If the Giants sign Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, it won't be simply to hold Eli Manning's hand as the highly touted rookie embarks on his NFL career. It will be to compete with the No. 1 overall draft pick for the starting job in 2004.
Warner met with Giants officials for nearly six hours yesterday, following a Monday evening dinner. Though no decision has been made about signing the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, both sides seemed impressed with one another. Warner is expected to be released after June 1, after which time his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Warner would sign with another team quickly.
A source familiar with the meetings said Giants coach Tom Coughlin assured Warner that he would have a chance to compete for the starting job, something that appeals to him.
Warner left Giants Stadium without comment, but reached on his cell phone on his way to Newark Airport, he said the meetings "went well," but declined further comment, referring a reporter to Bartelstein.
"They had a really good meeting," Bartelstein said. "Kurt enjoyed meeting with the whole staff, and he was impressed with everybody. Now we just have to sit back and look at everything to see if it's the right fit."
The Giants gave Warner a physical, but team officials refused to comment on the exam, citing confidentiality laws. The team seems satisfied, however, that Warner's health is good.
Warner did not work out for the Giants because he is still under contract to the Rams.
Bartelstein said Warner is "completely healthy," in spite of speculation that he has an arthritic condition in his right thumb that has limited the velocity on his throws. Warner has also had a problem with concussions; he suffered one in last year's season-opening loss to the Giants, and did not start the rest of the season.
"Kurt's fine," Bartelstein said. "He was fine all of last year. All you have to do is look at how he threw the ball in training camp. He's as healthy as can be."
Bartelstein said "five or six teams" have expressed serious interest in Warner, but he declined to name the teams. The Bears, Dolphins, Raiders, and 49ers are apparently among the teams interested.
Warner at least provides some hope that the Giants could actually win games this season, where as Manning does not provide that hope. I'd rather at least be able to delude myself that perhaps Warner could regain his old magic and the Giants catch breaks this season and go 9-7 and sneak in as a Wild Card, rather than the dread that a good season with Manning would be 2-14 and San Diego would be on the clock with the #1 pick after we lose to Dallas at Midnight on January 2nd.
These are desperate times. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Thus, its time to break out the Cubs/White Sox/Red Sox call to put the Kaiser back on the throne.
I also think that Warner still has the ability to be a good quarterback. But we do need to remember that some of the ingredients to Warner's old magic was Faulk, Holt, Bruce; ingredients he simply will not have at New York.
The Bored are already here. Idle hands are the devil's workshop. And no... we won't kill dolphins. But koalas are fair game.
Of course, the staggeringly hilarious thing about all this is that Eli was pretty much dog shit in the first minicamp, while undrafted rookie Jared Lorenzen threw the hell out of the ball. That probably won't last, but EVERYBODY should root for the world's largest quarterback.
Originally posted by ges7184I also think that Warner still has the ability to be a good quarterback. But we do need to remember that some of the ingredients to Warner's old magic was Faulk, Holt, Bruce; ingredients he simply will not have at New York.
That's true, but Shockey is a nice guy to have as an option though. Barber would be a good RB if he could stop fumbling. Like RSN said, 9-7 is a good possibility if Warner reverts back to 1999-2000 form. Better to have that and the pick going to SD be in the late-teens than to have Manning play and have the pick be in the top 3.
Question: Can the Giants go after Steve Beuerlein if they wanted to? I think he's the type they need behind Eli Manning: an 18-year veteran who's not a threat to Eli's position, but can also help Eli down the road with his experience. I know the Broncos waived him a couple days ago, but is he restricted to Denver in spite of that?
Compared to a guy like Beuerlein, what experience does Warner have. He had the luxury of a high-powered offense with a strong offensive line, a superstar running back, and as many as 4 impact receivers. That's not exactly the same situation Manning is going to face this year.
Originally posted by MARTYEWRQuestion: Can the Giants go after Steve Beuerlein if they wanted to? I think he's the type they need behind Eli Manning: an 18-year veteran who's not a threat to Eli's position, but can also help Eli down the road with his experience. I know the Broncos waived him a couple days ago, but is he restricted to Denver in spite of that?
I don't know the details on whether Beuerlein is only restricted to Denver even after being released (my guess is no), but while he may be able to teach Eli a thing or two on being a quarterback, I don't think the Giants would want him starting behind center. He's pushing 40, and he was god awful in his two lone starts last season; all while having Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Clinton Portis in the lineup.
Originally posted by MARTYEWRQuestion: Can the Giants go after Steve Beuerlein if they wanted to? I think he's the type they need behind Eli Manning: an 18-year veteran who's not a threat to Eli's position, but can also help Eli down the road with his experience. I know the Broncos waived him a couple days ago, but is he restricted to Denver in spite of that?
I don't know the details on whether Beuerlein is only restricted to Denver even after being released (my guess is no), but while he may be able to teach Eli a thing or two on being a quarterback, I don't think the Giants would want him starting behind center. He's pushing 40, and he was god awful in his two lone starts last season; all while having Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Clinton Portis in the lineup.
Oh, I'm pretty sure Eli's safe with the starting job, unless something really disastrous happens. You don't trade away a pick you made in the first round (which happened to be a QB as well), and three other draft picks for one guy with the thought that said guy may be a backup.
And that's my point with Beuerlein: He's probably past his point as usefulness as a starter, but he's probably still a great clipboard quarterback, for lack of a better term. And while there's still the injury factor, doesn't Eli have a reputation for being durable. Point being, Beuerlein wouldn't be a threat.
Finally, Beuerlein's release the other day has Mike Shanahan and Co. (as Broncolanche probably already knows) saying that he's welcome to come back if he wants to play another season, so the conditions of his release were somewhat odd. That's where my eyebrows were getting raised.
You think they are going to start Eli this year? (not being sarcastic, it's me asking a legit question in general). I don't know if that's a good idea. How many rookie quarterbacks have a good season when they get thrown right into the fire... To learn the playbook, to get comfortable with their surroundings. You add a pressure city of New York area media, I think he could be a baby deer in a headlights season for him.
I think it's a smart idea to get a veteran in there, Warner would be the best guess. I think he can still do well & play this season. Especially considering NYG gave away the number 1 pick to San Diego, I don't think they can effort it, more in the fans eyes as just a throw away season who will be all over the organization if they lose a top 3 pick for the next draft... BTW, so I'm guessing Mr. Bachelor Jesse Palmer is out of the question starting next year. He reads women as poorly as he reads defenses
smark/net attack wienerville advisory stays at BLUE alert - Guarded (With Benoit & Eddie being World & WWE champions you'd expect all's be right but couldn't do it due to Trish/Y2J character switches & whats the deal with JBL PPV main event)- 5/6