Mark Herzlich Continues To Defy Odds; Roger Lewis Grateful For Opportunity
- Giants wide receiver Roger Lewis, who signed with the club as a UDFA this year, was charged with two counts of raping a girl, with whom he had prior sexual relations, when he was 18. He ultimately was acquitted of one of the charges and pleaded down another for an admission he lied to police during the investigation, and he now has the opportunity to live out his NFL dream, despite not hearing his name called on draft weekend. He has draft-worthy ability, but teams likely shied away from him as a result of the not-too-distant criminal charges, as Matt Schneldman of The New York Post writes. As a UDFA on a team loaded with wide receiver talent, Lewis has a major uphill battle to make Big Blue’s roster, but at this point he is playing with house money and is simply grateful for the chance to play and to further remove himself from his troubled past. He has shown flashes in offseason workouts and could get a chance with another club if he is unable to land a spot with the Giants.
- Mark Herzlich, despite being a former undrafted free agent who is neither a star nor a starter, has defied the odds and has played five seasons in the NFL, all with the Giants, with season number six right around the corner. He is by all accounts a good person whose battle with cancer has been inspirational and, thus far, successful, but his on-field contributions have been fairly limited. However, even though one of Herzlich’s biggest fans in former head coach Tom Coughlin is gone, he still has plenty of supporters, including team president and co-owner John Mara. As Paul Schwartz of The New York Post writes, Herzlich has simply made himself exceedingly popular both on and off the field, and therefore difficult to cut. There is something to be said for positive influences in a locker room, and Herzlich’s contributions in that regard have allowed him to carve out a surprising NFL career.
- Giants wide receiver Roger Lewis, who signed with the club as a UDFA this year, was charged with two counts of raping a girl, with whom he had prior sexual relations, when he was 18. He ultimately was acquitted of one of the charges and pleaded down another for an admission he lied to police during the investigation, and he now has the opportunity to live out his NFL dream, despite not hearing his name called on draft weekend. He has draft-worthy ability, but teams likely shied away from him as a result of the not-too-distant criminal charges, as Matt Schneldman of The New York Post writes. As a UDFA on a team loaded with wide receiver talent, Lewis has a major uphill battle to make Big Blue’s roster, but at this point he is playing with house money and is simply grateful for the chance to play and to further remove himself from his troubled past. He has shown flashes in offseason workouts and could get a chance with another club if he is unable to land a spot with the Giants.
Giants Notes: Boldin, CBs
- Veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin would make for a solid Giants addition, argues Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, but that certainly doesn’t mean the club will sign the well-traveled pass-catcher. New York’s receiving options are lead by the dominant Odell Beckham Jr. and talented rookie Sterling Shepard, but the rest of the depth chart remains unclear, as Roster Resource shows. Victor Cruz is essentially a complete question mark at this point, but Raanan does point to 2015 sixth-round pick Geremy Davis as a potential Boldin-esque option, noting that the sophomore receiver could as a possession receiver for Eli Manning. Boldin, for his part, has taken two known free agent visits, with the Redskins and Lions.
- The Giants spent a lot of capital — both money and draft picks — improving their secondary over the offseason, but Tom Rock of Newsday wonders how the club will ultimately align during the regular season. None of New York’s top three corners — Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and rookie Eli Apple — has much experience playing in the slot, which could leave Trevin Wade to play the nickel role. It wouldn’t be ideal to sit one of the aforementioned corners on the bench while the journeyman Wade spends time of the field, so the Giants have to hope the situation works itself out.
Should Teams Fear New-Look Giants D?
- Is the Giants‘ defense something to be feared again now that free agent acquisitions like defensive end Olivier Vernon, nose tackle Damon Harrison, and cornerback Janoris Jenkins are in the fold? ESPN.com’s Todd Archer argues that while the defense is certainly improved, the unit as a whole is not as fearsome as it was in 2007 or 2011. Vernon’s sack total is cause for concern, he feels, and he also says that Jenkins takes too many chances at cornerback. Ultimately, though, he approves of the Harrison signing since he can help shut down the run.
Will Giants Carry Four Tight Ends?
- If rookie Jerell Adams shows that he can adjust to the speed of the NFL, he will allow the Giants to carry only three full-time tight ends, James Kratch of NJ.com writes. However, if he looks to be more of a project player, the Giants may have to carry a fourth tight end. As Roster Resource shows, the Giants’ depth chart at TE is headlined by Larry Donnell and Will Tye with Adams, Matt LaCosse, and UDFA Ryan Malleck also on the 90-man.
Latest On Eugene Monroe
Since being released by the Ravens last week, offensive tackle Eugene Monroe has been linked to several clubs, including the Giants, Seahawks, and 49ers. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) confirms that those teams have indeed expressed interest in Monroe, and adds that the Panthers could be another potential landing spot for the free agent tackle.
