Giants Tap Winston on Two-Year Deal

 The New York Giants have signed a veteran quarterback. Granted it may not be THE quarterback, but a quarterback nonetheless. 

Jameis Winston and the Giants agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal late Friday night, likely ending New York's pursuit of at least Russell Wilson, and hopefully, ends the bizarre desire to pursue Aaron Rodgers. More on that in a minute.

Winston isn't a name that is going to excite fans, but it is the most logical fit for a franchise that is in transition, and will likely draft a quarterback in next month's NFL Draft. 

After getting drafted first overall by Tampa Bay in the 2015 NFL Draft, Winston has put together a rather mediocre career. He can throw for tons of yards, and lots of touchdowns, he threw 33 for the Bucs in 2019, but he also throws a lot of interceptions. He also threw 30 picks in 2019 for Tampa. 

Since his Bucs' days, Winston has been a solid back-up quarterback the past five seasons. He was servicable in New Orleans at the end of Drew Brees' tenure there, and was decent at times last year in Cleveland in a season where threw 13 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. 

In short, you get what you get from Winston. He'll play great some weeks, horrible others. 

If the Giants play their cards right, this could work out great if they get the young signal caller they want in the draft. 

All expectations are the Tennessee Titans will draft Cam Ward with the first overall pick, but even that is no slam dunk. If the Browns don't draft Shedeur Sanders second overall, he could be sitting there for the Giants.

The Giants have been linked to Sanders for a long time, even with all of the bad things scouts had to say about Sanders coming out of his combine interviews, he's still viewed as either the second best or third best quarterback in this draft.

If the Browns, or whoever trades with Cleveland for the number 2 overall pick, takes Sanders, the Giants could try to trade down, get multiple picks and take the explosive Jaxon Dart later in the first round. 

Either way, the Giants have to come away with a quarterback in this draft.  

They passed on Jayden Daniels last season before Washington took him. If seeing Saquon Barkely light it up in the NFC East with Philadelphia was bad enough, seeing the young rookie quarterback they should have taken last year light it up in D.C. was just as bad. 

Aaron Rodgers: 

As for Rodgers, it appears it could be Pittsburgh Steelers or retirement at this point. The Vikings told him 'thanks, but no thanks,' and Rodgers met with the Steelers extensively on Friday. Both the Giants and Steelers have offers on the table, but if Rodgers is serious about winning now, he'd pick Pittsburgh over the Giants. 

Russell Wilson:

There are some who believe the signing of Winston doesn't preculde the Giants from pursuing Russell Wilson. That is IF Big Blue is not sold on the kids coming out of the draft. If that is true, then by all means sign Russell Wilson, who is a more reliable passer, even at age 36 than Jameis Winston. Signing Wilson would signal that the Giants believe they are close to winning (which they are not realistically). The only issue is having two veteran quarterbacks on the roster does nothing to cool off the pressure on this coach and GM unless they make the playoffs. 

Wilson could also choose Cleveland, or perhaps Tennessee if those franchises also get cold feet on the 2025 rookie QB class. 

We'll see.

Aaron Rodgers Driving Steelers and Giants Fans Insane with Wait

 Aaron Rodgers is doing what Aaron Rodgers does best, drive up the media attention, and make people wait for a decision. 

After his release from the New York Jets became official at 4:00 this afternoon, the waiting game over where Rodgers' would land next only intensified. 

We've heard for days it would be the Giants, or the Steelers, or the Vikings. And still we have no answer. 

The only thing we have gotten from Rodgers is this cryptic photo of him walking on the beach in a blanket with earbuds on.  

There were even reports late Wednesday afternoon that Rodgers is also contemplating retirement. 

Both the Giants and Steelers reportedly have offers on the table for the four-time MVP, who apparently is going back into darkness to figure things out. 

Welcome to the Rodgers experience, Giants and Steelers fans. 

And now you know why many Jets fans couldn't wait to dump the 41-year old future Hall of Famer for Justin Fields. 

There is no telling how long Rodgers is going to make these teams wait, but it certainly isn't fair. Quarterbacks in the secondary market are coming off the board. And Russell Wilson is scheduled to meet with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday before flying to New York on Friday to meet with the Giants. 

If the Browns are smart, they wouldn't let Wilson leave the building, which would put both the Steelers and Giants in the ultimate panic mode. 

Imagine being the Steelers who just acquired DK Metcalf, and losing out on Wilson, Fields and having no call from Aaron Rodgers? 

How about the Giants? Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are on the hot seat, and now they have to deal with this! 

If the Giants are smart, they wash their hands of the Aaron Rodgers fiasco before it gets really out of hand, and sign someone, anyone at this point. Sign Joe Flacco! At least he's a capable veteran with a Super Bowl ring who has no ego! 

Sign Jamies Winston -- at least he's entertaining, even if he throws at ton of picks. 

Do anything to position yourself to draft either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Anything is better than waiting for Aaron Rodgers. 

