Imagine That

[rcaldw]

Well, imagine that. The Giants make a commitment to a young QB, play him even though he stinks the joint up sometimes, and they are now NFC East Champions with years of success ahead of them, and their QB of the future, in his 2nd year, playing for sure in the playoffs.

We, on the other hand, keep saying that we think Drew can play a whole 3 more years. We have a mid 30's QB, and age at our 2 most important WR positions. All because we keep patching the most important positions to try and win now. We don't even accomplish our goal. At least, if we are going to take a strategy that I completely disagree with, I would like it to work.

As it stands we will go into the off season talking about our young defense. Something else will spring up next season. We will enjoy another year of close wins and defeats and probably a very similar result, and we won't be any closer to having our QB for the next decade.

Someone made a commitment to youth at QB and it paid off, imagine that.

 

[SDogo]

no argument here. Anyone but Bill would have addresses the issue.

 

[Dale]

Land me a top-flight quarterback with the No. 1 pick (or talented first-rounder) and I, too, would commit to building the team around him.

I'm not as eager to hand the team to late-round picks, or undrafted players. Note that Tom Brady never had a team handed to him. He started only because the normal starter was hurt.

 

[Juke99]

...not to pour salt in the wound....but Coughlin benched Warner (a veteran QB) while the Giants were still in the running for a playoff spot last year and started Manning...

Then again, Coughlin plans on coaching for a while...not only another year or two...THAT makes all the difference.

 

[SDogo]

...not to pour salt in the wound....but Coughlin benched Warner (a veteran QB) while the Giants were still in the running for a playoff spot last year and started Manning...

Then again, Coughlin plans on coaching for a while...not only another year or two...THAT makes all the difference.

Which is why I'm even more anti-Bill. I'm concerned about the future of this team. I could get a flying rats butt about Bills image.

 

[rcaldw]

Land me a top-flight quarterback with the No. 1 pick (or talented first-rounder) and I, too, would commit to building the team around him.

I'm not as eager to hand the team to late-round picks, or undrafted players. Note that Tom Brady never had a team handed to him. He started only because the normal starter was hurt.

I respect that point of view, but I don't agree with it. Drew Henson is a 3rd round pick, who was a sure 1st round pick if he hadn't played baseball. They have completely mismanaged the player. And everyone keeps accepting it by saying "Bill knows what he is doing". Well, I don't buy that argument. Bill Parcells wanted to win quick, plain and simple, and I believe that should be clear to everyone. He can win quick and mix in young players on defense, and running back where sheer physical ability can offset youth. But no way was he going to go with a QB school at his age. So, we do it Big Bill's way, and if the Commanders and Panthers win tomorrow, it is no playoffs for 2 of his first 3 years, and the playoff year was his first year.

I do NOT deny that Parcells has added talent to this team. He has. But he has mismanaged the QB position, and no one, regardless of how they can parrot Parcell's logic, will ever convince me otherwise.

 

[Dale]

Just because we traded a third for Henson doesn't make him a third-round pick. Technically, he was a sixth-rounder. Yes, I understand the circumstances. I remain a fan of his talent (see my avatar), but I have severe reservations -- especially after seeing him for every day in training camp this past summer.

Perhaps they have mismanaged Henson, but it's not by not playing him. You could also argue we "mismanaged" both Carter -- a second-round pick -- and Hutchinson -- a supposed "high-round pick" talent had he not gone to baseball -- by playing them too quickly.

Many fans criticized Jerry for rushing Quincy and Chad on to the field too quickly, yet we're wrong for not rushing Henson onto the field? If anything, our mistake is by not choosing players who have played, say, eight-plus years of interrupted football.

 

[rcaldw]

Btw, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also clinched a playoff birth tonight. And guess what? They have a 3rd year QB leading them at the moment. And HE WASN'T A 1ST ROUND PICK. Nope, taken in the 3rd round. And, had many doubters before he took the helm. You know what he had? Talent.

In fact, his own head coach didn't even believe in him. Acted like it griped his soul to have to play him. Even brought in another QB from SF as soon as his starter went down.

Hmmmm

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Be patient. There are hundreds of young QBs who played too early and as a result their confidence was shot and their careers were ruined.

You can't compare one player like Eli who played 3 years as a starter at Ole Miss and Henson who was out of the sport for 3 years.

