Tag: Carl Banks

Carl Banks likes what he sees in Giants LB Blake Martinez

Carl Banks got animated during his film review of New York Giants LB Blake Martinez, which was both a rarity and a treat.

The last time the New York Giants selected a linebacker high in the first round was back in 1984, when they used the third overall selection in the draft on Michigan State’s Carl Banks.

Banks had an illustrious career in Blue, winning two Super Bowls and getting named to the NFL’s All-1980s Team as well as the Giants Ring of Honor. He has been an analyst on the Giants’ radio broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Bob Papa since 2007, providing valuable insight to Giant fans both on the air and via social media.

The Giants’ recent free agent acquisition of former Green Bay Packers linebacker Blake Martinez has Banks particularly animated as displayed here in a video post on Twitter.

Many who follow the NFL closely know all about Martinez as a prolific tackler and astute, heads-up player. Since becoming a starter in 2017, the 26-year-old former Stanford star has been among the NFL’s top tacklers, tying for the league lead (144) that year and finishing second in 2018 (144) and 2019 (155).

The Giants plan on using Martinez at middle linebacker in the 4-3 or an inside man in the 3-4. Should the Giants opt to draft Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, they will almost certainly employ a 3-4 and have a linebacker group that will hearken back to the days of Banks when the Giants’ defense was feared throughout the league.

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Carl Banks: Giants selecting OT at No. 4 would be logical

Carl Banks explains why the New York Giants selecting an offensive tackle at No. 4 would be the logical and safe choice.

If you ask any New York Giants fan what they should do with the No. 4 overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, the responses will vary from far-fetched to level-headed.

Many want the game-changing defensive player or an offensive playmaker who will make a splash. The reality is the Giants need a staple left tackle, something they haven’t had in the better part of a decade.

Former Giant great and radio analyst, Carl Banks, is one of those who believe the Giants should do the logical thing and select one of the four stud left tackles they will likely have their choice of on April 23.

“If they get the right offensive lineman, I don’t think anybody is going to be upset, considering that they’ve bolstered the defense,” Banks told WFAN’s Joe and Evan. “Obviously, there’s no Isaiah Simmons currently on the Giants roster, but their holes have been filled. I don’t know how deep those holes have been filled to, but they’ve been filled.

“An offensive lineman who is going to be there for Daniel Jones for the next seven, eight, 10 years, if he’s successful, is going to prove better than an Isaiah Simmons. And that’s taking nothing away from [Isaiah Simmons] … If they take a lineman, I understand the logic.”

When the Giants are on the board at No. 4, they should have their pick of Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Jr. of Alabama, Mekhi Beckton of Louisville and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.

“It’s not often that an NFL team gets the lineman of their choice,” continued Banks. “And I think they’ll have their pick of offensive linemen, just based on what’s going to happen in the first three picks of this draft.”

And that’s likely to unfold much like most of the mock drafts we’ve seen with Cincinnati selecting LSU quarterback Joe Burrow first overall followed by Washington taking Ohio State EDGE Chase Young rusher at No. 2. Detroit could surprise by trading back at No. 3, but any team moving up to that spot would do so with the intention of selecting a quarterback.

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Giants legend Carl Banks pleads with NFLPA to help Antonio Brown

Retired New York Giants legend Carl Banks put out a plea to the NFLPA on Tuesday, begging them to step in and help Antonio Brown.

Hollywood Police swarmed the home of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown on Tuesday, the second time in roughly two weeks that there has been a major incident as his residence.

Brown and his trainer, Glen Holt, allegedly battered the driver of a moving truck, leading to Holt’s arrest for one count of felony burglary and battery. A criminal investigation is ongoing, and it remains possible (if not likely) that Brown is also charged — once he is located.

This latest incident comes on the heels of another run-in with police at his home, which stirred national news after the Police Department admonished Brown for his behavior and treatment of officers, leading his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to conditionally terminate his relationship with the receiver until he seeks help.

Help is something retired New York Giants legend Carl Banks pleaded for on Tuesday, encouraging the NFLPA and DeMaurice Smith to step in and assist Brown before things reach the point of no return.

Brown has a history of bizarre behavior that has only increased in both frequency and severity.

After burning bridges in Pittsburgh, Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders where he made a stink over his helmet, eventually blowing that situation so far our of proportion that they, too, cut their losses and sent him packing.

