Tag: Mathias Kiwanuka

Ex-Giants cheering for Odell Beckham Jr. in Super Bowl

Several former members of the New York Giants admit they’re cheering on the Los Angeles Rams and Odell Beckham Jr. in Super Bowl LVI.

When the Las Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, there will be a distinct New York Giants feel.

On Cincy’s side, cornerback Eli Apple and defensive lineman B.J. Hill have been showing out. On their shoulders, the Bengals have reached their first-ever Super Bowl.

Across the field will be the Rams and superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whose career revitalization has been on full display. And his dream of winning a championship ring is just 60 minutes away.

For many current and former members of the Giants, that creates a rooting conundrum. On one hand, they’d very much like to see Hill win a title. On the other hand, many feel OBJ is the most deserving of all.

“Excited for him, man,” cornerback Prince Amukamara told the New York Post. “The thing with Odell is that he knew he still had a lot of ball left in him. I knew, most people knew. But, if we’re being real, his going from team to team and then the performance not being there, you kind of ask ‘Dang, is this it for Odell?’ And I’m sure Odell doesn’t want to just be known for ‘the catch,’ even though that’s not a bad thing to be known for. But to have ‘Super Bowl champion’ next to your name, it’s awesome. I’m sure excited for him.”

And Amukamara isn’t the only former Giant cheering on OBJ.

“I think he’s one of the guys that’s misunderstood in this league,” offensive lineman Justin Pugh said. “Definitely cheering for him this Sunday.”

Even defensive lineman Mathias Kiwanuka, who played for just one season alongside Beckham, is pleased to see how things are playing out.

“The lesson is that not everybody who appears to be divisive or not a team player is actually that way,” Kiwanuka said. “When I played with him he was young and you could say some of the things he did were immature but he’s grown a lot. I applaud him for being headstrong and figuring out a way to get himself and his family in the best situation possible.”

Winning the Super Bowl would be redemption for Beckham, who insists he’s not basking in the glory of proving so many people wrong. However he got to L.A. is irrelevant — he’s there now and one step away from fulfilling a life-long dream.

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Mathias Kiwanuka: It’s imperative Giants get GM, coaching search right

Mathias Kiwanuka tells Giants Wire that it’s “imperative” that the New York Giants finally get the right GM and head coach in place.

Ever since Tom Coughlin was shown the door by the New York Giants, the head coaching position has been a revolving door. Additionally, the Giants’ general manager performance has also left plenty to be desired.

As the Giants continue their GM and head coaching scouting, the importance of these two particular searches are more important than ever as the Giants need to turn it around in a hurry.

Former Giant and two-time Super Bowl champion, Mathias Kiwanuka, spoke to Giants Wire this week regarding his show “Odds with Ends” on MSG Network and was asked about the Giants’ GM and head coaching searches.

Although Kiwanuka had instability in his career in regards to being switched back-and-forth from linebacker to defensive end, his coaches were pretty consistent throughout. The former two-time champ was asked how important this particular time around that Big Blue’s searches go right.

“It’s imperative… I’ve had very strong coaching experiences throughout my entire career actually. Even going back to college, Tom O’Brien was there my entire time, my high school coach was there my entire time, like I never had to deal with a changing of the guard from the head position,” Kiwanuka said. “We had multiple coordinators, we had at least two D-Line coaches but the head coach, the main message remained the same.

“So I think, if it’s wrong it needs to be changed. It’s better to make big sweeping changes one time than to continue putting duck tape on a broken situation. So, I think this time — not to say it wasn’t last time — but it’s very imperative that the search goes correct. What I mean by correct is that regardless of who that person is in that position, they get the desired results, which is a championship.”

As if the trend wasn’t strong enough, this year’s playoff teams consist mostly of teams whose head coaches are offensive-minded. While the offense is in desperate need to get fixed, Kiwanuka doesn’t feel it’s important for the Giants to get an offensive-focused head coach:

“I think that’s an area where we’re (the Giants) are definitely struggling. I think Patrick Graham has done a decent job defensively, scheme-wise, motivation-wise in getting those guys prepared and ready. I think it’s imperative that the offense is fixed,” Kiwanuka said. “Maybe because I was a defensive player, I don’t necessarily think you need to have an offensive-minded head coach, you just need a great offensive-minded coach or offensive coordinator to be in control of the offense.

