Giants Get a Speed Back in the 7th

The Giants finally got a really fast RB. Da'Rell Scott. He recently ran a 4.34 40 at 211 pounds. He had some injuries in college, but he seems to have regained his explosivity. He could make some big plays with the holes our OL produces. Hands are fine, but needs to work on route running. Another possible big play weapon who should earn his keep on specials. Great draft, Giants! I'll review it more in the next few days.

Giants Get Another Backer

The Giants finished off the 6th by taking another linebacker, SFU's Jacuian Williams. Williams plays the outside and has the freakish athletic ability we generally look for in GTP's and Giant picks. He's an explosive guy who was a Junior College All American before landing at South Florida. He too, should help our special teams and add competition to the LB corps. 1 pick left. Go Giants!

Giants Take Tyler Sash

With their second 6th rounder, the Giants have grabbed Tyler Sash, a SS from Iowa. He's another player who will contribute on specials while he tries to crack the D. They pick again soon. The Gmen are having an awesome draft. Go Giants!

More on this guy. He's not fast, but he's quick with a good 3-cone time. He hits hard, and he's smart as hell. Oh, and he gets lots of interceptions. So, you're typical, heady, ballhawky safety, who'll be best in zone or up at the line. Just another really good pick from the Giants.

Giants Grab Greg Jones

The Giants used to almost always take a Big 10 LB by default every year. This guy was a 4 year starter for Michigan State, and though he may not have a sky high ceiling like their other picks, he's got a high floor, and that's pretty good for a two down back. Has a lot in common with former Giant Antonio Pierce. And like Prince and Jernigan he will help with specials as he learns his trade. Strong, solid pick. Go Giants!

Giants Select James Brewer, OT, Indiana

The Giants hit the OL with their 4th round pick. James Brewer is a big right tackle who has flashed against good competition. Various reports have him at either 6'6" and 6'8", and over 320. He has the long arms the Giants like, and could be developed to replace Kareem McKenzie for the `12 season. The Giants are good with OL's, so I am sure we will learn a lot more about this one. Right now the Giants are without a 5th round pick, then have 3 6th rounders. Lets see if the trade into the 5th. Go Giants!

UPDATE: Apparently the Giants see him as a late bloomer who will be a left tackle. Hmmm.

Day 3

The Giants have 5 picks on Day 3, including a 4th, 3 6ths and a 7th. They have been going BPA through the first three rounds, and it will be interesting to see what they do today. Pictured is Brandon Fusco, the C for Division II Slippery Rock, which is located in the heart of Pennsylvania Football Country. I don't know if he'll be BPA in any of our windows - for example we don't have a 5th, and he may go there - but I just have a feeling that he will be a Giant later today. There are some other interesting OL's if not C's in the draft, who are GTP's like Boling from Virginia. I think the Giants are likely to also take a running back and a fullback. For awhile, I thought Dion Lewis was destined for the Giants. We'll find out today. I think the Giants will also take a TE, and there are plenty of them left. LB may still be addressed. In any event, Go Giants!

Giants Get Jernigan!!!!!!!!

Wow. The Giants got another guy I love in the 3rd. Jerrel Jernigan, the 5'9" WR/Return Specialist from Troy State. This guy is quick and fast with big, secure hands. He is the first great return man we've drafted since David Meggett. I'm not kidding. We can also use him in multiple receiver sets, but he is a gamebreaking playmaker and I can't believe we got him in the 3rd. Holy Smokes. This is turning into a great draft for the GMen! Go Giants!

Giants Do It Again!

Giants got another one! Marvin Austin, the suspended DT from UNC is now a New York Giant at pick 52. This guy can play! He's a bit of a fireplug at under 6'2" but he is an absolute GTP (Giant Type Player) who can penetrate and make plays in the other team's backfield. This draft is working perfectly for the Giants and I kid you not when I say, this kid is another ringer for the DL rotation. He would have been an early first day pick had he not been suspended. Go Giants!

