NEW IN TOWN: Aaron Curry, the Seahawks’ top pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, signed a one-year deal with the Giants (inset) yesterday. The linebacker played two games for the Raiders last season. (
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No diabolical experiments are planned but the Giants are hoping Aaron Curry, in the words of general manager Jerry Reese, can “reinvent himself’’ now that he has officially signed on in his attempt to resuscitate a football career on life support.
Curry did not leave the team facility after working out Thursday for the Giants. He stayed around an extra day, watched the two rookie mini-camp practices yesterday before going inside in the afternoon to sign a one-year contract to become the newest Giants linebacker.
“He passed the physical for us and had a pretty good workout,’’ Reese said. “We think we have a good opportunity for him here to see if he can reinvent himself a little bit and bring something to this linebacking corps.’’
Curry, 27, is an interesting prospect in that back in 2009 he was the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft out of Wake Forest. He did not pan out in two years with the Seahawks and was traded to the Raiders during the 2011 season. He hasn’t played since he was released by the Raiders last November after playing in only two games. In his disappointing career, Curry has 5 1/2 sacks and 190 tackles in 48 games, slowed often by knee issues.
When asked if Curry is coming off serious knee surgery, Reese said, “Yeah, I think so’’ before deferring to the team’s medical staff.
“I think that has been part of the problem, he’s had some knee injuries that hampered him a little bit,’’ Reese said. “He’s a very mature guy and he’s looking forward to the opportunity.’’
Curry did not look to be in prime shape as he stood and observed the rookies. Reese said Curry is 265 pounds and “needs to drop some weight,’’ noting he weighed 255 coming out of college.
“He hasn’t done a lot of cardio, he’s been rehabbing from a knee injury,’’ Reese said. “But he’s in pretty good shape, he did a nice workout for us and hopefully he can step in and create some competition at that position.’’
On Thursday, Curry tweeted his workout with the Giants was “A little rough around the edges,’’ but he also expressed confidence he could sharpen those edges if given a chance.
The Giants, surprisingly, did not use any of their seven draft picks last month on a linebacker and could certainly use help at the position. At present, they would line up with Jacquian Williams and Keith Rivers on the outside and newcomer Dan Connor in the middle. In reserve, there’s Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger.
Curry, Reese said, is a middle or strong side linebacker.
“We’re always looking for players and we like giving guys second opportunities,’’ Reese said. “He’s worked hard to get back and he worked out well for us. If he didn’t work out well for us we wouldn’t be fooling around with this.’’
The Giants had Curry graded quite highly coming out of college, but the NFL experience thus far has not been much.
“You don’t see a lot because he hasn’t played a lot,’’ Reese said.
The one-year deal makes it clear this is a show-me contract, with little downside for the Giants. If Curry does not offer much during the spring and summer, he won’t make the final roster.
“Of course it’s a low risk,’’ Reese said. “It’s an opportunity for him. If he comes on and looks like the player he was when he was the fourth pick in the draft, it’s a win-win for everybody.’’