Shallow Thoughts & Nearsighted Observations
The Mile High Report — ... it has a high probability of working in this case.  I also loved the selection of OLB Clint Sintim in the 2nd round of the Draft.  He played in one of the very few collegiate 3-4's at Virginia, but the Giants like to blitz their SLB a great deal, and Sintim fits that profile very well.  Another departure from traditional thinking for the Giants, which generally makes me feel very warm and fuzzy inside.  Other draftees whom I like include William Beatty, Ramses Barden, Travis Beckum, Andre Brown, and ...

Spotlight: Mario Manningham
Big Blue View — ... and third-round pick Ramses Barden are making the team. That leaves Manningham and everyone else fighting for what will likely be two slots. ...

Spotlight: Kevin Gilbride
Big Blue View — ... does well and how to turn the Giants' No. 1 pick into a play-making threat? Can he figure out what to do with the freakish Ramses Barden, aside from throw him Red Zone fade routes? Can he figure out how Mario Manningham can contribute? Can he figure out a way to create mismatches with ...

Rooting for Wrighster to make Giants
Big Blue View — I have no idea if tight end George Wrighster, a 'street' free agent signed by the Giants last month, has a realistic chance to make the team this fall. I have never met him or interviewed him. Regardless, I'm rooting for the guy. Wrighster, you see, seems like a pretty hilarious dude. Check out the recent entry below from Wrighster's blog. About a month ago Ramses Barden was popping off on Yardbarker with these allegations that he beat me bowling. Well, the rubber met the road ...

Land of the Giants, 06.12.09
Big Blue View — ... fight, I wanted to get into the promotion business, but I hear from people that's a lot of headache, so I wanted to do something that was more personable with the fighters." And here I thought no one under the age of 50 gave a hoot about boxing any more. Ernie Palladino says this is a tough time of year to be an NFL rookie. Ernie, who sure seems like he was a busy guy Thursday, also chatted with third-round draft pick Ramses Barden. New Giant linebacker Michael Boley ...

Barden's dad believes now
Big Blue View — ... Great piece in the New York Daily News Sunday about Ramses Barden. Seems his dad, a former basketball player, ...

Boley has hip surgery
Big Blue View — ... to the Giants revamped defense. Boley, signed from the Atlanta Falcons, is being counted on to be the playmaking outside linebacker the Giants did not have last season. Missing the majority of camp won't help Boley's adjustment to being with a new team and learning a new system. This also comes as a surprise to me. I can't recall any indication during the recent mini-camp that Boley was hurt. The Giants also announced the signings of third-round pick Ramses Barden and fifth-round pick Rhett Bomar. They join ...

Giants sign third-round pick Beckum
Big Blue View — ... He is the fifth of the Giants’ nine draft choices to sign a contract, joining wide receiver Ramses Barden (the other third-round selection), quarterback ...

Spotlight: David Tyree
Big Blue View — ... the Giants defeated the Patriots to win Super Bowl 42.  He missed all of last season with knee and hamstring ailments. His misfortunes have continued so far in 2009. Even without Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the numbers are against Tyree. Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss probably all get roster spots if everyone is healthy. Draft picks Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden will also get spots. That makes six receivers, ...

Brown, Giants' 4th-round pick, signs
Big Blue View — ... , the fourth-round selection from North Carolina State, today became the sixth 2009 draft choice – and the second in two days – to sign with the Giants. The other draft picks who have signed their contracts are the team’s two third-round picks, wide receiver Ramses Barden and tight end ...

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Schedule: Week 4
Arrowhead Pride — ... the loss of Plaxico over the course of a 16 game schedule hurt Eli Manning and the offense? That's the big question. There is no way to answer it right now until the team gets on the field. Some stats actually indicate the Giants were better without Plax, but I'm not buying it. In the playoff game against the Eagles the Giants could not make a big play on the outside, and the Eagles stacked the line of scrimmage. With Hakeem Nicks (first round) and Ramses Barden (3rd round), plus last year's No. 3 pick Mario ...

Playoffs?!? You Want To Talk About Playoffs?!? - Part Two: NFC
Hogs Haven — ... (and let's hope Ramses Barden still needs a LOT of polish.) The potential for major slippage from the last couple years is minimal with this squad. ...

Who should return kickoffs for the New York Giants?
Big Blue View — ... Domenik Hixon is clearly the best man for the job. He averages 29.3 yards per return for his career and is a threat to score every time the ball nestles in his waiting arms. But, it is clearly unfair to ask him to do it full time since he will be such a key part of the offense. The only scenario in which I see Hixon returning full time is if some combination of Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Sinorice Moss and Ramses Barden are so impressive Hixon can't get on the field next to ...

