Giants legend Bill Parcells visits Mets spring training
It has been over 30 years since Bill Parcells served as head coach of the Giants, yet "The Big Tuna" remains one of the most revered figures in franchise history.
Parcells was with the Giants from 1981 to 1990, the final eight seasons as head coach. He went on to win two Super Bowls with the team, along with being named AP NFL Coach of the Year in 1986. His 127 games and 77 wins each rank third all-time in franchise history.
The former head coach was also a member of the franchise's inaugural class of Ring of Honor inductees back in 2010.
Parcells took a visit to Jupiter, Florida on Monday to visit the New York Mets ahead of their spring training game against the Miami Marlins.
Parcells was seen on the field talking to manager Buck Showalter and star shortstop Francisco Lindor.
View photos of Giants throwing out first pitches and taking in some baseball over the years.
Newly-signed Giants renew old acquaintances
The Giants introduced three players Monday who are new to the team, but not the coaches with whom they will work.
Running back Matt Breida played last season in Buffalo under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who is now the Giants' head coach. Offensive lineman Jamil Douglas also played for the Bills and Daboll as well as line coach Bobby Johnson, who is in the same position with the Giants. Outside linebacker Jihad Ward played in 2019-20 in Baltimore under coordinator Wink Martindale, whom Daboll hired to lead the Giants' defense.
In addition to the newcomers, the Giants announced they have re-signed long-snapper Casey Kreiter.
Breida, Douglas and Ward are all excited to renew old acquaintances with their new team.
"Nothing but great things about this organization I've heard about," Breida said. "Obviously, offensive coordinator and now he's a head coach, Brian Daboll, he's a great guy, great person and he's a great coach, so that was big in the decision in why I chose to come here."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2022 offseason.
5 things to know about RB Matt Breida
The New York Giants signed free agent Matt Breida. Here are five things to know about the running back:
1. Undrafted out of Georgia Southern in 2017, Breida has played in 64 regular-season games with 19 starts for the 49ers (2017-19), Dolphins (2020), and Bills (2021). His career numbers include 466 carries for 2,281 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns in addition to 83 catches for 729 yards (8.8 yards per catch) and six more scores.
2. Breida, 5-10 and 195 pounds, reunites with a group of former Bills coaches, players, and staff members now on the Giants. That list includes general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, who was his offensive coordinator last season in Buffalo. Breida played in nine games in his one season with the Bills and scored three touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving).
3. Breida's most successful season came in 2018, when he led the 49ers in rushing while starting 13 of 14 games. He recorded 1,075 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns that season. The following year, he helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl as he appeared in all three postseason games and started the Divisional Round victory over Minnesota. Breida was traded to Miami in 2020 before signing with Buffalo as a free agent in 2021.
4. Breida -- nicknamed "Cheetah" -- has 70 runs of more than 10 yards, including a career-long 83-yard touchdown against the Browns in 2019.
5. Overall, Breida has 3,010 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns, three of which came against the Giants over the course of two games with the 49ers in 2017 and 2018. In the latter meeting, he recorded one of his five career 100-yard rushing games.
5 things to know about LB Jihad Ward
The New York Giants have signed linebacker Jihad Ward. Here are five things to know about the new member of Big Blue:
1. Ward, 6-5 and 287 pounds, was originally a second-round pick (44th overall) by the Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft.
2. He has appeared in 68 regular-season games with 15 starts for the Raiders (2016-17), Colts (2018-19), Ravens (2019-20) and Jaguars (2021), recording 10.0 sacks, 37 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries.
3. Ward reunites with defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale, who held the same role during his time in Baltimore. Ward had 4.0 sacks in 21 regular-season games with the Ravens. He also appeared in two postseason games with the team and had two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss. In 2020, he helped Baltimore's defense rank No. 2 in both points allowed and third-down efficiency.
4. He totaled a career-high 30 tackles, one fumble recovery and 10 quarterback hits in his rookie campaign while playing both defensive end and defensive tackle for the Raiders. Last year, he played in all 17 games and made one start for the Jaguars, recording 2.0 sacks, seven quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss.
5. After two years at Globe Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.), Ward became a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection at the University of Illinois. The Philadelphia native ranked second in the FBS in fumble recoveries in 2014.
View photos of new Giants linebacker Jihad Ward's NFL career.
5 things to know about OL Jamil Douglas
The New York Giants have signed offensive lineman Jamil Douglas. Here are five things to know about the lineman:
1. Douglas, 6-4 and 310 pounds, was originally a fourth-round selection by the Dolphins in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has played in 50 regular-season games with 11 starts for Miami, Tennessee, Buffalo, and Washington.
2. He has made eight starts at right guard and three at center in his career. He reunites with coach Brian Daboll and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, who coached him on the Bills last season.
3. Douglas played in all 16 games and made six starts (both career highs) as a rookie in 2015.
4. He also appeared in four postseason games with the Titans, including the 2019 AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
5. Douglas played collegiately at Arizona State, where he switched from guard to left tackle during his senior season.
Giants re-sign long snapper Casey Kreiter
The New York Giants re-signed long snapper Casey Kreiter.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, Kreiter, who made a Pro Bowl in 2018, spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos before signing with the Giants in 2020. Through six seasons, Kreiter has played in 91 games on special teams as a long snapper.
Kreiter snapped in 40 games for the University of Iowa, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a senior.