NFL

With Feagles likely to retire, Giants draft punter

The selection of a punter, Matt Dodge of East Carolina, in the seventh round today was a curious move by the Giants – until word came down that seemingly-ageless Jeff Feagles is likely to retire.

Feagles last week alerted Tom Coughlin that, although he wants to continue his career and punt in the NFL for a 23rd season, he does not feel he is up to the physical demands and rigors the job entails. Asked what specifically is bothering Feagles, Coughlin today said “He’s 44-years old.”

Coming off a sub-par season, Feagles – at present the oldest player on an NFL roster – worked out hard for a month to determine if his body could hold up. He was satisfied with the results and told the Giants he was in for another year. Since then, though, he’s had second thoughts.

“I was surprised,” said Coughlin, who is a staunch Feagles supporter. “Jeff was trying to do the right thing. He did the honorable thing with the best interest of the team at heart.”

The timing of the conversation gave the Giants the opportunity to use the NFL Draft to likely find Feagles’ successor. Dodge is a strong-legged 6-1, 224-pounder who last season finished second in the nation with a punting average of 45.8 yards. He’s the first punter drafted by the Giants since 1997, when they took Brad Maynard in the third round. The Giants also have Jy Bond, a former Australian Rules Football player, on their roster.

Feagles will meet with Coughlin this week and Coughlin said he’d be surprised if Feagles determines he’s ready to go forward with his career. “He’s having some physical issues,” Coughlin said.

Feagles has been with the Giants the past seven seasons and in addition to providing some of the best directional punting in the league he’s also a gifted and skilled holder for field goals. Dodge did not do that at East Carolina and Coughlin said newly-signed backup quarterback Jim Sorgi will handle the holding duties if Feagles is gone.

The first offensive player came in round five with the selection of Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus, who tied a Combine record by bench-pressing 225 pounds an incredible 45 times. As a former fullback and tight end, he’s a self-made lineman.

In the sixth round, the Giants took a gamble on Adrian Tracy, who played defensive end at William & Mary and will be converted to a strong side linebacker in the NFL. In the seventh round, it came as a surprise that the Giants took a punter, Matt Dodge, out of East Carolina. General manager Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin later explained that Jeff Feagles last week said he’s leaning toward retirement after 22 NFL seasons because of some physical issues with his 44-year old body.

In an unprecedented move, the Giants allowed Vinny DiTrani, longtime beat writer from the Bergen Record, to announce their fifth-round pick at Radio City Music Hall. DiTrani, set to retire following this season, has covered the NFL for 42 year and the Giants for 34 years.