Giants news, 6/27: 10 wins? Paulson Adebo’s significance, more

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View

• Greg Olsen picks the NY Giants to surprise with 10 wins
• Are the Giants spending their money wisely this season?
• Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 6 — CB Paulson Adebo
• NFC East Grades: Where do the NY Giants stack up at linebacker?

Other Giant observations

The 8 Most Interesting Teams in the NFL Entering 2026 Season | Bleacher Report

New York Giants. Harbaugh’s offseason jump from Baltimore to New York makes the Ravens more intriguing while simultaneously giving the Giants the final flourish on their claim as the league’s most compelling team in 2026. The Super Bowl–winning head coach takes over a Giants squad led by standout sophomore Jaxson Dart, who produced 24 combined passing and rushing touchdowns to just five interceptions as a first-round rookie in 2025 and is already the face of the franchise.

Second-year back Cam Skattebo has already become a cult hero, while pass-catchers Isaiah Likely (who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore) and Malik Nabers (returning from a torn ACL) should help solidify one of the best young offensive cores in the game. Add in a defense built around top-five picks from each of the last two drafts in support of reigning NFC sack leader Brian Burns, and the Giants have the pieces to shock the league if everything coalesces in 2026.

Is Giants’ Jaxson Dart ready to take the next step? 2025 NFL Draft QB film study | The Athletic

There’s an awful lot of hype around Dart right now. Although at least part of that comes from a starved Giants fan base, a big part of me wants to buy in on all of it. Dart is a unique player who presents unique challenges — not just for opposing defenses, but for his own team. Dart’s playing style and skill set can make him a danger to himself if he’s not reeled in.

The best news, though, is that John Harbaugh is now Dart’s head coach. Kafka did a great job creating an offense around Dart last year, but Harbaugh’s staff will be better equipped to help him as a dual-threat player. Health permitting, I expect a sizable jump from Dart, who has the ability to finally give the Giants the franchise QB for whom they’ve been searching.

2026 NFL offseason: Don’t overreact to these five storylines | NFL.com

Giants sign Odell Beckham Jr., other receivers amid Malik Nabers injury questions. When head coach John Harbaugh said that Nabers’ recovery from multiple knee surgeries was “not simple,” it raised some questions about the receiver’s timetable and future forecast. In a league where it feels like 90 percent of rehabbing players seem to be “ahead of schedule,” this injury update felt like a bad omen.

And I get that. I also get the feeling that the Giants’ signings of Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios were insurance moves guarding against potentially not having Nabers to start the season. That came after the Giants had already added veterans Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III and drafted Malachi Fields. Look, I can’t assure you Nabers is going to be fine. New York’s certainly a better team with a healthy Nabers, no doubt. But I think the G-Men can at least survive if he’s not 100 percent to start the season, even if general manager Joe Schoen still believes Nabers will be available for Week 1.

3 Giants Veterans Whose Roster Spots Could Be in Jeopardy –and Their Biggest Threats | SI.com

LB Darius Muasau; Biggest Threat: LB Jack Kelly. Through two seasons, Muasau, against the run, has a 15.3% tackle rate, which, when compared to Okereke’s 18% figure, ranked second among the team’s linebackers based on PFF data. With the arrivals of Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese, any realistic chance of Muasau landing a starting job has probably evaporated. That leaves him to compete for a depth role where his primary competition will be rookie Jack Kelly, a sixth-round pick out of BYU, who, like Muasau, is an inside linebacker that can provide help on special teams.

Kelly appears to bring a little more to the table. For one, he offers a bit more as a situational pass rusher. Per PFF, Kelly posted the fifth-most quarterback pressures (36) in the 2026 draft-eligible linebacker class. The former BYU standout ended his final year of college play with the best pass-rush win rate (19.8) among 26 qualifying linebackers with a minimum of 90 pass-rushing attempts. Muasau has value to a team, but again, his lower ceiling as a pass rusher could swing the pendulum in Kelly’s favor.