Day 2

The Giants electrified their franchise and fanbase by pulling of the heist of the century in round one last night. You just don't get players like Prince at #19. No way. No how. Yet they did. Now they have to follow it up with a strong day 2. As of right now, they have 1 pick in round 2 and 1 pick in round 3. They need more, since they are in a large red chip area with lots of Giant type players. Pictured are Marvin Austin, the DT from UNC, Ben Iljalana the T/G from Villanova and Titus Young, the wideout from Boise State. I love all three players and each would add a nice dimension to the Giants. Stefen Wisniewski the C/G from Penn State, could also give the Giants the C prospect they've been needing. Stephen Paea is the somewhat explosive DT from Oregon who may fall far enough. There are also some linebackers who could interest the Giants like Akeem Ayers from UCLA, as well as two injured players, Bruce Carter, the LB from UNC and D'Quan Bowers, the DE from Clemson who would represent fantastic value if healthy. Jurrel Casey, the DT from USC is underrated and could also figure for the GMen. The key today is to get at least 2 more Giant type players. Go Giants!

Giants Catch a Falling Star

The Giants stayed at 19 and caught a falling star in Prince Amukamara, the corner for Nebraska. Prince was being projected all over the place as a top 10 pick and apparently only started falling today. Ingram, Baldwin and Wilkerson were still on the board. This is the second time since 2007 we have spent a one on a CB and the the third time since 2005 that our first pick has been a CB. It seems he fell on some sloppy technique, that can be cleaned up. He is a physical player, though not an elite playmaker. I had no idea he'd be available, but he gives the Giants another great athlete for their constantly rebuilding Defense, and maybe he can hit some Eagles for us. An interesting start to the draft. Go Giants!

Final Four?

I have a strong feeling that the Giants will take either Jon Baldwin, Nate Solder Mark Ingram or Mike Pouncey when they pick tonight. My preference would be Baldwin followed by Ingram followed by Pouncey followed by Solder.

Baldwin is an absolute freak from a size/speed/aa perspective and the only reason he may be there at 19 is for some sketchy off field stuff, that may or may not have been nothing. Teaming him with Hakeem Nicks would be absolute dynamite. Both are really strong, power type reason. The Giants think Baldwin is a Plax clone, but I actually think he's a bouncier athlete Would love this pick.

Ingram you know about. Super productive franchise back who can run, catch and block. More complete than anyone we have, and ball security and drops are not issues with him. He also has great run vision. I'd love this pick, too.

Mike Pouncey is the C from Florida. The Giants have passed on a number of Giant-type C's over the past few drafts and they could finally pull the trigger tonight. If he's a ten year starter, it'll be a great pick. And I wouldn't have to think about the Giants passing on all those C's any more.

Nate Solder is my least favorite, and probably the most likely pick. He's a left tackle prospect who is nearly 6'9" and features long arms and good feet. The problems have to do with his height. He's not a real knee bender, yet, and thus can't get low to run block. He's a basketball guy who is probably athletic enough to turn into something, but with Beatty and Andrews all ready on the roster and better than Diehl, I'd have to wonder about this one. It's not like teams use waves of OL's like they do DL's.

Anyway, it could go a million different ways, but that's how it's looking right now. Go Giants!

Giants Draft

Last June, I wrote somewhat extensively on the Yankee and Ranger drafts. It's not going to happen with the Giants draft, since this draft will probably bear only a cosmetic resemblance to a regular NFL draft. This is because of the current labor mess in the NFL. In a normal NFL year, the Giants and other teams would have already tendered their RFA's and signed their major UFAs's by this point. What's more, they could then use current roster players to trade around during this week's draft. None of that has or can happen at this point. Thus, normal draft trading will be curtailed to a great degree, with teams only able to use this year's picks. Of course, their may be a "future considerations" agreement between the teams, but nothing has come out about that. What's more, there's a slight chance that this is the last NFL draft. That could happen if the court decides to trust bust the NFL. So it will be a strange little oasis of ersatz NFL dealing, in the midst of a surreal offseason.

