Jon Beason ready to lead New York Giants defense

New York Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason has said that he is ready for the challenge of being a leader in the coming NFL season.

The Giants are suffering from a deficit in leadership qualities following the departure of Justin Tuck this off-season, but Beason has signalled that he is more than ready to help take his side forward.

"It's always tough when you lose a guy who's been around for a very long time," said Beason, according to Fox Sports.

"You kind of have to do it by committee. You hope you have a couple young guys who can come in and rotate and fill a void there. But I feel like I know how to create a defense and get everyone on the same page."

The new NFL season gets underway on September 5, as the Green Bay Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks.