Tag: Darren Waller

Brock Bowers is Raiders new franchise single-season receptions record holder

Brock Bowers cemented his place in the Raiders record books for the most catches in a single season. And not just for rookies.

Three major records in one game is what we’ve come to expect from the Raiders all-world tight end Brock Bowers.

First it was the rookie tight end receiving yards record, which he set late in the second quarter on his third catch of the game. Then it was the rookie receptions record, which he broke early in the third quarter. And then he moved on from rookie records to a franchise mark for any position with any experience level. To give him the hat trick of records for the game.

With his seventh catch of the day, Bowers hit 108 catches which sets a new Raiders franchise single-season mark for catches. He breaks the record set by Darren Waller (107) set in 2020.

Waller had broken the previous franchise mark set by Tim Brown (104) which had existed since 1997. Which means, Bowers had surpassed Brown on the same catch that broke the rookie tight end receiving yards mark.

Bowers had tied the franchise mark late in the third quarter on a 15-yard catch to set up a field goal and a 19-10 Raiders lead. He would set the new franchise mark early in the fourth quarter.

Justin Simmons only intercepted Derek Carr once in 12 games

Justin Simmons only intercepted Saints QB Derek Carr once in a dozen games. He’s looking to improve that total after signing with the Falcons:

Derek Carr and Justin Simmons played against each other a dozen times when they were the faces of two proud AFC West franchises — and Carr’s  Las Vegas Raiders led the series with a 9-3 record in that time. But now they’re set to compete again in the NFC South, with Simmons having signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons and Carr leading the New Orleans Saints.

A lot can happen in 12 games. Carr threw 355 passes during that span with Simmons lined up against him. As a two-time Pro Bowler with 30 career interceptions, it’s worth asking how many times Simmons picked off Carr. What would be your guess? Two? Four? Eight? More?

It turns out that Simmons only intercepted Carr once in this rivalry series. And you’ve got to see the play to believe it happened:

That was a deflection off the hands of tight end Darren Waller, which Simmons was in position to snatch away. But it shouldn’t be that surprising. Carr has faced a lot of criticism — deservedly — for his first year with the Saints. One thing he’s always done well is protect the football. Carr has never thrown more than 14 interceptions in a single season, and he was picked off just eight times last year. It makes sense that he’d avoid dangerous throws in  twice-a-year division rivalry games.

But his historical success against Simmons and the Broncos is a little encouraging. Carr averaged 254.9 passing yards per game against Simmons’ defenses over the years. That’s an improvement on his averages both with the Raiders (248.0) and the Saints (228.1). Simmons is a player he knows well, and matching up against that old foe could lead to some favorable situations for No. 4. We’ll see.

Some would say it’s disingenuous of us to downplay Atlanta acquiring Simmons, a player we’ve consistently lobbied for New Orleans to sign and who visited the Saints before joining the Falcons. And to that criticism, we’d take refuge in audacity and shamelessly pump up the Saints-Falcons rivalry. Simmons might have been the missing piece Dennis Allen’s defense needed to play winning football. Instead, the Falcons are overpaying a past-his-prime player at a less-valuable position who won’t solve their problems. It’s a waste of their resources, but we’ll see how it plays out for them. Maybe they’ll only give up 84 points in their next two games instead of 85 like in their last two losses. Never break kayfabe.

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Darren Waller praises Giants organization, team ownership

Former New York Giants tight end Darren Waller recently spoke about the classiness of the organization and praised their care for players.

Retired New York Giants tight end Darren Waller only spent one injury-laden season with the team but that’s all it took for them to earn his ever-lasting respect.

Speaking on the Ross Tucker Podcast, Waller sang the praises of ownership, who he called “present,” and believes the team is headed in the right direction.

“It’s the little things that matter, that show they care about individual players,” Waller said. “Dabes and Schoen are doing the best they can to build a great organization. They care about players. They’re interested in guys’ opinions.”