This year's useless try at predicting the Giants' season-opening 53-man roster
Big Blue View — ... Starters -- Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon. Backups -- Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, David Tyree, Taye Biddle, Shaun Bodiford, Derek Hagan, Micah Rucker, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden. There are likely six roster spots to be had out of ...

2009 Schedule Preview: Week 5 vs. NY Giants
Canal Street Chronicles — ... mirror those of the last meeting between these two teams. Something tells me it won't.    Giants Offense New Orleans native Eli Manning is still running the show in New York but the team around him has seen some change. To offset the loss of their two big receivers, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants used their first round pick to take Hakeem Nicks in this years draft. They also selected receiver Ramses Barden and tight end Travis Beckum for added depth. Steve Smith ...

New York Giants training camp: Practice 1
Big Blue View — ... Ramses Barden was terrific this morning. He made three consecutive catches, two in traffic. On one of those, he got absolutely mugged by ...

New York Giants training camp: Practice 2
Big Blue View — ... Ramses Barden continued to impress. After a terrific morning session, Barden caught several more balls this afternoon. He could be a real weapon in the short passing game. ...

New York Giants Training Camp: Afternoon practice report
Big Blue View — ... Rookie receivers Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden both made a couple of nice grabs. The more I watch Barden the more I wonder how he got all the way to the tail end of the third round. With his size and strength he looks like one of those guys you can complete passes to even when you know he isn't open. ...

Blogger journal: chronicling the experience, Day 2
Big Blue View — ... Requested an interview with Ramses Barden today, too, and apparently have been blown off by my first player. Seems Ramses must have wanted lunch more than he wanted to answer my unbelievable questions. ...

Looking for Possible Chiefs Buy-Low Options
Arrowhead Pride — ... a major commitment to the top of their QB charts and have a back-up many teams would love to have in Tyler Thigpen, that doesn't mean you simply ignore a buy-low opportunity. Giants WR Corps - As training camp plays out, there's a slew of young, talented players vying for Plaxico's former spot as the Giants go-to man. Eli Manning will certainly help identify the targets in training camp, but the Giants took two draft picks in Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden to go with a list that already had Steve Smith, ...

New York Giants training camp: Thursday morning practice report
Big Blue View — ... yelled 'Mr. August' when Moss hauled in the ball. Pretty good morning for Hakeem Nicks, who made a couple of good catches over the middle in traffic. Nicks missed a chance for a couple of big plays downfield, though. On one, he was behind his defender and Andre Woodson overthrew him. On another, Woodson badly underthrew him and Nicks attempted to adjust but could not haul in the ball. That one was in the end zone. The other rookie receivers -- Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum -- each caught a handful ...

New York Giants training camp: Friday practice report
Big Blue View — ... beautiful throw). After the second one, safeties coach Dave Merritt (a very vocal fellow, BTW) fired off the line of the day in Woodson's direction. "Hey, let's go," Merritt said. "That's a first class ticket back to South Carolina." Ouch! Maybe Woodson got the message, but he still got abused several more times on short throws. One I remember went to Domenik Hixon, and two more where he had no chance against Ramses Barden. Since I gave out a 'Wet Willie,' I have ...

Blogger journal: Chronicling the experience
Big Blue View — ... On Friday, though, I decided it was time for me to dust off the reporter skills and really start acting the part. So, I got myself involved in a Ramses Barden interview. Jumped into a ...

Nicks, Barden, Beckum are finding their way
Big Blue View — ... answer to that question. The answer likely won't come until this season is done, and maybe even for several seasons after that. What can be said is that all three rookie receivers drafted by Reese have shown flashes of why the Giants believed they did not need to go out and get veteran replacements for Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer. During the first few days of camp, first-round pick Hakeem Nicks, and third-round picks Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum have all provided glimpses ...

Land of the Giants: Off day reading material
Big Blue View — ... I have been impressed during training camp by rookie wide receiver Ramses Barden, the 6-foot-6 beast from Cal-Poly. It seems like I am not the only one. The following is from Mike Garafolo. ...

New York Giants training camp: Wednesday morning practice report
Big Blue View — ... Ramses Barden continues to look like a third-round steal. Barden made two spectacular catches this morning. The first, a long ball down the right sideline from ...

New York Giants training camp: Friday morning practice report
Big Blue View — ... Ramses Barden got to take a few snaps today matched up against Terrell Thomas, the biggest and most physical of the Giants' corners. He could not hang on to a beautifully thrown corner route on one play with Thomas draped all over him. On the second play, Thomas jammed him and he never really got into a pass route. ...