“So, if you are going to go with a defensive-minded coach, he needs to understand his limitations and bring in somebody and allow that person to fix the offense. The offense needs to be fixed, the offensive line has to be fixed, the quarterback position needs to be able to shine, needs to be a reason for success and not just another player out there casually contributing. So I don’t agree with that; I don’t think you need an offensive-minded head coach. I think you need a great offensive mind in control of the offense and that can be done at the coordinator level.”

While the Giants’ general manager search could be over sooner rather than later, the head coaching search will follow soon after. With the current state of the Giants, the upcoming draft where the team owns two top 10 picks and for the development of Daniel Jones, it’s more important than ever that the Giants get their searches right this time around.

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Ex-Giant David Tyree on Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, his TV show and much more

Retired New York Giants WR David Tyree talks his “Odds with Ends” show, Eli Manning, Daniel Jones, Tom Coughlin and more with Giants Wire.

Over the weekend, former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree sat down with Giants Wire to discuss his recent new venture: co-hosting his new show with another former Giant, Mathias Kiwanuka, called “Odds with Ends” on MSG Network.

After spending some time in the Giants’ front office during his post-playing career as the director of player development, Tyree is moving on to a role in television.

While discussing his newest venture, Tyree was asked about Daniel Jones’ future with the Giants, Eli Manning’s potential call to Canton and his well-documented bad practice prior to Super Bowl XLII.

Joe Judge on Giants legends: ‘I want them involved with our team’

Following a visit from Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, Joe Judge says he wants more legends to be involved with the Giants.

Three former New York Giants pass rush legends showed up to training camp to check things out this week.

Justin Tuck, Mathais Kiwanuka and Osi Umnayiora all stopped by the Giants’ training facility on Monday to get an up-close look at this year’s version of Big Blue.

Giants head coach Joe Judge loved the idea of old being new.

“Osi, Kiwi and Justin coming back and talking to the team, that was huge for us. I’ve said it from the beginning, this is a different organization, there is a connection between past players, past history of these teams and the players that sit in these chairs today,” Judge told reporters on Tuesday.

“It’s important our players understand and have respect for the history that they come after. They have to understand what’s happened, the players who did it, and the culture and the standards that remain consistent throughout those great times of this organization.

“Without going into direct specifics of what they said, I would just say that everything you could ever ask to be said to a team and needed to be said, they covered. Covered very direct from a player’s perspective, very strong message, it was very well received. I heard from a lot of players, a lot of coaches, I could say from my own perspective of the impact it had on the team in terms of understanding the standards, the expectations of former players, this is different. Some organizations, you kind of come and go. This is one of the different ones where history matters, history carries over.

“In terms of former players coming back here, if anyone hasn’t heard my voice yet, I hope they hear it now, I want them back. I want them here, I want them involved with our team, I want them here at practice, I want them in meetings, I want them around our players, I want our players to understand the pressure they should have on them from past players who achieved great things here. I want these guys in this program. They were here before us and the history of this program will go on after we’re gone here. I want them to understand they are valued, they are respected and they are important to the players who are currently on this roster and our current players have to understand the significance the players played in establishing the culture here.”

Tuck was the Giants’ defensive captain and a two-time Super Bowl champion. Osi was a second-round pick out of Troy in 2003 and was also a two-time Super Bowl champ as was Kiwanuka, the Giants’ first-round pick out of Boston College in 2006.

Umenyiora is seventh on the Giants’ all-time sack list with 75. Tuck is 10th with 60.5. Kiwanuka amassed 38.5. Umenyiora forced an incredible 35 fumbles in his career. Kiwanuka forced 13 and Tuck 22.

