The Giants have decided to stay out of the free agency period thus far this year. Its hard to argue with the strategy at this point because of the insane money teams (ahem 49ers) are throwing at marginal players just because with the new bargaining agreement in place teams have too much cap money. Its also a pretty weak year since most prospects resigned in the last year to protect themselves in case the League and the Union couldn't reach a new collective bargaining agreement last year. General manager Jerry Reese is not letting the market drive us into bad contracts and that is admirale since most teams feel the need to do something if anything. The problem with the situation is that we cut our starting left tackle for cap room to sign players. I didn't have a problem with that when it looked like we were going to bring some top notch free agents. Cutting Arrington makes more sense now with the complete lack of interest he's draw from other teams showing that he's clearly damaged goods and doesn't have much left. However Pettigout is coming off some of his best albeit injury plagued seasons and just signed a big deal to join the Buccaneers while drawing contract offers from other teams. If Giants GM Jerry Reese thinks Deihl and Whimper are the future at left tackle that's fine. But why not bring Pettigout back and see what you've got in him at least as an insurance policy. Its not like you need the cap space. Particularly when anything you gained by cutting Pettigout you lost by cutting Arrington. Makes little since unless they feel like they can get Levi Brown out of Penn. State at the 20th pick in the draft. But you would still think they would want some vetern option at one of the four most important positions in football in left offensive tackle.
I have no problem with letting kicker Jay Feely move on to Miami since he clearly doesn't have the leg strength to be an elite kicker and is not worth the money he wanted. His percentage numbers make him sound like a better option than he was because the Giants conceded that he wouldn't hit long attempts and quit trying them. And then there's always the Seattle game. He'd be great if you could put him in a college system and have one kicker for kickoffs and long field goals and another for short attempts and extra points. But with limited roster spots he's not versatile enough.
However just when I'm about to give up on Reese he goes out and makes a huge deal and completely redeems himself by acquiring running back Reuben Droughns. Late this afternoon the Giants traded away an injury prone and unproductive second round bust of a wide receiver out of Auburn Tim Carter for veteran Droughns who ran for over a thousand yards in 2004 and 2005 (In Cleveland no less) and has 8 years of experience to protect the Giants in the upcoming Brandon Jacobs era in case Jacobs is not ready to be a feature back in the NFL. Judging by Jacobs' difficulty last season (think Cowboys at Giants 2006) in being the short yardage back and he's lack of elusiveness its within the realm of possibility. This is one of those trades that's almost too good to be true. The Giants get rid of one of the players they should have cut years ago our at least last month when they were cutting injury prone players. This clip is the perfect example of his career. Speed, but can't catch and scared to get hit. This trade will be the most the Giants ever get out of Carter.
Welcome Reuben!
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