Updated guess at the New York Giants season-opening 53-man roster
Big Blue View — ... up on the practice squad. Running Backs (4) -- Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, Madison Hedgecock The season-ending injury to rookie Andre Brown obviously changes things here. Allen Patrick is the only other tailback in camp, but I don't think he makes the squad. There are too many other good players in other positions. Wide Receivers (7) -- Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss, Ramses Barden, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Derek ...

Land of the Giants: More from Monday night's victory over Carolina
Big Blue View — ... and Ramses Barden got open, and caught what came in their direction. As long as the receivers catch what comes their way, the Giants will be fine. ...

New York Giants training camp: Wednesday evening practice report
Big Blue View — ... deep for big plays. Tonight, the deep ball was on full display and Eli threw the ball as well or better than he has the entire camp. During 1-on-1 drills Eli hit Derek Hagan deep down the right side. Hagan leaped over DeAndre Wright for a spectacular grab. In 11-on-11 action, Eli ran play action and hit Sinorice Moss in stride deep after Moss had blown past Michael Johnson. Andre Woodson then hit Ramses Barden on a nicely thrown deep ball. Barden beat fellow ...

New York Giants training camp: Wednesday afternoon practice report
Big Blue View — ... 11-on-11 drills this morning, calling for a flea flicker. Corey Webster wasn't fooled, however, and knocked away Eli Manning's long pass to Steve Smith. Mario Manningham had a nice afternoon. He caught passes from Manning on three successive plays -- a square out, a juggling grab on a square in and a short comeback route where he was the check down receiver. No huge plays, but he got open and made all the catches. Ramses Barden used that 6-foot-6, 230-pound body to take a ball away ...

A conversation with Mike Garafolo, Part I
Big Blue View — ... said the same thing ... he's got deep-rooted trust and security issues. Mike: Yeah, Jason got to know him well because of the book he got to write with him, and got to really see those and explore those. So, yeah, that doesn't surprise me. Ed: So, let's turn the page. Let's talk about this camp. You know I've been here quite a bit, not as much as you have. To me the two most impressive rookies that I've seen out here are Clint Sintim and Ramses Barden. Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? Mike: Let me go through ...

Fantasy Football Friday
Big Blue View — ... In it's "32 Questions" series, ESPN's Tristan Cockroft looks at whether Brandon Jacobs is a true "#1 fantasy running back." His answer is yes. I'm torn on Jacobs as a fantasy back - when he's healthy he gives you monster numbers, but he always gets banged up and will probably miss a few games. Add to that the emergence of Ahmad Bradhsaw (who I believe will replace Derek Ward and then some), plus the Giants having a number of shiny red zone toys (Kevin Boss, Ramses Barden, maybe even Travis Beckum), and I question whether ...

Land of the Giants: Non-you-know-who edition
Big Blue View — It wasn't easy to find enough stories for a 'Land of the Giants' post without discussing a certain former New York Giants receiver. But, I have a few things for your Friday afternoon reading please, so go ahead and waste some work time while you wait for the weekend. Here is a great snippet from Eli Manning about Ramses Barden, the mountainous 6-foot-6, 230-pound rookie wide receiver.  "I’m not sure I can throw a bad ball to him. He just seems ...

Preseason Game 2: Bears vs. Giants
Windy City Gridiron — ... and company live for the first time.  Any of you going? Traveling to Soldier Field will be Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The Giants finished 12-4 last season, losing to the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs.  Of course, the Giants biggest offseason "move" was getting rid of Plaxico Burress, but they have a couple of exciting young WRs from April's draft to keep an eye on:  Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. The Giants finished 2008 ranked #7 in total offense ...

New York Giants training camp: That's a wrap!
Big Blue View — ... ball stayed in it.  Typical Tom Coughlin during pre-practice stretching drills. Walking up and down the lines yelling "Be a winner, be a winner ... Focus ... Effort, effort."  I guess the Giants couldn't leave Albany without Adam Koets and Andre Woodson messing up one final snap. I can't give Koets too much grief, though. It's the first bad exchange since prior to the first exhibition game. Perfect illustration of the Ramses Barden effect this morning. Rhett Bomar threw a ...

New York Giants should look to deal Sinorice Moss
Big Blue View — ... At best, that makes Moss No. 5. And what sense does it make for the Giants to allow Moss, who can make some plays but has obvious physical limitations, to take opportunities away from either Nicks or the sensational third-round pick, Ramses Barden? To me, none. ...

Five Questions With Big Blue View
Gang Green Nation — ... and Ramses Barden, have each been spectacular at times in camp. Barden in particular has been dominant at times. We will have to see how it plays out, but by the end of the season one of those two rookies could be playing a huge role. ...

