Shane Vereen

Giants Activate Shane Vereen

12:05pm: The Giants have officially activated Vereen. To make room on the roster, the team has released offensive lineman Adam Gettis.

The 28-year-old played in three games for the Giants this season, including a start during the team’s Week 12 win over the Browns. Gettis could land back on the practice squad, where he has spent the majority of the season.

10:44am: The Giants should see the return of an offensive weapon for this weekend’s matchup against the Cowboys. According to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter), the Giants are expected to activate running back Shane Vereen from the injured reserve.

Shane Vereen (Vertical)Vereen returned to practice in late November after having injured his triceps during the Giants’ Week 3 loss to the Redskins. Vereen was subsequently placed on the injured reserve, and initial thought was that the 27-year-old would be out for the season. Up to that point, Vereen had rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries, and he added another eight receptions for 75 yards. Following four seasons with the Patriots, the speedy running back joined the Giants prior to the 2015 season, and he finished his first season in New York with 59 receptions for 495 yards and four scores.

During Vereen’s absence, the Giants have leaned on Bobby Rainey as their top reserve pass-catching back. Rainey, starter Rashad Jennings, and Paul Perkins have combined for 58 receptions, 483 receiving yards, and one touchdown reception this season. For what it’s worth, the Giants running backs have compiled the second-fewest rushing yards (930) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (five) in 2016. Vereen’s production mostly comes through the air, but his career 4.3-yards per rushing attempt is significantly higher than Perkins’ team-leading 3.7-yards per attempt.

In other Giants injury news, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that starting left guard Justin Pugh will not be returning to the lineup for tomorrow’s game. The lineman hasn’t played since spraining his MCL during the team’s Week 9 win over the Eagles. Marshall Newhouse and Brett Jones have seen the majority of the left guard snaps in Pugh’s absence.

Shane Vereen Returns To Practice For Giants

The Giants could be getting one of their most talented running backs back on the field. Shane Vereen was in attendance for practice today, as Seth Walder of the New York Daily News writes. Shane Vereen (Vertical)

Vereen was placed on IR in September with a triceps injury. After sitting out the necessary eight weeks (and then some), Vereen is eligible to return to action. Without Vereen, the Giants have used Bobby Rainey as their top reserve pass-catching back. Rashad Jennings has been in the lead role, when healthy, and rookie Paul Perkins is finally starting to see some work. If and when Vereen gets back in the game, he will probably take a good deal of snaps from Rainey and maybe even chip into Jennings’ workload.

Vereen’s recovery timetable is not immediately clear, but yesterday’s release of Orleans Darkwa could be a sign that he will be 100% sooner rather than later. The Giants presently have the three aforementioned tailbacks on the 53-man roster with tailback George Winn on the practice squad.

East Notes: Stills, McVay, Vereen

Let’s take a quick swing around the league’s east divisions:

  • The Dolphins will try to retain impending free agent Kenny Stills, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Head coach Adam Gase loves Stills, who has become one of the league’s better deep threats, but depending on how aggressive the bidding on Stills becomes, Jackson writes that Miami could let him seek his fortune elsewhere and try to replace him with Leonte Carroo.
  • Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch will continue to play as he appeals his recent four-game suspension, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports that the appeal is expected to be heard within the next month. That means that New England could lose Branch very late in the season and into the playoffs, which begs the question of whether it would be better for the team if Branch simply accepts his suspension now so that he is sure to be back for the stretch run. Branch, though, needs to do what is best for him, as the suspension could cost him about $1.13MM and could hurt his market when he reaches free agency this spring.
  • Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay is not exactly a household name outside of the nation’s capital, but his work with Kirk Cousins and his development of Washington’s proficient offense is garnering attention around the league, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Per La Canfora, the 30-year-old McVay is viewed as a coaching prodigy, and he is expected to get interviews for head coaching gigs at the end of the year if the Redskins’ offense continues performing at a high level.
  • ESPN’s Adam Schefter passes along another interesting detail about Matt Forte‘s brief flirtation with the Patriots. According to Schefter, Forte flew into New Jersey to meet with the Jets on the first day of free agency, and Gang Green decided to sign him. However, there were some concerns about the condition of Forte’s knee during the physical, and the Jets did not rush to get the paperwork done. That made Forte a bit antsy, and he made plans to board a plane and visit the Patriots. But when New York learned of those plans, the team’s concerns with Forte’s knee suddenly evaporated and Forte was handed his contract.
  • Giants RB Shane Vereen, currently on IR, could be on his way back to the field. Per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Giants are optimistic Vereen can return for the club’s December 11 matchup with Dallas.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/27/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • The 49ers officially placed offensive lineman Anthony Davis on the exempt/left squad list after he retired yesterday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Davis no longer counts against San Francisco’s 53-man roster.
  • The Cardinals announced that they have released long snapper Kameron Canaday, placed tight end Troy Niklas on IR, and released safety Marqui Christian. Christian, a Midwestern State product, was a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft.
  • The Giants announced that they have re-signed cornerback Michael Hunter. The club created a roster spot by placing Shane Vereen on injured reserve after he suffered a triceps injury.
  • The Bills waived kicker Jordan Gay, according to a team announcement. Gay is a kickoff specialist, and he’s never attempted a field goal during regular season action.
  • The Redskins are promoting offensive lineman Vinston Painter to the active roster, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post tweets. Painter will add depth to the front five while left guard Shawn Lauvao deals with an injury.
  • The Panthers cut safety Marcus Ball, per Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Defensive end Ryan Delaire has been placed on IR with a knee injury. Carolina needed two roster spots for the newly-signed Michael Griffin and Kyle Love.
  • The Cowboys will sign offensive lineman Emmett Cleary following the long-term injury to guard La’el Collins, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
  • The Saints waived wide receiver Kyle Prater from injured reserve, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.

