NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

I'm a little shaken up about this, because as a returner and receiver – Hixon is a star on the rise for the Giants… and he will be missed. The news just hit about 20 minutes ago, but already it's got me thinking about what comes next. So let's sit down for a minute and unpack what this means for the rest of the season now that we know Hixon is definitely not in the rotation:

• So now who returns punts and kicks? Sinorice Moss, Danny Ware, Antrel Rolle, and Aaron Ross will all be considered.  And I don't care how other teams have successfully used a DB in the NFL — I want someone out there with hands, speed, and down field vision that can think offensively about their decisions…  Hixon was the right guy and I think another receiver is the way to go here. So if Moss stays on the team, this is as meaningful a position as he'll fit into – not that he did anything with his opportunities returning last year.  But this is his chance…

• What does the WR depth chart look like now? Here's a rough cut but this is where I see things based purely on total snaps played last year:

1. Smith

2. Nicks

3. Manningham

4. Hagan

5. Moss

6. Barden

With any progress over the course of the year with a renewed focus on the red zone… hopefully Barden moves up to #4, Hagan feels fine at #5, and Moss is content at #6 and returning punts/kicks.

And this is not a knock on Hixon, but Smith and Manningham are the same types of players – small, quick, elusive… possession receivers that move the chains.  Removing one from the top of the rotation may open up the playbook a bit more….

This also may bode well for Travis Beckum in the sense that the Giants are experimenting with how he'll be used… and the fact that Hixon is no longer an option may play into the way O.C. Gilbride's playbook is prioritized. You never know — we may see more single back, two tight end sets featured by Boss and Beckum, Nicks and Barden out wide, and Bradshaw the tailback — this may be the new red zone special… tell me defense, where is the ball going?

Perhaps there is a silver lining here, but I'm still a bit sadden by this whole thing.  Trying to make the best of it…. good luck to Hixon, see you in 2011.

While Anquan Boldin and the Draft took the spotlight, Ray Rice is quietly having another productive offseason and is heading into training camp primed for the upcoming season. Since being drafted the young running back has embodied hard work along with determination and each offseason commits to improving himself.  "You couldn't have a better offseason than what Ray Rice is having," said Coach Harbaugh as reported by the www.nationalfootballpost.com/.

Offseason Commitment

After his rookie season, many were impressed when Rice came into training camp for his sophomore year looking stronger.  In August of 2009, Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Sun noted, "There have been many obvious changes with Ray Rice this offseason, more than just his promotion to the Ravens' top running back. Last year's second-round draft pick is running with power, driving through tacklers in training camp." His hard work paid dividends as he had a stellar sophomore year rushing for 1,339 yards and receiving for 702 yards.

What's refreshing is that here is a player who has made football a priority in between seasons early in his career. Rice stated,"There's so much more football to be learned. Last year (2008 rookie season), I was training for a combine. This year I'm training for an NFL season. I had a whole offseason and that was a great advantage for me." www.nj.com

Current Offseason

Now heading into his third season, Rice continues to make the offseason a high priority.  "I really think we had a great offseason, "I'm just one of the guys who feels like the offseason is where the season is made. Monday Night Football will be here soon enough." www.baltimoreravens

It should also be mentioned that in March Rice received a STAR Spirit Award at the Family Services of Westchester (FSW) in New Rochelle, N.Y.  He still has a close association with his hometown, high school and his former college Rutgers. Regarding his former college and training, Rice said, "I'll be going to Rutgers in the summer to work out for a couple of weeks, and I get back there as often as I can." http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com

Here's what some are saying about Ray Rice:

Walterfootball.com

"Ray Rice rushed for 1,339 yards, and caught 78 passes for 702 receiving yards in 2009. What's scary is that he could be even better in 2010."

Andy Benoit, Nfltouchdown.com

"Plays like Emmitt Smith, only with more speed and quickness. Is also a major weapon in the passing game." http://www.nfltouchdown.com/

Jason La Canfora, NFL.com

Ray Rice enters his third season as one of the most explosive multi-threat backs in the NFL. http://www.nfl.com/news/story

Yahoo Sports: Top Running backs

Preseason Rankings

1.  Chris Johnson

2.  Adrain Peterson

3.  Maurice Jones-Drew

4. Ray Rice

5.  Michael Turner

6.  Frank Gore

The men in stripes began mandatory mini-camp today, and despite the much-ballyhooed absence of Chad Ochocinco for the voluntaries, eighty-five was on hand, in shape, and ready to go in Tuesday's first practice.

"Trust me like birth control; 99.9 percent," quipped the star of stage, screen and occasionally, the gridiron.  After practice he tweeted, "Carson and I were on point."

Bengals.com reported that Chad participated in both sessions, despite a tight calf muscle, and made at least one spectacular grab against starters Jonathan Joseph and Chris Crocker.

Chad made NFL headlines with his empty locker at voluntary workouts as he performed on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, and filmed his reality show for VH1.  Carson Palmer added fuel to the fire by making a few off-the-cuff remarks that he admits were blown way out of proportion. "He knows what it takes to be great, he knows what it takes to win" said the franchise quarterback. "He's come in in good shape and looked good for his first day. There's some rust on him, but that will wear off and he'll get better each day."

Nonetheless, it'll take more than one practice to calm the media ruckus caused by his absence, with NFL talking heads using it as an easy target, and even prompting some in the local circles to question Chad's commitment to winning and his passion for the game.

Ocho insists the allegations are untrue. "But (when) I'm not here and I'm doing other things, I'm still training and doing the things I need to do to make his job easy when I do come back. That's my main focus."

As for us here at the Gab, we didn't put any stock in the uber-circus that was festering around Palmer's comments–and rightfully so.  As per usual, its much ado about nothing.  It's a lot of brouhaha meant to make headlines, stir controversy, and enliven wild-eyed Steeler faithful.

