Giant March Madness

Though March Madness is about to take top priority in most of our lives (no, I do not feel the least bit guilty spending most of the work day watching games on-line), there is still Giants news to hash through.

Mike Garafalo of nj.com is reporting that the Giants and long-time punter Jeff Feagles are engaged in a bit of a contract standoff. Feagles, through his agent, has said that he definitely plans on returning for another season (Feagles is 44 years of age and showed a signs of decline towards the end of last year), and all indications are that the Giants want to bring Feagles back. Feagles is still probably the best directional punter in the league (though I can no escape the haunting memory of the Iggles DeSean Jackson returning a Feagles punt for a touchdown in Week 14 of the 2009 season). The hold-up is about money and neither side is talking much, to each other, or to anyone else. My guess is that the Giants bring Feagles back and work this out, but the situation bears watching (and for those of you who care, I am planning on reaching out to Jerry Reese for a little punting audition, I am in process of compiling my U-tube videos as we speak).

On another front, inside middle linebacker prospect Brandon Spikes (thought to be a sure fire mid first round pick before the 2009 season) continued his descend down draft boards after an ugly showing at the Florida Pro Day yesterday. Spikes has been associated with the Giants because of the G-men’s glaring need at middle linebacker, but it is looking more and more likely that Spikes stock is falling and he is almost certain not to come off the board in round one, let alone to the G-men that early. ESPN’s Todd McShay expects Florida ILB Brandon Spikes to fall to the third round after running in the 5.0 range at Wednesday’s Pro Day. With news that the Giants attended both Rolando McClain’s Pro Day and Spikes Pro Day yesterday, at least the Giants are doing their due diligence to fill the biggest void in their defense. Something tells me the Giants will not be targeting Spikes in the first two rounds of the draft.

I think the Giants are in love with McClain and Jerry Reese would do jumping jacks (and Tom Coughlin might do without the off-season activities, just to bring McClain in; ok, Coughlin isn’t doing away with OTA(s), I am just making the point that the Giants love McClain and he might just be sitting there at number 15 in round one).

On a final note, how nice it is to see the Redskins bring in Rex Grossman to backup Jason Campbell, guessing that Shanahan really does intend to have Campbell play out the year because the prospect of having Grossman under center for any significant period of time only will put Washington into a high draft position in 2011. I still think that despite the glaring need for a left tackle (especially with the retirement of long-time left tackle Chris Samuels), Shanahan will either move up and grab Sam Bradford (unlikely thought because the Rams probably don’t let that happen) or Shanahan will pull the trigger on Notre Dame’s finest, Jimmy Clausen. Either way, Rex Grossman gives me confidence that the Redskins will once again be the little brother of the NFC East in 2010, smile Giants fans, Grossman is in the house! Stay blue!