Tag: Burton burns

Ex-Giant Elijhaa Penny announces retirement from NFL

Former New York Giants fullback Elijhaa Penny announced his retirement on Monday, closing out what was a very underrated career.

Former New York Giants fullback Elijhaa Penny announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, putting a bow on an underrated six-year career.

Penny signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie out of Idaho in 2016. After two-plus seasons in the desert, Penny was signed to the Giants’ 53-man roster off of the Cards’ practice squad in September of 2018.

Penny remained with the Giants through the 2021 season.

In 77 career games (seven starts), Penny gained 302 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown. Impressively, the fullback never dropped a pass nor fumbled the ball.

In addition to his offensive production, Penny was also a stout special teams player who recorded 32 tackles (15 solo) and recovered two fumbles.

Former Giants running backs coach Burton Burns called Penny a “special talent.”

“I think Eli Penny has special talents as a dual player, as fullback/running back type,” Burns told reporters in 2020. “Eli has a great personality. He is infectious throughout the team. I think guys look up to him, he’s a go-getter. He’s got this attitude: I’ll do whatever it takes.

“He’s got a unique ability. He’s primarily a fullback, if you will. As you noticed last year, he was able to get in some one-back opportunities and do those things. I think the biggest thing with Eli, he’s got great leadership qualities. He’s got a great personality and the whole locker room loves Eli. Just because of his attitude and his desire to do the right thing for us to be successful.”

In February of this year, Penny had his jersey retired at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, California.

Once a Giant, Always a Giant.

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Report: Giants’ Kevin Sherrer, Burton Burns not expected to return

An update on what’s to become of some members of the New York Giants’ previous coaching staff.

After the New York Giants decided to move in a new direction with head coach Brian Daboll, what will become of some of the last coaching staff?

The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy reports that linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer is not expected back, and running backs coach Burton Burns is expected to retire.

Adding to those two, tight ends coach Derek Dooley’s contract is expired, defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson could get a look for defensive coordinator, and New York was also apparently interested in keeping quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski on board before hiring Shea Tierney.

After Patrick Graham left for Las Vegas, the Giants have now turned their attention to their defensive coordinator vacancy.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, and the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, the Giants are also taking a look at candidates such as former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, Don “Wink” Martindale, former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, Sean Desai, Tennessee Titans senior defensive assistant, Jim Schwartz, and Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant and secondary coach, Teryl Austin.

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Report: Giants will be without Gary Brightwell in Week 9

The New York Giants will be without running back Gary Brightwell (Reserve/COVID-19) on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The New York Giants will be unable to welcome Saquon Barkley (ankle) back this Sunday after a false-positive for COVID-19 stunted his rehab. They will also be without rookie Gary Brightwell, who won’t come off the reserve list in time for the Week 9 game.

Dan Duggan of The Athletic was the first to report the news.

Like Barkley, it is believed that Brightwell tested false-positive before landing on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. He would be required to test negative consecutively and show no symptoms of the virus before being removed.

The Giants experienced in excess of 20 false-positives this week, forcing them to temporarily halt rapid testing and return to PCR testing. It is believed that an issue with the lab is at fault for the incorrect testing results.

In addition to Brightwell, the Giants will also be without running backs coach Burton Burns. He was a true positive for COVID-19 and has been isolated from the team.

Freddie Kitchens and Jody Wright will coach the running backs in place of Burns.

Due to their depth issues at the position, the Giants are expected to elevate Dexter Williams, who was signed earlier this week, or Sandro Platzgummer from their practice squad.

Currently, Devontae Booker and fullback Eli Penny are the only healthy bodies at the position.

Giants pause RMT COVID-19 testing after unusual number of false positives

The New York Giants have temporarily paused the Rapid Mesa Test for COVID-19 after an “unusually high number” of false positives.

The New York Giants had a COVID-19 scare earlier this week with 13 members of the organization testing positive on Tuesday. There were additional positive tests on Wednesday.

However, 12 of the 13 who tested positive on Tuesday re-tested negative on Wednesday. Only running backs coach Burton Burns tested positive twice and was promptly isolated from the team.

Three players — running back Saquon Barkley, safety Xavier McKinney and guard Matt Skura — missed practice due to COVID-19 protocols. Barkley and McKinney were later placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

On Thursday morning, the Giants pushed back their entire schedule and canceled all in-person press conferences, instead opting to conduct them virtually. That indicated more positive tests possible sprung up.

