Clouds and rain in the forecast here in the Big Apple today. If you’re wondering what the Giants are up to, here it is. They will be at TPC for OTA sessions on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Scheduled OTAs (voluntary): May 22-23, May 29-31, June 3-7
Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13
Don’t expect WR Victor Cruz to be at TPC anytime soon. Although there have been reports that he and the Giants are close to contract agreement, Mike Florio of PFT reports things between the two are “moving slowly”:
Cruz, who has not yet signed a one-year, $2.879 million restricted free agency tender, has been staying away from the team’s offseason workouts as he pursues a long-term deal. He reportedly wants more than $10 million per year; the Giants at last word were in the $7 million annual range.
The next pressure point comes on June 17, when the Giants can rescind his tender offer and replace it with a 10-percent raise over his 2012 salary of $540,000, which equates to $594,000. Doing so would likely inflame the situation, causing Cruz possibly to hold out through Week 10 of the regular season, sign the tender, finish the year, and become an unrestricted free agent in 2014.
Both the News and the Post have features this morning on rookie safety Cooper Taylor, who at 6’4″ is has piqued the in the interest as being unusually tall for the position.
Ralph Vacchiano chronicles Taylor’s recovery from a rare heart ailment
Paul Schwartz reports Taylor is being compared to former Giant corner Jason Sehorn
John Fennelly, Executive Editor
There was some concern that Cribbs’ knee (meniscus surgery) even though he passed a physical earlier this year in Arizona and then again in Oakland. The Cardinals cooled on Cribbs after taking Tyrann Mathieu in the draft.
Former Raider and current Raven LB Rolando McClain has left the game and business of football according to Ryan Mink of baltimoreravens.com:
The Ravens placed the inside linebacker and former first-round pick on the reserve/retired list Wednesday afternoon, General Manager Ozzie Newsome announced.
“Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL,” Newsome stated. “We have placed him on the Reserve/Retired list.”
McClain signed a one-year contract with the Ravens on April 12, but was arrested just 10 days later in his hometown of Decatur, Ala. It was the latest in a string of off-field problems for McClain since entering the league in 2010 as the eighth-overall pick.
It wasn’t too long ago when we (and other sites) were begging Jerry Reese to draft McClain, who was all-world at Alabama. The Giants held the 15th pick in the first round and waited their turn as usual. Oakland snatched McClain up with the 8th overall pick. The Giants ended up with DE Jason Pierre-Paul. Sometimes, it pays to be patient.
For those who had hoped the Giants would sign free agent LB Brian Urlacher, the latest developments are making this signing highly unlikely. Two teams (Broncos and Vikings) showed interest in the soon-to-be 35 year-old ex-Bear standout this week, but both have withdrawn. Denver backed off their pursuit yesterday and today Minnesota stated they are no longer interested in Urlacher.
The Giants addressed their MLB opening this offseason by signing Dan Connor. They also signed veteran Aaron Curry this past weekend and added UDFA Etienne Sabino into the LB mix, so there doesn’t appear to be any room for Urlacher at this time.
There are several reports this morning convoluting the Victor Cruz contract situation. Lenn Robbins of The Post is reporting the talks are on the “2-yard line”, while other sources are claiming there is still nothing “imminent.” From The Post:
A source told The Post Cruz and the Giants “are on the 2-yard line” in successfully completing their lengthy negotiation on a new long-term contract.
“Both sides just need to give a little bit,’’ the source said. “But it’s going to happen.’’
Meanwhile, Art Stapleton of the Record is reporting the situation is still far from settled:
A source later confirmed that, although the two sides continue their discussion with the hope of ironing out a long-term deal, nothing is imminent despite rumors via social media and one report suggesting the opposite early Tuesday.
Eli Manning was present at the same event as Cruz and Justin Tuck yesterday and believed Cruz was handling his contract negotiations in the correct manner. From Ebenezer Samuel of the Daily News:
“I think it’s smart,” Manning said at the BTIG 11th annual Commissions for Charity Day on Tuesday in Manhattan. “It’s a good idea for him. There’s nothing he can say right now that could make anything better or worse. I think it’s best to kind of lay low. And obviously he’s still got some responsibilities.”
The Giants preseason schedule has been finalized:
Saturday, August 10th at 7:30 PM at Pittsburgh
Sunday, August 18th at 7:00 PM vs Indianapolis at home
Saturday, August 24th at 7:00 PM vs Jets at home
Thursday, August 29th at 7:30 PM at New England
The Jets have signed WR Marcus Davis of West Virginia. Davis was initially inked as a UDFA with a lot of promise by the Giants, but washed out at rookie minicamp and was cut last Sunday.
According to a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Giants are one four teams still in the mix to sign free agent KR Josh Cribbs:
His potential next destination has been limited to four suitors, barring an unexpected development. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Cribbs, an eight-year veteran, will sign with the Raiders, Giants, Jets, or Lions.
