season gives reason for optimism. That they were alive for the NFC East title in Week 17 only means that their division was lousy.

More is expected of this group, a year into the systems put in by coordinators Jason Garrett (offense) and Patrick Graham (defense) and a year into Judge learning on the job.

“Look, I talk to the team all the time about expectations,’’ Judge said in the spring. “There’s a lot of expectations externally. We can’t do anything about that until we take care of the little things inside, so the expectations are there to improve at our job every day and put the team first.’’

Everything on the field should look more crisp, because the majority of the players are acclimated to Judge and his staff. So, too, should Jones appear more in command, a year immersed into Garrett’s playbook.

This will be an unusual camp for the Giants in that they will have no fans sitting in the bleachers ringing the practice field — heck, there won’t even be bleachers set up this year. Judge, looking to up the ante on competition, will take his team on two road trips for joint practices, the first to Berea, Ohio, in advance of the preseason game against the Browns, the second to Foxborough, Mass., to work out for two days with the Patriots before returning to face Bill Belichick’s team at MetLife Stadium.

“I’m a big fan of them,’’ Judge said of participating in joint practices. “I think it’s a great time in training camp to break the monotony, to get some competition against a friendly opponent.’’

Things will become decidedly less friendly on Sept. 12.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

The rookie wide receiver on Thursday was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced. Toney, in accordance with NFL protocols, is isolating and participating remotely in all meetings.

All rookies, quarterbacks and players rehabbing from injuries reported for camp on Wednesday. The full squad reports on Tuesday, with the first practice set for Wednesday of next week. So, it appears Toney will miss some time on the field early in camp.

It has been an eventful indoctrination for Toney. The Giants traded down from No. 11 with the Bears in the first round of the NFL draft to take Toney with the No. 20 overall pick. A shifty slot receiver, Toney starred in 2020 for Florida, catching 70 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns, ranking among the leaders in the nation at forcing missed tackles. Upon arrival with the Giants, he missed some time in rookie and minicamps, held out at times as a precaution, other times because he needed to adjust his footwear and later allowed to miss practice entirely to attend to a personal family situation.

Toney is expected to make an immediate impact on offense for the Giants, adding to a receiver corps that included Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Kenny Golladay, the Giant’s marquee free-agent signing.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Overview

This was a big problem in 2020, as the lack of a capable and consistent starter opposite James Bradberry caused season-long headaches for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. You can cover up weaknesses only so long before they bubble to the surface. Graham was unable to play as much man coverage as he prefers to use because he did not trust enough of his players at this spot, and Graham also could not utilize pressure up front as often as he wanted to because he was wary of how long his corners could hold up back there.

This group offers promise but there are really no sure things other than Bradberry, so plenty has to go right at this spot.

Personnel

James Bradberry, Adoree’ Jackson, Darnay Holmes, Aaron Robinson, Isaac Yiadom, Rodarius Williams, Sam Beal, Jarren Williams, Madre Harper, Chris Milton, Quincy Wilson.

Rundown

It is rare indeed when a high-priced free agent arrives and actually lives up to all the money, but that is what Bradberry did after breaking the bank on a three-year, $43.5 million deal, following four years with the Panthers. Bradberry rarely came off the field (he played 94 percent of the defensive snaps and showed great endurance) and the passer rating against him was 70.1, as he provided textbook coverage on some of the league’s top receivers. He heads into this season ranked No. 5 by Pro Football Focus among all outside cornerbacks.

Finding a running mate for him in the starting lineup was mission impossible in 2020 and the hope (and plan) is Jackson is the answer.

The 2017 first-round pick of the Titans was lured in with a three-year, $39 million contract, a deal that surprised many around the league who are not as high on him as the Giants. Gifted athletically and blessed with plenty of speed, Jackson played in only three games in 2020 because of a knee injury. He is only 25 as he embarks on his second NFL chapter as a key figure in the secondary.

Holmes as a rookie showed feistiness as a slot corner and is a willing student. Yiadom started 10 games last season and did not take ownership of the spot. Perhaps a more limited role suits him better. The coaching staff sees Robinson, a third-round pick from Central Florida, as versatile enough to play man or zone and he could be a factor as a rookie. Sam Beal, once projected to be a vital part of the secondary when he was taken in the third round of the 2018 supplemental draft, is more myth than anything else. He has not played much and recently pleaded guilty to two gun-related charges in Ohio. His place on the roster is tenuous, at best.

Jackson is one of the greatest risks on the roster and the payoff, or lack thereof, will determine much for this season. A team can never have enough corners and running short of them can sink any defense. The Giants are trending in the right direction at this spot.

Next up: Wide Receivers.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Paul Schwartz

Dave Gettleman's bold NFL Draft moves reveal his Giants plan

Giants beholden to risky offensive line strategy

Joe Judge was Giants' biggest asset in NFL free agency

Giants' Kenny Golladay visit has plenty riding on it

Jerry Reese finally getting well-deserved interest for second GM stint

Those tree-trunk quads are alive and well, and still massive in the most recent videos.

There is Saquon Barkley, stutter-stepping with those fast feet in the sand at the beach, with volleyball nets in the background. There is Barkley, working his legs and core muscles, splashing but certainly not frolicking in a pool. Any infiltration of doubt that might creep in about his return gets washed away with the sight of him working painstakingly to get right and get back.

The fate of the Giants in 2021 does not hinge on one specific person, but honing in on Barkley is not an unwise place to start. Consider this: Joe Judge and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, in their first season with the Giants, were given five quarters with Barkley, the centerpiece of the entire attack and the new face of the franchise, before he went down with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament on the first play of the second quarter of a Sept. 20 loss at Chicago. That is it. That is almost nothing.

It is almost easy to forget the hubbub surrounding Barkley when he was taken with the No. 2-overall pick in the 2018 draft then, remarkably, lived up to the hype throughout an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year debut season. That seems so long ago — for the Giants, for Barkley and for a league that endured the loss of one of its youngest and brightest stars.

When the Giants open up training camp July 27, do not expect Barkley to take a full load. He will be brought along slowly, and it is likely his impatience will show at times — as he thirsts to get back on the field, and the coaching and medical staffs refuse to immediately hydrate that desire.

Barkley had surgery Oct. 30, 40 days after going down with the injury, the delay in deference to a plan to reduce the swelling in the knee while also allowing Barkley to strengthen the knee to accelerate the post-surgery healing process. The procedure repaired the torn ACL and also his partially torn right meniscus.

The regular-season opener, Sept. 12 against the Broncos at MetLife Stadium, is 10 months and two weeks after Barkley’s surgery. That is exactly in the wheelhouse for the time frame for rehabilitating these injuries, and the Giants believe their 24-year old running back will be on the field for that opener.

Getting back and returning to form, for a running back, is not easy with this particular injury and far from guaranteed. But it certainly has been done before. But never without blood, sweat and tears along the way, as well as realistic expectations as the player is reacclimated to the violent world of football with a rebuilt knee.

“I think it’s mostly his change of direction you’ll be looking at, but it’s also how explosive he looks,’’ Tiki Barber, the Giants’ all-time leading rusher, told The Post. “One of the things I always remember about Saquon is when he puts his foot down and he’s ready to go he’s out the door. I think his explosion will be something to keep an eye on.’’

Barkley will look sculpted when he gets to training camp but, as he and the Giants have learned, that invulnerable-looking body must be protected. Adrian Peterson is the patron saint of all running backs coming back from ACL surgery — he went down late in the 2011 season and, eight months later, embarked on an overwhelming 2,097-yard rushing season to earn the NFL’s NFL’s MVP award. Peterson at the age of 36 ran for 604 yards in 2020 for the Lions.

Peterson, though, is a physical freak and an exception — an exception Barkley, another physical marvel, hopes to emulate. Jamaal Charles, and Knowshon Moreno put together 1,000-yard seasons after ACL tears and Frank Gore after two ACL tears in college at Miami compiled 16,000 rushing yards — third on the all-time NFL list — and played last season for the Jets at 38 years old.

Other running backs — Rashard Mendenhall, Ronnie Brown, Edgerrin James, Terrell Davis, Jamal Anderson — did not regain their full athletic gifts post-ACL surgery.

Will Barkley’s renowned speed and ability to escape any and all defenders be lessened in any way? Barber believes Barkley post-surgery will be slowed down, but not necessarily in terms of quickness and acceleration.

“It’s just a fundamental difference in your body, so I think it will slow him down and that will be a good thing,’’ Barber said. “Will he be as fast? I don’t know, it’s a good question, and I don’t know if it matters, to be honest with you. Being a running back is not about straightaway speed like a wide receiver. It’s more elusiveness and even if he does slow down, if he gets into the open field he’s still gonna be a guy who can take it the distance.’’

The waiting game continues for Barkley. But not for long.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Morgan, 30, agreed to a one-year deal with a base salary of $3.6 million, potentially up to $5.3 million, according to NFL Network.

This addition allows the Jets to move veteran George Fant out of the right tackle spot and into a backup or swing tackle role he is better suited to fill. With Moses and Mekhi Becton at the two tackle spots, the Jets have two massive bookends, although Moses (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) is not nearly as massive as Becton (6-foot-7, 364 pounds).

Moses, a 2014 third round pick out of Virginia, spent his first seven NFL seasons with Washington. He is an iron man, having started 97 of his 104 games, starting all 16 games the past six seasons. And it is not as if he is showing signs of slowing down. Moses was on the field for 98 percent of Washington’s offensive snaps in 2020.

Why did Washington release Morgan on May 20? The team signed veteran tackle Charles Leno in free agency and selected tackle Sam Cosmi out of Texas in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Washington tried to trade Moses before releasing him, a move that saved $7.75 million on the salary cap. Moses did not figure to last long on the open market. The Jets and Bears reportedly had the most interest in Moses.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Technically, Ebner is a free agent, as the Giants did not re-sign the special teams ace while he attempted to qualify for a second time to play for the national rugby sevens team. Ebner made that team in 2016 and competed in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Even though Ebner was not on the Giants’ roster, head coach Joe Judge said in May, “We fully intend for him to be a member of the Giants.’’

The reunion should be made official in plenty of time before the July 27 start of training camp.

“It pains me to announce my withdrawal from competing for a spot at the Tokyo Olympics with the USA Men’s Sevens,” Ebner posted on social media. “After the 2020 NFL season, I had an injury that required off-season surgery. While my recovery is on track for the next football season, unfortunately the time tables did not align with trials for the Games.’’

Ebner, 32, played eight seasons for the Patriots (Judge was his special teams coordinator) before coming to the Giants in 2020. As one of the team captains, he got on the field for 80 percent (332) of the special teams snaps and only 39 snaps on defense at safety.

“He’s a guy that’s very locked in and focused,’’ Judge said. “He’s a very important part of this team and we look forward to getting him back.’’

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Manning then added his special twist.

“For me, it’s only a Giant,” he said.

And, now, it’s another line for Manning: A Giant, again.

Manning on Monday made official his return to the only NFL franchise he ever played for, accepting a role with the team in business development, marketing and community and corporate relations — a non-football role, if you will. Manning will also collaborate with the Giants on original content development and fan engagement activities, including a lifestyle series to premiere this fall.

“After not being able to come back in the facility for a full year, to finally see my former teammates and the individuals I’ve spent the past 16 years with — like the trainers and equipment guys, video, scouting, management, owners — it’s incredibly exciting to be back,” Manning said. “Staying involved with this organization is very important to me. I love the organization, love the Giants and the fans, and so I want to do anything possible to help them out and be a part of it.”

After 16 years and two Super Bowl victories on his watch as the starting quarterback, it was readily apparent no one was ever again to don the No. 10 jersey he wore for his entire career. That number will officially be retired Sept. 26 during a halftime ceremony of the game against the Falcons at MetLife Stadium. Manning that day will also become the 43rd member of the Giants’ Ring of Honor.

Manning’s first NFL start, back in 2004, came against the Falcons, and his only home-field playoff victory also came against Atlanta.

“It’s a great honor and just an unbelievable feeling,” Manning said. “I don’t know what the emotions will be that day. I know they’ll be high, though. To have that feeling and that final goodbye, a true goodbye to the fans, and to thank them for supporting me during my 16 seasons here, it’s going to be special.’’