[RELATED: Carolina Panthers depth chart]
If it signed Monroe, Carolina could shift incumbent left tackle Michael Oher to the right side, according to Cole — it should be noted, however, that Cole’s report was published before the Panthers and Oher agreed to a multi-year extension, which could affect any attempts to move Oher to right tackle. From my vantage point, one other possible scenario could entail simply placing Monroe at right tackle, and moving 2015 starter Mike Remmers into a swing tackle role.
Monroe, a career left tackle, might not be open to that move, however, as Cole reports that Monroe is reticent to move to the right side, and in fact rejected offers from the Giants because they necessitated him moving to right tackle. Dan Graziano of ESPN.com disputes that nugget, writing that while Monroe would prefer to stay on the blindside, he would be “willing” to move to right tackle if that’s the only opportunity that presented itself. New York would likely use Monroe on the right side, per Graziano, despite that fact that 2015 rookie Ereck Flowers graded as one of the four worst tackles in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
[RELATED: New York Giants depth chart]
Monroe doesn’t appear to be rushing into signing any time soon, and reports have indicated that he’ll begin taking visits with prospective employers next week. I recently ran down a list of eight clubs — including several mentioned above — that could have interest in signing Monroe.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Giants Claim Logan Thomas
SATURDAY, 10:10am: The Giants have announced the deal on Twitter.
FRIDAY, 2:56pm: The Giants have claimed quarterback Logan Thomas off waivers from the Dolphins, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. To make room for Thomas, the Giants waived fellow QB B.J. Daniels, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link).
Thomas, whom Miami dropped from its roster earlier this week, will now join his third NFL organization since the Cardinals selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. The former Virginia Tech standout has thrown just nine passes during his pro career and completed only one of those attempts. He made it count, though, connecting on an 81-yard touchdown against the Broncos in October 2014.
Thomas, 24, is now the third quarterback on the Giants’ roster, as Roster Resource shows, joining Eli Manning and Ryan Nassib.
Raanan: Eugene Monroe A Natural Fit For Giants
- The Giants are a natural fit for former Ravens offensive lineman Eugene Monroe, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The team has an obvious hole on the offensive line, and Monroe’s track record proves that the organization shouldn’t be wary of the veteran’s presence.
[SOURCE LINK]
Giants Coach Is OK With Monroe's Pro-Pot Cause
- The Ravens may have been irked by Eugene Monroe‘s stance on medical marijuana, but Giants coach Ben McAdoo has no problem with it, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News writes. “I think everyone’s entitled to their own opinion,” McAdoo said. “Myself, I haven’t done any research. I don’t have a great answer for you there. That’s probably more of a political question, something that I’m not necessarily willing to jump into at this point — or ever. But every player, every coach, every person has their own opinion and is entitled to it.” This week we ran down the Giants and seven other teams that could sign Monroe.
- Earlier today the Giants signed fourth-round linebacker B.J. Goodson, wrapping up their draft class.
Giants Sign B.J. Goodson, Wrap Draft Class
The Giants have signed fourth-round pick B.J. Goodson, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets. Now that the linebacker has inked his contract, the Giants’ entire 2016 draft class is now formally in the fold. 
Goodson, a Clemson product, was selected with the No. 109 overall pick. Goodson reportedly met with 15 teams in total prior to the draft and he apparently made a strong impression on Giants brass. In his senior season, Goodson lead his team with 108 tackles to go along with 14 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. At the combine, Goodson boosted his stock even further when he recorded a combine high 30 bench press reps at 225 pounds per clip.
Heading into the draft, the Giants were heavily connected to Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin and Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd. Unfortunately for the G-Men, those players came off the board at No. 8 and 9, respectively, but one of the draft’s top corners was still available for them at No. 10. Eli Apple boasts some serious upside and the early reports on him out of Giants camp are positive.
Here is the full rundown of the Giants’ draft:
- 1-10: Eli Apple, CB (Ohio State)
- 2-40: Sterling Shepard, WR (Oklahoma)
- 3-71: Darian Thompson, S (Boise State)
- 4-109: B.J. Goodson, LB (Clemson)
- 5-149: Paul Perkins, RB (UCLA)
- 6-184: Jerell Adams, TE (South Carolina)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
8 Teams That Could Sign Eugene Monroe
After selecting Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley in the first round of the April’s draft, the Ravens tried to trade veteran left tackle Eugene Monroe. However, Baltimore was unable to find a taker on the trade market and on Wednesday the team cut him loose.
Yes, there are some red flags for Monroe. For starters, the tackle has missed 16 games with injury over the past two years. Monroe has also been a vocal advocate for marijuana to be removed from the league’s banned substance list and Baltimore officials apparently took umbrage with his focus in that area.
