Tag: brian burns

New York Giants’ dominant defensive trio forming a ‘brotherhood’

The New York Giants knew exactly what they were getting when they traded for Carolina Panthers linebacker Brian Burns, a two-time Pro Bowler who has never recorded less than 7.5 sacks in a season in his five-year NFL career.

What they also knew was how Burns would fit in with his new team. He is a leader in both design and reality.

“First, I would say he’s a great teammate, practices the way you want a pro to practice,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Thursday. “Particularly a player of his type caliber. I think he’s done a good job with the outside linebackers and his room of being a good mentor.

“He leads by example, but he also will speak up if he needs to speak up. He’s been a really good addition to our football team up to this point. Glad we have him. Whether it’s on defense, whether it’s talking to guys on offense, the offensive line about certain things, good person and a good player.”

Daboll also stressed how easily Burns has acclimated to working with his teammates on the Giants’ defense, most notably linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

“You just see him interact with players. You see how he handles himself on the practice field, with the group that’s with. He talks a lot to Kayvon, he has some experience, he’s still a young player too, but a true pro,” he said.

Burns told reporters that he and Thibodeaux are engaging in an iron sharpens iron-like competition.

“Right now, we’re just pretty much getting used to each other, bouncing a lot of ideas off of each other. We just spend a lot of time trying to develop that chemistry,” Burns said. “Also, healthy competition. We almost compete in everything we do, on the field, off the field. Having somebody to push me and I’m able to push, that’s going to be a positive this year.”

Thibodeaux spoke highly of Burns and confirmed the two were working in concert together. Things are apparently off to a good start.

“The competitive spirit. We’re chasing greatness every day. He knows a lot of things. He (has) been in the league a lot longer than I have. He got a lot of game, a lot of gems that’s going to help my game. Continue to get with him on and off the field and continue to grow,” Thibodeaux said.

“He’s a Florida boy. You talk about a little bit of city, a little bit of country. I’m from the West Coast, from L.A. You talk about the mix of the outdoors and the indoors, the big city and the wide-open country. It’s a good mix. We’ve been able to get together, show him some things, he’s shown me some things. Talk about culturally, music-wise. It’s been a good time so far.”

Burns also had glowing praise for another new teammate, All-Pro defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.

“Have you seen him?” Burns said when asked about the massive Lawrence’s presence. “That speaks volumes, just his size alone. He has a God-given ability of strength and athleticism. For a guy that big to move that fast, that agile, it’s truly a gift.

“Something I didn’t know before I got here, he’s very clever. That probably came through experience. We were going into our sixth year together. Probably came with experience. Yeah, he has a lot of tricks he picked up along the way.”

The Giants will now have a formidable trio that gets after passers every week. Last season, they combined for 24 sacks between them.



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10 things Hard Knocks could reveal about New York Giants

The New York Giants will appear in the first-ever offseason edition of HBO’s Hard Knocks, which is set to premiere on Tuesday, July 2.

The five-part docuseries will cover the Giants’ entire offseason from January through June, including Black Monday, the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, the 2024 NFL draft, and team minicamps.

“As we enter our 100th season, we look forward to providing our fans with the opportunity to see what it takes to build an NFL roster. Beginning the moment the previous season ended, we gave NFL Films unprecedented access to this critical time of the year. We know viewers will gain insight from moments that have never been captured before and are excited for them to learn more about our Giants history,” said Nilay Shah, Giants senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy.

The potential for storylines and drama is high. How revealing will the Giants get? Exactly what did cameras capture?

Here’s a look at # things the football world could see and learn on Hard Knocks Offseason.

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Beginning last season, reports arose that head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale were clashing. That came to a head early in the offseason when Daboll fired two of Martindale’s closest confidants, the Wilkins brothers, sending the veteran DC into a rage.

Martindale reportedly blew up on Daboll and stormed out of the building before the two sides “parted ways” days later.

Did Daboll fire Drew and Kevin Wilkins in an effort to push Wink out the door? What was really said behind closed doors? And did HBO cameras catch that final blow-up between the two?

