Big Teams Making Big Trades: Giants and Jets Make their Plays

On February 27, the general manager of the New York Giants, Dave Gettleman addressed the media, in particular rumors about OBJ (Odell Beckham Jr) whom the New York Giants had signed with a 5-year contract extension valued at $90 million back in August last year. It came as a massive shock when barely 2 weeks later it was announced that the Giants traded OBJ to the Cleveland Browns.

The trade for Jabrill Peppers, first and third round picks and safety had many in the NFC East conference totally perplexed. OBJ suffered no injuries and no loss of faculties in that time, making this trade one of the biggest surprises of the season. Consider that the New York Giants recently paid OBJ a massive $20 million signing bonus and now they traded him in a bizarre deal which has sports fans flummoxed.

Odell Beckham Jr (OBJ) is 5'11" tall and 200 lbs. Born on 5 November 1992, this draft pick has proven his worth with a phenomenal record of performances. Since he was drafted to the New York Giants in 2014, he has scored a total of 44 touchdowns, with 5,476 yards and 3 fumbles. In 2018, his record indicates 1052 yards, an average of 13.7 and 6 TDS. His best years for the New York Giants were 2014 and 2015 with 1305 and 1450 yards, and 12 and 13 TDS respectively.

It comes as no surprise that OBJ is one of the finest young stars in the NFL. Many Giants fans are licking their wounds, wondering why Gettleman would make such a trade. The relative newcomer to the management scene (he took over in December 2017) has a lot to prove now that he has gotten rid of one of their best players. The Giants did well to make it to the 2016 play-offs, thanks to free agency spending, but they were soon relegated with a win/loss ratio of 3-13.

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones was one of the few people who actually had something good to say about Gettleman’s trade. The Cowboys often found themselves on the receiving end of OBJ's incredible performances, much to their detriment. Since 2014, his performances against the Cowboys have resulted in 35 catches for 477 yards, including 5 TDs. That's just 7 games.

Jerry Jones is glad that OBJ is out of the NFC East conference and with the Cleveland Browns. Fans are quick to point out that the Cowboys haven't won 2 play-off games in a row since 1996 – that a 22-year drought for them. Clearly, everyone is chiming in about OBJ, but not always for the right reasons.

Getttleman has been slammed by the football world for his disastrous free-agent pics. For example, he paid top dollar for Nate Solder who hardly performed well at all. New York Giants running back, Jonathan Stewart signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million, but barely touched the ball half a dozen times before he got injured and relegated to the reserve bench.
 

To add insult to injury, the New York Giants guard, Patrick Omameh was snapped up for $15 million and cut halfway through the NFL season. Back in October 2018, the New York Giants manager traded one of their first-round picks to the New Orleans Saints, Eli Apple. And for who? Fourth and seventh round picks.

Sadly, for the Giants, Apple beefed up the Saints’ defense from the get go.  It seems disingenuous to many that Gettleman would go on the record saying that they never re-signed OBJ to trade him, and barely 13 days later that’s what they did. Recall that he received $41 million at signing and a $20 million sign on bonus.

In fact, the NFL has never seen a salary that size for a wideout. To complicate matters, many are concerned that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will now struggle without OBJ on the field. Watch this space, it's going to get pretty hairy…

How Are the New York Jets Doing?

From the Big Blue to Gang Green we go as the New York Jets sign former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Le’Veon Bell. The New York Jets play in the American Football Conference and are currently ranked at #4, with the following performances for 2018: 4-12-0. The AFC East is spearheaded by the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills.

The New York Giants are also last in their conference – the NFC East Team, which is headed by the Dallas Cowboys, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Redskins. The New York Jets a.k.a. Gang Green, draft for 2019 reads as follows: Rd 1, Pick 3(3), Rd 3, Pick 4 (68), Rd 3, Pick 30 (93), Rd 5, Pick 2 (140), Rd 7, Pick 3 (217).

When the Jets signed free-agent Le’Veon Bell, he quickly went on record to explain why he sat out the whole 2018 NFL season. The former Pittsburgh Steelers player was looking for more guaranteed money and he got it with a 4-year deal estimated at $52.5 million, with $25 million guaranteed upfront. While certainly an impressive figure, it pales in comparison to what many NFL teams are paying free agents during the off-season.

Consider that Bell rejected a 5-year deal from Pittsburgh valued at $70 million, with $33 million guaranteed. Bell has downplayed rumors about packing on too much weight, and is pumped about starting the new NFL season with the New York Jets. He feels that by sitting out the 2018 season, his body is ready to crank things up when he hits the field. Bell is particularly excited about working with the young QB in the Jets, Darnold.

The New York Jets will certainly be looking to up their game now that they have a handful of expensive acquisitions in the team. These include guard Kelechi Osemele, WR Jemison Crowder, ILB CJ Mosley, and now top free-agent, Le’Veon Bell. Such is his impeccable performance history that he is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.  Le’Veon Bell considers himself a #1 tailback and a #2 receiver.

Back in 2017, Le’Veon Bell was the league's leading performer with 406 touches and 321 rush attempts. What the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost is now a blessing for the New York Jets and their second-year QB, Sam Darnold. New York Jets coach Adam Gase is certainly well pleased with this acquisition, and it looks like Gang Green is going to have an interesting season in 2019.