Cole Out for the Season, Will Have Tommy John Surgery

 The Yankees worst fears are now a reality.  

Gerrit Cole is lost for the season, and will undergo Tommy John Surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow. 

Cole struggled this Spring, allowing seven runs over six innings of work in two starts. He reported feeling an "alarming" amount of pain in his right elbow, and it was pretty obvious where this would end up. Cole has been dealing with elbow issues since last season. 

He missed 75 games last year after being diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema. When he finally returned in late July, Cole had his struggles; at times didn't look like the Cy Young Award winner from 2023. He still pitched 124 innings over 22 starts combined regular season and postseason. 

Yet, the elbow problems from 2024 felt like an overriding concern going into the new season, and well, here we are. 

 

Jets Get their Man, Ink Fields to 2-Year Deal

 The New York Jets signed ex-Steelers backup quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year contract worth upwards of $40 million, with $30 million guaranteed. Fields will be the Jets starting quarterback this year, and the contract gives Gang Green enough flexibility to determine whether the former Ohio State product is a long term fit.

 Fields signing with New York felt inevitable as reports surfaced Sunday night and Monday morning that the Steelers were looking elsewhere at quarterback, perhaps ex-Jet Aaron Rodgers who is set to hit free agency when the league year officially begins on Wednesday.

The signing makes a lot of ton of sense for the Jets. 

 

1. Fields is only 26-years old, and many believe he still has his best football ahead of him.
2. He has seen steady improvement as a passer the past couple of seasons, especially last year in Pittsburgh where Fields completed 65 percent of his passes, with five touchdowns to just one interception. Moreover, Fields' ability to move around the pocket and create plays with his legs is very attractive to a Jets team that is expected to run a more open-spread offensive scheme.
3. Flexibility. If Fields balls out in 2025 and leads the Jets to the playoffs, Gang Green can simply rip up the final year of the deal and extend Fields as the long-term solution.

If it doesn't work out, then the Jets can either keep Fields for another year or move on.

 Other notable moves: The Jets also signed ex-Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens to a three-year deal. While he's not a great cover corner, he does have good size and athleticism. Gang Green also signed ex-Jaguars safety Andre Cisco to a one-year deal. Cisco was a ball-hawk with the Jaguars, picking off eight passes in his career. 

Tommy John Surgery Recommended for Yankees' Cole

 Yankees ace Gerrit Cole could be lost for the season if he takes up a recommendation to have Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow. The news comes from Jim Bowden via the Athletic. 

It's not good news for the Yankees, but not surprising either. According to reports, Cole and the Yankees will seek a second opinion first before moving forward. If he has the surgery (which one would think is likely) he will miss the entire 2025 season, and part of the 2026 season in all likelihood. 

While it is devastating news, pitchers have come back and pitched well post surgery. 

Cole was bothered all last season by elbow problems, and missed 75 games before coming back at mid-season. While he pitched fairly well, there were times it looked like Cole was never truly comfortable. 

This year, the elbow issues persisted, and, well, here we are. 

 

With Cole out, the Yankees will turn to Max Fried as their new number 1 starting pitcher. Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt will round out the top half of the rotation, but after that it's anyone's guess. 

Perhaps former Met Marcus Stroman (who the Yankees have tried to trade this off-season) will stick around and pitch well. Maybe another former Met, Carlos Carrasco will make the squad. Will Warren will be another back end rotation option. Point is, the Yankees are going to have to get creative. 

Cole joins a long list of big name Yankees injuries including fellow pitcher Luis Gil, out three months with a lat injury, and Giancarlo Stanton, who also could miss the year with tennis elbow in both arms.

Mets Lose Alvarez for 6-8 Weeks with Hand Injury

 If things couldn't get any more difficult for the Mets this spring, it just did on Sunday. Word came down early Sunday afternoon that catcher Francisco Alvarez is feared lost for up to eight weeks with a broken hamate bone in his left hand. 

It will require surgery. 

This is a blow to the Mets who were hoping a healthy Alvarez would help solidify the lineup after the team signed Juan Soto to a record deal, and brought back Pete Alonso on a two-year contract.

Two years ago, Alvarez blasted 25 homers and drove in 63 his rookie year. Those numbers nose-dived a bit last season as Alvarez hit only 11 homers in a year where he missed up to eight weeks with a torn UCL in his left thumb. 

The Mets will have to look to Luis Torrens or deep inside their system to find a suitable replacement. 

Torrens is no Alvarez with the bat. Last year he hit only three homers and drove in 15 over 47 games. Yet, his defense is very good. Torrens was credited with saving a game by himself with his defensive prowess against the Phillies last year in London. 

When asked about how he feels about the Mets catching depth, President of Baseball Ops, David Stearns said he feels good about the guys the Mets have in camp at the catcher position. Of course that could all be talk right now. 

One would think the Mets will search the wire as we get closer to cuts to see if a solid enough catcher becomes available either via trade or release.