Fittingly, Manning, 40, signed his latest contract with the Giants with co-owner John Mara — Wellington’s son — standing nearby

“For 16 seasons, Eli represented and defined what it meant to be a Giant, and we are excited for him to join the business side of our front office,” Mara said. “Eli is one of the most beloved players in Giants history. We had a mutual interest in him returning to the organization and we’re thrilled to welcome him back.”

Manning spent the last year at home in New Jersey with his wife, Abby, and their four children — three daughters and one son. He coached three girls basketball teams, one softball team and attended lacrosse tournaments and swim meets watching his kids. This was his plan — to take some time away from the Giants to figure out what came next for him.

“I had a little break,’’ Manning said. “I think both sides needed a little parting. But I’m excited to team back up with the Giants and help out in any way they feel they need it.’’

It was time to get out of the house.

“The wife finally said, ‘All right, you gotta get back to work, you gotta get out of the house, you’re cramping my style a little bit,’ ’’ Manning said. “So, Abby’s making me get back into the office and do some real work.”

Manning played a Giants-record 236 regular-season games and never missed a game because of injury. His postseason runs after the 2007 and 2011 seasons culminated in two Super Bowl MVP awards and ensured he would forever be a Giants legend.

“We are proud Eli was our quarterback for so many years and now look forward to his next chapter as a Giant,” co-owner Steve Tisch said. “Eli is the ultimate team player and will be a huge addition to the organization as we continue to elevate and strengthen our business operation.”

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Holy smokes, Azeez has a shot to get him.

It was the final play of the first half and Blessed Trinity, a defending Georgia state championship team, was about to score on Marietta, Ojulari’s team. Elijah Green, a running back who later accepted an offer to play at North Carolina, broke free at midfield and was on his way to what looked like an inevitable 50-yard touchdown. Ojulari, sent in to rush the quarterback with the expectation of a pass play, was headed the wrong way. A full 20 yards behind the ball, he pivoted and gave chase, but no one had any real hopes.

“And Azeez caught him on the last play of the half at like the 5-yard line and tackled him, and we ended up winning the game by two points,’’ Richard Morgan, Marietta’s head coach, told The Post. “If Azeez doesn’t make that play, we don’t end up winning.’’

That was during the 2017 season. The clip of that play — Ojulari dragging down a future Division I running back, the son of former Jets safety Victor Green — is how Morgan welcomes in every new season, indoctrinating a fresh crop of Blue Devils by showing them the Ojulari Overtaking.

“To remind them,’’ Morgan said, “ ‘This is how we want you to play.’ ’’

How cool is that? Cooler than putting together a highlight-film of Ojulari’s sacks and disruptive defensive plays.

“Effort is a big part of the game,’’ Ojulari said. “Effort rewards you. You never betray your effort. You always keep that first, for sure.

“I feel like everyone can make a highlight. But showing something that’s different, showing how someone is different and showing them how much effort is important, you’re rewarded for effort.’’

Getting singled out as an example of the right way to do it has a way of happening to Ojulari. It is far too early in the relationship to determine how Giants head coach Joe Judge will come to view his 2021 second-round draft pick. If what’s past is prologue, the Giants will be grateful that after they traded down in the second round of the draft, from No. 42 to No. 50, Ojulari was there, waiting for them to call his name.

“A freaking steal,’’ Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads Scouting Services, said of Ojulari lasting until No. 50.

Ojulari’s 2020 season at Georgia thrust him into first-round consideration. He led the Bulldogs with 35 quarterback pressures, 11 more than any teammate. He led the powerhouse Southeastern Conference in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (12.5). Continuing his penchant for rising to the occasion, he came up with a sack on Mississippi State’s final offensive play last Nov. 21, preserving a 31-24 Georgia victory. He closed out his college career with three-sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a personal demolition of Cincinnati to earn Defensive Most Valuable Player honors for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

“The thing that separated Azeez from others was he’s pro-ready with his hands,’’ said Chris Pettit, the Giants’ director of college scouting. “He’s instinctive. The guy has the ability to make big plays in big spots. He’s ultra-competitive. He has good instincts.’’