Onto our Giants. The Giants generally adhere to their board and pick the best available player. People can semantically argue this till they croak, but that's pretty much what they do. That's how we ended up with Kiwi back in `06, even after trading down. Anyway, this is another draft with a big, red chip area. The Giants have traditionally kicked ass in these kind of drafts and I expect them to do so again this week.

The way the services are stacking the boards, it seems like the BPA when the Giants pick will likely be a DL, OL, CB, and possibly even an RB or a WR.

On the DL side, Liuget, Wilkerson, Paea and a few others should be available. If it's going to be a DT, they will probably pick the best passrusher from that group. They've been looking for an interior passrusher who isn't normally a DE, since Hammer hung them up. Likewise, if an elite passrushing DE, like De'Quan Bowers or Robert Quinn falls, they could even take him. What? You say. Another DE? Yup. Passrushers are worth first round picks to the Giants and most teams. Quinn and Bowers aren't just a DE, they are Giant-type DE and it wouldn't surprise me if they drafted one.

On the OL side, I'm not really on board with drafting right tackles or interior linemen with first round picks, but the Giants just might pounce on Mike Pouncey, the developing C from Florida. The tackles, Solder, Costanza and Carimi have been associated the Giants in some mocks, but it makes no sense to me. David Diehl is already only the third best Left Tackle on the team after Andrews and Beatty, so if they want to move him to guard they can. I'm hearing Andrews will be back, and Beatty showed nothing but upside when he played last year. I won't kill the pick if it's an OT, but I'd rather trade down than do that at 19. Pouncey, I can live with since I've been calling for them to draft O'Hara's replacement for years.

BREAKING NEWS: THE COURT HAS DENIED THE OWNERS' APPEAL!

Wow, I wonder if this will change anything before the draft. It would seem the owners now have to make a deal with the players. Btw, this also means there will be no NBA lockout.

Now, back to our draft post.

There are a couple of CB's who could be there, like Jimmy Smith, but I have not heard anything linking them to the Giants.

There are; however, two offensive playmakers, either of whom could be the Giants pick. The first is Jonathan Baldwin, the big WR from Pitt. With uncertainty over the health of Steve Smith, and a talent like Baldwin staring right at them - to team with Hakeem Nicks - the Giants would have to give it serious thought.

The other is Mark Ingram from Alabama. He's been getting dinged, but a very good case can be made that he is a franchise back. He's super productive as a rusher, receiver and blocker, and when he's not rehabbing, he can break big plays. And he doesn't fumble! He'd be a perfect fit for the Giants in fact, and that's exactly why they might take him.

In all, there doesn't really seem like there will be a clear cut BPA at 19, as we'll be in the red chip area by then. If I were the Giants, I'd be entertaining trade down offers, and I sort of hope that's what they do. Go Giants!

Colon and Cano

The resurgent Bartolo Colon pitched 8 innings of 1 run ball, and Robbie Cano hit a three run jack and that was all the Yankees needed to beat the White Sox in another game that lasted under 2:30. Mo got the save! If the Yanks keep pitching like this, they won't have to break up the farm for anything. Go Yanks!

Knicks Pickup Chauncey's Option

The Knicks today picked up the option on Chauncey Billups' contract meaning they will have little cap room to do the things they want to this summer. Chauncey's expiring could become valuable at the deadline, or if CP3 decides to force something this summer. The Knicks still need big men, defense and another scorer. That Chauncey was picked up lends credence to to the rumors that Donnie Walsh will be coming back, too. Walsh wanted assurances the would have full control over basketball operations. We'll see what else can be done to improve this flawed, but potentially great team. Go Knicks!

Yanks Lose

Brent Lillibridge just made 2 insane catches to rob the Yankees of a comeback victory in the ninth. The Yanks had lead all the way until Soriano entered the game in the 8th. Cashman is looking smarter and smarter. Go Yanks!

