Mitchell, Wilson top free-agent concerns

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 7:22 AM EST in New York Giants News

I am still basking in the warm glow of the Giants' unexpected, unbelievable Super Bowl XLII championship. There are folks in my upstate New York area with all sorts of Giants' stuff outside their homes, including one guy who has painted 'Super Bowl Champs' into his lawn.

Yet, it is time in many ways to turn the page and begin thinking about the future, specifically next season.

The Giants have apparently already begun to do that, and the first move seems to be agreeing to a 5-year, $7M deal with kicker Lawrence Tynes.

With Tynes, who could have been an unrestricted free agent, in the fold the Giants have 14 other potential free agents, including several key defenders. The key unrestricted free agents (UFAs), who can negotiate with any team are linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor, safety Gibril Wilson and running back Derrick Ward. Starting safety James Butler is a restricted free agent, meaning the Giants can match any offer.

To me, the key players the Giants must try to bring back are Mitchell and Wilson. Mitchell, signed as a n under-the radar free agent by GM Jerry Reese, made a smooth transition to outside linebacker and became a key player. Wilson is a solid tackler and playmaker, though not a great cover guy. The Giants will likely have to pay dearly to keep him.

Ward provides needed depth and playmaking ability. Torbor is a guy I fear might leave, especially if Mitchell stays. With Mitchell, Gerris Wilkinson and Mathias Kiwanuka there is little chance Torbor can earn a full-time starting job. He may go somewhere looking for that chance.

Another significant unrestricted free agents is punter Jeff Feagles. If he doesn't retire, Feagles, the NFL's oldest player, will return to the Giants.

As for Butler, if I'm Reese and somebody really wants to make him an offer I would say sayonara. He is the weakest link on the Giants' defense.

Here the complete list of Giants' free agents.

Restricted Free Agents (RFA)
(A restricted free agent can negotiate with any team they choose, but the current team can match their offer)

Jared Lorenzen, QB
Adrian Awasom, DT
James Butler, S

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA)
(An unrestricted free agent can negotiate and sign with any team)

Derrick Ward, RB
Michael Jennings, WR
Russell Davis, DT
Kawika Mitchell, OLB
Reggie Torbor, OLB
Gibril Wilson, S
Jeff Feagles, P
Ryan Kuehl, LS

Exclusive-Rights Free Agent (ERFA)
(Not eligible for free agency, must accept what the team offers or not play)

Robert Douglas, FB
Dave Tollefson, DE
Manny Wright, DT

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Comments

If management is satisfied with Tynes,

so am I. Your analysis of the key free agents is right on target. I wonder about
Lorenzen. Some of the Big Blue readers/contributors are really down on him. I'm interested in seeing what management does with him.

by george cronin on Feb 12, 2008 10:55 AM EST reply actions

Lorenzen

I would love to have a more experienced backup (someone better than Anthony Wright). There had to be dissatisfaction w/Lorenzen since he started the year as No. 2, played once and was never active again the rest of the season.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

g'bye J-Load

so long and thanks for the jokes.

by DieEaglesDie on Feb 12, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

still...

can't they hold onto him as a #3?

i don't know what i'll do without the pillsbury throw-boy.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Feb 12, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Kinda surprised

that we didn't see the Round Mound of Touchdown come in on any obvious third-and-ones after the preseason. To me it hinges on who else is available.

by django48 on Feb 12, 2008 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

The great thing about being a fan

Is we don't have to turn the page until September

If I am Jerry Reese, here are the moves I make:

Lorenzen: gone (nice novelty, but its time to be realistic, we are SB Champs, can't have a 300 lb QB backing up The Franchise)

Awasom: should have been cut when he got his DUI

Butler: gone ( I think Johnson is better, but I would also be thinking Safety on Day One of the Draft)

Ward: probably gone. he's talented, but he is clearly 3rd or 4th on the depth chart now, and I just don't think he'll stay. Like Ryan Grant, he can probably go somewhere and be successful

Jennings: Would have been gone if he didn't get hurt. Bye bye to the "One-Five"

Russell Davis: gone

Mitchell: I keep Mitchell if the price is right.

Torbor: probably gone, only showed glimpses of the player the Giants thought he would be

Wilson: sign him.

Feagles: If he doesn't retire, sign him. While clearly not the guy who can punt you out of a hole, with the Giants offense he rarely has to

Kuehl: probably gone. I think the Giants are ok at long snapper with Alford and DeOssie

Douglas: gone. Giants are set at FB for a long time. Hedgecock is the best one they have had since Carthon.

Tollefson: sign. Nice backup, good ST player. I like the motor on this kid

Manny Wright: gone

Honestly I am surprised they gave Tynes that much security. He is still too inconsistent for my taste. But, I would still rather have him than Jay Feely

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 12, 2008 11:33 AM EST reply actions

carthon over charles way?

i was a big fan of way. real bummer when he career was cut short. FBs dont seem to last long, do they?

and i would try to keep ward as a back up if possible. tho with the talent he showed this season i bet someone else picks him up. and with the emergence of bradshaw and ward being an UFA, im guessing he is indeed, gone by next year.

droughns is definitley out tho, he serves no purpose.

by DieEaglesDie on Feb 12, 2008 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

Droughns

If you keep Ward, Droughns would most likely be gone. He's had a decent career, but it's coming to a close.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

BTW

I'll take Charles Way. A lot of people don't seem to remember how good a runner he was. Probably one of the last fullbacks who, like Mike Alstott, could be used as a feature back.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Charles Way was an awesome player

But unfortunately his career was too short.

