Update: Rourke re-signs with BC

[Sir Purrcival]

They are perhaps looking for depth but they have way too much money invested in the top man. Unfortunately that man has been bitten by the injury bug too often for a 40 million dollar a year man. So depth it is. They go and get Drew Lock from Seattle on the idea that he may be able to compete for the #1 spot. Then you have Devito who managed to win 3 in a row last season when injuries floated him to the top of the roster. Then you have Rourke. Chance of him seeing the active roster under those circumstances....probably about the same as winning the Super 7. Damn shame.

[Toppy Vann]

They are perhaps looking for depth but they have way too much money invested in the top man. Unfortunately that man has been bitten by the injury bug too often for a 40 million dollar a year man. So depth it is. They go and get Drew Lock from Seattle on the idea that he may be able to compete for the #1 spot. Then you have Devito who managed to win 3 in a row last season when injuries floated him to the top of the roster. Then you have Rourke. Chance of him seeing the active roster under those circumstances....probably about the same as winning the Super 7. Damn shame.

Given how the Jags lost Rourke last year on waivers after trying to send him back a second time to the PR presents every team and QB in their 3rd slot with a dilemma and impediment.

The CFL with limited budgets has better rules for 3 QBs but the NFL rules on 3rd QBs are ridiculous if you want to develop up and comers and this rule is in a league where money is not the issue.

Given how easy to lose a 3rd QB if elevated and scooped on waivers when they want to send him to the PR is a disincentive to the team and impeditment to QB development IF that QB is showing great promise as many of us believe Rourke could do.

It must be tough to see the positives but Rourke is a positive thinking guy. I fear that nothing he can do in pre-season will influence his coaches and the rule hurts him.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-emergency- ... nd-answers

Late May to early June: Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamps

The next times we'll likely hear anything will be:

The mandatory minicamp and OTA schedule for the Giants:

Organized Team Activities (OTAs)

May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6-7

Mandatory minicamps
June 11-13

Mid-to-late July: Training camps open

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl- ... ing-camps/

[Hambone]

Certainly could be a better situation than what he had in Jacksonville. Giants are getting close to whether they have to fish or cut bait with Jones. He did actually have a decent year in 2022, best of his career and best season NYG enjoyed since a couple years before drafting him. That aside they've not been able to rely on him to stay healthy. Going back to his rookie season he's missed 3, 2, 6, 1 & 11 games. Seems like a guy where the question isn't if he'll get hurt but rather when and for how long. Key will be to beat out Devito for the PS spot. As popular as he might be with the fans the Giants are not in a position to be taking fan popularity over ability. It should only be a tie-breaker if they are in a dead heat at cut down day. If he can beat out Devito then Jones inability to avoid injury will get him into the lineup where he's one hit or lousy Drew Lock performance from being under center.

[DanoT]

Certainly could be a better situation than what he had in Jacksonville. Giants are getting close to whether they have to fish or cut bait with Jones. He did actually have a decent year in 2022, best of his career and best season NYG enjoyed since a couple years before drafting him. That aside they've not been able to rely on him to stay healthy. Going back to his rookie season he's missed 3, 2, 6, 1 & 11 games. Seems like a guy where the question isn't if he'll get hurt but rather when and for how long. Key will be to beat out Devito for the PS spot. As popular as he might be with the fans the Giants are not in a position to be taking fan popularity over ability. It should only be a tie-breaker if they are in a dead heat at cut down day. If he can beat out Devito then Jones inability to avoid injury will get him into the lineup where he's one hit or lousy Drew Lock performance from being under center.

Let's hope the NYG HC is aware of Marv Levy's famous quote: "If a HC starts listening to the fans, he will soon be sitting with them".

[Toppy Vann]

Just curious how the NY Giants OTA went and found these bits of news.

It's not organized that well so there may be more.

For me I wonder how at 26 this will work out for him down there.
Other like Bo Levi Mitchell looked and decided the CFL was the best spot for him and he'll not just be in the HOF he'll have a good career here post playing.

New York Giants OTA No. 5 Report: O-Line, An Emerging Sleeper, and More
Let's recap the doings at the New York Giants fifth OTA.
Patricia Traina | May 30, 2024

Slot cornerback Darnay Holmes produced a pick on a poorly thrown ball by Nathan Rourke. A lot of people have asked about Rourke, and in this practice, he didn’t impress, his throws being somewhat erratic.

https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/big-blue- ... hz5d5th2xw

No. 2:

Undrafted rookie free agent Nathan Rourke also connected with veteran wide receiver Miles Boykin on a shovel pass while he ran forward in the pocket but before he passed the line of scrimmage.

Practices end with a developmental period for the young players, and Rourke made the most of it. He hit John Jiles near the front pylon, who made an amazing grab for a touchdown. Two plays later he connected with wide receiver Chase Cota for a touchdown.

No. 8 report:

Wide receiver Dennis Houston got over the top and came up with a big reception on a deep pass from Nathan Rourke.

JUNE 6, 2024 NEW YORK GIANTS OTA PRACTICE REPORT…
The Giants held their ninth voluntary organized team activity (OTA) practice on Thursday, and third open to the media. No live contact is permitted during OTAs, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed. The tenth and last remaining OTA practice tomorrow on June 7. A mandatory mini-camp will also be held June 11-12.

QB Nathan Rourke threw touchdowns to TE Lawrence Cager and WR John Jiles.

[Hambone]

Thanks for that Toppy. I was looking for NYG OTA info early this week and couldn't come across much Rourke content. To be honest there wasn't much more than a few token references regarding any of the QBs. One thing I did come across was that 2nd year QB Tommy Devito was looking good. Coaches commented that with last year's experiences and a full offseason to digest what he learned he has a much better grasp on everything than in 2023.

The undrafted Devito was expected to pay his dues continuing to develop on the PS. That plan started to go sideways when Jones was injured in Wk 5. In Wk 6 Devito was promoted from the PS to the game roster to back up Tyrod Taylor while Jones as kept on the active roster to be emergency #3 if need be. Devito didn't take a snap in his first game suited up. Same thing happened in Wk 7 with Taylor again starting backed up by Devito while Jones again was available as emergency #3. Taylor would go down in Wk 8 thrusting Devito into his first pro action. After Taylor went 4 for 7 for 8 yards Devito mopped up going 2 for 7 for -1 yards. Jones returned to start Wk 9 but didn't make it thru the first half before being lost for the season. Devito finished off the rest of the game going 15 for 20 for 175 yards with a TD and 2 picks. With Jones and Taylor both out with injuries Devito was thrust into the starting role with a resume showing 5 games on the PS, 2 idle on the game roster and 27 career pass attempts as mid-game injury replacement.

The Giants signed Matt Barkley off the scrapheap after Taylor went down and had to activate him a week later to be Devito's backup after Jones went down. Barkley continued to act as Devito's back up until Taylor was healthy enough to take that role in Wk 14. Taylor would resume as starter for the final 2 games.

[Toppy Vann]

As an optimist I try to find the positives first in any given situation. It's increasingly tough to find positives other than Nathan Rourke is in an NFL TC and not likely to lose a PR spot. When he first went down despite my qualms that it's a positive move---unless you have a bigger body of work and GM and HC who actually want your services, it seems the jobs belong to their investments in top draft picks and trades--- I honestly believed Rourke's team of advisers whoever they may be knew something we didn't know. Now not sure of that advice.

People forget that Warren Moon was wanted before he left Edmonton and he won/was part of multiple Grey Cups, not a one year wonder.

That and the 3 QB rule in the NFL doom that 4th guy as we've seen to date.


Looking at Chris Streveler (granted a different type of QB) his NFL sojourn and expeience hasn't visibly yet translated to any significant gains that we're seeing now that he's back in the CFL.

I can't see BC moving on from Vernon Adams either if he chose to return. I can't the money being there with the financial management system the CFL has either.

There's a bit more in the JC Abott story.

‘It’s always hard for that fourth quarterback’: Canadian QB Nathan Rourke to get ‘limited reps’ in New York Giants training camp
By JC Abbott -July 26, 2024

“He’s the fourth guy so he’ll get limited reps, take advantage of the ones that he can get,” head coach Brian Daboll told the media during the second day of training camp.

