New York Giants Cut Roster to 53: The Giants reduced their roster yesterday from 75 players to 53, as required by the NFL.
The following players were placed on Injured Reserve:
- QB Anthony Wright (neck)
- LT Guy Whimper (broken foot)
- OC Digger Bujnoch (sprained knee)
The following 20 players were waived or had their contract terminated:
- QB Andre’ Woodson
- FB Robert Douglas
- WR Brandon London
- WR Marcus Monk
- TE Jerome Collins
- TE Eric Butler
- OT Cliff Louis
- OG Na’Shan Goddard
- OG Andrew Bain
- OG Kurt Quarterman
- DE Wallace Gilberry
- DE Alex Morrow
- DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo
- DT Jeremy Clark
- LB Tank Daniels
- LB James Terry
- CB Geoffrey Pope
- CB Darren Barnett
- S Stuart Schweigert
- PK Josh Huston
“As always, we try to keep the best 53 football players,” said General Manager Jerry Reese. “I like this squad a lot – number one we have talented players, number two I believe they’re focused and still hungry with something to prove.”
“This is a very tough day,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “When you look into the eyes of the players you see three or four different reactions. On the one hand, there will be the guy who had no idea he was going to be released and he’s in a state of shock. Another is the guy who desperately wanted to make the team and probably did a pretty good job of camouflaging it a lot of times, but now there’s no camouflage whatsoever. He’s devastated. Then there are the eyes of the individual who kind of knew it was coming, is very gracious about it and wants to thank everybody for the opportunity that he’s had. Then there are the young guys who you can encourage and perhaps offer a practice squad position to. Those guys seem to come back off the floor once they know that there is going to be a practice squad opportunity for them should they clear waivers.”
“You have a lot of emotions and you have a lot of people that are anxious about this day,” said Coughlin. “You have some guys that come to the building here and it hasn’t sunk in why they’re here, so when they come up to you they’re in a state of shock. It’s an anxious day for the player. And it’s not a happy day for all of us here, because you’ve had so many people that have played and tried so hard and they’re not going to be a part of our team. That’s the unfortunate nature of the process.”
“Because every group of young men is a new group,” said Coughlin. “You become attached to them. You find out what they’re made of, you watch them practice and play and recognize the effort they give. No two circumstances are ever the same with regard to releasing the players.”
The Giants only kept two quarterbacks: Eli Manning and David Carr. “We’ll see how that goes,” Coughlin said. “Obviously, it’s a calculated risk. We studied all the numbers. There’s a 90 percent assurance you never get beyond the one (backup) quarterback. The thing about it is, with our kicker situation at this point in time, we felt like we needed to be able to protect some players and still be able to do the things necessary from the standpoint of placekickers.”
HB Reuben Droughns, CB Sam Madison, and CB R.W. McQuarters were considered to be on the bubble by some. “There isn’t any doubt about them being good players,” Coughlin said. “They’re veteran players and they’ve seen an awful lot in this game and they’ve been able to react to it. Each individual is different. From the standpoint of Reuben, we have a pretty good group of guys at running back and felt like they were all worthy of making an NFL team and they have so many roles that they can play. Reuben can be a fullback, he can be a running back, he can be a special teams player, he can be a short-yardage and goal line guy. He has a lot of hats he can wear.”
Five defensive players who started in Super Bowl XLII are no longer with the team: DE Michael Strahan, DE Osi Umenyiora, LB Kawika Mitchell, LB Reggie Torbor, and S Gibril Wilson. All 11 offensive starters from the Super Bowl return.
There are 11 new players on the squad: S Kenny Phillips, CB Terrell Thomas, WR Mario Manningham, LB Bryan Kehl, LB Jonathan Goff, QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, DE Renaldo Wynn, Sammy Knight, DT Rodney Leisle, and PK John Carney. No undrafted rookie free agents made the team this year.
“I think most of the time if you go back and look, the roster turnover is in that area,” Coughlin said. “There is always change in some way, shape or form. The other thing is you’re always in a position where you’re trying to develop your young guys to come along. That’s always a factor. You’re counting on the veteran experience from the offensive side of the ball and hoping the new guys can become integrated as fast as possible to the sophistication to the in-season play. You just hope people can come together as fast as possible to make the kind of plays that are necessary to win.”
Eight players can be signed to the Practice Squad as early as today.
New York Giants Sign John Carney: The Giants yesterday signed PK John Carney. Carney has played 20 seasons in the NFL, including kicking for both the Jacksonville Jaguars (8 games) and Kansas City Chiefs (5 games) in 2007. He was not with any team in camp this summer.
PK Lawrence Tynes (knee) still has not returned to practice and PK Josh Huston was waived yesterday.
“We went with experience,” said General Manager Jerry Reese.
“When you go into your first game of the year, and you’re in the situation we’re in from the standpoint of our placekicker, there isn’t any question that in the back of your mind is the fact this is a veteran,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin said. “That’s really the number one thing. John Carney has so much experience and been in this league for so long, kicked so many game-winning field goals and been in so many tight situations. It’s very difficult to overlook that part of it, especially when you’re week-to-week with your present kicker, a guy that’s kicked a 47-yarder to put you in the Super Bowl.”
“I haven’t found anything better to do yet,” Carney said. “I’ve been training and I feel good. I feel strong and healthy. I’m motivated to continue my career. I felt good about the way things worked out last year, when I filled in for an injured kicker down in Jacksonville. Then I finished the season with Kansas City and things worked out well. I felt confident if I continued to train and hope, I would get some more opportunities here in 2008.”
“This is a phenomenal team that had a remarkable season last year,” Carney said. “I was very proud to see the Giants pull off the amazing victory in the Super Bowl, and I feel honored and blessed to be here with the team right now.”
New York Post Q&A With DE/DT Justin Tuck: Serby’s Sunday Q&A With…Just Tuck by Steve Serby of The New York Post
Article on LB Antonio Pierce: Antonio Pierce Wants Extension, But Not Sensing Any Giant Love by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News