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 rookie Thomas Fidone II a self-taught tattoo artist

3 days 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

4 days 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

5 days 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 week 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

2 weeks 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.
Giants to decline Evan Neal's fifth-year option

2 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

As the Giants wrapped up their 2025 draft class, Evan Neal served as a reminders that draft day promise doesn’t always pan out. Neal was drafted by the team as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft. But since then, he’s struggled at right tackle and general manager Joe Schoen announced Saturday night that the team will decline Neal’s fifth-year option. Neal will become a free agent after this season and it’s not surprising since his play has mostly underwhelmed.
Cam Skattebo highlights Giants' final draft-day selections

2 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Nearly four years ago on April 30, 2021, Cam Skattebo posted a hopeful tweet as a freshman at Sacramento State. “With the ____ pick in the 2025 draft… wait on it,” Skattebo wrote, dreaming of the NFL. He can now fill in that answer as the 105th pick. The Giants began their final group of selections to complete their 2025 NFL Draft class on Saturday by taking Skattebo in the fourth round.
Giants take Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander in third round

2 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

After a busy first round with two picks, the Giants stayed relatively quiet on Friday’s second day of the NFL Draft. They were active only in the third round but filled a key need taking Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander with the 65th overall pick. Alexander, 24, started the last two seasons and was a second-team All-MAC selection last year. At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, Alexander was a sixth-year senior last season after starting his career in 2019.
Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart reunite as Giants first-rounders

2 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart first crossed paths at the 2023 Peach Bowl. When they crossed paths again Friday as the Giants’ first-round picks, the reunion turned into praise for the other’s gifts. Dart and Ole Miss won that game 38-25 over Penn State. Carter, then a linebacker, laid a hit on Dart that made a highlight tape the Giants shared on YouTube. Carter thought he had a strip sack but the officials ruled Dart threw an incomplete pass.
Giants ready to run NFL Draft option with No. 3 pick: Quarterback or best player?

3 weeks ago | newsday.com | Evan Barnes

After all the mock drafts and speculation, the Giants face a simple decision Thursday: Take a quarterback or a highly-touted defensive prospect with the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft? It sounds simple but it's not. General manager Joe Schoen hasn’t drafted a quarterback since being hired in 2022. Four quarterbacks took snaps during last season's 3-14 campaign. The glaring issue from those games was poor play under center.