Giants and Plaxico Burress Meet; Giants Sign Steve Weatherford, Release Rocky Bernard

New York Giants and Plaxico Burress Meet: Unrestricted free agent WR Plaxico Burress met with Head Coach Tom Coughlin for about an hour and then met with General Manager Jerry Reese for 10-15 minutes and Team President John Mara for 10-15 minutes. Altogether, Burress spent about 90 minutes with team officials from 6:30 to 8:00PM.

However, ESPNNewYork.com is reporting that a source close to Burress says the receiver is interested in signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pittsburgh Steelers and St. Louis Rams are also reported to be interested in his services. The New York Post is reporting that Burress is meeting with the Steelers this morning.

“It was great to talk to him,” Reese said. “It was a very private, personal conversation. It was a man-to-man conversation. We talked about some football. I am sure the head coach and him had a private conversation which is between them. It was a good visit.”

“I can say the conversations we had were positive and that’s what’s most important,” said Reese. “We’ll see where it goes…We’ll see what comes out of this. Again, we don’t bring people in for the fun of it. We bring people in to investigate into the possibility for the New York Giants. We think it’s probably a possibility and we’ll see where it goes.”

“We wouldn’t bring him in here just for the fun,” said Reese on a radio show before the meeting. “We don’t operate like that. We do our due diligence. We thought it was in our best interest to investigate things. He’s got a meeting with Tom tonight and we will see what comes out of that meeting and we will move forward from there. That meeting is probably the most important issue right now.”

“Tom and Plaxico, they’ll talk it out,” said Reese. “If it is a good conversation, if they think they can co-exist, then we will move forward with the process. But I can’t speak for Tom. They’ll talk man-to-man and we’ll see where it goes…(Burress) made a bad decision and has paid the price for it and I think he wants to make amends for it and get on with his life.”

“I’m looking forward to (our meeting),” said Coughlin yesterday afternoon. “I’ll be open minded about it. It’s an opportunity for us, in a confidential setting to sit down and really, what I feel is it will be Plaxico’s opportunity to speak. I’m going to listen and decipher and I’ll ask questions, but basically I would like to hear what he has to say.”

New York Giants Sign Punter Steve Weatherford: Although not officially announced, the Giants have reportedly signed unrestricted free agent punter Steve Weatherford (New York Jets).

New York Giants Re-Sign Bear Pascoe and Jamon Meredith: The Giants indicated in a press release yesterday that Exclusive Rights Free Agents TE/FB Bear Pascoe and OL Jamon Meredith have been re-signed.

New York Giants Release DT Rocky Bernard: The Giants officially cut DT Rocky Bernard yesterday. As reported earlier this week, the Giants and Bernard could not agree on a re-structured contract.

New York Giants Officially Sign Seven Draft Picks: The Giants have officially signed seven of their eight 2011 draft picks:

• DT Marvin Austin (2nd round)
• WR Jerrel Jernigan (3rd round)
• OT James Brewer (4th round)
• LB Greg Jones (6th round)
• S Tyler Sash (6th round)
• LB Jacquian Williams (6th round)
• HB Da’Rel Scott (7th round)

General Manager Jerry Reese indicated that the Giants are close to signing CB Prince Amukamara (1st round). “I don’t expect to have any long holdout with it,” Reese said. “I think that there is just a little bit of language issues that we need to resolve, but I don’t anticipate a holdout.”

WR Ramses Barden Placed on PUP List: WR Ramses Barden was placed on the Active/Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List yesterday. Barden suffered a fractured ankle and ligament damage  in a game against Dallas last November and subsequently underwent surgery.

Osi Umenyiora’s a No-Show: As has been speculated, DE Osi Umenyiora, who is unhappy with his current contract that runs through the 2012 season, did not show up at training camp yesterday. The Giants officially placed him on the Reserve/Did-Not-Report List. Under the new CBA, the Giants can also fine Umenyiora $30,000 per day for missing camp.

Brandon Jacobs Contract Re-Structured: According to The Daily News, HB Brandon Jacobs agreed to a “small” contract restructuring. The Star-Ledger says that some of Jacobs’ 2011 base salary of $4.65 million was turned into incentives. If the incentives are reached, Jacobs will still earn the money he was originally due to make.

Looks Like Giants Have No Interest in Bringing Back Four Veteran Free Agents: The Giants assigned jersey numbers to the new players yesterday. Of note is the Giants gave away the jersey numbers for four of their current unrestricted free agents:

• LB Keith Bulluck
• LB Gerris Wilkinson
• S Deon Grant
• S Michael Johnson

General Manager Jerry Reese’s Friday Press Conference: The transcript of yesterday’s press conference with General Manager Jerry Reese is available at Giants.com.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Friday Press Conference: The transcript of yesterday’s press conference with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at Giants.com.

Notes and Quotes: Because of the transition rules relating to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the following players cannot be on the practice field until August 4:

• OC David Baas (signed from 49ers as unrestricted free agent)
• P Steve Weatherford (signed from Jets as unrestricted free agent)
• HB Brandon Jacobs (re-structured contract)
• DE Mathias Kiwanuka (re-signed unrestricted free agent)
• OG Kevin Boothe (re-signed unrestricted free agent)
• TE/FB Bear Pascoe (re-signed exclusive rights free agent)
• OL Jamon Meredith (re-signed exclusive rights free agent)

General Manager Jerry Reese on OC David Baas: “We like him. He is a big man and we like the versatility that he brings. He played center last year and he was a center and guard in college as well. He is a big, tough guy and very, very smart. A high test score guy so he fits everything we like at that position. He looks just like a New York Giant offensive lineman to us and we think he is going to bring a lot to the table. He will start out as the center for us.”

Reese on LB Mark Herzlich: “I think Herzlich is kind of like a joker. He can play any of the linebacker spots. He can play strong, he can play the middle, he can play the weak side, he can reach the passer. If he is at his form which was 2008 when he was a monster at that time, and we are hoping that we can catch lightening in a bottle and he can be that kind of player for us.”

OL David Diehl confirmed yesterday that he is moving to left guard: “They told me I was moved to left guard,” Diehl said. “Obviously with Rich gone and Shaun gone, they needed to move me to solidify and help with offensive line in the middle. I’ve always been a team guy. I’ve always been a guy up to a challenge. That’s one of the things I’ve always done…”If this is the best way for us to get back to the Super Bowl and win football games, I’ll do it. And I’ve always been that way.”