Giants year-end awards: Best out-of-nowhere player, breakout star, redemption story, more
We did a locker room survey earlier this season that answered the most important questions like who is the team’s best trash talker and best dancer. But with the regular season coming to a close, it’s time to expand on those categories and hand out a few of our own awards.
So between the best quotes, touchdown celebrations and on-field production, here’s a look back at some of the Giants’ best from this year. We’ll see you in the comments:
A few days after the NFL trade deadline came and went with the Giants not adding receiver help—and actually trading one away—general manager Joe Schoen claimed Hodgins off waivers from his old team, the Buffalo Bills. The bye-week roster move barely made a ripple, even though Hodgins was joining a struggling wide receiver group that had been dealt numerous blows. Collin Johnson tore his Achilles during a preseason practice; Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson each tore ACLs during the season; Kadarius Toney was dealt to Kansas City at the deadline; and Kenny Golladay was failing to live up his $72-million contract. Needless to say, the wide receiver corps was pretty thin. Enter Hodgins, a Bills 2020 sixth-round pick who had previously played in just three career games.
In short order, he’s become one of the Giants’ most reliable pass-catchers, racking up 351 yards (the third-highest on the team) on 33 receptions. He’s been on a tear lately, scoring touchdowns in four of the past five games as he gets more and more comfortable with quarterback Daniel Jones.
“In the pre-draft process, he was exactly what we were looking for in terms of smart, tough, dependable, and very intelligent,” coach Brian Daboll said recently. “He was a good player at Oregon State. And then he played behind some pretty good players there, I would say, in Buffalo. And he kept a great attitude. He was on the practice squad, doing the things he needed to do to help the team. He knew our offense. He has a good skill set, and I’m glad we have him.”
Don’t worry. We have an award for Jones, too. But James needed to win this one. After fumbling two punt returns in the Giants’ Week 8 loss to the Seahawks, giving him three fumbled returns on the year, some were calling for James to be cut. He at least seemed poised to take a back seat on the depth chart. But he’s not only returned as the Giants’ primary punt returner (and hasn’t fumbled since) but he’s stepped up at wide receiver, leading the team in receptions (37) and touchdowns (four) since Week 9. For the season, he’s second on the team in receiving yards at 569 and tied with Saquon Barkley for the team lead in catches (57).
He’s certainly had some key drops, but he’s been a mostly reliable target for Jones amidst all the position group change, ranking second among all Giants pass-catchers in first downs (29). In a slot receiver-friendly offense, James’ emergence has been big in the absence of Robinson.
As the Giants offense has delivered inconsistent results, Gano has been bankable. With the Giants playing so many one-score games, his accuracy has been a huge part of their success. He’s made 28 of 31 field goals (90.3 percent), including some game winners, and has missed just two extra-point attempts. He’s also strong from long distance, going 8-of-9 on kicks from 50-plus. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey recently referred to him as a “hell of a player.”
The Giants dominated the Colts in their most recent game, but they’re likely to be in closer games in the weeks to come. They can trust Gano.
The Giants defensive coordinator has perfected the art of an unexpected zing in his weekly meetings with reporters. He’ll often interject fun comparisons in his analysis, providing plenty of laughs but also just good quotes. As reporters, we love these, and for fans, it’s a fun talking point.
