E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he was one of only three sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls up until last year. Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT HERE ARE SOME THOUGHTS ANYWAY

By Dave Klein
Nobody asked me ... but ...

--- Rookie C John Michael Schmitz is going to start the season and before it's over he will have earned a place on the NFL's All-Rookie team.

--- QB Daniel Jones, who completed 311 passes for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns last season (and only five interceptions), will throw for 25-plus touchdowns in 2023 while, in the face of the third most difficult schedule in the league, the Giants will finish with a 10-7 record (again).

--- Saquon Barkley's presence on the team and on the field will create more passing opportunities as the offense takes advantage of a set of new wide receivers plus the continued resurgence of veteran Darius Slayton. And unless both sides have lost all sense of reason, Barkley WILL BE BACK with an acceptable contract.

--- Oh, and if Barkley isn't back, look for fifth-round draft pick Eric Gray to become an overnight starter

--- Can you imagine being in a four-man discussion in front of a microphone with Steven A. Smith, Mike Francesa and Charley Barkley? Actually, that would be a three-man discussion and none of them would make any sense - but they'd be consistency wrong and annoyingly loud.

--- Did you hear that Jerry Jones, who owns the Dallas Cowboys and everything west of the Mississippi, wants to find a way to get Giants' defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence? There is only one way he can do that - buy the team - but the Maras ain't selling, 'Jer.

--- Look for veteran free agent Jarrad Davis to wind up as the Giants' starting middle linebacker this season. The 6-1, 240-pound product of the University of Florida has been with Detroit and the New York Jets prior to joining Wink Martindale's defense.

--- The trouble with the gene pool is that there's no lifeguard.

--- Your faithful correspondent called Lions' head coach Wayne Fontes just before the 1989 draft and asked if he was taking running back Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State with the third overall pick. He responded: “Did the guys in Dallas and Green Bay commit suicide? He's the absolute first pick.” Well, Dallas took QB Troy Aikman (not bad), and Green Bay selected tackle Tony Mandarich of Michigan State (fair). And the Lions got Sanders, who spent 10 years there, made the Pro Bowl each year and is now in the Hall of Fame.

--- The Washington Commanders will finish last in the NFL East (again) with a pitiful four victories. Dallas will be third and the Giants and Eagles will fight all year for the top spot, but both will make the playoffs.

--- For the E-GIANTS readers: Would you rather have Phil Simms, Eli Manning or Daniel Jones at quarterback? Would you rather have O.J. Anderson, Tiki Barber, Rodney Hampton or Saquon Barkley at running back? No sense in asking about linebacker, since the answer has to be Lawrence Taylor, right?

--- Another signing on the way? There is a rumor that the Giants are looking at Indianapolis defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (6-2, 250, Maryland) to firm up their already dangerous pass-rushing game. He has been in the NFL for eight years, and last season led the Colts with 9.5 sacks. He's a free agent now, but in his eight seasons he has been with Jacksonville, Minnesota, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Indianapolis

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