Latest New York Giants Free Agent Rumors

 Posted by
Mar 052015
 
Jerrel Jernigan, New York Giants (September 8, 2014)

Jerrel Jernigan – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Latest New York Giants Free Agent Rumors: Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on other teams on March 7 and begin signing players on other teams on March 10. Here are the latest New York Giants free agent rumors:

  • According to a BigBlueInteractive.com (BBI) source, the Giants hope to have a new, long-term deal with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul by Monday, but there are significant differences over guaranteed money.
  • According to a BBI source, the Giants and linebacker Jon Beason have agreed to a contract re-structuring that will create more cap space for the team.
  • According to a BBI source, the Giants intend to invite unrestricted free agent safeties Devin McCourty (Patriots) and Rahim Moore (Broncos) to visit.
  • According to a BBI source, the Giants rumored interest in unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is smoke.
  • The New York Daily News is reporting that while there have been talks between the Giants and unrestricted free agent safety Antrel Rolle, the discussions have not been productive and Rolle may receive much higher contract offers from other teams on the open market. NJ.com believes Rolle will sign with another team. Rolle is denying he and the Giants have talked about a new contract.

  • The Daily News is reporting that the Giants and unrestricted free agent cornerback Walter Thurmond have talked about a new contract, but he will likely test the open market. NJ.com believes Thurmond will sign with another team.
  • The Daily News is reporting that the Giants would like to re-sign unrestricted free agent safety Stevie Brown but a source told the paper that his chance to return is “50-50”. NJ.com believes Brown will re-sign with the Giants.
  • NJ.com and The Daily News are reporting that unrestricted free agent linebacker Jacquian Williams will hit the free agent market. NJ.com says it is unlikely that the Giants will re-sign him.
  • The Daily News is reporting that the Giants are not interested in re-signing unrestricted free agent wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan. NJ.com believes Jernigan will not be re-signed.
  • The Daily News is reporting that there have been talks between the Giants and unrestricted free agent tight end Daniel Fells but nothing substantial. NJ.com believes Fells will not be re-signed.
  • The Daily News says there were talks about bringing back unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Mike Patterson before defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins accepted a pay cut. Now it is unclear if the Giants want Patterson back. NJ.com believes Patterson will not be re-signed.
  • The Daily News reports there have been talks between the Giants and unrestricted free agent linebacker Spencer Paysinger, but Paysinger is expected to hit the open market. NJ.com believes the Giants will re-sign Paysinger.
  • The Daily News is reporting that the Giants have been in talks with unrestricted free agent cornerback Chykie Brown and Brown could be re-signed soon. On the other hand, NJ.com believes Brown will not be re-signed.

NJ.com also believes the Giants will re-sign unrestricted free agents linebacker Mark Herzlich, fullback Henry Hynoski, and guard John Jerry. NJ.com does not believe the Giants will re-sign unrestricted free agents cornerback Zack Bowman, tackle James Brewer, safety Quintin Demps, running back Chris Ogbonnaya, and guard Adam Snyder.

Article on the New York Giants and Free Agency: If Rolle bolts, these 4 safeties could help Giants secondary by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Jon Beason and Giants Working on Re-Structured Contract

 Posted by
Mar 042015
 
Jon Beason, New York Giants (December 22, 2013)

Jon Beason was solid in the middle for New York last year – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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New York Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason said on SiriusXM Radio today that he and the Giants are currently in contact about a re-structured contract that would reduce Beason’s 2015 salary cap number. Beason is in the second year of a 3-year, $17 million contract that he signed with the Giants last offseason. He is currently scheduled to receive $3.6 million in base salary, a $2.2 million roster bonus, and a $100,00 workout bonus. Counting his prorated signing bonus, Beason’s total 2015 cap number is $6,691,666.

Beason’s 2014 NFL season was basically wiped out due to a ligament tear and fracture to the sesamoid bone in his right foot during an OTA practice on June 12. He aggravated the injury in Week 2 against Arizona, missed the next three games, and aggravated the injury again in Week 7 against Dallas. After that, the doctors decided he needed season-ending surgery and Beason was placed on Injured Reserve in October. In the end, he only played and started in four games and finished the season with 11 tackles.

