|
|
|
|
|
GIANTS NEWS & TRANSACTIONS
|
Giants Trade Shockey for Two Draft Picks in 2009
July 22, 2008 The New York Giants traded tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints, in exchange for a second and fifth round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Shockey’s 2008 season was cut short when he suffered a season-ending injury in week 14. David Boss will likely become the starter at tight end, after filling in for an injured Shockey and starting all four games for the Giants in the 2007 playoffs en route to their Super Bowl victory. A four-time Pro Bowler, Shockey has totaled over 600 yards receiving in each of his six seasons and ranks fourth on the Giants all-time receptions list.
Giants Add Depth to Roster
March 13, 2008 The Giants, looking to add depth to their roster, signed veterans LB Danny Clark and QB David Carr. Clark, 30, was drafted in 1999 by Tom Coughlin who, at the time, was the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach. Clark has played for the Jaguars, Saints, Raiders and Texans during his eight year career. Last season, Clark played in 13 games for the Texans, registering 51 tackles and one interception. Clark is a valuable addition because of his ability to play all three linebacker positions as well as contribute on special teams.
The Giants also added former first round draft pick David Carr to serve as Eli Manning’s backup at quarterback. Carr, 28, will reunite with QB coach Chris Palmer who served as his offensive coordinator in Houston. David Carr brings experience to the Giants having played in 82 games over his seven year career with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers. Over the course of his career, Carr has thrown for over 14,000 yards, 62 touchdown passes and 70 interceptions.
Giants add Knight
March 3, 2008 The Giants signed veteran safety Sammy Knight, 32, to replace recently departed Gibril Wilson. Knight will be entering his 12th season in the NFL and will bring a veteran presence to the Giants secondary. Throughout his career, Knight has been known as a playmaking safety in which he has collected 42 career interceptions. In 2007, Knight led the Jaguars in tackles with 93 tackles, adding four interceptions and one forced fumble.
Giants Clinch Playoff Spot
December 22, 2007 The New York Giants clinched a wild-card playoff berth with a 38-21 victory over the Buffalo Bills in week 16 of the 2007 NFL season. The Giants’ powerful running game posted 291 yards, helping the team and coach Tom Coughlin reach their third straight playoff appearance. Currently, the Giants are fourth in the league in rushing yards and eighth in the league in defensive passing yards allowed. The G-Men are now 10-5 and hope to end the season off on a good note this Sunday against the undefeated New England Patriots.
Umenyiora Earns Second Pro Bowl Selection
December 18, 2007 Giants’ defensive end Osi Umenyiora has been selected to represent the National Football Conference (NFC) in the Pro Bowl, the NFL’s annual all-star game, on February 10, 2008. Umenyiora will be making his second career appearance in the Pro Bowl, having also represented the NFC following the 2005 season. Umenyiora, the only player selected from the Giants roster, leads the Giants’ defense this season in sacks (12), fumble recoveries (2) and touchdowns (1).
Giants Bolster Backfield with Addition of Droughns
March 9, 2007 In need of a feature running back following the retirement of Tiki Barber, the Giants acquired Reuben Droughns from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for wide receiver Tim Carter. Droughns will provide the Giants with an experienced rusher to compliment running back Brandon Jacobs, who accumulated nine touchdowns in 2006 in only his second NFL season. Droughns has rushed for over 1,200 yards in a season twice in his career, eclipsing the mark in 2004 with 1,240 yards and in 2005 with 1,232 yards. Due to injuries, Droughns only rushed for 758 yards in 2006. Carter was the Giants’ second-round draft choice in 2002. Often plagued by injuries, Carter caught 72 passes and scored three touchdowns in 53 games.
Jerry Reese Hired as New GM
January 16, 2007 The New York Giants hired Jerry Reese as their general manager, making him only the third African-American GM in NFL history. Reese, who held the title as the team's director of player personnel for the last four years, replaced Ernie Accorsi, who held the position for nine seasons before retiring. As the Giants' player personnel director, Reese oversaw all aspects of college scouting and had the majority of responsibility for the draft. Reese first joined the Giants' scouting department in 1994 after working on the coaching staff at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee.
Giants Sign Arrington
April 21, 2006 The Giants significantly upgraded their linebacker corps and entire defense with the signing of three-time Pro Bowler LaVar Arrington. Arrington, the second overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, was one of the NFL’s most productive and exciting linebackers in his six seasons with the Washington Redskins. The 6-3, 253-pound Arrington has played in 79 regular season games with 67 starts. He has been credited with 467 tackles (335 solo), 22.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Arrington played for the NFC Pro Bowl team every season from 2001-2003.
Giants Bolster Secondary Through Free Agency
March 15, 2006 The Giants continue to restructure their secondary, signing Will Demps, a likely candidate to replace recently-released Brent Alexander as the starting free safety. Demps spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He has played in 57 games with 46 starts and has four interceptions. Demps joins a revamped secondary that includes newly signed free agent cornerbacks Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters, as well as safety Quentin Harris.
Madison played his first nine NFL seasons for the Miami Dolphins. He has 31 career interceptions including two he returned for touchdowns. He has played in 138 games with 127 starts, including six seasons in which he started all 16 games. Madison has also played—and started—in eight postseason games and he played for the AFC Pro Bowl team every season from 1999-2002, the first three as a starter.
McQuarters played last season with the Detroit Lions. He began his NFL career with two seasons in San Francisco, followed by five years in Chicago. He has played in 115 regular season games with 69 starts and has 11 career interceptions, 168 punt returns and 61 kickoff returns.
Harris played his first four years with the Arizona Cardinals. He has played in 54 career games with six starts. He has one interception, eight passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and 54 special teams tackles.
Giants Sign Sam Madison
March 10, 2006 Addressing one of their biggest offseason needs prior to the official commencement of free agent signing period, the New York Giants reached an agreement with former Miami Dolphins cornerback Sam Madison on a four-year contract. A nine-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowl player, Madison has 31 career interceptions and 69 passes defensed. In 138 regular-season appearances, Madison, a former Louisville star selected by Miami in the second round of the 1997 draft, had 354 tackles.
Giants’ Harry Carson Elected to Hall of Fame
February 4, 2006 Harry Carson, an inside linebacker who was one of the greatest players in Giants history, has been selected to join pro football’s heroes and legends in Canton, Ohio. A nine-time Pro Bowler in a career that spanned from 1976-88, Carson led the Giants in tackles five seasons, was a two-time All-NFL selection and was a leader throughout his career, most notably on the 1986 Super Bowl champion team. Carson is the 29th member of the Hall of Fame with ties to the Giants--those who played all or part of their careers with the team, or were Giants coaches or owners. Carson joins Lawrence Taylor as the only Giant elected to the Hall of Fame from the team’s highly-successful seven-year run from 1984-90, which included five postseason appearances, three NFC East titles and two Super Bowl championships.
Joining Carson in this year’s Hall of Fame class are QB Troy Aikman, DL Reggie White, Coach John Madden, QB Warren Moon and OL Rayfield Wright. The six new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on the weekend of Aug. 5-6, 2006.
5 Giants Selected to Pro Bowl
Defensive ends Strahan and Umenyiora were among five Giants selected to play in the Pro Bowl in Honolulu on Feb. 12. Tight end Jeremy Shockey and running back Tiki Barber also were named to the NFC team along with David Tyree, selected on special teams. The Giants have not had this many Pro Bowl selections since 1990 when seven players earned the honor. In addition to the five first-teamers, eight Giants were named as alternates: middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, kicker Jay Feely and punt returner Chad Morton are first alternates; punter Jeff Feagles was named as a second alternate; quarterback Eli Manning, wide receiver Plaxico Burress and center Shaun O'Hara are third alternates and guard Chris Snee is a fourth alternate.
Giants Sign Plaxico Burress
The New York Giants and free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress agreed to terms on a six-year contract on Friday, March 18th. Burress, who has spent all five of his NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, was one of the most coveted free agent wide receivers in the league this offseason. In 2004, Burress led the 15-1 Steelers with five touchdown catches among his 35 receptions for 698 yards (a 19.9-yard average that was second in the NFL). His finest season was 2002 when he caught 78 passes for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns. Burress, 6-5 and 226 pounds, was originally selected by the Steelers with the eighth-overall pick in the 2000 draft. In 71 career games, he has posted 261 catches for 4,164 yards and 33 touchdowns. The 27-year-old Burress should be a tremendous help to the Giants and blossoming quarterback Eli Manning next season. Burress will also compliment veteran wideout Amani Toomer in the starting lineup. New York has been busy this offseason with the signings of linebacker Antonio Pierce, right tackle Kareem McKenzie and kicker Jay Feely.