So far, Ojulari is making a strong impression with the Giants. Defensive captain and inside linebacker Blake Martinez called the rookie lining up next to him “a freaky-looking player.’’ Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said Ojulari, like all rookies, needs to learn how to play with a lower pad level, but is thrilled he was on the board for the Giants.

Many standout linemen and linebackers can get away with playing too high in college, and must learn to get lower for better balance and stronger technique once they face stiffer competition in the NFL.

“I was excited to see him there, to be honest with you,’’ Graham said.

What the Giants cannot know just yet, what resides deeper, under the surface, is the way Ojulari sends his winning traits coursing through the bloodstream of a program.

“High character and toughness,’’ Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told The Post of Ojulari’s best traits. “I think when you start trying to build a defense — whether you’re in the NFL, college or high school — it starts with what kind of toughness do you have? When you rank tough players, Azeez is really high. He strikes well with contact. He never shies away. He doesn’t complain when you go full pads — he wants every part of it.’’

Morgan, after a highly successful run at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Va., was hired in 2016 to turn around the Marietta football program, which had not won a state title since 1967. He arrived that March and immediately began studying the roster, trying to glean anything he could as to what building block he would place as a foundation piece.

He studied the players he inherited and researched the off-the-field credentials and personalities of the youngsters he was tasked with guiding. He decided to reach out to a 16-year-old named Azeez Ojulari.

Morgan: “I went to Azeez and told him, ‘I’ve observed you, I’ve watched, and you’re going to be the face of the program. You’re going to be the guy we want everyone to emulate and be like, we want you to be the guy that sets the tone for the entire program.’ ”

Why him?

“He just had everything,’’ Morgan said. “He had the intangibles. When I came here, I’m trying to look around and figure out, who has it all? Here’s a kid, he gave everything he had in the weight room, his teachers loved him, the kids flocked to him. Everybody knew him and looked up to him. He interacted well with everybody in the school.

“Everything you saw about the kid, just that infectious smile and that work ethic, after about a month I was like, ‘That’s the guy.’ ’’

This is heady stuff for anyone, especially a high school sophomore, suddenly asked to accept a mantle of leadership he never before wore.

“I trusted him from his résumé, and I believed and trusted when he said that, I was like, ‘Yeah, if sees it in me, I definitely can make it happen, for sure,’ ” Ojulari said. “It was just great.’’

Morgan told Ojulari he reminded him of Josh Sweat, a defensive end he coached at Oscar Smith who went on to Florida State and now plays for the Eagles.

Ojulari was already a good player, but not a special one. He did not yet have a single college offer. Following his junior year, he had 20, then 30 — including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.

As a senior, Ojulari had 118 tackles (31 for loss) and 11 sacks as Marietta advanced to the GHSA 7A state playoffs, reaching the quarterfinals. During the postseason run, the Blue Devils experienced a spate of injuries on their offensive line. Desperate, Morgan asked Ojulari to fill in. Despite having never before played the position, Ojulari lined up at offensive tackle, switching from his No. 8 jersey to No. 51.

His younger brother, B.J., lined up at the other tackle spot, but at least he actually played both ways, offensive line and defensive end — he is now a defensive end at LSU. This was all-new to Azeez.

“At the time, I was just the best to put in that position to help the team,’’ Ojulari said. “We needed it badly. I did it, unselfishly.’’

The job: Protect the quarterback, Harrison Bailey, who is currently at Tennessee.

“I was strong, so nobody was getting around me. I get my hands on ’em it was over with,’’ Ojulari said, claiming he did not allow any sacks during the playoff run.

“You go check the film all you want, no sacks,’’ he said, laughing. “I think I did have a holding penalty. But the quarterback was clean, for sure. He knew he was good when I’m back there at O-line. He knows he’s straight.’’

A novice, 230-pound offensive tackle is not the standard course of operation, but it worked.

“Did a great job for us,’’ Morgan said. “He’s gonna do what you tell him to do, he’s gonna block the right guy and we were able to go on a nice playoff run, until he got hurt.’’

