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LaVar Arrington was released today. Would anybody want to take a chance on him--provided he comes cheaply? He only played 6 games last year, and has become injury prone. He does have some talent though.
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"There's a lot of interest in the draft. It's great. But quite frankly, most of the people that are commenting on it don't know anything about what they are talking about."--Ted Thompson -
Giants cut LBs Arrington and Emmons, T Petitgout
February 12, 2007
By SportsTicker
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The New York Giants decided to bring back coach Tom Coughlin. But three veteran starters weren't as lucky.
The Giants released linebackers LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons and left tackle Luke Petitgout, new general manager Jerry Reese announced on Monday.
Arrington and Petitgout had their 2006 campaigns shortened by injuries and Emmons missed four games with a pectoral injury.
"These are difficult decisions," 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."
Last April, Arrington signed an incentive-laden seven-year deal that could have been worth up to $49 million with the Giants. But that turned out to be a mistake by former general manager Ernie Accorsi, who retired last month and was replaced by Reese.
Arrington tore his Achilles tendon in an October 23 game at Dallas and finished his shortened season with 17 tackles, a sack and two passes defensed.
"LaVar's situation is unfortunate because he was just starting to really become a factor in our defense at the time of his injury," Reese said.
Arrington, 28, made the Pro Bowl three times in his six seasons with the Washington Redskins before signing with the Giants.
The Giants initially hesitated to sign Arrington, who underwent arthroscopic surgery twice on his right knee in a 20-month period of 2004 and 2005.
The second overall pick in 2000 out of Penn State, Arrington has registered 413 tackles, 23 1/2 sacks and three interceptions in 85 career games.
Injuries limited Emmons to 36 games in his three seasons with the Giants. Last year, he started seven games at strongside linebacker and five at weakside linebacker and finished fifth on the team with 70 tackles and a sack.
"Carlos has had a tough time staying on the field consistently because of injuries the past couple years," Reese said.
The 33-year-old Emmons had averaged 110 tackles from 2000-03 with the Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Giants in March 2004.
Petitgout, 30, spent his entire eight-year career with the Giants and played in 113 games at tackle and guard.
This past season, Petitgout started nine games at left tackle before breaking his left leg in a November 12 loss against Chicago.
"Luke has been a valuable performer for our team," 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."
Petitgout was an integral member of the line that helped Tiki Barber set franchise records while rushing for 5,050 yards from 2004-06.
The Giants collapsed in the second half of the 2006 season, losing six of their last eight games but made the playoffs with an 8-8 record. They lost in the wild card round to Philadelphia, 23-20.
Despite the shaky second half, the Giants signed Coughlin to a one-year extension last month.
Coughlin has a 25-23 record with one NFC East title in three years as Giants coach. However, he is 0-2 in the playoffs. -
weird... Why would they cut him, he was doing good until he got injured... Not worth the big money??? I wouldn't mind him on the Pack if they could get him cheap... But I doubt that...Comment
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I'd be up for giving him a second chance. I mean we wanted to get him last year, so why not try to get him this year. Yes he is coming off a serious injury, but that may mean that he'll come cheaper than dirt. I say give him a chance. Them we don't have to dump all kinds of money into Thomas and we'll still have a wicked good linebacker core.Comment
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Wow! This comes as a total shocker. The Giants are definitely contenders so for them to release Arrington...he's either not worth the money or they see something we don't. I believe he has a load of talent, but injuries are a HUGE factor for this guy.Comment
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<sigh>.... don't get me started...
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wasnt it a 7 year deal with a lot of bonus? ouch to the giants salary cap.Comment
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i wanted him last year, and if the price is right, i'd take him this year
the guy does have a load of talentComment
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they also released Luke Petitgout offensive tackle that started 106 games in 8 seasons, and he's only 30. and also plays guard
possible depth for the o-line?Comment
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Originally posted by red
If healthy, I'd take him in a secTERD Buckley over Troy Vincent, Robert Ferguson over Chris Chambers, Kevn King instead of TJ Watt, and now, RICH GANNON, over JIMMY JIMMY JIMMY LEONARD. Thank you FLOWERComment
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Not sure he'd be a TT target, but I was surprised he was let go too.Originally posted by redComment
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TT was very wise to pick Woodson.
Offer Lavar some peanuts and inform him the Pack will be playing the redskins in 07.Comment
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If he comes cheap, why the hell not..He'd be an upgrade over Poppinga if he's healthy..
Of course, the "Poston Brothers" and "cheap" are rarely uttered in the same sentence...Comment
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If he were to be around the league minimum for vets or around that figure why not give him some looks.. other thing is we have to make sure he is on a good pace to come back healthy. Adding a guy like him is adding quality depth to what seems to be a pretty good LB rising. Even though there will be haters on this issue, adding talent, and doing it with a reasonable fee is what TT is really trying to do.Comment
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So, our wish list is Moss for a 3rd round pick, Arrington for league minimum, a safety like Ken Hamlin or Michael Lewis, any viable TE, best player available at pick #16 (maybe an RB), and CBs for depth later in the draft?
If this all happened could Green Bay contend for the Super Bowl in a watered down NFC?"There's a lot of interest in the draft. It's great. But quite frankly, most of the people that are commenting on it don't know anything about what they are talking about."--Ted ThompsonComment
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