NFL
Published May 19, 2024 at 5:56 pm ET
Standing not far from a pair of former players who fired Tom Brady in Super Bowl victories, Brian Burns showed he’s gone through Giants history in the two months since he was the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade.
The Giants are known for having a lot of pass rushers, right?
“A lot of great pass rushers,” Burns chimed in.
Good point. So how can he, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence (three former first-round picks) be a trio that continues the tradition started by Lawrence Taylor and Leonard Marshall, and continued by Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre? Pablo?
“That will be found out soon,” Burns said. “For now we are trying to improve every day. With our combined status, the sky is the limit. We can really do anything, and we’re all young, so I hope that’s the case for years to come.”
Brian Burns (right) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (left) during the NY Giants and NY Jets Draft party at MetLife Stadium. Michael Karas/RED Keynote USA
Burns and Thibodeaux arrived together Saturday at the Dexter Lawrence Celebrity Softball Game, hosted by Giants superfan Joe Ruback, at Clover Stadium in Pomona.
Raised $60,000 for St. Christopher’s Inc. to help underprivileged youth.
A crowd of about 2,000 clamored for the attention of Burns, Thibodeaux and Lawrence as much as any of the championship-winning Giants alumni, including Tuck, who totaled four sacks in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, and Jay Alford, whose capture closed the first of those two surprises.
“Seeing the love and feeling the energy they’re giving us,” Burns said, “they have high expectations for this team, so I’m excited.”
Burns, 26, has 46 sacks in 80 career games and just signed a five-year, $141.5 million extension. Lawrence, 26, has 12 sacks over the past two seasons, is considered the league’s top pass-rushing nose tackle and is signed to a four-year, $90 million deal.
Burns (No. 16) was selected one pick ahead of Lawrence (No. 17) in 2019.
“I love his game,” Lawrence said. “He will obviously bring good knowledge to the room. It is not known (what we are capable of). We just have to continue to feed off each other and grow with each other.”
Thibodeaux, 23, is coming off a breakout 11.5-sack season in his second year as a pro and has stuck to Burns’ hip, whether in the weight room or on off-field fishing trips.
The Giants’ Dexter Lawrence reacts as he comes to bat in their celebrity softball game at Clover Stadium in Pomona, New York. New York Post Giants’ Bill Kostroun/Brian Burns acknowledges fans before the Dexter Lawrence Celebrity Softball game at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
“We just worked together,” Burns said. “Every time he’s not around, I grab him and we push each other because he’s trying to outdo me all the time. We’ll have to see about that.”
Burns and Lawrence actually go back to the 2016 Army All-American Bowl, when the two high school recruits were roommates.
“That was the biggest kid I had ever seen in my life,” Burns said, laughing. “To this day I still have a video of him and I sitting together on the bus. He was taking up the entire seat.”
Lawrence, at 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, hasn’t gotten any smaller.
The attention he draws inside is key to keeping Burns and Thibodeaux off limits in one-on-one matchups.
“I’m excited because I know (defenses) really have to focus on him,” Burns said. “Plus, having (Thibodeaux) in front of me, they’re pretty much going to have to pick their poison on who they want to target or swipe at. It will free us up a lot in separate situations.”
Burns should be acclimated to his new teammates when he faces his old team (Panthers) on Nov. 24, in a game moved by the NFL to Germany.
“That discouraged me a little bit,” Burns said. “I wanted to go back to Carolina and play, but Germany is a new experience for me.”
The first look at Burns, Thibodeaux and Lawrence together will be Thursday, at an OTA practice attended by the media.
Burns’ contract, which the Panthers were reluctant to give him after two years of negotiations, is the third largest among NFL edge rushers, creating performance expectations.
“I see it all as a blessing,” Burns said. “God put me in this position to do great things and inspire certain people. As long as I am disciplined and stick to my routine, everything will work out as it should.”
Load more…
{{#isDisplay}} {{/isDisplay}}{{#isAniviewVideo}} {{/isAniviewVideo}}{{#isSRVideo}} {{/isSRVideo}}
https://nypost.com/2024/05/19/sports/giants-pass-rusher-trio-sees-skys-the-limit-for-upcoming-season/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons
Copy URL to share
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow @Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.