Big Blue View - Shane Vereen signing with Giants: Everything we knowYour place for year-round New York Giants discussion and informationhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47371/bigblueview_fave.png2015-03-10T17:05:00-04:00http://www.bigblueview.com/rss/stream/79481882015-03-10T17:05:00-04:002015-03-10T17:05:00-04:00Giants' deal with Shane Vereen 'done,' per report
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<figcaption>Shane Vereen | Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Giants reportedly get pass-catching back they needed.</p> <p>[<b>UPDATE:</b> The Giants' deal with Shane Vereen is done, according to Mike Garafolo.]</p>
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<p>RB Shane Vereen to the Giants. Done deal, source says.</p>
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/575348883284357120">March 10, 2015</a>
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<p>Here are the terms:</p>
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<p>Shane Vereen got $12.35 million over three years from the Giants. Strong $. Came up quickly over a few days.</p>
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/575400853273583616">March 10, 2015</a>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> will sign former <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> running <span>Shane Vereen</span>, per a report from NFL Network inside Ian Rapoport.</p>
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<p>Former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Patriots?src=hash">#Patriots</a> RB Shane Vereen is expected to sign with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash">#Giants</a>, I’m told. They needed a versatile back, will likely get it.</p>
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/575337797898272769">March 10, 2015</a>
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<h4>What this means for the Giants</h4>
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<p>In the words of baseball announcer Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson, "put it on the board." After near-misses on <span>Devin McCourty</span> and <span>Brandon Graham</span> the Giants finally land a player they targeted at a position of need.</p>
<p>We have been over <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015/3/10/8181005/giants-2015-nfl-free-agency-rumors-running-back-shane-vereen-new-england-patriots">what Vereen brings to the Giants</a>, but let's review:</p>
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<p>Vereen, 25, was a second-round pick by New England in 2011. He caught 47 passes in 2013 and 52 in 2014. He has been mostly a pass-catcher for the Patriots. For his career, he has 907 yards rushing on 217 carries, an average of 4.1 yards per rushing attempt.</p>
<p>"Vereen picked <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl" class="sbn-auto-link">the Super Bowl</a> to give one of his best performances in a Patriots uniform. He's not really a threat in between the tackles, but he might be better suited for a zone-based rushing game, instead of the power run that the Patriots favored this season," said Rich Hill of SB Nation's New England web site, Pats Pulpit. "He has wide receiver ability (check his TD catch against the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jets</a> this season) and is an incredible weapon out of the backfield."</p>
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<p>Vereen caught 11 passes in New England's Super Bowl victory over the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Seahawks</a>.</p>
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<p>Sounds like Shane Vereen's deal w/Giants will be in the 3-year, $12M range. Not 4 years. Guaranteed money will be about $5M, sources say.</p>
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) <a href="https://twitter.com/RVacchianoNYDN/status/575365238930980865">March 10, 2015</a>
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<p><b>Valentine's View: </b>This is an outstanding get for the Giants. Vereen brings a skill set to the Giants that none of their other running backs currently possesses. Adding Vereen's pass-catching ability to Ben McAdoo's offense should make the Giants more explosive in 2015. It will certainly give <span>Eli Manning</span> an addition option.</p>
<p>Your thoughts, Giants fans?</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2015/3/10/8183647/ny-giants-nfl-free-agency-2015-news-rumors-rb-shane-vereen-singing-with-new-yorkEd Valentine2015-03-10T15:22:39-04:002015-03-10T15:22:39-04:00Why did the Giants sign running back Shane Vereen?
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<figcaption>Shane Vereen | Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Let's put on our thinking caps.</p> <p>Let's get this out of the way right now. There is a lot of chatter of Twitter -- where everyone is always in 'jump to conclusions' mode -- that <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2015/3/10/8183647/ny-giants-nfl-free-agency-2015-news-rumors-rb-shane-vereen-singing-with-new-york" target="_blank">the New York Giants signing of running back Shane Vereen </a>means that <span>Rashad Jennings</span> had best start packing his bags and looking for a new home.</p>
<p>Nonsense!</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> almost certainly did not sign Vereen, 26, as a replacement for Jennings. Or to take over as the team's primary back from Jennings or second-year man Andre Williams. Even if he will be the team's highest-paid back. They signed him because Vereen has a skill set that neithter Jennings nor Williams has. One that Ben McAdoo and the Giants' offense could really benefit from.</p>
<p>Remember a guy named <span>David Wilson</span>? Remember what the Giants were hoping to do with Wilson last season before their 2012 first-round pick was forced to retire by neck issues?</p>
<p>They were hoping to use Wilson as a change-of-pace back, as a guy they could throw the ball to in space, a guy who could create big plays in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/british-open">the open</a> field and be a match-up nightmare for opposing linebackers. Without Wilson, Ben McAdoo and the Giants never had that element in their offensive arsenal.</p>
<p>With Vereen, they do.</p>
<p>Vereen caught 99 passes over the passes two regular seasons, and had 11 receptions in New England's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>. He also averages 4.2 yards on 217 career carries.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/163517/shane-vereen-a-fun-new-toy-for-eli-manning-ben-mcadoo-giants" target="_blank">ESPN's Dan Graziano</a> wrote that "Vereen is known as a sharp route-runner and sure-handed receiver, but also as a strong pass-protector, so he'll slide in nicely as a third-down back with Jennings and/or Williams handling the early-down work."</p>
<p>What Vereen has never been is a full-time, every-down back. He played 606 snaps a year ago, and had career highes with 96 carries, 391 yards rushing and 52 receptions.</p>
<p>Vereen isn't in New York to replace Jennings, or to push Williams down the depth chart. He is a Giant to complement the things that they do, to improve the efficiency the Giants' passing attack and give <span>Eli Manning</span> one more weapon.</p>
<p>GM Jerry Reese always says "you need play-makers in this league." That's what Vereen is. And that is why the Giants wanted him.</p>
https://www.bigblueview.com/2015/3/10/8184393/shane-vereen-signing-analysis-nfl-free-agency-2015-news-rumorsEd Valentine