Well, 10:50, as I write this... And for you, Anthony, I'll post my vacation schedule so you'll know when the job becomes too hard for me and I have to step away and regroup.
The Giants did sign restricted free agent FB Vonta Leach to an offer sheet on Monday. Four years and $7.2 million, with reachable incentives that could take the total amount up to $8.3 million, and a $1.6-million signing bonus. Leach is 25, five years younger than current FB Jim Finn, and opened up some running room for Ron Dayne, of all people, with the Texans last year. That's gotta be worth something.
The Texans have until Monday to match the offer. Leach's agent, Ralph Vitolo, said he expects to hear from Houston by Friday. He also said there are no "poison pills" in the deal, like the one that the Vikings threw into their restricted FA offer sheet to G Steve Hutchinson last year that, had the Seahawks matched it, would have guaranteed the entire $49-million deal.
Vitolo did say there are some guarantees in the deal that the Texans might not like -- easily reachable incentives that bump up the cost of the contract right from the first year of it -- since Houston, unlike the Giants, doesn't like to hand out contracts with such escalators in them. The Giants (see Manning, Eli) do hand out such contracts.
The NFL Network reported yesterday that free-agent LB Keith Adams, late of the Dolphins, visited the Giants. Adams played for the Eagles and current Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo from 2002-05 and is known primarily as a special teams ace. He'd be more of a depth LB than a starter.
Speaking of LBs, Brandon Short -- who recounted his harrowing experience being right nearby when that crazed gunman killed three people on the West Village last week -- is still out there, waiting for a call. He and I spoke for a few minutes last week and he did point out that the Giants were 2-5 without him in the lineup last season.
But the mere fact that Short was injured for a month highlights what Jerry Reese wants in his players -- youth and health. It's why he's willing to shell out some of the limited salary-cap space the Giants have towards Leach rather than keep Finn, who has had numerous concussions and has some back issues as well. Finn's a warrior, no question, but it seems Reese wants to get younger where he can.
Comments (3)
THIS WILL BE A GOOD PICKUP FOR THE GIANTS. AS FAR AS SHORT. HE IS A GOOD LINEBACKER, WISH HE WOULD WORK ON SPEED DRILLS. WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE
Arthur - is it me or are the Giants focusing on the draft to fix the holes on Defense? Every time I look it seems that they have their sights on an Offensive player, excluding Adams of course. I can't help but feel disappointed in Reese's approach thus far.
Hey Arthur, I love Brandon Short. He has always played hard here and loves NY. PLus, I'm guessing he's be a better bargain than Keith Adams. Can you always explain the Al Wilson thing? Might the Giants try a 3-4 this year with two MLBers? Pierce is about as good as it gets there and I can't see moving him anywhere.