Giants legends visit training camp
The Giants had several franchise legends stop by for a visit at Quest Diagnostics Training Center this week.
On Monday, two-time Super Bowl champion defensive linemen Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka visited training camp and spoke to the entire team.
"First off, Osi (Umenyiora), Kiwi (Mathias Kiwanuka) and Justin (Tuck) coming back and talking to the team, that was huge for us," Head Coach Joe Judge said on Tuesday. "I've said it from the beginning, this is a different organization, there is a connection between past players, past history of these teams and the players that sit in these chairs today. It's important our players understand and have respect for the history that they come after.
"They have to understand what's happened, the players who did it, and the culture and the standards that remain consistent throughout those great times of this organization. Without going into direct specifics of what they said, I would just say that everything you could ever ask to be said to a team and needed to be said, they covered. Covered very direct from a player's perspective, very strong message, it was very well received."
"I heard from a lot of players, a lot of coaches, I could say from my own perspective of the impact it had on the team in terms of understanding the standards, the expectations of former players, this is different," Judge added. "Some organizations, you kind of come and go. This is one of the different ones where history matters, history carries over. In terms of former players coming back here, if anyone hasn't heard my voice yet, I hope they hear it now, I want them back.
"I want them here, I want them involved with our team, I want them here at practice, I want them in meetings, I want them around our players, I want our players to understand the pressure they should have on them from past players who achieved great things here. I want these guys in this program. They were here before us and the history of this program will go on after we're gone here. I want them to understand they are valued, they are respected and they are important to the players who are currently on this roster and our current players have to understand the significance the players played in establishing the culture here."
The three defensive linemen were not the only former Giants to visit camp this week. On Wednesday, Super Bowl XXI Phil Simms came by the facility and was seen chatting with Judge prior to the start of practice. Simms then spoke in front of the team following the conclusion of practice.
In addition, Umenyiora helped Bob Papa break down the Giants' first practice in pads on Tuesday's edition of 'Giants Training Camp Report presented by Investors Bank', which can be found here.
Notebook: Giants' teaching moment; Golladay update
In one respect, it was the most indelible episode in training camp, a hard hit followed by two retaliations and the entire Giants team coming together on the practice field in an outsized rugby scrum. And Joe Judge treated it with sufficient gravity, ending the workout early after putting the players through strenuous conditioning drills.
But in another regard, the much-publicized explosion of anger, pushing and grabbing was, for Judge, like every other drill, instruction or play that occurs on the field – a teaching moment. While those watching practice might have focused on the physical mayhem, the coach was attentive to the players' decisions and how they could negatively impact the team in a different setting.
"I'd say in terms of what happened in practice yesterday is it's important that we learn from it, that we can't do anything that's going to cost our team in a game," Judge said in his news conference today. "We coach on all aspects of the game to eliminate penalties, whether that's enforcing holdings on one-on-ones between receivers and DBs, offsides on offense or defense, false starts, whatever it may be. Listen, the result of having something like that happen is going to be 15-yard penalties, ejections from the game and, for players and coaches specifically, fines.
Giants sign TE Tommy Stevens, WR Andy Jones
The Giants announced they have signed wide receiver Andy Jones and tight end Tommy Stevens.
Jones, 6-1 and 217 pounds, was released by the San Francisco 49ers on July 27. He played 11 games for Houston and Detroit in 2017-18. In the second of those seasons, Jones played in eight games with three starts and caught his career total of 11 passes for 80 yards and one touchdown, a four-yarder from Matthew Stafford at Buffalo on Dec. 16.
Jones entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Dallas in 2016. He has also spent time with the Texans, Lions, Dolphins and 49ers.
At Jacksonville University, Jones played in 41 games and had 144 receptions for 2,120 yards (14.7-yard avg.) and 17 touchdowns.
View photos of new Giants wide receiver Andy Jones.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Andy Jones (8) catches the ball during an NFL football training camp practice in Davie, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Andy Jones (8) runs with the ball during an NFL football training camp practice in Davie, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Andy Jones (8) stretches during an NFL football training camp practice in Davie, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs a route against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (Rick Osentoski via AP Images)
Detroit Lions' Andy Jones runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 34-20. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. The Lions won 31-0. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs the football during warmups prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in Detroit. The Bills defeated the Lions, 24-20. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) catches a warm up pass during a NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 in Detroit. The Bills won the game 24-20. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs after a catch during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Sunday, July 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 in Detroit. The Rams won 30-16. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. The Lions won 31-0. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones catches a pass during a joint NFL training camp football practice with the Houston Texans Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. The Lions won 31-0. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Detroit Lions receiver Andy Jones runs a drill at the Lions NFL football training facility, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs a route against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs after a catch during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Sunday, July 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) makes a reception during NFL football training camp Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones runs through a drill at the team's NFL football practice facility, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andy Jones (17) runs during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. The Lions won 31-0. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs after a catch during an organized team activity at its NFL football training facility in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, May 31, 2017. (James D. Smith via AP)
Oakland Raiders cornerback Breon Borders (31) defends as Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones (81) catches a pass for a first down in the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones (81) runs a route during a preseason NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones (81) runs a route during a preseason NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones catches a pass during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones runs the ball after catching a pass during an NFL football organized team activities practice at the team's training facility, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones catches a pass during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones (81) goes out for a pass during the 2017 NFL week 3 preseason football game against the Oakland Raiders, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 in Arlington, Tex. The Cowboys won the game 24-20. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones (81) warms up during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 in Los Angeles. The Rams won the game, 13-10. (Greg Trott via AP)
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Andy Jones runs the ball after catching a pass during an NFL football organized team activities practice at the team's training facility, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) makes a leaping catch during an NFL training camp, Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) catches a pass as cornerback Leon McFadden (23) defends during an NFL training camp, Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) catches a pass during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 24, 2017 in Frisco, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) catches a pass during an organized team activity at its NFL football training facility in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, June 7, 2017. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) catches a pass before an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Cowboys, 13-10. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs after a catch during a minicamp practice at its NFL football training facility in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs after a catch during an NFL training camp, Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) catches a pass during an organized team activity at its NFL football training facility in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, June 7, 2017. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs drills during an NFL training camp, Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs after a catch during a minicamp practice at its NFL football training facility in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, June 14, 2017. (James D. Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs drills during an NFL training camp, Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) turns after a catch as cornerback Duke Thomas (26) defends during an NFL training camp, Thursday, August 10, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (James D Smith via AP)
Dallas Cowboys receiver Andy Jones (81) runs after a catch during an NFL football organized team activities practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, May 30, 2017 in Frisco, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)
Stevens, 6-5 and 235 pounds, played quarterback at Mississippi State in 2019 after playing his first three seasons at Penn State. He played quarterback, running back and wide receiver for the Nittany Lions.
Stevens was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, No. 240 overall, by the New Orleans Saints, who converted him to tight end. He was waived on Sept. 5, signed to the Saints' practice squad the following day and released on Nov. 10.
Ten days later, Stevens was signed to the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. The Panthers moved hm back to quarterback. Stevens played five snaps in the season finale vs. New Orleans on Jan. 3 and rushed for 24 yards on four carries. Carolina signed him to a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 2 and waived him on June 1.
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