It takes a lot to put a smile on Bill Belichick's face and : 0xbt
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It takes a lot to put a smile on Bill Belichick's face and

    liny
    By liny
     get a handshake from the stoic New England Patriots coach in the fourth game of the preseason. Third-string quarterback Danny Etling did it all on one play.In a meaningless game Thursday night in which neither team played their starters Youth Michael Strahan Jerseys , Etling added a lighthearted moment to the contest and iced the Patriots' 17-12 win with an 86-yard run on an option keeper that totally fooled the New York Giants' defense."Well that was one of the most exciting plays I have seen in preseason, I'll say. Great call by Chad," Belichick said, referring to the selection by receivers coach Chad O'Shea, who was given a chance to call the play.Etling, who also tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Webb early in the second half, said he looked behind him seven times on the jaunt down the right sideline."I just wanted to make sure no one was catching me," said Etling, who finished 18 of 32 for 157 yards after throwing six passes in the first preseason game. "I didn't realize you could use the Jumbotron."Etling's big run came on the first play after an Alex Tanney-led drive from the New York 1 stalled at the Patriots 14 with New England ahead 10-6 with 4:11 to play.Etling, who finished with 113 yards on seven carries, faked a handoff and ran an option around right end and scored untouched to give the Patriots a 3-1 preseason record."When's the last time a quarterback ran for 85 (really 86) yards Michael Strahan Jerseys Stitched , let alone for the Patriots," Belichick said. "I'd say at least 20 years, I know that. Maybe (Steve) Grogan, (Jim) Plunkett. Eighty, that's a long run."Nobody has worked harder than Danny. He's the first one in, last one out. He is diligent. When something like that happens, you are happy for him."The Giants finished their first preseason under new coach Pat Shurmur at 2-2.'"I thought the guys played hard, we didn't make enough plays in the end to win the game," Shurmur said.Giants quarterback Eli Manning chatted with receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the first half, while Tom Brady sat next to the New England water coolers and relaxed.Two Giants penalties for lowering the head to initiate contact set up Stephen Gostkowski 33-yard field goal in the first quarter.Rookie Kyle Lauletta, who made the start for New York with Manning and backup Davis Webb held out Youth Saquon Barkley Jerseys , put the Giants ahead early in the second quarter with a 41-yard pass to Amba Etta-Tawo. Backup placekicker Marshall Koehn missed the extra point.Etling set up the touchdown to Webb with a 40-yard pass to K.J. Maye.Tanney closed out the scoring with an 8-yard TD pass to Alonzo Russell with 48 seconds to play. The 2-point conversion run failed.GOOD IMPRESSIONSGiants CB Donte Deayon, who battled a hamstring injury in the preseason, might have secured a roster spot with two interceptions. His drawback is he is small and injury prone."I won't be nervous," Deayon said of Saturday's final cut. "At this point, I put it all out on the table, I put my best foot forward. At this point, what happens, happens." ... Patriots free agent CB J.C. Jackson also had two interceptions and broke up a deep pass before being carted off late in the third quarter because of dehydration. "Yeah, I had something to prove tonight. I knew I had to ball. This is the last preseason game and I'm trying to make the roster," Jackson said. ... Giants veteran CB Chris Lewis-Harris was excellent in coverage and tackling.OBJThe NFL's highest paid receiver will head into the season for the Giants having not played a down in the preseason. He has not appeared in a game since breaking his left ankle on Oct. 8. Coach Pat Shurmur said he has been cautious with the 25-year-old wideout, but says Beckham will be ready for the opener.LEG WEARYPunters Ryan Allen of the Patriots and Riley Dixon of the Giants had busy nights Saquon Barkley Jerseys Stitched , kicking six times each.ANTHEMThere were no displays of protest by either the Patriots or Giants, with both teams standing on their sideline for the anthem.INJURIESPatriots: OT Ulrick John (foot) and CB Jackson (dehydration) left the game. John was wearing a walking boot after the game.Giants: T Nick Becton (ankle) and RB Robert Martin (ankle) had to leave the game.UP NEXTPatriots: open regular-season at home against Houston on Sept. 9.Giants: open at home against Jacksonville on Sept. 9. What would a successful season be for the New York Giants in 2018? Before the season began that was a question that came up often. My definition, considering that the Giants went all-in on a 37-year-old quarterback with a closing window, was that the only way to consider the year a success would be for the Giants to reach the playoffs.Well, at 1-7 that obviously isn’t happening. Barring, of course, some type of miracle finish.So, we are left figuring out whether or not any good things can come from the season, and why we should continue to pay attention.Well, yes some good things can still happen. There are lots of long-term decisions to be made and lots of information about the current roster to be gathered before those choices are rendered. Let’s look at 5 things to watch the rest of the season.Quarterback dramaHow many more games will Eli Manning start as Giants quarterback? Is there anything Manning can do during the second half of the season to convince the Giants he can be a viable quarterback next season? Is this the final stretch of Manning’s career? How much will the arrest of Kyle Lauletta last week delay what seems like his inevitable insertion in the lineup? When he gets his chance, will the fourth-round pick from Richmond show the Giants enough to keep them out of the quarterback market in the offseason?Quarterback drama will likely be the biggest story of the Giants’ final eight games.Saquon’s chase for historyRight pick for the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft? Wrong pick? That’s pretty much irrelevant to this discussion. He is a wonderful player Youth Will Hernandez Jerseys , and with 519 rushing yards and 497 receiving yards has a chance to join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the only players in NFL with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.Right now it’s hard to imagine anyone else winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.The new guysGM Dave Gettleman likes to say that roster building is a 12-month job, and during the season the Giants have continued to try and upgrade the roster. There are three newly-acquired Giants we haven’t seen who will be interesting to watch over the final eight games.WR Corey ColemanCan the 2016 first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns rescue his career with the Giants? The Browns traded him to the Buffalo Bills in August. The Bill quickly gave up on him, and the New England Patriots cut him twice. The Giants have been searching for a third receiver. Can Coleman be the guy.G Jamon BrownThe newest of the new Giants, can the former Los Angeles Rams starter who was acquired via waivers last week, be one of the “hog mollies” the Giants so desperately need? It figures that the Giants won’t waste much time getting Brown into the lineup. Best guess is that Brown will be starting at right guard as soon as he knows enough of the playbook.CB Tony LippettWhen the Giants traded Eli Apple they filled his roster spot with this former Miami Dolphins cornerback. He has an eight-game tryout to show the Giants he has recovered from the torn Achilles tendon that cost him the 2017 season and can be part of their 2019 secondary.The “race” for No. 1The Giants currently have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Where will they end up? Will they have a shot at Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert if he declares for the draft? Would they take it? The Giants’ draft position will draw a lot of interest over the next few weeks.Development of the young playersWe have already seen the Giants begin to clear the decks to get players like B.J. Hill, Lorenzo Cater, Grant Haley, Tae Davis and Sean Chandler added playing time. Much of the intrigue over the second half of the season will be to watch their development and see which guys can be part of the team’s future.