inmate running the asylum Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Giants: Aren't going on a spending spree Wednesday, March 03, 2004 BY KIMBERLY JONES Star-Ledger Staff The Giants were content to allow all of their free agents, including four defensive starters, to hit the open market at midnight, the beginning of NFL free agency. Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, defensive end Kenny Holmes, linebackers Dhani Jones and Brandon Short and center Chris Bober are the Giants' most prominent free agents. Combined with the retirement of defensive tackle Keith Hamilton, the likely loss of Griffin would leave the interior of the defensive line thin. General manager Ernie Accorsi said the Giants would re-sign any of their free agents "at the right price." That probably won't happen with Griffin or Bober, who probably will receive more lucrative offers elsewhere. Griffin's agent, Tony Agnone, said he and the Giants have talked only "in general terms" about a deal. He labeled any financial parameters as "pure speculation" since specific numbers were not discussed. The Giants have William Joseph and Lance Legree, a restricted free agent who will receive a tender offer from the Giants, as their only defensive tackles on the roster. Defensive coordinator Tim Lewis said the lack of depth "concerns" him. He laughed when asked his preference in re-signing players. "I want everybody back," Lewis said. Should Bober depart, the Giants would be no closer to stabilizing an offensive line that was overcome by injury and incompetence last season and is a priority this off-season. The one free agent the Giants definitely do not plan to lose is cornerback Will Peterson, who is a restricted free agent and will receive a first-round tender of $1.368 million. If another team were to sign Peterson, the Giants would receive a first-round draft pick as compensation. But the Giants would like to sign Peterson, who is considered part of their nucleus, to a long-term contract and have had discussions with his agent. "He's a guy we certainly would like to extend," Accorsi said. Other restricted free agents, including Legree, quarterback Jesse Palmer and tight end Marcellus Rivers, will receive $627,689 tenders, giving the Giants the opportunity to match another club's offer. The Giants probably won't make a free-agent splash in terms of signing a big name. They are likelier to go the route they did in 2000, when they parlayed the relatively low-key signings of offensive linemen Lomas Brown, Glenn Parker and Dusty Zeigler and linebacker Mike Barrow into a Super Bowl appearance. "It's not that you're trying to get cheap talent, it's that you can sign more if you're patient," Accorsi said. "You try to be prudent and fill more holes for a lot less money." Holmes, who signed with the Giants as a free agent in 2001, will be given the opportunity to re-sign. But, like Jones and Short, he may seek a better deal elsewhere. The Giants have to address several areas, including the defensive line, offensive line, linebacker, nickel cornerback and quarterback, through free agency or the draft. "You have to marry the two," Accorsi said. "But you can't all of a sudden say, 'I'm going to sign an offensive linemen (in free agency), so I'm not going to draft one.' I don't think anything we do in free agency will take us out of any possibilities in the draft." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NACSkins Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC4 Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Can you all say "last place New York Giants" boys and girls? That's our new term for today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kappaluvacee Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Burn Giants burn........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aREDSKIN Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Man it's going to be a battle of the tightwads in the Salary cap bowl between the Giants & the Eagles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMac Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 I know Kenny Holmes did not play as well with the Giants, but he was a good DE for Tenn before the signed Kevin Carter and is also a Greg Williams former player. Im going out on a limb and say that we sign him. He is now my sleeper pick. I can see him and Kearse lines up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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