Giants Re-Sign Mathias Kiwanuka, Cut Rich Seubert and Shaun O’Hara

Players Report to Training Camp Today: Football is officially back! Giants players will report to training camp today at the Timex Performance Center outside the New Meadowlands Stadium and practices begin tomorrow. The media will be granted access to General Manager Jerry Reese, Head Coach Tom Coughlin, and select players late in the afternoon.

Giants Agree to Terms with Mathias Kiwanuka: According to press reports, the Giants have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent DE/LB Mathias Kiwanuka. The contract is supposedly a 2-year, incentive-laden deal. Kiwanuka is coming off of a career-threatening neck injury.

Giants Officially Cut Five Veterans: The Giants officially announced yesterday that they have cut the following players:

• OG/OC Rich Seubert
• OC Shaun O’Hara
• OT/OG Shawn Andrews
• FB Madison Hedgecock
• HB Tiki Barber (from reserve/retired list)

Press reports say DT Rocky Bernard will be released today. FB Madison Hedgecock revealed that he has been playing with degenerative disc disease in his back and may retire.

“Rich (Seubert) and Shaun (O’Hara) have been two great New York Giants,” said General Manager Jerry Reese. “Both of them are good people, hard workers and have been warriors on game day.”

“I love those two guys,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Both will go down in Giants history. They are two unique, highly competitive personalities who were superior in the locker room. Rich has the ability to stir it up, and Shaun has a great ability to counter Rich. They are great friends, but there have been times when they got going, that it nearly ended up in a fight. They are two men with unique and different abilities, but as an offensive line, you have to operate as one, and these two guys are the most competitive, tough and efficient players as I have ever had the honor and privilege to coach. They both will be missed around here.”

“We will miss those guys in the locker room and their personalities, because they brought a lot to the table,” said QB Eli Manning.

“Our lines…that’s been our core strengths the last couple years,” said DE Justin Tuck. “With the releasing of Rich and Shaun, we’ve got some holes to fill.”

“Those are some, on a personal note, some painful moves,” said Giants’ President and CEO John Mara. “Some of these guys, particularly Rich Seubert and Shaun O’Hara, have had a long history here and have been great players and great citizens for us. That was a very emotional day when we had to tell them that we were moving on. But that’s the nature of this business. We just felt like we needed to put some new bodies in there.”

Giants Officially Announce Signing 10 Rookie Free Agents: The Giants officially announced yesterday that they have signed the following 10 undrafted rookie free agents:

• FB Henry Hynoski, Pittsburgh
• OT Jarriel King, South Carolina
• DE Justin Trattou, Florida
• DE Craig Marshall, South Florida
• DT Martin Parker, Richmond
• DT Ibrahim Abdulai, Arkansas – Pine Bluff
• LB Mark Herzlich, Boston College
• LB Spencer Paysinger, Oregon
• S Jerrard Tarrant, Georgia Tech
• S David Sims, Iowa State

According to press reports, the Giants agreed to terms with undrafted rookie free agent FB/RB Keith Payne (Virginia). If true, this move has not officially been announced by the Giants. In addition, contrary to press reports, the Giants have not signed long snapper/TE Harry Flaherty (Princeton).

Giants Move Diehl to Left Guard: According to The Bergen Record, the Giants have told offensive lineman David Diehl that they are moving him from left tackle to left guard. Will Beatty is the likely new starter at left tackle.

The move will also save the Giants $750,000 against the cap. Escalator clauses in Diehl’s current contract give him $750,000 if he starts 15 or more games at left tackle.

Giants Interested in Bringing in a Veteran Punter: With the training camp roster expanded to 90 player, it easier for the Giants to bring in some veteran competition for second-year punter Matt Dodge, who was wildly inconsistent in 2010.

According to press reports, the Giants are currently in contract discussions with unrestricted free agent punter Brad Maynard (Chicago Bears). The 37-year old Maynard was originally drafted by the Giants in 1997 and played with the team through the 2000 season. The New York Post is also reporting that the Giants have been in contact with unrestricted free agent 43-year old punter Matt Turk (Houston Texans).

Giants Sign HB Da’Rel Scott: According to press reports, the Giants have signed HB Da’Rel Scott, their 7th round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Scott is the first of the Giants’ picks to reportedly sign.

Articles on Giants’ President/CEO John Mara:

• Mara: ‘Long Way’ to Go Before Plax Reunion by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News
• Giants President John Mara Discusses Plaxico Burress, Osi Umenyiora by Zach Berman of The Star-Ledger

Article on OG/OC Rich Seubert: Giants Offensive Lineman Rich Seubert Decides Against Retirement in Wake of His Release by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Article on OC Shaun O’Hara: Like Seubert, O’Hara Shocked by Release by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News

Article on FB Madison Hedgecock: Giants Release Madison Hedgecock, Possibly Ending His Career by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger