Collins, Apple Meet With Spagnuolo
A day after referring to Eli Apple as “a cancer,” Landon Collins has attempted to walk that back. While that might be difficult, the All-Pro Giants safety issued an apology (on Twitter) today and confirmed he did so in person in a meeting with Apple and Steve Spagnuolo. The interim HC confirmed the meeting, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter).
On Tuesday during a radio interview, Collins said Apple “needs to grow up.” Wednesday’s apology marks the latest chapter in a weeks-long saga involving the two defensive backs. Earlier this month, Collins said he’d talked to Apple — who has taken a step back this season — and told media the cornerback’s issues were mental and that he was dealing with “significant” personal struggles. Apple then denied Collins spoke with him, and the third-year safety — according to NJ.com — had to be restrained by teammates as he attempted to confront the second-year corner. Apple has not been suspended like Janoris Jenkins or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie were, but he’s been benched and reportedly nearly left the Giants’ facility because of a harsh film-room session earlier this season.
- Josh McDaniels remains linked to Patriots exec Nick Caserio regarding GM/HC arrangements, but Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports the New England OC could also be interested in pairing up with Louis Riddick as a GM. Riddick interviewed for the Giants’ GM job last week, although Dave Gettleman is viewed as the favorite. McDaniels and Caserio were a sought-after tandem last year, with the 49ers having shown interest in bringing them to the Bay Area.
- Davis Webb will rise to the Giants‘ No. 2 quarterback role and take Geno Smith‘s place as Eli Manning‘s backup, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It will be the first time Webb suits up as an NFLer. Smith will be inactive Sunday, and Webb could see time off the bench in the game under the format Ben McAdoo broached with Manning upon benching him earlier this year. Spagnuolo, however, said (via Schwartz, on Twitter) there are “no guarantees” the third-round rookie makes his NFL debut against the Redskins.
Eli Manning Wants To Stay With Giants
The Giants are guaranteed a top-three draft choice in 2018, and they could well be in position to land their next franchise quarterback — just as they did the last time they ended up in the top five of a draft.
However, Eli Manning still has two years remaining on his contract and was reinstated as the starter despite being benched this season. And the soon-to-be 37-year-old passer does not want to leave, despite the Giants being set to finish with either a 2-14 or 3-13 record and further away from a playoff run than some other teams with quarterback needs.
“This is what I love to do. I love playing football; I love playing quarterback, and I want to continue to do it for the Giants,” Manning said during a WFAN radio interview (via Tom Rock of Newsday). “This is the only team I ever wanted to play for and I don’t want to change.
“I do understand how this season has gone and new people [are] coming in. If they want to make a change, then we’ll go down that road.”
This follows John Mara‘s comments about wanting Manning to stay with the team. However, the owner did not guarantee that when asked about the subject earlier this month. Manning is due to carry a $22.2MM cap number in 2018, and he’s in line for a $5MM roster bonus on the third day of the ensuing league year.
But Manning does want to play a 15th NFL season, even if it’s not with New York. The Tom Coughlin-overseen Jaguars have been mentioned by GMs as the most obvious suitor in case the Giants want to make a change.
“If they decide to move on … I don’t feel I’m ready to retire,” Manning said (via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post). “I feel I can still play at a high level and compete and make plays and love what I’m doing. I think I still have good football in me. I don’t want to stop playing football. This is all I want to do. I don’t have a backup plan; I don’t have something I’m looking forward to doing when this is done.”
Manning staying could well mean he’s the gatekeeper in front of Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold, should the Pac-12 quarterbacks declare for the draft. And that’s a situation from which he won’t shy away, he said. Manning was not given the Giants’ starting job in Week 1 of his first season; Kurt Warner began the 2004 season as the starter before Manning took over midseason and began his historic start streak.
“Whether they think Davis Webb is the quarterback or they get a quarterback and there’s competition, I can compete,” he said. “I don’t mind competition. I think that’s always part of it; you’re trying to compete for the starting job and get better. I do want to play.
“I don’t know how many more years I do have but I do think I can play at a high level and while I can, I want to be out there.”
Giants Move LB B.J. Goodson To IR
The Giants now have 22 players on IR after making the decision to place linebacker B.J. Goodson on the season-ending injured list Wednesday, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv tweets.
Goodson’s been Big Blue’s starter at middle linebacker all season, but he’s only been available for seven games due to persistent leg injuries. An ankle malady will end his season. The Giants promoted wide receiver Marquis Bundy from their practice squad to fill the roster spot.
A fourth-round pick in 2016, Goodson began the season with an 18-tackle performance against the Cowboys. But he missed the next two games due to injury, and health troubles stuck with the Clemson product this season. He played in 15 games as a rookie, but this marked his first season as a starter. Goodson finished with 53 tackles this season.
The previous Giants regime was not big on investing in linebackers, so it will be interesting if the next one places a greater emphasis on this position. Goodson has two years remaining on his rookie deal and despite a malady-marred year figures to enter the offseason in the mix for a starting job come 2018.
