Pascoe says Giants tight ends can play, too

The New England Patriots tight ends are receiving plenty of attention, but Bear Pascoe wants everyone to know that the New York Giants have tight ends playing in the Super Bowl, too.

Rob Gronkowski is a Pro Bowl tight end for the Patriots and Aaron Hernandez is also a talented tight end for the Patriots. But Pascoe, a 2004 Granite Hills graduate, said don’t look past the Giants tight ends. The Giants and Patriots will play in the Super Bowl at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The game will be televised by NBC.

“We can play in the NFL, too,” Pascoe told the Sporting News earlier in the week. “As they say, we ain’t chopped liver. Gronkowski and Hernandez have gotten a lot of attention this year, and they’ve had great seasons. You can’t deny that. They’re great athletes. We’re not going to carry our offense. But what we do, I think we’ll do well.”

Though the Patriots tight ends have the edge in total receptions, the Giants tight ends have made timely catches.

Though the Patriots tight ends make a ton of catches, the Giants tight ends specialize in timely catches. Pascoe had a six-yard touchdown grab in the NFC Championship game for his first career touchdown. Another Giants tight end Travis Beckum has seven catches in the postseason. Starting tight end Jake Ballard led Giants with 38 catches for 604 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season. Pascoe had 12 catches for 137 yards during the regular season.

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are the Giants big play makers, but with the Patriots expected to focus on the Giants receivers, that could open it up for the Giants tight ends.

In the two teams’ regular season meeting, a 24-20 Giants win, Ballard had a 28-yard catch with 51 seconds left to keep the Giants game-winning drive alive. He then caught the game-winning 1-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left.

Many thought the tight end spot for the Giants was a weakness before the season after Kevin Boss signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. That left the Giants with Ballard, an undrafted free agent, Beckum, who caught two passes in his first two NFL seasons, and Pascoe, who was drafted in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers, but released before being picked up by the Giants in 2009.

The Giants tight ends were much maligned during the preseason and Pascoe said they took it personally.

“There were a lot of naysayers out there after we lost Kevin Boss,” Pascoe said. “We took it as a knock on us. We wanted to prove them all wrong. I think we’ve shown people we can handle the job.”

Ballard missed the regular season’s final two games with a knee injury, but is expected to be at full strength on Sunday.

“After his injuries, some balls went to Bear and Travis,” Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “Now it looks like Jake’s coming back, so maybe we’ll have a few tight ends make some plays for us. Our tight ends aren’t going to get doubled Sunday. They’re going to get single coverage. If they can beat a linebacker in most instances, they’ll have a chance to get the ball.”

GRANITE WISHES PASCOE WELL

Granite Hills GTV, an organization of students who produce weekly broadcasts at the school, produced a video with students and staff wishing Pascoe well for Sunday’s game. “Let me say that was AWESOME!!!” Pascoe posted on his Twitter page in response to the video. “Thank you guys so much that means a lot. To all mo old teachers I love you guys.”

Pascoe also had a message for the students: “To all the students at Granite Hills you guys are what makes Granite so great. If you are going to be a Bear be a Grizzly!”

The video can be seen at www.schooltube.com and by doing a search for Granite Hills. The video is episode No. 22.

The New England Patriots tight ends are receiving plenty of attention, but Bear Pascoe wants everyone to know that the New York Giants have tight ends playing in the Super Bowl, too.

Rob Gronkowski is a Pro Bowl tight end for the Patriots and Aaron Hernandez is also a talented tight end for the Patriots. But Pascoe, a 2004 Granite Hills graduate, said don’t look past the Giants tight ends. The Giants and Patriots will play in the Super Bowl at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The game will be televised by NBC.

“We can play in the NFL, too,” Pascoe told the Sporting News earlier in the week. “As they say, we ain’t chopped liver. Gronkowski and Hernandez have gotten a lot of attention this year, and they’ve had great seasons. You can’t deny that. They’re great athletes. We’re not going to carry our offense. But what we do, I think we’ll do well.”

Though the Patriots tight ends have the edge in total receptions, the Giants tight ends have made timely catches.

Though the Patriots tight ends make a ton of catches, the Giants tight ends specialize in timely catches. Pascoe had a six-yard touchdown grab in the NFC Championship game for his first career touchdown. Another Giants tight end Travis Beckum has seven catches in the postseason. Starting tight end Jake Ballard led Giants with 38 catches for 604 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season. Pascoe had 12 catches for 137 yards during the regular season.

Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are the Giants big play makers, but with the Patriots expected to focus on the Giants receivers, that could open it up for the Giants tight ends.

In the two teams’ regular season meeting, a 24-20 Giants win, Ballard had a 28-yard catch with 51 seconds left to keep the Giants game-winning drive alive. He then caught the game-winning 1-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left.

Many thought the tight end spot for the Giants was a weakness before the season after Kevin Boss signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. That left the Giants with Ballard, an undrafted free agent, Beckum, who caught two passes in his first two NFL seasons, and Pascoe, who was drafted in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers, but released before being picked up by the Giants in 2009.

The Giants tight ends were much maligned during the preseason and Pascoe said they took it personally.

“There were a lot of naysayers out there after we lost Kevin Boss,” Pascoe said. “We took it as a knock on us. We wanted to prove them all wrong. I think we’ve shown people we can handle the job.”

Ballard missed the regular season’s final two games with a knee injury, but is expected to be at full strength on Sunday.

“After his injuries, some balls went to Bear and Travis,” Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “Now it looks like Jake’s coming back, so maybe we’ll have a few tight ends make some plays for us. Our tight ends aren’t going to get doubled Sunday. They’re going to get single coverage. If they can beat a linebacker in most instances, they’ll have a chance to get the ball.”

GRANITE WISHES PASCOE WELL

Granite Hills GTV, an organization of students who produce weekly broadcasts at the school, produced a video with students and staff wishing Pascoe well for Sunday’s game. “Let me say that was AWESOME!!!” Pascoe posted on his Twitter page in response to the video. “Thank you guys so much that means a lot. To all mo old teachers I love you guys.”

Pascoe also had a message for the students: “To all the students at Granite Hills you guys are what makes Granite so great. If you are going to be a Bear be a Grizzly!”

The video can be seen at www.schooltube.com and by doing a search for Granite Hills. The video is episode No. 22.