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After more than a year of negotiation, running back Saquon Barkley hit free agency and was quickly scooped up by the Philadelphia Eagles in mid-March. That decision left a horrible taste in the mouths of Giants fans.

After Barkley turned down an above-market deal a year earlier, the Giants opted not to match Philly’s offer.

What did HBO catch during those negotiations and how did the final conversation between Barkley and the Giants organization play out?

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Although losing Barkley was the big story, the Giants also allowed safety and team captain, Xavier McKinney, to walk via free agency.

McKinney had expressed a desire to remain with the Giants while also pushing for what he felt he was worth.

It would be interesting to see how those negotiations went and how each side reacted to McKinney joining the Green Bay Packers.

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General manager Joe Schoen made a big splash in free agency by acquiring linebacker Brian Burns in a trade from the Carolina Panthers.

How did those talks begin? How quickly did they come together? And how did the Giants organization react when they got such a steal of a deal?

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The Giants spent a significant amount of time, money, and effort scouting the many quarterback prospects ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

How was that scouting coordinated? What were the Giants specifically looking for? How did they view each prospect? Who did they want to target and who did they rule out or grade further down the board?

Although insignificant now, it would be interesting to see in hindsight.

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After Martindale left the Giants, rumors about Mike Kafka’s unhappiness with Brian Daboll continued to swirl. While interviewing for head coaching positions, reports arose suggesting Kafka was willing to move laterally in an effort to exit East Rutherford.

Instead of allowing that to happen, the Giants promoted Kafka from offensive coordinator to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

Despite the promotion, Kafka’s exact role remains unclear and it’s possible he’s stripped of play-calling duties.

How did Daboll handle those rumors and reports behind the scenes? What conversation led to Kafka’s promotion and how were those in the front office handling the entire situation?

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Ahead of the NFL draft, reports suggested the Giants were aggressively trying to trade up for a quarterback. After the draft had concluded, it was determined that North Carolina’s Drake Maye, who went to the New England Patriots, was the focus of that attempt.

The Giants ultimately passed on J.J. McCarthy and other remaining quarterback prospects at No. 6 in favor of wide receiver Malik Nabers. The draft concluded without Schoen adding another QB.

HBO should have captured a firsthand look at those conversations and potential trade calls.

How much were the Giants really offering? Was Schoen baiting other teams? Was Jones aware of the potential trade prior to Round 1? A lot of information could be revealed on Hard Knocks.

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Speaking of the war room during trade conversations, what about the remaining five picks? Will we get a glimpse at the Giants’ draft board? What back-and-forth was held before each pick? And were the Giants always targeting the prospects they eventually took or will HBO reveal some other targets they missed out on?

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A large portion of the Hard Knocks docuseries will ultimately focus on quarterback Daniel Jones. He’s a lightning rod and his presence will drive attention among fans, reporters, analysts, and executives.

How did Jones handle all of the offseason rumors? Where is he in terms of rehab as he recovers from a torn ACL and a second neck injury?

Perhaps a better question is: Will we get any insight into the severity of Jones’ neck injuries and what that means for him at this point in his career?

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The HBO cameras will also catch a lot of what has yet to happen. The Giants are into organized team activities (OTAs) at this point and through rookie minicamp, but much remains.

How did rookies handle their first time on the field as Giants? What were the introductions to their veteran team members like? And what went into undrafted players earning a spot on the 90-man roster?

And what happens from here? It’s the Giants. It’s the bright lights of New York. There are sure to be plenty of storylines between now and the premiere of Hard Knocks.

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New York Giants LB Brian Burns named a post-trade impact player

The New York Giants made their biggest move of the offseason during the heart of free agency when they acquired edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers.

While the Giants let Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney sign elsewhere, general manager Joe Schoen executing the trade to acquire Burns showed the team is prioritizing premium positions as they continue to build the roster.

Burns joins a talented defensive front that includes both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence.

Tom Blair of NFL.com recently ranked the 10 traded players who will have the biggest impact with their new teams. Burns did crack the list, coming in at fourth overall.