Collins Calls Eli Apple A “Cancer”
During an interview with ESPN Radio New York on Tuesday, Giants safety Landon Collins didn’t mince words about 2016 first-round pick Eli Apple when asked what changes he would make to the team’s secondary next season. 
“There’s one corner that … he needs to grow up, and we all know who that is,” Collins said. “That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. The other two guys, [Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie] and [Janoris Jenkins], I love those guys. They play hard, they love what they do. But that first pick, I don’t think … he’s a cancer.”
There is little doubt the corner in question is Apple, who has rubbed teammates the wrong way with his effor. In November, the cornerback nearly walked out of the Giants facility because he received criticism for his play vs. San Francisco. Later, Collins told reporters he had discussions with Apple about improving his play, which Apple later denied to the press.
Apple still has two more years fully guaranteed on his contract, but when the team’s two-time Pro Bowl safety and leader in the clubhouse wants you gone, it’s hard to see a scenario in which Apple can return to the team. Both Jenkins and Rodgers-Cromartie are candidates for release or trade once the team hires a new general manager and head coach.
Apple has played in 11 games this season with New York, registering 49 tackles and eight passes defensed.
Giants GM Search Likely To Continue Into 2018
The Giants have been busy this week trying to interview candidates for their vacant general manager position. However, while the team has made some progress in being able to meet face-to-face with some potential hires, sources in and around the team still expect their search to last into the new year, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Former general manager Jerry Reese had been in control of the team’s football operations since he succeeded Ernie Accorsi in January of 2007. Since this is a major change, the news isn’t a surprise given that owner John Mara‘s decision will shape the direction of the franchise for many years to come.
The team has already interviewed internal candidates, including Vice President of Player Evaluation Marc Ross and Assistant General Manager Kevin Abrams. Mara has also talked to former Panthers executive Dave Gettleman, who was the main architect of the Panthers 2015-16 Super Bowl run. In addition, the Giants spoken with ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, who brings experience as the Director of Player Personnel for both the Eagles and Redskins after he was finished playing.
Chief among the responsibilities of the new general manager will be figuring out who will be the team’s next head coach after ownership relieved Ben McAdoo of his duties during the year. Current interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo may get an interview, but the team is likely to look outside the building given how bad the 2017 season has gone for all involved.
Apart from the head coach search, the new executive must decide whether to move on from franchise signal caller Eli Manning. While the two-time Super Bowl winner does have a storied history with the organization, he’ll be 37 years old next season and is clearly on the decline. Plus with a high first round pick, it would be wise for the new general manager to snatch up the team’s next franchise quarterback early in the draft.
Of course, there will be other challenges like negotiating Odell Beckham Jr.’s extension and fixing a broken offensive line. But it seems like it will take at least a few more weeks to determine what person ownership wants to be leading the charge in attacking these problems in the months to come.
Eli Manning To Start In Week 17
There’s been widespread speculation regarding the future of Eli Manning with the Giants since he was benched by then head coach Ben McAdoo at the beginning of this month. However, Manning has started every game since McAdoo was fired and will be behind center come the start of the Giants’ Week 17 matchup against Washington, according to James Kratch of NJ Advanced Media (Twitter link).
Interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo confirmed the news after the team’s 23-0 loss to the Cardinals. It’s not a surprising development given that the team would likely want to avoid a second go around in benching Manning.
However, it looks likely that this will be the last time that Giants fans will be able to watch their two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback in a Giants uniform. New York has assured themselves a top three pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and have rumored to be interested in college signal callers, Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold.
Manning will be 37 years old next season, and while he’s still under contract for another two years, the Giants will still have the opportunity to cut or trade him early this offseason.
The former number one overall pick’s stats have taken a dive this year, especially with him missing the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for a long portion of the season. In 14 games in 2017, Manning has thrown for 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, which is a major step back from 2014-2015 when he tossed over 30 scores in each of those campaigns.
Giants’ Landon Collins Fractures Forearm
The Giants season has certainly not gone the way they had hoped coming off a playoff appearance about a year ago. With just one week remaining before their tumultuous 2017 campaign comes to a close, the team has learned it’s lost another star player to injury. All-pro safety Landon Collins left today’s game vs. the Cardinals, with the team now learning that he is out for the season with a fractured forearm, reports Jordan Schwartz of the New York Post (Twitter link).
While the injury is not ideal for a franchise that intends to try and compete next season, Collins will now have a full offseason to recover from the injury. At 23 years old, the former 2015 second round pick has already established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL. Collins produced breakout numbers a year ago, which led him to a First Team All-pro selection in just his second year in the NFL.
Even in a down year for his franchise, Collins continued his quality play in 2017. Through 14 weeks, he ranked as the eighth best player at his position, according to the metrics at Pro Football Focus. In 15 games this season, Collins collected 77 total tackles with two forced fumbles and another two interceptions. The Giants have Andrew Adams, Nat Berhe and Ryan Murphy on the bench to fill-in for Collins in the team’s 2017 season finale vs. Washington.