The Giants acquired Waller in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders last March in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Waller could not stay healthy, however, as was limited to 12 games with a tricky hamstring.

Waller still managed to snare 52 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown but it was clear he was beginning to decline. His personal problems, including a divorce from WNBA star Kelsey Plum after one year of marriage, were weighing heavy on Waller and contributed to his decision to retire from football.

The Giants have attempted to backfill the void left behind by Waller by signing veterans Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz and selecting Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The team is also retaining Daniel Bellinger — last year’s No. 2 — and Lawrence Cager, a player who appears to improve every year.

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After one season together, Darren Waller a believer in Giants QB Daniel Jones

After just one season together, Darren Waller has become a believer in New York Giants QB Daniel Jones: “He has it in him.”

Tight end Darren Waller played just one season with the New York Giants before deciding to retire from the game of football, but that was all he needed to become a fan of quarterback Daniel Jones.

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Waller expressed his confidence in Jones and admitted that protection issues ruined any chance the quarterback had in 2023 before being lost to injury.

“I’m just excited for him to get another opportunity,” Waller said, via NFL Media. “I feel like he gets a bad rep. 2022, man, (he) played such good football. Last year was his first opportunity to get out there and play on the new bag that he got. It was tough for us as an offense to protect him, and you can’t put any quarterback back there and not have any protection and expect them to really, truly thrive in the pocket.

“(I’m) hoping that they can get those things shored up and allow him to have an opportunity to show that he is a talented dude, he’s very athletic, like get his opportunity to play the football that he was playing in 2022. I feel like that’s definitely still in him.”

General manager Joe Schoen focused heavily on repairing the offensive line throughout free agency, adding two new starting guards and several depth pieces.

Whether or not that will be enough remains to be seen, but Jones is determined to prove his doubters wrong either way.

“I know him for a fact, he’s motivated and excited to get back out there, excited to lead,” Waller said. “That’s when you learn the most about dudes is responding to opportunities like this.”

The Giants hope Waller is right because this is likely the last chance for DJ to prove he’s “the guy.”

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Unsung Giants tight end named ‘most surprising’ performer of OTAs

New York Giants tight end Lawrence Cager was the team’s “most surprising” performer this spring and could be in line for a major role.

The New York Giants are currently enjoying their summer break following weeks of organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp.

While players are away, experts and analysts continue to break down what they’ve seen over the spring, and that includes Jordan Raanan of ESPN, who came away extremely impressed with tight end Lawrence Cager.

In fact, Raanan says, Cager was the “most surprising” performer of OTAs.

Tight end Darren Waller’s retirement opened opportunities for others. It looked this spring like Cager and fourth-round pick Theo Johnson will be asked to fill that pass-catching role. Both received some first-team reps and made plays in what primarily serves as a passing camp. Coach Brian Daboll even mentioned that Cager was “probably one of the most improved players throughout the offseason,” which could open the door for him to make a significant contribution this season.

Given Waller’s unsurprising retirement, the Giants will have to lean on their depth to fill the void. That includes Cager, who has long been viewed as a player with a high upside who simply hasn’t hit their stride yet.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Cager originally signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia in 2019. He also had a stint with the Cleveland Browns sandwiched in between his second stop with the Jets before joining the Giants in October of 2022.

The 26-year-old Cager has appeared in 21 career games (five starts), hauling in 19 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns. However, those numbers are not at all indicative of his potential as a pass-catcher.

“He played receiver, he was a guy that I recruited when he was coming out of high school, too. So, I think he’s developing the skills he needs to play at the position,” head coach Brian Daboll said of Cager last year. “He’s an athletic young man but he’s going to need to do multiple things whether it’s in the kicking game, whether it’s be ready to go at tight end, but he’s had the right mindset.”

While many assume Daniel Bellinger will step in as TE1 in place of the departed Waller, don’t sleep on Cager, whose development is now catching up to his potential.

