Brian Burns took his first public steps into the shoes of a Giant leader on Saturday.
The team’s prized new pass rusher carried himself at the Dexter Lawrence Charity Softball Game like he’s comfortable embracing the pressure and the spotlight of the Big Apple, as fans turned out in droves at the New York Boulders’ Clover Stadium in Pomona, N.Y.
“To see the love, feel the love and energy that they’re giving u=s, they’ve got big expectations for this team,” Burns said in between signing autographs. “So I’m excited.”
Big expectations. That’s what comes with playing in the New York market. That’s what comes with Burns’ new five-year, $141 million contract after a blockbuster trade in March. Burns knows it and welcomes it.
“That’s expected,” he said of New York’s heightened noise. “It comes with the territory.”
He even knows his history. He interjected when a reporter said the Giants franchise has had a lot of pass rushers.
“Great pass rushers,” Burns said.
That is what he is here to be: the next great Giants pass rusher. There is no mystery. And that’s what Burns was smiling most about: the potential of what he, Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux can accomplish together on this new defensive line.
“With our combined talents, I think the sky’s the limit,” he said. “We can really do anything. And we’re all young. So hopefully this is years to come.
“I’m excited for it because [opposing defenses] pretty much got to pick their poison on where they’re gonna key or slide to,” he continued. “So with Dex demanding so much attention and Kayvon also demanding attention, it’s gonna free us up a lot in separate situations.”
Lawrence added there is “no telling” how much that trio can accomplish.
“We just gotta keep feeding off each other,” he said.
Monday’s first, closed OTA practice marked the continuation of that process on the football field. But Saturday’s collaborative charity effort was a good start to their teamwork.
Lawrence, former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and superfan Joe “License Plate Guy” Ruback spearheaded a full-day fan event that raised a record $60,000 for St. Christopher’s Inc., a non-profit whose mission is to serve adolescents with special needs and unlock their potential.
“We’ve never even been in the $50,000s,” Ruback said. “But sponsors and walk-ups got us up to $60,000. And 100% of it goes to St. Chris. I couldn’t be happier.”
The event returned for the first time since 2019, when former Giant Landon Collins graced the marquee. And it was so successful because so many former and current Giant players turned out in support, including new quarterback Drew Lock.
But Burns’ presence arguably mattered most of all.
While wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was dominating the home run derby and corner Deonte Banks was thriving in dodgeball, the 6-5, 250-pound Burns just look different walking out of the dugout and onto the diamond.
He represented a major offseason acquisition and a potential game-changer who was immediately stepping into the place he must inhabit for this team to win: centerstage.
He even showed a little bit of an edge when asked about playing his former Carolina Panthers team in Germany, rather than in Charlotte, N.C.
“I was a little bummed about that,” Burns said with a smile. “I wanted to go back to Carolina and play. But it’s gonna be exciting. I’ve never been to Germany. So that’s definitely gonna be a new experience for me.”
He has a pre-existing relationship with Lawrence that goes back to high school.
“We were roommates at the All-American game,” Lawrence said.
“That was the biggest kid I’ve ever seen in my life,” Burns said with a laugh. “I still have a video to this day of me and him sitting on the bus together, he was taking up the whole seat.”
And Burns is spending a ton of time with Thibodeaux, seemingly serving as a knowledgeable veteran mentor.
“Me and Thibodeaux have been hanging out a lot trying to build that chemistry, build that bond. We’ve been pushing each other,” Burns said. “We only work out together. So anytime he’s not around, I gotta grab him and we gotta push each other. Because he [is] trying to outdo me all the time. We’re gonna see about that.
“He’s an interesting individual,” Burns added with a smirk. “He’s a very interesting individual. But I like him. We’re gonna work together well.”
They have to work well together if the Giants are going to win this season. Burns knows that’s not just what matters most; it’s all that matters.
OTAs BEGIN
The Giants held the first of their 10 spring OTA practices Monday at their training facility in East Rutherford, N.J. Player attendance is optional. Only three of the Giants’ 10 OTAs are open to the media: one this Thursday, one on May 30 and one on June 6.
This is phase three of the NFL offseason. That means there is no live contact permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted. Then the Giants will hold their mandatory minicamp on June 11-12, before breaking for vacation until training camp in late July.
