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In a piece mostly about Alex Smith, Ken Palmer in the NY Post mentions two things that may be of interest to Giants fans.
One is something the experts almost never get right, the draft - Adam Pac Man Jones may fall into the second round becuase he is short in stature and on technique.
Pierce was a smarter signing than Bell:
No doubt, the Chiefs were happy to land free agent linebacker Kendrell Bell. But sources within the organization stated they're "holding their breath" regarding Bell's injured shoulder and are fearful that it could hamper and even end his career in the near future. The former defensive rookie of the year scared some teams off with his high salary demands, others with his questionable attitude. Kansas City did sign Bell, but split his signing bonus up so it'd be covered in case his shoulder turns out to be a problem. Of his $10 million bonus, he'll get $3.5 million if he's still on the roster in 2006 and another $3 million if he's around in '07.
If Shaun Williams wants to remain a Giant, he will need to restructure before April 1. Mike garafolo points out that if he does, he may beat out Alexander for one starting safety spot (the two spots are somewhat interchangeable in Lewis' defense).
In this article about Pierce two things strike me as important:
1. Pierce is very competitive. He wants to make every play.
2. Feagles is doing pretty well with his jersey number business:
Last year, punter Jeff Feagles gave up his No. 10 to Eli Manning for a trip to Florida. This year, Feagles is relinquishing his No. 17 to Burress. After Feagles' negotiated with Burress' agent Drew Rosenhaus, Burress will help pay for an outdoor kitchen at Feagles' home in Arizona.
I maintain that the Giants took a big gamble on Burress but the chances of it paying off seem higher than I originally thought:
"Eli will love having a guy that's as big as him because he creates a bigger area to throw the ball," Stewart said. "You can put a high arc on your pass, going over the linebacker's head when he's coming across the middle or even when he's running an outside route or a corner route. You can put the ball in a certain area where only he can catch it."When at his best, Burress is capable of taking over a game. In 2001, he and Stewart connected on 14 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown in two games against the Titans. The next year, Burress set a Steelers single-game record with 253 yards receiving in a 34-34 tie with the Falcons.
Posted by James Trotta at 1:54 AM | Comments (0)
The Giants continue to get younger, releasing Barry Stokes. With Whittle and Lucier back up guards, the Giants simply don't need Stokes. Also Seubert took a pay cut to stay with the Giants. At least there's still hope there.
Peter King thinks he thinks that the Plax deal makes sense. I agree although of course I wish he ahd come cheaper. The Giants needed a receiver. There weren't many free agent options. We won't be able to get immediate help in the draft. Etc. Anyway, here's what King says:
5. I think Plaxico Burress finally saw the light -- with a $250,000 sweetener from the Giants. When he turned down the Giants' six-year, $25-million deal last week, I thought he needed to have his head examined. All he needed, really, was an agent to tell him, "Dude, you're out of your tree if you turn down this money and take a one-year deal in Miami or Philly. You won't catch more than 45 balls in either place, and you'll be on the market next year in a worse position than you are now -- coming off two mediocre years in a row. Take this money, go to New York, bond with Eli Manning, and catch 70 balls with 12 touchdowns for the next few years. It's all out there for you.'' Which, in essence, is what new agent Drew Rosenhaus said to him. The Giants did nothing to the deal except throw $250,000 more guaranteed dollars into the front of it, to make it seem like Burress won something for his one-week foot stomping. This is a good deal for both sides, because it will give Manning the deep threat he had to have, and it gives Burress the chance to be a premier player in the biggest market in the league. Why he ever even thought about not taking it in the first place is foolish.
Ralph Vacchiano thinks Coughlin is getting nicer. Coughlin answers questions like "Many of your rules seem like common-sense rules. Do you know why players objected to them?" and "The players that you had specific problems with last year - Barrett Green and Will Peterson, for example - can you wipe their slate clean for this year?"
Now that the Giants have upgraded at MLB, right tackle, and wide receiver there is some argument among Giants fans about what to do in the draft.
There's a very strong "draft a backup running back" first contingent. There's the "Defense wins championships" contingent. And the
"draft offensive lineman and a big back" smashmouth football contingent.
Persaonlly, I think we have money to address fullback and blocking tight end in free agency. And if the best player available at #43 is a back I say we take him.
But what I really want is for a great corner to fall to us because corners cost a fortune in free agency.
Left tackles, good running backs, and defensive ends are almost as expensive so if someone at one of those positions is more likely to succeed in the NFL than any of the available corners, we could go that way.
The other thing to consider is that we need depth at safety. I expect us to find some in the draft but would be surprised if we did it in rounds 2 or 3.
A few days ago I said 24 million was too much for Burress because he's inconsistent. Now we're paying him 25 million over 6 years with an 8 million signing bonus. I still think that's a bit high, that it's a gamble.
Sometimes gambles pay off and at least the Giants are trying to be great. And at least Burress took a physical this time. I'm happy.
The Giants have cut Keith Washington and Norman Hand. This leaves the Giants a bit thin on defensive line depth. Let's say the starters are Osi - Robbins - Joseph - Strahan. It's time for Joseph to step up but it's not clear if he'll be as big a load int he trenches as Norman Hand was. Newly signed Kendrick Clancy is touted as a run stopper like Hand was, but I'm still not as confident in our defensive line as I was last year after signing Hand and Robbins.
Chris Robinson takes a jab at the Patriots for profiting from Super Bowl tickets, but what's more interesting is his first wind sprint:
Make no mistake, New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi was definitely trying to send a message to free-agent receiver Plaxico Burress last week. After some fruitless negotiations with Burress' agent, Michael Harrison, Accorsi made the surprising move of announcing on the team's website that the Giants no longer had any interest in the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver. This came after Harrison rejected two surprisingly solid deals from the Giants, including a six-year, $24 million deal with an $8 million signing bonus.Personally, I think a six-year, $24 million deal with an $8 million signing bonus is too expensive for an inconsistent performer like Burress.
In most NFL circles, the belief is that such a deal (which slightly edges the contract Derrick Mason signed with the Baltimore Ravens) is the ceiling for Burress. But when Harrison rejected it, Accorsi ceased negotiations and issued his statement that they would no longer be pursuing Burress.Many feel Accorsi was trying to send a message: That Burress should rid himself of Harrison if he wants to get a deal done. Others believe Accorsi saw Harrison as dishonest – that he was trying to play the Giants against phantom interest from other teams to drive up the price on Burress. Whatever the case, Burress got the picture and fired Harrison, and is set to hire Drew Rosenhaus in the coming days. Don't be surprised if Rosenhaus gets a deal done with the Giants, even after all the fuss.
Ken Palmer writes about how the Jets and Giants go about luring free agents to New York. I like how they got Pierce:
Antonio Pierce certainly didn't need to be wined or dined. A simple trip across the parking lot to see the Nets play the Heat was enough. After meetings at Giants Stadium, Lewis and Giants LBs coach Bill Sheridan took Pierce to see Shaquille O'Neal vs. Vince Carter."That was more than enough for me," Pierce said. "I'm not like that. I don't need all that extra fancy stuff."
Gary Meyers writes that the Giants are closer to competing with the Eagles but not there yet:
GIANTS: McKenzie will help keep Manning off his back, but the QB needs new receivers who scare defenses just a little bit. The fact they offered Plaxico Burress an $8 million signing bonus bidding against themselves shows their desperation. "They certainly improved themselves," the GM said. "Did they improve themselves enough to contend with the Eagles? No. When teams get good is when the quarterback is established and they have a solid defense. The Giants got better. But did they get good?" They should have signed Jay Fiedler instead of Jim Miller, who hasn't thrown a pass since 2002 and is now with his sixth team in his 12-year career. Not having a first-round pick hurts, but having Manning is better.
Ralph Vachiano writes that Plaxico Burress reached New York. Then there was an important dinner:
The Giants were not pleased that Burress blew off his first scheduled visit on Monday, and some in the organization even questioned whether his flu story was true. A lot was said to be hinging on his meeting with team officials and particularly his dinner with Tom Coughlin and the coaching staff, which took place soon after he arrived at about 6 p.m.Paul Schwartz wants Burress signed. According to Mike Garafolo we are not too far away from agreeing on a long term deal:
Harrison, who represents former Giants linebacker Dhani Jones, also said he and the Giants are a lot closer to a contract than has been speculated. Harrison and David Resnick, another of Burress' representatives, did not return phone messages yesterday.The Giants are clearly the leading candidate to sign Burress. The Vikings, the only other team reported to have interest in the former Steeler, have recently inquired about a trade with the Redskins for Rod Gardner.
Most Giants fans will know that Burress didn't show up today. The only useful info I can find is this article on Burress from a Vikings perspective:
Pittsburgh's free-agent receiver will spend Wednesday visiting the New York Giants after Monday's planned visit had to be rescheduled because Burress was ill. His agent and the Giants reportedly have discussed the parameters of a six-year, $21 million contract, but if things don't work out there, the Vikings say they're willing to talk.The price sounds reasonable to me.
