1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants huddle on Giants 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: dot Com. 3 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: Go here we go on the Giants Mobile. Let him 4 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 2: in there, Let's go part of the Giants Podcast Network. 5 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 2: Welcome to another edition of the Giants Little Podcast, brought 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 2: to you by Citizens, the official bank of the New 7 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 2: York Football Giants. John Smoke with you, and now we're 8 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 2: joined by someone that has as much front all of 9 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 2: his experience in the NFL as anyone. He was with 10 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: the Vikings from two thousand and six to twenty twenty one, 11 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 2: general manager from twenty twelve to twenty twenty one. He's 12 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 2: Rick Spielman. Rick, How are you. It's great to have 13 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 2: you on the show. How are you? 14 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, John, I appreciate you having me on today. So 15 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: look forward to our little chat coming up. 16 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, it should be great. And now you're doing a 17 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 2: lot of work for seriously, doing some work for CBS online. 18 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: All right, what else are you doing? Yeah? 19 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: I have about four or five different, I guess side 20 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: jobs as some people like to call them. My wife 21 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: calls them hobbies. But I have plenty going on to 22 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: keep me busy. And I really enjoyed doing the media 23 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: side of it. 24 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you really are doing a good job. Before 25 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 2: we get to cut down, I wanted to have you 26 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 2: on on today, specifically a day before the final fifty 27 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 2: three is kind of get announced with the initial fifty three, 28 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 2: I should say to get into the nitty gritty here, 29 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: but first I want to get your take on the 30 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,279 Speaker 2: one piece of news from over the weekend, giant straighter 31 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: for Isaiah Simmons sending a seventh round pick. Wondering your 32 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 2: thoughts on the move, but more specifically, when you evaluated 33 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 2: Simmons coming out. We talked about him a bunch on 34 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: our shows here, how do you view him in? What 35 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: role you think best takes advantage of a skill set? 36 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: Well, when he was coming out, there was no question 37 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: about his athletic skill set, his size. The question was 38 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: what is he and how do you implement him into 39 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: your defensive scheme. So a lot of times when you 40 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 1: are sitting there and you are in your draft meetings, 41 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: we would have the defensive staff in there when we're 42 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: covering the defense during the day and the head coach, 43 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: and we can recognize the talent as evaluators, but then 44 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: it's up to the coaches to tell us how is 45 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: he going to fit in our scheme, are you going 46 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,279 Speaker 1: to utilize a skill set? So for example, if maybe 47 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: as a stacked linebacker, he may not be as instinctive 48 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: or doesn't take on well, but he's a great athlete 49 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: in space, how would that fit into your scheme? And 50 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: if we do draft him, just so we make sure 51 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: the best we can that it's not going to be 52 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: a failed draft pick. You have to almost have a 53 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: game plan when you draft an athlete like this and 54 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: how you're going to utilize them. So last week there 55 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: was more than one phone call going on between probably 56 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: Arizona and New York. There's I remember that all thirty 57 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: one teams were either contacting us or we were contacting 58 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: them on potential guys that were at the bottom end 59 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: of the roster, Guys that they may be heavy at 60 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: one position that they're trying to move or trade. And 61 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: a lot of times it will also depend on where 62 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 1: you're at in the claiming order because it goes off 63 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: the original draft claim or order from last year's draft. 64 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: So if you're picked in the twenties or that's where 65 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: your slot selection is, and you want to maybe claim 66 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: a guy and you have an idea that there's no way, 67 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: you're probably that guy is going to ever slip down 68 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: to you, then maybe you start doing these trades what 69 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: we've been seeing over the last couple of days. So 70 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: it's probably the busiest time of year as you get 71 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: prepared for the fifty three man cut down, because it's 72 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: the last time that you can really adjust and maybe 73 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: some fill some holes on your roster on the back end. 74 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: But getting back to Isaiah, I thought it was a 75 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: great move by the New York Giants, and when you 76 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: watched him a little bit in the preseason game, I 77 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: got an opportunity to watch a little bit of that. 78 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: The one thing that's the easiest thing to do is 79 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: rush the passer, and I saw a few times that 80 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: they did bring him off the edge, and he will 81 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: get implemented and learn Wink Martindale's scheme. I know Wink 82 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: is one of the top