In some years, the final roster cutdown is a difficult chore, with teams agonizing over several quality players who belong on the team, if only there were room. The Giants today do not figure to have that problem.
The roster must be cut to the regular-season limit of 53 by 4 p.m., and given their lack of depth, no great surprises are expected. In fact, Jim Fassel said he and his staff had already pared down the roster by yesterday afternoon.
No high-salaried veterans will be released, as there is not any empty baggage on the roster. All seven draft picks will make the team – one, linebacker Dhani Jones, is out for the season with a knee injury – and there is a chance seventh-round pick Jeremiah Parker will be placed on the practice squad if there’s no room for him on the roster.
There is a chance that six undrafted free agents will stick: T Pita Elisara, T Chris Ziemann, DE Jomo Cousins, LB Jack Golden, S Tawambi Settles and WR Thabiti Davis. There is also a chance that TE Adam Young from Dartmouth will remain on the roster, at least until Pete Mitchell is ready to return in two weeks.
The roster could be altered with the addition of a player cut by another team. One such player could be safety Omar Stoutmire, a recent cut by the Jets who started 19 games in the NFL the past four years. At the moment, the only safety on the Giants with any experience is Sam Garnes.
Sizing up the team that he will take into the regular season, Fassel said, “We’re so thin. We’re inexperienced as all giddy-up.”
*
Fassel has not yet announced his starting RB, but it doesn’t much matter. Even if Tiki Barber gets the call, rookie Ron Dayne will receive the bulk of the work and be the feature back. Fassel may just start Dayne and be done with it … Welcome and sign in: CB Ramos McDonald was signed Friday and later that night made his Giants debut on special teams. “He did fine,” said Fassel.
*
A good sign for the newly-assembled offensive line: In 72 pass attempts, Kerry Collins was sacked only once operating behind the starting line. “We did some things that we wanted to try to get accomplished,” LT Lomas Brown said. Added Fassel, “I feel good about where we are [with the offensive line]. I don’t feel great, but I feel good.”
P Brad Maynard did not close out the preseason in good form. After a solid start vs. the Ravens, Maynard struggled. He had a poor 32-yard punt in the fourth quarter, a low line drive that was returned 26 yards to set up the game-winning touchdown. “It was good early but terrible at the end,” Fassel said of the punting.
