The Giants were in desperate need of a pass-rusher, and Connor Barwin was looking for a new home — preferably somewhere on the East Coast close to his family.
It made perfect sense for both parties. His history, including four seasons with the rival Eagles, didn’t matter. His experience, having played for linebackers coach Bill McGovern in Philadelphia and knowing new Giants coach Pat Shurmur, did.
“Not every team has it, but every team wants three pass-rushers,” the veteran outside linebacker said Thursday prior to the Giants’ first practice of training camp. “For me, I thought there was an opportunity to come here and be one of those three guys.”
Barwin spent his first four seasons with the Texans before signing with the Eagles as a free-agent in 2013. He was cut last offseason and picked up by the Rams.
The Giants sure can use his experience and ability to get to the quarterback. They were tied for 29th in the league with just 27 sacks a year ago and traded defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who led the Giants with 8.5 sacks, to the Buccaneers. Prior to Barwin’s arrival on a two-year deal worth up to $5 million this week, Olivier Vernon was the only player on the Giants’ roster who has produced more than 3.5 sacks in a single season.
The question with Barwin, who notched 34 tackles and five sacks in 14 games with the Rams a year ago and has 55.5 career sacks over a nine-year career, is how much can he produce at the age of 31.
“I feel like I got a lot left,” he insisted.
Just as important as his ability to create disruption in the backfield are Barwin’s leadership qualities. The Giants have several young players who can learn from him. New Giants middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, who played with Barwin in Los Angeles last year, described him as a leader in the locker room and “one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, for sure.”
“People ask what makes a great player. I think what makes a great player is being a good teammate,” said Barwin, who opted to wait until just before training camp to sign so he could spend more time with his newborn son West. “It’s something I pride myself on and the more guys on your team that try to be a good teammate, you are going to have a better team.
“You try do whatever you can to help a guy do better.”
Putting on the Giants jersey was admittedly “weird” on Wednesday, Barwin said. For four years, they were the enemy. He joked it’s a good thing most of Big Blue’s offensive lineman from his days in Philadelphia are gone, because it would avoid some awkward moments.
“I’m happy to be a Giant, happy to be back in the best division in football,” he said.
That division, the NFC East, now includes the defending Super Bowl champion. The Rams faced the Eagles, but Barwin missed the game with a broken forearm, snapping a streak of starting 112 games in a row.
“I am very happy I get to see them twice,” he said.