Giants are a work in progress
Big Blue View — ... will play a lot -- the better he will get. Coughlin is already hinting at an expanded role for Nicks. Mario Manningham is also flashing oodles of potential -- and making his share of mistakes. Manningham, though, is a glorified rookie. He is a wild stallion who hasn't been broken yet -- and when the Giants finally do break him they might have one helluva horse on their hands. Again, he should be better at the end than he will be at the beginning. Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum have shown potential, ...

'Kudos & Wet Willies:' Final pre-season edition
Big Blue View — ... and one to Ramses Barden) that probably should have been completed and he ran twice for 27 yards, including a 16-yard scramble for a first down. He at least looked like a professional quarterback, seemed comfortable and showed he can make the throws. ...

Here is the roster
Big Blue View — ... your roster as it stands now. I can't imagine the Giants will stay with 10 offensive lineman and just three safeties. So, don't be surprised by another move or two. Offense (26) QB (2): Eli Manning, David Carr RB (3): Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware FB (1): Madison Hedgecock WR (7): Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Derek Hagan TE (3): Kevin Boss, ...

Land of the Giants: Can we stop the talking, already?
Big Blue View — ... and Ramses Barden and returning veterans are going to put the Giants' passing game back in a very solid position. There might be some bumps in the road early but after watching Nicks practice I am encouraged by the Giants' plan for the passing game. Ultimately, however, time will tell. ...

Land of the Giants: Football on today's menu
Big Blue View — ... and they all have their areas that we still need to get better at.  And so that is why, as I said, I can see certain guys right now we think are ahead, but maybe in another five or six weeks maybe some other guys that we think maybe physically can be better at that." That's a long-winded way of saying you could see a whole lot of Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith now. And, maybe, a whole lot of Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden later. The Sporting News recently put ...

Examining the New York Giants green zone issues
Big Blue View — ... lineman in the game. I really don't care which one, but an offensive lineman has a better chance of moving the pile than Boss or Darcy Johnson. 4. Run to the edges Those kinds of plays, where maybe you can pull a guard, are the kind the Giants line seems to block the best. Maybe it takes a tad longer to develop, which is dangerous in short-yardage, but it is the kind of play the Giants run best. Play to your strength, not your weakness. 5. Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum I know these two ...

Denver Broncos Season Storyline - Week 2 Vs Cleveland
The Mile High Report — ... Giants WR Ramses Barden should see the field next week, and I will definitely be watching...   I wasn't a big fan of his, but it will be interesting to see what a team like NYG can do with him. ...

Swapping questions with Ernie Palladino
Big Blue View — ... I'm thinking, and I'm mighty curious, about rookie Ramses Barden here. He wasn't used at all in the passing offense despite being active while fellow rookie ...

'Kudos & Wet Willies': Giants get 'Kudos,' the Bucs get a 'Wet Willie'
Big Blue View — ... Green Zone offense: Yippee! The Giants went 3-for-5 inside the Green Zone, their first three scores of the season in that area. They got touchdowns both times they had first-and-goal-to-go situations. They also converted 10-of-16 third downs, including some short ones. There were some power runs, but I liked some of the other things I saw. There were some spread formations. There were draw plays. There were some passes. Nothing came his way, but I saw Ramses Barden check in during at least one Green Zone series. Yes, it was against the ...

Giants News: Giants Inactives for today
Big Blue View — From Pat Hanlon: Ramses Barden, Danny Ware, Aaron Ross, Adam Koets, Guy Whimper, Domenik Hixon, Clint Sintim, & Chris Canty... On the plus side, Kevin Dockery and Hakeem Nicks will be active today

New York Giants news & notes: Ross has played safety
Big Blue View — ... Wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan was asked a couple of questions about everyone's favorite mystery man, Ramses Barden. Here is s ...

New York Giants news & notes: Love numbers? You'll love this
Big Blue View — ... Want to know why Derek Hagan is on the active roster every Sunday and Ramses Barden isn't? Well, these numbers show you ...

For the New York Giants, time is now for some changes
Big Blue View — ... tight end. You don't have to throw the ball 40 or 50 yards downfield to make teams pay for stuffing the box or blitzing the house. Short, quick completions they can't cover -- and ones that occasionally turn into huge gains -- will do the trick. Besides, we are heading into that time of year in the Meadowlands where we know throwing the ball down the field will become more and more dicey. So, stick with what you do best, and what has the best chance to succeed. Give me some Ramses Barden. Please. I know the third-round pick from Cal-Poly ...

What do the Giants do now? Ideas for salvaging the season
Big Blue View — ... -- Activate Ramses Barden -- Sure, wide receiver isn't really an issue. But, the Green Zone still is. And, yes, that probably means de-activating ...