The New York Giants are heading into a very important season in 2013 after missing the playoffs one year after winning the Super Bowl, but the offense could be in trouble, as both Victory Cruz and Hakeem Nicks want new contracts from the team.
The contract issues could be a benefit for free agent Ramses Barden, as Pro Football Talk reports that the former Giants receiver could sign with the team as soon as Thursday. The Daily News reports that he will have a physical with the Giants on Thursday and could sign after that, as he has still not found a new team after becoming a free agent after the season. The third round pick in 2009 was previously frustrated about his role in the offense, but he appears to have put that behind him. Barden had hoped to catch on with another team, but so far that has not happened.
Barden has 29 catches for 394 yards and he had one big game during the 2012 season when Nicks couldn't get into the starting lineup and he could be a huge factor for the team if Nicks or Cruz decides to hold out. Eli Manning has proven over time that he can make receivers playing with him better and he could do the same thing with Barden depending on how the contract issues play out. The team isn't too deep at wideout with Louis Murphy and Jerrel Jernigan and Barden will add to that if he signs.
Apart from the receivers being out of OTAs, fullback Henry Hynoski was carted off the field with an apparent left knee injury and he will have an MRI to see how bad the injury is. According to reports, the fullback knocked into running back Andre Brown and had to be taken off the field on Wednesday. While he didn't hurt his ACL officially, he may have and that would add to a number of players already hurt, including Michael Crabtree and Melvin Ingram around the league. Hynoski is one of the teams toughest players and he appeared in all 16 games last season, rushing for 20 yards and making 11 catches for 50 yards and one touchdown while serving as the primary blocker in the running game.
