How did New York Giants GM do in his very first draft? Here is the breakdown!

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

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The post New York Giants 2007 Draft Under GM Jerry Reese first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Don’t be surprised if Jerry Reese drafts wide receivers with the 9th pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. I’ll give you a few reasons to chew on.

Anytime there is a dynamic playmaker up there and a guard, I’m taking a playmaker. – Jerry Reese.

It may be too tempting to pass on Alabama’s Amari Cooper or West Virginia’s Kevin White, who are both predicted as top 10 players. Yes we need help at OL & DL but adding another weapon to Beckham, Randle & Cruz has some fans drooling.

Now let’s look at the history of Jerry Reese’s tenure as General Manager. He has selected a total of 7 wide receivers. This would be the second highest drafted position behind linebacker which has 9. All of  the wide receivers selected have been drafted within the first 3 rounds.

Odell Beckham Jr.
2014 | 1st round | pick 12
Odell was the first New York Giants to win Offensive Rookie Of The Year with his amazing breakout season. Nice start with 91 catches and 12 TDS.

Rueben Randle
2012 | 2nd round | pick 63
Solid wide receiver who is evolving. At times inconsistent, but his role is always changing between primary and secondary wide receiver. His second year under offensive coordinator Ben Mcadoo’s system will be telling.

Jerrell Jernigan
2011 | 3rd round | pick 83
Show some bright spots in 2013 especially at the end of the season. Spent the majority of the season on injured reserve.

Hakeem Nicks
2009 | 1st round | pick 29
Was our premier Stud wide receiver with exceptionally strong hands, he commanded to double-team freeing up other members. He struggle his last two years with the Giants to stay healthy. Eventually he left in free agency to join the Indianapolis Colts.

Ramses Barden
2009 | 3rd round | pick 85
Jerry Reese was high on Ramses Barden and actually traded up in the draft to get him. Similar size and frame to Plaxico Burress but never panned out.

Mario Manningham
2008 | 3rd round | pick 95
Manningham caught 18 touchdown passes in 4 seasons with the Giants. He also left in free Agency but injuries mainly kept him on the 49ers PUP list.     Now he is mainly remembered for his sideline catch in Super Bowl XLVI.

Steve Smith
2007 | 2nd round | pick 51
Was Eli’s main target in 2009. He racked up 107 catches for 1220 yards and & 7 TDS becoming the first Giants receiver in history to break 90 catches in one season. One bad knee injury and one impulsive jump during free agency landed Smith with the Eagles and never returned to his old glory.   

In summary Jerry Reese drafts wide receivers, and he drafts them well. Now keeping them on the team or keeping them healthy is another story.

The post Jerry Reese Drafts Wide Receivers first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

Sometimes the grass just isn’t greener on the other side. This seems to be the case for some Ex Giants players . I understand that business is business and you only have a few shots of signing a big contract, but I wonder if any of them regret leaving for “greener” pastures.

To be honest this post is a bit biased. I would love Justin Tuck to retire as a Giant and take his place on our ring in honor. Sometimes it may prove better to take the home town discount. I won’t plead this case, I’ll have former Giants do it for me.

“I’ve talked to Justin and I told him he should try whatever he can to stay in New York,” Osi Umenyiora said. “Because he is New York.”

It hasn’t gone to swell for Osi after leaving New York for Atalanta. He tallied 7.5 sacks as the Falcons finished a disappointing 4-12. It is now rumored that the Falcons will cut Osi prior to march 11th to save $500,000 incentives.

In similar fashion RB Brandon Jacobs was released by the Giants in early March of 2011, just before he was due a $500,000 roster bonus. Both sides continued to try to reach a new agreement but could not find middle ground during negotiations. Jacobs later landed with San Francisco, where he was overlooked and lashed out at management, specifically Coach Harbaugh. Jacobs totaled seven yards in two games and was eventually cut.

