BigPete

I know there is dissatisfaction with our coaching staff. but a lot can be said for continuity as well. It is also worth remembering that every change is not necessarily an upgrade. I think Fewell will land finally land one of the Head Coaching jobs this year. I wouldn't be surprised if Gilbride landed in the mix as well (possibly with a college team). We are going to see a lot of turnover this year with teams like Detroit, Buffalo, San Diego, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Arizona, New York Jets and Philadelphia all but certain to fire their coaches and teams like Dallas, Carolina, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Oakland and Chicago possibilities for coaching changes I guess the real question is: if Fewell or Gilbride were to depart, who do you think the viable options are for offensive and defensive coordinators under Coughlin (and why)?

We could move to a 3-4 if we chose. Tuck can play DE similar to Darnell Dockett or Justin Smith. DE - Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, Barry Cofield, Rocky Bernard NT - Linval Joseph, ? OLB - Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Matthias Kiwanuka, Clint Sintim ILB - Jon Goff, Michael Boley, Chase Blackburn, Phillip Dillard, Gerris Wilkinson Looks to me like we have a very good core of players if we want to move to a 3-4, in fact the only position we really may need to upgrade is a backup NT (although Cofield and Canty can probably do ok).

Coughlin is a good coach, but I think this team needs a change to take it to the next level. I think we need an experienced Coach Cowher or Fisher would be very good, Gruden would be a close third. Fox and Kubiak could all be good options. I would add Charlie Weis in the mix, he has done well getting the KC offense on track despite limited talent. Russ Grim could also be decent. I guess a key area is whether we consider our offense or defense to be the biggest problems. I don't think Fewell is a good option, nor Gilbride this team needs a change of attitude (both could get head coaching gigs).

I actually like the pick up of Jamon Meredith, I think he could develop into a decent guard (if not tackle). here is what drew boylhart had on him before last year's draft http://thehuddlereport.com/Free/archive/2009DRAFT/PlayerProfiles/Jamon.Meredith.htm

I have mixed feelings about this news It is great attitude that Osi wants to play on, but I think perhaps he should look at getting it fixed now. I have no doubt that Osi would play to a decent standard, but I fear he won't be able to play to his full ability, it would be something like what Tuck, Jacobs, Bradshaw and Hedgecock faced last year. It may have been better to shut Osi down now and get him back over the latter part of the season (if possible), if not get him 100% healthy for next year. I suspect this could be a lingering injury that is going be an issue all year. I think I would rather have a healthy Tollefsen rather than carrying a wounded Osi all year (although even limited Osi is a much better player). But having said that, I do respect Osi's determination and fight. I am going to choose to believe that it isn't too major an issue - that it won't hurt Osi's performances too much this year and that Osi could return to somewhere near his best, but frankly I have serious reservations.

from http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/07/hip_surgery_recommended_for_gi.html

check out this article from espn http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5407144

Perhaps, but Hedgecock doesn't have great hands, he doesn't have great speed and you are realistically looking at a 5yd to 7yd play. He certainly isn't a big play threat. whereas Beckum is a legit weapon as a receiver who is a genuine big play threat. heck, I would take a 10yd+ pass every time plus it means defenses have another legitimate weapon to cover in the passing game.

Here are my thoughts on a solution to the current labour situation and a new collective bargaining agreement. There will be a solution to a new CBA, there is simply too much money at stake. I think the solution will be a slight increase in player percentage, combined with a 17 or 18 game season, a rookie salary cap and a fund for retired NFL players. Both the owners and players will see more money. There will need to be increases in the roster size, perhaps to 60 instead of 53. How it would work the 2009 Salary cap was $128m, if 2010 was the under the old CBA, there would have been a salary cap of $135m for 2010. Under the old CBA, the salary cap for 2011 would have been around $142m and the per team share for owners would have been around $96.7m. (I will use these numbers as the basis of my projections) Under the old system the 59.5% of the total projected league revenue for the upcoming year. If this changed the player's share to perhaps 60% with 0.5% set aside for various players funds. This would increased the salary cap to $143.2m and decreasing the owner's income to $94.2m. The players funds would be $1.2m per team ($38m total) Now if the league also increases the regular season by two games at the expense of two preseason games, it will likely increase revenue by around 1/8. The salary cap increases to $161m per team and the owners share of the income becomes $103m per team. The players fund would be $1.3m (for a total of $43m). Minimum NFL salaries would increase by 1/8 This solution would mean that 1. Players are better off ($161m salary cap per team instead of $142m under the old CBA). 2. Owners are better off ($106m per team instead of $96.7m under the old CBA). 3. There is a rookie salary cap, meaning the veterans get a fairer share of cap money. 4. There is provision for players (and former) players funds ($43m per year) 5. Fans get more meaningful football. 6. Team rosters increase to 60 players instead of 53 players to better manage the longer regular season. 7. Minimum NFL salaries would increase by 1/8

I think there is a lot of potential The front office is very high on Beckum, perhaps he could develop into a Dallas Clark or Chris Cooley style player. I think the front office would ideally prefer to use a higher ratio of 2 TE sets instead of using a traditional full back. It certainly opens up a lot more possibilities in the passing game. The key will be how well Beckum improves his blocking this offseason.

