Big Blue Interactive

Boothe Re-Signs with Giants – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

Giants Re-Sign OG Kevin Boothe: The Giants have officially re-signed unrestricted free agent OG Kevin Boothe. The contract is reportedly a 1-year deal.

“Kevin is a pro’s pro and we’re happy to have him back,” said General Manager Jerry Reese. “His return will provide experience, versatility, competition and depth on our offensive line.”

“I’m happy to be back,” Boothe said. “It’s a great organization and a great team. I’m looking forward to this upcoming season.”

“I think you owe it to yourself to put yourself out there (in free agency),” Boothe said. “The entire time I wanted to return to the New York Giants, and fortunately they wanted me back.”

With Boothe back, the Giants now have five veteran offensive linemen who started last season under contract: LT Will Beatty, LG Kevin Boothe, OC David Baas, RG Chris Snee, and RT David Diehl.

“We’re constantly looking to improve,” Boothe said. “This season, that doesn’t change. We’ll have most, if not all, of the pieces back together and we’re looking forward to getting back to work and having a successful season – more than last year.”

Boothe has played guard, center, and even tackle for the Giants at times.

“It was fun to focus in on one position (left guard) for the most part this past season,” said Boothe. “I always keep prepared for any change that might happen. You don’t know what might happen over the course of a game or a season. I always try to keep myself fresh with regard to center or any other position, so I’m ready wherever I’m needed.”

“I just happy do whatever is needed,” Boothe said. “I’m going into my seventh year here with the Giants. Whatever role they need me to be in, I’m more than happy to fill. Whether it was the first person off the bench in years past or being the starter this past year, I approach every day with 100 percent effort. Whatever I can do to help the team, that’s what I’m all about.”

Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions, Free Agent Signings (with scouting report), and Free Agent Scorecard sections of the website.

David Wilson – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

BBI Draft Chat Session Archived: Yesterday’s BBI draft chat session with Colin, the editor of the Great Blue North Draft Report, has been archived in The Corner Forum section of the website.

Giants Officially Announce Re-Signing QB David Carr: The Giants officially announced yesterday that they have re-signed unrestricted free agent QB David Carr. Carr reportedly signed a 1-year contract.

HB David Wilson on Makes the Radio Rounds: HB David Wilson was interviewed yesterday by the following radio stations:

• ESPN Radio (Audio)
• WFAN (Audio)

Articles on HB David Wilson:

• Wilson Ready to Start, and Shine by Ohm Youngmisuk  of ESPNNewYork.com
• Giants RB Features in NFL Video on Controversial New Rule by Ebenezer Samuel of The Daily News

Article on OG Chris Snee: Giants’ Chris Snee Feels ‘Great’ After Offseason Hip Surgery by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger

Article on OT David Diehl: Giants’ David Diehl Says He Would Re-Do Contract to Help Victor Cruz by Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger

Article on QB Eli Manning and the Giants’ Offseason Personnel Moves: Eli Runs the Show Only on the Field by Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record

Article on Eagles’ Head Coach Chip Kelly and the Giants: Kelly Not Blue Over Passing on G-Men by Gary Myers of The Daily News

Stevie Brown – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

BBI Draft Chat with Colin of GBNDR on Thursday: We will be hosting a draft chat session with Colin of the Great Blue North Draft Report Thursday at 2:00-3:30PM in The Corner Forum section of the website.

Giants Re-Sign S Stevie Brown: Restricted free agent S Stevie Brown signed his 1-year, $2.023 million tender with the Giants yesterday. In other words, Brown has re-signed with Giants. The $2.023 million tender originally protected Brown at the second-round level, meaning another team would have had to give the Giants their second round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft if they had successfully signed Brown away from the Giants.

The only unsigned Giants’ restricted free agents now are WR Victor Cruz (1st round tender) and HB Andre Brown (2nd round tender). Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions, Free Agent Signings (with scouting report), and Free Agent Scorecard sections of the website.

Giants Re-Sign QB David Carr: Although not official yet, according to press reports, the Giants have agreed to terms to re-sign unrestricted free agent QB David Carr to a 1-year deal. Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions, Free Agent Signings (with scouting report), and Free Agent Scorecard sections of the website.

