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Footballguy
Didnt see a thread for Big Blue anywhere
Made some cuts today. Emmons, Arrington and Pettigout gone
LINK
Made some cuts today. Emmons, Arrington and Pettigout gone
LINK
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today began the offseason restructuring of their roster when they released three veterans, offensive tackle Luke Petitgout and linebackers Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington.
Two of the players are former first-round draft choices (Petitgout by the Giants, Arrington by the Washington Redskins). Petitgout has played his entire career with the Giants. Arrington spent one season in New Jersey after six years in the nation’s capital. Emmons played four years in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia before spending the last three seasons with the Giants.
Petitgout and Arrington had their 2006 seasons ended prematurely because of injury, while Emmons missed four games with a pectoral injury.
“Luke has been a valuable performer for our team,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. “Throughout his career he showed his versatility and toughness. Because of that, this was a difficult decision, but it was one we felt we had to make to take the first steps in improving our team for 2007. Carlos has had a tough time staying on the field consistently because of injuries the past couple years. LaVar's situation is unfortunate because he was just starting to really become a factor in our defense at the time of his injury."
Petitgout joined the Giants as the 19th overall selection of the 1999 NFL Draft. In his eight years with the team, the 6-6, 310-pounder played in 113 games with 106 starts and played left guard and both tackle positions. Petitgout was an integral member of the offensive line that helped Tiki Barber set franchise records while rushing for 5,050 yards from 2004-06.
As a rookie, Petitgout played left guard and started eight of the first nine games before being replaced by Mike Rosenthal, his former teammate at Notre Dame. In 2000 and 2001, Petitgout started every game – including three postseason contests – at right tackle. He was named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Pro team in 2001.
Petitgout moved to left tackle in 2002 and played there the last five seasons. When a back injury forced him to miss a game against Dallas on Sept. 15, 2003, it ended a streak of 49 consecutive starts. He played in 10 games that year, but started all 16 games in 2004 and 15 in 2005.
This season, Petitgout started the first nine games of the season before fracturing his left fibula in the first half of a game against Chicago on Nov. 12. He was inactive for six games as the Giants hoped he would be able to return late in the season. But when Petitgout failed to make sufficient progress in his recovery, he was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 26.
Emmons joined the Giants as an unrestricted free agent on March 5, 2004. Injuries limited him to 36 games in his three seasons with the Giants.
In 2006, Emmons started all 12 games in which he played, seven at strongside linebacker and five on the weak side. He started the season’s first three games at weakside backer, Games 7-8 on the strong side, Games 10-11 on the weak side and the final five games of the season, plus the NFC Wild Card Game in Philadelphia, at strongside linebacker. Emmons missed four games with a pectoral injury suffered on Sept. 24 at Seattle. He finished the season fifth on the team with 70 tackles (44 solo) and a sack.
In 2005, Emmons played in nine games with eight starts - five on the strong side and three on the weak side. He had 49 tackles (35 solo), 1 interception and 5 passes defensed before being placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury on Dec. 27.
Emmons’ finest season with the Giants was in 1994, when he started all 15 games in which he played at strongside linebacker and led the team with 97 tackles (62 solo), a sack and three passes defensed.
In his four years in Philadelphia, Emmons established himself as one of the NFL’s premier strongside linebackers, averaging 110 tackles a season from 2000-2003. Emmons entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft choice (the 242nd overall selection) by the Steelers in 1996. He was a four-year starter at Arkansas State from 1992-95.
Arrington joined the Giants on April 24, 2006 after playing six seasons for the Redskins. The second overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Arrington was a Pro Bowler every season from 2001-03, when he was considered one of the NFL’s most dynamic linebackers.
A knee injury limited him to four games in 2005 and 13 (with eight starts) in his final season in Washington in 2005.
Arrington’s only Giants season was cut short when he tore his Achilles tendon at Dallas on Oct. 23. The injury required surgery and forced him to go on injured reserve. Ironically, Arrington was playing his finest game of the season the night he was hurt. He started at strongside linebacker and sacked Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe for a safety. Arrington later deflected a Bledsoe pass on a flea-flicker that could have resulted in a long gain.
In his brief Giants tenure, Arrington played in six games with five starts on the strong side. He did not start against his former team, the Redskins, on Oct. 8 because the Giants opened the game with an extra defensive back. Arrington finished his shortened season with 17 tackles (11 solo), a sack and two passes defensed.
Arrington’s career totals include 484 tackles (346 solo), 23.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
“These are difficult decisions,” Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said. “But as Jerry and I looked at the roster, they are decisions we felt we had to make as we start to compose our team for the upcoming season. Luke has been a tough competitor here, and he was really playing well before his injury last season. Carlos gave us everything he had, but his injuries the last couple years kept him from being the kind of player we know he is. LaVar was only here a short time, but as a coach, I couldn't have asked for more from a veteran player in terms of his desire and his enthusiasm."
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It's better than worrying about if the coach will be around and continue to neglect his family (TRUE PHILLY STYLE!). That and if the fragile backfield that Philly employs can last through the season.
) but being a "project" LT when drafted last year, I would expect the Whimper will be competing for the backup job this year and being assessed for his potential to start in a year or two.
Any chance Anthony Gonzalez from Ohio State is still on the board when the G-men pick in the 3rd round?
