NY Giants mandatory minicamp takeaways: LT, Harry Carson steal the show

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants survived an Abdul Carter injury scare and saw a visit from Hall of Fame linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson steal the spotlight Monday on the first day of the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp.

‘That was something’

Giants head coach John Harbaugh had never met Taylor or Carson before Monday, and admitted to being a bit “starstruck” by the Hall of Fame former Giants linebackers.

“Two of the greatest linebackers ever in the history of the game talking to the guys after practice, that was something,” Harbaugh said. “That was special. They had some good wisdom.”

Harbaugh spent a few minutes talking to Taylor and Carson after practice, and made sure to get a photo.

“I was in awe. I was kinda star-struck,” Harbaugh said. “I wanted to ask for an autograph. I thought you guys would make fun of me if I did that.”

Edge defender Brian Burns hopes his young teammates, even if they aren’t familiar with Taylor and Carson, look them up and learn from their words.

“There may be some young guys that don’t know them, but you’ve got to think about it. They’re far removed from it,” Burns said. “But I would just implore them to look at the history, see what those guys were about, and you never know that can help you, give you some gems along the way.”

Wide receiver competition

The Giants have more quality receivers than can make the 53-man roster. The competition for spots will be fierce. Here are highlights of what we saw on Monday:

• Third-round pick Malachi Fields made the catch of the day, a contested grab over a cornerback on a deep throw down the left side from Jaxson Dart. Our view was blocked, and we could not identify the defender on the play.
• Isaiah Hodgins had a leaping, contested catch for a touchdown on a throw from Dart during a red zone session.
• Odell Beckham Jr. had a quiet day, with just two catches that I noted. Unfortunately for Beckham, one of those turned into a catch-fumble as he stumbled after catching a slant from Brandon Allen, lost the ball, and cornerback Rico Payton scooped it up.

Giants tight end Isaiah Likely, who played with Beckham in Baltimore, said after practice that things are different than when Beckham was a Raven.

“I kind of cracked on Odell a little bit when he came here because in Baltimore seeing O was my first time, and I see him as mohawk Odell where it was like crazy colors. I think he had purple hair at the time, Odell, where it was like, you’re tapping your friend, like, man, that’s Odell,” Likely said.

“And then when he signed here, I kind of texted him, gave him a little text, talking about, hey, you’re on my team now, rook.”

• Jalin Hyatt hauled in a deep ball from Jameis Winston over rookie cornerback Colton Hood. Hyatt...