Justin Pugh

East Rumors: Brady, Eagles, Hackenberg

May 21st, 2017 at 12:44pm CST by Rory Parks

Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com says Tom Brady will have to address his wife’s recent comments about his alleged concussions at some point soon. It appears that, if Brady has suffered concussions, he never told the Patriots, so the club will not face discipline for failing to note his concussions on injury reports. Interestingly, Brady’s agent, Don Yee, recently said that Brady “was not diagnosed” with a concussion last year, which is quite different than saying he did not actually suffer one.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe makes the common sense point that Brady has of course suffered a few concussions over the course of his 17-year career, and that he, like many before him, has simply done whatever he can to conceal them from his team, both out of a sense of pride and out of a desire to not miss any time.

Now for more from the league’s east divisions:

Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com looks at the Eagles‘ 2018 salary cap situation, and while the team is currently projected to have limited cap room again, there are plenty of options to free up some space. For instance, the club is likely to release Jason Peters, and may even consider releasing Brandon Graham if Derek Barnett and Vinny Curry do well in 2017.
The Eagles‘ recent signing of LeGarrette Blount will likely force UDFA Corey Clement, who had a real chance of cracking the 53-man roster as the club’s resident big-body back, to the taxi squad, as Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com writes. Zangaro predicts the club will carry four backs on their roster heading into 2017, including Blount, Wendell Smallwood, Darren Sproles, and Donnel Pumphrey. We learned yesterday that Philadelphia was interested in drafting both Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook, but that the price to move up in Rounds 1-2 to be in range to select them was too steep.
The Jets‘ QB competition will be the story to watch at the team’s OTAs over the next several weeks, though Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, like most other writers, believes it would be a surprise if Josh McCown is not the team’s Week 1 starter. Head coach Todd Bowles wants to identify a presumptive starter before training camp in order to give that player the majority of first-team reps in camp, and McCown is likely to prevail over the untested youngsters Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, Cimini is especially bearish on Hackenberg, who does not fit OC John Morton‘s West Coast offense.
James Kratch of NJ.com looks at some of the Giants‘ high-profile players who are entering their contract years and what their long-term outlook with the club looks like. Kratch says an extension for Justin Pugh will not happen, and that Big Blue is either going to have to pony up big bucks for a multi-year deal next offseason or else slap Pugh with the franchise tag. Kratch believes an extension is slightly more likely for Weston Richburg, but that it is still a remote possibility, and if Richburg returns to form in 2017, he could set himself up for an Alex Mack-level payday.

Justin Pugh Discusses Contract Situation

May 20th, 2017 at 8:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The whopping dollars allocated to UFA guards this offseason stands to impact teams’ negotiations with impending free agents at a position that’s seen its value rise. Justin Pugh is entering his contract year and looks ready to cash in after seeing players with similar profiles do so in March.

The fifth-year Giants guard described himself as “in the driver’s seat” for a major payday.

“Trust me, I noticed,’’ Pugh said of the contracts the high-end guard UFAs signed two months ago, via Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. “Some of the guards are really good players who have not made Pro Bowls, guys that have missed significant time and have gotten paid a lot of money. I know where I sit in that hierarchy. I also know the Giants need to do right by me, too.

“I’ve gone out there and done everything they’ve ever asked me to do. So I know my worth. I’m going to go out there and play my best season of football and hopefully the Giants say, ‘Let’s pay him what he deserves.‘”

Pugh made it clear he wants to stay in New York, but a second contract obviously will cost the Giants. There are now five guards whose deals average eight figures per year, with Kevin Zeitler and Joel Bitonio‘s Browns pacts moving that figure from three to five in March, and two other guards — T.J. Lang and Ronald Leary — signed for at least $9MM AAV this offseason. The 26-year-old Pugh has not made a Pro Bowl, but neither have the aforementioned four guards who signed high-value deals.

The Giants and Pugh have discussed an extension as far back as last summer, but the former right tackle upped his value with a season that saw him rank as Pro Football Focus’ No. 16 overall guard. Big Blue also has center Weston Richburg set to hit free agency, leaving a franchise that’s allocated most of its cash toward helping its defense over the past two offseasons with a potentially tough situation to navigate.

A one-time first-round pick out of Syracuse, Pugh stands to play on a fifth-year option worth $8.8MM in 2017. He joins the likes of Gabe Jackson, Andrew Norwell and Jack Mewhort as the next group of guards who stand to be paid big dollars in a league that’s seen developing offensive linemen become much tougher due to the increase of spread offenses in college and the current CBA limit practice time.

