The New York Giants wasted no time signing much maligned veteran, Brandon Meriweather, to bolster a depleted secondary after rookie safeties, Landon Collins and Mykkele Thompson, suffered injuries in the 23 to 10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Friday.
Second round pick, Landon Collins, was the highest rated safety in this year’s draft. The Giants moved up seven spots in a trade with the Tennessee Titans to land Collins with the intention of starting him immediately.
On Saturday Coach Tom Coughlin reported that Collins is out for at least a week with a sprained MCL. Collins will likely miss the rest of preseason, and valuable playing time, under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
The loss of both safeties left the Giants’ front office searching for answers and taking a chance on a once-promising, first round selection, out of the University of Miami. The question is: does Meriweather, still unsigned as late as August 16th, have anything positive to contribute to the New York Football Giants.
Originally drafted out of Miami in 2007 by the New England Patriots, the strong safety spent the last three seasons with the Washington Redskins.
Meriweather is a two time pro-bowl player that brings some baggage to the Big Apple. In an eight year career, the 31-year-old defender has been suspended twice and fined four times; twice for over $100,000, for his bone-jarring helmet-to-helmet hits, deemed illegal by the league.
N.Y. Giants’ linebacker and former Miami Hurricane, Jon Beason, will be reunited with Meriweather for the first time since the two entered the league in 2007. Of Meriweather’s physicality and aggressive play, Beason glowingly stated:
“We used to call him little B and then as he transitioned into a starter, his nickname became ‘Killer B’, because he would literally take peoples heads off. So that’s the kind of people you want back there in the secondary.”
The Giants’ coaching staff is well aware of Meriweather’s infamous reputation and plans to address his bad habits in camp. According to ESPN Staff Writer Dan Graziano, Coach Coughlin addressed the bone crushing hits by stating:
“Well, the toughness part you want. The penalties and issues, you don’t want. I think he’ll take coaching. He’s competitive. He’s very competitive. And to a certain extent, obviously we want that. ”
On his first day of practice, Meriweather was seen taking the majority of snaps on defense and is certain to start in game one. After practice coach Coughlin made it clear where he stands on the controversial safety stating to Senior Writer Michael Eisen at www.giants.com.
“He is a very physical safety (who) comes down in the box very well. He will bring a degree of toughness, to that position, so we welcome him.”
The Giants hope to return to the playoffs in 2015. With a unit decimated by injuries the team is betting on Brandon Meriweather to shore up a secondary that is certain to be the weak link on defense.
Christopher DuVall is a writer for the Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook.