The New York Giants already had tight end problems before free agency. With their top man now gone the defending champs badly need help. Could they find it from the Detroit Lions in Tony Scheffler?
Loss of Jake Ballard to New England Patriots puts champs in a bind
Tom Coughlin and the coaching staff have a habit of finding way to coach up replacements of great players. They did it with Hakeem Nicks after Plaxico Burress went to prison, then again with Kevin Boss after Jeremy Shockey left. It happened again when Boss went to Oakland and New York turned to Jake Ballard. While Eli Manning deserves lots of the credit for their success the truth is the Giants prove every year they know how to find players in low places. Then again even the best teams can't do it at the same roster spot forever. With Ballard joining the New England Patriots and Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham in San Francisco, the defending champs might need some help to keep Manning properly supported with weapons. Then again free agency isn't exactly overflowing with good tight ends. That could mean the New York Giants might work a trade if there's a deal worth finding. One that experts haven't talked about in some time sits further north in Michigan.
Scheffler might lure Terrell Thomas away from the Meadowlands
For all the good things the Detroit Lions did in 2011 their supposedly nasty defense gave up 93 points in their last two games. The major culprit was a secondary lacking in leadership and talent. Meanwhile the offense enjoyed a record-setting year but one player felt somewhat left out. While Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford gained stardom, Tony Scheffler quietly put up a solid season at tight end. However with Brandon Pettigrew already in place the Lions might have too many roster needs to hang on to his contract. At the same time teams around the league have respect for the tight end and ones in need of him could pay up front in a trade. The champion Giants are one such team. While draft picks are the usual trade currency, New York also showed last season they have great depth at corner after a rash of injuries. One player fans hope returns to form is Terrell Thomas. Arguably the best corner on the team in 2010 he tore his ACL in the 2011 preseason and still hasn't reported for practices this year. If the Giants aren't willing to take chances on the knee he may have enough value as trade bait to bring Scheffler in from Detroit.
Neither the Detroit Lions or New York Giants have long histories of big trades but each side has something the other wants. As Jake Ballard works into a crowded New England Patriots offense Tony Scheffler may have great value for the champs at the cost of Terrell Thomas or another standout corner.
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