Yanks Lose

AJ Burnett was once again terrific, but the the Yanks didn't score any runs, and thus they lost. It was one of those deals where they didn't know the pitcher, Phil Humber, and he threw strikes. It happens, but the consistency we are seeing for AJ is a blessing

In other news, the Phil Hughes mystery deepened today after he had to be shutdown 20 pitches into a bullpen session. He's headed to the doctor. Wish I could talk to him.

Yanks Win Again!

Freddy Garcia gave the Yanks six more shutout innings, but didn't get the win, cause the pen couldn't hold a three run lead for three innings. No worries, the Yanks poured it back on and won after a rain delay. Granderson hit another bomb and really is raking. Good to beat up on a divisional rival. They face the White Sox starting tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Knicks Season Ends

Well the Knicks might have won the first two games of their playoff series with some better luck, then they looked terrible at home. They aren't terrible, but are currently building from the wings in instead from up the middle. In other words, they still need a point guard and a Center who can play D, rebound, finish and has good hands around the hoop. It will be interesting to see what becomes of Donnie Walsh. Will he be back? Will they switch coaches? How will they plug two major holes? Will Chris Paul arrive sooner, later or not at all? Will they make a big move this offseason or wait till `12? All will be revealed. Go Knicks.

Torts Gets a New Deal

John Tortorella apparently received a 3 year contract extension some time during the season. The news of it is just coming out now. The question is, is he the right man to finish the rebuild? I think he is. I was initially concerned that he didn't seem to know anything about the far system during his first summer with the Rangers, and that he had no interest in attending the draft, but this year I felt he really showed a willingness to work in the kids, and it's been learned that he is interested in some of the kids down on the farm. Gruff as he is, he does seem to have the respect of the kids, and that's what really counts. Onward and upward!

CC Finally Gets a Win

Last night, CC Sabathia was mostly brilliant in collecting his first win of the season in a laugher against the Orioles. Martin homered twice, Po homered once, as did Gardner and ARod hit a grand slam! This team is showing lethal power, and Swisher isn't even on the board yet! Keep bashing and save the kids, guys! Go Yanks!

Ranger Offseason Begins

Okay, without Callahan and with so many inexperienced kids on the roster, I felt we were a year ahead of making any noise in the playoffs. And we apparently were. Don't lose sight of how close most of these games actually were or how that homegrown defense is coming along. There is more D coming from the system and some scoring, two. The Rangers will become elite in the next two years if they keep drafting well and make a good trade or two. If they have an opportunity to trade Marian Gaborik in the next few months, and can get an even better package than they got for Gomez two years ago, they should take it. Going into the the draft, they have 3 top 60 picks, and could use them to move up for a player they love, or move back and collect more in this red chip heavy draft. The Rangers have some things they can do to create cap room, and the cap is going up again. Don't be surprised if the Rangers sign Brad Richards, or even trade for Paul Stastny (that would probably include Gaborik. As tough as these playoffs were, the Rangers are on the right track, but they have to keep drafting well, make a good trade or two. We'll talk about it here. Go Rangers!

Ugh

So much for homecourt advantage. Yeesh.

The Grandy Man Can!

Curtis Granderson hit a triple and a homer tonight as the Yanks won pretty easily behind Bartolo Colon, 6-2. Colon is a pleasant surprise thus far, and he and Garcia may actually end up saving the farm, by not making the Yanks empty it for another starter. Grandy has now joined Tex at the top of the AL leaderboard with 6 bombs, and he is looking a lot like the guy we thought we might get. My other preseason tout, Brett Gardner has yet to find himself. He will. Go Yanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rangers Lose in Double OT

Heartbreaker. Another, no whistle goal for Washington was the turning point. The Rangers had lead 3-0 after 2. Tough loss. They play so hard. Go Rangers.

Yanks Lose, Mo Gets and ERA

Tough loss in 10 after Mo blew a save. Oh well, it's April. Go Yanks!

