Loading ...The New York Giants have some tough decisions to make this week that will undoubtedly have a drastic effect upon team's upcoming title defense in 2012. Not only do General Manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin have to cut down the roster from 90 players to the final 53 (currently at 75), but the coaching staff must decide how to many players to take at each position on the depth chart.
As a squad that has once again been hit hard by the injury bug, the front office will inevitably be forced to stash some players that may be able to help the team down the road on the injured reserve list. However, for cornerback Terrell Thomas, recent progress on his aggravated ACL injury may preclude him from such a scenario.
Today, Thomas said that although the timeline for his return to the field is in the doctor's hands, it's more than likely he will begin to start running as soon as this week. About a week ago, reports began to fly that T2 was a long way from full strength. However, said reports of Thomas' lack of progress seem to have been proven erroneous … at this point. Obviously, this is encouraging news to Giants fans, who saw Thomas' replacement in Prince Amukamara suffer a high ankle sprain in the team's third preseason game.
The issue with keeping Thomas off the IR is that if he does not play or contribute in the early goings, he will eat up a valuable roster spot. With Price Amukamara's injury, the only way for the team to retain both will be by carrying six cornerbacks. Normally, only four to five cornerbacks dress per game.The situation gets further complicated when the wide receiver position is considered.
The Giants have seven wide receivers capable of becoming productive NFL players. With Ramses Barden flashing some serious potential, and David Douglas returning a few nice punts, the team is going to have a tough time letting any of these players off the roster. While taking seven receivers would bode well for the youngsters rounding out the depth chart at that position, it would most likely come as bad news for Terrell Thomas, Marvin Austin, or any other walking wounded looking to secure a spot on the roster.
If T2 starts running this week and can get on the practice field relatively soon, there is no chance he goes to IR. He has too much potential and adds versatility to an already potent defense. Not only is he one of the better cover corners in the NFL (when healthy), Thomas has the ability to play great in run support as well. That said, a setback along the way would give the team no choice. Don't expect Thomas to be put on the IR, but it will still be interesting to see how the depth chart shakes out at certain positions.
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@Patricia_Traina:
T2 said he did some work on the elliptical and he did some squats and lunges. Said he felt good.
Running the numbers … and having a hard time seeing how Douglass makes the squad.
Petrus stock is soaring. If he flashes on Wednesday then he’s got a decent shot at staying.
Douglas’ argument is that he’s the #1 PR. He has flashed some nice receiving skills but this core argument is as a PR.
The thing is … we’ve never kept someone as just a return guy. Usually we pick the KR and PR guy from the roster after 53. I don’t see how we keep another specialist.
We had real issue at PR last year. the best solution would be Jernigan but he looks to be out of the running. Hosley would be the next best but he might have too many CB responsibilities. Hixon is the fall back option. But I think we prefer to use someone else.
Two words:
Darius Reynaud.
(shudders)
“Not only is he one of the better cover corners in the NFL (when healthy), Thomas has the ability to play great in run support as well.” I don’t thomas has ever been a great cover CB in fact he was never a better cover man than Cweb. The argument was as an all-around CB which has some merit though I think Cweb was always better. I bring this up because I think Prince and Hosley in the second half of the year can be better coverman than TT even was. But TT is a quality DB that if healthy can help us maybe in some nickel looks but definitely in dime looks even if he never gets his starting spot back. TT is only getting paid 2 mil for this year so even as a backup DB he brings value. The question though is still when will he get healhty.
Still if the doctor says he can’t start running this week I think IR or being released are very real possibilities. IR doesn’t totally protect TT from going to other teams because if he can prove he’s healthy we have to release him from IR (I recall this happening with Moss a few years back). If we release him at least he could play for us again this year if we IR him, he can’t.
I’m starting to get Will James (Peterson) flashbacks when thinking about TT’s career.
Giants 101 Giants 101 ?@Giants_101
To sum up the #Giants injury situation: Every single player not named Eli Manning is hurting in some way, shape or form right now.
I don’t subscribe to superstition, but since I have been wrong in this lifetime, I would rather that this had not been tweeted.
?@MikeGarafolo
Canty said watching Giants D film lately is “like watching the varsity defense vs. the JV offense.” #nyg
@art_stapleton
Sensed frustration from Chris Canty with idea knee feels better now than it did late last season when he played at high level #NYG
@art_stapleton
Chris Canty says his knee has been making “steady progress” & no setbacks, but PUP decision made “in best interest of this football tm” #NYG
@CBSSportsNFLNYG
Canty said there was no setback with his knee. He seemed very frustrated to be on PUP. Still confident that Rocky Bernard can step up. #NYG
?@MikeGarafolo
Canty says he hasn’t had any setbacks and remains pleased with his progress. Also says this is the best he’s seen Rocky Bernard look. #nyg
Lots of interesting stuff from Canty this afternoon. Glad the team decided to play it safe with him.
Glad to see the Rocky Bernard comments.
Speaking of TT, i think it is being pretty optimistic to assume the guy is going to come off a serious knee injury and another serious tweak andcover some of the best athletes in the NFL. a little cold water for all those prince haters (or doubters)….
TT was starting to look like he may have the goods to become a cover corner last preseason before being hurt, but he really was never that previously. As a number of people here have observed, that was not in his skill set. But he was a very good football player and the kind of corner who could, upon improvement in coverage skills, be a real key factor in anyone’s defensive backfield.
I have to admit I’d take Hosley and Amukamara over him if I were playing pickup football. Thomas would be my #4 guy on the current depth chart, and probably no higher next season. He’s worth about $2MM a year to us, nothing more.
Eh? He’s a zone guy, and big enough to run press coverage, which are both the style that Fewell’s been calling. He’ll never run step-for-step with Bryant or DeSean, but I trust him completely on his duties in this defense. I’d say he’s solidly #2 on this roster until either Prince or Hosley proves otherwise.
If healthy. With an injury like his you can’t assume health. And both Prince and Hosley have greater upsides IMO. And we never if we will see 2011 preseason TT again. Lock at Steve Smith and don’t forget Will Peterson (James). TT actually has just as much or more to prove as Prince or Hosley with his injury.
Nice comments by Canty. Sounds like he’ll be back this season. Rocky played very well last season. He appears to be one of those interior guys who doesn’t age out of the league as much as he just gets tired of putting his body through it and fades away.
Joseph/Rocky
Thomas/Kuhn
Austin makes roster.
That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
That’s my 5 DTs as well.
I think those are pretty clearly the 5 unless Rodgers is suddenly cleared which makes the decision much harder. Hendricks basically has been beaten out by Kuhn. Also I guess Austin good get the surprise IR like Mosley. But I doubt that now considering we PUP’d Canty and that would mean no practice or games for another regular season.
Canty just put a lot of pressure on Rocky, hope he can perform. He’s shown flashes of dominance, but don’t forget that Rocky is getting up there in age. I’m thinking Joseph really steps up this year (more so than last year) and finally becomes a “big name” at his position.
Thomas said there has been no hint of him potentially landing on the injured reserve so far to create room on the roster.
“Not that I know of, but I do understand that it’s a business and that’s what comes with it,” Thomas said. “That’s why I’m in here working my butt off every day, because it’s a numbers game. They drafted a first-rounder last year [Amukamara] and a [third-rounder] this year and those guys are gunning for my spot and I understand that.”
“I was that guy before,” Thomas added. “And I respect that and understand that’s a part of the business.”
Thomas doesn’t think he needs to show the Giants something before they make any decisions on Friday.
“Not at all. I think I’ve shown enough since I’ve been here,” Thomas said. “You never know with this type of injury. It’s a time thing. You don’t want to rush it. They have my back to give me that time and, you know, if not, they would have opted for the surgery because it was like a coin flip.”
“I didn’t need it, but it would have helped regardless,” Thomas added. “I’m very confident in myself and where I stand with this team, but it’s a business, you know. You see guys get cut left and right on these judgment days.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/giants/post/_/id/16265/thomas-hopes-to-start-running-this-week