Giants’ Shane Vereen To Have Triceps Surgery

2:35pm: Vereen isn’t necessarily done for the year, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter links), who reports that Vereen’s recovery time is roughly two months. As such, Vereen could potentially return from injured reserve later this season.

12:19pm: Giants running back Shane Vereen will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a triceps injury on Sunday, the club announced today. Vereen will undergo surgery to correct the issue.Shane Vereen (Vertical)

[RELATED: New York Giants Depth Chart]

With Rashad Jennings sidelined on Sunday, Vereen was New York’s primary back against Washington, and he managed 67 yards on 11 attempts while scoring once, adding two receptions for good measure. Vereen’s receiving prowess is what the Giants paid for when they signed him to a three-year contract prior to the 2015 campaign, and the former Patriot delivered during his first season in New York, posting 59 receptions. Vereen, 27, is signed for one more year, with a 2017 cap charge just south of $5MM.

With Vereen out, the Giants will likely turn to a committee approach in their backfield. If Jennings can’t go next week against the Vikings, Orleans Darkwa, Bobby Rainey, and rookie Paul Perkins are the best bets for touches.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Links: Vereen, Foles, Cowboys, Vikings

It was presumably a tough decision for running back Shane Vereen to leave the Super Bowl-winning Patriots to join the Giants. The tough choice may have ultimately come down to the G-Men wanting the running back more, and the various recruiting calls, including one from Odell Beckham Jr., clearly left an impression with the 26-year-old.

“I asked around [about the Giants] with guys who played here, a couple guys in California I work out with, and previously I had met Odell [Beckham, Jr.],” Vereen said (via MMQB’s Jenny Vrentas). “So I hit them up, trying to talk to them and learn things I didn’t know. They filled me in.

“[Beckham Jr.] said it was a young team with a lot of talent. He loves it here, and he was excited for this upcoming season. That was really all I needed to hear. I love when guys are excited to be somewhere. That makes me want to be there and excited for the growth.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…

  • Nick Foles may have wore out his welcome with the Eagles, but the Rams are excited to have him. The receivers are especially thrilled, writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. Two top targets, Kenny Britt and Jared Cook, both expressed their enthusiasm for the new quarterback’s abilities.
  • The running back position for the Cowboys is in flux, and Lance Dunbar will be fighting Ryan Williams for a spot on the roster again this season, according to Bob Sturm of DallasNews.com. Dunbar’s a limited player, but his abilities on special teams should give him the edge on Williams in terms of a roster spot.
  • New Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer walked into a tough situation amid the ongoing feud between Adrian Peterson and the organization. However, has has handled it quite brilliantly, without looking like a puppet for management or sucking up to Peterson, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. “A lot of it was … It was tough for Adrian. It was tough for the Vikings, as well. So trying to be fair to both sides was important,” Zimmer said. “I always want to support my players, and still do the best thing for our football team.”

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

East Notes: Jets, Bills, Harvin, Fasano

Now that he has returned to the Jets, cornerback Darrelle Revis is working hard to convince Antonio Cromartie to come back to the Meadowlands, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes.

I’m going to get in contact with him very soon and try to convince him to come back and join our Batman and Robin tandem that we had a couple of years ago,” Revis said.

The two cornerbacks played together in New York from 2010 to 2012. There might not be much work for Revis to do, as Cromartie and the Jets are said to be pretty close to a deal.

