The New York Giants held their first full squad practice of organized team activities on Monday, which represented the first opportunity for the team to see their new acquisitions in a somewhat competitive atmosphere.
Perhaps fittingly, the star that shone the brightest came from one of the Giants’ most controversial new player, safety Jabrill Peppers, whom the team acquired in a trade that sent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns.
“He made an impact today, he had an interception there. He is the kind of guy that if you don’t know him, I always admired his style of play. Super competitive, loves football and communicates really well,” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “He is really good in coverage. He got his hand on a ball and almost got his hand on two more. He is out there and you can see he is excited about playing football. When you guys in the lineup like that, it rubs off on other guys.”
Not only did Peppers arrive in East Rutherford as part of Beckham’s departure, he’s slated to replace Landon Collins, who now resides in Washington after general manager Dave Gettleman allowed him to walk out of the door unimpeded.
That’s a lot of pressure for a young player, but Peppers doesn’t appear fazed. Rather, he’s taken to his new team and new role by storm, giving the Giants a renewed sense of optimism.
It’s still incredibly early, but the initial returns on Peppers are positive and that bodes well for the future.
