[UPDATE by Ed Valentine, 07/31/11 10:43 PM EDT: Snelling will be in New York for a visit on Monday. Maybe the giants really will move on from Ahmad Bradshaw. ]
Wow! I sneak out for a couple of hours (OK, OK, guilty as charged. I went out and played nine holes of golf) and when I come back all sorts of stuff seems to have happened around the New York Giants. Much of the news has to do with free-agent running back Ahmad Bradshaw
ESPN's John Clayton tweeted earlier that the Giants and Bradshaw "aren't close" on a contract agreement. It seems like both Bradshaw and the Giants are beginning to make alternate plans.
Clayton tweeted that Bradshaw, who is also getting some interest from the Washington Redskins, has scheduled a visit with the Cincinnati Bengals. Pro Football Talk reported that the Giants are talking with free-agent running back Jason Snelling, and that a deal is a "definite possibility" if the Giants are unable to reach an agreement with Bradshaw.
Snelling is 5-foot-11, 235 pounds. He has spent his entire four-year career with the Atlanta Falcons, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and catching 82 passes for 651 yards.
Of Snelling, 28, PFT said:
Snelling has the look of a power back but offers impressive versatility. Terrific as a pass protector and receiver out of the backfield, Snelling wound up playing more snaps than starter Michael Turner in Atlanta over the past two seasons.
Still, it seems likely the Giants would prefer Bradshaw. They don't, however, seem willing to meet his asking price.
The Giants also appear to be tiring of waiting for free-agent tight end Kevin Boss to agree to terms. The Star-Ledger reported that the Giants will meet soon with free-agent tight end Ben Patrick, who spent the first four years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. Patrick has 45 receptions in his four-year career, and had a career-best 15 last season.
The Giants have apparently told Osi Umenyiora that they would ask teams for a No. 1 pick if they were to trade him. The folks in Seattle, where Umenyiora has reportedly expressed a preference for going, are debating whether or not he is worth that price.
Roster Notes
Center Adam Koets has been placed on the PUP list due to tendonitis in his surgically repaired knee. ... No. 1 draft pick Prince Amukamara apparently remains unsigned.