New York Giants and Chase Blackburn Agree to Terms: According to various press reports, the Giants and LB Chase Blackburn have agreed to a 4-year, $3.3 million contract (the fourth year of the contract is voidable so essentially it is a 3-year contract). Blackburn was set to become an Exclusive Rights free agent on March 2nd. The Star Ledger reports that Blackburn will sign the new contract next week.
Shaun O’Hara and New York Giants Still Close: Press reports continue to indicate that soon-to-be unrestricted free agent OC Shaun O’Hara and the Giants are close to a new deal.
The Star-Ledger reports that new contract will be a 5-year deal. The last roadblock appears to be that O’Hara is seeking a $7.5 million signing bonus while the Giants are offering a $6.5 million signing bonus. The Ledger speculates that the two sides will likely split the difference before O’Hara becomes a free agent on Friday. The Daily News says the new deal could be a 6-year, $24 million contract that includes $8 million in guaranteed money. Newsday reports that O’Hara is seeking $4-4.5 million per season with $8 million signing bonus.
New York Giants Seeking New Director of Player Personnel: At the present time, Jerry Reese continues to perform double-duty as the team’s new general manager as well as the director of player personnel, a position that he has held with the Giants since 2002. However, The Star-Ledger is reporting that the Giants are considering new candidates that will replace Reese as the director of player personnel after the 2007 NFL Draft. The paper says options include Buffalo Bills’ national scout Marc Ross and Baltimore Ravens’ scout Lional Vital.
Ross was the Philadelphia Eagles’ director of college scouting from 2001-2004 until he was fired. In addition to the Ravens, Vital has served as a scout with Browns and Jets. He also was the Patriots’ assistant director of scouting from 2000-2004.
New York Giants NFL Europe Team Allocations: It was announced by the Giants a couple of weeks ago that five Giants were assigned to NFL Europe. Yesterday, the specific European teams that these five players will play for were announced:
- Amsterdam Admirals: HB Cedric Humes
- Berlin Thunder: TE Charles Davis
- Frankfurt Galaxy: HB DeCori Birmingham
- Hamburg Sea Devils: DT Sir Henry Anderson, LB Barry Robertston
Robertson was actually drafted by the Sea Devils in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL Europe Draft. The other four players were assigned.
