Linebacker Jasper Brinkley and the New York Giants agreed to a new one year deal according to NFL’s Ian Rapport.

In football news, LB Jasper Brinkley has agreed to 1-year deal with the #Giants, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2016

Brinkley flourished after filling in for injured veteran linebacker Jon Beason netting 66 tackles, 4 forced fumbles and a sack.

Brinkley will play alongside fellow linebacker Keenan Robinson, who was also signed this off season.

The Giants seem committed to rebuilding the defense as this is their 6th consecutive defensive addition / re-signing this off-season.

The post Giants re-sign linebacker Jasper Brinkley. first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

The official news came out late this afternoon that LB Jon Beason announced his retirement.

Beason a three time Pro Bowl selection and the Giants defensive captain released the following statement via Giants.com

“I always tried to give my all and be competitive,” Beason said. “I wanted to go out and continue to play at a high level, giving my all. I was able to do that.”

“I was able to have some success and set the pace and break records – things I never even really paid attention to until after the fact,” Beason said. “I couldn’t have scripted a better story, coming in as a first-round pick and starting in my first NFL game and setting the club high in tackles, and then breaking it every other year that I played, the Pro Bowls, the All-Pro’s, pinching myself, getting the big contract based on what I had already done; being rewarded for all that was a great feeling. I know that I’m very, very fortunate to have that moment, to have those memories of a certain period of time where I was a big deal.
“The only thing I wish I could have done – I dreamt often of being on the first team to win a championship for the Carolina Panthers. To date, it hasn’t happened. To do something first, I thought was really special and for me to play for the last expansion team, instead of following a legacy of greatness with some of the storied franchises, to do it first was something that was always on my mind. I would say that with everything, even the injuries, the ups and downs of an NFL career, that’s my biggest regret. That’s the thing that looms darkest for me moving forward, knowing that the opportunity has passed me by. It’s something that I’ll have to live with.

Congratulations to Jon Beason, known for his leadership and is a fierce competitor.

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In the first major move of the 2016 offseason, the Giants have released LB Jon Beason, and G Geoff Schwartz (per Giants ESPN beat writer: Dan Graziano). It is also expected that the Giants will be releasing OT Will Beatty as the day progresses.

Sources also say the Giants are releasing LB Jon Beason today. Beason and Schwartz were 2 of team’s big 2014 free-agent signings.

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 10, 2016

In the beginning of the 2013 NFL season, the Giants traded a 7th Round Pick to the Carolina Panthers in order to get LB Jon Beason. When he was on the field, Beason played well, and was also a big-time leader for the team. Beason recorded 83 total tackles along with 1 interception during his 3 year stint with the Giants. The key factor in Beason’s release was his inability to stay healthy. He was off the field more than he was on the field, playing in just 21 games out of a possible 45 with the Giants. The LB hasn’t officially been released by Big Blue yet, so don’t be surprised if he decides to retire before the Giants get a chance to cut him.

Along with the expected release of Jon Beason, the Giants announced the release of G Geoff Schwartz, which definitely caught a few Giants fans off-guard. Schwartz was great when he played, but just like Jon Beason, he was unable to play during his 2 year span with the Giants. He was only on the field for 13 games out of a possible 32 games. Releasing Beason and Schwartz will give the Giants around $9 million more to spend in free agency.

Although nothing has been announced, many reporters have said that they expect the Giants to release OT Will Beatty by the end of the day. Will Beatty has spent his entire 7 years in the NFL with the Giants. Prior to this season, Will Beatty did not have any major injury problems, unlike Beason and Schwartz. Will Beatty was the ‘star’ of the Giants offensive line from 2012-2014. That being said, to associate the word ‘star’ with anyone who was on the Giants pathetic offensive line from 2012-2014 is just absurd. The reason for Beatty’s release is thanks to former teammate, and first round pick: Ereck Flowers. Although many NFL reporters and writers will say that Flowers had a bad season, which he did, Flowers showed potential to emerge into a great Left Tackle. Beatty’s position was Left Tackle, and he was certainly being paid like a Left Tackle. Scheduled to make over $18 million over the course of the next two years, the Giants knew he had to go. Left Tackles tend to make much more money than Right Tackles since they are responsible for the “Blind Side” for right handed quarterbacks, which Eli Manning is.

