Giants Make Cuts, Sign PK John Carney

[nyG]

Story - Giants.com


EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The Giants today reached the NFL’s 53-man regular-season limit by removing 23 players from their roster and adding one who could prove to be a very important addition – veteran kicker John Carney, the fifth-highest scorer in NFL history.

With Lawrence Tynes unable to kick because of the knee injury he suffered three weeks ago in Albany, the Giants today secured Carney to kick in Thursday night’s season opener vs. Washington and for as long as he is needed.

Carney, 44, is beginning his 21st NFL season. He has played 274 regular season games for six teams, most notably San Diego (1990-2000) and New Orleans (2001-2006). He has made 425 of 519 regular season field goal attempts (81.9 percent) and 537 of 545 extra point tries for 1,812 points.
Only Morten Andersen (2,544), Gary Anderson (2,434), George Blanda (2,002), and Matt Stover (1,822) have scored more points. Stover, a former Giants draft choice, is the Baltimore Ravens’ kicker.
In 2007, Carney played eight games for Jacksonville and five for Kansas City. connecting on 12 of 14 field goal attempts and 27 of 28 PATs for 63 points. Though he has had a long and distinguished career, Carney has kept kicking in hopes of staying in uniform.

“I haven't found anything better to do yet,” Carney said. “I've been training and I feel good. I feel strong and healthy. I’m motivated to continue my career. I felt good about the way things worked out last year, when I filled in for an injured kicker down in Jacksonville. Then I finished the season with Kansas City and things worked out well. I felt confident if I continued to train and hope, I would get some more opportunities here in 2008.”

With Tynes still sidelined, general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin wanted a reliable veteran kicker to take his place. "We went with experience," said Reese.
“When you go into your first game of the year, and you’re in the situation we’re in from the standpoint of our placekicker, there isn’t any question that in the back of your mind is the fact this is a veteran,” Coughlin said. “That’s really the number one thing. John Carney has so much experience and been in this league for so long, kicked so many game-winning field goals and been in so many tight situations. It’s very difficult to overlook that part of it, especially when you’re week-to-week with your present kicker, a guy that’s kicked a 47-yarder to put you in the Super Bowl.”

Regarding Tynes, Coughlin said, “There’s no new news. So progress is slow, as it normally is.”
Carney is particularly excited to get an opportunity to join the defending Super Bowl champions. He was contacted by the Giants yesterday and flew in from San Diego last night. Carney kicked in Giants Stadium today before he was signed.
“This is a phenomenal team that had a remarkable season last year,” Carney said. “I was very proud to see the Giants pull off the amazing victory in the Super Bowl, and I feel honored and blessed to be here with the team right now.”
With Carney and 42-year old Jeff Feagles, the Giants might have the oldest kicker-holder duo in NFL history.
“I know Jeff is an excellent holder and I've watched Jeff and played against Jeff for many years,” Carney said. "And I have a lot of confidence in Jeff, so it will be a few days of getting accustomed to and getting comfortable with the operation and the team. I had a few opportunities to do that last year. Hopefully, my system, God willing, will work and we'll be ready to go Thursday night.”
Josh Huston, who kicked in the final three preseason games, was one of the players who were released.
“Josh has done a great job for us,” Coughlin said. “He’s worked very hard and improved his game."
Three players were placed on injured reserve: backup quarterback Anthony Wright (neck), backup tackle Guy Whimper (broken foot) and rookie center Digger Bujnoch (sprained knee). Wright was hurt in the Aug. 18 preseason game vs. Cleveland, while Whimper and Bujnoch were injured in Thursday night’s victory over New England.
The contract of safety Stuart Schweigert was terminated.

Nineteen players were waived, including quarterback Andre’ Woodson, one of the team’s sixth-round draft choices this year. Also waived were offensive linemen Andrew Bain, Kurt Quarterman, Clifford Louis and Na’Shan Goddard; fullback Robert Douglas; tight ends Eric Butler and Jerome Collins; wide receivers Brandon London and Marcus Monk; defensive ends Wallace Gilberry and Alex Morrow; defensive tackles Ogemdi Nwagbuo and Jeremy Clark; linebackers Tank Daniels and James Terry; defensive backs Geoffrey Pope and Darren Barnett; and Huston.
“This is a very tough day,” Coughlin said. “When you look into the eyes of the players you see three or four different reactions. On the one hand, there will be the guy who had no idea he was going to be released and he’s in a state of shock. Another is the guy who desperately wanted to make the team and probably did a pretty good job of camouflaging it a lot of times, but now there’s no camouflage whatsoever. He’s devastated. Then there are the eyes of the individual who kind of knew it was coming, is very gracious about it and wants to thank everybody for the opportunity that he’s had. Then there are the young guys who you can encourage and perhaps offer a practice squad position to. Those guys seem to come back off the floor once they know that there is going to be a practice squad opportunity for them should they clear waivers.
“You have a lot of emotions and you have a lot of people that are anxious about this day. You have some guys that come to the building here and it hasn’t sunk in why they’re here, so when they come up to you they’re in a state of shock. It’s an anxious day for the player. And it’s not a happy day for all of us here, because you’ve had so many people that have played and tried so hard and they’re not going to be a part of our team. That’s the unfortunate nature of the process.”
Coughlin talked to each of the players individually. Now in his 13th season as an NFL head coach, he said cutdown day gets no easier.
“Because every group of young men is a new group,” he said. “You become attached to them. You find out what they’re made of, you watch them practice and play and recognize the effort they give. No two circumstances are ever the same with regard to releasing the players.”

