Never one to use five words when four will do, Eli Manning summed up the ever-changing state of his team with a succinct “A lot going on.”
Yep, there’s a lot going on with the Giants, who in the first two days of free agency remain in flux with some undeniably big names. They still don’t know if Ahmad Bradshaw is staying — though indications are he is. They also don’t know if Brandon Jacobs will accept reworking his salary, if Osi Umenyiora is reporting (don’t bet on it) or if Kevin Boss is leaving. Heck, they don’t even know which way the wind is blowing as far as Plaxico Burress tolerating or despising coach Tom Coughlin.
They do know today they will release three offensive linemen (Shaun O’Hara, Rich Seubert, Shawn Andrews), lose a starting defensive tackle (Barry Cofield) to the NFC East rival Redskins and cut another interior defensive tackle (Rocky Bernard). They know they will sign David Baas from the 49ers to replace O’Hara as the starting center and that Coughlin’s contract was extended one year through 2012.
“Right now there is some uncertainty who some of your teammates are and the new guys that might be coming and teammates that you had that are still up in the air,” Manning said.
The key free agent domino that will determine how the others fall is Bradshaw, because he’s a top priority for the Giants to re-sign.
Speaking on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Wednesday, Bradshaw said he would like to return — if the money is right.
“I’d rather stay,” Bradshaw said. “I’ve set my foundation there in New York and I love just the excitement there. The fans are great. The community is great out there. I love New York the most, but the price is going to talk.”
Bradshaw was probably just as thrilled as DeAngelo Williams that Williams agreed to a five-year, $43 million contract — with a whopping $21 million in guaranteed money — to stay with the Panthers. Williams, 28, is two years removed from his breakout 2008 season and played in just six games last year because of a sprained right foot.
Bradshaw, 25, is coming off his best season, and there’s little doubt he’s seeking nearly as much as Williams, a price-tag that the Giants — not nearly in as healthy salary cap shape as the Panthers –probably will not be able to pay.
“Well, it’s a very exciting deal and hopefully it takes the value up for me,” Bradshaw said, according to ESPN.com. “Hopefully somebody out there can use what I do on the field, that is blocking, running the ball, protecting the quarterback. It just all depends on who can use it and who is willing to pay.”
The Dolphins were reportedly hot on Bradshaw’s trail, but they dropped out of the running and re-opened negotiations with Ronnie Brown, their own free agent running back.
Hinging on Bradshaw’s return could be the conversation that took place yesterday between the Giants and Jacobs, who was at the team facility for some serious conversation. The Giants have asked Jacobs to restructure his contract, a move that will help the team deal with the $120 million salary cap and, more specifically, re-sign Bradshaw.
Jacobs, 29, last season was supplanted in the starting lineup by Bradshaw and is scheduled to make $4.65 million this season and $4.9 million in 2012, too much to play a backup running back.
In March, Jacobs spoke about the possibility of restructuring his deal, telling ESPN, “If it’s something that can be done then yes, whatever is going to get the team going and winning. But once you take off an astronomical amount, that isn’t going to happen. I’d be open to it as long as it is fair to me.”
The Giants have no interest in cutting Jacobs, but that is the danger if he refuses to accept any sort of restructured deal.
Then there’s Umenyiora, who insists general manager Jerry Reese promised to give him a raise or else trade him away. With two years remaining on his contract, the Giants aren’t about to throw a load of money at their pass-rushing defensive end, and if that’s the case the expectation is he won’t report to camp tomorrow.
“Hopefully we can get him to kind of calm down and get him to be the kind of Giant he can be,” said teammate Justin Tuck, who speaks regularly with Umenyiora. “I’m just hoping he finds his way to be a Giant next year.”
Umenyiora’s arrival at camp, Tuck said, “all depends on the conversation he has with upper management.”
Asked if he thinks his friend will report, Tuck said “No, I don’t.”