Ex-Giants WR Plaxico Burress auctioning off his Super Bowl XLII TD ball | USAToday.com

One year after auctioning off his Super Bowl XLII ring for $280,000, former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is now putting the ball he caught for the winning touchdown in that game up for sale.

Around the league

Year two fireworks await Cowboys under Schottenheimer’s offense | Blogging the Boys

Josh Allen on 2026 Bills: ‘A lot of new’ but ‘Lombardi Trophy’ quest continues | NFL.com

Caleb Williams’ attempt to trademark ‘Iceman’ initially refused | ESPN.com

AT&T Stadium used curtains to block the sun for Japan vs. Sweden | Pro Football Talk

BBV mailbag

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YouTube Gold: A Terrifying Flight In The Early NBA

CINCINNATI - 1963: Thomas Hawkins #19 of the Cincinnati Royals poses for a portrait circa 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1963 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA hasn’t always been what it is today. In the earliest days, it was kind of cobbled together, and some guys turned down contracts because they had better offers from other employers.

No one made $100,000 a year before Wilt Chamberlain did so in 1965 (Bill Russell immediately asked Boston to pay him $100,001).

Transportation was not what it is today, either. No one flew charter, and the planes in the 1950s and 1960s were not all up to date, and even if they were, they were not what they are today. Nothing was computerized, for instance, and weather reporting was not what we expect today.

Winston-Salem native Tommy Hawkins, who started his career with the Minneapolis Lakers, underscores that with this story of a flight gone wrong. He tells the story calmly, but it’s hard not to think of Buddy Holly’s last trip.

In this case, they were fortunate enough to land in a cornfield rather than crash in one, but modern-day NBA players have no idea what their predecessors went through to build the league into a global powerhouse.

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Does Landon Jackson break out in new role with Bills in 2026?

Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Landon Jackson (94) after the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills had a few hits in the 2025 NFL Draft. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston showed why the team took him in the first round, and even though he was injured for much of his rookie season, he clearly has top-level NFL talent. Defensive tackle Deone Walker was another hit, and defensive back Jordan Hancock had flashes throughout the season, as did defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. Tight end Jackson Hawes was elite, and cornerback Dorian Strong looked like a sixth-round steal before a neck injury ended his season.

Sure, it looks on the surface like Buffalo’s 2025 draft class was strong, but there appeared to be one glaring miss in there. When a team is tight to the salary cap and has championship aspirations, a third-round pick can’t be a total whiff. And yet, last year’s third-round draft choice was just that as a rookie.

Will that player survive a new defensive coordinator in 2026? If the early returns are to be believed, the answer is a resounding yes. In today’s installment of our “91 players in 91 days” series, we discuss a defensive lineman looking for success in his second NFL season.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Name:  Landon Jackson

Number:  94

Position:  DE

Height/Weight:  6’6″ 264 lbs.

Age:  23 (24 on 1/2/2027)

Experience/Draft:  2; selected by Buffalo in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft

College:  Arkansas

Acquired:  Third-round draft choice

Financial situation (per Spotrac):  Jackson enters the second year of his four-year rookie deal, a pact worth $6,618,982 overall. For the 2026 season, Jackson’s cap hit is $1,504,314 if he makes the 53-man roster. If he’s released, he’ll count $1,090,393 against the Cap in the form of a dead cap charge.

2025 Recap:  Jackson struggled mightily in his first go-round in the NFL. He was a non-factor in the team’s three preseason games, totaling just one tackle in those contests. After making the team, he was a healthy scratch in Buffalo’s first four games. He made his debut in Week Five against the New England Patriots, playing 16 defensive snaps and five special teams snaps. He played 12 snaps on defense and eight snaps on special teams against the Atlanta Falcons the following week, and just two snaps the week after against the Miami Dolphins. In that game against Miami, he suffered a knee injury, which led the team to place him on injured reserve. His season ended without a tackle in 30 defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps.

Positional outlook:  Jackson and undrafted rookie Kody Huisman are the only players listed at defensive end on the roster. They’ll really serve as down linemen in Buffalo’s new 3-4 base defense, which means they’re grouped with players like Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Phiadarian Mathis, Zion Logue, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Zane Durant, and Tommy Akingbesote, who are all listed at defensive tackle.

2026 Offseason:  Jackson has bulked up significantly, and while the team still lists him at 264 lbs., he says he’s closer to 280 lbs. and looking to play between 285 and 290 lbs. this season.

2026 Season outlook: A snap analysis of Buffalo’s 2025 NFL Draft class would easily classify Jackson as a bust, as he was a total non-factor on the 2025 roster. First, he couldn’t even earn a jersey on game day, and when he did, he was invisible as a rotational piece during two losses. Whether Jackson was a poor fit for head coach Sean McDermott’s defense or a two-year project, there were plenty of voices who were angry that the team used a premium draft choice on a player who had zero impact on a team squarely in the midst of a championship window.

With that line of thinking, I assumed that a new head coach, new defensive coordinator, and new system would lead to a new team for Jackson in 2026. However, given the switch to a 3-4 base with new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard combined with the fact that Jackson appears to have lived in the weight room over the last calendar year, I think there’s a real chance that Jackson not only makes the team, but plays a significant number of snaps this season.

Buffalo’s defensive line is in a state of flux, and if Jackson can combine his natural length (his 83 5/8″ wingspan is simply condor-esque) with his newfound strength, he has a real chance at success this season. When I mapped out the series, I thought I’d be writing about Jackson fighting for his NFL life this off-season; however, based on the early returns, I think he’s more likely to become a legitimate contributor this season than he is to be released.

Perhaps this is why so many experts hesitate to evaluate draft classes until years have passed. If Jackson lives up to the off-season hype, the second-year man could be in for a strong 2026 season.

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49ers News: Can’t wait to never hear about Brandon Aiyuk ever again

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Assistant General Manager Adam Peters and General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers before the game against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Commanders 37-20. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jeremy Fowler: 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t filed paperwork to exit ‘left squad’ list
“He’s lighting money on fire, is what he’s doing, every time he puts an Instagram video out,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on NFL Live. “He is on the left squad list for the 49ers still. To get off that list, he has to apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell, he has to file paperwork. I’m told that hasn’t happened.”

“I’m told the 49ers haven’t given any sort of firm indication to him whether he’s going to be cut, traded, whatever,” Fowler said. “Teams I’ve talked to say that he’s essentially untradeable right now.

“And I’ve talked to some people around the league who think that when he does get cut, if he gets cut, that he might have to sign a vet minimum deal somewhere because of how all this has gone.”

49ers Trade Rumors: Potential Cost to Acquire Eagles DT Jalen Carter
“FOX Sports speculated that a deal might cost a 2027 first-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick to the Eagles in return for Carter.”

Why Osa Odighizuwa will lead the 49ers in sacks in 2026
“2025 saw Odighizuwa lead the Cowboys in total pressures with 52 and 20 QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. Raheem Morris’ defense and the incoming reinforcements will improve the pass rush immediately, but the opportunity to take advantage of one-on-one looks as a pass rusher is where Osa will shine in 2026. It could take Bosa and Williams time to hit their stride after the injuries, but the threat of both is still enough to create advantageous matchups.

A deeper look at the numbers reveals the nature of the season Odighizuwa had in 2025. According to SIS Data Hub, Odighizuwa ranked fourth in the NFL with 20 knockdowns, but first among all defensive tackles in the NFL. With only 388 pass-rushing snaps, the increased volume will only push the productivity up. Odighizuwa didn’t notch as many sacks as defensive tackle Chris Jones (7.0-3.5) from Kansas City, but had a higher hit % (9.8-7.9) and knockdown % (5.2-3.9). 

For what it’s worth, Odighizuwa outpaced Myles Garret in hit % and knockdown %. Think about this: when Micah Parsons was disrupting on the EDGE, Odighizuwa set career highs in snaps, sacks, hurries, and defensive snaps in 2025.”