As others are reporting, Giants also are releasing OT Will Beatty today.

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 10, 2016

With the releases of Jon Beason, Geoff Schwartz, and Will Beatty, expect the Giants to be looking for a RG, RT, and a LB in both the NFL Draft and Free Agency.

Thanks to Will Beatty for a solid 7 year span with Big Blue, as well as Jon Beason’s outstanding leadership with the Giants.

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It’s week three and yes it’s a must win for the Giants. While many are close to giving up on the season not all hope is lost. Today we will bring both sides of this rivalry.  Covering the Redskins is Steve Shoup of Fanspeak.com (take a look at the amazing NFL Draft Simulator they put together).

 For The Redskins

For The Giants

1. The time is now.
Stats for teams that are 0-2 and looking to get into the playoffs are very bleak. ESPN dug up some damaging information, since 1990 teams that started 0-2 only have a 12% chance for a playoff berth. That is the bad news.

The good news is that the NFC East is wide open. The Dallas Cowboys are suffering through major injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. The Redskins are respectably 1-1 and show a solid run attack. Both the Eagles and the Giants share and 0-2 record and with just one win they are thrown back into the mix.

Since 1990, NFL teams that started — 2-0 made playoffs 63% of time 1-1 made playoffs 41% of time 0-2 made playoffs 12% of time — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 21, 2015

Don’t let the 0-2 start fool you, both games were close. One less penalty, fumble, drop, or meltdown and the GMen could be 2-0.

2. The return of Jon Beason
Giants vet middle linebacker Jon Beason will make his season debut in coach Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Benson who looked sharp in pre season was missed on some key plays over the past two games. His leadership and communication should help the Giants defense get off the field. The Giants have held up well defending the run with an average of 68 yards per game (3rd best in the NFL). Branson clogging up the middle will also close up some cheap dump off routes. The Redskins are bringing a stout running game but Giants are up for the task.

3. Eli and Odell put together a full game.Count on Eli Manning hooking up with Odell Beckham Jr. early and often. Minus the fumble and minus the meltdown Eli Manning has put together a solid play. He has yet to thrown an interception and is completing 61.8% of his passes.

Manning is looking for another target to open himself up in the passing game. After being slowed down by knee tendinitis Rueben Randle is eager to get involved.

“We’ve got to do a good job of getting Rueben involved some more, get him some catches,” Manning said Monday. “He’s got to be a weapon for us.”

Randle feels getting out there and getting into a groove is key to improved play.

“It’s just about me getting out there and playing fast,” Randle said. “That’s what I want to do. Hopefully this Thursday, I can get back into the groove and make some plays.”

The Giants will look to fire on all cylinders and take out the Redskins early. Hopefully they can hold on to the lead and enjoy the victory.

The post The Giants Look To Rebound Against Washington first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

As Brady, Belicheck and the Ball Boy “derail” the Super Bowl with “deflate gate” let’s focus on one of the true culprits that “derailed” the Giants 2014 season-injuries. The truth be told Big Blue led the NFL in players on injured reserve 20 and “man games lost” xover 100. Besides turnovers probably the last statistic a team wants to lead the league. The “big black & blue” were down big players for long stretches of time.

The “past is prologue”- and there are five Giants players to keep your eyes on big time for Big Blue to be big time in 2015. Victor Cruz, Jon Beason, Robert Ayers, Geoff Schwartz and Prince Amukamara, these guys are starters, game changers and veterans that the Giants expected to be big in 2014 and need going forward.

