HEADLINES

Chris Snee

Giants Approach Snee, Baas About Pay Cuts

February 27th, 2014 at 12:31pm CST by Luke Adams

The Giants have approached guard Chris Snee and center David Baas about taking pay cuts, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. New York is interested in keeping both players for the 2014 season, but the combined cap numbers for the duo total nearly $20MM, which is untenable for the club.

As we passed along yesterday, Snee has decided not to retire, and hopes to play at least one more season for the Giants, the team with which he has spent his entire career. The longtime right guard, who is coming off hip and elbow surgery, expressed an openness to discussing a pay cut, which would reduce his $6.75MM base salary. Taking into account bonus money, Snee’s cap number for 2014 currently sits at $11.3MM, meaning the team could clear nearly $7MM by releasing him. As such, working out a new agreement is likely in the best interests of both sides.

Baas’ case isn’t as clear, however. The Giants center, who also missed most of the 2013 season with knee issues, still has two years remaining on his contract, so cutting him this season would accelerate additional money onto the team’s 2014 cap. New York could create a little cap flexibility by cutting Baas and his $8.225MM cap number, but $6.45MM in dead money would remain on the ’14 cap, so the savings would be minimal. We’ll have to see if Baas is interested in remaining in New York and willing to reduce a 2014 base salary of $4.75MM.

Chris Snee Not Retiring, Open To Pay Cut

February 26th, 2014 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Although a January report suggested there was a chance he’d retire this offseason, veteran guard Chris Snee intends to continue his career, and hopes to play at least one more season for the Giants, as he tells Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

“I don’t want my last memory to be a dismal performance in Carolina,” Snee said, referring to the Giants’ Week 3 loss against the Panthers. “There’s a changing of the guard, I want to help this team right the ship.”

Snee, who underwent hip surgery following that game in Carolina, has been the Giants’ starter at right guard for nearly a decade, since the team drafted him 34th overall in 2004. The 32-year-old has earned a spot in the Pro Bowl four times over that period and had been a key member of the offensive line until the 2013 season, when he played poorly even before he was sidelined due to the hip injury. Still, as he recovers from hip and elbow surgery, Snee sounds convinced that he still has something left in the tank.

“Am I the guy who was controlling the line of scrimmage four years ago?” Snee said. “No, but do I think I can play at a high level and compete with most of the guards in the league? Absolutely. I think I would regret not giving it my all, that’s what I’ve always done for this organization, give it everything I have. That’s what I’ll do, I’ll try to do that for one more year.”

While Snee sounds ready to return to New York, the team will have a decision to make as well. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier today that the Giants expected Snee to remain on the team for 2014, but the veteran’s cap number will have to be addressed. He’s owed a base salary of $6.75MM, plus additional bonus money that takes his total cap hit up to $11.3MM. That number isn’t palatable, and the club could create nearly $7MM in cap savings by cutting him. Still, it sounds like Snee is open to the idea of taking a pay cut in the final year of his contract and optimistic about getting something done.

“If there was no interest from [the team’s] point of view I’d probably say thanks for everything and call it a career,” Snee said. “At this point it’s not about money for me. I’m a Giant, I couldn’t imagine myself playing for any other organization…. I’m not worried about if the deal will get done but when. I’ve had no issues before restructuring, I just want to win so I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Even the Giants are confident that Snee can return to the field for the club in 2014, the team is expected to survey the free agent market for guards, as we heard this afternoon.

NFC East Rumors: Kelce, Giants, Redskins

February 26th, 2014 at 12:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Standout offensive tackle Jason Peters re-upped with the Eagles today, agreeing to a contract extension that adds four more years to his current deal, keeping him under contract through 2018. While Peters was the first Philadelphia offensive lineman to reach a new agreement this offseason, he likely won’t be the last, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links). Both reporters believe it’s just a matter of time until the Eagles also announce an extension for center Jason Kelce, whose rookie contract is set to expire a year from now.

Here are a few more Wednesday updates on the Eagles’ three division rivals:

  • As the Giants look to upgrade their offensive line, the club is eyeing potential free agent guards, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. While New York does think veteran Chris Snee will return in 2014, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the team could target players like Jon Asamoah, Geoff Schwartz, Chad Rinehart, Zane Beadles, and Shawn Lauvao in free agency, says Raanan.
  • A few former teammates thought Corey Webster would retire after his contract with the Giants voided this month, but Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1 says (via Twitter) the veteran cornerback plans to play in 2014. Due to injuries and poor play in 2013, Webster is unlikely to land much more than a minimum contract in free agency.
  • Redskins linebacker Bryan Kehl, who is eligible for free agency next month, has yet to discuss a new deal with the team, tweets Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (Twitter link). Meanwhile, the club continues to talk to free agent linebacker Brian Orakpo, but no agreement is imminent, writes Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
  • Although safety is an area of need for the Cowboys this offseason, Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News explains why the team shouldn’t consider addressing the position in the first round of the draft.

Giants Notes: Nicks, Tuck, Wilson, Beason

February 22nd, 2014 at 9:51am CST by Matt Feminis

Giants Senior Vice President & General Manager Jerry Reese spoke to the media Saturday morning and Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post tweeted some of the topics addressed:

  • Hakeem Nicks and Justin Tuck will hit the free agent market (via Twitter).
  • The team is optimistic about David Wilson‘s neck injury, but will likely select a running back in the draft (Twitter).
  • Uncertainty about the health of Chris Snee (wrist) and David Baas (knee) is making offensive line decisions difficult (Twitter).
  • Jon Beason, who was acquired in trade last season and recorded 93 tackles and an interception in 11 starts, will become an unrestricted free agent, but the Giants want him back (Twitter).