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<\/a><\/p>\nHakeem Nicks was on the opposite end of the spectrum. A look at Nicks\u2019 RAS makes you wonder why Jerry Reese made him a first-round pick:<\/p>\n
Yet, Nicks had two 1,000-yard receiving season in five years with the Giants and helped them win a Super Bowl. Why? He had vise grip hands that allowed him to make difficult catches, and a willingness\/ability to go into traffic and win 50\/50 balls. He was a perfect receiver for Eli Manning, who was unafraid to throw into traffic and give receivers a chance to make a play. Those things \u2014 a player\u2019s toughness, work habits, desire to be the best he can be \u2014 cannot be measured by athletic testing.<\/p>\n It isn\u2019t really part of the question you asked, but this topic gives me a chance to talk about Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. There are some who are upset that Downs did not test at the NFL Scouting Combine or the Ohio State Pro Day. Honestly, I wish he had. Listen to Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who knows a little bit about the NFL, and you understand that Downs\u2019 appeal goes well beyond what kind of athletic testing numbers he might be capable of posting.<\/p>\n Robert Fields asks: One NFL rule I never understood ever. Using Brian Burns reworked contract only as a tool for clarity: He\u2019s receiving a large bonus as per a portion of his contract. But you explained in 2027 he\u2019ll receive 44 million or so as salary. Here\u2019s where I get lost:<\/p>\n Question is simply how is the 2027 salary calculated? Is that a penalty? Is it money \u201cowed?\u201d Based on the bonus? In future years how does this hurt a team\u2019s salary cap? Is the team penalized for freeing up money as a bonus?<\/p>\n Bottom line: How the heck does all the $ work?<\/p>\n Ed says: Robert, Burns does not receive $44 million as salary in 2027. He counts $44 million against the salary cap. His base salary is $21.5 million. The various bonuses that are tied to his contract bring the cap charge to $44 million.<\/p>\n After restructuring his original five-year, $141 million contract Burns will end up receiving $76 million in signing bonus money. That money is \u201cpro-rated\u201d across the life of the contract to lower the annual cap hit. The restructure lowers the cap hit at the beginning, but raises it toward the end of the deal. If you want to call that a penalty, you can. Technically, it doesn\u2019t cost the team more.<\/p>\n I hope that helps, at least a little bit.<\/p>\n The right guard discussion<\/p>\n Robert Markowitz asks: There\u2019s been a lot of talk about the Giants failure to bring in a right guard. But many of the free agencies selections at the bottom of the barrel had only fair PFF grades. Do you think that Harbaugh might be willing to roll the dice on a competition between Neal, Ezeudu, and a drafted rookie?<\/p>\n Ed says: Robert, we shall see. Don\u2019t forget that veteran guard Aaron Stinnie is on the roster and I suspect if they played today he would be the starting right guard. I also still believe there is a chance Greg Van Roten returns.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know this for a fact, but I think there might be a game of chicken going on between the Giants and Van Roten. He is 36, and he and his wife are Staten Island natives. The couple lives there with their two small children. The Giants might be low-balling Van Roten, banking on the idea that he won\u2019t want to spend the majority of the year away from his family in order to continue his NFL career.<\/p>\n If they really want him, that\u2019s a dangerous game to play.<\/p>\n There is always the possibility the Giants draft Francis Mauigoa of Miami and play him at guard while they still have Jermaine Eluemunor. Or move down and select Vega Ioane of Penn State in Round 1. There are also a number of guards who could be available and worthy of being selected at No. 37 in Round 2.<\/p>\n So, yes, I guess the possibility exists that there could be a competition between a rookie and whoever else the Giants deem worthy in training camp.<\/p>\n Doug Mollin asks: My assumption at this point in the offseason was that the Giants would use a draft pick on a new RG. If they eventually resign GVR, the new RG would have a viable backup to help their transition to starter.<\/p>\n But Chris raised an interesting point this week — perhaps the coaching staff is looking at having Neal and Eze compete for the RG spot. And signing GVR as the backup\/emergency starter if both fail.<\/p>\n This frees up pick #37 from taking a player like Bisontis to maybe taking a CB (Chris Johnson?) or DT (Lee Hunter?) or LBer (Rodriguez), etc. Maybe throw one or two of the sixth rounderers at the OL?<\/p>\n Do you think the Giants might have that plan in mind? Rolling with Neal and Ezeudu with GVR in reserve? Would you be willing to roll the dice on that?<\/p>\n Ed says: Doug, everyone who is freaking out about the idea of a competition for the right guard job between Evan Neal and Josh Ezeudu \u2014 Chris included \u2014 is forgetting that the starter if the Giants had to play a game today would be veteran Aaron Stinnie.<\/p>\n I cannot imagine that the Giants are done addressing right guard. Dan Duggan of The Athletic raised an interesting point recently. Free agents signed after 4 p.m. ET the Monday following the conclusion of the NFL Draft do not count against the compensatory formula. That is, honestly, something I had forgotten.<\/p>\n As I said above, there could be a financial game of chicken going on between the Giants and Van Roten. At 36, with two small children at home in Staten Island, does Van Roten really want to spend half the year somewhere else to continue playing, or would he take less money to stay home and play for the Giants?<\/p>\n The compensatory formula note from Duggan means that the Giants could wait until after the draft to sign someone like Kevin Zeitler, who played for Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens, or Joel Bitonio. In that circumstance, those players would not count against the compensatory formula.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n