Ronald Lukoff asks: I see that the Giants have resigned Chris Manhertz. If I read his stats correctly, in 10 years he has 29 catches, whìch is not exactly great production. I understand that he is in mainly for blocking, but here is my question. If he is not a receiving threat, why would the Giants not use a true offensive lineman who would obviously be a better blocker for the run and better option for pass protection. I’m sure there is an answer, but I can’t think of it.
Ed says: Ronald, Manhertz
has stayed in the league for a decade now because he has one job — block guys bigger, stronger, and faster than he is — and he does it as well as any tight end in the league.
Some teams — ones without good blocking tight ends — do use offensive linemen in that role. It is an awkward spot for an offensive lineman because the angles, the spacing, the timing, the movements are all different than playing a “normal” offensive line spot. It isn’t something a lineman practices on a regular basis.
An offensive lineman is even less of a receiving threat than someone like Manhertz.
Now, I will say this. It drives me absolutely nuts when offensive coordinators scheme up plays that put a tight end, sometimes one who is not a good blocker, into a one-on-one matchup with the best edge defender on the opposing team. Invariably, the OC will say something like “we had a hat on a hat.” Well, you can’t put a terrible blocker on a great rusher by design and then blame the player when it doesn’t work.BBV mailbag
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Henry Mildener asks: Since the World Cup is at Metlife Stadium and I believe the World Cup must have natural grass, will the Giants play on grass during the season?
Ed says: Henry, no the Giants will not play on grass. Yes, FIFA insists on grass for all playing surfaces.That will be taken up as soon as the World Cup games conclude at MetLife Stadium, and FieldTurf will be re-installed.
Richard Repasky asks: How did it happen that fullbacks appear to be an endangered species in the NFL? Is it because “NFL football is a passing game”? I remember when players like Jim Brown and Larry Csonka were some of the biggest stars around.
Ed says: Richard, I am old enough that I also have a soft spot in my heart for fullbacks, and I love to see today’s teams use them well. That said, have you paid attention to the game for the past 20 years?
The game is more spread out now. More matchup-oriented. More movement-oriented. Teams value the versatility of a tight end who can also lead block, and the reality is most fullbacks have a narrower skillset than tight ends.
I still think fullbacks have value and every team should carry one. Obviously, a lot of NFL coaches disagree.
Florian Cortese asks: Hi Ed, with all of the initial great news, IMO, of the Giants initial moves in the FA market, word drops of the Tisch family, Steve, Jonathan and Laurie, asking that their shares of ownership of the NY Football Giants are to be transferred to trusts for their children. My question is how does this affect the running of the Giants organization? Does this mean that Steve will have no further input in ownership decisions. It’s now the Mara’s running the organization?
Ed says: Florian, no, that is not what it means. First and foremost, there is a process that has to be followed and the NFL has to approve the transfer. The Tisch family will still own 45% of the team. It’s just that Steve, Jonathan, and Laurie will be stepping out of the group that has ownership of the team. It will be their children.
I don’t know who would step forward, but Dan Duggan of The Athletic offered this as a possibility.
This is a good step for Tisch and the Giants. For now, though, nothing is really changing.
Peter Smyth asks: Do you think Brian Daboll had a doghouse? For Harbaugh to agree to sign Evan Neal, the new coaching staff must feel they might get more out of him. Perhaps Neal was treated a little unfairly (zero snaps in 2025) and we all assumed he just stunk. Are there other players that maybe needed better coaching and opportunity but didn’t get it? Would any of the following: Deonte Banks, Isiah Hodgins, Daniel Bellinger, Jalin Hyatt maybe even Dane Belton fit this category? Or am I just imaging Daboll iced out some guys that just needed better coaching or needed to be allowed to play to their strengths instead of what he expected/wanted? I offer for example letting Neal be a bulldozer in short yardage and other running spots. Another example is how Hodgens was stuck on the practice squad until Dabs gets fired then comes in a being a serviceable receiver. Thoughts? Maybe some of these drafts were not as bad as they looked?