If the Giants cut Beason before June 1st, the team would “save” $2,858,332 against the cap with a hefty $3,833,334 in dead money.

“I want to be a Giant,” said Beason, who represents himself in contract negotitions. “They took a chance on me when other people may have thought that I was done. You want to go out and hold up your end of the bargain. When healthy I still feel I’m the best in the business and no one can keep up with me.

“We’ve been back and forth trying to come to terms. They’re doing the best they can to try to be fair under the situation and as a so-called agent I’m doing the best I can to make sure I get the opportunity to earn some of that money back. What you hate is that you get penalized for what happened in 2014 when it’s no longer in anyone’s control. But if you do go out and you play well and you make the Pro Bowl, the guys win the Super Bowl, you make the playoffs, to take less money than what you were scheduled to earn is tough because you no longer have that opportunity to hit that benchmark. That’s the nature of the game.

“I’ve had the benefit of doing my own contract and you see how the business works. Unfortunately when you are making more than the league minimum you are susceptible to taking a pay cut due to injury. A lot of that has to do with the leverage that the teams have. What I’ve learned is that you can’t take it personally when the team is going to come after you to get money back based on an injury because the other 31 teams seem like they’re on the same page. ‘Hey, we’ll low-ball you worse if you decide not to take the pay cut.’… It’s an unfortunate part of the business, but at the same time staying in the game and continuing to play is ultimately what you want. And they know that.

“As you get older in the league you realize unfortunately it’s not so much about family or bleeding Carolina blue and black or (Giants) blue and red. They want you to have that perception of what this game is. It’s truly a business and if you can’t produce at a high level often, whether it’s through injury when you can’t or you are just not playing well, there is going to be some change. When you see that so often, guys continue to move on and you’ve stayed because you’ve been a good player, you start to understand that. When you get late in your career you do the best you can to continue to do all the things that help teams win in terms of playing at a high level, but also bringing guys along and leading and trying to get that ring.”

Articles on the New York Giants and Free Agency:

Giants May Pursue Ndamukong Suh; Victor Cruz Injury Update

 Posted by
Mar 042015
 
Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions (January 4, 2015)

Ndamukong Suh – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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New York Giants May Pursue Ndamukong Suh: According to press reports, the New York Giants may pursue unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (Detroit Lions) when the free agency negotiating period begins on March 7.

The New York Daily News is reporting that “several NFL sources believe the Giants are considering a run” at Suh, who is widely-regarded at the top unrestricted free agent on the market. ESPN is also reporting that the Giants may be one of the teams in the mix for Suh.

However, with the Giants only currently about $10-13 million under the $143 million cap, the team would have to be creative to find a way to pay for Suh. The Giants could extend/re-structure some contracts (including that of QB Eli Manning) or cut players or force them to take pay cuts. There is also the possibility that the Giants could remove the almost $15 million franchise tender on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

The 28-year old Suh is one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL and the rare defensive tackle who can both play the run and rush the passer. The problem for the Giants is that many teams with a lot more cap space are expected to bid on Suh, who may be seeking a contract in the 6-year, $100 million range with $50 million in guaranteed money.

Victor Cruz Injury Update: On a Giants.com video interview, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz said he expects to be ready to practice by the time training camp starts in late July.

“My goal is for training camp,” said Cruz. “Obviously OTAs are near and approaching, but I just want to take my time and continue rehab. But training camp is definitely the goal.”

If Cruz is able to practice at camp, he would likely be limited as he is recovering from a very serious injury, tearing the patella tendon in his right knee in October 2014. It remains to be seen if Cruz can completely regain his pre-injury physical ability.

“When a guy has a big injury like Victor had, you can’t put all your eggs in his basket,” said General Manager Jerry Reese on February 21 at the NFL Combine. “Our doctors said he looks good. I see him down in the training room working out with our trainers and doctors and he looks good. Until you get out there – his game is quickness. Until you get out there and move around, you never know how he is going to recover from that. We are hoping and praying that he comes back 100 percent and be the Victor Cruz that we know, but you can’t put 100 percent in that basket.”

Articles on the New York Giants and Free Agency:

Articles on Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul:

Giants.com Feature on Center Weston Richburg: A video feature “Building Blocks: OL Weston Richburg” is available at Giants.com.