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Robert Ayers

Giants Want To Re-Sign JPP, Ayers

February 24th, 2016 at 9:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are interested in signing both of their significant defensive ends this offseason, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. The team is looking to retain both Jason Pierre-Paul and Robert Ayers and they have plans to speak with their reps this week. Jason Pierre-Paul (vertical)

The Giants were expected to try and retain Ayers, but the news regarding JPP is somewhat surprising. Earlier this month, it was reported that the Giants were very ready to let the defensive end test free agency and go elsewhere this offseason.

Pierre-Paul has been one of Big Blue’s fiercest defenders since they drafted him 15th overall in 2010. The 27-year-old end totaled 42 sacks from 2010-14, including a career-high 16.5 during the Giants’ Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2011. However, his career took a terrible turn last summer when he lost his right index finger thanks to a July 4 fireworks accident.

Pierre-Paul returned to the field in November and ended up appearing in eight games, registering 26 tackles and a personal-low one sack. Despite his statistical decline, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) still ranked Pierre-Paul a solid 30th out of 91 qualifying edge rushers. The site remained impressed with his pass-rushing ability, though it gave him a poor grade against the run. He clearly disagrees in regards to the latter, having stated in December that, “I think I play the run better than I play the pass.”

Ayers has played in exactly 12 games in each of the last two seasons for the Giants, but he has proven to be a disruptive force each time. This past season, Ayers notched a career-high 9.0 sacks to go along with 41 total tackles, and the Giants’ pass-rush unit would be lacking if he signs elsewhere.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants Rumors: Wilkerson, Sanu, JPP, Ayers

February 17th, 2016 at 7:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Giants will enter free agency hoping to land two New Jersey natives – Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and Bengals receiver Mohamed Sanu – CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports.

[RELATED: PFR previews the Giants’ offseason]

The Jets will place the franchise tag on Wilkerson, a two-time second-team All-Pro, but La Canfora writes that they could trade the 26-year-old because they already have Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams under control along their defensive line and need help elsewhere. If the Jets do deal Wilkerson, the Giants are potential candidates to trade a first-round pick (and maybe more) for the Pro Bowler, per La Canfora, who opines that he’d be worth Big Blue’s 10th overall selection.

The Giants would also have to give Wilkerson a new contract, one that La Canfora estimates could be in Marcell Dareus territory. Dareus signed a six-year, $95MM deal with the Bills last year and is currently second among D-tackles (behind only Ndamukong Suh) in total value, yearly average ($15.85MM) and guarantees ($42.9MM).

Sanu, on the other hand, is coming off a less-than-stellar season in terms of productivity (33 catches, zero touchowns). Nevertheless, La Canfora argues that the 26-year-old would make a good complement to Odell Beckham and could merit $5MM per year.

Here’s more on the Giants:

  • The Giants will try to re-sign pending free agent Jason Pierre-Paul, but they will not place the franchise tag on the defensive end or bring him back on a huge contract, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Cole adds that there’s a debate within the organization in regards to Pierre-Paul’s value.
  • As we touched on earlier tonight, a USA Today report states that JPP’s time with the Giants is likely up.
  • Like Pierre-Paul, fellow Giants defensive end Robert Ayers is also on the verge of becoming a free agent. There’s a good chance Ayers will re-sign with the team, however, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Raanan asked five league sources what kind of deal Ayers, 30, will get off a career-best 9.5-sack season, then averaged out their projections. The end result: three years, $18MM – including $9MM in guarantees.

NFC East Notes: Moss, Pierre-Paul, Cowboys

May 27th, 2015 at 7:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Darren McFadden‘s new Cowboys teammates are bringing out the best in him, Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News writes. “Once you’ve been in a place so long like Oakland you get set in your ways,” the running back said. “Coming out here and just being around guys who are working so hard, it just brings out the best in you and that’s something I really look forward to.”

Dallas boasted the league’s second-best rushing offense in 2014, averaging 147.1 yards per game with star DeMarco Murray in the backfield. Now, it’ll be up to Dallas’ new group of running backs to try and replicate that production. Here’s more from the NFC East..

  • Santana Moss says that he still wants to play in the NFL, but he might have to settle for an off-field role. As it turns out, Washington owner Daniel Snyder has already spoken with the veteran about a potential job, Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post writes. “I went up there and met with Dan a little before the draft, and we just talked basically about life, football, everything,” Moss told 106.7 The Fan’s Chad Dukes. “Dan has always been special to me from Day One when I became a Redskin, and he knows how much I love him and I appreciate him. So we sat down and talked for hours, and he just told me, ‘I know that you want to play so I’m not sure how things are gonna go, but if you’re not a ‘Skin, whenever you’re done, I want you back here to retire and everything. And when you’re done with that, if you want to do something with the team, give me a holler.’”
  • Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters, including Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (on Twitter), that he expects Jason Pierre-Paul will be at the mandatory minicamp in mid-June. However, he also knows that the star defensive end might not show.
  • Cowboys exec Will McClay has been given a new title for the third time in three years, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. McClay is now the team’s senior director of college and pro scouting after being given the assistant director of player personnel title in 2014. The position is roughly the same as McClay will run the personnel department as he did last year.
  • The Giants got some good news on Robert Ayers, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Tests revealed no major damage to the defensive end’s knee or ankle. The defensive end was carted off the practice field earlier today.
  • The injury to left tackle Will Beatty forced the Giants to remake an offensive line that had received a makeover just a few months ago, Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News writes. Beatty tore a pectoral muscle while in the weight room and is expected to be out until November.