Knicks Go Down, 2-0

The Knicks just lost another heartbreaker. It was one of the most courageous games I've ever seen them play. Billups was out. Stat left early with back spasms and missed the entire second half. So it was Melo and the rest. Melo responded with 42 points, 17 boards and 6 assists. Nobody else really stepped up. They found Jefferies instead of Melo for the last shot. And he didn't even get a shot off. Still, if the Knicks get Amar'e back, they can tie this series up in New York. I expect them to. Go Knicks!

Yanks Win To Take Series

Yanks ended up winning 6-5 on an Eric Chavez single in the bottom of the 8th. It was after they had given up the lead that Curtis Granderson's two run bomb had given CC, who once again got a no decion. Cano and Russel Martin also hit bombs. I don't know how the rest of you feel, but even though they are not hitting on all cylinders yet, they are a very likable edition of the team. Chavez was playing because ARod is being rested till Tuesday, but he still played a nice third and put up good AB's. Go Yanks!

Knicks Lose

Knicks just lost a tough one in Boston. Chauncey Billups was helped off with under a minute left, and they gave up a 3 to Ray Allen with 11.3 left, and no timeouts. They didn't get a good shot, and they lost. Hopefully, they now realize they should be winning these games. Overall, they played pretty good D, and blocked a lot of shots. Amar'e was great. Melo was a little up and down, perhaps due to early foul trouble. We'll see what happens with Billups, but the Knicks can and should win this series. Go Knicks!

Dubi, Dubi, DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brandon Dubinsky poked in his own with just over a minute left to win the game for the New York Rangers and put the Rangers right back in the series. The Garden is exploding! Christensen and Prust had the other goals. Dubi also had an assist. Just huge. When the interviewed Stemmer during the game, I had a feeling we were gonna see something special. Next game is Wednesday. Go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Knicks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have waited. And waited. And waited. But later today (EST) our beloved New York Knicks are returning to the playoffs! Now, we all know they don't have the big man, or big man rotation to run through teams, but, with Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Chauncey Billups, the Knicks have a chance to beat anyone. Especially if Toney Douglas is hitting his shots and hounding the other team's best guard. The match-up with the Celtics should be a huge challenge, but with Shaq out and Perkins traded, the Knicks have a chance. GO KNICKS!!!!!

First Round Possibility?

I haven't done my usual draft work this year, as the normal flow of the football has been disrupted. For the first time today, I started to feel the draft. Anyway. I sort like Muhammad Wilkerson, the DT from Temple in the first. Both the Giants and I favor freakishly athletic DL's and that's what they would get with big Mo. They've been looking for a consistent inside passrusher since Hammer hung them up. Freddie Robbins gave them some, and Tuck and the other DE's have made some hay rushing from the inside but they haven't really gotten a quick twitch 300 pounder in there. Wilkerson is all that, and he has the long arms the Giants love, and he uses them to bat passes (uh, Canty?). I favor going BPA in the draft, and I think Wilkerson might just be that at 19, and he really seems like a Giant type DL. We could team him with Linval Joseph, eventually and call it the Mo and Joe show. I have some other favorites I'll talk about leading up to the draft. For awhile I thought they were gonna take Pouncey or Ingram, but Mo Wilkerson is really jumping out and they've been all over him.

Garcia Shines!

Freddy Garcia gave the Yanks just what they needed, a dominant start. Tex and Cano homered, and Joba and Mo were swell out of the pen as the Yanks won 5-2. Soriano gave up the 2 runs as he seemed to have more cold weather trouble. Alex left the game with tightness in his oblique. Let's hope it was just weather related. CC throws tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Rangers Go Down 2-0

The Rangers got shut out, and have only scored 1 goal though the first 6 periods of this series. Now, it's hard to realize they are a young team, and this is a year early without Cally, but the facts is they are playing with house money. Maybe the guy in the picture will do something, and turn the series around. Maybe he won't. We need another strong draft. Go Rangers.

Yanks Comeback and Win!

Mark Teixeira just scored the winning run in a 6-5, extra-inning come back win by the Yanks! Swish sacrificed him home, in the 10th. ARod also had a big hit in the rally. The Yanks had fallen behind 5-0 with Phil Hughes on the mound, but the pen did the job and so did the Yankee bats. Huge win! Go Yanks!

Rangers Lose Game 1 in OT

Semin with 1:38 left in OT. Tough loss. Go Rangers!

Yanks Win!

AJ was dominant till his pitch count got high, but by that time the Yanks had a big lead, and there as no real peril. Mo picked up his 5th save, ARod and Po homered. Jeter, Gardy, Tex, and Po showed signs of life. Go Yanks!

Rangers Sign Hagelin

Acting quickly after his Michigan team's title game loss Saturday, the Rangers have signed two way C, Carl Hagelin, their 4th round pick 4 years ago. Hagelin, a Swede, opted to stay in school for the whole 4 years. So his college career is over anyway, and the Rangers had been trying to get him for some time. Hagelin isn't big, but he is one of the great young skaters in the system, and he's gritty. He's made some huge, clutch plays over his years at Michigan, too. Good player and future core. He'll report to Hartford immediately. Still waiting to hear about Werek and Kreider. Go Rangers!

Yanks Lose

The Yankees, missing ARod due to illness, got shutout tonight by the combination of Beckett and Papelbon. Ahhh, April. Go Yanks!

He Did It Again!

Carmelo hit another last minute shot to ice a victory for the Knicks. It was their 7th in a row, and it looked like they were going to lose for much of the second half, especially when Carmelo seemed to hurt his wrist in the 3rd, but he stayed in and did his thing. Huge character win. Go Knicks!

Rangers Clinch!

Tampa just eliminated Carolina and the Rangers are in! They will face off against the Washington Caps this week, and I don't think anyone wants to play them. They'll have new life, and players like Gaborik and even Drury will have their shots at redemption. They are at least a year ahead of schedule on the rebuild, but this will be great experience for Anisimov, Stepan, McDonagh, Sauer, and the rest of the emerging core. Congrats to the whole organization! Go Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yanks Clobber Sox

Ivan Nova had a bit of bad luck and didn't make it through 5, but the Yanks b bullpen and lineup were more than a match for the Sox today. Russell Martin hit two more jacks, and both Cano and Granderson also contributed bombs two the Yanks 9-4 win. CC throws tomorrow. Go Yanks!

The Waiting Game

Having defeated the Devils, the Rangers must now hope that Carolina is held to 1 or no points in their game against Tampa Bay later. The Rangers got first goals of the season from Drury and McDonagh as well as Wolski, Prust and Prospal en route to their last victory of the regular season. Whether they Rangers get in or not, I do consider this season a transitional year and believe the Rangers have a Cup on the way in the next few. The minor league system is working, and though they'll have to find more scoring, they're on the verge of being defensively elite. The kids are alright, and we need another good draft. They deserve to make the playoffs, but if they don't, they can use the motivation. They're gonna be very, very good very soon. Go Rangers!

6 Straight

With Amar'e taking a few games off with a sore ankle, the remaining Knicks easily trounced the Nets for their 6th straight. Looks like the rotation may actually expand for the playoffs.

Yanks Lose

Phil Hughes had no velo or curve and gave up 6 runs in his two innings of work. The Yanks also scored 6 runs off of Lackey, but were inefficient on O, and ended up losing 9-6. Colon and Logan gave up the other three runs. I don't know where velo goes, or in Phil's case, where curveballs go. I sincerely hope he gets his stuff back. The Sox were bound to win one game. Let's get em tomorrow. Go Yanks!

Rangers Will Need Help

The Rangers lost tonight, and if the Thrashers lose to Carolina Friday, the Rangers will have to beat the Devils Sunday to make the playoffs. It's a little dicey, though if the Rangers fall short, it is a great year to have the higher picks. Still, playoff experience would be good for the Rangers, so go Thrashers!