defensive minds in the NFL, 83 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: and when he gets athletes like this, I'm sure that 84 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: they will have some kind of game plan for him. 85 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: And I know Joe and coach day Ball and all 86 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: those guys probably before they made this trade watched all 87 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: his tape even though, and then just say how we're 88 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: going to utilize this guy, and it's another chance for 89 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: us to get maybe a guy that didn't live up 90 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: to his first round talent, to get him on our 91 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: roster and let's see if we can find a niche 92 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: form with his unique athletic skill set. 93 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 2: Just from a mechanics perspective, if you have a player, 94 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 2: let's say I'm going to put you in the shoes 95 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: of being the Cardinals and you're going to try to 96 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 2: get something for Isaiah Simmons. If to your point, he's 97 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: not going to make your roster, do you have to 98 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: make literally thirty one individual calls? How does the mechanics 99 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: work to basically let the league know that, look, we're 100 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: open to moving this guy. What's your best offer. 101 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: Well, we have contact with thirty one clubs throughout the preseason. 102 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: A lot of times you're going to wait to see 103 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: what injuries that occur, or maybe you were going to 104 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: move a guy and all of a sudden you lose 105 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: a guy ahead of him, and then that guy ends 106 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: up making your roster. But we divided it up amongst 107 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: our pro departments. So at the time I had George Payton, 108 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: who was my assistant general manager, who's the general manager 109 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: out with Denver now and then our pro director and 110 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: all our pro scouts. Well, they divided up all the teams, 111 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: so each of them responsible for five or six teams. 112 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: Those were the teams that they were communicating with throughout 113 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: the preseason talking about potential names as we get closer 114 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: to the fifty three man cutdown, So there's been a 115 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: lot of communication going on, and it's divide and conquer 116 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: because it's hard for like one general manager to sit 117 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: there and call the other general man other thirty one 118 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: other gms. You just don't have enough time in the day, 119 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: so you divide and conquer amongst your staff. And then 120 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: when it gets to the point where hey, this may happen, 121 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: usually both general managers would jump on or I would 122 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: go in and make sure I watched the tape, and 123 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: then we sat down there and met as a staff, 124 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: and then we would start the negotiation on potential trade. 125 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: All right, so tell me what the process is like. 126 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 2: Just played Saturday night. Cut down day is four pm 127 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: on Tuesday. That's the time your initial fifty three has 128 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: to be in. What's the process like. As I'm sure 129 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: it's similar to what you talked about when you're think 130 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 2: about trading or drafting for a guy. Right, you sit 131 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: down with your coaches and you guys have a joint 132 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 2: conversation as to what you're going to do here. So 133 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 2: kind of tell the fans and explain to them what 134 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: it's like for a front office over these very difficult 135 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: two and a half three days. 136 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, for the most part, you already know probably your 137 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: top forty, top forty five going into the final preseason game. 138 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: It's those final roster spots. You've had personnel meetings with 139 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: your coaching staff and with your scouting staff throughout the 140 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: preseason identifying maybe some areas that you need to upgrade 141 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: and then other areas that maybe you have more than 142 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,919 Speaker 1: enough at the position where you may be able to 143 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: trade one of those guys. So you kind of go 144 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: in with the game plan going into this third preseason game. 145 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: And if you say, let's say you need a backup 146 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: swing tackle, or you need a backup guard, or you 147 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: need a backup linebacker, you're going through thirty one other 148 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: clubs and seeing if they have depth at that position 149 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: and maybe they'd be willing to move one of those guys. 150 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: And if you're not willing to trade for him, then 151 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: those guys are going to be on your radar. So 152 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: when the fifty three man cut down comes across, and 153 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: that wire comes across Tuesday night, that you're already kind 154 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: of prepared to see if those guys that you identified 155 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: were going to come were waived or not waved. We 156 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: would sit there and go through every name. By the 157 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: time that wire came across, it's going to be a 158 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: long night for a lot of personnel departments because going 159 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: from ninety to fifty three, I believe the last time 160 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: that happened was during the COVID year. We had to 161 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: keep all ninety players because of the COVID, but usually 162 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: it was dropped to seventy five and then down to 163 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: fifty three. So this one's going to be a whole 164 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: lot of names, and it's going to be long nights 165 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: because as you sit there, you would take each name individually. 