Chad is back, he's ready to play, and with a full compliment of talented receivers around him, and an upgraded playbook, he should return to the form that made him one of the NFL's elite.  We must simply accept the fact that, like it or not, Ocho has become a bit of a celebrity, one that has seemingly transcended football.  I, for one, have no doubt that he'll come ready to play as training camp and the preseason approaches.

So sit back, relax, and wait to see in the endzone what he learned on the dance floor.

I know I just received a comment from an astute reader about how stupid hypothetical trade moves could be in response to my post should the Giants consider trading for RB Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo Bills, but I'm going to go ahead and dive back into the Buffalo Bills and look at another player I think the Giants should at least entertain thoughts about purusing, even if it's not likely to happen.

I'm doing this in light of the news that KR/PR Domenik Hixon has been ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. Hixon is an underrated WR who can be dynamic in the return game. And in light of the comments made by Reese that they may seek trade possibilities for a return man.

Well there is a player in Buffalo who is making second round money without the second round production and a player who has been rumored to be on the block before. Better yet, unlike Lynch he has not been in trouble with the league or been anything near a distraction of that field.

And unlike Lynch who would bolster the RB depth this player could compete for an integral part on the team as a return man.

Who is that player?

Why it's the Bills very own Roscoe Parrish.

Now the Bills have no use for Parrish as a WR becuase in 12 games last year he only had 3 catches for 34 yards, but the Giants with Nicks, Smith, Manningham, Barden and Beckum do not necessarily need a fifth or sixth WR option, what they need is two players who can contribute on Special teams (Hagan as a gunner/ST Ace and Parish as a return man)

While, Parrish's strength is punt returning as he has averaged 12.2 yards per return in his career with 27 returns of more than 20 yards and 6 returns of more than 40 yards in his 118 career returns with three touchdowns. Parrish has also been decent with kick returns. Parrish has a career average 23.6 yards per kick return.
Parrish would be an even possible upgrade at the return position from Hixon, but certainley a downgrade as a WR.

Parrish is essentially the kind of player the Giants thought they were drafting when they chose Sinorice Moss in the second round. A dynamic player with the ball in his hands who could contribute as a return man and as a big play threat in the receiving game.

I'm not the biggest fan of Moss, but watcthing Parrish through the years I like what he brings to the table.

Obviously, what Parrish would cost could be a big deterrent from even having talks about proposing a deal, but with his contract and his ineffectiveness as a receiving option in the Bills system he might not cost much. The Bills also have other dynamic return options in Leodis McKelvin, Fred Jackson, and Terrence Mcgee where Parrish might not cost anything at all, really.

What do you guys think about considering trading for Parrish or any other player (and if not Parrish who) who might be able to contribute in the return game…or are you confident in one of the options on the team already whether that be Sinorice Moss, Derek Hagan, Aaron Ross, Chad Jones, Andre Brown, Ahmahd Bradshaws, or even the Rutgers WR product Tim Brown.

I know that Aaron Ross was talked about highly as a possible return man heading into the 2007 draft.  Chad Jones has done some returns and Tim Brown is another intriguing option assuming he can win a roster spot.

Yesterday, one of the Charger's top draft picks finally showed up to the ninth day of the team's OTAs… However, it wasn't because of contract issues or anything involving money, but instead because of graduation.

Third-round draft pick, linebacker Donald Butler, finally was able to practice on Monday after officially graduating from University of Washington, which held its spring graduation on Saturday. Rookies are not allowed to practice in OTAs before they graduate from their respective colleges.

"My guys have been down here working hard and it's been killing me that I haven't been able to work with them," said Butler after his first practice since rookie orientation. "Really, it just feels good to finally be out here."

Despite being unable to participate in practices and OTAs, Butler has been studying film as well as playbooks with the help of linebackers coach John Pagano in an attempt to keep pace with his teammates.

"I think it went well. The biggest thing is, you've got  to open your eyes and ears more at this level, because if you don't hear something, you're going to be a step behind and then you're out of the play," said Butler.

Even with his late arrival to OTAs, Head Coach Norv Turner expects great things this year from his third-round draft pick, including a strong contribution on special teams as well as a push for playing time at one of the inside linebacker spots.

Even though the the Redskins are going to try to get back some of the 21 million dollar bonus they paid Albert Haynesworth earlier this year — that money might just be gone for good.  According to The Post:

Haynesworth consulted with the NFL Players Association before deciding to skip the team's mandatory minicamp this week to ensure that his bonus was safe. The current CBA would seem to prevent the Redskins from going after any of the bonus that was already paid to Haynesworth. The Redskins cut a check on April 1 for $21 million, which is believed to be the largest single check issued to a player in league history. But according to the ESPN report, the specific language in Haynesworth's contract and his decision to skip out on the team's offseason activities might give the team an opening to get back some of the money.

According to the story, a "knowledgeable NFL source that reviewed Haynesworth's contract and the collective bargaining agreement Wednesday morning said this issue is 'open to interpretation' now that the defensive tackle has declined to report to a mandatory minicamp and the Redskins are expected to pursue whatever money they can. The source added, 'this is the type of case where a longshot may be given an extra hard look because it is so egregious.'"

So even in the best case interpretive scenario…. the money is likely all or nearly gone. The Redskins chances of getting their hands on some of that money is akin to a "longshot" according to a knowledgeable NFL source on the situation.

This does not bode well for GM Bruce Allen's rookie season, none whatsoever.  And it looks even worse for Vinny Cerrato who oversaw this deal in the first place.

In all likelihood, $20 Million Dollars just vanished into thin air without a trace…. that's one heck of an illusion.