At the top of the list Victor Cruz, we all know what he can do for the Giants-change a season with 99 yard catch and run (run Forest run) against the Jets. Salsa his way to the end zone and keep the chains moving. Seriously he is an 80 receptions and 1,000 yard receiver yearly. When he tore his knee up in Philly the Giants were 3-2…they would not win another game for over a month.  Until “OBJ” would emerge- coincidence…I think not. Considering Cruz’s injury don’t expect him to be himself until game 8 in 2015. It takes these guys one calendar year to truly recover…see All-Star John Tavares of the Islanders.  But the visual of Cruz and OBJ on opposite sides has to be giving Big D, the Skins and the Birds nightmares.

Jon Beason could be the “beast of the east” for the defense and Steve Spagnoulo.  When this guy is healthy he is an absolute stopper in the middle. He can simply man up and guarantee 100 plus tackles a season. However, he just seems to be a constant member of the “tub club”. He needs a big 2015 season because he not getting younger and Giants will not wait much longer. Look for the Giants to draft a middle linebacker in the mid to late rounds of the draft in April.

Robert Ayers – credit to Jerry Reese for signing the hometown boy (Jersey City) last offseason. In 5 seasons Ayers is just coming into his prime and has shown tremendous consistency. He is the exactly the kind of defensive lineman a team like the Giant’s needs. He was just getting going when he went down against Jacksonville (the worst loss of the season). Ayers had pushed his way to 5 sacks in 12 games on a poor defense. Look for a big, big year in 2015.

Geoff Schwartz– such a disappointing season- brought in as free-agent in 2014 by Jerry Reese to be a big and I mean big lineman (6 foot 6, 340 pounds) and give Eli time…none of that happened. The Giants are his fourth team in 6 seasons previously with Carolina, Minnesota and Kansas City. All summer and first 10 games of the season fought injury problems. Finally got back in the line-up for two games and yet again was put on IR after the Jags game with an “ankle/tendon injury”. Needs a full season on the field – or will be his last in big city.

Prince Amukamara-the secondary was supposed to be the big strength for the Giants defense but it crashed and burned. Prince was having a solid season when he went down in week eight with 37 solo tackles, 3 interceptions and 11 blocked passes. This guy is the closest thing the Giants have to a “shut down” corner. I really like this guy a lot and so does Antrel Rolle. He is not afraid to tackle and never seems to be out of position. Look for Prince and the Revolution in the secondary next year!

Prediction time– Super Bowl Seattle 31- Patriots 28. The triple B’s “deflated” their own season. Besides Marshawn Lynch will be MVP with over 100 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.

Big Blue defense will rank in the top 1/3 in 2015…somewhere between 12^th and 8^th…wih Steve Spagnoulo as defensive coordinator.

All stats courtesy of Giants.com, NJ.com and Fox.com

The post Five Giants Players To Keep Your Eyes On first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Starting middle linebacker Jon Beason remains on schedule for the season opener against the Detroit Lions. Currently Beason is on the physically-unable-to-perform list (PUP List) recovering from a fracture of the sesamoid bone in his right foot and a ligament tear.

“I feel like I’m really close, but I have to go out and do it and I want to test it. That’s going to confirm it for me,” Beason said. “I feel pretty good. We’re just going through the progression. Today should be pretty aggressive.”

Beason hasn’t practiced with the team since the injury, but has been rehabbing on his own efforts. He has always maintained a season opener return since injuring the foot on June 12th. He has even flirted with the idea of returning for a preseason game.

“Going into it, to have the opportunity to play in the last few preseason games was really the goal,” he said. “Whether you do or you don’t, because that is not my decision, they might say ‘hey, it’s not worth risking it to go out and play against the Jets or the Patriots,’ but you have the opportunity and that is great.”

Its unlikely than Beason will see any preseason time as The Giants training staff do not want to rush a return and risk re-injuring his foot during the last preseason game.

“I don’t know if I need the practice. It’s good to kind of spin the wheels a little bit, get out there and oiled up. I would love to have a full training camp and four dress rehearsals, or five dress rehearsals, but unfortunately that’s not going to be the case,” Beason said. “Either way, I expect to go out and be myself and play well and help my team win.”

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