166 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: You go through all Arizona's cutdowns, for example, and you'd 167 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: either place him in a potential claim list, you like 168 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: him on your practice squad, a workout list, or we 169 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: would throw them into boneyard where we wouldn't have any 170 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: interest in them at all. So it broke them down 171 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 1: into categories. If you find a guy that you potentially 172 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: would claim. We would have maybe three or four five 173 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: guys after we went through the scene, like millions of 174 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: names that night, and then we'd have group studies through 175 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 1: the night. So when the coaches came in the morning, 176 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: I know they're getting ready to game plan and get 177 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: ready for the upcoming season. We would say, here are 178 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: the guys that you guys need to look at. So 179 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 1: we'd give them to the coaches. They will evaluate them, 180 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: and then we would make a decision with myself the 181 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: head coach, whether we're going to claim that player or not. 182 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: And if we put the claim in, hopefully you get them. 183 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: If you do get them, you have an hour to 184 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: make a roster move. So I remember sometimes we had 185 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: practice out there we were having to walk through and 186 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: then you'd have to grab a guy coming off the 187 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: field and saying, hey, listen, we're going to release you'll 188 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: we're going to try to get you back on practice 189 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: squad uh once if you do clear waivers, but we 190 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: just claim this guy. So not only is that initial 191 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: list of fifty three a chance to improve your roster, 192 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: but when the domino effect happens if teams start claiming 193 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: guys other teams have to come off, so you had 194 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: a whole nother a second wave of potential claim guys 195 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: or guys that you can add to your practice squad. 196 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: You're ready for a change. Payday comes early with citizens, 197 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: so go to that retreat. Knew you move to the country. 198 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: Now you're raising goats. 199 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: And launching a lifestyle brand. 200 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:08,959 Speaker 2: Are you ready for all that life brings when you're 201 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 2: putting your fifty three together? How much rick are you 202 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 2: anticipating based on those prior conversations you've had, maybe and 203 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,359 Speaker 2: the other things you know from around the league in contacts, 204 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 2: what guys might be let go. Does that influence what 205 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: you might do for your fifty three or is there 206 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: too much uncertainty there trying to anticipate who might become 207 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 2: available after that cutdown day at four o'clock that you 208 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 2: can then alter your roster again. 209 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, we have guys on the bubble that if we 210 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: can replace this guy, we will, but if not, he'll 211 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: make the fifty three. The biggest thing you're balancing too 212 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: is a lot of these vested veterans and if they 213 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: are on your roster week one, then that contract becomes guaranteed. 214 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: Even know it's probably minimum, but that's more money out 215 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: of your cap. So a lot of times you will 216 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: seemes that release a vested veteran but try to sign 217 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: them back after week one. The biggest I guess parameter 218 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: that I tried to use is if we decide to 219 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: cut this young guy and keep this vet, how sick 220 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: are you going to be if you lose him and 221 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: someone claims him. So a lot of times you may 222 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: keep those young guys through the initial wave, let everybody 223 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: else set their fifty three man roster, and then maybe 224 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: a couple of days later or a day later, try 225 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: to squeeze him through once everybody kind of gets the 226 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 1: roster set. But it's always a cat and mouse game. 227 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: It's a little bit just like the draft, a guessing game. 228 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: And to me, it was the hardest three or four 229 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: days in the entire year, even above the draft, because 230 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: of the condensed time you have to make those decisions 231 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: to get through all those names, even though you try 232 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: to do as much prep work as you possibly can, 233 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: But those are a long two or three days to 234 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: finalize it roster. 