After talking to people around the league and in the Giants organization, here is one man's informed opinion (subject to change based on price tag, market value, etc.) on who will "stay" or "go" over the next few weeks.
Stay:
S Stevie Brown
LB Mark Herzlich
FB Henry Hynoski
LB Spencer Paysinger
OL John Jerry
Go:
CB Zack Bowman
CB Chykie Brown
OL James Brewer
S Quintin Demps
TE Daniel Fells
RB Chris Ogbonnaya
WR Jerrel Jernigan
DT Mike Patterson
S Antrel Rolle
OL Adam Snyder
CB Walter Thurmond
LB Jacquian Williams
Giants free agent predictions: Stay or Go? - (
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Also surprised Chykie Brown would be one of those to be going.
It's time for a repeat of the 2005 offseason. BIG TUESDAY!
Stevie Brown should look better after another year post-surgery. I'm still baffled by the money he's been paid - especially last year. Herzlich has improved, though his ceiling still seems pretty low. Paysinger hit his ceiling years ago. Hynoski is OK, as long as he can stay on the field; his role is small, and he plays it pretty well. Jerry is mediocre depth. He's easy to hate because he was starting when he shouldn't have been.
Thurmond... just want to see what he brings to the table. Last year was as much of a wash as a wash can be.
and I agree Herz should go.
Most of the other names on the "go" list are just guys. Better to save cap space to try and upgrade.
The stay list is really depressing outside of Hyno. Maybe one of Herzlich/Paysinger for depth/specials but both?
Quote:
Guy doesn't deserve an active roster spot. The worst LB on the team by a mile and not particularly good on specials. He's the Tom Quinn of players.
I think this is overdoing it. He's damned good on specials and actually can make plays at LB even though he lacks some coverage ability. He ain't that bad.
Damned good? Hardly. He is an average special teams player with decent tackling skills. He is a below average NFL linebacker.
They're depth. Decent backups at vet min salaries. And they could be beat out in camp but you need to fill the roster with guys who have some potential and see where it goes.
Herzlich is a solid special teams player. Witness wrestling the on-sides kick away from the Niner. They shouldn't keep both Paysinger & him. Herzlich is at least, nominally, able to play more linebacker roles than PayLess.
Thank you heavens that we won't have to discuss Brewer's upside, his LT feet, his "what am I doing out here?" look when he is put into the game because of injury.
All these cuts only work if Reese and Ross get better at the drafts post Round 1. Teflon GM and Director/VP of college scouting.
Stevie Brown should look better after another year post-surgery. I'm still baffled by the money he's been paid - especially last year. Herzlich has improved, though his ceiling still seems pretty low. Paysinger hit his ceiling years ago. Hynoski is OK, as long as he can stay on the field; his role is small, and he plays it pretty well. Jerry is mediocre depth. He's easy to hate because he was starting when he shouldn't have been.
^^^^
Herzlich actually started to make a few more plays, but, I seem to recall him having some assignment issues, which is troubling for a "smart" LB.
Agreed. Keeping both is depressing. Herzlich? Eh. Not an NFL LB, but decent on ST. I could see letting go of Paysinger as well.
John Jerry I didn't think played too terribly. He had trouble at both RT for a portion of the season and of course a weak link at Center. For depth he's decent. For starting, weak fringe starter. He could challenge guys like Jones for the backup G spot.
It kind of stinks seeing Fells on the Gone List. He played really well, I thought, and was cheap.
all those excuses won't be there this year, so they are probably willing to roll the dice on an inexpensive player.
and again - the article is speculative.
Not really. If he isn't healthy or if he still sucks, he can get cut in one of the initial roster cutdowns.
he was hurt pretty much all last year and ended 2013 decently. I'd at least bring him to camp on a vet min deal. It can't hurt, and at least he's flashed semi recently.
Have no issue keeping him provided he is meant for depth (which is the likely scenario)
As the 40th - 53rd guy on your roster at near vet min, you can do MUCH MUCH worse.
If he's starting that's a problem, but for depth and special teams he's fine.
