New York Giants and Shaun O’Hara Set to Part Ways: According to The Star-Ledger, the Giants and soon-to-be unrestricted free agent OC Shaun O’Hara are now far apart on a new contract. The paper says that the Giants believe O’Hara will hit the open market and sign with another team.
Free agency begins tonight at one minute past midnight tonight.
The New York Post is reporting that contract talks between O’Hara’s agents and Assistant General Manager Kevin Abrams were progressing well, but “ground to a halt” when General Manager Jerry Reese became involved and “pounded on his chest a little bit.” The Post says O’Hara is not seeking a deal close to the 6-year, $30 million deal that OC Andre Gurode received from the Cowboys, but that O’Hara did up his demands a little after that contract was announced.
The Daily News reported on Tuesday that the Giants’ latest, “take-it-or-leave-it” offer to O’Hara is a 6-year, $21.6 million deal. The Ledger says the team’s offer is for six years and $24 million. However, The Post says the Giants are offering a 5-year, $18 million contract. The Post also claims that O’Hara would re-sign with the Giants if the team offered him a 5-year, $20 million contract with $8 million in guaranteed money.
More on DE Michael Strahan: The New York Post is reporting that the soon-to-be-held meeting between DE Michael Strahan and General Manager Jerry Reese is not an important development. The paper says that a source with knowledge of the situation said, “Strahan meets with the team every year. This one is getting a lot of publicity because it’s Jerry, not Ernie (Accorsi).”
According to The Post, Strahan received his $500,000 roster bonus this week. The paper says there is no chance that the Giants will release Strahan. The Post also speculates that there is little chance Strahan can extract more money out of the team given his recent injury history and age.
Notes and Quotes: LT Luke Petitgout, who was cut by the Giants earlier this month, reportedly visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently.
Giants’ team president/CEO John Mara on General Manager Jerry Reese’s decision to cut Petitgout: “He’s not afraid to make the tough decision when it’s warranted. He was very persuasive when it came to that move.”
Mara on free agency: “You can’t fix all your problems in free agency. A lot of teams have been successful with so-called ‘second-tier’ free agents, guys who didn’t get all the attention right away. And you still have to draft well and develop your players. That’s how you win.”
HB Brandon Jacobs on his own ability: “I’m going to be the premier back in this offense. It might seem cocky, or conceited, to say that, but to me it’s just confidence. (The Giants) can go out and get whoever they want, sign whoever they want. I’m going to be the premier back in this offense.”