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Giants majesty: Azeez Ojulari the latest descendent of royalty

Azeez Ojulari is the third member of the New York Giants who is a descendant of African royalty.

Azeez Ojulari is not the first descendant of an African royal family to wear New York Giants blue. Two former first round picks, Prince Amukamara and Matthias Kiwanuka, both had prominent roots.

Amukamara’s grandfather was the king of the Awo-Omamma in Nigeria’s Imo State and Kiwanuka’s grandfather was the prime minister of Uganda. Ojulari’s grandfather was the late Nigerian Prince Twins Seven-Seven, a traveling dancer and singer who later became a skilled painter.

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Prince Twins Seven-Seven’s grandfather was also the King of Ibadan.

Ojulari, who was born and raised in Georgia, had never been to Nigeria but wants to go there someday.

“I definitely want to go. It’s a must. It’s really big knowing what [my grandfather] meant to the country and everything he’s done. And he did it in a first-class manner,” Ojulari told the New York Post.

Ojulari recalled his relationship with his famous grandfather.

“I was running around the house one day and he told me to come here. And he told me I was going to be special one day. That he believes it, and he knows that it was going to happen,” Ojulari said. “I can’t let him down. I know he’s always looking down on me.

“We have a lot of family in Nigeria. They always call my dad and mom and let them know ‘We’re watching him. We’re following him. We see him on TV.'”

Growing up, Ojulari was teased a bit about his royally roots by his childhood friends.

“[My friends] are always like, ‘Prince Azeez. Prince Azeez is in the house!’ They’re always joking,” Ojulari said, admitting he “pretty laid back” with the situation.

As a Giant, Ojulari is seen as royalty, too. The team is glowing about getting him in the second round with the 50th overall pick.

“He’s an edge pass rusher. He’s instinctive,” Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said. “He’s very bright. He plays hard, and he’s got pass rush ability and he’s also a solid run player. We’re really thankful to get him.”

Now comes the hard part for Ojulari, who the Giants hope will put a share into their mediocre pass rush.

Giants select CB Tim Jennings in 2006 NFL re-draft

In a 2006 NFL re-draft courtesy of Bleacher Report, the New York Giants pass on LB Mathias Kiwanuka in favor of CB Tim Jennings.

In the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected edge rusher Mathias Kiwanuka out of Boston College.

Although Kiwi never developed into the next Michael Strahan or Osi Umenyiora, he had a solid and productive career with the Giants highlighted by two Super Bowl titles.

However, in a 2006 re-draft courtesy of Bleacher Report, the Giants pass on Kiwanuka, who falls out of the first round, to select Georgia cornerback Tim Jennings.

The New York Giants might not want to mess with what helped them win the Super Bowl 21 months after this draft took place, but Kiwanuka was generally overshadowed by Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan that season.

By instead taking cornerback Tim Jennings, they likely would still win championships in 2007 and 2011 and would have increased their chances of winning in other seasons.

The former Georgia cornerback was a Pro Bowler with the Bears in 2012 and 2013. In those two seasons alone, he intercepted 13 passes and scored three touchdowns, and he was also a quality starter in the years that directly preceded and followed that hot stretch. He would have upgraded the secondary on a 10-win team in 2010, and he would have been by far the best cover man on another winning team trying to defend a title in 2012.

The argument that the Giants would have been better with Jennings than Kiwanuka is flawed given that Jennings didn’t really reach his potential until 2012, which came after the Giants won their two most recent titles. He also would not have supplanted Corey Webster, who turned his career around beginning during their 2007 championship run.

By the time Jennings turned things on in 2012, earning an All-Pro nod and his first Pro Bowl appearance, the Giants were already on the downward slope and would not again reach the playoffs until 2016 — the year after Jennings retired.

Would Jennings have pushed any of those Giants teams over the top from 2012 through 2015? It’s possible, but highly unlikely. However, eliminating Kiwi from the equation certainly would have damaged their championship chances in 2007 and 2011, so there’s no sense in re-writing this history.

With Kiwi will on the board, that’s exactly who the Giants should have taken in this re-draft.

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