KICKED ASIDE: The Giants signed veteran kicker Josh Brown yesterday, meaning they won’t bring back Lawrence Tynes (inset). (
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Lawrence Tynes kicked the Giants into two Super Bowls, and those highlights will forever be a part of franchise lore. But nothing lasts forever and, after six seasons, he is moving on because the Giants already have replaced him.
Tynes is an unrestricted free agent and the Giants Wednesday landed his likely successor, signing Josh Brown, a 10-year veteran, to a one-year, salary cap-friendly deal.
“Josh is an experienced, proven kicker in this league,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “Just like we try to do at every position, we expect great competition for the placekicking job, and that will only make us better.”
Figure the competition will be won by Brown. Already this offseason, the Giants signed David Buehler, who is known as a kickoff specialist from his time with the Cowboys (2009-11). Buehler, 26, did not kick in the NFL last season and Brown — who turns 34 next month — is the heavy favorite to emerge from the kicking derby.
Tynes turns 35 in May and wanted to return to the Giants, but is looking for a multi-year deal. The Giants wouldn’t make that commitment.
“It’s a great opportunity for me, an opportunity to be a part of a very storied franchise,’’ Brown said. “I’m excited.’’
Brown last summer did not win a Jets kicking battle with Nick Folk. He latched on with the Bengals, replacing injured Mike Nugent and in four games hit 11 of 12 field goals. On Dec. 23, Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds left to beat the Steelers, clinching a Bengals playoff berth.
Brown entered the league in 2003 with the Seahawks and has also played for the Rams. He has hit 231 of his 284 career field goal attempts (81.3 percent). The Giants grew concerned with Tynes’ lack of leg strength, and Brown clearly is better from long range. Brown has kicked a field goal of at least 52 yards in nine of his 10 seasons and has hit 65 percent (28 of 43) from 50-yards or longer in his career. Tynes is 11-of-21 (53.4 percent) from 50 yards or longer in his career.
“We bring a lot of opportunity to score from a great distance,” Brown said. “We’ve kicked a number of 50-plus yarders and feel very comfortable from 55 and in, even in harsh winters.’’
Tynes had been with the Giants since 2007. He hit the game-winning field goal in overtime of the 2007 NFC Championship in frigid Green Bay to send the Giants to Super Bowl XLII. Four year later, he hit the game-winning field goal in overtime of the 2011 NFC title game on the soggy Candlestick Park grass to lift the Giants past the 49ers and into Super Bowl XLVII. Tynes is the only kicker in NFL history with two game-winning overtime field goals in the playoffs.
Tynes was prolific this past season, hitting 33 of his 39 field goal attempts, but he slumped in the final month.
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In need of a middle linebacker with experience, the Giants Wednesday brought in for a visit Jasper Brinkley, who started 15 games this past season for the Vikings. Brinkley, 27, could be a low-key, under-the-radar and — most importantly — inexpensive addition. Brinkley left without a contract and will next talk to the Cardinals, which doesn’t mean he won’t sign with the Giants at some point. Chase Blackburn is an unrestricted free agent and is looking for a better offer elsewhere.
Steelers S Ryan Mundy is reportedly expected in for a visit. … Former Giants DE Dave Tollefson was cut this week by the Raiders, and the Giants might have some interest in bringing him back, but down the road. … The Giants made three coaching changes: Lunda
Wells in his second year with the team is the new assistant offensive line coach and Ryan
Roeder (offense) and Robbie Leonard (defense) are new assistants.