For Giants, Offseason Subtractions Have Been More Eye-Catching Than Additions

Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup

New York Giants

Players Released:
LaVar Arrington, LB
Luke Petitgout, T
Carlos Emmons, LB
Tiki Barber, RB (retired)
Bob Whitfield, T (retired)
Chad Morton, RB/KR

Free Agents Lost:
Visanthe Shiancoe, TE
Jay Feely, K
Frank Walker, CB

Traded:
Tim Carter, WR

Traded For:
Reuben Droughns, RB
Lawrence Tynes, K

Free Agents Re-Signed:
Grey Ruegamer, C

Free Agents Added:
Kawika Mitchell, LB
Anthony Wright, QB
Marcus Bell, DT
Michael Stone, DB

Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 20 overall) Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
2 (51) Steve Smith, WR, USC
3 (81) Jay Alford, DT, Penn State
4 (116) Zak DeOssie, LB, Brown
5 (153) Kevin Boss, TE, Western Oregon
6 (189) Adam Koets, T, Oregon State
7 (224) Michael Johnson, S, Arizona
7 (250) Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Marshall

Analysis:

The New York Giants knew it would be an offseason of big changes, with General Manager Ernie Accorsi and tailback Tiki Barber headed into retirement. Owners John Mara and Steve Tisch decided against making it a clean sweep, retaining Tom Coughlin as their coach and giving him a one-year contract extension through the 2008 season. But that was only a mild endorsement of Coughlin, who now faces a make-or-break season in 2007.

He'll have two new coordinators. Offensive coordinator John Hufnagel was ousted at the end of last season and the job given to quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride. Coughlin fired defensive coordinator Tim Lewis in the offseason and gave the job to Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo.

New GM Jerry Reese, who was promoted from within after New England Patriots front office chief Scott Pioli declined to be interviewed by the Giants, made some major roster subtractions by releasing left tackle Luke Petitgout, linebackers LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons and kick returner Chad Morton. Backup offensive tackle Bob Whitfield joined Barber in retirement. Kicker Jay Feely exited in free agency.

The additions made by Reese were not as eye-catching. He traded wide receiver Tim Carter to the Cleveland Browns for tailback Reuben Droughns; the decision to add Droughns was a bit curious because his rumbling style mirrors that of holdover tailback Brandon Jacobs, rather than complementing it. Reese considered trading for Denver Broncos linebacker Al Wilson, but the deal fell through and the Giants instead signed free agent Kawika Mitchell. Reese signed backup quarterback Anthony Wright. He got Texas cornerback Aaron Ross and USC wide receiver Steve Smith in the first two rounds of the draft, then just traded a conditional future pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for kicker Lawrence Tynes.

With Barber gone, the Giants, more than ever, need Eli Manning to be a top-tier quarterback. Accorsi retired with the verdict still unclear on the wisdom of his bold draft-day move in 2004, trading up to get Manning. If Manning makes a giant leap forward, anything is possible for this team. If he doesn't, next season probably will resemble last season, when the Giants struggled to an 8-8 regular season, snuck into the playoffs in the forgiving NFC and then exited in the first round; a repeat performance probably wouldn't be enough to save Coughlin's job this time.

By Mark Maske |  May 24, 2007; 3:27 PM ET  | Category:  Giants
Previous: Saints, Tinkering This Time Instead of Overhauling, Have Another Good Offseason | Next: NFL Security Officers Reportedly Contact County Investigators in Vick Case

Posted by: pack4life | May 24, 2007 7:26 PM

Posted by: old school | May 25, 2007 2:36 AM

The comments to this entry are closed.