However, there’s also a lot to like. When healthy, Monroe can be an impact player and can slide into the starting lineup for several NFL teams. Where could Monroe wind up? Here’s our list of the eight teams who could make a play for him:
[RELATED: Ravens Sign Bronson Kaufusi, Wrap Up Draft Class]
Arizona Cardinals — Left tackle isn’t a concern in the desert, as Jared Veldheer will continue to handle Carson Palmer‘s blindside, but right tackle is a bit more murky. After losing both Bobby Massie and Bradley Sowell to free agency, the Cardinals are counting on 2015 first-round pick D.J. Humphries to take on a starting role. Humphries didn’t play a single snap during his rookie season, and frustrated Arizona management to the point that head coach Bruce Arians began referring to him as “knee deep” (re: Arians’ knee vs. Humphries’ posterior). If Humphries has matured over the past year or so, adding Monroe to play on the right side wouldn’t make much sense. But if the Cardinals still have questions about their talented yet raw sophomore tackle, Monroe could be a welcome veteran addition.
Chicago Bears — Finding a starting left tackle in the seventh round — as the Bears did with Charles Leno in 2014 — is certainly an accomplishment, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that Leno simply wasn’t that productive during the 2015 campaign. In 16 games (13 starts), Leno graded out as just the 55th-best tackle in the NFL among 77 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus. If Chicago wants to contend in 2016, it will need better play on the blindside, and Monroe would almost certainly represent an upgrade, acting as a finishing touch to an offensive line that’s already seen additions such as Bobby Massie, Nate Chandler, and Cody Whitehair over the past several months.
Indianapolis Colts — The Colts are clearly intent on keeping Andrew Luck upright in 2016, having spent three draft picks on offensive linemen in April. While some of the spots along Indy’s front five are settled, right tackle could be up for grabs (although general manager Ryan Grigson had said he’d like to see Joe Reitz win the job). The Colts haven’t been shy about acquiring veterans in the past, having sacrificed draft pick compensation for Vontae Davis, Trent Richardson, Billy Winn, and others in recent years. If the club wants a solid veteran to lock down the right side, instead of relying on a cavalcade of mid-tier options, Monroe could be on their radar.
New England Patriots — Like the Colts, the Patriots have utilized trades to augment their roster — in 2015, they made a league-leading nine deals with other clubs, and they’ve acquired veterans such as Akeem Ayers, Keshawn Martin, Jonathan Casillas, Jonathan Bostic, and Akiem Hicks via the trade route over the past several years. In a trade, Monroe would have been a different animal, as he’s a more high-profile name and costs more than any of the players brought in by New England via swap recently. Now, he holds even more appeal as a free agent. If the Pats did sign Monroe to man right tackle, they’d likely release fellow offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer or Marcus Cannon (or both). On the surface, Monroe doesn’t seem like a Bill Belichick-esque addition, but New England has made surprising moves in the past.
New York Giants — Many draft observers believed Giants 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers was best-suited to play guard or right tackle out of the gate. Instead, New York plugged him in on the left side following an injury to Will Beatty, and Flowers proceeded to grade out as one of the four worst blindside protectors in the league, per PFF. Veteran Marshall Newhouse, the club’s projected right tackle, also ranked as a bottom-10 option at the position. The Giants need help up front, perhaps more so than any team in the NFL outside of Seattle, so it was no surprise to learn that they were talking trade with Baltimore prior to Monroe’s release and have already started courting him since he became a free agent.
San Diego Chargers — Shortly after word leaked out regarding Monroe’s release, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com listed the Chargers as a potential suitor along with the Seahawks and Giants. On the surface, the Chargers seem adequately set at tackle with King Dunlap covering Philip Rivers‘ blindside and Joe Barksdale at right tackle. Still, while Barksdale graded out as the No. 21 overall tackle in the NFL last year according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, Dunlap has been injury prone in the past.
San Francisco 49ers — By almost any metric, San Francisco’s offensive line was among the worst in the NFL last season. The unit ranked second with 53 sacks allowed, and placed 31st in pass protection and 32nd in run blocking according to Football Outsiders’ data. All-Pro Joe Staley clearly isn’t a problem at left tackle, but uninspiring options such as Erik Pears and Trent Brown are among the candidates to start opposite him on the right side. The 49ers are in the midst of a complete rebuild, so perhaps adding a veteran like Monroe doesn’t make sense given their current roster makeup. But keeping Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick (or whomever else starts at quarterback in 2016) off the ground should still be a goal, and Monroe would signify an improvement.
Seattle Seahawks — The Seahawks are mentioned in connection with nearly every available offensive lineman, but the club simply hasn’t shown any willingness to invest in its front five. After losing Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy in free agency, Seattle will rely on the likes of Garry Gilliam, Bradley Sowell, J’Marcus Webb, and Mark Glowinski up front. Offensive line coach Tom Cable is regarded as a masterful teacher, and he can probably turn some of those unheralded options into contributors. But it’s hard to imagine that the Seahawks would turn down an opportunity to add an immediate starter like Monroe, especially if the asking price is minimal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.