The New York Giants got their offseason started early with the release of star players Ahmad Bradshaw and Chris Canty and now the team has started to restock, with the signing of defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
According to ESPNNewYork.com, the Giants re-signed Rogers to help fill the loss of Canty on the defensive line. Rogers was with the team last season, but was placed on injured reserve during the preseason after suffering a blood clot in his leg.
Rogers is one of the biggest lineman in the NFL at 6-foot-4, 350-pounds and he should be able to fit in nicely for Canty of he can stay healthy. The team has cut a number of veteran players this week, including Bradshaw and linebacker Michael Boley. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora is also a free agent after Thursday due to wording in his contract.
The team needs to find cap space for 2013 and to help with resigning wideouts Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Canty was one of the top lineman for the Giants along with Linval Joseph. The team now will work with rogers as well as Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn.
Rogers has spent 13 years in the league with Detroit, Cleveland and New Orleans. He has started 128 of his 156 games and has recorded 602 tackles and 37.5 sacks in his career.
Canty was injured for the first half of this season and also missed half of his first year with the Giants in 2009. He was signed that year along with Boley and he said after the linebacker was cut that he was "shocked". Now he likely is shocked by his own situation. Canty played in 16 games two years ago and during the Super Bowl season, but this year he had just 26 tackles with 3.0 sacks in nine games.
Boley was also let go after being signed four years ago before the 2009 season after he played in Atlanta for four seasons. Over the course of his Giants career, Boley started 50 of his 57 games and had 315 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
The Giants went 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs after winning Super Bowl XLVI. The team started the year 6-2, but slumped towards the end with losses to the Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens.