NFL

McClain visits Giants; Beason re-signing still top priority

There won’t be any quick signing of Jameel McClain.

The former Ravens linebacker appears intent on making a tour of prospective teams. He met with the Bills on Wednesday, visited with the Giants on Thursday and up next is a trip to see the Vikings.

Just because the Giants took a look at McClain, 28, does not mean they are not confident they can re-sign Jon Beason to play middle linebacker. McClain has played inside and outside and easily could slide over as a strong side linebacker with the Giants. Beason remains a top priority and said he wants to return after starting the final 11 games last season, fitting in better than even the most optimistic expectations after arriving in a trade with the Panthers.

Beason is traveling a highly unusual but not unprecedented road, as he’s representing himself without the aid of an agent as free agency gets underway.

Beason has alerted NFL teams he will not be working with an agent, but any interested team other than the Giants has to wait until Tuesday to contact him. The Giants are free to negotiate with Beason and they would like to get a deal done before he hits the open market. Although signings of unrestricted free agents cannot come until Tuesday, agents and teams can begin negotiating on Saturday in what has come to be known as the legal tampering period. Beason has to wait an extra three days before talking to teams.

McClain started 55 games in six years with the Ravens. In 10 games last season he had 52 tackles after returning from a spinal cord contusion that cut short his 2012 season.


The Giants have mailed out their season-ticket renewals for the 2014 season. Ticket prices remain the same for the fifth consecutive year.