The facts are these:
- The Giants currently have 9 picks in this upcoming draft with very limited cap space according to Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News. There’s also this quote from Jerry Reese himself; “There’s a lot of things that can happen before the draft. Who knows? We might not have that many picks by the time the draft rolls around.”
- Plaxico Burress has a court date set for March 31st which may or may not decide his future with Big Blue.
- Terrell Owens has just been released.
- Braylon Edwards could be on the trade block according to the Daily News.
- Anquan Boldin wants out of Arizona via a sign and trade.
Here are the problems with each option and here are some potential solutions:
- The Draft – Bottom line, it’s extremely difficult to find a 1st year starter at WR in the draft. With 9 picks and extra defensivetackles the Giants could certainly trade up and make sure they get the guy they think could be that playmaker (Is Crabtree that guy?).
- Terrell Owens- Despite these stats, 16 games played, 69 receptions, 1052 yards, 10 TD’s and 15.2 per catch, it just ain’t happening, so don’t even consider arguing. The term “jumped the shark” should be replaced with Terrell Owensed. You know when Gossip Girls ”Terrell Owensed?” Never, the show always sucked and a man watching it is just plain weird.
- Braylon Edwards – Yes the guy drops passes, the most in the league to be exact, but he also makes big plays, and for that matter he had only 3 more drops then TO. Despite a down year last year, 16 games played 55 receptions, 873 yards, 3TD’s and 15.9 per catch he was without a regular starting QB and the team as a whole struggled. If anyone comes close to replacing Plaxico’s play-making ability and stature it’s Braylon. What it would take to get him is unknown. Despite a Mathias Kiwanuka for Edwards trade rumor (which has been denied by Cleveland), whether or not he is really on the trade block is unknown (especially since Kellen Winslow was recently traded, making it less likely). With 9 picks it has to be worth exploring.
- Plaxico Burress – There would be no better way to to replace Plaxico Burress then with Plaxico Burress himself. If he can stay out of jail and recommit to playing football Jerry Reese will welcome him back with fade passes and open arms. Reese on Plaxico; “Right now he is still a Giant and if things work out and he’s on board with what we want coming back, we’d love to have him back”
- Anquan Boldin- He would cost a 1st round pick and a 3rd minimum. Then there is the concern of having little cap space and needing to sign Boldin to a new contract. With limited cap space and 9 picks in the draft the Giants would need to restructure contracts or cut players as it is. Trading a 1st round pick and a 3rd still leaves the Giants with 7 picks, including two 2nd rounders. Boldin’s statistics from last year, 12 games played, 89 receptions, 1038 yards, 11 TD’s and 11.7. He may not have Plax’s size but who does?
So what’s it going to be, Plaxico, Braylon, Boldin, TO, or draft?
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A) I don’t think Jerry Reese is as dumb as the other Jerry (actually I think he’s proved in 2 seasons that he’s no where near as dumb as JJ) and will sign T.O. Coughlin couldn’t deal with Plax lashing out last year when he yelled at a ref and threw a ball into the stands – and then obviously shot himself which is a diff story all together – so what makes anyone think that Coughlin would ok this primadonna to join a team with SB caliber talent and chemistry in the locker room? Nada.
B) Trading for Boldin would be nice, but they are saying he wants to be back in AZ next year – based on Warner’s contract tho, I would estimate that Mr. Warner didn’t keep his word on “lowering his number” so that Boldin can stay. 2 years $24MM? I don’t think so. So maybe there is a chance we do get him in a trade. And honestly – It wouldn’t be that bad of a cap hit, cause if we trade our 1st rounder, thats at least $8-10MM that we would have had to guarantee a Rookie who’s never played a down in the NFL. So, give that $$ to Boldin – i’d do it in a heart beat. Guy is a beast.
C) Braylon Edwards is kind of a headache – Teflon hands – understood he had a bad year last year but, comeon. I don’t know that he’s the answer either.
I think you summed it up best – Only person who can replace plax is plax. Best case scenerio is we trade for Boldin, Plax somehow ditches jailtime and winds up on probation, and we have both Plax and Boldin going into opening night.
Probably not going to happen since Reese is going to wait to see what happens w/ Plax’s trial before he makes a move, but..still..a man can dream!
Tony Gonzalex please…
Plax or bust….no other option would fit the Giants needs…
Boldin is going to be too expensive…Edwards is intriguing but only if he can solve the dropped balls issue and we don’t have to give up Kiwi or any rotation player for him….
Depth Chart:
Plaxico
Drafted Rookie
Smith
Hixon
Manningham
Moss
As far as the Draft Rookie:
6’2 210…runs a 4.29 40 (sometimes listed as 6’3 208)
Darrius Heyward-Bey my friends….or as I like to think of him, Desean Jackson with 4/5 extra inches and 35 extra pounds…(he seemed pretty successful in his rookie campaign, no?)
Giants need a guy who we can throw a screen pass and he breaks it for 80 yards…Heyward-Bey is that guy…
Our 29th and 45th overall picks combined in a trade gets us somewhere around 14-16 when using the value chart…that should be plenty to go up there and grab this guy….
Here is my rank of the solutions:
1) Draft a WR
- If we can trade up for a Crabtree/Heyward-Bey (I personally like Heyward-Bey better), I feel this is a no brainer, it makes the most sense financially and team wise. We just spent a good amount of $ in free agent signings to sure up other needs we would have used picks for in the draft, so now trading up for a top WR makes the most logical sense.
