Before free agency began, GM Jerry Reese warned that the Giants weren’t going to rush out for the marquee attractions, but firmly stated, “we have our eye on a few guys, and we’d like to move quickly.”
Lesson learned: Listen to Reese when he speaks.
In breakneck fashion, the Giants yesterday signed another defensive player, this one the biggest of the bunch. They snatched this one away from one of their main rivals – massive Chris Canty. The former Cowboys defensive end concluded a weekend visit by signing a six-year, $42 million contract that includes $17.25 million in guaranteed money. For that kind of cash, expect Canty to move right in as a starting defensive tackle in the Giants’ four-man front.
For the Giants, this is the third defensive player and $83 million worth of new deals in a blistering long weekend of action. Falcons linebacker Michael Boley – another likely starter – and Seahawks defensive tackle Rocky Bernard joined the team on Saturday, and the arrival of Canty goes a long way in revamping the defensive front seven.
Clearly, Reese was adamant about giving first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan more talent to work with and getting the Giants back to the dominating defense that carried them to victory in Super Bowl XLII.
“We had a conviction on who we liked in the free-agent market and who could help us get better,” Reese said. “We let the three players know that, and the feeling was mutual. They want to win, and they wanted to be here.”
Where there once was a shortage on the defensive line, there now is a crowd. Moving in Canty means Barry Cofield, who has started 31 of 32 games the past two years, likely gets relegated to backup duty. The other incumbent starter, Fred Robbins, turns 32 on March 25, is coming off an injury-filled season and is about to enter the final year on his contract. The team, though, is not considering getting rid of a player who has been their best defensive tackle the past few years.
Canty, 26, has 10 sacks in his four-year career and was a defensive end in Dallas’ 3-4 defense. He will move to a tackle spot in the Giants’ 4-3.
Canty – a 6-foot-7, 305-pounder who attended Virginia and went to Charlotte Latin High School in North Carolina – is a mountain of a man who helped make the Cowboys stingy against the run. The Giants faced Canty twice a season and their offensive linemen know how hard it was to beat him at the point of attack.
“This is an outstanding ‘get’ for the New York Giants,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “I always like the idea of getting a player who has competed within the division.”
Canty, born and raised in The Bronx, said he is glad to be back home.
“The Giants have a great winning tradition,” he said. “I am excited to come here and have a chance to win a championship.”
Reese said he is hoping these additions will reenergize the team’s pass rush.
“Our defensive line did a very good job last year, but without Osi [Umenyiora] and [Michael Strahan] we seemed to get worn down late in the season, and we weren’t able to generate the kind of pass rush that we’re accustomed to,” Reese said. “Hopefully with the addition of Rocky and Chris, and with Osi coming back, that won’t happen again.”