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HOT TOPIC
It was a long and drawn out process before the Giants and linebacker LaVar Arrington reached agreement on a free-agent contract. The three-time Pro Bowl hero from the Washington Redskins had simply worn out his welcome in D.C., did not get along with head coach Joe Gibbs or defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and voiced his desire to go elsewhere.
That resulted in negotiations that allowed him to buy out the remaining time in his contract (at a cost of $4.3 million). He then mounted a multi-city tour, visiting Miami, Green Bay, Cleveland, Oakland and the Giants, and at one point chances of Arrington and the Giants finding a solution seemed all but dead.
But his asking price, which was too high for any of the interested suitors, finally came down, and the Giants agreed to a deal that will pay him several million more in incentives and the like.
So now he is in camp, and according to head coach Tom Coughlin, he is nothing like the unhappy, morose, often injured athlete who plagued the Redskins' practice field and locker room.
"LaVar has been in here every day," said Coughlin. "He has a smile on his face. He has studied the playbook. He has worked well with the other players and the assistant coaches. We are very pleased with him. It's been good. He is starting to get a handle on what we are going to ask him to do."
And that is going to be the strong-side position, which will, at the same time, require veteran Carlos Emmons to switch to the weak side. How is that working out? "They have both been on the strong side and both been on the weak side," Coughlin said. "In this defense, LaVar can be the biggest factor. I have been impressed with Carlos working off the ball so I think the moves are going to work out."
And what makes Arrington best suited to the strong side?
"Well, I think he is powerful over the tight end," Coughlin explained. "I think he is challenging for a back to have to block. Hopefully, with him lining up next to (Michael) Strahan or Osi (Umenyiora}, it is going to give (offenses) some thoughts about how the protection should go on that side." Strahan and Umenyiora, of course, represent the Giants' pair of Pro Bowl defensive ends.
One team's loss seems to be another's gain.
PLAYER NOTES
--With five quarterbacks on the roster (as of now), it would seem particularly reckless to annoy head coach Tom Coughlin. Yet that is precisely what Jared Lorenzen did this spring when he refused an invitation to play for a team in the NFL-Europe league. One must surmise that his chances of making it again as the third quarterback took a serious hit, leaving starter Eli Manning to be backed up by new addition Rob Johnson and last year's backup, Tim Hasselbeck.
--TE Jeremy Shockey showed up to minicamp with a black (left) eye, but when asked whether it was acquired in a fight down in south Florida, where he spent his off-season working out with the University of Miami camp, he laughed. "I wish," he said. "At least that would be a good story. I hurt myself in the weight room." Coughlin said a full-scale investigation was not planned.
--QB Rob Johnson, who hasn't played in the NFL in two years (Tommy John surgery), said he was contacted by Denver and the Giants. "I took the Giants because I always thought that organization was the best in the league," he said. He also confessed that he did not notify his agent and that he didn't tell the agent that he had signed a contract with the Giants. Johnson was originally drafted in the fourth round 10 years ago by the Jacksonville Jaguars -- when Coughlin was the head coach.
--All the off-season changes and additions failed to bring another running back to the squad, leaving superstar Tiki Barber (1,860 yards last year) backed up by second-year Brandon Jacobs, the 6-4, 265-pounder from Southern Illinois. "Brandon spent the winter working hard," said Coughlin, "and he has studied the playbook. He will constantly be challenged now with his protections and pickups and all that stuff. He is much more advanced than he was a year ago."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Reports still insist the Giants are considering a switch to the 3-4 defensive front, but none of the coaches or players will confirm that. The addition of NT Junior Ioane, however, might convince some that the change is on the way. He is 6-feet-4 and 318 pounds (down from 330) and is the perfect nose tackle.
Previously reported was the move of LB Carlos Emmons to the weak side to make room for veteran free agent LaVar Arrington's insertion into the lineup as the SLB.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--CB/KR Lamont Brightful (not tendered as RFA).
--CB Terrell Buckley (not tendered June 1).
--RB Michael Cloud (not tendered June 1).
--LB Roman Phifer (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--WR Tim Carter: UFA; $2M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB.
--QB Tim Hasselbeck: UFA; terms unknown.
--OG Lewis Kelly: UFA; terms unknown.
--RB/KR Chad Morton: UFA; terms unknown.
--WR/KR Willie Ponder: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--TE Visanthe Shiancoe: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--WR David Tyree: RFA; $7.5M/5 yrs, $1.5M SB.
--CB Frank Walker: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OT Bob Whitfield: UFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--LB LaVar Arrington FA Redskins; $49M/7 yrs, $5.25M SB.
--CB Jason Bell: UFA Texans; terms unknown.
--S Will Demps: UFA Ravens; 5 yrs, terms unknown.
--S Quentin Harris: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.
--DT Junior Ioane: FA Texans; terms unknown.
--QB Rob Johnson: FA; terms unknown.
--CB Sam Madison: FA Dolphins; $7.4M/4 yrs, $2M SB; 2006 cap: $1.4M.
--CB R.W. McQuarters: UFA Lions; $6M/3 yrs, $2M SB.
--G/C Grey Ruegamer: UFA Packers; $750,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2006 cap: $465,000.
--LB Brandon Short: FA Panthers; terms unknown.
--TE Boo Williams: FA Saints; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Brent Alexander (released).
--DT Kenderick Allen: RFA rights terminated/Packers; terms unknown.
--CB Will Allen: UFA Dolphins; $12M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--DT Kendrick Clancy: UFA Cardinals; $8.1M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Jay Foreman: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--LB Barrett Green (released).
--LB Nick Greisen: UFA Jaguars; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Will Peterson (released/failed physical).
--WR Jamaar Taylor (retired).
--OG Jason Whittle (released).
--S Shaun Williams: UFA Panthers; 1 yr, terms unknown.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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