“As always, we try to keep the best 53 football players,” Reese said. “I like this squad a lot - number one we have talented players, number two I believe they’re focused and still hungry with something to prove.”
The Giants might add a third quarterback either for the opening game or in the coming weeks.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Coughlin said. “Obviously, it’s a calculated risk. We studied all the numbers. There’s a 90 percent assurance you never get beyond the one (backup) quarterback. The thing about it is, with our kicker situation at this point in time, we felt like we needed to be able to protect some players and still be able to do the things necessary from the standpoint of placekickers.”

Veterans Droughns, Madison and McQuarters were thought by some observers to be on the roster bubble, but each is on the 53-man squad.

Fourteen players (26.4 percent) who were on the 53-man roster for Super Bowl XLII are not on the current team, including five defensive starters: defensive ends Michael Strahan (retired) and Osi Umenyiora (injured reserve), linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor and safety Gibril Wilson (left as free agents). All 11 offensive starters from the Super Bowl are back.

Here is the roster as it stands now:

Offense: 25
Quarterback (2): Eli Manning, David Carr.
Running Back (5): Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw, Reuben Droughns,
Danny Ware.
Fullback (1): Madison Hedgecock.
Wide Receiver (6): Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham,
Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss.
Tight End: (3): Kevin Boss, Michael Matthews, Darcy Johnson.
Offensive Line: (8): Shaun O’Hara, Rich Seubert, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Kevin Boothe, Adam Koets, Grey Ruegamer.
Defense: 25
Defensive Line (8): Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield,
Renaldo Wynn, Dave Tollefson, Jay Alford, Rodney Leisle.
Linebackers (7): Antonio Pierce, Gerris Wilkinson, Danny Clark, Chase Blackburn,
Zak DeOssie, Bryan Kehl, Jonathan Goff.
Defensive Backs: (10): Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, James Butler, Michael Johnson,
Kevin Dockery, Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters, Sammy Knight,
Kenny Phillips, Terrell Thomas.
Specialists: 3
Punter (1): Jeff Feagles.
Kickers (2): Lawrence Tynes, John Carney.

I know there isn't a whole lot of Giants fans around here, so I tried to bold-face the more important parts of the article. Regarding this years roster, I have to say I am surprised about only keeping two QBs on the roster. Eli hasn't been hurt yet, and *knock on wood* hopefully that's a characteristic that he shares with Peyton. David Carr played well getting all of the snaps in the final preseason game so it was nice to see some reassurance.

But with keeping only 2 QBs, that left us STACKED at running back and in the secondary. I am really surprised that we held on to Reuben Droughns. Now we are very deep and have lots of talent in the backfield. I say that we are once again around the top of the league in rushing this year.

I thought that we would at least cut 1 of the 2, Madison or McQuarters. But when you look at all of the contributions that they made last season, especially McQuarters coming up with big INTs that sealed the Tampa and Dallas playoff games, I guess it doesn't hurt to have that kind of depth. As much as I don't like it, McQuarters is our punt returner for now, so that leaves the old man Madison for nickel situations while Terrell Thomas learns the game. Kenny Phillips didn't start any of the preseason games, so I'm anxious to see where he fits in, and how we are going to utilize him. Hopefully he starts making plays and we eventually start him.

As for special teams, I'm glad we made SOME type of move at kicker. Huston was just god-awful in the preseason filling in for Tynes, even missing an extra point the other night. I can't help but remember Carney missing the game-tying extra point with no time left years ago after New Orleans made a miraculous multiple-lateral play for a TD. I just hope he isn't rusty and does his job when he's supposed to. Especially since we are playing a division rival this week. I really want Tynes back. And what can you say about Jeff Feagles? He's still got game in his 21st season, and can pin them back inside the 20 better than anyone in history. I hope we never let him retire.

[tomkent53]

Interesting move with signing John Carney. Good to see him still in the league though.

[cruzg24]

I am still not convinced by our linebacking core, just gonna have to wait and see what happens 1st game of the season. I also think we shouldve kept 3 QB's for security purposes. I am excited about having Mario in there and rlly giving him an opportunity, possibly becoming a Randy Moss type player in terms of teams didnt draft him because of his character issues. I think Tuck and Kiwanuka are going to be fine based on their preseason games and because of DT's are underrated. Also because steve is a great coordinator and puts players in position to make plays.

G-Men!!!

[nyG]

I don't expect much outta Manningham this season. We will be showing more 4 WR sets this year with the departure of Shockey, but I think Hixon locked up that spot.

Forgot to add how disappointed I am that we dropped Woodson. I thought he was a great draft steal, better than his 6th round pick warranted. Not too many opportunities for him here, but if he had a decent preseason we could've unloaded him somewhere. But we put him in against the Pats, he fumbled the handoff, and we put Carr right back in. I was a fan of his work beating LSU last season at Kentucky. Hope he gets a chance somewhere else.