Injuries to both running backs David Wilson and Andre Brown forged a reunion for Jacobs with Big Blue. “The Giants have given me a great opportunity. This is where I wanted to be. These are the coaches I want to play for and I wanted to come back with my teammates. This is the place I love most.”said Jacobs.

Want another example?

The Giants offered then stud slot receiver and Manning favorite Steve Smith a five-year, $35-million contract extension in 2010. Smith decided to play out his contract and test the free agent market. Smith lasted to mid-season and badly injured his knee. Instead of having the comfort of the deal the Giants offered, he was headed for a long summer of micro fracture surgery & rehab.

Smith and the Giants medical staff had different opinions on the progress of his rehab. Smith felt he was ready for week one and the Giants felt he should start the season on the PUP list (physically unable to perform). The Smith camp quickly signed with the Eagles for a one-year, $2 million deal. The Giants claimed they were never given a chance to counter offer. Smith suited up in green and started his season with the Eagles. The Giants fans were calling for GM Jerry Reese’s head. Reese’s only answer was a an un-drafted wide receiver named Victor Cruz & a Super Bowl win.

There are many other stories of ex Giants to never reclaim the glory. Kevin Boss, Mario Manningham, of course Plaxico Burress.. Those are stories for another day.

What are your thoughts?

The post The Grass Isn’t Always Greener For Ex New York Giants first appeared on Bleedbigblue.com.

A year after having surgery to repair a tear in his ACL, Adrian Peterson fell 8 yards short of breaking the season high rushing record set by Eric Dickerson. In the off-season, AP said he was looking to rush for over 2,500 yard in this coming season. Well, in 2009, Steve Smith was second in the league to Wes Welker in receptions with 107. He had 57 in the previous season in a limited roll and in 2010 he was on pace to break 100 receptions once again. That was until he was hampered by an injury, which lead to season ending microfracture knee surgery and a mosaicplasty procedure. After 2010, Smith was released by the Gmen and bounced around the league for the next three seasons going to the dark side with the Eagles, then Rams and finally going into retirement with the Bucs. Therein lays the coin flip of knee surgery for professional athletes, but the genius of the Giants’ front office.
Steve Smith was the slot receiver for a Giants WR heavy squad in 2008, which boasted the talents of Plaxico Burress (until he was all up in da club), Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss and a rookie Mario Manningham. When Toomer retired, Plaxico was locked up and the Giants were in disarray after a disappointing first round exit in the previous season there was a young, soft hands receiver to catch everything Eli threw his way. Smith was a godsend in 2009, leading a young core of receivers and giving the Big Blue faithful something to look forward to in the coming years. After his surgery in 2010, Giants fans were unsure of what would happen to Smith. A second year Hakeem Nicks had earned his stripes, Manningham had a couple years under his belt and for some reason Jerry Reese made the decision to pick up an undrafted free agent named Victor Cruz. Nobody, except for Mr. Reese, was sure how Smith would come back from his injury and if anyone could fill that hole. From my perspective, many fans were pissed about The Steve Smith Giants Saga, especially since he was shipped to the Eagles. But… In Reese We Trust. Cruz catches 82 balls his rookie season, Nicks adds 76 and Manningham finds himself on the way out because he’s the third wheel for the best WR duo in the NFL. Smith ends his career with only 25 catches after leaving the Giants.
There are a couple things to take away from this information. First, Steve Smith was a great guy who, without injury, could’ve been one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. I have nothing but good things to say about him and wish him the best. He was quoted as saying, “This was not an easy decision, but it was the best decision for me at this time.” So at a later time, if he feels better and is back to full strength and agility, maybe Giants fans will see Smith in Big Blue once again. Second, Jerry Reese is one of the best GM’s in the NFL. He has proven time and time again that he makes the right decisions no matter how much the fans may hate him at the time he makes them. Finally, Victor Cruz proves that there are diamonds in the rough everywhere you look and Mr. Reese knows where to find them. Obviously I want Cruz to come back and be dominant once again, but he has been concussion prone and is asking for more money than he should be offered. I have faith that the right decision will be made because as always, In Reese We Trust.

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