235 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, to your point, how are you able to try 236 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 2: to anticipate what guys are most likely to not get 237 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: to your practice squad, right, guys that you want in 238 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,719 Speaker 2: the building, but maybe you don't not sure you want 239 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 2: to spend the roster spot on them, but you're afraid 240 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 2: they might be if you're subjected to waivers, they're going 241 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 2: to get claimed by somebody else. How does that influence 242 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 2: the decision making and how do you gather intel to 243 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: figure out which guys might have more value to other 244 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 2: organizations that they might take. 245 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: That's like trying to gather intel before the draft because 246 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 1: there's so much smoke screen going on out there, so 247 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: you're just trying to say, listen, we don't want to 248 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: lose this guy. Let's just keep him on the fifty 249 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: three and just you know, for example, looking at the 250 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: Giants and I don't have a clue of what they 251 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: were looking at, but they have a lot of receivers. 252 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: And I was up there at the joint practice with 253 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: Detroit and you know with keeping Shepherd and where Robinson 254 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: is coming off his ACL and and uh, but this 255 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: forward Wheaten kid would have been very interesting. Unfortunately tours 256 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: ACL this week, but it had been very interesting. But 257 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: that would be an example of because he showed up 258 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: in the preseason at least he showed up to me 259 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: when they were up at the combined practices with Detroit. 260 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: Is that kid worth sticking on the fifty three years? 261 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: That worth taking a chance and trying to let him 262 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: slide through waivers? And unfortunately for him that was decided 263 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: when he tore his acl But those that would be 264 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: an example of a decision that you would have to make. 265 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, And they were using him as a gun or 266 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 2: a lot on the vice too. On punt. I think 267 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 2: he had a real shot too before that injury. It's 268 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: too bad. 269 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: And that's the great point that you made. A lot 270 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: of that comes down to these young guys. The fourth 271 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: fifth receiver, and our example was Adam Thielen. You know 272 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: where he wasn't Adam Thielen that we know today. He 273 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: was a guy that we signed as a college free 274 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: agent and he ended up we ended up cutting him 275 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: getting him on a practice squad. But it was the 276 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: real tough decision because he was a valuable asset not 277 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: only as a player, even though he wasn't ready as 278 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: a receiver, but he was a very good special teamer. 279 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: And when we had an injury during a seat then 280 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: we brought him up off our practice squad. I think 281 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 1: he ended up blocking a punt against Carolina when we 282 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: were playing in the University of Minnesota's stadium that year, 283 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: and then the rest was history. 284 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 2: And it's funny you mentioned the wide receiver position. The 285 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 2: Giants did do some early releases on Saturday, including one 286 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 2: of the wide receivers, Colin Johnson, and Brian Dable had 287 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: a quote saying, look, we think Colin's a good player. 288 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 2: We just really like our room. We want to give 289 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 2: him an opportunity to maybe latch on with the team. 290 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 2: So when you were releasing these guys early, Rick a 291 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 2: lot of the time, is that a favor to these 292 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: players to let other teams know that he's available only 293 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: to give him a better chance of catching on elsewhere. 294 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: And what other reasons might there be to release a 295 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 2: guy a little bit earlier in the process rather than 296 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 2: waiting until four o'clock on Tuesday. 297 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: Well, one is if I think that's a fair assessment, 298 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: if he's not going to be on your roster or 299 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 1: on your practice squad, to give them an opportunity at 300 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: least to have some teams look at him. But if 301 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: I'm trying to get a guy through my practice squad. 302 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: I don't want to put his name on that list 303 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: till he's blended in with eight million other names, you know. 304 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: I don't want him to stick out like a sore thumb. 305 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, we were watching this. Take a couple of 306 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: days to go back and look. But it does give 307 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: guys that you know that are probably not going to 308 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: make your football team or make your practice squad. It 309 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: gives them an opportunity to get out there and get 310 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: a little early. And then when you have to go 311 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: from ninety to fifty three and you're speaking each one 312 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: of those individuals, that's another very long emotional day too, 313 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: that really really takes a lot out of you mentally. 314 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 2: You mentioned the practice squad. You went through it where 315 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: you saw the practice squad grow and grow and grow 316 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: and the rules around it expanded. Right, you could keep 317 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: more veterans on it now than you could before. How 318 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 2: does the changing practice squad and how did it impact you? 319 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 2: And you were putting your rosters together that you know 320 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: you can call guys up now, so maybe you can 321 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 2: have a developmental guy in the fifty three that you 322 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 2: can now supplement with a guy you call from the 323 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 2: practice squad each week. How did that change your thinking 324 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 2: on putting your roster together? 