“That is the goal,’’ Pugh said, via Cannizzaro, of signing a long-term Giants contract. “I never want to leave New York City. I started something here, and I want to finish it. We started 0-6 my first season. From where we started to where we’re at now, I feel like I have something to prove in New York City. I have a lot left to show. I have a ring I have to win. I have to get Eli [Manning] his third, and I have to get my first. That’s all I’m thinking about.“

East Rumors: Pats, Blount, Pugh, Mangold

May 9th, 2017 at 9:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots could offer a tender to free agent running back LeGarrette Blount in an attempt to retain him for the 2017 season, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap details (Twitter links). Unrestricted free agents that aren’t signed by May 9 are eligible to be tendered a one-year contract by the player’s original club for 110% of his prior year salary (for Blount, that would amount to roughly $1.1MM). Not only would such a maneuver allow New England to be in line for a 2018 compensatory pick if Blount signs elsewhere, but it would give the Patriots exclusive negotiating rights with the veteran back if he doesn’t land a contract by July 22. This option isn’t exclusive to New England — any team can do this with its unsigned UFAs — but Fitzgerald notes that such a move would be a typical Patriots strategy.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:

After playing out his fifth-year option in 2017, Giants guard Justin Pugh will become a free agent next spring, and he’s aware of the rising price tags for interior offensive linemen. “The guard market has gone up,” said Pugh, according to Dan Duggan of NJ.com. “Do you even know who some of those guys are that were getting paid? I feel good about where I’m at.” New York is reportedly interested in signing Pugh to an extension, but the 26-year-old will likely have expensive demands after grading out as the No. 16 guard in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus. Kevin Zeitler reset the guard market this offseason after inking a deal with Cleveland that pays him $12MM annually.
Free agent center Nick Mangold confirmed previous reports that the Jets didn’t make a real effort to keep him on the roster at a lower price before releasing him outright (Twitter links via SiriusXM NFL Radio). Mangold, 33, was later asked about the possibility of joining the Patriots and quipped Bill Belichick isn’t overly fond of him after the pair’s “battles” in the AFC East. On Monday, Mangold indicated he is still working to get back to full health and didn’t rule out the possibility of retiring. Recently, PFR listed Mangold as a potential external option for the Saints if they need a fill-in for injured center Max Unger.
Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich is changing his jersey number from 94 to 44 so that can appear eligible on offensive plays, as Tom Rock of Newsday writes. While Herzlich didn’t identify which offensive position he’ll be playing, tight end and/or fullback would seem to make the most sense. Herzlich has played tight end on New York’s scout team, per Rock, but otherwise hasn’t seen time on offense since high school.

Giants Notes: OL, Blount, Engram, Mahomes

April 30th, 2017 at 8:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants exit draft weekend without many questions about their defense, but their offense has a few. Mainly, Big Blue’s offensive line may still have some issues, particularly after the blocking prospect the team preferred, Garett Bolles, went just before New York made its first-round selection. The Giants were hoping the Broncos, whose left tackle need is probably bigger than theirs since former first-rounder Ereck Flowers is an option in New York, would bypass Bolles in favor of Ryan Ramczyk or Cam Robinson, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports. Multiple sources told Vacchiano the Giants zeroed in on Bolles at No. 23, but Jerry Reese has not made a first-round draft maneuver — up or down — in his 11 years leading the franchise.

With Vacchiano noting the Giants were not as high on Ramczyk or Robinson, the Giants moved on. They did not select an offensive lineman until the sixth round, though, which is interesting for a team that has concerns — per the New York-embedded reporter — about Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg and newly signed D.J. Fluker entering contract years. Earlier this month, Reese said the positions up front weren’t solidified. So, the statuses of Flowers and Fluker, who played right tackle and right guard with the Chargers, are probably yet to be determined.

Here’s more from the Giants, courtesy of Vacchiano.

Multiple sources refuted talk of the Giants wanting to trade up to No. 10 to select Patrick Mahomes, who went to the Chiefs after they made a 17-spot jump. The Giants would have been willing to consider Mahomes at No. 23, per Vacchiano. But with Eli Manning likely to play out his contract as the team’s starter, and he’s signed through 2019, using a first-rounder on a quarterback may not have made much sense.
LeGarrette Blount was linked to the Giants on multiple occasions earlier this month, but the team’s selection of Clemson running back Wayne Gallman in the fourth round may have closed that avenue for the 30-year-old Blount. The Giants, though, haven’t moved on from the prospect of adding Blount, Vacchiano reports. However, it looks like they are going with a backfield depth chart that houses Gallman, Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen and Shaun Draughn.
The Giants opted to select Evan Engram over David Njoku, doing so despite the Miami product receiving a bit more pre-draft hype, and that pick was viewed by some as a reach. But Vacchiano notes buzz swirled about a team trying to trade up in front of the Giants to select Engram, identifying the Bills and Falcons as interested suitors. The Browns traded back into the first round to take Njoku, so they may have been in on this pursuit as well. Njoku was scheduled to visit the Giants earlier this month, but the team cancelled the meeting.
A jump in front of the Buccaneers or Broncos for the right to take O.J. Howard, whom the Giants “loved,” or Bolles would have cost the team a third-round pick, Vacchiano reports. The Giants stood tight at 23, viewing Engram and third-round pick Davis Webb as a better package than either Howard or Bolles.
Webb’s addition makes Geno Smith‘s place in New York odd, with Vacchiano writing the former Jets starter is almost certain to open camp on the PUP list and is a likely candidate for the Reserve/PUP come the regular season. Smith is recovering from a torn ACL and is signed through 2017 only. Vacchiano views returning backup Josh Johnson as the favorite to beat out Smith for a job. This could end up being a paid rehab year for the fifth-year passer, especially considering Manning hasn’t missed a start since becoming the starting quarterback in 2004.

