Did the lesson stick? Did the Giants’ stunning surge to the Super Bowl convince their often skeptical fans that sometimes the best way to improve during the NFL free-agency signing period is to create a small ripple rather than go for the big splash?
Probably not.
“I think fans love name value,” GM Ernie Accorsi said. “I think they’re still going to want a name in the picture.”
Guess what? The Giants also want a name, or perhaps two, in the picture, and this time around, they are in position to do more than shop the discount rack.
Accorsi’s outstanding work a year ago imported quality without prohibitive cost and his signings were key factors in the Giants conquering the NFC before falling to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. With a better salary-cap position, Accorsi this offseason not only can sign Jason Sehorn and Tiki Barber, his own high-priced free agents, but also will be able to bring in one or two other high-profile players to help the Giants prove last season was no fluke.
“We’ll be able to do something,” said Accorsi, whose team was already under the cap and can gain several million more dollars by restructuring existing contracts and by cutting players. “We can pick our spots better now.”
The NFL free-agency signing period begins Friday and even though they have more money to spend, the Giants will be hard-pressed to add the quality they did a year ago. The impact of free agency on the Giants last season was dramatic. There is no completely accurate way to determine the effect of adding Micheal Barrow to the middle of the defense or Dusty Zeigler, Lomas Brown and Glenn Parker to the heart of the offensive line. What is clear is that without them, and also without Dave Thomas performing better than expected at cornerback, the Giants would not have made it nearly as far as they did.
After re-signing Sehorn and Barber, the decisions become more difficult. The Giants have nine other unrestricted free agents and Accorsi said, “For the most part we’d like to sign them all.” Of course, they won’t. “There obviously are some you want more than others,” added Accorsi.
It figures the Giants want to keep starting strong side linebacker Ryan Phillips, for the right price, and also starting defensive tackle Christian Peter, who has already been supplanted by rookie sensation Cornelius Griffin. Peter will likely get a more attractive offer, though, and could be gone. A solid reserve such as linebacker Pete Monty could also go elsewhere, as he’s behind Barrow with the Giants.
Neither the Giants nor Pete Mitchell were happy with what transpired this past season when it came to Mitchell’s production. He slumped in one year from 58 receptions to 25 and there’s an undercurrent within the organization that his best days might be behind him. What is certain is the Giants will not spent a great deal of money to keep Mitchell.
In other areas, the Giants must decide if Mike Cherry is worth keeping around, as he spent four years as the No. 3 quarterback, throwing only one pass. Another youngster will come more cheaply and at this point in his career, Cherry must see if he can elevate himself into a backup role, with the Giants or elsewhere.
The Giants also have difficult choices in their kicking game, as both placekicker Brad Daluiso and punter Brad Maynard are unrestricted free agents. Neither is coming off an especially strong year. The odds are Maynard will remain – unless someone woos him away for big bucks, which is unlikely – and that the Giants part ways with Daluiso and hand the kicking duties to Jaret Holmes, who is already on the roster.
Is there help on the outside? You bet. They’re looking for help at cornerback, on the defensive line at tight end and perhaps at linebacker. They could be attracted to the Raiders’ Rickey Dudley as a pass-catching tight end, perhaps a young defensive end such as Kenny Holmes (Titans) or Marcellus Wiley (Bills) and maybe cornerbacks Denard Walker (Titans) or Walt Harris (Bears).
And, if the Giants are interested in making improvements as well as headlines, they could sign Tiki Barber and then his twin brother, cornerback Ronde Barber, on the very same day. Ronde might return to the Buccaneers but the pull of the Barbers for a family reunion could be the deciding factor.
As always, patience is easy to preach, hard to do. The Giants did not sign Parker last year until late March and didn’t get Thomas until mid-April. What they did then and what they plan to do now is only import players who will fit into the team concept the Giants utilized so well.
“I certainly don’t think we’re set,” Accorsi said. “I think we obviously have to get better. I don’t know if we’ll have the numbers. It may have just as much impact with less players.”