Here are a few more Thursday morning notes from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • The Bills‘ visit with Percy Harvin is scheduled to continue today, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who tweets that the wideout is returning to the team’s facility this morning. Buffalo is said to be pushing to sign Harvin to a one-year deal.
  • After cutting Scott Chandler on Wednesday, the Bills are interested in former Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets. Fasano could visit with Buffalo if he doesn’t sign with the Titans during his visit there. Fasano, 30, was released by KC in late February.
  • Running back Shane Vereen made it clear last night that he’s not having second thoughts about leaving the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots for the Giants, as Doug Kyed of NESN writes. “This is a great organization. I was fortunate enough to play in New England with another great organization, and this is no slouch,” Vereen said. “This is not a step down. If anything, it’s a step up. I’m looking forward to the opportunity, and I’m enjoying being in New York.”

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Giants Sign Shane Vereen

WEDNESDAY, 9:34pm: The Giants announced that Vereen’s signing is official, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets.

TUESDAY, 1:41pm: Vereen’s deal is actually expected to for three years instead of four, tweets Vacchiano, noting that the annual rate should still be $4MM. Sources say it will feature $5MM in guarantees.

12:54pm: It’ll be a four-year deal that could be worth more than $16MM, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).

12:35pm: Vereen to the Giants is a “done deal,” tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. Of course, it can’t officially be “done” for about two and a half more hours, so we shouldn’t lock it in quite yet, but it looks like the running back will end up in New York.

11:53am: Shane Vereen is expected to sign with the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Finding a versatile running back was near the top of the wish list for the Giants this offseason and Vereen would certainly fit the bill. Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter) hears that the unrestricted free agent will still give the Pats an opportunity to match or best the Giants’ offer.

Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reported on Monday that the Giants were “very serious” about adding Vereen. Vereen was said to be seeking $3.5MM annually, but it’s not yet known how much Big Blue has offered him. At last check, the Pats were not willing to approach that $3.5MM/year price tag. The Jets were among the teams with interest in Vereen, but they’re presumably out of the mix after re-signing Bilal Powell.

Vereen, 26, ran for 391 yards off of 96 carries in 2014, good for an average of 4.1 yards per attempt. He was also heavily involved in the Pats’ passing game for the second year in a row, recording 52 catches for 447 yards. Pro Football Focus (sub. req’d) placed him as the 28th best tailback out of 57 qualified players last season with a slightly below average grade of -1.0.

Contract Details: Franklin, Kern, Cole, Vereen

A few details on some noteworthy new contracts from around the NFL:

  • Orlando Franklin, G (Chargers): Five years, $35.5MM base value. $15.5MM fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Brett Kern, P (Titans): Five years, $15MM base value. $2.5MM signing bonus. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
  • Trent Cole, OLB (Colts): Two years, $14MM base value. $2MM signing bonus. $8MM guaranteed at signing. $1MM annually in playing-time/sack incentives (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
  • Shane Vereen, RB (Giants): Three years, $12.3MM base value. $3.5MM signing bonus. $4.75MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
  • J.T. Thomas, LB (Giants): Three years, $10MM base value. $4.5MM guaranteed. $1MM annual escalators in 2016, 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Virgil Green, TE (Broncos): Three years, $8.4MM base value. $4.2MM guaranteed. Max value of $11.25MM (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Sergio Brown, S (Jaguars): Three years, $7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. Escalators can push total value up to $9MM (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Ed Dickson, TE (Panthers): Three years, $6.8MM base value. $2MM signing bonus ($700K deferred) (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Joe Berger, OL (Vikings): Two years, $2.155MM base value. $130K guaranteed. $800K available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).

AFC East Rumors: Jets, Vereen, Hoyer, Suh

The latest from the AFC East..

  • The Jets are showing interest in Patriots running back Shane Vereen, a source tells Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). Their level of interest, predictably, hinges on the outcome of their talks with Bilal Powell. There are other suitors for the 26-year-old as well.
  • The Jets will have interest in Brian Hoyer if the price is right, but they won’t go out of their way to target him, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). There are other, cheaper options for the Jets and the source says the team won’t be “losing sleep” over which veteran signal caller they wind up with.
  • The Dolphins are worried about the NFL investigating them for tampering when it comes to the Ndamukong Suh pact, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald explains.
  • Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter) hears that the Bills‘ offer to Jerome Felton is a nice contract for a fullback. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com first reported Buffalo’s interest in the veteran.
  • Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace explained to Anderson (on Twitter) that he’s not concerned about the terms of his pay cut because any deal he strikes would be one where there are ways where he can earn his money back. The implication there, we can infer, is that Wallace is targeting easily attainable incentives in the deal that will bring him back to what he was scheduled to earn. He went on to explain that he’s happy “for the most part” in Miami (link). Any restructuring deal he takes would have to be “reasonable” and he refuses to do anything “crazy” since he has a family to take care of (link).