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2 Giants named to The Sporting News’ All-Overpaid Team

Two members of the New York Giants have been named to the The Sporting News’ 2024 All-Overpaid Team, but Daniel Jones is not one of them.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen has spent three years attempting to clean up the mess led by his predecessor, Dave Gettleman, and has done an admirable job. Although the team carries more dead cap than they’d like, things have largely been sorted out.

But no one is perfect and mistakes, which are subjective based on personal interpretation, are made.

Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News recently released his 2024 All-Overpaid Team and two members of the Giants were among those listed. But before you assume quarterback Daniel Jones is one of them, pump those brakes. He isn’t.

Deshaun Watson got the nod at quarterback, saving Jones from another all-too-common round of criticism.

So, which two Giants made the cut? First up was one of Schoen’s major offseason signings, guard Jon Runyan Jr.

Jon Runyan, Giants ($10 million)

The Giants also overspent inside in free agency for the fading former Packer.

It’s a tough sell to suggest the Giants overpaid for Runyan. The veteran’s contract is the going rate for starting guards and even if it is on the high side, it’s what the market has dictated, says an NFL executive.

“Runyan was a market deal even though it was expensive,” an executive from another team told The Athletic. “He’s not a $10 million player, but that’s what the market dictates.”

Next up for the Giants is veteran kicker Graham Gano.

Graham Gano, Giants ($5.5 million)

Gano has limited range and has started to become less reliable on field goals at 37.

“Limited range” is a curious criticism of Gano. Before his injury-riddled 2023 campaign, which he initially tried to play through, Gano was about as automatic as it came.

In 2022, Gano connected on 90.6% of his field goal attempts, including eight of nine from beyond 50 with a long of 57. Even last season, the veteran boomed one through from 57 yards out (he has a career-long of 63).

Iyer also notes that had Darren Waller not retired, he would have been listed as the most-overpaid tight end in the NFL. Instead, that honor went to Noah Fant (Seattle Seahawks).

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Giants’ Daniel Bellinger once again attending Tight End University

New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger is attending George Kittle and Travis Kelce’s Tight End University for the third straight year.

Following the retirement of Darren Waller, New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger seems primed to make the most of the opportunity in front of him.

Last week, Bellinger made it clear that with the void left by Waller, he is ready to do whatever the team needs him to do.

“Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do,” Bellinger told reporters during minicamp. “I’m just going to do anything they want me to do. They want me to stick my head in the dirt, go out, and catch a pass; I’m going to do what they need me to do.”

Meanwhile, in an effort to continue bettering himself, Bellinger is attending Tight End University for the third consecutive year.

The Giants’ third-year tight end will have to earn the starting job over rookie Theo Johnson, who the team selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft with the status of Waller unclear. Coincidentally, Bellinger was also taken in the fourth round of his respective draft.

Last year, Bellinger caught the eye of both George Kittle and Travis Kelce, two of the league’s best tight ends, who founded Tight End University in 2021.

As Bellinger continues to improve and gets accustomed to the NFL, he has made his attendance at Tight End U a routine at this point.

After getting bumped down on the depth chart when Waller was acquired last offseason, the Giants will now lean on Bellinger ahead of 2024. He certainly hopes to build off his impressive rookie year and re-establish himself as a reliable option for Daniel Jones.

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Theo Johnson could have big rookie season with retirement of Darren Waller

A retirement in the Giants organization likely puts Penn State’s Theo Johnson in the fast lane for a starting job.

It had been speculated throughout the NFL offseason, but New York Giants tight end Darren Waller officially made a decision regarding his playing future. He announced on June 9 that he is retiring from the NFL, primarily due to a health scare and not feeling that he can give his all to the sport any longer. With that saga finally ending, the Giants can fully work towards replacing his role.

They have a few potential candidates to be the primary starter, but it’s likely a two-horse race between third-year player Daniel Bellinger and rookie [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] from Penn State. Bellinger has the advantage in terms of NFL experience, but he has not produced so far when given opportunities. He has played in 29 games with 24 starts and only racked up 523 yards and two touchdowns.

