Justin Tuck Signing: DE leaves Giants for Oakland Raiders

Justin Tuck is now a former member of the New York Giants. The star defensive end, captain of two Super Bowl-winning teams, has agreed to a free-agent contract with the Oakland Raiders.

Text from Justin Tuck: "Done deal." He's an Oakland Raider.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2014

After giving the Giants a chance to improve their offer, DE Justin Tuck is accepting a two-year, $11 million deal with the Oakland Raiders.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2014

Tuck, 31, later this month was twice named to the Pro Bowl and once selected as an All-Pro during his time with the Giants. He was a third-round pick by the Giants in 2005. Tuck was a key player in the Giants' victories in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI with a pair of quarterbacks sacks in each game. His 60.5 regular-season sacks places him sixth on the Giants' all-time list.

Since the 2013 season ended, Tuck had seemed at times as though he wanted to test the free-agent market and at other times as though he wanted to remain in New York.

Giants' GM Jerry Reese had said previously that Tuck deserved the opportunity to test his value on the free-agent market and that the Giants "think it's best for us right now to wait and see what the market is and make our moves from there."

Translation: We have a price we will pay for Tuck and if someone wants to give him more then so be it.

That, of course, is what has happened. The two-year, $11 million is not far above the two-years and $8-$9 million I figured the Giants might be comfortable with. It was, apparently, too rich for the Giants, however.

Let's make this your Tuck appreciation thread. We will post a 'what will the Giants do at defensive end' thread in a little while.