[EDITOR'S NOTE: A new writer, Mike Fiammetta, joins Big Blue View today. Mike is a journalism major at the University of Wisconsin and, of course, a New York Giants fan. His first task over the next few weeks will be to profile the various players the Giants have signed to reserve/future contracts.]
Before beginning this series on the New York Giants' reserve/future contracts, it makes sense to define what these contracts actually are. Reserve/future contracts are for the upcoming NFL season, which does not officially begin until March. Only players who were not a member of an NFL team when this past year ended are eligible to receive a reserve/future contract. Regular NFL contracts run until next season begins in March.
The only quarterback the Giants have added via reserve/future contracts is Ryan Perrilloux of Jacksonville State. Perrilloux began his college career at LSU as one of the most highly touted recruits in program history, but he wasn't long for Baton Rouge. After red-shirting in 2005 and completing just one pass in 2006, Perrilloux saw time in 2007 after incumbent starter (and current Packers backup) Matt Flynn was injured. Yet, the next year, Perrilloux was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. In May 2008, Perrilloux was kicked off the team for not fulfilling his "obligation as an LSU student-athlete." ESPN later reported that Perrilloux failed a drug test and frequently missed team meetings and classes.
After transferring to Jacksonville State, Perrilloux led the Gamecocks to an 8-3 record and passed for 2,298 yards and 19 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 140.45. However, Perrilloux was suspended at the beginning of 2009 for an unspecified violation of team rules. Nevertheless, he threw for 2,350 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final year at JSU and was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Perrilloux went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, and after receiving a tryout invitation from the Minnesota Vikings, signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. There, Perrilloux played under former Giants quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer, who has likened him to another former Ohio Valley Conference star — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Perrilloux played in all eight of the Colonials' games, completing 33-of-69 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns. Perrilloux's quarterback rating was 75.4, but he did not throw an interception. He also rushed 10 times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
At 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, Perrilloux has garnered comparisons to Donovan McNabb. He is known for his strong arm and impressive mobility, as evidenced by his lofty recruiting status at LSU. In high school, Perrilloux also played defense and returned punts, so if he is to stick around the NFL, it figures to be as a Wildcat quarterback inserted either for a few trick plays or to keep defenses off balance. That might be tough on the Giants, who obviously have Eli Manning entrenched as the starter and Sage Rosenfels backing him up.
Chance of sticking around: Not likely