In the playoffs, Ojulari went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament but, thanks to a swift recovery from knee surgery, he was able to get in a few games in his first year at Georgia. Smart saw in Ojulari what Morgan saw in him. Ojulari was the first freshman to be named a game captain by Smart when he bestowed that honor on him against Tennessee.

“He’s a high character player off the field,’’ Smart said. “He is going to be an asset in the Giants’ locker room. He makes your whole team better, but he’s also very talented.”

It is the “asset in the Giants’ locker room’’ prediction that gets Ojulari geeked. It is what Morgan saw in him at Marietta. It is what Smart got from him at Georgia.

“Being there for my teammates, no matter what it is,’’ Ojulari said. “I’m just always going to be there, somebody you can count on and go to about anything. I’m cool with everyone, I’m a very chill, outgoing guy.’’

At the very least, Ojulari, with the Giants, will move in immediately on passing downs. Some scouts viewed him as the best natural pass rusher in the entire draft. If he shows he can handle an expanded role, it would not be shocking at all if he emerged, rather quickly, as a starting outside linebacker.

Those who have already been down the road with Ojulari are certain the combination of on-field and off-the-field will lead to a rewarding relationship for the Giants and this particular player.

“He’s just somebody you want to be around,’’ Morgan said. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anybody say anything negative around him. That’s important. Sometimes they forget what you say or what you do but people never forget how you make ’em feel. Azeez makes everyone feel special, that’s why he’s a great teammate.’’

And, if needed, he’ll chase down that guy for you.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

Well, put it this way: His presence in the secondary allows defensive coordinator Patrick Graham the freedom to do what he truly wants to do during games.

“You need to play man-to-man coverage in this league, period, point-blank,’’ Graham said, “and obviously six wins last year, we didn’t do enough on defense, so the hell with that. We are looking at all options — whether it’s the blitz more, blitz less, play less zone, play more man, we need a whole lot of options. Six wins is not going to cut it.’’

The Giants are going to play more man coverage in 2021, and Jackson is one of the main reasons why. He was signed to a three-year, $39 million contract, with $24.5 million in guaranteed money, and the Giants are banking on upside here. Jackson is just 25, entering his fifth NFL season but coming off a downer of a year with the Titans.

He was the 18th-overall pick in the 2017 draft because his time at USC convinced scouts he has enough size (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) and more than enough speed to be a difference-maker. He was ranked the 15th-best cornerback in the league in 2019 by Pro Football Focus but dropped down to tied for 77th in 2020, playing in just three games because of a knee injury in what was a lost season.

One of the players also ranked No. 77 was Isaac Yiadom, who started 10 games for the Giants last season. Yiadom remains on the roster but faces stiff competition to stay on it. Jackson has replaced him in the starting lineup, opposite James Bradberry.

“I came in with the mindset like I’m a rookie all over again,’’ Jackson said Thursday after the final practice of the three-day minicamp. “Just trying to prove myself, just trying to get respect from my peers. Obviously I played with some, some time had changed, things had changed and everything’s different when you go place to place. So I’m just trying to prove myself and show these guys that I’m willing to learn and play for the team and do everything to the best of my ability.’’

The tempo during this camp was not full-speed for the defense in team drills, but it is readily apparent Jackson is fleet afoot. Graham did wonders with a defense that struggled at the cornerback spot alongside Bradberry. With Jackson on board, the Giants believe they now have the firepower to deal with what high-octane offenses bring to the field.

“Adoree’, he’s fast, he’s athletic, he can tackle and he could get his hands on the ball,’’ Graham said. “You can’t have enough good DBs, because as you could see throughout the league, just take a look at the teams that would be [in] the Super Bowl — Tampa Bay, they were five or six deep at wide receiver plus they had tight ends and they are going to have another tight end coming back. So you have to be able to cover these guys.

“I know we didn’t play a ton of man last year, but we picked spots to play man. I don’t know what the recipe is going to be for this year yet. But I don’t want to be disrespectful of the guys that were here last year that aren’t here. I mean, Adoree’ brings another element.’’

Graham also feels Darnay Holmes, entering his second year, and rookie third-round pick Aaron Robinson also add that other element.

“Will we probably be in more man?’’ Graham said. “Possibly.’’