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Cavs final report card: James Harden – Cleveland doesn’t make it to conference finals without Harden

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the national anthem prior to Game Six against the Toronto Raptors in the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

James Harden is an easy punching bag for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The flaws in his game are pretty obvious, and his teams have yet to come through on the biggest stages throughout his 17-year career. Throw in that he was traded to Cleveland in exchange for a home-grown All-Star that’s 10 years younger, and it’s easy to see why the sentiment is what it is.

That said, the Cavs don’t make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season without Harden. In fact, they don’t advance out of the first round without trading for him. Despite the flaws in Harden’s game, he consistently elevated the play of the group. That shouldn’t be lost in any of the discussions about his performance.

Regular Season Stats

• 23.6 points
• 8 assists
• 4.8 rebounds
• 43.4% FG
• 37.5% 3PT FG
• 88.4% FT

Koby Altman mentioned in February that they traded for Harden to help in the postseason. He certainly did that.

The Cavs were 12.7 points per 100 possessions better with Harden on the court in the playoffs than they were when he was off. That was the highest mark on the team. This was because he blended well with the starters while still carrying hybrid bench lineups when both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley were off the floor.

Figuring out how to survive the minutes without Mitchell was a problem all regular season and has hurt the Cavs in previous postseason runs. Being able to stabilize those minutes was incredibly useful and allowed the team to get as far as they did in the postseason.

The Cavs don’t make it past either the Toronto Raptors or Detroit Pistons if it weren’t for Harden. His ability to get to the line and continually get the bigs involved kept a Cleveland offense on schedule that often became too reliant on the three-ball. This led to the Cavs winning the minutes he played in 10 of the 14 games he played in the first two rounds.

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Things didn’t work out nearly as well against the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson hunted mismatches against him down the stretch of Game 1 when the Cavs squandered a 22-point lead in the final frame. Most of that was good shot-making, but it also highlighted the weaknesses in Harden’s game.

The Cavs aren’t the undersized backcourt they were with Darius Garland alongside Mitchell. Harden’s size (6’5″) and strength mean that you can’t just shoot over him. But if you force him to defend in space without help around him, he’s going to be exposed. The same could be said for Mitchell.

This team needs Harden’s playmaking and ability to get the bigs involved because these are things Mitchell struggles with. At the same time, having both members of the starting backcourt as defensive targets puts a cap on how good you can defend against elite competition, even if you have three good defenders behind them.

Harden and Mitchell aren’t going to magically become better defenders at this point in their careers. Maybe there are things the Cavs can do from a scheme perspective to keep either from being targeted as much, but the cleanest path forward is just figuring out how to make the offense work better.

The pairing between Harden and Mitchell got off to a good start in the regular season — particularly late in games — but the chemistry didn’t carry over as much as you’d hope it would in the playoffs. It often turned into “your turn, my turn” with isolation attacks.

Harden and Mitchell were both in the top 10 for isolation possessions per game in the playoffs. They were both pretty good at this, with Mitchell scoring one point per isolation possession and Harden averaging 0.99. However, if your overall offense is that isolation-heavy, things can become stagnant quickly.

Turnovers were an issue for Harden. He deserves the blame for those giveaways, but it’s fair to point out that these were also the byproduct of a stagnant offense that didn’t have a cohesive plan of attack.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson drastically remade Cleveland’s offense over the final few months of the season. He did away with his preferred motion-based offense for a more stationary, spaced-out isolation attack to fit his best two players. However, they never quite found a way to maximize that approach.

More often than not, Cleveland’s role players would find themselves cutting into traffic when they should’ve stayed stationary, and staying stationary when they needed to cut. The floor balance wasn’t what it needed to be in order to make this work.

That’s excusable given the fact that Atkinson was trying to build the plane while flying it. Those same excuses won’t be there next season. The Cavs need to figure out how they want to play offensively and surround Harden and Mitchell with guys who can fit that mold.

Adjusting to a new team that late in the season is difficult. Harden handled the change well and helped elevate this core to heights they’ve never reached before. That’s exactly what he was brought in to do. From that perspective, it was a successful season for Harden.