Miller Signs With Giants
The New York Giants signed veteran quarterback Jim Miller on Wednesday, March 9th. Miller spent last season with the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. He has also played for the Bucs, Bears, Falcons and Steelers during his career, which began in Pittsburgh in 1994. Miller, 34, last played in 2002 with Chicago where he stared eight games. That season he completed 57.3 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The 11-year veteran missed all of the 2003 season with a shoulder injury. Miller has completed 610-of-1,046 passes in his career for 6,387 yards with 36 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. His best season was in 2001 when he led the Bears to a 13-3 mark and the NFC Central Division title while starting 13 of his 14 games.
Giants Sign Feely
The New York Giants signed free agent placekicker Jay Feely to a two-year contract on Tuesday, March 8th. Feely has played his entire career (2001-) with the Atlanta Falcons. Feely converted on 18-of-23 field-goal attempts last season and made all 40 PAT tries. Feely, 28, will become the Giant's third Opening Day starter in as many years, replacing Steve Christie who made 22-of-28 field-goal attempts and all 33 PAT tries in 2004.
Giants Sign McKenzie
Offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie signed a seven-year deal with the New York Giants on March 4th, after spending the last four seasons with the Jets. McKenzie, who started the last three seasons at right tackle, should provide immediate help to an offensive line that for the last two seasons has been one of the worst in the NFL. McKenzie will remain at right tackle, allowing David Diehl, a guard who played there last season, to move back to his natural position. Luke Petitgout, who began his career on the right side, will remain at left tackle. McKenzie was the Jets' third-round pick out of Penn State in 2001 and was considered one of the best tackles available on the free-agent market.
Giants Sign Pierce
On March 3rd, the New York Giants signed free agent linebacker Antonio Pierce to a six-year deal. Pierce, 26, spent the first four years of his career with division rival Washington Redskins and became a starter in 2004 after spending much of his career in a reserve role and on special teams. Pierce led the Redskins with 160 tackles last season, including 109 solo. The four-year veteran also intercepted two passes, recovered two fumbles and forced one in helping Washington's defense improve from No. 25 to No. 3 in the NFL in 2004. Pierce was an undrafted free agent who started 10 of his 40 NFL games before the 2004 season and was named as an alternate for the 2004 Pro Bowl.
2005 Pro Bowl Selections
Giants running back Tiki Barber was selected to represent the National Football Conference (NFC) in the 2005 Pro Bowl--the NFL's annual all-star game. In 2004, Barber won the NFL yards from scrimmage title, set the Giants' all-time rushing record and set the Giants' single-season rushing record with 1,518 yard--two more yards than Joe Morris had in 1986. Barber increased his career-rushing total to 6,927 yards, which tops Rodney Hampton's career record of 6,897 yards. Barber also finished the season with an NFL-best 2,096 yards from scrimmage (1,518 rushing and 578 receiving) to beat out Edgerrin James who had 2,031 yards from scrimmage. Tight end Jeremy Shockey, linebacker Carlos Emmons and wide receiver/special teams ace David Tyree were all voted in as alternates.
Giants Sign Kurt Warner
On Thursday, June 3rd, the New York Giants signed two-time NFL MVP quarterback Kurt Warner, giving the team a veteran quarterback in case top draft pick Eli Manning is not ready to start this season. The signing comes a little more than 24 hours after Warner was released in a salary-cap move by St. Louis, ending an improbable run that saw the former Arena League quarterback lead the Rams to two Super Bowls, including a thrilling victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Kurt Warner has led a Cinderella-like football career. Before making it to the NFL in 1998, Warner spent three seasons (1995-1997) with the Iowa Barnstormers (now the New York Dragons) of the Arena League and another with NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals before settling with the Rams for the 1998 season.
Warner is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, holding all-time records for the highest career passer rating (97.2) and completion percentage (66.41). He is the latest and possibly most significant free agent acquisition the Giants have made during this busy offseason, which has featured the signing of 21 veterans.
