Jerry Reese never embraced the idea of a honeymoon anyway. Even after he won a championship as a rookie GM in 2007 he knew he couldn’t bask in his glory for long. Winning the Super Bowl may be a wonderful achievement, but there’s always a demand to win it again.
That’s true even now, as the Giants seem so far from being a championship-caliber team just 11 months after their last title. The window may look like it’s closing on a great era of Giants football, but Reese’s job is to try to prop it up.
That won’t be easy, even with a top coach and franchise quarterback in place. There are huge holes on this roster, and some key players — two-time champions — who will have to say good bye. Even if the Giants miraculously sneak into the playoffs next weekend, that’s not going to change.
So as the Giants ponder a season seemingly gone wrong, Reese will be pondering how to make it right. And here are some of the biggest decisions he faces in the offseason:
CAN THEY GET ANOTHER YEAR OUT OF JUSTIN TUCK?
Tuck is a warrior and a two-time Super Bowl champion who, not insignificantly, played tremendous during both title runs. However, injuries and time have taken their toll and, by any measure, he’s simply not the player he was.
He had just five sacks last year, during a personally difficult season, before revitalizing himself for the playoffs. This season he’s dipped to three and he’s no longer a pass-rushing force. Worse, he’ll be 30 next season and due $4.5 million in salary.
That’s not a ton of money and he is a team leader. The Giants also will need defensive ends with Osi Umenyiora almost certain to go elsewhere as a free agent. But the hard question has to be asked: What does Tuck have left? And what is it worth?
PAY CUT OR STRAIGHT CUT FOR COREY WEBSTER?
There was a time early last year when it looked like Webster was on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks. The deterioration in his play since then has been startling. An exclamation point was added on Sunday when Joe Flacco ignored rookie Jayron Hosley and picked on Webster with every throw.
The Giants say he’s healthy, and assuming he is, Webster’s performance this year isn’t worth anywhere near the $7 million the Giants owe him for 2013. But cutting him outright may not be the way to go for an already thin secondary. Prince Amukamara — the Giants’ 2011 first round pick — seemed ready to take over, but would going with him and Hosley be too much of a risk?
If Webster is willing, maybe a return at a reduced rate would work. A cut of one kind or another seems due.
HOW MUCH ARE VICTOR CRUZ AND HAKEEM NICKS WORTH?
The Giants have already opened up talks on a long-term deal with Cruz, though he’ll only be a restricted free agent after the season, so they could easily retain him for less than $3 million. At the right price, it’s in their interest to sign him long term. If the price isn’t right, they can afford to wait.
The bigger question is Nicks, who is signed through 2013 at $2.425 million. He’ll surely seek an extension, but how do you judge the value of a potential top-10 receiver with a problem staying healthy? Receivers have become $10 million-a-year players, but Nicks’ body has been battered and injuries reduced him to a possession receiver this season.
It might be better to let him play out his deal and see where the market is next offseason. It’ll be a tough sell to Nicks if they don’t pay him while giving a big contract to Cruz.
TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE TO ANOTHER VET ON THE O-LINE?
It wasn’t easy for the Giants to cut Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert two summers ago, nor was it easy to let Kareem McKenzie go last year.
Now is it David Diehl’s turn to go? There’s no doubt the offensive line will have to be rebuilt, and it wouldn’t hurt to keep the versatile Diehl, who would play any position. But he’ll turn 33 next season and is due $4.1 million. He also missed three games this season and was out-performed by veteran Sean Locklear before he got hurt.
Diehl unfairly became a whipping boy for the fans. The problems on the line weren’t his fault, but the Giants need to get younger and quicker up front, meaning Diehl will likely be let go unless he’s willing to accept a reduced salary and backup role.
SPEND MONEY ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE?
Normally the Giants would prefer to pay for what they know, but will they still feel the same way coming off such a disappointing year? Among their own key unrestricted free agents this March will be tackle Will Beatty, guard Kevin Boothe, tight ends Martellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe and Travis Beckum, LB Chase Blackburn, safety Kenny Phillips, kicker Lawrence Tynes and Umenyiora. They won’t get them all back at a bargain rate, either.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...nts-offseason-article-1.1227331#ixzz2GAGwkHgA
That’s true even now, as the Giants seem so far from being a championship-caliber team just 11 months after their last title. The window may look like it’s closing on a great era of Giants football, but Reese’s job is to try to prop it up.
