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Ralph Vacchiano
NFC East Reporter
Two things were very clear as the Giants’ pre-draft process unfolded on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” One is that they really love Malik Nabers.
The other is that they had some concerns about Nabers, too.
The Giants could see from the beginning that the LSU receiver’s ability was off the charts, and that he was exactly what they needed to help their sagging offense. But the scouting report on him, as revealed on HBO, showed he could be a bit of a diva. And the Giants, who held the No. 6 overall pick, definitely took note.
“You’ll hear about it if he’s not getting his targets,” Giants area scout Scott Hamel said on the show. “We need to get around this kid and see if we can work with him because there is a lot to the personality.”
That may be true. The Giants will probably find out for sure pretty quickly in Nabers’ rookie season. He might turn out to be a problematic personality if he doesn’t immediately get the ball.
But in the end, if he produces like the No. 1 receiver they expect him to be, then really: Who cares?
“I don’t have any concern with ‘Lik,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said shortly after training camp began. “I like his mindset. Love him as a person. Love his competitive fire.”
Nabers’ “fire” was a big reason he became such a prolific receiver at LSU, where he had 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Daboll repeatedly called him a “dog” in the “Hard Knocks” series. He also recalled a conversation he had with former Alabama coach Nick Saban, who raved about Nabers’ ability, called him “a f—ing problem” for defenses and rated him one of the three best players in the NFL Draft.
The Giants haven’t had a “problem” like that since they traded Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019, right after he wrapped up a 77-catch, 1,052-yard season despite missing four games. Beckham’s diva-like personality had worn thin on the Giants by then, especially after he criticized quarterback…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/malik-nabers-kind-problem-giants-have-needed-wr-years
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 21:52:08
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