At this time of year, they usually blow more smoke than the Marlboro Man, which is why any discussion of the Giants and the NFL Draft must come with this disclaimer: Caution, speculating on what this team will do may be hazardous to your mental health.
That is why, when GM Ernie Accorsi says, as he did yesterday, that “I do know we’re excited about some other players who aren’t running backs,” the comment can be taken at face value or dissected for covert meaning. Are the Giants indeed considering a position other than running back with their first-round pick, or do they merely want you to believe that they would use the No. 11 overall pick on a position other than running back?
Despite their clandestine tendencies, it will be difficult for the Giants this time around to pull a stunner on April 15. Their running back tandem at the moment is Joe Montgomery and Sean Bennett, who as rookies last season showed promise but also an inability to stay on the field because of a myriad of injuries. The general consensus is there are four elite running backs in this draft, and it is almost impossible that at least one of them will not be there for the taking with the 11th pick.
In his pre-draft briefing, Accorsi would not discuss specific players, but it’s no secret that the top backs are Thomas Jones of Virginia, Jamal Lewis of Tennessee, Shaun Alexander of Alabama and Ron Dayne of Wisconsin. At most, it appears three teams selecting ahead of the Giants (Baltimore at No. 5, Arizona at No. 7 and Pittsburgh at No. 8) will take running backs. More likely, the Giants will have their pick of two runners, one of them not being Jones, who’s considered the best of the bunch and will be gone.
Jim Fassel believes the four are close, but says he has a definite preference. He personally scouted Dayne, the Heisman Trophy winner, at the Hula Bowl and raves about the player who broke Ricky Williams’ rushing record. Fassel said he is not scared off by Dayne’s huge size, which hovers near 260 pounds.
“He’s got some nice cutting ability and wiggle that belies his size,” Fassel said. “This isn’t a guy who just runs up in the hole, lowers his shoulder and runs somebody over.”
It is believed the Giants are highest on Alexander, who is an adept pass-catcher and an instinctive runner, but that Dayne is coming on strong in their thinking. Lewis has the best size-speed ratio but raises medical questions because of major knee surgery in 1998. Forget about signing Corey Dillon, the Bengals’ restricted free agent; the Giants aren’t biting.
Of course, the Giants may not take a running back at all, even though it’s far more likely they will. Their other needs are, in order, a linebacker, a defensive end and/or cornerback. After years of trying to build their inept offense, the defense has been short-changed, which won’t happen again. “If we get a running back, we get a running back,” Fassel said. “Other than that, it will probably be a defensive draft.”
The need for a cornerback has been decreased slightly by the addition of Dave Thomas, a free agent from the Jaguars who has agreed to terms.