Train-a Thought

Giants Sign OL Shawn Andrews

With their offensive line continuing to face questions concerning age, injury and depth, the Giants have taken a gamble by signing former Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews, previously with Philadelphia.

Giants Agree to Terms with UFA Keith Bulluck

The Giants took a big step towards potentially shoring up their middle linebacker position by agreeing to terms with UFA Keith Bulluck earlier today.

Giants Place WR Domenik Hixon on Waivers

Giants WR Domenik Hixon was waived/injured today, nearly two weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a season-ending torn ACL on June 15 when his leg twisted awkwardly under him during a drill in the team's new stadium.

Giants Ink Third-Rounder Jones; Waive K Sam Swank

The Giants signed S Chad Jones, their third round draft pick, to a reported four-year contract today. Ffinancial terms were not immediately known.

Giants Announce Rookie Mini Camp Roster

It’s been non-stop for me since yesterday so I’m just now getting around to the list (players that the Giants announced would be at their rookie mini camp this weekend.

Giant Ink P Jeff Feagles, S Deon Grant

The Giants had a busy day today, re-signing P Jeff Feagles and adding S Deon Grant to the roster.

Giants Release LB Antonio Pierce

The New York Giants have released their long-time defensive captain, LB Antonio Pierce, who ended the 2009 season on the injured reserve list with a bulging disc in his neck.

Jacobs, Ross Placed on Injured Reserve

The season is officially over for RB Brandon Jacobs and CB Aaron Ross, as both were placed on injured reserve today by the Giants.

Boley Back on Injury Report

Giants LB Michael Boley was a surprise addition to the team's pre-practice injury report. Boley, whom head coach Tom Coughlin said "wrenched" his back, was scheduled to practice today. 

Also on the injury report were RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles/foot), WR Derek Hagan (hamstring), S Michael Johnson (grin), QB Eli Manning (foot), and RB DJ Ware (concussion).

Bradshaw will not practice today and Coughlin sid they had their fingers crossed that the running back would be available for Sunday's game against Dallas. Meanwhile, there was an encouraging sign in that Bradshaw was out on the field without his boot and seemed to be moving around well with no noticeable limp.

Ware has had almost a week to recover from his concussion, but the Giants, in being cautious with concussions, decided to hold him out.Coughlin gave no indication as to whether Ware might return to practice later in the week, but if he doesn't, rookie Gartrell Johnson would likely see more snaps

Hagan was going to be limited, according to Coughlin. Meanwhile Johnson was not going to work today,while Manning was set to take his usual workload.

* * *

The Giants still have not filled the roster spot that opened up when LB Antonio Pierce was placed on injured reserve Monday. One possible theory as to why it's taking so long is that the team could be looking at bringing in a veteran from the outside to provide depth at either running back or at safety given the injury situation. 

Speaking of Pierce, Coughlin has expressed an interest in having him stick around, which is a deviation from the usual team policy of not allowing injured reserve guys to be a part of the meetings and such while they're going through rehab. Coughlin expressed high regards about Pierce's leadership abilities and based on the sound of things, Pierce will probably be on the sidelines this Sunday to offer encouragement to his teammates in their "do or die" game against Dallas.

Pierce Placed on Injured Reserve

Giants MLB Antonio Pierce’s season is over.

Giants Make Roster, Practice Squad Moves

The New York Giants made a handful of moves today.

Starting with the 53-man roster, they waived DT Leger Douzable and released OL Tutan Reyes. They reinstated LB Michael Boley, who completed a one-week league mandated suspension. They were also awarded RB Gartrell Johnson, formerly with San Diego  off waivers.

Johnson, 5-11, 219 lbs., was the Chargers' fourth round draft pick this year out of Colorado State. He led Mountain West Conference in rushing (113.5 yards per game) and ranked 13th in the nation, finishing with 1,476 yards rushing and 12 TDs, plus 32 catches for 295 yards.

On the practice squad side, the team terminated the contracts of RB Allen Patrick, CB DeAndre Wright (their sixth round draft pick this year), and TE Kareem Brown. They added TE  Bear Pascoe (Fresno State) and DB Michael Coe (Alabama State). By my count it looks like they have one more practice squad move available.

Official Giants Practice Squad Announced

Here is the official practice squad, as announced by the team:

CB DeAndre Wright (Giants' 6th round draft pick)

S Sha'reffRashad

DT Anthony Bryant

S Vince Anderson

RB Allen Patrick

QB Rhett Bomar (Giants' 5th round draft pick)

FB Nehemiah Broughton (formerly with Minnesota)

TE Kareem Brown (formerly with the Jets)

Practice Squad Update

So far, the Giants have reportedly filled seven of their eight available practice squad slots, as follows:

• CB DeAndre Wright (Giants' 6th round draft pick)
• S Sha'reffRashad
• DT Anthony Bryant
• S Vince Anderson
• RB Allen Patrick
• TE Jason Pociask (a former NY Jets draft pick)
• QB Rhett Bomar (Giants' 5th round draft pick)

DE Maurice Evans has gone to Tampa. QB Andre Woodson was picked up by Washington (who happens to be the Giants' opening day opponent -- hmmm).