Giants Activate Shane Vereen

December 10th, 2016 at 12:05pm CST by Ben Levine

12:05pm: The Giants have officially activated Vereen. To make room on the roster, the team has released offensive lineman Adam Gettis.

The 28-year-old played in three games for the Giants this season, including a start during the team’s Week 12 win over the Browns. Gettis could land back on the practice squad, where he has spent the majority of the season.

10:44am: The Giants should see the return of an offensive weapon for this weekend’s matchup against the Cowboys. According to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter), the Giants are expected to activate running back Shane Vereen from the injured reserve.

Vereen returned to practice in late November after having injured his triceps during the Giants’ Week 3 loss to the Redskins. Vereen was subsequently placed on the injured reserve, and initial thought was that the 27-year-old would be out for the season. Up to that point, Vereen had rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries, and he added another eight receptions for 75 yards. Following four seasons with the Patriots, the speedy running back joined the Giants prior to the 2015 season, and he finished his first season in New York with 59 receptions for 495 yards and four scores.

During Vereen’s absence, the Giants have leaned on Bobby Rainey as their top reserve pass-catching back. Rainey, starter Rashad Jennings, and Paul Perkins have combined for 58 receptions, 483 receiving yards, and one touchdown reception this season. For what it’s worth, the Giants running backs have compiled the second-fewest rushing yards (930) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (five) in 2016. Vereen’s production mostly comes through the air, but his career 4.3-yards per rushing attempt is significantly higher than Perkins’ team-leading 3.7-yards per attempt.

In other Giants injury news, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that starting left guard Justin Pugh will not be returning to the lineup for tomorrow’s game. The lineman hasn’t played since spraining his MCL during the team’s Week 9 win over the Eagles. Marshall Newhouse and Brett Jones have seen the majority of the left guard snaps in Pugh’s absence.

East Notes: Coughlin, Jets, Petty, Reed, Giants

December 7th, 2016 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Could Tom Coughlin return to the Meadowlands…as the Jets‘ coach? Brian Costello of the New York Post argues that Gang Green could use a disciplinarian like the 70-year-old Coughlin and lists him as one of 12 possible names in the event that the Jets move on from coach Todd Bowles. Others on the list include Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, coach-turned-commentator Jon Gruden, and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. While speculation around Bowles’ job security has ramped up in recent weeks, I would be surprised if he was not given a third year to turn things around. However, if the Jets do seek a new head coach this spring, I think it would behoove them to seek an offensive-minded coach. Since the Rich Kotite disaster of more than 20 years ago, the Jets have only had head coaches with defensive backgrounds.

Here’s more from the East divisions:

Now that Bryce Petty has been installed as the Jets‘ starting quarterback, is it possible that we’ll see rookie Christian Hackenberg take the field this season? “Not unless Bryce gets hurt,” Bowles said (link via Costello). “Right now, I do not see him getting any playing time.” It’s pretty telling that the Jets are not willing to put the Penn State product on the field, even in a lost season. Word is that Hackenberg is green, but he might be even more raw than scouts realized at the time of the draft.
There’s still no clear timetable for Jordan Reed‘s return to the field, JP Finlay of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. “Jordan will be day-to-day,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “You know, we just have to wait and see.” For the season, Reed has 59 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns in just nine games. Considered to be one of the best tight ends in the game, Reed is dealing with a painful shoulder injury.
The Giants could finally be getting Justin Pugh back in the lineup. When asked about returning to action, the left guard said that he is preparing as though he will suit up this week, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes. The interior lineman has been out with a sprained MCL since Nov. 6.

Giants OL Justin Pugh To Miss Time

November 7th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Giants coach Ben McAdoo admitted today that guard Justin Pugh will “miss a little time” with a knee sprain, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link), who adds that a source says Pugh could miss two-to-four weeks.

