New York Giants Receive 6th Round Compensatory Pick

Giants Receive 6th Round Compensatory Pick:  The NFL has awarded the Giants an extra 6th round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft as compensation for their 2007 free agent losses.  The selection is the 199th overall.

A team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.  Compensation for free agents lost is determined by a secret formula based on salary, playing time, and performance.

Last year, the Giants lost PK Jay Feely, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, and CB Frank Walker.  The Giants signed LB Kawika Mitchell and QB Anthony Wright.

The Giants traded away their 7th round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft for PK Lawrence Tynes but did receive an additional 6th round pick for HB Ryan Grant.  The Giants now have three picks in the sixth round.  Compensatory picks cannot be traded.

Injury Update – Kiwanuka:  LB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka, who suffered serious leg and ankle injuries in game against the Lions last season, has begun running again.  Kiwanuka says his recovery is going well.

New York Giants Offseason Program Begins:  The Giants’ “voluntary” strength training and conditioning program began yesterday.  According to press reports, as expected, QB Eli Manning, WR Plaxico Burress, TE Jeremy Shockey, DE Michael Strahan, and DE Osi Umenyiora were all absent from the start of the voluntary offseason program.  Manning is expected to participate later this week (possibly today), but the others are not.  Burress and Shockey are still rehabbing from injuries suffered during last season.

It is not known who else did not participate since the Giants did not release that information.  The  Giants’ press release merely said a “sizable group” was present.

“It is like a family reunion,” said WR David Tyree.  “You just come back and begin to melt back into this thing and realize that there still is something greater to shoot for.”

“I am anxious to get back and get started,” said DT Fred Robbins.  “When you come out as Super Bowl champs you have to step your game up even more.  People are going to be hunting for us, so it is good to come back and see some faces again and get the camaraderie going again.”

“It is good to get back to start lifting and doing things together because this is what got us to where we were last year,” said LT David Diehl.  “Doing all these things during the offseason together, spending all this time working out, lifting, and running, and this is how you build the momentum for the season coming up.”

Reese Expects No Holdout from Umenyiora:  General Manager Jerry Reese, who is currently in Florida for the NFL Annual Meeting, said he does not expect DE Osi Umenyiora to holdout for more money, contrary to recent rumors.

“I expect Osi to be fine,” Reese said.  “I don’t expect a holdout from Osi…As far as I know, it’s all speculation.”

The Giants’ “voluntary” offseason program started yesterday and Umenyiora was absent.  Umenyiora’s agent told The Bergen Record that Umenyiora would remain in Atlanta “for quite some time.”  When asked if that meant training camp too, the agent responded, “What date is it today?  There’s a long way to go until then.”

The Daily News is still reporting that a source “close to Umenyiora” says Umenyiora is considering a holdout if the Giants do not agree to pay him more.  Umenyiora’s current contract was extended in December 2005 by $41 million and keeps him under contract through the 2012 season.

Reese Thinks Strahan Will Return:  General Manager Jerry Reese thinks that DE Michael Strahan, who has supposedly not yet determined whether he will retire or not, will return to play in 2008.  “We haven’t had any conversation right now,” said Reese.  “We’ll sit down and he’ll let me know if he wants to play or not.  My gut feeling is I think he will play another year.  That’s just my gut feeling.  That may be out in left field somewhere.”

Giants and Snee Have Not Talked New Contract:  According to The Bergen Record, the agent for RG Chris Snee and the Giants have not talked about a new contract since the bye week during the 2007 NFL season when Snee apparently rejected the Giants’ contract proposal.  Snee’s current contract will expire after the 2009 NFL season.

Notes and Quotes:  The NFL officially announced what had been widely reported, the Giants will face the Washington Redskins in the season opener on Thursday, September 4 at 7:00PM EST.

General Manager Jerry Reese on his job:  “Situations arise.  That is part of the job.  My office is kind of like the fire department.  You put out fires every day.  That’s what we do.  That’s what I do.  You have to make some tough decisions sometimes.”