Giants Put Ayers, Kiwanuka, Snyder On IR

December 2nd, 2014 at 5:43pm CST by Luke Adams

5:43pm: Even more bad news for the Giants. The Giants have also placed guard Geoff Schwartz and linebacker Terrell Manning on injured reserve, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano (via Twitter). Meanwhile, running back Chris Ogbonnaya has been added to the roster (link).

Ogbonnaya, 28, saw his second stint with the Panthers come to an end recently when he was waived to make room for the promotion of defensive tackle Micanor Regis. The running back/fullback compiled 50 yards on 14 carries this season, but he hasn’t played since Carolina’s loss to the Saints in late October.

Schwartz, 28, signed a four-year deal with the Giants when he hit free agency in March, but has barely played for the club in 2014. Sidelined with a toe injury, Schwartz was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return prior to Week 1. The 28-year-old returned for November contests against the Cowboys and Jaguars, but that apparently was the beginning and end of his 2014 campaign.

The Giants plucked Manning off of the Bengals’ taxi squad just days ago, but an ankle injury took him off the field. The Giants placed 5 players on IR today but they can only replace four of them since Manning was signed off Cincy’s practice squad last week. NFL rules stipulate that a player signed off of another’s teams practice squad can’t be replaced on the 53-man roster until three weeks have lapsed since the signing.

4:37pm: The Giants’ lost 2014 season took another downward turn today, as the team placed three more veteran players on injured reserve, bringing the total count of Giants players on IR up to 18. According to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter), defensive end Robert Ayers, defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, and offensive lineman Adam Snyder are the latest New York players to land on the injured reserve list.

As we heard yesterday, Ayers sustained a torn pectoral muscle during Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, which was expected to end his season. Kiwanuka and Snyder are both on the shelf with knee ailments, and will also see their 2014 seasons end prematurely. For the Giants, these are just the latest in a series of season-ending injuries that have plagued the team all year. Notable contributors like Victor Cruz, Jon Beason, Walter Thurmond, and Prince Amukamara have also been placed on the IR at some point this season.

While Ayers remains under contract for 2015 at an affordable rate and will likely return to the team next season, assuming he makes a full recovery, Kiwanuka and Snyder may have played their last games for the Giants — Kiwanuka’s cap hit increases to an unpalatable $7.45MM next year, while Snyder’s contract expires at season’s end.

As for this season, the Giants will promote three players from their practice squad to fill the newly-created openings on the roster, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Linebacker James Davidson, guard Eric Herman, and defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton will receive promotions to the 53-man unit.

Injury Updates: Monday

December 1st, 2014 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

With just four weeks left in the NFL regular season, injuries that may not have been considered season-ending a month or two ago could now result in players being placed on injured reserve lists, as teams try to maximize their roster flexibility. Here’s the latest on injuries from this weekend’s action that could potentially necessitate roster moves:

  • Giants defensive end Robert Ayers tore his pectoral muscle during yesterday’s loss to the Jaguars, and the injury will end his season, tweets Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News. Ayers was only a part-time player for New York this season, coming off the bench most games and playing the third-most snaps among the team’s defensive ends, but his excellent production as a pass-rusher made him the league’s fourth-best 4-3 DE this season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
  • The Jaguars confirmed today that right tackle Austin Pasztor tore his hamstring yesterday, and will likely be out for the rest of the year, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link).
  • Titans wideout Justin Hunter remained in a Houston hospital today after lacerating his spleen, but the belief is that he won’t require surgery, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link) hears from a source that Hunter should be okay, though “he may not play anytime soon.”
  • Panthers head coach Ron Rivera believes DeAngelo Williams‘ right hand is broken, and the running back may see a hand specialist, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

Giants Sign Robert Ayers To Two-Year Deal

April 3rd, 2014 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 12:00pm: Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com provides the financial breakdown for Ayers’ two-year deal, which has a base value of $3.75MM and is guaranteed for $1.73MM. There’s also up to $1MM available via incentives.

WEDNESDAY, 9:35am: The Giants have reached an agreement to sign free agent defensive end Robert Ayers, a source tells Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). According to Garafolo, Ayers will ink a two-year contract with New York.

Although the Giants have been very active in free agency over the last several weeks, the defensive line was one area the team hadn’t really addressed, even after losing Justin Tuck to Oakland. Ayers, a former first-round pick, certainly won’t replace Tuck’s sack numbers, but the former Bronco, who started 27 games in Denver over five seasons, had excellent run-stopping grades in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Using PFF’s metrics, Ayers ranked 14th overall out of 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends, and also set a career-high with 5.5 sacks.