325 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was part of the I was co chair 326 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: with Tom Telesco of the GM committee, and all that 327 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: kind of came out of the COVID year and when 328 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: we had to keep extra and we made all these exceptions, 329 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: I want to say, exceptions, new type of rules on 330 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: how you can protect guys, bring him up and down. 331 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: But the other advantage was for the veterans, you know, 332 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: so I don't want to expose this young guy because 333 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: veterans that are four years they don't have to go 334 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: through the waiver wire until, you know, halfway through the season, 335 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: after the trade deadline, then those veterans go through a waiver. 336 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: But at the beginning they're just free agents. So we 337 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: can really say that we'll cut that veteran and put 338 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: him on practice squad in order to keep that young 339 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: guy that we don't want to get exposed. 340 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 2: The Giant Huttle is brought to you by Citizens, the 341 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,120 Speaker 2: official bank of the Giants from game data. Everyday, Citizens 342 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 2: is made ready for Giant fans with insights, guidance, and solutions. 343 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 2: Learn more at Citizens bank dot com. Rick How do 344 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 2: you grade players during the preseason is it like literally 345 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: a grade for every practice, grades for preseason. How do 346 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 2: you just bring all that scouting and self scouting you've 347 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,719 Speaker 2: done over the course of the summer to really, you know, 348 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 2: stack these guys and figure out which guys are better 349 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 2: and more valuable. Just how does that internal process work? 350 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: Are you talking about with like, for example, what the 351 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: Giants are doing with the Giants players? 352 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 2: Yes? Correct? Yeah, yeah, yeah, when you look at your 353 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 2: own roster course of the summer. Yeah. 354 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: No, that starts back in the OTAs when they start 355 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: coming in and you know what they are because you 356 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: did all of their college evaluation, and then you start 357 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 1: to assess where they're at, where the development is as 358 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: you go through the OTAs in the mini camps, and 359 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: then what they do when they come into training camp. 360 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: I think the biggest thing it separates guys from making 361 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: it and not making it are one the value that 362 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: he can potentially bring the special teams, And two is 363 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: can the coaches trust them if they have to go 364 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: and take a game and get on the field. So 365 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: are they learning a system? Do they know what to do? 366 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: And so that's not only just in preseason games, but 367 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: that's through the out every practice and we would have meetings, 368 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: personnel meetings at least once or twice a week, assessing 369 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 1: where each guy is, if they're improving or if they're 370 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: not improving, And that's where you really get the true evaluation. 371 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: It's not okay, we'll see what he does in the 372 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: last preseason game. That may be a final checkbox next 373 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: to him, but there was an assessment done since he 374 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: started when he walked in the first day of rookie 375 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: mini camp. 376 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 2: You mentioned special teams, and you're right, it's vital. How 377 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 2: do you balance a guy that you know can be 378 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 2: a big teams player, But maybe your coaches is like, 379 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 2: you know, we really don't want to put this guy 380 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 2: in the field on defense. That could be a problem, 381 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 2: but man, he's going to help us on specials. How 382 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 2: many types of those guys can you even keep because 383 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 2: you do need X number of numbers at each position 384 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 2: you can actually run on offensive defense, right right. 385 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: Well, that comes down when you're talking through this is okay, 386 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: when we are on what is our forur to six 387 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 1: man roster going to look like Week one? And if 388 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: this guy is a core contributor on special teams, I 389 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 1: mean that's still part of the game. Although it seems 390 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: like the beginning eliminated every year. I think maybe it's 391 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: only punt return left what they have to do. But 392 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: that can be a vital sign on a guy makes it, 393 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: and it could be let's say, a rookie who's maybe 394 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:49,479 Speaker 1: behind a veteran at a position, but you're anticipating that 395 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: he's going to help you week one on special teams 396 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: is going to be one of your core special teams 397 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: player and you also have to project that by week 398 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: six or seven, this rookie maybe as good or better 399 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: than that veteran that we keep so or it could 400 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: be a veteran. Listen, I know he knows what to do, 401 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: he can get us through a game, but he's one 402 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: of our core guys on special teams. But you can't 403 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: have just, you know, ten of those guys on your roster. 