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by NYERinSF on Feb 12, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

Charles Way was

incredible, an FB who was the best running back on the team at the time. What a loss.

by george cronin on Feb 12, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't count Way

only because his career was so short

Great player though

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 12, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

Analysis

We disagree on Ward. The Giants used Jacobs, Bradshaw, Ward and Droughns as feature backs at times during the past season. If the price is right, keep the guy -- he's talented. Jacobs has proven to be somewhat injury-prone, so the more depth you have the better. I would also like to see Manny Wright stay. No big deal there, but I'm curious to see if the Giants can turn him into a player. I also doubt they will let Butler go. I do, however, think they will give Johnson a chance to take his job.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

i agree

at least make a mild effort to bring ward back. there is no reason to just let him walk right out the door.

as for droughns, remember that the giants basically got him for free (tim carter, who they were going to cut anyway) so i think he did well in his one season with big blue.

manny wright should be cheap and id like him to stay because of the potential. i think wilson is priority #1 and mitchell priority #2. most of the other guys on that list won't command much attention on the market so the giants will likely be able to pick and choose who stays and who walks.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Feb 12, 2008 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

Priorities

You're probably right that Wilson is 1 and Mitchell 2. I think that's because the Giants have replacements for Mitchell (Kiwi, Wilkinson, Torbor if he stays, draft pick maybe), but there is no replacement for Wilson.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

If the price is right

But I think that they will have a hard time keeping him as number 3 back.

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by NYERinSF on Feb 12, 2008 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Ward

Personally, I have doubts that there will be a big market for him. He had a nice half-season, but that's all he has done in four years. I do think he's a good player, but I don't think it's going to be as hard for the Giants to keep him as some of you seem to think.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

Remember though

A lot of no name backs were very successful this year, not just Grant. Teams are going to be looking for diamonds in the rough, because the Ryan Grants and Ahmad Bradshaws of the league proved you don't have to be the 1st round pick to make a difference

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 13, 2008 8:46 AM EST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure they'll be able

to keep Ward. With his injury history, I don't think he'll command more than the Giants can pay in the free agent market.

by george cronin on Feb 12, 2008 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

Tynes

I was surprised by his cotract, too. I've got to believe that mgmt. knows what's available out there and are satisgied with what Tynes can do. Can a kicker get better? Well, Joe Danelo did, but he's the only one I can think of.

by george cronin on Feb 12, 2008 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

Tynes

I have never felt comfortable with him kicking, period. I didn't have confidence in him early this season, and I still don't today.

He did prove me wrong this season ultimately, but only because our offense gave him a few chances to get that win in Green Bay.

For the record, I'd hate having to depend on him any more.

We didn't even have a chance for the "perfect season", but we did have the perfect ending.

by GAgiantfan on Feb 12, 2008 12:34 PM EST reply actions

Depends on how is contract was structured

A four year contract in the NFL can last 6 months. The impact of the contract depends on how much is salary vs bonus.

Players are stuck with their contracts, but teams really aren't

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by NYERinSF on Feb 12, 2008 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

Tynes

is an average to above-average NFL kicker. He did make 85% of his FGs this year and kicked off pretty well. Also, don't forget that his slow start this past season can be attributed to a very distracting family situation that prevented him from kicking before camp opened and adjusting to an inconsistent rookie snapper. Besides, you know how the NFL is. The Giants aren't paying him nearly what the upper echelon kickers are making, and if he messes up he's gone.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 12, 2008 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Funny thing I noticed about Tynes

Next time you see a clip of the last second of the Super Bowl ticking off, they show Coughlin, and Tynes comes running up to him and gives him a big hug, and Coughlin has a look on his face like he just took a bite of an anchovy sandwich. It's pretty funny. Kinda looks like Tynes is taking the chance to kiss him some nice coach ass and coach is all "get outta my face, kicker". Maybe I'm crazy. Take a look and tell me what you think.

by Mr Met @ Big Blue View on Feb 12, 2008 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Here's a link to a video

it's at the very end.

by Mr Met @ Big Blue View on Feb 12, 2008 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Lorenzen

He should have been used as a fullback or tight end. Nothing like having a fullback who can heave the rock when necessary. Oh wait, Dan Reeves isn't our coach. (this is where you laugh, guys and girls)

We didn't even have a chance for the "perfect season", but we did have the perfect ending.

by GAgiantfan on Feb 12, 2008 12:36 PM EST reply actions

I like jrs list

I don't see how Ward will stay because enough teams saw him to give him more money and a starting spot. It's not like he is a secret like Grant was.

I say the only way Butler stays is if he comes cheap. I think we've seen enough to know that he is not a starter in this league and someone might be dumb enough to give him a payday since he's a SB starter.

by potroast on Feb 12, 2008 12:37 PM EST reply actions