** UPDATE: Pociask has not signed with the Giants' practice squad after all due to a change in plans.

Notebook: Roster Reduction Day

If you were following my blog today, you know that I had TE Michael Matthews as a roster cut. He was actually traded to New England for a conditional 2011 draft pick. Apparently in a last-minute deal.

Head coach Tom Coughlin, who delivered the bad news to all the players that were let go, found having to tell Matthews that he was no longer part of the Giants especially hard. “Mike Matthews was very difficult for us to have to say goodbye to, because I have such respect for Mike and what he has done in his life and his family and what he represents – a try-hard guy that nobody gives a chance and he comes in and he’s the right man in the right place at the right time and wins a Super Bowl ring in his rookie year. I think about his toughness.”

The trade doesn’t affect what I wrote about the roster moves impact on the salary cap, by the way.

* * *

Headlining the moves made today was the release of WR David Tyree, whose last catch for the Giants turned out to be his greatest EVER: The spectacular catch against his helmet in Super Bowl XLII.

“It’s the big bang theory,” Tyree said of his catch. “It’s a moment that obviously will never be taken, it’s a moment that I will cherish. I said after the game, if I never get a chance to play football again, I can’t be upset with the way my career went.”

But of course Tyree is already looking ahead and hopes to catch on with another team soon.

“I feel like I have some great things to bring a football team and that’s what I’m going to work toward now.”

Tyree, the sixth-round draft choice in 2003, who earned a Pro Bowl berth for his special teams play,  admitted to having mixed feelings about leaving the team that drafted him in the six round out of Syracuse.

“This is part of the journey. It’s not like it’s a great day. At the same time I’m filled with expectations about what’s next on this track, and I’m excited, as well.

“You get the call and obviously you have the inclination of what you’re going to hear. It’s not like I wasn’t prepared or knew it wasn’t a possibility. It kind of simplifies things for me and causes me to rejoice in the years that I’ve had here.”

Head coach Tom Coughlin delivered the news to Tyree this morning.

“David Tyree is such a class act,” Coughlin said. “What a great guy he is. When he came in to see me, I had a lot of emotions running through my head. He put everything at ease, he had a big smile on his face. I told David he is forever etched in the annals of New York Giants history. That will never change. That moment in history will stand forever in time.”

* * *

As mentioned in our tracking of the cuts earlier today, LB Michael Boley was placed on the Reserve/Suspended list as he’ll begin a one-week league imposed suspension starting today. Boley will not be allowed to set foot at the Giants’ training facility until; September 14, when his suspension ends.

* * *

With the final cuts come some jersey number changes. WR Hakeem nicks will grab 88, formerly worn by Matthews. That was Nicks’ number in college. Jeff Feagles will switch from 17 to 18, the latter of which was previously worn by Nicks. And Leger Douzable, who wore 78, will take 90, previously worn by DE Robert Henderson.

* * *

Coughlin on the decision to go with two quarterbacks: “I think you have to make a very difficult call when you decide to go with two. That roster spot can be utilized by a worthy player, a player that deserves to be on your team. We’ve found, as we go forward with 32 teams, that it’s very difficult later on to find a quality player, a guy that can come in and help if you need one. So you are much better off to try to protect those that you have that are currently on your squad that can play the game at a high level. You’re more inclined to try to do whatever you can to take care of your roster and keep as many good players as you can.”

This is the second year in a row the Giants are going to enter the season carrying two signal callers.

* * *

The Giants are going to start the new work week with an unheard of seven receivers, as both Sinorice Moss, who was considered on the bubble, and Derek Hagan, who had a strong summer, survived the final cut.

“As you look at your team, you just try to keep the best players,” Coughlin said of the decision to keep Moss. “Sometimes it’s not as balanced as you like. Nevertheless, you have to do it. It’s your responsibility to the franchise, really, to keep the best guys.”

As for Hagan, the coach said, ““He is a good special teams player. He will put it on the line and he will play all those teams. He has outstanding endurance. He was very noticeable in the spring. At times he stuck out in training camp as a receiver. You combine his size with the ability he has as a special teams player, he certainly deserves his spot.”

 

Crunching Numbers: How the Roster Moves Affect the 2009 Giants Salary Cap

Although it appears that the NFL salary cap is going to fade away after this year (cue the cheers from those who have, in the past, expressed frustration with understanding how the cap works), some of the cuts made to get to the 53-man roster will affect this year’s cap.

