AT some point soon, most likely this week, Jim Fassel will have a decision to make regarding one of his receivers. Now that Ike Hilliard is as healthy as he’s going to get, the time has come to re-insert him back into the starting lineup.
This declaration surely can be viewed as strange timing, considering Joe Jurevicius is coming off the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. And this is in no way punishment for Jurevicius failing to hang on to a pass on the fateful final play in St. Louis, a catch that would have undoubtedly set up Morten Andersen for a shot at a makeable field goal to upset the unbeaten Rams. This is about what’s best for both players, what’s best for Kerry Collins and ultimately, what’s best for the Giants.
Hilliard’s off-season of discontent is a distant memory, with the only reminder of the controversy the lingering soreness in his surgically repaired right big toe. He sat out the first two games and since his return, he’s served as the third receiver and managed seven catches, including a nifty 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter that gave the Giants a 14-9 lead in their 15-14 loss to the Rams.
Gradually, Hilliard’s workload has been increased, from 18 plays to 21 to 24. “I played the whole game, different packages,” he said. “Just the way it played out I just happened to make some catches and contribute in a way that I guess a lot of people will talk about because I scored one of the touchdowns.”
Moving Hilliard in and Jurevicius out has nothing to do with the play of the towering fourth-year target out of Penn State, a second-round pick in 1998 who developed slowly. He’s started all five games and in his first extended stretch of playing time he’s blossomed into a quality player. Already, Jurevicius has established a career high for receiving yards (339) in a season and with 21 receptions (matching Amani Toomer for the team lead), he’s three shy of last year’s career-best 24.
“Coach Fassel wanted to see consistency and I think I’ve been consistent,” Jurevicius said. “I have the utmost confidence in my ability, but I’m not worried if I have zero catches or six catches in a game. My main goal is to get back to the Super Bowl and win it.”
This is classic Jurevicius, a throwback in that it is virtually impossible to detect any motivation in him other than the greater good of the team. Heading into unrestricted free agency, it is important for Jurevicius to keep his starting job, as statistics for a receiver are the benchmarks for new contracts. At his present pace, he would finish up with 67 receptions for 1,085 yards, numbers that when added to his immense size (6-5, 230) would make him an attractive commodity on the open market. Moving him back into the No. 3 receiver slot would diminish those numbers considerably.
“I do understand numbers mean certain things,” Jurevicius said. “I’m not going to concern myself with that. I have a role on this team. My thing is the Giants gave me an opportunity to fulfill a dream. I know that sounds cliched but that’s exactly the way I feel. I have every intention to remain a New York Giant throughout my career.”
Making Hilliard a starter figures to jump-start an offense that has only 10 touchdowns in five games. The real reason the Giants fell short in St. Louis was that they failed to muster more than 14 points, and greater production will be needed this Monday when the Eagles come to town in an NFC East showdown that will shape this two-team division race.
Collins has an on-field bond with Hilliard, a rapport that is hard to define and even more difficult to duplicate. Jurevicius is Collins’ closest friend on the team, and he will not be forgotten just because he’s no longer starting. The Giants may even be prompted to use more three-receiver sets to get Jurevicius on the field. Either way, Hilliard figures to add the spark that’s been missing.