They might be Giants
Area free agents get weekend in minicamp
By Denis Gorman • Special to news-press.com • May 3, 2010
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - As far as descriptive words go, lovely and love are not ones often associated with an NFL camp.
They are the words that A.J. Jackson decided upon to describe his experience at the New York Giants' rookie mini-camp over the weekend.
"It's lovely. I love it," said Jackson, who along with Lee Campbell and Wondy Pierre-Louis were among 55 participants that attended the camp.
Campbell signed a free-agent contract with the Giants last week, while Jackson and Pierre-Louis received invitations to try out at the camp.
Pierre-Louis left camp Saturday and according to a Giants spokesperson his tryout has ended.
He is scheduled to visit the Baltimore Ravens' camp next weekend.
The three are natives of Southwest Florida. Jackson went to Lehigh Senior High, while Campbell and Pierre-Louis attended Gulf Coast and Lely, respectively.
"I didn't know them, but we (had mutual friends)," Jackson said as a broad smile stretched across his face. "(It was like) 'You know those guys?' 'Yeah, I know him.' We had some friends in common.
"I can share conversations with (Campbell) at lunch. It's nice."
With the mid-February release of Antonio Pierce, the Giants have a void at middle linebacker, which allows Campbell an opportunity to stick with the team.
Campbell recorded 250 tackles (70 solo), seven sacks and three interceptions in four years as the middle linebacker for the University of Minnesota.
"I came to New York because I had (the best) opportunity to crack the lineup," Campbell said in the Giants' locker room between the morning and afternoon sessions on Saturday, before acknowledging that he will be at the Giants' June 15-17 mini-camp. He will compete with Phillip Dillard, whom the Giants selected from Nebraska in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, for the starting middle linebacker job.
"(NFC East football) is my style of football. Downhill. Smash-mouth. I formation. Teams don't try to trick you. They try to come out and say 'We're tougher than you.' I fit that mold."
Jackson was named to the AP Little All-America second team after a senior year in which he caught 101 passes for 1,424 yards and 18 touchdowns, setting University of California (Pennsylvania) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference single-season records. A junior college transfer, Jackson set a school record with 28 career touchdown catches and is fourth in California history with 2,130 receiving yards.
A preseason favorite to reach the Super Bowl, the Giants instead compiled an 8-8 record in 2009. Among the myriad flaws was an averaged-sized corps of receivers.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 236 pounds, Jackson's size could entice the Giants.
"My biggest strengths are my size, my routes and my hands," said Jackson, who admitted he had "a chip on my shoulder" due to his D-II status and wanted to prove that he wasn't "an average Division II guy."
"I feel like I have an opportunity here. I just have to continue to work hard. I feel like I'm getting better already."
Pierre-Louis played four year with the Florida Gators, where he finished his career with 69 tackles (46 solo), three interceptions and scored a touchdown as a cornerback and as a special-teamer.
With the mid-February release of Antonio Pierce, the Giants have a void at middle linebacker, which allows Campbell an opportunity to stick with the team.
Campbell recorded 250 tackles (70 solo), seven sacks and three interceptions in four years as the middle linebacker for the University of Minnesota.
"I came to New York because I had (the best) opportunity to crack the lineup," Campbell said in the Giants' locker room between the morning and afternoon sessions on Saturday, before acknowledging that he will be at the Giants' June 15-17 mini-camp. He will compete with Phillip Dillard, whom the Giants selected from Nebraska in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, for the starting middle linebacker job.
"(NFC East football) is my style of football. Downhill. Smash-mouth. I formation. Teams don't try to trick you. They try to come out and say 'We're tougher than you.' I fit that mold."
Jackson was named to the AP Little All-America second team after a senior year in which he caught 101 passes for 1,424 yards and 18 touchdowns, setting University of California (Pennsylvania) and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference single-season records. A junior college transfer, Jackson set a school record with 28 career touchdown catches and is fourth in California history with 2,130 receiving yards.
A preseason favorite to reach the Super Bowl, the Giants instead compiled an 8-8 record in 2009. Among the myriad flaws was an averaged-sized corps of receivers.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 236 pounds, Jackson's size could entice the Giants.
"My biggest strengths are my size, my routes and my hands," said Jackson, who admitted he had "a chip on my shoulder" due to his D-II status and wanted to prove that he wasn't "an average Division II guy."
"I feel like I have an opportunity here. I just have to continue to work hard. I feel like I'm getting better already."
Pierre-Louis played four year with the Florida Gators, where he finished his career with 69 tackles (46 solo), three interceptions and scored a touchdown as a cornerback and as a special-teamer.
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