TRADED BY: Carolina Panthers

TRADED FOR: 2024 second- and fifth-round picks, 2025 conditional fifth-round pick (with Carolina receiving a 2024 fifth-round pick)

I thought about slotting Burns at the top of this list, and maybe I should have. Of everyone in my top 10, he seems like the safest lock to play like a star for his new team in 2024. Unlike Allen and Diggs, the 26-year-old is still squarely in his prime, and unlike Jeudy, he’s a proven entity with a high floor. Burns has had a double-digit pressure rate every year of his career, per Next Gen Stats, and he should team with Kayvon Thibodeaux to boost a defense that finished 30th in pressure rate last season. The problem is, I could see Burns wrecking opponents this season and the Giants still stumbling because of offensive limitations. So, perhaps unfairly, he lands here, capped, in a way, by the lingering uncertainty around what Daniel Jones will bring to the table.

Burns playing with talent all around him may be the most significant reason that he is expected to have an impact in his first season in a Giants’ uniform.

Between Burns and Thibodeaux, the Giants should be able to rush the passer at ease. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Burns could have his best season given the upgrade in the talent around him.

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New York Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux aims to break all-time sack record

New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has his sights set on breaking the single-season sack record (22.5) in 2024.

“I mean, I’m always going to shoot for the stars, so only thing you can do from here is go for the record,” he told the New York Post.

Thibodeaux does not make this statement lightly as he thinks it is very much in the cards.

“As long as you believe in it, it’s as realistic as you want it to be,” Thibodeaux said, “so if you ask me, it’s very real.”

While it is a lofty goal, the Oregon product has improved tremendously since entering the league when it comes to getting after the quarterback.

As a rookie, Thibodeaux posted a modest four sacks. However, he nearly tripled that in his sophomore season in the NFL as he finished with 11.5 sacks.

Now the former fifth overall pick will have every opportunity to improve on that as he now has two-time Pro Bowler edge rusher Brian Burns on the opposite side.

“He challenges me,” Thibodeaux said. “When you’re talking about having somebody who’s similar body types, similar mindsets that has reached a higher level of greatness than I have, it’s nothing but motivation, it’s constant work whether we’re watching film with each other, whether we’re talking ball or whether we’re on the field getting pass rush in, and seeing how he does things and how I can implement it in my game and then there’s certain things that I do differently that he can implement in his game.”

Burns has averaged nearly 10 sacks per season over the last three years and with this type of edge rushing threat on the opposite side, it should open up more room for Thibodeaux to work.

One can not forget about Dexter Lawrence as well as he has been causing havoc for quarterbacks from the nose tackle position recording 12 sacks and 49 quarterback hits in only the last two seasons.

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Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns preview new sack dance

New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has welcomed his new teammate, Brian Burns, with open arms.

Even before linking up at the team’s offseason workout program, Thibodeaux and Burns were on a boat, deep sea fishing off the Florida shore. During that time — and between casts — they were also practicing their new sack dance.

Thibodeaux shared a preview of the celebration on his Instagram account.

Burns and Thibodeaux are no strangers. They briefly met back in 2018 before Thibodeaux committed to Oregon.

“Thibodeaux, I was his host, and he took a visit to Florida State before he chose to go to Oregon. Like I said, from time to time we talk on Instagram. Other than that, nothing too deep,” Burns told reporters during his introductory press conference.

The Giants will heavily rely on the duo to help boost their pass-rush production in 2024.



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Which path should New York Giants take in 2024 NFL draft?

This week on the Giants Wire Podcast, we discuss the 2024 NFL draft and what the New York Giants might do in Round 1.

Will general manager Joe Schoen trade up? How about down? Will he stand pat and take a top-end wide receiver or hope a potential quarterback falls to him? We weigh those options and offer our take.

We also discuss the free-agent losses of running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney. Which was worse? And can Devin Singletary replace Barkley’s production?

Additionally, we evaluate the addition of edge rusher Brian Burns and break down what it means for the defense — specifically nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Those topics (and more) are discussed in the latest episode of the Giants Wire Podcast, which is hosted by Ryan O’Leary (@RyanO_Leary on X) and joined by site editor Dan Benton (@TheGiantsWire).

The Giants Wire Podcast will air every week during the regular season and occasionally throughout the offseason. You can listen below:

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New York Giants’ Brian Burns named one of ‘riskiest contracts’ of 2024

The New York Giants made a big splash early in free agency, acquiring edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers.

