This is a time for the chosen few to dream their playoff dreams, realizing glory awaits the last team standing. The Giants are on the outside looking in as the NFL prepares for its grand Super Bowl XXXIII tournament. Home for the New Year is no place to be for a team that desperately wants to consider itself a contender.
There’s no use bemoaning what is not to be. The Giants have seven months before they embark on the final season of the millennium. There is no time to waste. Here’s the schedule they should follow if they are serious about gaining admission to the 1999 Super Bowl chase:
JANUARY: There are two important lists for the Giants to formulate. The first is their prioritized shopping list, identifying, in order, which of their own free agents they must re-sign. The second is determining the five players whom they will expose to the Feb. 9 expansion draft to stock the Cleveland Browns.
As far as their own free agents, it’s fairly clear where the Giants are headed. A defense without Corey Widmer at middle linebacker and Chad Bratzke at right end would not be as formidable. Both are unrestricted free agents and the Giants should do all they can to prevent defections. It’s highly likely Widmer will not be a problem, but Bratzke is coming off a career year (11 sacks, 80 tackles) and will not come cheap. Michael Strahan is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and his contract averages $3 million per year; the Giants will not pay Bratzke as much. The Jets, however, might. Their entire defensive line managed only 14 sacks and Bill Parcells likes Bratzke.
The return of center Brian Williams makes Lance Scott a non-starter, but the Giants want to keep Scott as a long-snapper for the right price. There is a strong desire to replace left guard Greg Bishop.
It’s doubtful the Giants will allow any of their important restricted free agents to leave. Left tackle Roman Oben, cornerback Conrad Hamilton and receiver Amani Toomer all figure to return; the same for safety Percy Ellsworth and linebacker Scott Galyon. The Giants at times can be criticized for being too protective of their own players, but not with these players.
No team wants to lose anyone of value to expansion – a maximum of two players can be lost. Most likely, the Giants will place marginal players on the list. But if trades can’t be worked out, this could be the place to unload the high salaries of safety Tito Wooten, cornerback Carlton Gray and, if they re-sign Bratzke, perhaps disappointing defensive end Cedric Jones, who has a 1999 salary cap value of nearly $2.2 million.
FEBRUARY: This is usually a quiet month for the Giants but it can’t afford to be this year. The free-agency signing period commences the 12th and the Giants must hit the ground running.
For the second consecutive season the Giants were the youngest team in the league. It’s time they grew up and added players – an offensive lineman and a strong-side linebacker – who know about titles and what it takes to get there. “We need to grow and mature as a team, which means I’ve got to count on the older, veteran type players to take a more dominant leadership role,” Jim Fassel said.
Will the Giants go for broke and try to pull a blockbuster trade to pry Brad Johnson out of Minnesota? Johnson, 30, does not want to spend his peak years watching Randall Cunningham drink from the fountain of youth. The Giants will explore every option when it comes to finding a quarterback and do not rule out a bold move. If Johnson is available, he should be obtained, even if the price is high. After all, what is more important than fortifying the quarterback position?
MARCH: The first day of the month begins the off-season workout program at Giants Stadium. This is where the commitment starts, and this was where the Giants last time around started feeling too good about themselves.
APRIL: The Giants will select an offensive player with their first-round pick in the April 17-18 NFL draft. Count on it. They own the 19th selection, and there will be no blind obedience to their value board. It’s time to get some studs. If they do not obtain a veteran quarterback, they should make a run at UCLA’s Cade McNown, a Mark Brunell clone, or Syracuse’s Donovan McNabb, who would both add a creative dimension they now lack. They should also add a speedy running back with a high pick and later a tight end who can catch the ball.
MAY: A veteran mini-camp is set for the 11th, which will be a crucial time for center Brian Williams to shake off the football rust after two years out of the game.
JUNE: The World Bowl will be on the 27th, and perhaps Mike Cherry will be showing the Giants that he’s a bona fide quarterback prospect. The strong-armed Cherry will be sent to NFL Europe by the Giants, who hope to see something from this 25-year old who has thrown one pass in his two seasons.
JULY: Training camp starts on the 29th. A year ago, the Giants shouted “Super Bowl” coming away from huddles after practices. They would be better-suited this time around to keep their lofty aspirations to themselves and prepare for greatness, rather than expect it to automatically come their way.