Brown ended up having a cup of coffee in New England, again stirring the pot to the point of his release, and then going on a public rampage against owner Robert Kraft and other members of the team.

Currently, Brown is out of football and the league is investigating a multitude of incidents, including various accusations of sexual assault, which Brown vehemently denies.

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Carl Banks on Giants’ defense: The scheme is to blame

Carl Banks believes James Bettcher and his scheme are to blame for the New York Giants’ defensive woes.

The New York Giants continue to falter on defense and there many analysts pointing to the dearth of talent and not enough examining the real issue — coaching.

Giants Ring of Honoree and Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee, Carl Banks, believes that defensive James Bettcher’s scheme is to blame for the Giants surrendering a league-high 14 passing plays over 40 yards among other breakdowns.

Here are some tweets from Banks’ Twitter account:

“A good talent without a play to maximize is a waste. Bad habits are formed when emphasis is not on a sound fundamental foundation. Too many explosive plays for me to say this is a sound scheme.. too many individual breakdowns to say fundamentals are emphasized…

“… it is fair to ask ourselves if the team cannot stop the same plays (crossing routes) in 2 seasons is it scheme or players? If teams continue to target Haley and you give no help is it scheme or players? Same things = same results.

“The issue for me is how talent is developed within the scheme and how a scheme adapts to its talent.. I currently see no cohesion, a lack of execution in basic zone concepts, glaring holes in man concepts, successful plays against a defense that fails to adjust.. my thoughts.”

Keep in mind that Banks works for the Giants. He is the booth analyst on their radio broadcasts and does other features and programs for Giants on their website and on the MSG Network. Given the sensitivity of the organization after six losing seasons over the past seven years, you would think he would be a little more guarded in his comments.

But as they say, it is what it is. They no longer can put lipstick on this pig and Banks clearly cares about the Giants and is pointing out their obvious shortcomings.

Many have been calling for the dismissal of the entire coaching staff for numerous reasons. There is very little discipline and attention paid to details. There are few consequences for poor play and the ability to install corrective action is either nonexistent or slow.

In the very least, Bettcher needs to go. His scheme may have worked in Arizona but is has been an abject failure in New Jersey. Banks points out they don’t have the right personnel to run it, which leads us to another issue — how did that happen?

How do hire a defensive coordinator and then not get him the type of players he needs to succeed? If that is not the case, then the scheme is a bad one that just isn’t working, which means the coach must go.

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Carl Banks named semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Retired New York Giants LB Carl Banks has been named one of the 25 modern-era semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame.

For the first time since he’s been eligible, retired New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks has been named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Banks made the cut alongside 24 other modern-era players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020, joining defensive tackle Bryant Young and running backs Fred Taylor and Ricky Watters as the four first-time semifinalists who had previously been eligible.

A first-round pick of the Giants in the 1984 NFL Draft, Banks would spend nine years in New York, winning two Super Bowls while being named to the Pro Bowl once and earning an All-Pro nod in 1987. He was also named to the NFL’s 1980’s All-Decade Team and late enshrined in the Giants’ Ring of Honor.

After his time with the Giants, Banks spent a year with the Cleveland Browns before rounding out his career with two years under Bill Belichick as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

The modern-era players list will be reduced to 15 finalists on January 2, 2020. The finalists will then be presented to the 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee during its annual meeting on February 1, 2020 — the day before Super Bowl LIV. The selection committee will elect five modern-era players for the Class of 2020.

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Clay Matthews makes the Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinal list

Will this finally be the year Clay Matthews gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Will this finally be the year Clay Matthews gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The Browns legend has once again made the cut for the semifinalist list for induction.

Matthews is one of 25 players selected as semifinalists from a more extensive list of 122 initial nominees. It’s the fourth time Matthews has made it to the semifinal ballot after his illustrious career playing linebacker and defensive end for the Browns for 16 seasons.

From the selection committee press release,

The Modern-Era players list will be reduced to 15 Finalists that will be announced on Jan. 2, 2020. The finalists will then be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting on “Selection Saturday,” on Feb. 1, 2020, the day before Super Bowl LIV. The Selection Committee will elect five Modern-Era players for the Class of 2020.

The full list of semifinalists, which also includes LB Carl Banks, who played his final two seasons with the Browns.