New York Giants Officially Sign LB Kawika Mitchell: The Giants have officially signed unrestricted free agent LB Kawika Mitchell (Kansas City Chiefs). The deal is reportedly a 1-year, $1 million contract ($750,000 base salary, $200,000 signing bonus, $50,000 workout bonus according to The New York Post).
Mitchell met with Defensive Backs Coach Pete Giunta, who coached with the Chiefs from 2001-2005, on Monday night. He has not yet met with any of the other coaches. Mitchell will play outside linebacker for the Giants. It is not known yet whether that will be on the strong- or weak-side.
“Over the past two years I haven’t come off the field, I have played 100 percent of all the plays at Kansas City,” said Mitchell. “I feel like I can do whatever is asked of me, and then some. I plan on making an impact and trying to make a lot of big plays and the plays that should be made. I’ll be playing outside. I’m not even thinking about playing the middle right now. I’m not quite sure how things are going to work out right now, but when I meet with the coaches I’m sure they’ll explain it. But Antonio (Pierce) is a good leader and a great player.”
“Kawika is a good young veteran who has started for the last three years,” said General Manager Jerry Reese. “He’s a young guy who has played a lot of snaps in this league, and we feel like he can really play any of the linebacker positions. He is a guy who has something to prove, and this will be a great opportunity for him to do that. We’re excited to have him and we feel like he will stabilize our linebacker situation.”
Mitchell said he had been talking to the Giants for the past couple of weeks. The Chiefs did not make a big push to re-sign him. “Sometimes you need to move on and see what else is out there and experience a different defense, a different vibe,” said Mitchell. “You try to build yourself up and let people see who you are.”
“I’m not opposed to (signing a one-year contract),” said Mitchell. “It’s something I can build on and have success with. If I do a great job, then the Giants will have an option (to re-sign me) or I could be on the market again I’m hoping I’ll have some success and win some games and we can make it a long-term thing. For now, that’s what it is and hopefully we can build on it.”
“(The Giants have) got a good team – that’s the most important thing,” said Mitchell. “I think we can win games. This is a team that can win a lot of games and I can help do something right away.”
Mitchell will wear #55.
New York Giants Re-Sign OG/OC Grey Ruegamer: The Giants have officially re-signed unrestricted free agent OG/OC Grey Ruegamer to a 2-year contract.
Injury Update: WR Amani Toomer says he is recovering nicely from his torn ACL and that he may be a little ahead of schedule. Toomer doubts he will practice at the veteran mini-camp in June, but hopes to be ready for training camp in July. “The swelling has gone away and now I am able to do more and more,” said Toomer. “I am definitely happy about the way things are going.”
DE Justin Tuck recently had the screws removed from his injured foot. He has begun to run on a treadmill. Tuck also told the press that he was not sure if he would be ready for the veteran mini-camp, but that he expects to be ready by training camp.
Notes and Quotes: CB Corey Webster says he struggled with the transition from a press man corner in college to a cover-two zone corner under ex-Giants Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis. He is hopeful that things will be better under new Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo: “Hopefully, this is a fresh start for me,” said Webster. “It’s a chance to really show what I can do Sometimes (the past two years), I got mixed signals. I didn’t really know what the coaching staff was asking for. It’s never a good thing when a player and the coach aren’t on the same page. We’re all here to win.”
One unidentified player told Newsday that he hoped Spagnuolo would use defensive personnel better than Lewis did: “We were basically playing a 3-4 at times last season. Our defensive ends weren’t able to use their speed on the edge and just go forward. We need to change that.”
LB Gerris Wilkinson on where he will play in 2007: “(The coaches) haven’t told me. They just said I’d have an opportunity to win a starting job. It doesn’t matter. It’s just that going into mini-camp, I’d like to know by then I feel like they’re giving me a clear opportunity, it’s just up to me to take advantage of it.”
RG Chris Snee on the Giants cutting LT Luke Petitgout: “Was I disappointed? Absolutely. He’s been here eight years and he gave a lot to this organization. He’s someone who’s a friend, and the O-line as a group was pretty tight. He was one of our leaders. Now, someone else has to fill that void.”
LG David Diehl on the possibility of moving to left tackle: “As of yet nothing has been said. Cutting Luke was something I didn’t expect, but I’m just working hard to become a better player and everything else will work out for itself. (Left tackle) is the toughest position on the offensive line. You’re going up against the best pass rusher and (protecting) the blind side of the quarterback. It makes you push yourself even harder because in order to have a good offense, you must have a good left tackle.”
HB Ryan Grant on bulking up to 224 pounds: “You work out all year, you’re able to adjust to the weight and not lose speed. (The coaches) really want me for my speed, so I had to make sure to keep that.”
QB Eli Manning on TE Jeremy Shockey and WR Plaxico Burress skipping the off-season strength training and conditioning program: “Yeah, I’ve talked to both of them. I said, ‘Hey, I probably won’t start throwing until mid-April. That’s when I’d like you here. Right now if you want to be training someplace else, that’s fine with me.’ I’ll talk to them as that gets closer and see what everybody is planning I hope we can get them here a few times before we start (mini-camp) No (I won’t travel to Miami). I’m up here. This is where I have to be. All the other players are here. It’s my responsibility to be here with my teammates. This is where I work out. This is where I get my film and do everything. This is where our off-season program is.”