What I don't understand is why anyone would keep a player who doesn't at least have an upside to be a starter. The problem last year isn't that Jerry was a starter. The problem was that neither Mosley or Brewer were capable of being a starter.
Fells did nothing last year that suggests he should not be on the training camp roster. Neither did Jernigan. If backups don't want to accept a vet minimum contract, that's another story.
I would dump that whole list, but that revisits last offseason.
I wouldn't want John Jerry back, even as depth.
Looks like we are going to draft Corners. I know Reese is excited.
FB Henry Hynoski
LB Spencer Paysinger
CB Chykie Brown
TE Daniel Fells
Go:
S Stevie Brown
LB Mark Herzlich
CB Zack Bowman
OL James Brewer
S Quintin Demps
RB Chris Ogbonnaya
OL John Jerry
WR Jerrel Jernigan
DT Mike Patterson
S Antrel Rolle
OL Adam Snyder
CB Walter Thurmond
LB Jacquian Williams
They may lose a few players, like CB Thurmond, because that is just the way it is with free agency. I'd personally like to see CB Z. Bowman back for one more year.
LB Mark Herzlich is "heady" and serviceable for the league minimum. He is essentially the last man on the weekly "actives" list IF he makes the team. Remember, signing him to a 1 year league minimum contract does NOT ensure he makes the active roster.
I think much more will be revealed in the next few days. I also believe much, much more will be revealed if Eli extends with a 5 year deal that gives us cap space this year.
Last, I would think Fells comes back for one last year at a league minimum. He is our blocking TE UNLESS they think Robinson is learning that and viable. Or if a younger UFA could be signed and upgrades.
FB Henry Hynoski
LB Spencer Paysinger
CB Chykie Brown
TE Daniel Fells
Go:
S Stevie Brown
LB Mark Herzlich
CB Zack Bowman
OL James Brewer
S Quintin Demps
RB Chris Ogbonnaya
OL John Jerry
WR Jerrel Jernigan
DT Mike Patterson
S Antrel Rolle
OL Adam Snyder
CB Walter Thurmond
LB Jacquian Williams
much, much better.
Bowman gave up on some plays during the year, that's probably why he's gone. I thought he was alright.
Jerry staying is confusing, hopefully he's depth.
S. Brown, I guess he stays because of lack of depth and available talent. Thought C. Brown would at least get another look this year.
Them not bringing him back may have less to do with his talent than their ability/desire to pay him what he's worth if he's not reliably available.
LB Mark Herzlich is "heady" and serviceable for the league minimum. He is essentially the last man on the weekly "actives" list IF he makes the team. Remember, signing him to a 1 year league minimum contract does NOT ensure he makes the active roster.
If he's given a contract and stays healthy, hes making the team and he's going to be active every week.
The "if" you're talking about is what you're rationalizing, not how a Tom Coughlin team is actually usually run (especially in what is his presumably do or die year, with him largely going out on his terms).
Stevie Brown: had one good year. got a good paycheck last year and didn't earn it. I can accept that it was payback for previous play. He's at zero, though. Vet min, with incentives. Guaranteeing him anything significant would be a mistake.
Rolle: I'd bring him back for a couple mil. Nothing near what he was making.
Thurmond: he got 3-4 mil for sitting at home. It was a one year show me deal. Why should he get another show me deal?
Other than that, at vet min and no guarantees, most are in the bring them to camp and make them earn a spot category.
The problem is that you can't get rid of everybody at once unless you are prepared to go into the season with a dozen or more rookie free agents on your roster.
So I would be OK with keeping Stevie Brown as the least bad option (considering both cost and on-field ability) of the trio of their vet FA Safties, Fells because he is the only TE they have that is worth anything more than an old postcard from Disneyland (he's worth at least three old postcards from anywhere), maybe Herzlich who did play better down the stretch last year, and maybe Zack Brown who is a good gunner and can be an OK reserve CB. Of course, I'm not sure anybody is a good gunner on Quinn's special teams.
Much better player than the JPP of tight ends. Every time Fells played a few snaps here & there, he got the job done.
I do believe that spags can use herzlich as well as any of our other 'cannot cover' linebackers or any 'cannot cover' free agent linebackers, at the right price.