That won’t be easy, even with a top coach and franchise quarterback in place. There are huge holes on this roster, and some key players — two-time champions — who will have to say good bye. Even if the Giants miraculously sneak into the playoffs next weekend, that’s not going to change.
So as the Giants ponder a season seemingly gone wrong, Reese will be pondering how to make it right. And here are some of the biggest decisions he faces in the offseason:
CAN THEY GET ANOTHER YEAR OUT OF JUSTIN TUCK?
Tuck is a warrior and a two-time Super Bowl champion who, not insignificantly, played tremendous during both title runs. However, injuries and time have taken their toll and, by any measure, he’s simply not the player he was.
He had just five sacks last year, during a personally difficult season, before revitalizing himself for the playoffs. This season he’s dipped to three and he’s no longer a pass-rushing force. Worse, he’ll be 30 next season and due $4.5 million in salary.
That’s not a ton of money and he is a team leader. The Giants also will need defensive ends with Osi Umenyiora almost certain to go elsewhere as a free agent. But the hard question has to be asked: What does Tuck have left? And what is it worth?
PAY CUT OR STRAIGHT CUT FOR COREY WEBSTER?
There was a time early last year when it looked like Webster was on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks. The deterioration in his play since then has been startling. An exclamation point was added on Sunday when Joe Flacco ignored rookie Jayron Hosley and picked on Webster with every throw.
The Giants say he’s healthy, and assuming he is, Webster’s performance this year isn’t worth anywhere near the $7 million the Giants owe him for 2013. But cutting him outright may not be the way to go for an already thin secondary. Prince Amukamara — the Giants’ 2011 first round pick — seemed ready to take over, but would going with him and Hosley be too much of a risk?
If Webster is willing, maybe a return at a reduced rate would work. A cut of one kind or another seems due.
HOW MUCH ARE VICTOR CRUZ AND HAKEEM NICKS WORTH?
The Giants have already opened up talks on a long-term deal with Cruz, though he’ll only be a restricted free agent after the season, so they could easily retain him for less than $3 million. At the right price, it’s in their interest to sign him long term. If the price isn’t right, they can afford to wait.
The bigger question is Nicks, who is signed through 2013 at $2.425 million. He’ll surely seek an extension, but how do you judge the value of a potential top-10 receiver with a problem staying healthy? Receivers have become $10 million-a-year players, but Nicks’ body has been battered and injuries reduced him to a possession receiver this season.
It might be better to let him play out his deal and see where the market is next offseason. It’ll be a tough sell to Nicks if they don’t pay him while giving a big contract to Cruz.
TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE TO ANOTHER VET ON THE O-LINE?
It wasn’t easy for the Giants to cut Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert two summers ago, nor was it easy to let Kareem McKenzie go last year.
Now is it David Diehl’s turn to go? There’s no doubt the offensive line will have to be rebuilt, and it wouldn’t hurt to keep the versatile Diehl, who would play any position. But he’ll turn 33 next season and is due $4.1 million. He also missed three games this season and was out-performed by veteran Sean Locklear before he got hurt.
Diehl unfairly became a whipping boy for the fans. The problems on the line weren’t his fault, but the Giants need to get younger and quicker up front, meaning Diehl will likely be let go unless he’s willing to accept a reduced salary and backup role.
SPEND MONEY ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE?
Normally the Giants would prefer to pay for what they know, but will they still feel the same way coming off such a disappointing year? Among their own key unrestricted free agents this March will be tackle Will Beatty, guard Kevin Boothe, tight ends Martellus Bennett, Bear Pascoe and Travis Beckum, LB Chase Blackburn, safety Kenny Phillips, kicker Lawrence Tynes and Umenyiora. They won’t get them all back at a bargain rate, either.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...nts-offseason-article-1.1227331#ixzz2GAGwkHgA
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