I'm encouraged that Henson feels as if something "clicked" for him in September/October and he became confident throwing the football. You could tell that confidence was not there last year or this year in camp. That is exactly what Tom Brady was quoted as saying would happen for Henson and when it did he would become a great QB.

Aslo remember that as the 3rd teamer running the scout team he actually has gotten more work on a week to week basis, (even though it was simulating the opponent's offense), than the 2nd team QB.

If Henson has the right stuff he will eventually get his chance and he will be ready to make the most of it.

Patience is a virtue.

 

[Dale]

Simms also came straight into the league, and sat and learned. Note that he didn't start from day one, and didn't have a team handed to him. He's starting only because their veteran quarterback got hurt -- just like Brady, as I suggested earlier.

 

[rcaldw]

Simms also came straight into the league, and sat and learned. Note that he didn't start from day one, and didn't have a team handed to him. He's starting only because their veteran quarterback got hurt -- just like Brady, as I suggested earlier.

And proved that he could have been playing before NOW. In fact, if the starter hadn't gotten hurt Gruden would have never gone with him. I guess head coaches don't always know best.

 

[rcaldw]

Be patient. There are hundreds of young QBs who played too early and as a result their confidence was shot and their careers were ruined.

You can't compare one player like Eli who played 3 years as a starter at Ole Miss and Henson who was out of the sport for 3 years.

I'm encouraged that Henson feels as if something "clicked" for him in September/October and he became confident throwing the football. You could tell that confidence was not there last year or this year in camp. That is exactly what Tom Brady was quoted as saying would happen for Henson and when it did he would become a great QB.

Aslo remember that as the 3rd teamer running the scout team he actually has gotten more work on a week to week basis, (even though it was simulating the opponent's offense), than the 2nd team QB.

If Henson has the right stuff he will eventually get his chance and he will be ready to make the most of it.

Patience is a virtue.

Sorry Cap, I could accept your reasoning if I was hearing anything positive from someone other than Henson. Instead, we hear rumors that he is headed to NFL Europe.

All the references to training camp, in my opinion, are meaningless. The guy was having to learn a new throwing motion from the Cowboys QB geniuses.

I saw Henson play live here in Houston in his first year, and he clearly has big league talent. He doesn't just have the physical tools, I think he will prove to be a leader. In fact, I have NOTHING to base it on, and will freely admit it, but I think one of the reasons Romo is a Parcells favorite is that he licks his boots, and I don't think Henson will do that. I think Henson respects him, but won't be his puppy dog. Just an opinion.

 

[Dale]

Sorry Cap, I could accept your reasoning if I was hearing anything positive from someone other than Henson. Instead, we hear rumors that he is headed to NFL Europe.

All the references to training camp, in my opinion, are meaningless. The guy was having to learn a new throwing motion from the Cowboys QB geniuses.

I saw Henson play live here in Houston in his first year, and he clearly has big league talent. He doesn't just have the physical tools, I think he will prove to be a leader. In fact, I have NOTHING to base it on, and will freely admit it, but I think one of the reasons Romo is a Parcells favorite is that he licks his boots, and I don't think Henson will do that. I think Henson respects him, but won't be his puppy dog. Just an opinion.

But if he's being sent to Europe, that speaks volumes of where he is. No one is sending them over there because they despise the guy. He's beinig sent because he needs experience and needs to improve his game.

You say training camp is meaningless, but how many other means are there to judge the guy by? That was his chance to secure the backup job and potentially -- though highly unlikely -- even challenge for the starting job (at least in fans' and medias' minds)...yet he couldn't do it.

Even Jerry seems to be cooling off on the guy, which speaks volumes to me.

 

[rcaldw]

But if he's being sent to Europe, that speaks volumes of where he is. No one is sending them over there because they despise the guy. He's beinig sent because he needs experience and needs to improve his game.

You say training camp is meaningless, but how many other means are there to judge the guy by? That was his chance to secure the backup job and potentially -- though highly unlikely -- even challenge for the starting job (at least in fans' and medias' minds)...yet he couldn't do it.

Even Jerry seems to be cooling off on the guy, which speaks volumes to me.