Ed says: Peter, I think every coach has some form of doghouse. Or, players they just tire of, dislike, or don’t see the value in. It’s a human reaction to people you work with every day. Have you liked every person you have ever worked with? I have not.
I think the answer to the question of whether some of these guys needed different, I won’t say better, coaching will come in what happens going forward.
Alex Kalb asks: I read your column about the Giants potentially taking Love at no. 5 and how it might rile some fans with Barkley PTSD. It got me thinking that, while I didn’t agree with the Barkley pick at the time, a lot of my misgivings were contextual: the Giants had glaring needs along the offensive line which was playing poorly and couldn’t block for anyone. The combination of Barkley and Jones in the first round felt like the Giants refusing to commit to either a full rebuild or getting the best out of Eli’s final years, instead trying to do both (poorly). I know you generally think a great running back is a finishing piece, not someone to build around and I’m curious what your thoughts are on the Giants roster now vs. in that previous draft and if taking a blue chip running back makes more sense now, given the current roster and coaching, than it did back then?
Ed says: Alex, I think that what I wrote the other day stands on its own and explains my feelings pretty well.
This is a different coach, one who is focused on the run game. Also, one who will have the ultimate say on who the Giants pick at No. 5. Pat Shurmur admitted to me last year that had he been making the decision in 2018 the Giants would have drafted quarterback Josh Allen instead of Barkley.
More than the roster, it is a different coach and a different situation.
John Foti asks: I was a bit surprised to see the Titans sign four ex-Giants, particularly Bellinger, since Daboll stopped using him very much after his rookie year. I guess that Daboll is in Saleh’s ear. Does that tell us that Daboll had more influence over the Giants’ roster than some of us suspected? As you pointed out, a 4-13 team raiding the roster of another 4-13 team is a bit puzzling.
Ed says: John, I guess I was also a little surprised Daniel Bellinger landed in Tennessee. As for Brian Daboll, who in Tennessee is going to have better knowledge of former Giants players?
Rob Werner asks: I think many people on here would agree that we are spoiled with the excellent coverage you give us on BBV. There are often articles where a writer from a different team’s site answers questions about a player we are getting or a team we are about to play. How often do other teams’ writers reach out to you in a similar way? Can you link to any articles where you have answered questions about the Giants or former Giants players?
Ed says: Thanks, Rob! Yes, writers from around the network occasionally reach out to me for similar stories. It’s part of the advantage of having a network filled with smart people who cover their teams on a daily basis, and understand them. Even if many of those people don’t have full-season credentials, as I do.
I don;’t have any specific recent examples. I will try to do a better job going forward of letting the BBV audience know when content like that is available.
David Kanter asks: I’m a little surprised by the [Isaiah] Likely contract. His product numbers don’t seem to warrant the contract he received. Can you help rationalize this wasn’t an overpay?
Ed says: David, I really can’t. Part of this is just that prices go up in free agency each year as the cap goes up. That’s just the nature of the business. You are right, though, that Likely’s production doesn’t warrant the money he received. We just have to wait and see how Likely is used and how he is produced. Then, we can debate whether or not the contract was an overpay.
Doug Mollin asks: Some questions have been answered in free agency (most important, resigning Elu and at a very reasonable deal). But still a lot of ways for the Giants’ draft to break.
Just going to give you two scenarios to see what you prefer (no trade downs):
No. 5 – Tate WR
No. 37 – Bisontis RG
No. 105 – Corleone DT
No. 143 – Boettcher LB
OR
No. 5 – Styles LB
No. 37 – Hunter DT
No. 105 – Farmer RG
No. 143 – Cameron WR (6’2″, 220, not fast but “catches everything thrown his way)
Basically, is your preference to lean into offense or defense with the early picks and fill in the other with the later picks.
Ed says: Doug, I am taking your second scenario. If my choice is Carnell Tate or Sonny Styles I am taking Styles every time. I know that wide receiver is more high-value position, but I am taking a potential gold jacket player over a guy who is likely to be a wide receiver 2 and wouldn’t ordinarily be a top 10 pick in most drafts.
I would have to see who else is available in your scenarios with the rest of the picks, but that’s where I stand.
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