Kadarius Toney has fan in Giants coach Brian Daboll
Kadarius Toney of the Giants against the Las Vegas Raiders at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
My, what a difference a few weeks makes. Especially, it seems, if you’re Kadarius Toney.
About three weeks after rumors circulated that the Giants' second-year wide receiver was on the trading block, coach Brian Daboll sang his praises and said that Toney had been to every one of the Giants’ voluntary workouts. Hardly the moves of a man who won’t be in New Jersey for long.
“I really like him,” Daboll said Friday at Giants rookie minicamp. “He's smart …You can tell he's got instinctive football [skills]. He was a really good [high school] quarterback down in Alabama. He's been a pleasure to be around. Good teammate. Smart. It's been great.”
Toney, the Giants' 2021 first-round draft pick, dealt with a slew of injuries last season and two bouts of COVID. He was limited to 10 games, in addition to never seeming to fully click with Daniel Jones. It was previously reported that Toney didn’t take part in Daboll’s voluntary offseason program, but in recent weeks, it’s clear he has a fan in the Giants coach who, last week, also complimented him on WFAN.
“He's doing everything we're asking him to do,” Daboll said Friday. “Glad he's here. We've had everybody here, so it's been a good few weeks.”
Flott v. Robinson
Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott said he relished going up against Wan’Dale Robinson, whom he covered in college. “Iron sharpens iron,” Flott said. “It’s a thing I’ve got to get used to. He's an elite receiver. Throughout practice, he is going to be one of the guys that will help me get better.”
Getting acquainted
Daboll said the three-day rookie camp would be more of an acclimation for the 85 players on site, and would not focus heavily on installation. That said, he does intend to practice his draft picks. Friday and Saturday will consist of two, one-hour practices, while Sunday will be for off-field work.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
