Giant Football Blog

Giants Free Agents 2006

Unrestricted Free Agents

DT Kenderick Allen

RCB Will Allen

WR Tim Carter

DT Kendrick Clancy

MLB Nick Greisen

QB Tim Hasselbeck

KR Chad Morton

LT Bob Whitfield

Restricted Free Agents

KR Willie Ponder

TE Visanthe  Shiancoe

WR David Tyree

CB Frank Walker

Giants three vets lighter

Sometimes moves that seem to make sense are complete busts. That's what happened with the Giants and linebacker Barrett Green, who was released yesterday after two dismal seasons. On a busy day of roster maneuvering and financial cost-cutting, the Giants also announced the retirement of safety Brent Alexander and released reserve offensive lineman Jason Whittle.

Green, 28, arrived from the Lions as a 2004 unrestricted free agent, signed to a five-year, $13.75 million contract to move in as the starting weak-side linebacker. He started nine games but was rarely a difference-maker (other than returning a fumble vs. the Redskins for his only career touchdown) before a knee injury curtailed his first year with the Giants. Last season, he quickly clashed with Tom Coughlin and could not get on the field because of recurring ankle and knee problems. He played in just one game, a cameo special-teams appearance against the Rams on Oct. 2, before being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 26. Continue

Secondary is primary

Tom Coughlin isn't one to give away organizational secrets, so the coach's statement that the Giants need to address holes in the secondary as their top priority when free agency begins next Friday isn't a surprise.

During a brief session with reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Friday, Coughlin said Will Allen will become a free agent and Will Peterson still is trying to determine whether he can continue his career with a potential stress fracture in his back."We need to have players in position to fill those spots," Coughlin said. "We obviously have some needs there in the secondary." Continue

No room for Allen, Greisen

Whether NFL free agency commences on March 3 or later, depending on the league's collective bargaining negotiations with the players' association, the Giants are willing to let cornerback Will Allen and linebacker Nick Greisen reach unrestricted free agency.

The Giants are negotiating with tackle Kendrick Clancy, who provided a pleasant surprise in his first year with the team and was inexpensive at $540,000. But Allen, who has started all but nine games in his five seasons with the Giants, and Greisen, who made 13 starts last season when the linebacking corps disintegrated because of injuries, are headed for the open market.

"You can't sign everyone," Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said, even though the Giants did sign those players they deemed high priorities this year: Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey signed long extensions and Osi Umenyiora signed a long-term deal to keep him away from free agency after next season. Continue

Giants looking for legitimate backup

he Giants will soon be looking to add another quarterback, either during the NFL free-agent signing period that begins March 3 or in the NFL Draft in late April. Either way, they'd like to re-sign Tim Hasselbeck, as long as he comes at a modest price. S

till, that doesn't mean Hasselbeck's future with the Giants is secure. It is believed that Tom Coughlin views both Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen as No. 3 quarterbacks and wants to add a backup who can at least compete for the No. 2 spot behind Eli Manning. Continue

Giants rush to tackle negotiations with Clancy

The Giants are trying to re-sign defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, but with 2-1/2 weeks left before the market opens, a deal still appears to be far off. According to Clancy's agent, Ronald Del Duca, the sides have been talking for several weeks, but still haven't closed the gap between them. Negotiations are expected to continue in person at the NFL's scouting combine in Indianapolis next week.

"Kendrick wants to go back, but he also doesn't want to shortchange himself," Del Duca said. "So right now we've agreed to disagree. Obviously they like him because they're talking to him. But we seem to have different views on his value." Continue

Giants gain cap room by signing Seubert

The New York Giants have signed offensive lineman Rich Seubert to a two-year contract extension, a move that provides the team about $400,000 in additional salary cap room for 2006.By signing Seubert, the Giants secured for the long-term a player who could work his way back into the starting lineup after overcoming a potentially career-threatening injury.

For the second consecutive year, Seubert accepted a salary reduction, but could gain more security in a deal that ties him to the Giants through the 2009 season. The two extension years added to his contract are at base salaries of $1.05 million for 2008 and $1.3 million for '09. His base salaries for the next two seasons, in the reworked portion of his existing contract, are $545,0000 for '06 and $790,000 for '07. Continue

End of the blues

Nothing that happened in the past month has changed Osi Umenyiora's mind about what he said before the Giants' 23-0 loss to the Panthers in the NFC wild-card round. That game was the worst possible way to end a season, and some Panthers players felt it proved that Umenyiora was wrong when he said he and fellow defensive end Michael Strahan are the best tandem of defensive ends in the NFL.

If anything, Umenyiora feels even stronger about that statement now as he prepares for his first Pro Bowl. He's one of four Giants in Hawaii for today's game. Jeremy Shockey was selected but is not playing because of an ankle injury. Continue

Harry's long road to Hall

Former Giants linebacker Harry Carson, snubbed for 12 years by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee, finally was elected yesterday to the highest individual honor a player can receive.

Carson, 52, who played in nine Pro Bowls during his Giants career from 1976-88, had become so disenchanted with the Hall of Fame voting process that he suggested two years ago that his name be taken off the ballot. He even wrote two letters to the committee last year asking that he be removed from consideration. Because there are no rules covering such a request, his name was not taken off. Continue

Peyton: Eli will find his place

The Manning-Manning Super Bowl didn't come close, but Eli and Peyton will face each other for the first time in something other than a backyard game when the Giants play the Colts at Giants Stadium next season. "It will be exciting for football," Peyton Manning said yesterday after picking up the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man Of The Year Award. "I think it will be fun. During the week, ask me by Wednesday, and I'll probably have a different answer for you."

There will be plenty of pressure on the Manning family that week. "It will be tough on them, no question," he said. Big brother said he was "proud" of the way little brother handled everything in his second year, his first full season starting. He sees himself in his brother from earlier in his career. The difference is Eli Manning is doing it in the largest market in the country. Continue

Giants have Feel-ing they belong in Bowl

The pain of what happened to the Giants on Nov. 27 in Seattle has never really subsided. And seeing the Seahawks represent the NFC in Super Bowl XL is only making it hurt worse. Because had Jay Feely not missed three potential game-winning field goals in that 24-21 overtime loss, the Giants - not the Seahawks - would have had the inside track for the No. 1 seed in the conference. And if the Giants had owned home-field advantage with a bye week, who knows how differently things would have turned out?

"I've definitely thought about that," Michael Strahan said. "And that's kind of been a little haunting. That's why when we see Seattle here it's like, 'Man, we had our opportunity and we kind of let it sail away.'" Continue