At the same time, it’s fair to wonder how much higher the ceiling is for a Harden-led Cavs. Can Harden and Mitchell complement each other better offensively than they did in the playoffs? Will the defense be able to thrive with two below-average defenders on the perimeter? The answer to both questions will determine whether this core can take the next step forward.

Grade: A-

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Patriots scouting report: Peter Manuma has the makings of a core special teamer

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JUNE 02: Peter Manuma #34 of the New England Patriots walks on to the field during New England Patriots OTA on June 2, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Summer Lamont/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The New England Patriots added some experience to their safety room this offseason, signing both free agents Kevin Byard and Mike Brown to one-year contracts. However, they also added a rookie to the mix: Peter Manuma, who earned a spot on the team after a successful mid-May tryout.

Manuma naturally does not have the same cachet as Brown or especially Byard, but that does not mean the undrafted rookie cannot be a useful player for the team.

Hard facts

Name: Peter Manuma

Position: Safety

Jersey number: 34 (b)

Opening day age: 24 (7/7/2002)

Measurements: 6’0”, 205 lbs, 9 1/8” hand size, 30 3/4” arm length, 4.47s 40-yard dash, 7.01s 3-cone drill, 4.69s short shuttle, 35 1/2” vertical jump, 10’0” broad jump, 12 bench press reps, 7.02 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Hawaii (2022-25)

Manuma played four years of varsity football at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, HI, lining up at running back, slotback, linebacker, cornerback and safety. Despite his positional flexibility, the three-star recruit received only two Division I scholarship offers. He eventually opted to stay in his home state, enrolling at the University of Hawaii rather than moving to Central Michigan.

Manuma went on to spend his entire college career with the Rainbow Warriors. He saw extensive action during that span, playing 3,138 combined snaps between defense and special teams. A valuable member of the team from his true freshman campaign on, he appeared in 49 games with 43 starts and finished his career with 280 tackles, five interceptions and three forced fumbles. He also earned honorable mention All-Mountain West recognition in each of his four seasons.

Even though his college career was fairly successful, Manuma did not hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Patriots signed him to their roster following a rookie minicamp tryout.

Scouting report

Strengths: The 6-foot-0, 205-pound Manuma is decently built and combines his size with good straight-line speed and acceleration. He combines his natural speed with a quick processor and downhill trigger; he comes flying down from the second level with authority in run support. He also can play elsewhere in the lineup, though, and has the positional versatility to play both as a box safety and — in large part due to his range — a deep-lying free safety. Manuma additionally brings considerable experience, durability and leadership to the table.

Weaknesses: Manuma has an NFL-caliber frame overall, but he lacks the length and reach to consistently challenge bigger receivers at the catch point. In general, he is not the most agile player and better moving in a linear fashion, which leads to some uneven results in man-to-man coverage. His ball skills and ball production have been unremarkable over the last two seasons (1 forced fumble) and his tackling uneven throughout his career (15.6% missed tackle rate). He oftentimes takes overly aggressive angles and seemingly goes for a big hit rather than a sound form tackle.

2025 review

Stats: 13 games (13 starts) | 792 defensive snaps, 106 special teams snaps | 80 tackles, 16 missed tackles (16.7%), 2.5 TFL | 6 QB pressures (1 sack, 1 hit, 4 hurries) | 30 targets, 17 catches surrendered (56.7%), 409 yards, 6 TDs, 7 PBUs | 0 penalties

Season recap: Manuma’s junior year at Hawaii was of a high quality but also saw him miss three games due to injury. As a consequence, he opted to return to school for a fourth season. The decision was a good one considering that it helped him find an NFL home, albeit as an undrafted free agent.

Named a captain for a second straight year, Manuma started all 13 of the Rainbow Warriors’ games and finished as their most-used defender (his 792 defensive snaps were 72 more than the next player on the list) as well as their leader in tackles. He played a critical part in the team going 9-4 and winning the Hawaii Bowl.

