NFL

Giants release Josh Freeman after one month

Not long ago the Giants had five quarterbacks on their roster, needing extra arms because of the uncertain health status of Eli Manning coming off arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle. Manning is way ahead of schedule and back on the field, and the Giants now have only three remaining quarterbacks with Friday’s release of Josh Freeman.

The Giants at present have the same three quarterbacks they went with for the 2013 season – Manning, Curtis Painter and Ryan Nassib. They would like to go with only two quarterbacks this season, and it will be up to Nassib, entering his second year in the NFL, to beat out the more experienced Painter, a development the Giants would like to see take place.

Freeman, the former Buccaneer and Viking, was signed April 21, only 11 days after Manning underwent the procedure on his ankle. The Giants did not know if Manning would be available for any of their organized team activity practices, but Manning didn’t miss a thing this past week, making Freeman expendable. Earlier this offseason, the Giants waived Rusty Smith, the former Titans backup quarterback.

To replace Freeman on the roster, the Giants were awarded offensive lineman Rogers Gaines off waivers from the Bears. The 6-foot-6, 334-pound Gaines was with the Ravens last preseason and spent last season on the Bears’ practice squad. He played 30 games in his four years at Tennessee State.