New York Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey has survived multiple coaching upheavals in recent years, which has allowed him to get closer to the players via longevity. Someday, he’ll become an NFL head coach but for now, he’s just focused on turning the Giants into a contender.
That doesn’t come easy due to the constant roster churn. From one day to the next, McGaughey isn’t sure who will be available to him. But one player who is always present but rarely available for special teams is Saquon Barkley.
That’s not to say Barkley doesn’t try to get involved, however.
“He’s always lobbied (to return kicks),” McGaughey said of Barkley. “I told him, ‘You’re trying to get me fired, aren’t you?’ But no, Saquon is always itching to get back there.”
Barkley did return kicks at Penn State and did so explosively. But given that he’s such a focal point for the Giants offensively, they aren’t willing to risk injury.
Still… Nothing can be ruled out completely.
“I’ve seen him do it before,” McGaughey said. “I would venture to say you’ve got to have a situation somehow, someway, maybe, who knows.”
Come Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, it won’t be Barkley returning kicks. But one of his running back counterparts — Gary Brightwell — will.
“Gary is a dependable football player. A young player. Up and coming. Smart, tough, dependable. He’s everything that we want in a returner,”McGaughey said. “He’s got good speed. He’s tough. Got good quickness. Has good vision. And again, the most important thing is dependable. So, I look forward to seeing him make some plays.”
Brightwell may be one of Dave Gettleman’s few remaining holdovers, but his special teams prowess and willingness to do whatever is needed has endeared him to general manager Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll and the staff.