“He did a good job in OTAs, he’s picking up the system. It’s always hard for that fourth quarterback relative to the reps they’re going to get because the other three are going to get more. But good young man, studies hard, did a nice job in OTAs. We’ll just try to keep developing him.”

https://3downnation.com/2024/07/26/davi ... -thoughts/

[SammyGreene]

Whoa Nathan already released by Giants not even a week into training camp.

https://3downnation.com/2024/07/28/new- ... an-rourke/

[Hambone]

Probably a sign that Devito has shown signs of progress since last year. Reality is Rourke was competing with Devito for the PS spot as 3rd QB. Simple facts are in Devito NYG had a QB of similar vintage as Rourke, who already knows the system, and coaching staff. HC, OC and QBC are all returning. With that the staff all know Devito very well; how he worked with the other QBs, his work ethic etc. While some liked to knock Devito for his play last year they are conveniently overlooking that due to injuries he was taken from his PS role and thrust into the starting job, sink or swim, a few weeks into his rookie season. Despite the obvious lack of experience the Giants won as.many games in his 6 starts as their.other QBs won in 11 starts. NYG were 3-3 with Devito and 3-8 with Jones and Taylor. IMO Devito showed Daboll and staff enough that they weren't going to give up on him easily. If he showed an improved grasp of things Rourke had to blow their socks off right from the start. Looks to me like Rourke was claimed off waivers as an insurance plan in the event Devito showed signs of lack of progress since last year.

[Merolamas56]

There must be one of the 32 teams, there, that could use him more than what they already have. There is plenty of time left in their training camps for someone to get him.

If he gives up on his NFL ambitions and returns to Canada next year , where is the best fit for him? Ottawa?

[SammyGreene]

There must be one of the 32 teams, there, that could use him more than what they already have. There is plenty of time left in their training camps for someone to get him.

If he gives up on his NFL ambitions and returns to Canada next year , where is the best fit for him? Ottawa?

I think they are good with Brown who is just 27 and playing well making under $400,000.

Riders and Bombers have starting QBs who will be 39 and 37 next year. Bo Levi would be 35. Then you have Calgary with an underwhelming starter, the Elks with new owners looking to revitalize their fan base and of course his hometown Lions.

[Hambone]

There must be one of the 32 teams, there, that could use him more than what they already have. There is plenty of time left in their training camps for someone to get him.

If he gives up on his NFL ambitions and returns to Canada next year , where is the best fit for him? Ottawa?

I expect he will play the rest of the NFL season by ear. The optimal time for him to return to the CFL is in the offseaso when the market potentially opens up to all 9 teams. If he were to try now not all teams are in a position to make the sort of long term big $ contract he would want and should expect. Also many incumbent QBs are fast approaching the point whereby their contracts are guaranteed.

For instance Winnipeg would have to cut Collaros before their next game. Similarly with Edmonton playing Hamilton tonight the Elks, Ticats, Als, Riders and Lions have only 1 more game's grace before having to make a decision on the contracts of MBT, BLM, Fajardo, Harris and VAJ before they become guaranteed. Once the season is over any of those clubs could do whatever is necessary to take a run at Rourke........and that includes BC.

[Toppy Vann]

Sad day but for those who seemed to know the NFL better than some like me who is mostly just following CFL, it's not a surprising day.

Clearly the HC has little to no interest in Rourke given the QBs he has there and the team's investments in them despite his brother formerly a CFL LB with the Stamps.

Hambone's right that to try to come to the CFL this year sounds bleak versus in the off season.

It sure seems that either Rourke hasn't the advisers I thought he must have had in bailing on the CFL so fast OR he is just one of those guys who'll pursue his dream without a reality check.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/04/10/deron-may ... l-seasons/

[Sir Purrcival]

The way the NFL picks and chooses players seems really slanted. I have seen teams stick with awful QB's that have accomplished nothing and basically ignore other potential talent too often.

[DanoT]

What Rourke is up against is that in the NFL the number of opportunities that you get is proportional to how high a draft pick you were or how high your salary. Actual on field play is often too lightly weighted.