Prior to the two sides agreeing to terms, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News and Dave Hutchinson of the Star-Ledger both suggested that a deal with possible — Vacchiano cited “strong mutual interest,” while Hutchinson said talks were “heating up” (Twitter links).

FA Visits: Heyward-Bey, Wright, Ayers, Coleman

April 1st, 2014 at 5:14pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard this afternoon that veteran cornerback Champ Bailey is in New Orleans to meet with the Saints, but Bailey’s trip to Louisiana isn’t the only free agent visit that has been reported today. Let’s round up a few more….

  • Former top-10 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey is scheduled to visit the Steelers on Wednesday, tweets Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The former Raider grabbed 29 balls last season for the Colts.
  • Free agent safety Major Wright will meet with his old head coach Lovie Smith as he visits the Buccaneers today and tomorrow, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Wright himself tweeted that he’s looking forward to seeing “familiar old faces in Tampa,” while Rapoport adds that the Bucs will look to sign the 25-year-old before he leaves town.
  • Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange passes along word of a pair of New York free agent visits, tweeting that the Giants hosted defensive end Robert Ayers and safety Kurt Coleman met with the Jets. Ayers was linked to the Giants earlier in the offseason.

Pats Notes: Blount, Ayers, Wilfork, McCourty

March 23rd, 2014 at 8:39am CST by Rory Parks

Even though the Patriots may lose LeGarrette Blount this offseason, Christopher Price of WEEI.com notes that the team is still ahead of the game with its stable of running backs and the complementary skill-sets those backs possess. Although Price notes that Maurice Jones-Drew and Knowshon Moreno are still available, he believes that if the Pats want to replace Blount, they are more likely to do so with a big-bodied back in the middle rounds of the draft.

Now for some more Patriots notes:

  • As far as the team’s need for a pass-rusher is concerned, although Andre Carter may want to come back to New England, it is unclear if the feeling is mutual. Given Carter’s age (he will turn 35 in May) and Jared Allen‘s price tag, both Price and Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald believe that Robert Ayers is a more realistic option to bolster the team’s pass rush and provide some support to the revamped secondary. Guregian notes that Shaun Phillips might also be a potential fit.
  • Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com notes that there is a belief that, the longer Vince Wilfork remains under contract, the greater the possibility that the two sides will work something out. Wilfork, of course, requested his release from the team a little more than a week ago, but the Patriots have not obliged just yet. For his part, Reiss believes every option is still on the table as far as Wilfork is concerned, and he is intrigued to see what owner Robert Kraft has to say about the situation when he speaks with reporters at the NFL’s annual meeting in Orlando over the next several days.
  • Considering the big-money deal that Jairus Byrd recently landed with New Orleans and Earl Thomas‘ impending free agency, Reiss believes the Patriots will approach Devin McCourty with a lucrative contract extension before he becomes a free agent at the end of the 2014 season.
  • Reiss also expresses surprise that free agent guard Ryan Wendell, who started every game for New England in each of the past two seasons, has not garnered more interest on the open market.

FA Rumors: De La Puente, Harrison, Murphy

March 19th, 2014 at 2:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Brian De La Puente is arguably the best center still available in free agency, and it sounds as if he’s drawing interest from plenty of potential suitors. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Saints, Giants, Broncos, and Patriots remain possibilities for De La Puente, who is scheduled to visit with the Redskins. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) adds that if there’s no agreement in place when the veteran center leaves Washington, more visits are expected.

Here’s more on some of the free agents still on the market:

FA Notes: Moore, Jordan, Carrington, Ford

March 18th, 2014 at 4:57pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard earlier in the week that wide receiver Lance Moore would visit the Steelers today, but it sounds like that meeting will happen tomorrow instead, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). Here’s more on a few free agents looking for jobs:

  • Free agent linebacker Akeem Jordan visited with the Redskins today, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Jordan reportedly met with the Titans last week.
  • The Rams remain interested in defensive lineman Alex Carrington but have yet to set up a visit, says Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
  • Speaking to Josina Anderson of ESPN (TwitLonger link), wide receiver Jacoby Ford confirmed that the Jets have expressed interest in him. “I would say they’re the team showing the most interest in me,” Ford said. “Right now we’re still in the exploration phase, weighing things out.”
  • In their search for receivers, the Jets called Emmanuel Sanders‘ camp on Saturday to try to reschedule a visit for the free agent, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The Jets had originally scheduled a meeting for last week but had to back out due to a scheduling conflict, and by the time the team attempted to set up another one, it was too late.
  • As the Cardinals consider cornerbacks like Mike Jenkins and Antonio Cromartie, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link) gets the sense that the club is waiting to see if anyone’s price tag drops.
  • The Vikings have inquired on free agent defensive end Robert Ayers, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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