The trade was contingent on the Giants signing Burns to a new contract, which they did, agreeing to a five-year, $141 million deal.

That’s a whole lot of money for the 25-year-old Burns, which has some skeptical of the trade. Among them is Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report, who named the Burns deal among the NFL’s eight riskiest contracts of 2024.

Burns has already been named to a pair of Pro Bowls and logged 12.5 sacks as recently as two years ago.

But Burns is now the second-highest-paid edge-rusher in the league in terms of average annual salary. He makes more per season than T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. His cap hit will spike to almost $30 million in 2025.

And that 12.5-sack 2022 season is the only time Burns has hit double digits.

Burns has been highly productive throughout his career despite having very little talent around him. In New York, he’ll be paired with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence, allowing him to operate more freely. The contract given to him by the Giants is reflective of what they believe he can do rather than what he’s already done.

As general manager Joe Schoen often says, “scared money doesn’t make money.”

The Giants are banking on Burns to be money.

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New York Giants do not plan on trading Azeez Ojulari

The New York Giants made a big splash early in free agency, acquiring edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers.

Immediately after that trade, the Giants signed Burns to a five-year extension worth $150 million with $87 million guaranteed.

That’s a hefty price tag for a team still cleaning up a messy salary cap situation. And it might lead one to believe that some cuts or trades are coming to help balance out the financial spreadsheet.

One potential option is fellow edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will account for a cap hit of $2.2 million.

Ojulari has failed to reach his ceiling since joining the Giants as a second-round pick in 2021. He’s also missed 16 games over that span due to a multitude of injuries, but despite that, Big Blue has no plans to sever ties.

Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports that the Giants do not plan to trade Ojulari and intend to keep him as part of their pass rush rotation, albeit in a more limited role.

Ojulari may seem expendable, but the Giants aren’t planning to trade the 23-year-old as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, according to a league source. Having a third edge rusher with 16 sacks over the past three seasons gives the Giants much better edge depth than they’ve had in years.

It’s not ideal for Ojulari to have his contract year crashed by Burns. But even pass-rush specialists cash in, so Ojulari could secure a solid payday if he’s productive in a reduced role.

Ojulari is still entirely capable of being a productive player for the Giants, but he must find a way to remain on the field. Perhaps a smaller, more specified role will help keep him healthy.

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How to buy Brian Burns New York Giants jersey

The New York Giants have been a team with a lot of moving parts in the early stages of the NFL’s free agency period.

None bigger than pass rusher Brian Burns.

The former Carolina Panthers edge defender is bringing his star status into the same defensive front as Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants inked him to a free-agent contract.

Such a move has to be celebrated immediately properly!

Be the first of your friends to get your hands on the new Brian Burns New York Giants jersey:

Shop NY Giants Brian Burns Jersey

While it may take the NFL a little while to get used to Burns in dark blue, Giants fans are more than ready to see him in his new threads.

Both the men’s and women’s Brian Burns Giants jerseys are available now at Fanatics:

Shop Brian Burns Giants men’s jersey

Shop Brian Burns Giants women’s jersey

Shop Brian Burns Giants gear

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Brian Burns provides New York Giants impressive consistency

Just as they did last offseason, the New York Giants made their biggest splash in the free agency period via trade to add a big name — this time on the defensive side of the ball when they acquired edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers.

The Giants followed up the trade by giving Burns a lucrative deal to secure the pass rusher for the foreseeable future.

Burns is in elite company given his consistency during his first five seasons in the NFL — something the general manager Joe Schoen hopes he continues in a Giants uniform.

Sharing company with three Hall of Famers along with Jared Allen, Aaron Donald, and others is certainly noteworthy for the Giants’ newest pass rusher.

With Burns being just 25 years old, it allows the Giants to build around him for years to come. He joins Kayvon Thibodeaux along with elite talent Dexter Lawrence, giving Burns the most talent on a defensive line that he has played with.

It does appear that Joe Schoen is prioritizing the trenches on both sides of the ball and Giants fans certainly have something to be excited about with the addition of Burns.



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