The New York Giants signed Boateng to a free-agent contract on Aug. 6, 2010. The former blue-chip recruit will replace veteran wide receiver Adam Jennings, whom the Giants waived the same day.
Boateng, who was born in Ghana but raised in New York, brings unquestioned talent to the Giants. But he also carries considerable baggage — a history of injuries and off-field incidents.
It looks to be a low-risk investment for the Giants, who felt secure enough about their wide receivers that they did not use any of their seven 2010 draft picks on one. But they're definitely looking to add depth behind front-line wideouts Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham. And they can use some special teams help as well.
Since the draft ended on April 24, 2010, the Giants have added seven wide receivers, and two of them have already been let go. The most significant departure has been that of Domenik Hixson. The kick return specialist suffered a torn ACL during mini-camp in June, and was released on July 15, 2010.
Boateng has not handled kick return duties since high school, but he's a versatile athlete. In addition to being a prep All-American in football, he was a star basketball point guard who helped his team win three city championships.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Boateng was not offered a contract after he attended the New York Giants rookie mini-camp during the spring. But he's athletic enough to serve in a variety of capacities, and the team obviously saw something in him they liked.
The Strengths of Nyan Boateng
Boateng's basketball skills are evident on the football field, as he's adept at gaining leverage and position, shielding defenders and finding his way to the ball. He also has sharp reflexes, good size and decent if not overpowering speed (4.6 in the 40 dash).
Flashes of his skill were seen at Florida, where he started his college career; and at Cal, where he ended up. His best season was 2008, when he had 29 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns while working in a rotational system.
Previously, Boateng was a four-star recruit who was picked for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. In addition to being a receiver, cornerback and punt returner for Lincoln High of Brooklyn, he handled kicking and punting duties.
On his personal website, Boateng describes himself as a "diehard football student."
The Weaknesses of Nyan Boateng
Boateng's character has been called into question because of off-field problems, which include a pair of domestic incidents and a burglary charge that was later dropped.
Injuries have been troublesome as well. He suffered a broken leg in 2009 and finished the season with just 12 receptions. Ankle problems wiped out both his sophomore season at Florida, and his senior campaign in high school.
Boateng's speed didn't shine brightly at his pro day workout, as he turned in times of 4.66 and 4.73 seconds.
Jon Matsune - Jon Matsune is a free-lance writer based in Northern California. He has 25 years of experience in newspaper journalism, mostly as a sports ...
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