UCLA QB Josh Rosen Prefers Giants To Browns
One of the top quarterback prospects might stay in college if he’s forced to play for the Browns. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports that UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen prefers to play for the Giants over the Browns, and the prospect will be hesitant to come out in next year’s NFL draft “if Cleveland planned on taking him with the top overall pick.”
Rosen has reportedly expressed concern about landing in Cleveland, and he’s stated a desire to land with a more stable organization. Still, if the UCLA signal-caller is in the draft, Schefter notes that Browns general manager John Dorsey wouldn’t be dissuaded “from taking the player he believes is the best fit for his franchise.” Rosen will ultimately sit down with his parents following the Cactus Bowl to make a decision about his future, and Cleveland’s spot atop the draft could ultimately influence his decision. The Browns can clinch the top pick in the draft with a loss against the Bears today.
Rosen, a junior, is having another productive season in 2017. The quarterback has completed 60-percent of his passes for 3,670 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The prospect sits atop several draft boards, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper projecting him to be selected fourth overall and Todd McShay projecting him to go first overall.
Giants Notes: Abrams, Apple, Shepard, JPP
The Giants interviewed interim general manager Kevin Abrams for the team’s full-time position yesterday, lengthening a list of candidates that already includes Giants VP of player personnel Marc Ross, former Giants executive Dave Gettleman and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick. While Abrams had spent the majority of his career as a salary cap guru, he’s focused on proving that he can also build a winning roster.
“My role has been more than just doing the cap stuff,” Abrams told Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.TV. “I wasn’t raised to be a cap guy. It was just the opportunity that was given to me and I was grateful of the opportunity. And the Giants do a great job with everyone — not just me, but we’re all encouraged to grow professionally. And like everyone else, I was getting a lot of opportunities to do that and I tried to take advantage of them whenever I could. A lot of that included being involved with our personnel departments.”
While Giants owner John Mara may be seeking major “wholesale changes,” sources told Vacchiano that Abrams is a serious candidate for the gig. The writer notes that the organization could choose to pair the interim general manager with someone like Gettleman.
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the Giants organization…
- While many attributed cornerback Eli Apple‘s tumultuous season to immaturity, Dan Duggan of NJ.com explored the true root of the player’s issues. Ultimately, the reporter attributed the problems to “strife in Apple’s family,” particularly a falling out with his stepfather, Tim. “One of the biggest reasons Eli is declining so much this year as opposed to last year is (Tim’s absence),” Apple’s half-brother Dane Blackson said. “I know everyone always talks about the fame and all of the attention and how all of that can go to your head. But you have to imagine that from middle school to the NFL, Tim was there. Tim made this whole thing happen. Tim didn’t miss a game. Whenever Eli looked for that support, that was always there. Now, this year whenever he goes to look for support, it’s not real, it’s not genuine.” Duggan dug more in Apple’s family issues in a must-read article.
- While the 2017 season hasn’t gone as planned for the Giants, one player has emerged as a major piece of the organization’s future. Zach Braziller of The New York Post writes that wideout Sterling Shepard has emerged as a “a future organizational linchpin.” The 2016 second-round pick is on pace to surpass his rookie numbers, as he’s hauled in 54 receptions for 686 yards and two scores. “I was ready to take it on,” Shepard said of the added responsibility. “You don’t expect for your top two receivers to go down. It kind of just throws a lot of weight on you. I’m a second-year player but kind of forced to take that leadership role because I’m the guy in that room with the most experience.”
- Jason Pierre-Paul revealed that he’s recovering from a broken finger, although he expects to play this weekend against the Cardinals. Neil Best of Newsday.com believes the defensive end suffered the injury during his early-December matchup against the Raiders.
Louis Riddick Likes Saban, McDaniels For Giants?
Riddick was also highly complementary of Patriots offensive Josh McDaniels in that conversation. Some anticipate that Riddick would bring McDaniels on board if hired by the G-Men.
Two years ago, Louis Riddick spoke to the New York Post about the Giants‘ coaching search that resulted in the promotion of Ben McAdoo. Riddick indicated that if he were in charge of the search, he would make a strong play for Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
Saban is one of the most successful coaches in college football history, but his time in the NFL with the Dolphins did not go as planned. For what it’s worth, Riddick believes that he would do a lot better if he was given another chance. Now that Riddick is up for the Giants’ GM job, one can’t help but wonder if he could bring Saban to New York.
- When speaking as a TV analyst recently, Riddick said that the Giants should consider taking a quarterback with their top pick, regardless of whether or not they keep Eli Manning. “Drafting a young player has to be on the ticket anyway, just by virtue of the fact that you know [Manning] is closer to the end than the beginning,” Riddick said (via Schwartz). “There’s a lot of different moving parts here. But I think everybody will win in the end. I think Eli will get what he wants, and I think the Giants will just move on into the future.”