Bellinger was also just a fifth-round pick, so he isn’t going to get the benefit of the doubt from the coaching staff. Johnson meanwhile was selected in the fourth round of this year’s draft. That decision may have been more about the uncertainty with Waller than any lack of faith in Bellinger, but the Giants front office clearly felt they needed more talent at the position.

Aside from the difference in draft capital, Johnson is also a very different player than Bellinger. Bellinger is more of a fluid, receiving tight end that isn’t going to give you much as a blocker or vertical threat. Johnson meanwhile is less fluid but can use his size well as a blocker, can climb the ladder for jump balls, and can run away from defenders up the seam.

Neither are perfect players, and their contrasting skill sets may actually allow them to co-exist well in the Giants offense. Teams are slowly trying to reverse course on the wide-open, spread-out offenses now that defenses have become faster and lighter in response. Two tight end sets give offenses a huge advantage in the run game, but they also provide mismatches for the passing game.

Even if Theo Johnson isn’t the “starting” tight end, he could still be in for a big workload as a rookie. Only time will tell how well he handles it, but he has the talent to make it work.

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Daniel Bellinger willing to do whatever Giants need after Darren Waller retirement

Following the retirement of Darren Waller, third-year tight end Daniel Bellinger is ready to step up and do whatever the Giants need.

Following his rookie season, tight end Daniel Bollinger had the looks of being a steal in the draft for the New York Giants. However, Bellinger knew he would see a decreased role when the team acquired Darren Waller last offseason.

Interestingly enough, the Giants actually tried to add another big name in Rob Gronkowski but were unsuccessful in luring Gronk out of retirement.

With Waller now one and done with the Giants after announcing his retirement, Bellinger is ready to step up and do whatever the team needs him to do moving forward without Waller:

“Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do,” Bellinger told reporters on Tuesday when asked about his role. “That’s probably a question for them. I’m just going to do anything they want me to do. They want me to stick my head in the dirt, go out, and catch a pass; I’m going to do what they need me to do.”

After showing up to minicamp bulked up last year, Bellinger has his sights set on working on other things this offseason.

“This year I’ve been focusing on route running stuff more,” he said. “Of course, I needed to step up in every area of my game. I’ve been focusing on the pass side of the game, taking strides that way, and taking steps in the run game.”

Waller’s retirement surprised nobody and the Giants were fully prepared, which is likely a big reason why they took Theo Johnson in the fourth round of this year’s draft.

With Waller and Saquon Barkley no longer on the team, there should be plenty of targets to go around.

The Giants are hopeful Bellinger builds off the success of his rookie year and takes on a big offensive role in 2024.

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Giants place TE Darren Waller on reserve/retired list

The New York Giants have placed TE Darren Waller on the reserve/retired list and released RB Gary Brightwell off of injured reserve.

The New York Giants placed tight end Darren Waller on the reserve/retired list Monday evening, making his NFL retirement official.

Waller informed the team that he’d be stepping away from the game over the weekend.

“The passion has slowly been fading. I’ve, you know, made the decision that I’ll be retiring from the NFL,” Waller said in a YouTube video. “Eternally grateful for the game of football. I wouldn’t be able to have this conversation or to think things through or be self-reflective if it wasn’t for an opportunity to save my life and go to rehab, which the NFL offered me.”

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll put no pressure on Waller to make a decision but it was inevitable that one would be made ahead of this week’s mandatory minicamp.

“We have great respect for Darren as a person and player. We wish him nothing but the best,” the Giants said in a statement.

Waller’s retirement frees up approximately $11.6 million in cap space for the Giants as he was scheduled to make $10.5 million with a $14.1 million cap number. The move will now only cost the Giants $2.5 million in dead cap money this season (and $4.9 million in dead cap next season).

In addition to making Waller’s retirement official, the Giants also released running back Gary Brightwell off of injured reserve (IR) with an injury settlement.

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