Tag: Sandro Platzgummer

Giants officially re-sign RB Sandro Platzgummer

The New York Giants have officially re-signed Austrian running back Sandro Platzgummer.

The New York Giants officially announced on Monday that running back Sandro Platzgummer, who spent the 2020 season on Big Blue’s practice squad as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, has been re-signed.

The Giants have signed running back Sandro Platzgummer, who spent last season with the team as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

The Giants were one of four teams chosen to carry an additional overseas player on their practice squad in 2020 as part of the program. Platzgummer, 6-0 and 198 pounds, played five seasons for Austria’s Swarco Raiders Tirol and won two European championships with Austria’s U-19 national team.

The 6-foot, 198-pound Platzgummer may be a bit undersized, but he clocked a 4.50 40-yard dash and posted a 39″ vertical, which was enough to impress Giants running backs coach Burton Burns.

“I admit I am really excited and I know it’s a huge challenge, but I’m not intimidated. There’s guys in the NFL my size. I get inspiration from Christian McCaffrey (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) who is no bigger than I am. I am looking forward to it,” Platzgummer told American Football International last year.

Platzgummer came to the Giants by way of Austria, where he totaled just under 1,000 yards in 2019.

Participated in youth football leagues while growing up in Austria. Represented Austria on their U19 team and competed on the senior team in the 2018 European Championships. In 2019, Platzgummer played running back for the Swarco Raiders Tirol of the Austrian Football League with nearly 1000 total yards and 15 total touchdowns.

Platzgummer joins Saquon Barkley, Devontae Booker, Taquan Mizzell and Jordan Chunn as the running backs currently on New York’s roster.

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Giants roster outlook: Upgrades, downgrades or lateral moves on offense

Giants Wire examines the New York Giants offense and the changes made this offseason, offering a verdict on each unit.

The New York Giants are excited about their prospects on offense this season. There’s an interesting mixture of old and new faces converging within the unit.

The team used first-round draft picks on offensive players the last four years and have supplemented those players with other high round picks and select free agents.

Here’s a quick outlook of the Giants’ 2020 offense.

Elsa/Getty Images

Coaches

Gained: Joe Judge, Jason Garrett, Marc Colombo, others

Lost: Pat Shurmur, Mike Shula, Hal Hunter, others

Jason Garrett, a former Giants backup quarterback and head coach of the Dallas Cowboys the past 10 years, is the new offensive coordinator.

Garrett will bring a balance and some semblance of structure to the offensive game plan. He is a creative, aggressive play caller who has both the experience, temperament and talent to turn the Giants into a high-powered, respectable offensive team.

The staff is full of familiar faces: Marc Colombo (offensive line), Tyke Tolbert (wide receivers), Jerry Shuplinski (quarterbacks), Burton Burns (running backs) and Freddie Kitchens (tight ends) bring a legacy of success and experience to the Giants.

Verdict: Substantial upgrade

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Giants’ Sandro Platzgummer not intimidated by larger, faster NFL players

New York Giants RB Sandro Platzgummer, who is part of the International Player Pathway program, says he’s not intimidated by the NFL.

Austrian running back Sandro Platzgummer was allocated to the New York Giants’ practice squad in late April as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program and he’s intent on making the most of the opportunity.

The one issue facing Platzgummer is his size (6-foot, 198 pounds), but as a student of the game, he knows other smallish running backs have managed to excel at the NFL level.

“I admit I am really excited and I know it’s a huge challenge, but I’m not intimidated. There’s guys in the NFL my size. I get inspiration from Christian McCaffrey (5-foot-11, 205 pounds) who is no bigger than I am. I am looking forward to it,” Platzgummer told American Football International.

The 23-year-old Platzgummer was one of 33 players invited to the NFL International Pathway combine in Cologne, Germany and was then selected to advance before being sent to the IMG Academy in Florida. Shortly thereafter, the NFC East was chosen to receive International Pathway players and the Giants were quick to select Platzgummer.

“I had just uploaded my highlights last summer when James Cook from NFL International called. He had seen them and they were looking for players for the combine. So six weeks before the combine I was told to get ready,” Platzgummer said.

“I was fairly happy with my performance apart from the catching which was hampered by my shoulder.”

Platzgummer, who ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine and posted a 39″ vertical, was contacted by Giants running back coach Burton Burns and welcomed with open arms.

“That was pretty special. He told me I was the final piece of the puzzle,” Platzgummer.

If nothing else, Platzgummer will certainly learn a lot with the Giants. He’ll also get to play alongside Saquon Barkley.

“Running back Saquon Barkley is who I admire the most with everything he has accomplished so far,” Platzgummer added.

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Austrian running back allocated to Giants’ practice squad

Sandro Platzgummer, an Austrian RB, has been allocated to the Giants’ practice squad as part of the International Player Pathway program.

The New York Giants are one of four teams chosen to carry an additional overseas player on their practice squad in 2020 as part of the International Player Pathway program, the NFL announced on Monday.

The four NFC East teams — the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins — will each carry one overseas player on their roster until the end of training camp. The NFC East was chosen to receive these players in a random draw by the league.

The Giants will obtain the rights to Sandro Platzgummer, a running back from Austria. Below is a short bio of Platzgummer provided by the league:

Participated in youth football leagues while growing up in Austria. Represented Austria on their U19 team and competed on the senior team in the 2018 European Championships. In 2019, Platzgummer played running back for the Swarco Raiders Tirol of the Austrian Football League with nearly 1000 total yards and 15 total touchdowns.

Platzgummer will only be eligible to be a practice squad player for the Giants in 2020. They will be allotted an international player practice squad exemption for the 2020 season for Platzgummer.

“The International Player Pathway program is an important part of our ongoing efforts to grow the game globally and provide pathways for international players to make it to the NFL,” said Damani Leech, NFL Chief Operating Officer of International. “We were excited to have players from around the world competing for a spot in the 2020 program, including eight players who were selected after participating in the International Combine in Germany this past October.”

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