Bradberry, in his Giants debut season, showed he is worth his hefty price tag — he signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal — but was at times stretched too thin, as Graham was forced to adjust to cover up weaknesses elsewhere in the defensive backfield. The way Jackson can run, the Giants now have a corner who can play against speed receivers. Not that Bradberry cannot do that, but at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, he is a more physical defender.

“I mean, I think we were capable of playing man last year,’’ Bradberry said. “But of course in addition to having [Jackson’s] speed, that definitely gives you more upside and more versatility. You have the [Tyreek] Hills of the world, a fast guy, so match up with a fast guy gives you more versatility.

“Definitely when we’re playing those big guys, I would definitely like to match up with a physical guy on physical guy and fast guy on fast guy.’’

It is preferable to have too many players to juggle than not enough.

“It’s always good to have that problem,’’ Graham said.

It is certainly a new “problem’’ for the Giants to confront in their secondary.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

“I didn’t really come into it with any expectations to be honest, but as of right now, that’s my boy,’’ Golladay said Tuesday after a sweltering minicamp practice. “I can’t wait to just really work with him deeper in training camp and especially when the season starts.’’

Jones and Golladay hooked up several times during the session, with the defense on the field offering only mild push-back, in keeping with the non-contact theme of this three-day camp. There will be a far more aggressive stance from opposing defenses, and the Giants expect Golladay to earn every bit of the four-year, $72 million contract they put together to haul him in as a free agent.

“There’s enough evidence with Kenny that we are going to work it to use his strengths, and we plan on him having an impact,’’ coach Joe Judge said, “but that depends how he produces on a daily basis.’’

The daily grind includes Jones, entering his third NFL season — his first with a bona fide towering target to throw to. Golladay, 27, at 6-foot-4 can go up and make contested catches. In his four years with the Lions, he showed an ability and affinity for out-leaping smaller defensive backs. Long wingspan and considerable vertical leap are traits a quarterback can grow accustomed to having on his side.

Jones and Golladay are in the nascent stages of getting to know one-another. They worked together in Phoenix and also in Charlotte, N.C., during throwing sessions orchestrated by Jones. Already, some attributes Golladay possesses are plainly obvious.

“I think the second you stand next to him, you understand he’s a long guy, and that showed up on his tape before we got him here,’’ Judge said.

“Yeah, I mean, I think you could tell, yeah, that’s pretty easy I think to tell just by his stature, his size and length, his athleticism,’’ Jones said. “He’s a big target and had a lot of success in this league going up and catching balls over guys and winning those contested catches. So yeah, that’s something you could tell as soon as you get on the field.’’

This is all new for Golladay. He learned primarily from one quarterback, Matt Stafford, with the Lions, and the first time in a second NFL stop can be jarring for any player. Golladay seems like the type to not want or need it all right away. He appears comfortable familiarizing himself with his new surroundings one day at a time, one new teammate at a time.

“Just all the guys in the building,’’ Golladay said, “I pretty much have someone new that I haven’t seen every day just coming up and greeting me and making sure that I’m comfortable. That’s a great start for me, me just being a new guy and everyone in the building, including my teammates, making sure I got a spot out here, telling me about restaurants and just making me feel at home.’’

The big money, he insists, does not heap pressure on him because, he said, he is confident in what he can do on the field, in his work ethic and realizes Judge will be on him. He says he hopes offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will be on him, as well.

“This is just a new chapter in my life right now,’’ Golladay said. “I definitely feel like I have to go out there and prove to other people, including myself, it’s different for me. I got drafted to Detroit. Played all four years there. This is a whole different environment right now. So I’m just ready to accept the challenge and just ready to go to work.’’

Jones has observed his new receiver and an impression is already forming.

“You can tell he’s a true pro,’’ Jones said. “He understands offensive football. He’s still obviously learning our system but you can tell he’s got a good understanding of football and where to be, kind of timing and understanding concepts. He’s been fun to work with. Obviously his talent and skill level, you can tell as soon as you get on the field with him he’s a good player, smart player, and I’m excited to keep working with him.’’

