Evan Barnes

New York

Nets Beat Reporter at Newsday

Giants beat reporter at @NewsdaySports. @uofsandiego/@ladailynews/@memphisnews alum. SoCal native. Music nerd. Numbers = popularity, not quality

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Articles

Giants' Bobby Okereke looking for bounce-back season

1 week ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

If one word describes Bobby Okereke’s hope this offseason, it’s continuity. There’s desire for the Giants linebacker to get back to his 2023 form after struggling at times last season under first-year defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. A disc injury in his back also cut Okereke’s season short after 12 games, the fewest he’s played in his six-year career. “I was feeling some nerve pain.
Jaxson Dart signs rookie contract with Giants

1 week ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Jaxson Dart signed his rookie contract on Friday as the Giants locked in their future quarterback following last month’s NFL Draft. Dart, the 25th pick in the first round, inked a four-year deal worth approximately $17 million that includes a nearly $9 million signing bonus, per Over the Cap. The Giants have now signed both first-round picks after signing rookie linebacker Abdul Carter last week.
Giants move Evan Neal inside to offensive guard

1 week ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

One of the Giants’ worst kept secrets was finally revealed with OTAs starting this week. Evan Neal will slide from tackle to guard, coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday. It was a no-brainer decision given Neal’s struggles in his first three seasons. The former first-round pick lost his starting job to open last season and regained it only because of injuries to those ahead of him. His long-term future is in doubt after the Giants declined his fifth-year option.
Giants will be on HBO's 'Hard Knocks' series about NFC East

2 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

The Giants thought they were done with “Hard Knocks” after last season. But the HBO program apparently wasn’t done with them. A year after being featured last summer, the Giants will be back as part of “Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East.” The program debuts in December with the Giants featured along withs the Cowboys, Eagles and Commanders. Hard Knocks’ main show returns in August featuring the Bills in training camp. The Giants might be a side character since they travel to Buffalo on Aug.
Giants' 2025 schedule is out, open in Washington and Dallas

3 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

The Giants’ 2025 schedule is out and the road to improving from a three-win campaign last season won’t start easy. The Giants open with two road games against division rivals -- at the Commanders on Sept. 7 and at Dallas on Sept. 14. Their home opener is against defending AFC champion Kansas City on Sept. 21 in prime time on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. That game will be Patrick Mahomes’ second career game at MetLife Stadium. The Giants follow that contest by hosting the Chargers on Sept. 28.
Giants rookie Thomas Fidone II a self-taught tattoo artist

3 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Thomas Fidone II’s journey to the NFL was already impressive after what he went through at Nebraska. The rookie tight end only played three snaps in his first two seasons after tearing the ACL in his left knee twice. But perseverance isn't the only skill Fidone has. He’s a self-taught tattoo artist who's done art on himself as well as his father and teammates over the past couple of years. “During COVID, kind of got bored.
Giants' Cam Skattebo wants to show he can catch passes, too

3 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Cam Skattebo is well aware that physical play is his calling. But the Giants’ fourth-round draft pick made it clear at rookie minicamp that hitting somebody isn’t his only thrill. Scoring touchdowns is, too. Combine both of those qualities and you get a running back who takes delight in finishing runs beyond just dishing out contact. “It feels good when you run somebody over and then get in the end zone,” Skattebo said on Friday.
Abdul Carter sports No. 51 jersey at Giants rookie minicamp

4 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Abdul Carter bobbed his head and danced in between drills at Giants rookie minicamp Friday. With the Young Money song “Trophies” blaring inside the practice facility, he raised his hands and rapped along to the chorus. Carter, the Giants’ first-round pick, looked and felt comfortable on his first day in uniform. He briefly hugged fellow rookie Thomas Fidone II before the two did punt protection drills with fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo.
Giants' Cam Skattebo's toughness began during his childhood

1 month ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Mike Morris still gets teased from his wife Debbie about stepping down as football coach at Rio Linda High School in California after the 2013 season. Morris, who was coaching his son Matthew for his senior season, also had a fullback/linebacker on his team named Leo Skattebo. Debbie Morris attempted (unsuccessfully) to convince her husband to stay by issuing a warning about Leo’s younger brother.
Three takeaways for the Giants following the NFL Draft

1 month ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

It’s hard to disagree that the Giants’ 2025 draft was a great success on paper. Here are three takeaways from the new group:1. The Giants filled critical needs, especially in essential spotsIt’s more effective to grade drafts in three years when players have shown a decent body of work. But in terms of snap judgments, the Giants deserve all the praise for filling needs. They got a future quarterback in Jaxson Dart via trade without sacrificing the No. 3 overall pick.