WR Louis Murphy Officially Signs His Deal: WR Louis Murphy, an unrestricted free agent from the Carolina Panthers, officially signed with the Giants yesterday.

Quotes: General Manager Jerry Reese on the state of the Giants: “Nobody was more disappointed than me (last season), believe me. We needed to retool a little bit and we started to do that. We need to get a little better on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage. Our offensive line, we need to improve a little bit. Our defensive line we feel like we have improved. We bring in Cullen Jenkins, who all of our people just loved. He’s been a terrific player. He’s been very durable…We need to reestablish that toughness on the front. Teams ran the ball too easily against us in my opinion last year, and I think that’s an area of concern. And our offensive line, that performance needs to get a little bit better too. But I think we’re headed in the right direction. The key to long-term success in this league is what happens at the end of every April. You have to draft well. If you do that, you’re going to have a chance to be competitive for years to come. If you have a couple of years where you don’t draft well, it is awfully difficult to come back.”

Reese on his free agent strategy: “I don’t think there is a template. Some years you have more money than other years and you think. ‘I can get out and strike quickly.’ I remember one year we went out and got Antrel Rolle and then another year we went out and got (Chris) Canty and (Michael) Boley and we went out and got a center (David Baas) one time. So you have to strike when you can, but other times you have to sit back and wait and let the market settle down a little bit. There are three levels of free agency…(You) have the first level; you get the guys out there who (are) going to get the money right away. Then there is a second level and then you can bottom feed on the guys left at the end.”

Reese on TE Adrien Robinson: “Wish we could have gotten him in some games more last year, but it just didn’t work out for us to get him in some games. But we really think – the guy is 280 pounds, he ran a 4.57 (40-yard dash) at his Pro Day, and we think he can really develop into a terrific blocker. In practice,he flashed some things that were really like some ‘Wow’ things in practice. So we’re expecting him to make a jump this season and get in and get going and give us some contributions as our big blocking tight end. And he can catch the ball really nice. So we expect to bring him along, and hopefully he’ll contribute for us.”

Reese on DE Justin Tuck: “I saw a guy that was not the Justin Tuck that I know. He and I had a good conversation about it. He’s driven, I’ve been seeing him at the office every day, to come back and show everybody – show himself first, obviously, and his teammates and our organization that he can be the old Justin Tuck. So he hadn’t played good, and we talked about it. He’s like, ‘I’m the leader, I know I haven’t played well, so it’s tough to lead when you’re not playing well yourself.’ He’s concerned about all of it. He’s very conscious of what we want to do, and who the Giants are, and what we try to represent in the National Football League, and the toughness. And he’s driven to come back and be that player, and I think you’re going to see that guy.”

Giants’ President/CEO John Mara on why so many free agents are signing 1-year contracts: “That’s what’s happened quite a bit right now. You find players who are quality players who haven’t gotten the big money offered to them, that want to go somewhere where they can maybe reestablish themselves as top flight players and maybe get the big contract the next time around. And we’ve been able to take advantage of that with a few of the guys that we’ve signed. So that has been a little bit surprising to me. But when you think about it, maybe it really shouldn’t be because the cap has been relatively flat, there wasn’t a big increase this year. I think that has a lot to do with it.”

Brandon Myers – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

BBI Draft Chat with Colin of GBNDR on Thursday: We will be hosting a draft chat session with Colin of the Great Blue North Draft Report Thursday at 2:00-3:30PM in The Corner Forum section of the website.

TE Brandon Myers Officially Signs His Deal: TE Brandon Myers, an unrestricted free agent from the Oakland Raiders, officially signed with the Giants yesterday. The deal is reportedly a 1-year contract.

Myers said that TE Kevin Boss, who signed with the Raiders from the Giants two years ago, was a big factor in him picking the Giants.

“I became great friends with Kevin and his wife,” Myers said. “You couldn’t ask for a better guy to be in the tight end room. He’s been talking to me about New York. I’m blessed to know a guy like that who’s been here and can tell me where to go. He told me what a great organization this is from top to bottom – the facilities to everything. He said it’s a great place to be and told me if I have an opportunity to come here I should definitely think about it. He’s helped me out a lot and I’m appreciative of that. I’m definitely excited. When you join an organization like the Giants it’s a great opportunity and I’m excited to be here and to get started.”

Myers had a breakout season in 2012, catching 79 passes for 806 yards and four touchdowns.