Golladay in 47 games for the Lions had 183 receptions for 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Giants have Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton returning at wide receiver and took Kadarius Toney in the first round of the draft. There is plenty there, but no one stands out from the pack as highly as Golladay.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz

More than anything else Jim Fassel accomplished from the time he arrived in 1997 to his departure after the 2003 season, he succeeded magnificently in this: He got his players to play for him.

The upsetting news that Fassel died Monday night at the age of 71 was a cruel wakeup call to anyone who worked for, played for, wrote about or rooted for the Giants. Some called Fassel “Gentleman Jim’’ but he was tougher than that and he gave the Giants organization all he had for as long as he was allowed to do so.

Fassel suffered a heart attack and passed away under sedation at a local hospital near where he lived in Las Vegas. Fassel’s death was confirmed to the Los Angeles Times by his son, John, the Cowboys special teams coordinator.

For the record, Fassel was 58-53-1 with the Giants but that mundane ledger does not tell the tale of his tenure. He made an impression on general manager George Young during his two years (1991 and 1992) as the Giants offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, rising above the mess that was the regrettable Ray Handley regime. When it was clear Dan Reeves was not a good fit and the Giants were ready to move on after the 1996 season, Young hired Fassel, who helped resurrect Boomer Esiason out in the desert with the Cardinals.

Bespectacled and sort of bookish-looking, it was tempting to discount Fassel’s ability to inspire a room full of grizzled NFL types. He inherited a sickly quarterback situation — Dave Brown, Kent Graham and rookie Danny Kanell — and made it work.  Fassel went with Kanell down the stretch and a growing defense led by Michael Strahan steered the Giants to a 10-5-1 record and the NFC East title. Fassel was named NFL Coach of the Year in his first season, but his team blew a lead and lost to the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs.

On the day before Thanksgiving during the 2000 season, the Giants were 7-4 but had lost two straight games. Coming off seasons of 8-8 and 7-9, Fassel knew his job security hinged on getting his team — with strong-armed Kerry Collins now at quarterback — into the postseason. Fassel walked into a Wednesday press conference and, after planning this all out one night earlier, came up with a doozy of a playoff guarantee.

“This is a poker game, and I’m shoving my chips to the middle of the table,” Fassel said.  “I’m raising the ante, and anybody who wants in, get in. Anybody who wants out can get out. This team is going to the playoffs, OK? This team is going to the playoffs.”

Fassel’s Giants won their last five regular-season games to finish 12-4. They beat the hated Eagles 20-10 in a playoff game at Giants Stadium — Jason Sehorn’s ballet-like interception was the highlight — and in the NFC Championship Game thrashed the high-powered Vikings 41-0, allowing franchise patriarch Wellington Mara a glowing moment in a raucous postgame stadium address.

“This team was referred to as the worst team ever to win the home-field advantage in the National Football League,” Mara said as the crowd roared. “And today, on our field of painted mud, we proved we’re the worst team ever to win the NFC championship. In two weeks, we’re going to try to become the worst team ever to win the Super Bowl.”

That did not happen. Fassel’s Giants were overwhelmed by Ray Lewis and the Ravens’ superlative defense, losing 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa.

There would be one more memorable, unforgettable moment for Fassel. His offense was a dynamo in 2002 and soared to a 38-14 lead in San Francisco in what was developing into a playoff rout of the 49ers, but an epic collapse, low-lighted by a special teams fiasco (bad snap by Trey Junkin) produced a 39-38 loss. Fassel was on borrowed time after that and was fired after the Giants went 4-12 in 2003. He was replaced by Tom Coughlin.

Fassel with the Giants hired John Fox to run his defense and Sean Payton as a young assistant to work the offense, and both became excellent NFL head coaches.  During the 2001 season, Fassel rose to a difficult challenge after the entire New York City area was rocked by the terrorist attack that felled the World Trade Center, visiting Ground Zero and setting up a foundation to help the families of first responders.  

Fassel never got another NFL head coaching job and grew frustrated that the Giants did not deem him worthy of inclusion in their Ring of Honor.  His time with the Giants came after legendary Bill Parcells and before the legendary Coughlin, but Fassel gave the franchise some stunning moments.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Paul Schwartz