Latest on Steve Spagnuolo and Kevin Gilbride: As previously reported, Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was interviewed by the Browns, Broncos, Jets, and Lions as a head-coaching candidate during the playoff bye week. The Browns and Broncos have since hired their new head coaches, but vacancies still remain with the Jets and Lions and both teams are expected to interview Spagnuolo again. In addition, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rams have requested an interview with Spagnuolo and may do so as soon as Thursday.
“Most coaches want to be head coaches,” General Manager Jerry Reese said. “So if he gets an opportunity to be a head coach, we’ll wish him nothing but the best. But selfishly we’d love for him to be here with the Giants. He’s done a terrific job for us.”
When Reese was asked if he would consider making Spagnuolo a head coach-in waiting, he responded by saying, “We consider everything here. We try to consider everything.”
The Daily News is reporting that Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride may interview with the Oakland Raiders again about possibly becoming their new head coach, this time in person, later this week. The Raiders interviewed Gilbride by phone over the playoff bye weekend.
Jerry Reese Says Burress Could Return: General Manager Jerry Reese yesterday did not discount the possibility that WR Plaxico Burress could once again play for the New York Giants. Burress’ season ended prematurely in late November when he accidentally shot himself in a Manhattan nightclub. Burress was arrested on two felony weapons charges and could face jail time. His next scheduled court date is on March 31.
“Well, he’s a New York Giant and right now he’s under contract with us and that really makes sense if everything works out,” said Reese. “But there are a lot of circumstances involved with that and who knows what’s going to happen and we’ll wait and see what happens…I want to see him be okay as a person more than anything else. I think if we can see that and if he’s okay as a person and ready to turn over a new leaf in his life and do things to take care of himself first, then I think everything will take care of itself…Everybody makes some bad decisions so I think he has thought about some of the bad decisions he has made and I think things will begin to change as far as making better decisions for himself.”
But Reese also admitted that whether Burress is able to return may be out of the Giants’ hands. “Well the legal process can veto everything, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to make a lot of decisions prior to the legal process running its course,” said Reese. “That will be part of the decision making as we go forward. Plax is still a New York Giant right now.”
At least publicly, Burress’ teammates also say they want him back.
“I would love to have him back, and I think I speak for my teammates when I say that,” DE Justin Tuck said. “If Plaxico wants to be back here, he’ll be back here. As long as he’s here and he works his butt off, that’s good enough for me.”
“I’d certainly love to have him back,” said RG Chris Snee. “He’s a guy that showed up every weekend and busted his butt on the field for us. We’ll take all those guys that we can get.”
“I think he will be here next year, and I think he should be because he’s not a criminal,” HB Brandon Jacobs said. “He doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. He made a bad decision, and he shouldn’t suffer the rest of his career, but sometimes that’s the way life goes.”
WR David Tyree, who has dealt with substance-abuse issues in the past before reforming himself, says he has been advising Burress. “Knowing I’ve been through my share of troubles…my job is basically to encourage him, to show him the direction that has kind of set me free,” Tyree said. “So I’m really encouraging him now to get back to the things that make us great people – not just great athletes, celebrities – and (the things that) make us to be people that are sought after, great foundational people away from the spotlight. He has tons of qualities that are positive. Unfortunately, when you make so many bad choices, it’ll catch up with you and haunt you.”
Free Agency Begins in Late February: Free agency begins on February 27. The following Giants are currently scheduled to become unrestricted free agents if they are not re-signed by that date:
- QB David Carr
- QB Anthony Wright
- HB Brandon Jacobs
- HB Derrick Ward
- WR Amani Toomer
- OC/OG Grey Ruegamer
- DE Renaldo Wynn
- DE Jerome McDougle
- LB Rich Scanlon
- CB R.W. McQuarters
- S James Butler
- PK John Carney
In addition, CB Kevin Dockery and TE Darcy Johnson are scheduled to be restricted free agents, if tendered. HB Danny Ware, HB Kay-Jay Harris, DE Dave Tollefson, DT Leger Douzable, and S Craig Dahl will be exclusive rights free agents, if tendered.
“You know when free agency comes, you’re probably going to lose some players, especially if you have a good record,” said General Manager Jerry Reese. “But if there’s any way we can keep good players, we’ll try our best to do that.”
“I don’t expect anything to happen until March,” said Jacobs. “I want to be here as much as anybody else. I hope we can get something lined out and get something done, but I don’t have any control over that. I’ve done all I can do all year long and I hope that’s enough to bring me back. If not, there are 31 other teams. But this is where I want to be.”
“I would love to be back a New York Giant,” Ward said. “This is what I consider home. I have been here for five years. It is a great organization. We are a Super Bowl caliber team every year, so it would be great to come back. But it is a business…I feel that I am a starter. I think I proved to everybody that I am a legit starter and I could get the job done. Who knows, though? The Giants could offer me big money.”
“I want to be back, but you never know,” Butler said. “(In) free agency, the Giants have to take care of their business, and I have to take care of mine – that’s the biggest thing.”
Injury Update: The Star-Ledger is reporting that one of the injuries DE Justin Tuck suffered from was bone spurs in one of his feet. The injury is apparently related to the Lis Franc injury that ended Tuck’s season in 2006. Tuck said yesterday that he would not undergo offseason surgery.
HB Reuben Droughns (neck) said yesterday that he will not need surgery.