2) Plaxico
3) Boldin
4) Edwards
5) T.O.
We should get Torry Holt, he can be cut by the Rams or get traded. With our connection with Spags can help us get the deal done if they don’t cut him.
1) JR won’t sign T.O., I think this goes without saying. (I’d have to reevaluate my fanhood of the NYG if I had to watch T.O. play for them…)
2) Braylon Edwards/Anquan Boldin are going to require too much money, draft picks, and potential players (I personally don’t want to lose any of our D-line depth…why would JR build this D-line, only to trade Kiwi/Robbins/Cofield).
3) The draft is the way to go. Package some picks (just picks JR!) together and try to grab Crabtree. I disagree with the notion that it’s hard to find a 1st year starter in the draft (Eddie Royal/DeSean Jackson last draft, Calvin Johnson/Dwayne Bowe the year before) and, c’mon, Crabtree could quite possibly be better than Plaxico ever was, in his first year.
With the combination of little cap space, few needs (with the signings of Vickers and C.C. Brown yesterday, I’d say (besides WR) the Giants need another OLB (SAM), CB/S (depending on whether or not Terrell Thomas makes the move to Safety), OL (preferably OT), and RB (just to challenge ware/for depth)), and a lot of draft picks (9 right now, some estimate 11 after the compensatory picks are announced), look for JR to make the move for Crabtree, hopefully, or one of the top-tier WR’s in the draft and hope we can pair them with Plax.
NO WAY T.O. gets close to Giants stadium unless he buys a ticket.
Braylon/Boldin would be nice but the cost is foreboding.
I would look to trade up to the front of the second round to get Kenny Britt.
After we took Laurinaitis in the First round .
I must say that there is a crazy level of Jet sympathizers in the press here in NYC. Its unreal to me that a team that hasn’t won anything since 1969 and has a continuing LOSING tradition gets so much positive press in a city that only rewards CHAMPIONS like our NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS!
The press, including SNY, seems to not only show excessive Jet interviews, coverage and overwhelm everyone with all this Jet coverage but make Giant fans laugh at the fact that they really think that the Jets will SOON become winners! This is insane. Jet fans are so used to hoping, that they haven’t realized that they have been hoping their lives away and have been messuring a seasons sucess by not their teams victorys (being that they never win) but by OTHER TEAMS loses. They seem to believe that if the Giants dont win the superbawl then the Jets have actually WON something! lol That is JUST SAD.
Being at Giant fan in NY, we all hear the Giant bashing and Plaxico shot himself jokes, Giant fans really don’t care. Being that the G Men are 3 time NFL champions and have done so in RECENT MEMORY! Meaning I HAVE SEEN and been ALIVE for those victories. Most Jet fans weren’t even born during the Namath era. Plus, have you ever even looked at his career numbers, I can make a list of NFL qbs that aren’t hall of famers that would have blown him off the field statistically.
I just wanted to post this statement just to see if my fellow Giant fans aggree.
GO GIANTS! The DEFENSE looks MASSIVE for 2009.
That post was just unnecessary…
No Giant fan in their right mind would want TO any close to the Giants roster.
If you think that Shockey and Plax were distractions for the team … TO would be the father of all HEADACHES and DISTRACTIONS to this team.
Giants need someone that goes into the game and fits into that TEAM first mentality. Personally, I just would like to see this Plax thing work itself out. Hopefully he really has learned his leason. BUT, than again you never can tell with todays athaletes.
I think all of you you are under selling Braylon short. He had one really bad year, and still went over the 800 yrd mark. I think he would actually be the perfect solution to replacing Plax. He is tall, has great body control once the ball is in the air and I think he is faster than Plax. He is also a mild mannered guy who won’t give you any Plax headaches.
Crabtree would be great but he will be a top ten pick, so it will take a whole lot of trade picks to match the value of a top ten pick. Crabtree is by far the best receiver in the draft, but its going to difficult. Darius Heyward Bey would be awesome, but buyer beware, his hands are suspect. He might smell a bit like Reggie Williams rather then DeSean Jackson.
Anquan would be great but brings a different skill set than what we are looking for. It should bring wins nonetheless.
Reese should also look into Torry Holt who also brings a different mix of skill sets but is still verry productive.
My choices:
1. Braylon Edwards
1A. Anquan Boldin/Holt
2. Crabtree
3. Darrius Heyward Bey & Hakeem Nicks/Kenny Britt
Really Edwards is your #1?
Or do you mean 1A: Edwards 1B: Boldin 1C: Holt.
Personally I’d take Boldin over everyone else. He’s tough, a good locker room guy (sans the one episode in the playoffs). He’s still big. Great hands.
I may even take Holt or Harrison over Edwards for cheaper… And then draft a guy to step in.
I think Holt or Harrison can still perform at a good level for another year or two, just enough time for whomever they draft to step up (or find another WR next offseason).
Koko,
Yeah that is exactly it. 1A. Edwards 1B. Boldin 1C.Holt
I love Boldin but I think Braylon’s skill set is closer to what Plax brings, and I think Braylon is faster. Now, I might be over stating Eli’s need for a tall quality receiver. I think that is where my thinking might be most flawed.