New York’s offensive line has produced disparate results this season depending on the situation — while the unit ranks third in adjusted sack rate, the Giants’ front five places just 28th in adjusted line yards, Football Outsiders‘ run-blocking metric. Big Blue did inquire on potential reinforcements heading into last week’s trade deadline, going as far as to express interest in Browns left tackle Joe Thomas. Ultimately, though, the club stood pat and will likely look to internal options to replace Pugh at left guard for the time being.

Filling in for Pugh is no easy task, however, given that Pro Football Focus ranks him as the single best guard in the NFL thus far in 2016. Bobby Hart, who had been playing right tackle while Marshall Newhouse was sidelined, will slide to the interior to cover for Pugh’s absence. New York currently has three offensive lineman — Adam Gettis, Laurence Gibson, and Jon Halapio — on its practice squad, and one of that trio figures to get a call up in the near future.

Giants Considering Extension For Justin Pugh

July 31st, 2016 at 5:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants were among the most active teams during the free agent period, spending freely on the open market and handing nearly $200MM in contracts to veterans Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, and Damon Harrison. But with the regular season approaching, the club is turning its attention to incumbent players, and have had discussions about hammering out extensions for offensive linemen Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg, general manager Jerry Reese told reporters, including James Kratch of NJ.com (Twitter link), today.

Pugh is under team control for two more seasons, as the Giants announced earlier this year that they would exercise Pugh’s fifth-year option for the 2017 campaign. As such, Pugh will earn abut $1.5MM during the upcoming season before making $8.821MM in 2017, meaning New York has its 2013 first-round pick locked up for a relative bargain. But if the Giants want to extend Pugh beyond next year, they’ll likely have to offer him an increase, likely working off that $8MM figure.

In his age-25 season, Pugh started 14 games at left guard after spending the first two years of his career dabbling (and struggling) at tackle. The move inside worked extraordinarily well, and Pugh helped New York’s offensive line to finish sixth in adjusted sack rate and 11th in adjusted line yards. Among left guard contracts, Pugh’s $8.821MM 2017 salary would rank second only to Kelechi Osemele‘s $11.7MM annual rate, and any negotiations would likely revolve around an $8MM average.

Like Pugh, Richburg has performed much better after undergoing a position change, as he transitioned to his natural center spot after playing guard as a rookie in 2014. The 25-year-old played the most snaps of any Giants offensive lineman, and graded out as the league’s third-best center, according to Pro Football Focus. However, because he was a 2014 draft pick, Richburg can’t renegotiate his deal under after the 2016 season, so any “discussions” New York management has had about extending him must have been internal and merely hypothetical.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants Exercise Option On Justin Pugh

April 26th, 2016 at 4:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have picked up the picked up the fifth-year option on guard Justin Pugh, according to sources who spoke with Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter). The move, as Raanan writes, was widely expected. His contract for the 2017 season is expected to be worth $8.821MM.

Pugh, 25, was taken with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 draft. Since then, he has been a big piece of Big Blue’s O-Line thanks to his versatility. He turned in a solid season in 2015 while playing at both guard and tackle. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus slotted Pugh as the 11th best guard in the NFL last season. For this upcoming year, Pugh is slated to start at left guard, though he could move to the outside if needed.

The fifth-year option for a player drafted outside the top ten is the average of the No. 3 through No. 25 salaries at their position. All offensive linemen – whether they’re guards, tackles, or centers – are lumped into the same category for option salary purposes.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC East Notes: Bradford, Cox, Harris, Giants

July 18th, 2015 at 7:25pm CST by Rob DiRe

For all of the Eagles’ fans who are getting excited about the team’s outlook heading into the season with Sam Bradford at the helm, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com is here to sober that optimism. He more or less tells the Philadelphia faithful to pump the breaks, pointing to the former first-overall pick’s poor record as a starter as well as his low completion percentage through this stage of his career. He doesn’t bury the fans for believing he will be good in Eagles green, but notes that they should be aware that they are rooting for him to dramatically turn his career around in a new city.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:

With Corey Liuget, Cameron Jordan, and Cameron Heyward all signing new and lucrative extensions this offseason, Eagles‘ 3-4 defensive end Fletcher Cox is becoming an overlooked commodity in Philadelphia, writes Joe Soriano of FanSided. Although Cox has been one of the best at his position according to Pro Football Focus since entering the league in 2012 (subscription required), he was dangled as trade bait in potential Marcus Mariota deals during the draft while his contemporaries are getting long-term commitments.
The Giants broke the bank in a move to sign return specialist Dwayne Harris away from the Cowboys offseason, and while the move was met with curiosity, Ryan Disdier writes that the team should see a great deal of value despite the high price tag, considering the inconsistency in their special teams recently.
The Giants also have a number of questions along their offensive line, including who should start at right tackle and center. Chris Schisler projects Justin Pugh at right tackle, although he believes Pugh would move to guard if they had a viable alternative, and picks Weston Richburg to start at center.

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