Mineola's Greg Van Roten steps into starting role on Giants' offensive line
Giants guard Greg Van Roten speaks to media during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday. Credit: Ed Murray
Greg Van Roten introduced himself to the Giants media on Thursday.
“I’m back,” he said. “What’s going on? Any questions?”
The native Long Islander is the newest Giant.
Van Roten said he is happy to be back in the northeast because it’s close to his home in Mineola.
“I’m excited to be part of this organization,” he said, "and I’ll add value where I can.”
He added instant value. With starting center John Michael Schmitz out with his second shoulder injury in as many years, Van Roten immediately assumed the role of starter. On an oppressively hot day in training camp, he was on the field with his new teammates.
According to PFF, Van Roten gave up five sacks last season, tied for ninth in the league.
The Giants offensive line yielded a league-high 85 sacks last season.
Coach Brian Daboll said Van Roten can play any position on the interior.
“Veteran player,” Daboll said. “Can see him at play in any three spots that we need inside.”
Like Jermaine Eluemunor, Van Roten played for Giants' offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo in Las Vegas.
“I had my best career year with Carm,” Van Roten said. “Happy to be back around him. He’s a great X’s and O’s coach. Really does a good job of marrying the pass game with the run game schematically, so you’re never at a disadvantage as an offensive lineman. So, it’s a good system to play in and he does a great job of communicating the expectations.”
Van Roten worked with the starting offense on Thursday.
“Glad we added him and we’ll throw him in the mix,” Daboll said. “Like what he did last year when he was with Carm. Tough, physical, good leadership. So, put him out there and let him get reps.”
Van Roten said the Giants called in the weeks before training camp to indicate they had interest in signing him.
“We reached an agreement on Tuesday and I’m happy to be back in the northeast,” Van Roten said.
He and the Giants reportedly agreed on a one-year, $3 million contract.
Last year with with Las Vegas Raiders, Van Roten allowed 21 pressures on 626 pass-blocking snaps. In 2023, he played exclusively at right guard but has logged snaps at left guard and at center in his career.
He was at center during Thursday’s practice.
The Giants offensive line has undergone a needed makeover since last season. Players rave about Bricillo and want to play for him.
“With him being here and Jermaine being here, it just felt like a natural fit for me," Van Roten said.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
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