The New York Giants have just announced another unexpected great signing…
In choosing the Giants’ punt returner, Brian Daboll claims he is not violating any personnel policies.
Daboll feels that “regardless of where you’re drafted, how you got here, how much money you make, everybody goes out there and competes, and we play the guys that earn the right to play,” as his two-year track record of making swift lineup changes attests to.
It’s hard not to wonder, though, after rookie Eric Gray botched a punt return on Sunday for the second time in the previous four games and months of unsteady catches in practice translated into in-game errors: Are the Giants forcing Gray to play because he can’t get carries in a backfield that is dominated by Saquon Barkley in order to justify a fifth-round draft pick?
When asked if such factors were influencing the choice on Monday, Daboll responded, “You’re always looking to put as good of guys back there as you can.” “He has engaged in competition. He put in a lot of work. That explains why he is back there.
By adding Gunner Olszewski to the practice squad on Monday, the Giants moved closer to making a change, as The Post revealed.
Running back Eric Gray (#20) of the New York Giants, collecting a punt during practice at the team’s training facility. Due to Gray’s poor performance as a punt returner, the Giants have had to explore elsewhere for a replacement.
Olszewski averaged 12 yards per punt return throughout his five seasons with the Patriots and Steelers, and he was named to the First Team All-Pro in 2020.
Following his own ball-security mishaps, which included a botched punt, a mental error fielding a kickoff, and an offensive fumble earlier in the season, Olszewski was cut loose by Pittsburgh last week.
The bigger issue is securing the catch. Gray, who is also battling with a calf injury, is only averaging 4 yards per punt return, significantly below the league average of 9.8 yards.