Most of the players who were cut were signed to “futures” contracts, which simply means they were only going to be paid and count against the cap if they made the 53-man roster.

A futures contract, by the way, is usually a two-year deal and carries no signing bonus. Therefore, I’m not going to include those players here since their removal from the roster doesn’t impact the salary cap one way or another.

Some rookie free agents did sign three-year contracts that carried a signing bonus. If that was the case, they’re included here.

I have also included the players who were waived/injured, reason being is that under the terms of the current CBA, a player who is “waived/injured” is entitled to receive 50% of his base salary for the upcoming year, or $300K, whichever is greater.

Remember, this information is based on the roster moves that were reported by multiple sources today. Obviously once the Giants send out the official press release announcing their moves, if there are any discrepancies, I’ll go back and update all articles as applicable.

WR David Tyree: The release of Tyree, who had two years remaining on his contract, will cost the Giants just $600K against this year’s salary cap his prorated signing bonus was $300K and he had two years remaining.) The Giants also will not owe Tyree, who was plagued this spring and summer with a bum hamstring, a $250K roster bonus he was due this September had he made the 53-man roster. Total cap savings: $750K

LB Michael Boley: This is an easy one and in reality one that rarely dents the salary cap spreadsheet. Anyway, Boley is suspended for one week without pay. Boley is due a base salary of $2.5M this season. That comes to $147,058 and some change per paycheck over a 17-week season. With the Giants not having to pay Boley for the week he’s suspended, they will be credited $147,058 against the salary cap.

The following players signed three-year contracts as rookie free agents and each received a reported signing bonus of $30K. Since they didn’t make the final 53, that $30K counts against the salary cap. Total savings on each player (since they all had the same singing bonus and scheduled base salary for 2009) is $180K: DE Maurice Evans, CB Vince Anderson, LB Kenny Ingram, and S Sha’reff Rashad.

DE Robert Henderson: The Giants sixth round pick in 2008, who spent last year on injured reserve, had signed a three-year contract with a $77,900 signing bonus spread over three years. Due a base salary of $329,475 this year, the Giants will save $431,050 with this transaction.

CB DeAndre Wright: The rookie draft pick signed a four-year deal that had a $92K signing bonus, which the Giants are on the hook for. Total savings on this move: $218K.

CB Stoney Woodson: Cut earlier this week, Woodson’s reported signing bonus was $46K. However, since he was waived/injured, he’s also entitled to an injury settlement of $300K, the maximum settlement amount for the 2009 league year. 

DT Jeremy Clark (waived/injured): Clark was reportedly waived injured; if confirmed, then he’s entitled to an injury settlement, which for those not familiar with the NFL’s injury settlement policy, is calculated as 50% of the player’s scheduled base salary for the upcoming year or $300K, whichever is higher. In Clark’s situation, he was due a 2009 base salary of $385K, so his injury settlement would be $300K, which counts against the cap.

QB Rhett Bomar: Bomar’s four year deal carried a reported $185,183 signing bonus, which will hit the Giants’ salary cap. Total savings: $124,817
 
TE Michael Matthews: Matthews had signed a three year contract as a rookie free agent in 2007 that had a reported $50K signing bonus. Since 2009 was to be the last year of that deal, he’ll only cost the Giants about $16K against their cap. Total savings: $440K

** Update: The fact that Matthews was traded does not affect the cap impact. **

Andrew Carnahan (waived/injured): He signed a futures contract but because he was waived/injured, he gets an injury settlement of $300K

ESTIMATED SAVINGS SUMMARY
Tyree $750,000
Boley   $147,058
Henderson  $431,050
De Wright    $218,000
J. Clark    $85,000
Bomar    $124,817
Carnahan   $10,000
Evans    $180,000
Anderson   $180,000
Ingram     $180,000
Rashad     $180,000
SWoodson  $180,000

EST. TOTAL  $2,665,925

The total estimated cap savings is plenty of room to offer a contract extension or two to some key players who are coming up for renewal. There should still also be plenty left over for any in-season emergencies as well.

I know that some of you are probably wondering what the Giants’ estimated cap figure is. I am in the process of computing that, and I will probably end up tweeting that to you tonight.

* * *

While I have your attention, I want to remind you of some interactive features we have going on in the blog this season.

There is the old time favorite “Letters to the Editor,” which pretty much runs every day.

There is “Ask the Official,” which is your direct link to a referee who has kindly offered to help readers understand the rules of the game and to decipher some of the more talked about calls made in the NFL.

Then there is our newest feature, “Fan Fest Friday,” an interactive Q&A feature in which I devote an entire blog post to YOUR questions submitted to the players. I’m still looking for a nice collection of questions from the readers as this is something I work on throughout the week, so if you’ve always wanted to ask Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs or any Giant player a question, send them to me and I’ll work in as many as I can during the access I get.