404 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: So usually the number comes down to maybe two or three, 405 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: three or four that end up being core special teams 406 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: players for you that but they have to be able 407 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: to go function in the game if they had to 408 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: be used. 409 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: Last question on this topic before we get to a 410 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 2: little NFL season preview here Rick, before we say goodbye 411 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 2: and again, thanks so much for the time how much 412 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 2: do you marry yourself? Do we need X number of 413 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 2: players at each position? And when you get down to you, well, yeah, 414 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 2: we really think we need that fourth tight end, let's say, 415 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 2: but that seventh wide receiver is just a much better player. 416 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 2: What's what are those conversations like as a front ofbust 417 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 2: when you haven't those with the coaching staff. 418 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: Those are the difficult ones because anyone you decide to keep, 419 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: there's one that's falling off to get to the fifty three. 420 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: And then that's where that special teams comes in. So 421 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: that fourth tight end, and it may come down to, hey, listen, 422 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: we have three tight ends that are going to be 423 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: out of contract next year, so you have to weigh 424 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: that in or the assessment on Okay, this receiver is 425 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: a veteran, but this rookie tight end is going to 426 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: be a really good player for us, so you may 427 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 1: lean towards the younger guy. Plus you have to take 428 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: in all of your cap consideration and where you're at 429 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: in the cap, because you have to have a cushion 430 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 1: in your cap, and we use a two to three 431 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: million dollar cushion just to get through the season. So 432 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: if you lose players, you know you have replacement player costs. 433 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,479 Speaker 1: You have to pay for your practice squad. You have 434 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: to get through a season, so everybody thinks no one 435 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: is up just at the cap when a fifty three 436 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: comes down to it, you have to have enough cushion 437 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: to make sure that you pay for your practice squad, 438 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 1: replacement players, potential injury settlements. There are a lot of 439 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: things that you have to budget for that aren't anticipated. 440 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: But you have to have enough room in your cap 441 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:12,479 Speaker 1: to get through a season. 442 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Now, even activating those practice squad players on a 443 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 2: game day, right, that's even more money that you have 444 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 2: to account for, right, yep. 445 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: That's why you have to have make sure that you're 446 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: anticipating the cushion that you need to get through a season. 447 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 2: Giant Fans level winner, It's why they love Citizens Named 448 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty two best bank in the US by 449 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 2: The Banker, as the official bank of the Giants and 450 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 2: sponsor of the Huddle, Citizens is made ready for fans 451 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 2: of Big Blue. Learn more at Citizens bank dot com. 452 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 1: You love turf. 453 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 2: You're good at it, so you start a turf fiz 454 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 2: business grows, your savings grow, become the most celebrated name 455 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:51,360 Speaker 2: in turf. Are you ready for all that life brings? Rick? 456 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 2: As you well know doing this for so long, how 457 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: a team figures out their quarterback and who their quarterback 458 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 2: is has such a big impact on whether or not 459 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 2: they're going to be a consistent winner. Giants had a 460 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 2: big decision to make with Daniel Jones this offseason. Just 461 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,679 Speaker 2: wondering from your perspective, how you think they handled it, 462 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: did they do the right thing, and how things look 463 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 2: for Big Blue with Daniel now locked up on that 464 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 2: four year deal moving forward. 465 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I thought he did a phenomenal job last year. 466 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: And one thing that really surprised me was I knew 467 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 1: he was a good athlete, but I didn't realize how 468 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: good an athlete he was and how he was able 469 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: to make plays with his legs. And because of that, 470 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: defenses have to account for his mobility. You know, he's 471 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: not just a pocket passer, So that added one element 472 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 1: to his game that defenses had to worry about. Now 473 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 1: you get Saquon Barkley in there, and I think the 474 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: biggest addition they could have made was getting Waller in 475 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: at tight end because of what he's going to do 476 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: in a passing game, and I think they have enough 477 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: of weapons around Daniel Jones now that he's going to 478 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,639 Speaker 1: be a very good quarterback. They had a year to 479 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: I know they didn't exercise I don't believe the fifth 480 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: year option on him, so they had a whole year 481 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: to be around him, and they made that organizational decision 482 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: that he was our quarterback going forward. And the one 483 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: thing you would ask yourself in those meetings after he 484 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:20,679 Speaker 1: assess them is if not him, who And I don't know, 485 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: after you get through those first four three or four 486 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: picks that were in the draft, is there another rookie 487 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 1: quarterback that's going to do what Daniel Jones did for 488 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: us last year? And you're building off of something where 489 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: you came out and probably surprised a lot of people 490 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: on how good your team was, how well coach they were, 491 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: that you don't want to take a step back. You 492 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: want to keep growing and moving forward. And I think 493 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,880 Speaker 1: Daniel Jones earned a contract he got on the way 494 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: he performed last year, and I believe Joe and coach 495 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 1: really felt that too, or else they wouldn't have done 496 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: that deal. 497 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 2: And I'm sure, I mean, you scatted him obviously, but 498 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 2: I'm sure at the joint practice. You noticed Daniel's gotten 499 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 2: a lot bigger too, Like upper body, he's bulked up. 500 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 2: He's a strong guy. I think he's done that in 501 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 2: preparation to handle a lot of that running stuff that 502 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 2: you were talking about too. 503 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, but you want to keep him healthy too, of course, 504 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: just like the Miami get bumped up too. But you 505 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: still want to make sure they're still going to take 506 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: hits no matter how big they are, and they still 507 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: have to stay healthy. 508 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 2: If it isn't a Keith third down, get down and slide. 509 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 2: I think the mist for the quarterbacks, no question. You 510 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 2: mentioned squon earlier. You did this with Dalvin Cook in Minnesota, right, 511 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 2: How tough is it to handle running backs that are 512 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 2: elite players? And you love him in the building heading 513 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 2: into that second contract. Given kind of where that market 514 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 2: has developed. 515 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: Well, it's different than it was maybe even four or 516 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: five years ago. My first draft, our first pick was 517 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 1: Adrian Peterson, and he's right, he was the whole focus 518 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,880 Speaker 1: of our offense. So we didn't look at it as 519 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 1: a running back. We looked at it as can this 520 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: guy score points for us when he has the ball 521 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 1: in his hands? And I think Saquon fits into that category. 522 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: But since the success of some of these later round 523 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: guys and now it seems to be the theory that 524 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: you don't spend money on that position. It was funny 525 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: I talked to during coaching interviews. One of the things 526 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 1: that I would ask was, if you had four positions 527 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,160 Speaker 1: that you had to pay on offense, top end money 528 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 1: or the top money in the market, what for would 529 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: you pick? And of course it was a receiver, it 530 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: was left tackle, was quarterback. But in the past, it's 531 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 1: always been running back. I've talked to a lot of 532 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: these young offensive coordinators or I think young guys that 533 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: will be offensive coordinators in a couple of years from now. 534 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: None of them said running back was a place they 535 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 1: would put their money. All sudden shifted the tight end. 536 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:49,119 Speaker 2: Tight end, right, That's what I figured. 537 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 1: So now it seems like because Kansas City goes out 538 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,680 Speaker 1: wins the Super Bowl with Pacheco and they get a 539 00:26:55,920 --> 00:27:00,040 Speaker 1: you know, well, is that an anomaly or is that 540 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: the way it trend in is? But I think with 541 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: the way the NFL game has evolved, and you're seeing 542 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: a lot more three wide receiver sets, it's not so 543 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 1: much with a fullback or two tight ends. You know, 544 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: in a running back getting the ball twenty five thirty touches. 545 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: The game now seems like the ball is getting spread 546 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 1: out more and it seems like if you have an 547 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: impact receiver, that those are the guys that are having 548 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 1: the biggest impact on the game. You know, whether it's 549 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: a you know AJ Brown in Philadelphia. Look what he 550 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,879 Speaker 1: did for Hertz, Tyreek Kill, what he did for Tua. 551 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 1: You know, even justin Jefferson up in Minnesota and what 552 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: an impact he has. And Lord knows what his contract's 553 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 1: going to come in looking like by the time he's 554 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: ready to get one. So but I do believe that 555 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 1: when you have a unique talent like a Sakuon Barkley, 556 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: but add in the fact that he's a great character guy, 557 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: that he's a great culture fit in the locker room, 558 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 1: that he's going to do every thing right, that he 559 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 1: represents your organization the right way, both on and off 560 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: the field, that have some value in mind to opinion. 561 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 1: Maybe I'm old school, but I think that adds some 562 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: value to the contract as well. 563 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:15,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would say, no question about it, And just 564 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,199 Speaker 2: from a league kind of pattern perspective, Rick, I'm interested 565 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: to get your take. Do you think we're gonna see 566 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,159 Speaker 2: maybe some more fullback stuff, going back to some more 567 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,479 Speaker 2: gap scheme stuff. As these teams there's some man of 568 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,360 Speaker 2: these Fangio disciples, right that run these shell defensive safeties 569 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 2: backs it's light boxes. Are we going to see teams 570 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 2: get back maybe away from some of the outside zone 571 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: stuff and more towards that straight ahead gap scheme power 572 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:37,879 Speaker 2: running attack. 573 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: I know, I think that it depending on if you're keeping, 574 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: like example, you gave earlier four tight ends. Sometimes those 575 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: tight ends can fill that role instead of just keeping 576 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: a full back that you have a dual position guy. 577 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: And I think that's tremendous value. And that also and 578 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: I didn't mention that earlier comes down I'm making a 579 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: fifty three or not if you can play multi positions 580 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 1: or do multiple things for them. But if you have 581 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: a fullback that can also fill that void or tight 582 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: end that could also play a full back type role, 583 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, motion them in the backfield or 584 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: most whatever creative ways they's offensive coordinators are going to 585 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: use them. That gives you some flexibility to do some 586 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: of the things that you're talking about. 587 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 2: How much of the giants you think closed the gap 588 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,719 Speaker 2: with Dallas and Philly in the NFC East. They made 589 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 2: the playoffs last year, won a playoff game. It was 590 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 2: a successful year in the first year the regime of 591 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 2: Dable and Shane, but there were still kind of a 592 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 2: ways back from Philly in Dallas, right Do you think 593 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 2: they've closed the gap talent wise? Yeah? 594 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: I do, I really do. It's still going to be 595 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: a huge challenge because I think the NFC East is 596 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: probably the toughest division in football right now, and I 597 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: wouldn't what Washington Commanders look like during the preseason. I 598 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: think they're going to be a better football team as well. 599 00:29:55,400 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: So that is a very, very tough division. You can't 600 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 1: injuries going into the season. But I do think the 601 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: Giants and Joe Shane has done enough to really close 602 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 1: the gap. Whether they're roster is physical, you know, just 603 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: going man per man. Are they better than Philadelphia or 604 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: Dallas right now? I don't know if they've reached that 605 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: category yet, but they have closed the gap. 606 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 2: All right then, And the final question just kind of 607 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 2: what do you see the Giants trajectory here? A big 608 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 2: picture in the NFC, it's kind of unlike the AFC 609 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 2: rick It's a wide open conference. You don't have the 610 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 2: Burrows and the mahomes Is and the Herberts and the Lawrences, 611 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 2: and there's a bunch of more Rogers go down the list, right, 612 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 2: Just what do you see the trajectory of the franchise? 613 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 2: What should fan expectations be this year and and kind 614 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 2: of what are the next steps they need to take 615 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 2: to become Super Bowl contenders. 616 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that they are going moving in the 617 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: right direction after having a few down years. I think 618 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: Davo is one is a great coach and what the 619 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: culture and what the discipline he's brought to that football team. 620 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,600 Speaker 1: And Joe has done a phenomenal job bringing in the personnel. 621 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 1: And as long as that coaching staff in the front 622 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: office can marry that personnel together to bring in not 623 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: only good football players, but high quality, high character people, 624 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: which seems like that's what they're accomplishing that that'll continue 625 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,800 Speaker 1: to grow. But there's no reason why they shouldn't be 626 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: back in the playoff again this year. And again I'm 627 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: not you know, you can't predict the injuries if something 628 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: gets heard, but if they stay healthy, they should have 629 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 1: a playoff football team this year. 630 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 2: Rig This was wonderful. Thank you so much for doing it. 631 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 2: We love to have you on the offseason again. Maybe 632 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 2: for freegency in the draft and pick your GM brain 633 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 2: as you get into that part of the offseason. Thank 634 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 2: you so much. 635 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks for having me on today. 636 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 2: Rick Bielman, former Vikings GM on the Giants Little Podcast. 637 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, everybody, We'll see you next time.