Not long into his annual pre-draft press briefing yesterday, Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, a former sportswriter, quickly surmised which direction the discussion was headed.
“This is not going to be a LaVar Arrington press conference, I’m going to tell you that,” he said.
Too late. Evaluating where the Giants are headed in the April 29-30 NFL Draft is blatantly easy: They’re looking to take an outside linebacker with the 25th overall pick in the first round. But the ongoing, tedious Arrington situation could play a major role in whom they will select with their top pick.
The much-ballyhooed free agent and three-time Pro Bowler once again popped up on the Giants radar when he arrived in Manhattan yesterday to submit to the physical examination he refused to take nearly six weeks ago. That step might set in motion a chain of events that finally lands Arrington a contract and a new football home, provided he comes off the lavish financial demands put forth by his agents.
The Dolphins, Jaguars and Packers have all expressed interest in Arrington. Reports last night indicated the field was narrowed to the Giants and Packers.
“We’re not going to seriously consider any player without a physical examination,” Accorsi said. “We never had a physical examination. He had a physical with us, that is all that’s taken place. If this now triggers another round of hysteria, it’s going to be inaccurate, just like the last round.
“Nothing has happened in negotiations. We just needed to have a foundation of information. He’s played in the league for several years and we wanted a physical. That’s all.”
The concern is Arrington’s right knee, which has been surgically repaired twice in the past two seasons. During his first visit to the Giants March 11-12, Arrington provided to the Giants the report of the physical exam he took for the Dolphins, but declined to undergo another exam.
Now the Giants have their own information and, depending on what their medical staff thinks of Arrington’s knee, the Giants could surge back into the picture. They will not, though, come close to the seven-year, $54 million Arrington wants or approach the $15-$18 million he wants in guaranteed money.
No team will pay Arrington what he wants. If he doesn’t sign with someone prior to the draft, the list of interested teams will likely shrink.
“Once teams start picking young players at that position . . . I would assume that’s going to affect his market,” Accorsi said.
