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New York Giants head coach Joe Judge knows free agent offensive tackle Cameron Fleming very well. So does the Giants new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and offensive line coach Marc Colombo.
Fleming was a fourth round pick out of Stanford by the New England Patriots in 2014 and played four seasons in Foxborough, where Judge was an assistant on Bill Belichick’s staff. The Patriots won two Super Bowls and three AFC Championships during that period.
When Fleming became a free agent in 2018, he was inked to a one-year deal by the Dallas Cowboys where Garrett was the head coach and Colombo the O-line coach. He was re-signed to a two-year contract before the 2019 season.
Garrett’s contract ran out after last season and he left Dallas, signing on as Judge’s offensive coordinator here in New York, taking Colombo with him.
Fleming’s option for 2020 was not picked up by the Cowboys and he was a natural fit for the Giants. He has been a swing tackle most of his career but played well enough in his 26 NFL starts to convince the Giants’ new brass to take a chance on him.
With the Giants revamping their offensive line this summer, Fleming is suddenly in the mix for a starting role, most likely at right tackle as first round pick Andrew Thomas appears to be in the lead for the left tackle job.
“I’ve played in a lot of big games with Cam Fleming starting at right tackle for us and we came out on the right end of that,” Judge told reporters on Monday. “I have a lot of confidence in Cam. He comes to work every day and works hard. He’s familiar with the system and he plays with the right demeanor. I have a lot of confidence in Cam, I don’t care what his history has been because I have been there for part of his history and we won a lot of big games together.”
Fleming, who was also a teammate of Giants’ left tackle Nate Solder, is prepared for anything the coaches want to throw at him. Solder opted out of the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns.
“Whatever position they decide to put me in, I’m ready for it,” Fleming told reporters on Monday. “I’ve always been ready. I’m just here to work. Hopefully we have a great season this year.”
Playing for familiar faces should help Fleming’s transition and give him an advantage, but he doesn’t see it that way.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage,” Fleming said. “I think it’s good that I can try to be a veteran leader and try to help everybody along, especially with the offense. I have previous knowledge of the offense, so I’m trying to help the o-line just move forward so we can be the best we can be this year.”
Fleming is a typical former Patriot, providing very little information to the media. He would not comment any of the Giants’ offensive schemes, shutting the door on any strategy questions. Instead, he spoke only of how hard he and his teammates were working and that Garrett hasn’t changed much from his days in Dallas.
“Coach Garrett is Coach Garrett,” he said. “He’s the same guy as he was in Dallas as he is here. He’s just a good coach, he’s ready to work, and he’s trying to keep us accountable and make us better.”
And that’s all that really counts in the end.
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