Giants Add to Defensive Line
The New York Giants signed unrestricted free agent defensive end Lorenzo Bromell on Monday, April 5th. Bromell played the last six games of the 2003 season with the Oakland Raiders, starting four games in which he totaled two sacks and 12 tackles. He signed with the Raiders in November of 2003 after being released by Minnesota because of a knee injury he suffered during training camp. Bromell, 28, came to the Vikings as an unrestricted free agent in 2002 and played in 16 games—recording 30 tackles and four sacks. Bromell is the third free agent defensive lineman to be acquired by the Giants, joining Fred Robbins (Minnesota) and Martin Chase (Washington).
The Giants continued to add to their defensive line on Wednesday, April 7th, with the signing of defensive tackle Norman Hand. The 6-3, 310-pound Hand played for the Seattle Seahawks last season but spent much of the year on the disabled list with a torn right bicep. He did, however, play in six games (starting five) and finished the season with ten tackles and a sack. The 32-year-old Queens native is entering his tenth NFL season with his fifth team. Hand has totaled 285 career tackles (199 solo), 21.5 career sacks and two interceptions.
Giants Sign Terry Cousin
On March 24th, the Giants took a step forward in strengthening their defense by signing cornerback Terry Cousin. Cousin, who is an eight-year veteran, helped lead the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl, as well as their first NFC Championship, last season by recording 57 tackles (40 solo), two sacks, and five passes defended. Along with Will Peterson and Will Allen, Cousin will add depth as well as experience to the Giants Secondary.
Giants Look to Improve 2004 Roster
In a disastrous 4-12 season, the New York Giants defense was ranked 22nd in the league and 18th against the run, while their offensive line lacked any veteran leadership. Over the course of four days, the team added a number of players they believe can begin to solve these issues.
On Friday, March 5th, the Giants took a major step toward solving their defensive woes by signing strongside linebacker Carlos Emmons and defensive tackle Fred Robbins. Emmons was the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive MVP last season, New York's NFC East rival. Robbins, also an unrestricted free agent, was an outstanding run stopper for the Minnesota Vikings.
Emmons had a career-high 123 tackles last season for the Eagles, with whom he spent four years—registering 608 tackles, 363 solos, 17 sacks, four interceptions, five fumbles recoveries and six forced fumbles.
At 6-4 and 325 ponds, Fred Robbins figures to help solve that problem. Robbins was selected by Minnesota in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Last season, he started 12 of 16 games and amassed 30 tackles (21 solo).
On Sunday, March 6th, the Giants signed free agent lineman Shaun O’Hara to bolster their offensive line. O'Hara, who was a New Jersey high school standout, spent the last four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, participating in 54 games, including 38 starts. Last year, O'Hara played in 14 games, starting at both left and right guard.
The team continued to shore up their defense by signing free agent linebacker Barrett Green on Monday, March 8th. Green started all 16 games for the Detroit Lions last season and registered 117 tackles (71 solo), three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Green, who started 40 of 54 games in Detroit, was one of the few solid players the Lions have had while struggling in recent years. In 2001, he finished second on the team with 115 tackles despite missing the last two games with a back injury. The next year, Green registered 116 tackles and forced three fumbles. Also worthy of note, Barrett’s father, Joe, played strong safety for the Giants from 1970-71.
Coughlin Hired as New Head Coach
Tom Coughlin, a highly successful NFL and college head coach as well as a member of the Giants staff when the team won Super Bowl XXV, was named as the new head coach of the Giants on Tuesday, January 6th. Coughlin previously coached the Jacksonville Jaguars for eight seasons, compiling a record of 72-64 and twice took the team to the AFC Championship Game. He was out of football in 2003 but has been in the coaching profession for more than 30 years. Coughlin, 57, succeeds Jim Fassel, who was fired following a 4-12 season in which the Giants lost their final eight games. He was offered the Giants job in 1993, but chose to remain at Boston College. The Giants then hired Dan Reeves. Coughlin earned a reputation as one of the NFL's finest offensive coaches. During his tenure, the Jaguars led the NFL in both passing yards (4,367 in 1996) and rushing yards (2,091 in 1999). In addition to having the most rushing yards in the NFL in 1999, Jacksonville boasted the league's leading receiver in Jimmy Smith (116 receptions). The only other team in history to accomplish that double was the 1954 San Francisco 49ers.
For more Giants news and transactions, please visit our Giants Archive.
|
Last Updated On:
Monday, July 28, 2008 | |
 |
 |
 |
| 2 Washington Street, 15th Fl., New York, NY 10004 / Toll Free: 877.NYC.SPORTS / Fax: 212.788.7514 |
| |