Mark Maske reports what every Giant fan should know: the Giants might try to sign Burress when he visits. That link is to the Washington Post so you would have to register to read the article.
Mike Garafolo has a better article. This one talks about the same lack of interest in Burress but has lots more detail. My favorite part:
Harrison (Burress's agent) could foresee Burress meeting with the team and signing a contract before departing Giants Stadium. He said no other visits have been scheduled.
The Giants have agreed to terms with right tackle Kareem McKenzie on a seven-year, $37.75 million contract. This Daily News article reports that the Giants may ask him to play left tackle. If he stays on the right side, he will be the highest paid right tackle in the NFL.
Neil Best reports that McKenzie will play on the right side, while Diehl moves to left guard. Best has some important info that was missing from the Dailt News article on McKenzie:
McKenzie scoffed at the possibility of his playing anywhere other than right tackle, perhaps as an alternative to Luke Petitgout on the left. "I am a right tackle, I was brought here to be a right tackle and I will continue to be a right tackle," he said Friday.
"You never know the right key ingredient for a team until a guy comes in there, works with the team and engulfs himself in it," he said."
I would like to see Kareem McKenzie stay on the right at least for now. Petigout is more valuable trade bait as a left tackle. In other free agent news, the article also report that the Giants are going to try to sign Fielder as a backup QB and Plaxico Buress. Shaun Williams could be cut to free up cap space.
Neil Best reports that the Giants have cut Hilliard to clear 750,000 in cap space. He mentions Plaxico Burress and David Terrel as possible replacements and that the Giants want a fast receiver in the draft.
Also, Gibbs and company can't match the Giants offer and retain Pierce who says it's time to shoot down the Eagles. Meanwhile McKenzie and Fielder visited the Giants.
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Ralph Vacchiano from the Daily News has picked up on the Antonio Pierce story and added some nice details:
The Giants are also pursuing Jets right tackle Kareem McKenzie and Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress. McKenzie could be their next free-agent target; with Burress, they're taking a wait-and-see approach until his market is set.In my opinion, signing Pierce is far less risky than signing Bell, but Neil Best reminds Giants fans that signing Pierce is a bit risky:In the meantime, Pierce is expected at Giants Stadium early today, possibly to sign his contract. It's a surprising development considering the amount of time Bell, limited to three games last year because of a hernia, spent at Giants Stadium yesterday. The 26-year-old, who played for Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis in Pittsburgh, arrived early on the first day of free agency and had a physical. Soon word spread around the NFL that the Giants and Bell had come to a deal.
But that deal, which was rumored to include a $13 million signing bonus, turned out to be false alarm. It's not clear why the Giants backed off - whether it was his contract demands or something from his physical. But Bell left Giants Stadium with no contract and headed home.
The risk is that the 6-1, 240-pound Pierce, 26, has only one full season as a starter. But he is regarded as a smart, tough player who would bolster a spot manned last year by career backup Kevin Lewis.
Then you've got Mike Garafolo (who doesn't have much solid info on Pierce but is covering the story) disagreeing with Schwartz on the Wahle issue, saying that
The Giants have aggressively pursued offensive lineman Mike Wahle, cut by the Packers on Tuesday. The 6-6, 304-pound Wahle, who can play guard and tackle, has also drawn interest from the Panthers, Chargers and Lions.
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Fox Sports is reporting that the Giants have agreed with Antonio Pierce on a 6 year 26 million dollar contract. I wanted Hartwell more, but am happy with this deal which is reported to even be salary cap friendly.
Sportsline had Pierce listed as the best available free agent linebacker. I for one am glad that the Giants didn't target Bell instead:
Bell, brought in by the Giants earlier in the day, was brought to New York for a physical but the team soon backed off when Pierce came into the picture. It's unclear if the Giants had Pierce in their sights during Bell's visit or if they jumped into the Pierce derby as a result of Bell's visit.
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Paul Schwartz writes that the Giants are uninterestind in Hartwell buy may go after Bell. I'm no doctor, but why go after the injured guy? Who else?
Other interesting possibilities: cornerback Fred Smoot, linebacker Antonio Pierce, offensive lineman Mike Wahle and receiver Travis Taylor. The Giants feel Bills left tackle Jonas Jennings would be an upgrade over Luke Petitgout (who would move to right tackle), but are afraid that as the best pass-protector on the market, Jennings will command outrageous money. Jets RT Kareem McKenzie is on the Giants' radar screen, which would move David Diehl inside to a guard spot. A backup quarterback for Eli Manning is also needed, with Jay Fiedler among the veterans in the mix.
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