How about if I tell you that I'm giving you a chance to secure any kind of job, any kind, a starting basketball position, a starting baseball position, or a QB position, but you have to change the way you have done it all your life, and totally rework the way you do it. Now, remember something. You are also a 2nd year player. So instead of focusing on things that 2nd year players SHOULD BE ABLE to focus on, like reading defenses and making quick decisions, you will have to be focusing on having your hands and arms in the position we want them in, and your release point at the place we want it. WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET A READ ON WHAT KIND OF PLAYER YOU ARE?

No way. The way they have handled Drew Henson is just plain stupid.

That is why I say training camp means nothing.

In terms of Jerry cooling on him. All that says to me is that Jerry listens to Bill.

Cmon, Jerry is as football gullible as they come. Whether you like Henson or despise him, I don't put an ounce of value on Jerry Jones' football opinions.

 

[silverbear]

Well, imagine that. The Giants make a commitment to a young QB, play him even though he stinks the joint up sometimes, and they are now NFC East Champions with years of success ahead of them, and their QB of the future, in his 2nd year, playing for sure in the playoffs.

You talk as if Eli is the reason the Giants made the playoffs, and of course that's just RIDICULOUS... he put up a quarterback rating of 75.1, and completed 52.9 per cent of his passes...

The Giants made the playoffs more because of Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyori than because of what Manning did this year...

Now, I think that Eli might eventually wind up being a pretty good quarterback, but you seem to be ready to induct him into the Hall of Fame, which is borderline asinine... had the Giants had an experienced veteran at the helm this year, they would likely have been even better...

 

[CaptainAmerica]

But if he's being sent to Europe, that speaks volumes of where he is. No one is sending them over there because they despise the guy. He's beinig sent because he needs experience and needs to improve his game.

You say training camp is meaningless, but how many other means are there to judge the guy by? That was his chance to secure the backup job and potentially -- though highly unlikely -- even challenge for the starting job (at least in fans' and medias' minds)...yet he couldn't do it.

Even Jerry seems to be cooling off on the guy, which speaks volumes to me.

Dale,
Why do you say Jerry is cooling on him. Have you heard something?
From the outside it seems that Jerry is content now to let the vet Bledsoe play and let Henson develop the old fashioned way that all QBs used to be developed.

 

[lwehlers]

i been reading all of the post about henson here tonight and get the feeling that sending henson to europe is not going to be a good move for him. i have watched nfl europe the last five years and i have not seen one decent qb who has played in europe even have a chance to stay in the nfl for more then one season after that qb has played in the league. i will watch every game he plays in this spring and really hope that he plays well. i watched every game that hutchinson played and hope the best for him bet we know how that turned out. if we draft a qb in middle round this year draft i get the feeling he will not be a cowboy at the end of trainging camp if he plays just average. he is going to have to play head and shoulders better then any qb over there to be even considered our future qb.

 

[Hostile]

You talk as if Eli is the reason the Giants made the playoffs, and of course that's just RIDICULOUS... he put up a quarterback rating of 75.1, and completed 52.9 per cent of his passes...

The Giants made the playoffs more because of Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyori than because of what Manning did this year...

Now, I think that Eli might eventually wind up being a pretty good quarterback, but you seem to be ready to induct him into the Hall of Fame, which is borderline asinine... had the Giants had an experienced veteran at the helm this year, they would likely have been even better...

I'm going to partially agree with you. First of all I do not agree with you that rcaldw has Eli in the HOF. Nowhere in his posts does he suggest that. I do agree with you that the Giants could be further along with a polished veteran, but at what cost to their future?

Despite pedestrian stats of 75.1 and 52.9 he still is developing into a decent starting QB. Would I be happy with those numbers from Henson? No, I wouldn't but if he was developing the rest of his game the way Eli is I sure would be. His brother didn't exactly hit 60% and 90 QB rating right off the bat either. Playing QB at a high level in the NFL is about confidence. Eli is gaining confidence.

The entity that will benefit the most from that confidence over the long haul is the New York Giants.

 

[burmafrd]

Manning is not as accurate as his brother. I would say that unless he gets better at that, he will never come close to his brother in ability.

 

[Hostile]

Manning is not as accurate as his brother. I would say that unless he gets better at that, he will never come close to his brother in ability.

His brother's first year he completed 51%. I doubt he'll ever be as good, but he has a lot of room for upward improvement.