Perhaps, but we already had those guys before we brought in Chad Jones. Have you noticed that we have added a ton of safeties heading into camp, yet are relatively thin at CB? Heading into training camp our roster has just 6 CBs (Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Bruce Johnson, DJ Johnson, Courtney Brown) and we have 8 safeties (Antrell Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Deon Grant, Chad Jones, Michael Johnson, Shareff Rashad, Seth Williams, Michael Greco) I expect we will go with 10 DBs on the final 53 man roster - 5 corners and 5 safeties. I also think with the focus we have on safeties on the roster, Fewell intends on using more nickle packages using three safeties (which has been confirmed by Deon Grant in his early interviews). As far as depth at safety goes, I don't think the front office is going to rely on Phillips this season (while being hopeful). He is coming back from a serious injury and it is still early in the recovery stage. Setbacks are a very real possibility, also it may take time (perhaps 12 months) for him to get back to playing how he was before injury. I think it is more likely that the front office will take a 'wait and see' approach with Phillips, they will be cautiously optimistic, but aren't going to rush things. If Phillips is more likely to contribute over the back half of the season. Bear in mind that Phillips' injury was potentially career threatening as well, we don't know how well he will come back. It is extremely doubtful that Jones will play much of a role this season (it is still if whether he will be able to resume his career). Even in the best case scenario, it is going to be 6 weeks + a lot of rehab before he can even start running, let alone start playing. I expect Jones will be shut down for this season in the near future. I do think there is room for another safety (pretty much insurance for Phillips). As it stands we have 3 healthy safeties, we are only 1 injury away from Michael Johnson being a starter. I also think the front office would ideally like to upgrade over Johnson, particularly someone with good ball skills and play-making ability. I could see someone like Page being a good (and cheap) option. He could certainly compete for playing time.

If they need a roster spot, I thought they would have put Chad Jones on either IR or the NFI list

On friday the Giants waived QB Riley Skinner. Whilst that it is not too surprising that he was cut, I wonder what future move is in the works that requires us to free up a roster spot? The Giants recently waived 5 players to make room for the Rookie signings. Is there a potential move on the cards? either a signing of a free agent, or perhaps a trade. It is obvious that the Giants want to upgrade our kick returners, and with Chad Jones injury, the secondary could be another position we want to upgrade. The timing of this (a day after Jones injury) seems to hint to me there could be something happening with our DB depth. I guess the next question is what players are our there (or could be realistic trade options) that could fill either of these roles? I am inclined to think it is more likely to be a trade as there aren't too many free agents available who would be an upgrade over the guys we have (or we would already have signed them). Perhaps the Giants could be interested in someone like Chiefs safety Jarrad Page Page is an RFA (hasn't signed his 2nd round tender) and has requested to be traded. Page has skipped offseason practices and is also unlikely to make the Chiefs final roster (The chief have Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis as starters and John McGraw, Reshard Langford, and DaJuan Morgan for depth). Page is young (26) and coming off an average season last year (only played 5 games), but prior to that had 179 tackles, 10 int, 26 Pass Def, 4 Fumble Rec, 3 Forced Fumbles over 3 years. Page struggled last season before a torn calf muscle landed him on injured reserve prior to Week 7 of last season, but he was a play-maker in coverage in his first two years as a starter. It is also worth noting the Chiefs put a second round tender on him (worth $1.759m). Page could probably be available for a late round draft pick. With the uncertainty of how well Phillips will return from injury, safety depth is an issue (particularly as I think Fewell wants to use a lot of three safety sets). Page could add good young depth and also a valuable special teams role. Page didn't sign his tender by the deadline, which means he becomes an ERFA and the Chiefs can reduce his salary for 2010 from the tender amount to 110 percent of last year's base salary. It meanss if the Giants traded for Page, we could have him for a cheap 1 year deal (or maybe a cheap extension). He has played FS, but also has good size at 6'0", 225lbs. I think this is the kind of player Reese would consider trading for.

I think it is inevitable that this will be a problem down the track, it is just a matter of when. Even if Osi beats out Kiwanuka this year, there is still JPP waiting in the wings. Osi's attitude may be a reason we drafted JPP, the front office are looking at going in different directions sooner or later.

I suspect it depends on how you look at the comments by Osi. I think the beat writers are being cautious (rightly so) They are all saying that Osi is happy for now, but that he believes he is a better player than Kiwanuka and expects to be the starter. I think if you consider Osi's comments carefully there is a double-edged component to it. - If Osi isn't starting, and he believes he is playing well - that will be a big problem. Those comments about Kiwanuka's pedigree is just crap. No player should talk about a team mate like that. As others have said, it is time for Osi to shut up and prove on the field how good he is.