That game, which was his final one in college, was a microcosm of his season: he was actively involved as a tackler, registering eight takedowns, and also broke up a pass. He did not register any turnovers in the 35-31 victory, but was a steady and reliable presence in the secondary. That pretty much sums up his 2025 campaign.

It might not have been the flashiest season and Manuma still had his issues such as four of 13 opposing quarterbacks posting a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting him. All in all, however, he managed to put an adequate and somewhat representative bow on his college career.

2026 preview

Position: Strong safety | Ability: Camp body/Practice squad candidate | Contract: Signed through 2028 (2029 RFA)

What will be his role? Manuma played multiple roles in college, but the Patriots could opt for a more specialized usage early on in his career. What might that look like? They might start building him up as a strong safety who aligns closer to the box, and only add further responsibilities down the line. He also is fairly certain to be used in a special teams role, with coordinator Jeremy Springer mentioning him as a candidate for the personal punt protector role.

What is his growth potential? While he is a solid overall athlete, Manuma has limitations that he will need to work around. Those limitations, however, might put a cap on his ceiling, at least as a defender. Special-teams wise, after all, he has the makings of a five-unit player if he can improve his tackling and get more disciplined with his attack angles.

Does he have positional versatility? Very much so. Manuma played all over the Rainbow Warriors’ secondary in his four seasons, and has extensive experience as a strong safety, free safety, off-ball linebacker and slot defender. He also has seen some semi-regular action in the kicking game, and despite only being used on two units in 2025 — punt return, field goal/extra point block — has the attributes to become a more versatile option on special teams.

What is his salary cap situation? Manuma joined the Patriots on a standard three-year UDFA deal following his tryout, and it comes with a $885,000 base salary that simultaneously functions as his cap number for the 2026 season. With no guarantees embedded into the contract and the salary not high enough to qualify for Top 51 status, he currently does not count against New England’s cap.

How safe is his roster spot? Just like most other undrafted free agents, Manuma also is facing an uphill battle to make the Patriots’ roster as a rookie. In order to do so, he will not just have to prove his value relative to fellow depth safeties Dell Pettus, Mike Brown and John Saunders Jr. but also in the kicking game. Only if he can do that can he be a serious part of the roster conversation.

Summary: Upon joining the Patriots, Manuma entered a safety room that very much has an established pecking order at the top. Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson are effectively locked into the starting roles, and the other backup competitors have an edge over the 23-year-old in terms of NFL experience. Manuma making up that deficit and others can happen, and his special teams outlook is certainly intriguing, but at the moment he looks more like a practice squad than a roster candidate.

What do you think about Peter Manuma heading into the 2026 season? Will he earn a spot on the roster? What will his role look like if he does? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

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Kirk Cousins: Klint Kubiak ran the most productive OTAs I've ever been a part of

Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins is crediting first-year head coach Klint Kubiak with running an offseason program that laid the foundation for rebuilding a moribund franchise.

Cousins, who wrapped up the 15th offseason program of his NFL career, said in an interview with Andrew Siciliano that Kubiak showed the players throughout the offseason how to handle their business.

"He's a very hard worker, very humble, he's got a great way about him. He's serious, there's not a lot of time for tomfoolery," Cousins said of Kubiak. "I told him after OTAs, 'Coach, this is probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I've ever been a part of.' That starts with him as a head coach. He created a sense of urgency from Day One, all the way through the 10-week program, and I thought we got a lot of work done. We've got a long ways to go, but we laid a good foundation."

Asked about Kubiak being one of the NFL's quieter coaches, Cousins said that's true, but that in only a few words he makes his expectations for the players clear.

"He doesn't need to be a man of many words — quieter is a fair assessment," Cousins said. "But that's different than lacking conviction or lacking that intensity. I think his intensity, his conviction, his belief in what he's doing, having an identity — there's no confusion from us in the locker room of what he expects from us, what he wants our football team to look like. I would never confuse that with just being quiet. I think there's a certainty there that's comforting to a player."

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