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Daily News from New York, New York • 127

Publication:
Daily Newsi
Location:
New York, New York
Issue Date:
Page:
127
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

CM BC's Saxton replaces injured Pierce i v'-if -t i' iAMinifift -1m-- i IniiMMT i' li I i 1 MMT 1 By BARRY MEISEL Daily News Sports Writer CHARLOTTE People wanted to talk to Brian Saxton throughout the practice week, and not only because he's a Boston College football alumnus. The 24-year-old native of Whippany, N.J., who spent the entire season sitting behind Aaron Pierce on the depth chart at H-back was prepared to fill in a week earlier vs. Arizona, when Pierce suffered a sprained knee on the third play of the Giants' 16-8 win. Last night vs. the Panthers at Ericsson Stadium, however, with Pierce sidelined for three weeks, Saxton was ready to be the Giants' first-team H-back.

"I feel I'm ready to go," said the soft-spoken 6-6, 256-pounder with 4.9 speed in the 40. "Hopefully they'll give me the opportunity to stretch the defense vertically." The 4-5 Giants sought to stretch the 5-4 Panthers' tenacious 3-4 defense horizontally, too. They needed to keep Carolina's two pass-rushing, sack-happy outside linebackers, Lamar Lathon and Kevin Greene, wide of the pocket. They needed to keep the two veteran linebackers out of the lap of Dave Brown, who was scheduled to start after leaving last week's game in the first quarter with back spasms. To keep Brown unharmed, the Giants planned to afford their quarterback maximum protection.

And that meant they needed blocking help from their tight ends, Howard Cross and Saxton. Although the Giants had allowed 32 sacks, and more per pass attempt than any NFL team, their offensive line and pass-protection packages had improved in recent weeks. After yielded 26 in their first six games, the Giants had permitted only two in each of the last three games. Saxton was signed as a free agent prior to the '95 season and spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad. Rather than asking him to join the World League during the off-season, Dan Reeves asked Saxton to spend the spring in the weight room bulking up to block and in the classroom studying two positions.

Because Saxton did, he won a job as Cross' back-up at tight end and Pierce's as H-back. "They've been working me at two positions throughout the season," said Saxton, who entered last night's game still looking for his first NFL reception. "Going into the year I'd say I was more comfortable with the traditional tight end role, but now I feel very comfortable at H-back. It's just playing tight end out for the backfield instead of on-line SOARING EAGLE: Philadelphia's Kevin Turner cele- Stadium in Philly, but Bills wound up on the highlight film, escap-brates first-quarter touchdown vs. Buffalo yesterday at Veterans ing with a 24-17 victory.

coach Tom Coughlin. Saxton played tight end under Coughlin, H-back as a senior under Dan Henning at Boston College. But he was totally unprepared for the gambling scandal that has rocked BC. "I'm frustrated," he admitted. "I'm disappointed.

Everyone's been surprised by this." Saxton, who earned a degree in marketing and a master's in human development, called several of his ex-teammates and fellow alumni after he learned that several current Golden Eagles were sus didn't throw to Saxton, at all. "For the first time he really ever got into a game for any length of time, he did an adequate job," offensive coordinator George Henshaw said. "I mean, he did a good job. He wasn't called upon to do anything that was super-critical, you might say. He did a good job in what he was asked to do.

Brian's smart, he's a guy who has prepared himself for every situation." Saxton was recruited out of Whippany Park High School by former Giants receivers blocking. There's not much difference, though." The Giants signed Saxton out of BC because of his blocking skills. He has been a fixture on the Giants' goal-line offense and on the kickoff return team, but got little other playing time until last Sunday, when he got onto the field for 23 plays. He blocked mostly, although he was split wide when the Giants went to a five-wide receiver set out of a shotgun for the first time all year. They didn't throw to Saxton on that play.

In fact, they pended for betting on football games, including their own. He discussed the scandal with guard Ron Stone, another BC alum. "We looked at each other and said, 'I can't believe it' "I just feel bad because we worked really hard to set something up there, a tradition and reputation for the school. I still believe the school has that reputation, but it's going to be a little tarnished. People making jokes, -naturally, saying stuff.

It's a shame something like this had to come about" I. 11.

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