Peter R Smyth asks: Your plea for mail bag questions brought up a long-held question about the website. What time of year is the highest traffic to BBV? Draft? Playoffs? Training Camp? A Super Bowl?. I’m guessing draft because I visited the site at least 10 times a day if not more. As far as repeat viewers, do you have a lot of crazy readers like me visit many many times a day?
Also, as a rabid Knicks fan also, I admit to not visiting once in the last 2-weeks. Did you all see a big drop-off?
Ed says:
Peter, the months of March and April are traditionally the busiest in terms of traffic. That, of course, means the NFL Draft is the biggest draw. Training camp is big. January can be big when there is coaching staff overhaul.
I don’t track visitor habits with a great deal of zeal, but the answer is, yes, many readers visit the site multiple times a day. That is why we put up new content as often as we do.
As for the Knicks, Peter, I have to be disappointed in you. You can’t multi-task? C’mon, man! No, the Knicks’ run to the NBA title didn’t change BBV traffic at all.
George Bilyk asks: If Darius Slayton was on the last year of his contract he would be a great candidate for him agreeing to having his salary reduced. Another option would be to trade him, but have the Giants agree to absorbing a good portion of his salary.
Since he has more than a year left on his contract, is this why those two strategies cannot work, unless of course he totally reworks his contract for the Giants or another team? In other words, can there be one year only arrangement made when there are two years left on his contract?
Ed says: George, Slayton signed a three-year, $36 million contract with $22 million in guaranteed money. He has $9.75 million in guaranteed salary and a $15.911 million cap hit this year. In reality, this is a one-year arrangement. Slayton has zero guaranteed money next season, and can be cut with just a $3 million hit against the cap in dead money.
That is why what is important in contracts is the guaranteed money, not the actual length. Slayton’s contract is for three years, but he only get guaranteed payments for two years.
Christopher Trappe asks: A quick question about Matt Nagy. Specifically, can you confirm how he pronounces his last name? Is it “Naggy,” (kinda like my wife)? Or is it “Neigh-gy” like an Irishman saying “no”? I’ve seen another source saying it’s actually “Neggy” which seems a bit out of left field. Can you shed some light on this controversy?
Ed says: Chris, Nagy answers to any of the above. He and his family also don’t really seem to care. Here is an old video I found of him discussing the pronunciation of his name after he had become head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Ed Helinski asks: What do Giants players do between mini camp and training camp? Are players required to log their weight, meals and activities on a daily basis if away and not utilizing the training facility? Also, might there be epic stories where players did questionable, eye opening or outright dumb, things during this time off?
Ed says: Ed, the time between the end of mandatory minicamp and training camp belongs to the players. They are not “required” to do anything. They can’t be. The time belongs to them. That said, they are expected to report to training camp in shape and ready to go. There is always some type of conditioning test, and probably a weigh-in when they arrive to ensure they are where they are supposed to be physically.
As far as stories, the kinds of things you are fishing for aren’t generally going to be told to reporters. There are occasional incidents where players run afoul of the law or get hurt doing something they shouldn’t do. Those get reported.
Hugh Lovekin asks: There are conflicting reports about Malik Nabers readiness for the start of the season. Schoen said recently he expects him to be ready to start the season. Few others are so optimistic. My question is where is his rehab program at right now? I understand he needs three months of running simulations beginning with straight ahead running and then to soft or S turns and finally to full route running. Unless he has reached the running stage by now starting the season is out of reach.
Ed says: Hugh, I don’t necessarily think there are conflicting “reports” about Nabers. There is a lot of speculation based on what has been seen, and on what the Giants have said. Joe Schoen and John Harbaiugh have said they are optimistic Nabers will be ready for the start of training camp. We have seen that sport of optimism not be rewarded before. Based on how Nabers was moving at the recent charity softball game, it seems hard to imagine he will be practicing at the end of July.
I don’t know about simulations and S turns, and all that stuff. The season itself is not out of reach. We just have to wait and see about the start of the season.
Nate Carter asks: Sleepy offseason question for you. Do you have any favorite commenters on the blog? People who you find particularly insightful? For example, if Fran or Dancing Elephants posts in an article do you take a little extra time to read it? (Not forgetting Doug Mollin and all the rest). Also, who has been posting on the site the longest? Anyone from the early days still here?
Ed says: Nate, this answer might disappoint you and a lot of community members. I don’t read the comments in great depth. I scan to be sure there isn’t anything objectionable. Most of the names I do become familiar with are because of things that happen that run afoul of community guidelines, or good taste.
When this site began back in 2007, I spent a lot of time in the comments trying to build the site. At some point, that became unnecessary. I have always felt like the comment section belongs to the commenters, not to me or my staff (which I also encourage to stay out of there). It is pointless for us to engage in arguments about our work. The work speaks for itself.
I will wade in to answer a question, and very occasionally with a comment. I do scan comments in certain posts, especially the weekly mailbag. SB Nation has a full-fledged moderation team that handles almost all of that work, and I only pay strict attention to comments in posts I know could become problematic. I do recognize a number of names from the weekly mailbag, as the same people tend to consistently ask questions, but that’s really it.
So, honestly, I really don’t know who’s who or have favorites. I recognize that there are some smart people in the comments with a lot of good things to say. I just don’t spend a lot of time there.
Henry Mildener asks: I have a real concern about Arvell Reese having so many similarities to Isaiah Simmons, size, speed both were high first round picks. Both are supposedly versatile. Is anyone else worried?
Ed says: Henry, I heard some of that in regard to Sonny Styles before the draft. I have not seen anyone bring up Simmons in comparison to Reese.
I don’t see the comparison at all. Nobody knew what to do with Simmons because he was an athlete without a position or real defensive instincts. Teams played him everywhere — free safety, strong safety, cornerback, nickel, off-ball linebacker, edge. They did that because nobody knew what he was, and the reality was that he didn’t excel anywhere.
Simmons didn’t even know what he was. When he was with the Giants, I asked him once what he considered himself and he didn’t give a position. I am paraphrasing, but his answer was more or less that he played football.
Reese knows exactly what he is, and will tell you he is a linebacker. He isn’t a safety, or an edge, or a nickel. He is a linebacker with pass-rush upside.
Jerry Panza asks: My question is about the 53-man roster. Have you heard any talks about possibly expanding it? I’d like to see the rosters go to 55 I would also like an expanded practice squad by a few players. If the owners wanted to do this, does the CBA have any say in it?
Ed says: Jerry, I haven’t heard anything about expanding the rosters. The practice squad has been expanded a number of times in recent years, and the game day roster rules have been tweaked. The roster size does need to be collectively bargained. It can’t be changed arbitrarily.
One change I would like to see is to allow teams to have all 53 players active on game days. If a team has three or four players who can’t play due to injuries, they should be allowed to elevate that number of practice squad players without having to expose them to waivers to return them to the practice squad.
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Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to bigblueview@gmail.com and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag. One reminder: I much prefer full names to screen names or just first names. Unless you have privacy reasons, please put your name to your question.