However, the Giants announced on Thursday afternoon that they have paused the use of the Rapid Mesa Test and instead will only use PCR tests following an “unusually high number” of false positives.

“As a precautionary measure, we canceled in-facility meetings for players this morning and closed our office to non-football staff. Football meetings are being conducted virtually. Players, unless their test results are still being assessed under COVID protocols, will return this afternoon for practice,” the team said in a statement.

“Bio-Reference Laboratories (BRL) is experiencing an unusually high number of false positives using the Rapid Mesa Test at our facility. With the exception of one individual, all of the positive Mesa test results over the last two days have come back negative through PCR testing. The laboratory is working with experts to determine the source of the problem.

“The NFL and BRL are monitoring this situation closely. We are temporarily halting the use of the Rapid Mesa Test and administering PCR tests only.”

The Giants did not clarify who the “one individual” was who continues to test positive, but it can only be one of Burns, Barkley or McKinney. And among the three, it is known that Barkley is fully vaccinated. The status of the other two is unclear.

Report: Giants’ Saquon Barkley tests positive for COVID-19

New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley, who has been fully vaccinated, has tested positive for COVID-19.

The New York Giants are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak in East Rutherford.

It was revealed on Wednesday morning that running backs coach Burton Burns had tested positive on Tuesday along with 12 others, including players. However, those 12 were re-tested and the results came back negative.

That was the good news. The bad news was that there were several new positive tests on Wednesday, including running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley, who is fully vaccinated, will need to test negative twice in a 24 hour span and show no symptoms of COVID-19 before he is eligible to return.

Because of his positive (rapid) test, Barkley was among those absent at practice on Wednesday. He is currently in isolation awaiting the results of a full test.

In addition to testing positive for COVID-19, Barkley has been dealing with an ankle sprain suffered in a Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He missed each of the team’s previous three games and was hopeful to return this Sunday again the Las Vegas Raiders.

More to come as this story develops…

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Giants assistant Burton Burns tests positive for COVID-19

New York Giants assistant coach Burton Burns has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be available for Sunday’s game against Las Vegas.

New York Giants running backs coach Burton Burns has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders. In his absence, Freddie Kitchens and Jody Wright will coach the running backs.

Burns will continue to be involved with the team via Zoom, head coach Joe Judge told reporters on Wednesday.

In addition to Burns, 12 others tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday but all 12 re-tested on Wednesday and those results game negative. However, Judge indicated there were new positives on Wednesday via the rapid tests and those players/coaches are now being re-tested.

As a matter of precaution, the entire Giants organization — vaccinated or unvaccinated — are being tested. Additionally, several players will be held out of Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

Any unvaccinated player who is ultimately deemed a “close contact” of Burns will be forced into a league-mandated quarantine and miss Sunday’s game.

Judge acknowledged that the Giants do have several unvaccinated players, but not many. He also noted that each have follow the league’s and team’s strict protocols to the best of his knowledge.

Story developing…

Nick Saban: Giants’ Saquon Barkley will benefit from coaching of Burton Burns

Alabama’s Nick Saban believes New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley will excel under the coaching of Burton Burns.

During his 20 seasons as a college assistant, Burton Burns was considered among the very best. He coached Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) to Heisman Trophies, and very nearly did the same with Trent Richardson (2011).

Now Burns is with the New York Giants, where he’ll coach one of the NFL’s electric young running back, Saquon Barkley.

Alabama’s Nick Saban, who had added Burns to the Crimson Tide staff, believes he’ll serve the Giants well and not only get the most out of Barkley, but Dion Lewis and the team’s other backs as well.

“I think, first of all, Burton is a very fundamental type running backs coach,” Saban told Giants.com. “He has a really good grasp of how players need to press holes, read plays, read blocks, and he’s really helped in the development of our players here because of that. Because a lot of guys that are great running backs, especially when we get them, they just get the ball and run with it. They don’t understand that you’re setting up blocks and you’re helping people create holes by how you actually take the correct steps, have the right point of attack relative to aiming point and how that’s going to impact and affect your chances to have a successful run on that particular play. Same thing in pass protection. He breaks it down. Players understand it.”

Although Burns is a strict fundamentalist, he also has an engaging personality that players tend to gravitate towards.

“Burton is just a really good, fundamental coach. He’s got a great personality, players love him, they love playing for him and he does a really good job. But he will get on them now and confront and demand that they do things at a certain level, which is always something with some of the high-profile guys here,” Saban added.