“I was given an opportunity to play last season,” Myers said. “The first three years there was always a guy ahead of me. That’s the way it is sometimes. Last year, I was given an opportunity to make some plays and I did that. Obviously, we didn’t win enough ballgames. That’s over with and I’m excited for this year.”

“I’m definitely looking forward to (working with Tight Ends Coach Mike Pope),” Myers said. “I’ve heard from numerous people in the Giants organization and players around the league about coach and I’m definitely excited for this opportunity and we’ll run with it. I’m excited for the year to start.”

“I’m definitely excited (about playing with Eli Manning),” said Myers. “Hopefully, once things get rolling we can get good chemistry like Carson (Palmer) and I had last year and get the ball rolling.”

“The opportunity to play in New York, to play on a big stage and to win ballgames, that’s what you strive for as a player – to be in contention to make the playoffs,” Myers said. “I had a pretty good feeling this was going to work out. I’m excited and I’m ready to get to work.”

Steve Tisch Believes Another Team Will Make a Run at Cruz: Giants’ Chairman and Executive Vice President Steve Tisch said yesterday that he believes another team will likely make an offer to restricted free agent WR Victor Cruz. “Nervous? I’m anxious,” Tisch said. “It’s the reality of this period in free agency. Is it likely (Cruz will be presented with an offer sheet)? Probably. Then we’re going to have to deal with it. But we’re not avoiding that possibility. We’ll address the reality of it when it happens.”

If another team signs Cruz to an offer sheet, Tisch said, “We’re going to go as far as we can go to keep him on the team.”

As a restricted free agent, the Giants would have seven days to decide whether or not they would match the other team’s offer. If they do not, the Giants would receive their first round draft pick in this year’s draft.

Oddly, Tisch appeared to be negotiating against himself when he was asked if Cruz would get as much as $6 million per season, similar to what WR Wes Welker received from the Denver Broncos. “I think Victor is going to get a little higher than that,” replied Tisch.

Tisch said he felt Cruz’s change to a new agent would help negotiations, but the Giants have not received an “ask” from the new agent. Cruz’s new agent was able to begin negotiating on his client’s behalf starting last Friday.

Giants Working on Diehl Pay Cut/Restructure: Giants’ Chairman and Executive Vice President Steve Tisch said yesterday that the Giants were working on a pay cut/restructure of OT David Diehl similar to what the Giants did recently with CB Corey Webster. Webster accepted a pay cut, but also received added bonus money and a voidable year. “I think he’s an asset,” said Tisch of Diehl.

Keith Rivers – Photo by USA Today Sports Images

WR Louis Murphy and LB Dan Connor Visit Giants: Unrestricted free agent WR Louis Murphy (Carolina Panthers) visited the Giants yesterday, but apparently left without a contract. Meanwhile, LB Dan Connor, who was recently released by the Dallas Cowboys, is scheduled to visit the Giants today.

LB Jasper Brinkley Signs With Cardinals: Unrestricted free agent Jasper Brinkley (Minnesota Vikings), who met with the Giants on Wednesday, has signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Keith Rivers Officially Back: LB Keith Rivers has officially re-signed with the New York Giants. A hamstring injury caused the injury-prone Rivers to miss five games and limit his starting opportunities in his first season as a Giant.

“Anytime you step on the field you have something to prove – me, more so,” Rivers said. “Obviously, I have to prove I can stay healthy. I haven’t necessarily been able to be trusted to stay healthy. Hopefully, taking a big rest this offseason will help me do that.”

“It was tough,” Rivers said of his first year in New York. “I was rushing to get back and not necessarily letting it heal all the way. Sometimes the chips fall that way. I think I may have over-trained due to being out. I was a little overzealous. I worked out way too hard. It’s very frustrating and very stressful. You work really hard to stay healthy and that doesn’t actually happen. It’s part of the deal. You have to accept the good with the bad.”

A video of a Giants.com interview with Rivers is available at Giants.com.

Giants.com Countdown of the Top Free Agent Signings: Giants.com has created a short list with a write-up on each of what they consider the top free agent signings in Giants’ history:

• WR Plaxico Burress
• QB Kerry Collins
• LB Antonio Pierce
• LB Michael Barrow
• OC Shaun O’Hara