Cribbs visited the Raiders, Giants, and Jets last week. He has arrived on Monday in Detroit.
An eight-year veteran, Cribbs is more of an asset in the return game than as a receiving option.
The Giants used David Wilson and Reuben Randle as kick and punt returners last season, but both second-year players are expected to inherit larger roles in the team’s offense this year. Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn told reporters on Saturday that he felt Wilson could handle both duties, but the team may not wish to expose Wilson to possible injury unnecessarily on special teams.
The team also lost return man Domenik Hixon this off-season. Hixon signed a one-year contract with Carolina.
The PR spot is still open as well. Cribbs is not known for his PR prowess, but it looks as if the Giants are going to sign a return specialist, they must be open to handling punts as well as kickoffs.
Quinn was asked if returning CB Aaron Ross was a potential at PR:
“I’m sure he will be in the mix. We do have to identify someone if they can be a punt returner that can make a difference because that’s something that’s been lagging the last couple of years. In ‘08 and ‘09 we were pretty happy with it. The last couple of years it wasn’t anywhere near where it needs to be, so we’ve got to find someone to step up and take that role.”
At the start of the off-season, Cribbs nearly signed with the Cardinals. A failed physical, however, stalled talks and caused concerns about the receiver’s knee.
Cribbs passed a physical when visiting with Oakland, the only team is officially offer him a contract. Reports indicate the Jets discussed parameters of a deal, and the Giants reportedly did not make the receiver an offer.
Below is the Giants’ workout schedule for the remainder of the offseason….
OTAs: May 22-23, May 29-31, June 3-7
Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13
Training camp dates have not been announced at this time. Based on last year’s schedule, camp could possibly open Thursday, July 25 and run through Wednesday, August 14th.
But that was when camp was held in Albany. Beginning this summer, camp will be conducted at TPC, so there is no time built-in for travel.
Other things to keep an eye on….
After June 17th, the Giants can rescind the $2.89 million tender offered to RFA WR Victor Cruz and replace it with a deal worth 10-percent raise over his 2012 salary (approximately $594k). Probably won’t happen, but the possibility is there.
The Giants still have not come to terms with three of their draft picks: OL Justin Pugh, QB Ryan Nassib and OL Eric Herman.
DT Jonathan Hankins, S Cooper Taylor, DE Damontre Moore and RB Michael Cox signed deals over the weekend.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms and grandmas out there. Hope it’s a good one. Here are some links for you on ths foggy morning here in NYC….
Rookie QB Ryan Nassib goes deep during yesterday’s practice…..
The New York Giants have signed four of their draftees to four-year rookie deals today: second-round pick DT Jonathan Hankins, third-round selection DT Damontre Moore, fifth-round pick S Cooper Taylor and seventh-rounder RB Michael Cox.
They also signed six free agents. Full list below…
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With little money to spend these days, the Giants haven’t given up trying to augment their razor-thin ranks at LB. The team will bring in Aaron Curry, the fourth-overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, an oft-injured, underachiever who is considered one of the major draft busts in recent years. From Rotoworld:
Curry appeared in two games for the Raiders last season, making one tackle. He was later released in November and never latched on elsewhere. Curry is reportedly drawing interest from “several teams,” but he’s going to have to show he’s over his knee issues.
The knee problems aren’t scaring the Giants away from Curry, who will meet with them here on Thursday. After all, the Giants traded for (and re-signed) another notorious draft bust last year in LB Keith Rivers, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft.
From SNYGiants insider Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News:
The 6-2, 255-pound linebacker never quite lived up to all his promise. The former Butkus Award winner — given to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker — had just 5-1/2 sacks in his first two NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. In his third season, 2011, he lost his starting job early and was traded to the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 12 (for a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a fifth-rounder in 2013).
Then last season, after spending most of the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of his knees, Curry appeared in just two games and took only 18 snaps before he was cut on Nov. 20.
John Fennelly, Executive Editor
When Jerry Reese says he’s going to explore everything, he isn’t kidding. This is another instance of the team hoping to have an American Pickers or Antique Roadshow moment. There were plenty of talented LBs in the draft they chose to bypass in this year’s draft, settling for two low risk UDFA signings instead. I can’t see them hitting big on Curry, who has to be willing to play for the minimum ($715k) for the Giants to even consider. The main issue, however, is if he can play. If he can, the Giants will have another player on their roster hoping for a shot at redemption. If not, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Temporary uniform #s assigned to draft picks
GM Jerry Reese was mandated to address the trenches in the offseason by John Mara.
John Fennelly, Executive Editor
For years I’ve been buying into the Giants’ company line of selecting the best player available in the draft. Looking over the recent drafts, I’m beginning to believe that philosophy is not entirely true.
Inside the walls of TPC, the Giants compile their draft board with a predilection for certain players. Their criteria goes beyond the film room, the college all-star games, the combine and the pro days. The ultimate decision to draft a player is reached through an assortment of factors: talent, upside, maturity, character and yes – need.
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