Despite Barkley’s ridiculous numbers over his first two seasons, the Giants have not been able to run the ball consistently, instead leaning heavily on Barkley’s ability to break off one or two long runs per game.

Part of the reason for those struggles has been an under-performing offensive line, which was another area the Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman addressed this offseason. So combined with Burns’ coaching, we should see a much more productive and consistent ground attack in 2020.

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Burton Burns widely respected outside of Giants organization

Burton Burns was a hot topic at the NFL Combine, and there was nothing but love and respect for the New York Giants’ running backs coach.

Shortly after news broke that the New York Giants intended to hire Burton Burns as their next running backs coach, several of his former players tweeted out their support and let Saquon Barkley know he was getting.

Among them was Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram II, the son of former Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram Sr. and one of Burton’s former players at Alabama.

“Saquon is elite, and I think he’s going to be trying to add value to Saquon,” Ingram also told the New York Post. “Obviously Saquon is special, and I think Coach Burns will give him tools that will help him be even more special.

“He’s just getting a coach who loves his players, who was very knowledgeable about the game of football, who understands the running back position, understands running backs’ eyes and knows how to teach running backs how to be an elite running back. He’s a great coach, great father figure and an asset to any organization because of the person he is.”

But the admiration for Burns didn’t begin or end with praise from Ingram. And at the 2020 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, it became clear just how widely respected Burns is.

Burns has been out of football for several years, but had previously spent a decade (2007-2017) coaching the running backs at Alabama, where he had crossed paths with Joe Judge.

Prior to his time at Alabama, Burns spent several years (1999-2006) coaching the running backs Clemson, while also serving as an assistant at both Tulane (1994-1998) and Southern (1981-1985).

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Mark Ingram: Burton Burns will get most out of Saquon Barkley

New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram believes Burton Burns will take New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley to the next level.

Although the news is not yet official, it’s widely known that the New York Giants will hire Burton Burns as their next running backs coach, which drew the immediate approval of New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram Jr., the son of former Giants wide receiver Mark Ingram.

Burns had coached Ingram during his time at Alabama, and the running back has long credited his coach for helping develop him into the player he is today.

Burns will now assume the role of coaching Saquon Barkley, one of the league’s most electrifying backs, and Ingram believes the already talented Barkley will now get to the next level.

“Saquon is elite, and I think he’s going to be trying to add value to Saquon,” Ingram told the New York Post. “Obviously Saquon is special, and I think Coach Burns will give him tools that will help him be even more special.

“He’s just getting a coach who loves his players, who was very knowledgeable about the game of football, who understands the running back position, understands running backs’ eyes and knows how to teach running backs how to be an elite running back. He’s a great coach, great father figure and an asset to any organization because of the person he is.”

Barkley has already gotten a glimpse of that, admitting he’s exchanged a few texts with Burns before running into him at lunch one day, where their bond began to form.

“I texted him, but then I was walking into lunch and he was sitting there,” Barkley told The Post. “We sat down to have an introduction for two minutes and we ended up sitting there for an hour talking about ball. He knows it. He’s been through it all with a lot of special running backs, and he sees a lot of similarities in me. The thing is he wasn’t harping on the good things I can do. He was harping on what I can improve on, which is right up my alley. Definitely exciting to have him as part of our team.”

Barkley finish the 2019 season with just over 1,000 yards, having missed multiple games due to a high ankle sprain. But despite the quality numbers, it was still considered a down year for No. 26.

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Report: Giants to hire Burton Burns as running backs coach

The New York Giants are expected to hire former Alabama assistant Burton Burns as their next running backs coach.

The New York Giants announced the hire of Jason Garrett as their offensive coordinator on Friday night, also confirming the hires of defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Patrick Graham and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey.

In the midst of all that news, an additional reported hire went overlooked.

Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio, who has been on point all offseason with coaching hires, reports that the Giants will hire Burton Burns as their next running backs coach, replacing Craig Johnson.

Burns has been out of football for several years, but had previously spent a decade (2007-2017) coaching the running backs at Alabama, where he had crossed paths with current Giants head coach Joe Judge.

Prior to his time at Alabama, Burns spent several years (1999-2006) coaching the running backs Clemson, while also serving as an assistant at both Tulane (1994-1998) and Southern (1981-1985).

The 67-year-old Burns also played fullback at Nebraska from 1971-1975.

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