Professor

also, if he was back to take a physical, someone must have give in a little or why would he even be there to take a physical in the first place. It would seem to be a fruitless endeavor

Professor

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printe...y-sports-print

Arrington's Price still too high

BY ARTHUR STAPLE
Newsday Staff Writer

April 21, 2006

LaVar Arrington returned to the New York area yesterday to take a physical for the Giants, but general manager Ernie Accorsi said negotiations with the former Redskins linebacker haven't been seriously reopened.

The only reason that Arrington, who had reconstructive surgery on his right knee two years ago, agreed to the physical is seemingly to get himself a deal, any deal, before the NFL draft April 29. Arrington's asking price - similar to the seven-year, $54-million contract that former 49ers linebacker Julian Peterson signed with the Seahawks - must go way down before the Giants will even consider him.

"Once teams start picking young players at that position, I would assume teams that pick linebackers are going to be teams that are looking for linebackers. So I would assume that is going to affect his market," Accorsi said yesterday.

"So I don't know what their decision-making process is, but we will go ahead with the draft the same way we always do. He has had a physical with us; that is all that has taken place. Nothing has happened in the negotiations.

"Obviously, you are not going to even think about a player unless you get a physical examination. So we have that. That has not in any way affected or influenced any supposed negotiations."

Arrington's agents, Kevin and Carl Poston, did not return messages seeking comment, and the Giants would not confirm whether Arrington passed the physical. The Giants may be targeting a linebacker with their first-round pick, No. 25 overall. A few talented players are available at the weak-side position, including Alabama's DeMeco Ryans, Iowa's Chad Greenway and North Carolina State's Manny Lawson.

Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter, son of former Giants running back Rob Carpenter, is another possibility, though a person familiar with his situation said yesterday that Carpenter won't be available when the Giants select.

"We are not going to pick a linebacker just to pick a linebacker," Accorsi said. "That is just not going to happen. We are going to pick a player that is decidedly higher rated. We have options."

Arrington, 27, is running out of options as the days wind down to the draft. He also had visits with the Dolphins, Jaguars and Packers, though a published report yesterday said the Giants were the only team Arrington planned to revisit before the draft.

bigboy

No news here....he'll keep that price tag and go to the highest bidder.

Professor

what a jerk.

ABuccsFan

Draft Insiders.com has learned today that the Giants signed former Washington Redskin linebacker Lavar Arrington to a long term contract. The contract was sent to the NFL league office Friday for approval before an official announcement is made by the club. The official announcement may wait until Monday before the media reports it, but Arrington will play for the G Men after signing a long term deal. Arrington was back in New Jersey on Thursday for a physical that cleared him to sign with the G Men. It was Arrington’s second visit with the Giants after previously speaking to them in early March. The Giants had balked after the initial interview when Arrington refused to take a physical with concerns about the condition of his surgically repaired right knee. With the physical on Thursday, Arrington eliminated any health concerns the Giants had over a long term deal. Arrington wanted to sign a contract before the NFL Draft ‘06 next weekend. He had limited options other than the Giants with only the Packers and possibly the Dolphins interested at this time. The terms of the contract will not be announced until the league approves it but it is not the asking price of seven years, $54 million dollar deal with an eight figure signing bonus. With the Giants, he is re-united with former Redskins teammate Antonio Pierce and former Penn St teammate Brandon Short who resigned with the Giants earlier this week. Short signed only a one year deal and was originally drafted by the Giants but spent the past two seasons with the Panthers. The Giants hold the 25th pick in the ‘06 draft and can address several needs with the OLB position now at their highest priority.
Arrington’s agent is the same agent as linebacker Julian Peterson's agent, Kevin Poston who had signed a seven-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks in March. He played his entire career with the San Fran 49ers.

coldarmy20

Ego aside, Arrington will be a great pick-up for any team, even though his asking price is a bit high IMO.

__________________

Professor

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

Ex-Skin Arrington headed to Giants

NEW YORK (AP) -- LaVar Arrington signed with the New York Giants on Saturday, giving him a chance to play twice a year against his former team and helping fill a huge gap at linebacker for the NFC East champions.

Arrington agreed to a $49 million, seven-year deal late Friday, according to Kevin Poston, one of his agents. Poston didn't say how much was guaranteed but Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi indicated that it includes performance bonuses.

Arrington reportedly had been seeking as much as $18 million guaranteed and a $58 million deal, one reason Arrington stayed on the market while dozens of other players signed during the first few weeks of the free-agent period.

"We needed a big, power player to add to our defense and LaVar Arrington is that," Accorsi said. "He has a presence about him and he makes us a better football team.

"The agreement is a fair deal for the player and a fair deal for the organization."

Arrington, the third overall pick in the 2000 draft and a three-time Pro Bowler, bought his way out of Washington in March for $4.4 million after a tempestuous final two seasons in which he suffered from knee injuries and was benched by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for freelancing. He took a physical with the Giants on Thursday to ensure that his knees were healthy.

He joins a defense that features the defensive end tandem of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, who last year combined for 26 sacks. Both made the Pro Bowl and Umenyiora, in his third year, was an All-Pro.

Arrington also fills a huge hole for the Giants, who lost all three starting linebackers late last season to injuries and went into the playoffs with a backup and two recently signed free agents.

Last week, the Giants signed free agent Brandon Short, who played for them from 2000-2003. The addition of Arrington means the team could turn its attention to another position in the first round of next week's draft, perhaps cornerback or defensive tackle.

Poston said Green Bay, Jacksonville and Miami all were in the running for the 27-year-old Arrington. But in the end, he said, his client decided that he wanted to play against Washington twice a season and for Tim Lewis, New York's defensive coordinator.

"It came down to LaVar feeling most comfortable going to a good team in a familiar division with a defensive coordinator that he loves," Poston said.