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Giants might consider cutting Petitgout if replacement is found
NY Giants
With the Giants poised for a big offseason, questions have surfaced over whether OLT Luke Petitgout will be in the fold for the ’06 season. Petitgout carries a base salary for next season of about $4.5 million, and that figure doesn’t match his level of play. He started the season strong, as the entire line allowed only 12 sacks through the first eight games. But along the way, Petitgout’s play dropped off as he battled back and knee problems down the stretch. Scouts have viewed Petitgout as a better right tackle, the position he played his first four seasons in the pros but also the spot on which the team spent $12.5 million in signing-bonus money when it landed Kareem McKenzie. The problem with cutting Petitgout means the team will have to locate a left tackle. Bob Whitfield, a free agent, played well when forced into action last year, but he is 34 and has a lot of tread on his tires. The free-agent class of left tackles also is a bit thin.
Dallas
Given the team’s problems at kicker last season, it was no surprise that NFL people have been making a connection between a possible reunion of head coach Bill Parcells and Patriots PK Adam Vinatieri, the man Parcells signed as an undrafted free agent coming out of college. Vinatieri, a free agent who was not tabbed for a second straight season as the Patriots’ franchise player, would be a free agent if he and his team can’t reach an agreement before free agency opens on March 3. However, at this writing, reports were surfacing that Vinatieri’s return to New England with a long-term deal appeared more certain than it previously had. That means Parcells likely will have to go elsewhere to help his PK situation, but the good news is that there are plenty of intriguing candidates. Atop the list is Colts PK Mike Vanderjagt, who almost certainly won’t be retained by Indy. Other names to consider include 49ers PK Joe Nedney and Packers PK Ryan Longwell, but both are said to be looking for big bucks, and Parcells and Jerry Jones might not want to shell out too much cash for a kicker.
Philadelphia
The team appears poised to allow ORT Jon Runyan to hit the open market and get the kind of deal he wants without putting up much of an effort to re-sign him. If Runyan were to leave, the team would have a few options to fill his spot. First, they could slide ORG Shawn Andrews out to his old college position of right tackle — right tackle is the position many feel he was being groomed for in the long run, anyway — and plug in someone at guard. Though the free-agent market isn’t teeming with starter-quality guards, the Eagles might have an in-house candidate in Todd Herremans, who fared surprisingly well at left tackle when filling in for an injured Tra Thomas. Or Herremans could play tackle, keeping Andrews at guard. Herremans’ leg injury, which landed him on injured reserve, is said to be healed, and Thomas’ back is coming along, according to published reports. But with Runyan’s departure appearing more imminent and a few other question marks, such as the potential competition at center between Jamaal Jackson and Hank Fraley, the O-line could have a different look in 2006.
Washington
The most interesting rumor to float around the Scouting Combine was that the Commanders inquired about the availability of Ravens MLB Ray Lewis. Though nothing materialized (and likely won’t), the interest might indicate that the Commanders’ defensive coaches view smallish Lemar Marshall as a better fit on the weak side than as the “Mike” ’backer. Clearly, the team faces the real possibility of having to release LaVar Arrington given its financial situation — and the uncertainty of the Collective Bargaining Agreement past this season has greatly hindered teams such as the Commanders, who are way over the salary cap. That scenario might leave the team with a gaping hole at weak-side ’backer, one that could be filled, in part, by promising Chris Clemons. He displayed good pass-rush ability down the stretch and in the playoffs but might be a one- or two-down player at this point. Assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams might be inclined to add a veteran influence at the position, and that could force the team to consider bringing back free agent Warrick Holdman, who was largely unproductive when he stepped in for Arrington at the beginning of the 2005 season.
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NY Giants
With the Giants poised for a big offseason, questions have surfaced over whether OLT Luke Petitgout will be in the fold for the ’06 season. Petitgout carries a base salary for next season of about $4.5 million, and that figure doesn’t match his level of play. He started the season strong, as the entire line allowed only 12 sacks through the first eight games. But along the way, Petitgout’s play dropped off as he battled back and knee problems down the stretch. Scouts have viewed Petitgout as a better right tackle, the position he played his first four seasons in the pros but also the spot on which the team spent $12.5 million in signing-bonus money when it landed Kareem McKenzie. The problem with cutting Petitgout means the team will have to locate a left tackle. Bob Whitfield, a free agent, played well when forced into action last year, but he is 34 and has a lot of tread on his tires. The free-agent class of left tackles also is a bit thin.
Dallas
Given the team’s problems at kicker last season, it was no surprise that NFL people have been making a connection between a possible reunion of head coach Bill Parcells and Patriots PK Adam Vinatieri, the man Parcells signed as an undrafted free agent coming out of college. Vinatieri, a free agent who was not tabbed for a second straight season as the Patriots’ franchise player, would be a free agent if he and his team can’t reach an agreement before free agency opens on March 3. However, at this writing, reports were surfacing that Vinatieri’s return to New England with a long-term deal appeared more certain than it previously had. That means Parcells likely will have to go elsewhere to help his PK situation, but the good news is that there are plenty of intriguing candidates. Atop the list is Colts PK Mike Vanderjagt, who almost certainly won’t be retained by Indy. Other names to consider include 49ers PK Joe Nedney and Packers PK Ryan Longwell, but both are said to be looking for big bucks, and Parcells and Jerry Jones might not want to shell out too much cash for a kicker.
Philadelphia
The team appears poised to allow ORT Jon Runyan to hit the open market and get the kind of deal he wants without putting up much of an effort to re-sign him. If Runyan were to leave, the team would have a few options to fill his spot. First, they could slide ORG Shawn Andrews out to his old college position of right tackle — right tackle is the position many feel he was being groomed for in the long run, anyway — and plug in someone at guard. Though the free-agent market isn’t teeming with starter-quality guards, the Eagles might have an in-house candidate in Todd Herremans, who fared surprisingly well at left tackle when filling in for an injured Tra Thomas. Or Herremans could play tackle, keeping Andrews at guard. Herremans’ leg injury, which landed him on injured reserve, is said to be healed, and Thomas’ back is coming along, according to published reports. But with Runyan’s departure appearing more imminent and a few other question marks, such as the potential competition at center between Jamaal Jackson and Hank Fraley, the O-line could have a different look in 2006.
Washington
The most interesting rumor to float around the Scouting Combine was that the Commanders inquired about the availability of Ravens MLB Ray Lewis. Though nothing materialized (and likely won’t), the interest might indicate that the Commanders’ defensive coaches view smallish Lemar Marshall as a better fit on the weak side than as the “Mike” ’backer. Clearly, the team faces the real possibility of having to release LaVar Arrington given its financial situation — and the uncertainty of the Collective Bargaining Agreement past this season has greatly hindered teams such as the Commanders, who are way over the salary cap. That scenario might leave the team with a gaping hole at weak-side ’backer, one that could be filled, in part, by promising Chris Clemons. He displayed good pass-rush ability down the stretch and in the playoffs but might be a one- or two-down player at this point. Assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams might be inclined to add a veteran influence at the position, and that could force the team to consider bringing back free agent Warrick Holdman, who was largely unproductive when he stepped in for Arrington at the beginning of the 2005 season.
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