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Giants News | New York Giants – Giants.com

Eisen's Mailbag: Lack of big name trades

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From Eli Manning to Y.A. Tittle, take a look at players who made an impact after being traded to the Big Apple.

Michael:
Why are there not more big name trades in the NFL?

Dear Harold:
I think two primary reasons exist for the dearth of significant trades in the NFL (though trades are being made with more frequency, as we saw Monday with Vernon Davis). First, it's relatively difficult to acquire a player in the middle of the season and immediately plug him into the lineup as a fulltime player. A baseball player can step into a lineup and play third base – if he can field and hit, he can help.

In most instances, the same is true for basketball and hockey players. If they can play, they can help.

But football players must learn comparatively complex offensive and defensive systems. A running back who excels in one offense might not fare as well in another system (DeMarco Murray comes to mind, though he does seem to be hitting his stride in Philadelphia). A defensive end in a 4-3 defense might be lost if he's dealt to a 3-4 team. In football, the right fit is very important. The other reason is salary cap considerations. Teams are always mindful of their cap space, and many are reluctant to take on a significant salary at midseason.

Michael:
I am concerned about the health and consistency of the defensive backfield. We have lost key players, and it seems to be very evident by the amount of points Drew Brees put up on Sunday. What can the Giants do to shore up their secondary?
Brandon

Dear Brandon:
The secondary will get a boost when Prince Amukamara returns, hopefully this week at Tampa Bay. But what will most help the back of the defense is improvement up front. Brees picked apart the secondary because he had all day to throw. The Giants never sacked and seldom pressured him. They have just nine sacks all season. Even the very secondaries are going to struggle him without help from their front seven. Simply put, the Giants need a better pass rush.

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