Though the NFL lockout prevents teams from talking to players, it won’t stop Justin Tuck from doing some recruiting.
The Giants defensive end said Tuesday night he plans on talking to Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha about coming to New York.
“New York City is the place to be and that draws on its own, and plus we are a team that hasn’t gotten over the [hump] and a player like him would definitely help do so,” Tuck told ESPN.com.
The Jets also could be interested in Asomugha; he and Darrelle Revis are friends and have spoken in the past about joining forces. But the Jets have several free agents that they may look to re-sign, including another cornerback Antonio Cromartie, before Asomugha becomes an issue.
Asomugha’s Raiders contract was voided when he failed to reach certain incentives this past season.
The Jets and Giants won’t be alone; Asomugha will be one of the targeted free agents once a collective bargaining is reached. Tuck said he expects a labor deal to get done, but not right away.
“Come July, come August, there will be a lot of scratching of heads and biting of teeth if we don’t have a deal done,” said Tuck, who was talking up his R.U.S.H. For Literacy charity. “Hopefully cooler heads prevail and I will find myself chasing some quarterbacks in September.”
Tuck also talked about the Giants bringing back Mathias Kiwanuka, who missed all but three games of last season with a herniated disc. Kiwanuka has been cleared to play, but his contract with the Giants is up.
“[Kiwanuka] says he is healthy, been healthy,” said Tuck, who spoke with Kiwanuka recently, according to the report.
“This whole lockout puts [a question mark] on where he is going to stand as far as contract-wise. He looks good and has been working out. I am definitely going to talk to the powers that be, but I know they want him back. He is one of those players you want to make sure you get him back in a Giants uniform.”