Giant Football Blog

Giants Deal for Kicker Lawrence Tynes

So much for the anticipated training camp battle of the rookie kickers. The Giants made that a moot point today when they made their second trade of the Jerry Reese era, sending a conditional draft choice to the Kansas City Chiefs for kicker Lawrence Tynes.

The 29-year-old Scot nailed 78.2% of his field goals (68 for 87) in three seasons with the Chiefs, including 6 of 11 from 50 yards and beyond. Last year, he totalled 107 points, converting on 24 of 31 field goals and 35 of 36 extra points. He also displayed an impressive leg on kickoffs, recording touchbacks five times.

Giants in trade talks for Browns' tackle

The Giants have two options at left tackle this season, David Diehl or Guy Whimper. But they haven't ruled out adding a third. During the draft over the weekend, they had discussions with the Browns about trading for Cleveland's starting left tackle last season, Kevin Shaffer. The Browns called the Giants soon after drafting Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas with the third pick in the first round, according to a league source, but the Giants felt the price - reportedly a fourth-round pick - was way too high for a player entering just the second year of a six-year, $36.5 million deal.

If the Browns' asking price goes down, talks for the 27-year-old Shaffer could be revived. The Giants have been looking for a veteran left tackle since they cut Luke Petitgout in February. So far they've been reluctant to move Diehl from left guard, and on Sunday both GM Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin indicated that Whimper, last year's fourth-round pick, has had a good offseason and is now a candidate, too. Continue

Giants yank Wilson deal after physical

Minutes after it seemed as if five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Al Wilson would be acquired from the Denver Broncos, the Giants pulled the deal off the table Friday. Wilson was at Giants Stadium for a physical, and just after he completed it, a person familiar with the talks said there would be no deal. Neither side would comment on the reason.

That person also said no Giants players were involved in the deal, only draft picks. A report out of Denver said the price for Wilson was believed to be a middle-round pick, possibly a third- or fourth-rounder. The eight-year NFL veteran had surgery on his right thumb in January, the second such surgery in as many years. Wilson also suffered a jammed neck Dec. 3 against the Seahawks -- he was down on the field for several minutes and had to be immobilized before being taken off the field -- but played the following week. Continue

Al Wislon fails physical

According to ESPN LB Al Wilson failed his physical in NY today voiding the trade between the Giants and Broncos.

Giants eye Bronco LB Wilson

Giants GM Jerry Reese still hasn't signed any free agents, but he might be on the verge of making his second trade. Reese is exploring the possibility of trading for Denver Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson, according to a team and a league source. The sources both stressed that the talks are in their "initial stages," though a report on the NFL Network indicated Wilson could be traded to the Giants over the weekend.

Wilson, 29, is a four-time Pro Bowler with 21-1/2 career sacks and is scheduled to make $5.2 million this season. He's being pursued by the Lions and Eagles as well. If Wilson lands in New York, it would create a logjam at middle linebacker, where the Giants already have Pro Bowler Antonio Pierce. One of them would have to move outside, where the Giants have two vacancies after cutting Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington. Continue

Giants trade receiver Carter for running back Droughns

The Giants have traded veteran wide receiver Tim Carter to Cleveland for running back Reuben Droughns. The trade, confirmed by the Giants, became official at 4 p.m., pending physicals by both players. In getting the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Droughns, a back the Giants will probably use as a complement to the bulky Brandon Jacobs, they gave up a fast but rather unreliable receiver in Carter, as well as one whose injury problems wrecked three of his first five seasons.

Droughns also comes with his own baggage, however. After becoming the first Cleveland Browns rusher to gain 1,000 yards in 20 years in 2005, Droughns' performance fell to 758 yards and four touchdowns after he received a contract extension last year. A straight-ahead power runner, he comes with a fumbling problem and has been known to wear down late in the season. However, the Giants are only expecting him to take 10 carries per game while the 6-foot-4, 264-pound Jacobs handles the main duties. Continue

For Chad, no Giant return

Jerry Reese's purge of the Giants continued for a second straight day, when he severed ties with kick returner Chad Morton yesterday. Morton, who signed a four-year, $3.1 million deal last spring, became the fourth injury-plagued player the new GM has cut since Monday. He joins left tackle Luke Petitgout and linebackers Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington as newly minted free agents. Continue

Giants cut Petitgout, Arrington, Emmons

The Giants began the annual pre-free agency rite of paring the roster and adding salary-cap space today with an almost shocking set of cuts. Linebackers Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington, as well as left tackle Luke Petitgout, all starters at the beginning of the season, were all sent packing.Bob Whitfield has retired.

Arrington, the starting strong-side linebacker, had his season curtailed by a torn Achilles' tendon. And Petitgout was felled by a broken fibula and high ankle sprain. Emmons, who started the season at weak-side linebacker, also missed four games due to a strained pectoral muscle. But he returned to play the final six games, including the playoff loss to Philadelphia, in place of Arrington on the weak side. (Journal news,NFL network)

Legree will beef up defensive line

Two years ago, the Giants placed five defensive ends on injured reserve. Now that they're without their top three ends because of injuries, they've turned to one of the few who stayed healthy for most of 2004 -- Lance Legree. The Giants placed Justin Tuck on injured reserve yesterday, one day after announcing the second-year end would undergo surgery on his foot. In Tuck's place, the team signed Legree, who played for the Jets last year but was cut in February.  Legree played well at end and tackle for the Giants in 15 games two years ago and had a career-high 36 tackles. Last year, he had three sacks with the Jets.

"Lance was the highest-rated player that we could bring in and so we did," coach Tom Coughlin said. Legree, listed at 6-1, 300 pounds, will focus on end for now because the Giants are without starters Michael Strahan (foot) and Osi Umenyiora (hip flexor). Strahan is listed as out for Monday night's game against the Jaguars, while Umenyiora is doubtful. With both players out of action, defensive tackle William Joseph made his first career start at end against the Bears last Sunday. Continue

Jennings makes Giants

Tomorrow morning, Michael Jennings' souped-up 1995 Chevy Caprice Classic with 26-inch wheels will pull into the parking lot at Giants Stadium, with the windows rolled down and the music blaring. He might even lean out and flash his gold-plated smile. And it will be a big one, too, because after five years of trying, the 26-year-old Jennings finally made an NFL team.

The little receiver who never played college football and spent the last four years bouncing around practice squads and NFL Europe was one of the most unlikely names to appear on the Giants' 53-man roster after the final cuts were announced last night. He essentially beat out Willie Ponder, who was the NFL's leading kick returner just two years ago. Continue

Giants ink Moss

The Giants selected seven players in this year's NFL Draft and the one they're most excited about as far as making an immediate contribution is Sinorice Moss. The diminutive speed receiver from Miami is expected to add a dimension to the offense and there won't be any delay in getting the process started.

Moss yesterday agreed to terms on a four-year, $3.51 million contract that ensures the second-round pick will report on time tomorrow to the University at Albany for his first NFL training camp.  The deal includes $1.9 million in guaranteed money in the form of signing and option bonuses and also $100,000 in incentives. The Giants had Moss rated as the No. 1 receiver available in the draft and they traded up in the second round to nab him with the 44th overall pick. He immediately became a favorite of coach Tom Coughlin, who sang his praises early and often. Moss will compete with Tim Carter for the No. 3 receiver spot. Continue