Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.
The New York Giants were an afterthought in 2007, but made their way to a Super Bowl title. In 2008, the Giants found a way to earn home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, only to last one game. Their playoff loss to Philadelphia was certainly disappointing, but the fact that they earned the top seed after the drama they went through was impressive in itself. Now, it's time for the Giants to re-tool, reload, and get back to the Super Bowl.
Man, Andre Woodson has had a tough go of it, dating back to the Senior Bowl when his draft stock commenced downward spiral. At one time thought to be a first-round pick, the former Kentucky star fell to the Giants in the sixth round, proceeded to struggle mightily during the preseason, and now finds himself released.
According to the Star-LedgerGiants blog, Woodson and backup Anthony Wright didn't make the final cut, which means that ... wait, what? David Carr is the only other quarterback on the roster after Eli Manning? Really? Wow, that's a lot of faith in the Giants offensive line and Elisha's ability to take a hit.
In any event, New York will probably try to sneak Woodson onto the practice squad, which should be pretty easy given the glut of mediocre quarterbacks currently flooding the market.
In other Giants personnel news, both R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison made the roster despite speculation that one or both of the cornerbacks might be on the wrong side of the final 53 today. Sinorice Moss, the team's 2006 second-round pick, also avoided the Turk, which probably had a lot to do with New York releasing Brandon London.
At some point, roughly a year ago, Andre' Woodson was considered a possible first-round pick. But as the college season progressed, and NFL teams got a closer look via offseason workouts, the Kentucky quarterback began to slip down draft boards.
And come the actual April draft, Woodson ended up going to the Giants in the next-to-last round. Not exactly how he envisioned it. In any event, he's in New York, and like most rookie quarterbacks, is having something of an adjustment to the professional game:
...Woodson is under no illusion about how much command he has of the Giants New York Giants offensive playbook.
"Right now I don't have the best understanding of it," said Woodson ... "This system is very detailed, it's difficult to pick up, and they've thrown a lot at me. That's the most frustrating thing; there is so much offense that you want to learn, but if you don't have a great understanding or feel for it, it can show in your play."
With Eli Manning firmly entrenched as the starter, there's no rush for Woodson to master an entire offense, but there is some urgency when it comes to making the final 53. It looks like Anthony Wright will be Manning's backup and the No. 3 job will be between Woodson and Mittens.
While there's no shame in spending a year or two on the practice squad to hone your game, the psychological damage of losing a quarterback battle -- even as the backup to the backup -- to David Carr can be irreparable.
Whatever, Woodson will see his first preseason action tonight against the Browns.
Ross Tucker is a former NFL player who's turned out to be an even better writer. He's just like this guy, but different. Anyway, Tucker now has a weekly column on SI.com and his latest effort highlights why it makes sense for players to have an agent. Yes, this seems obvious, but Daunte Culpepper started representing himself a few years ago, and it probably cost him a job earlier this offseason.
MDS pointed out that Culpepper got the bright idea to turn down $1 million offer from the Packers because he wants to be a starter. Fine. Anthony Wright and Jordan Palmer have similar aspirations but they (on the advice of their agents, presumably) chose to go about it a little differently. Tucker adds some context.
...[S]ometimes -- who am I kidding? often -- players have an overly inflated opinion of themselves and their market value. An agent can work as a buffer to relay the reality of the situation to a player who might otherwise be unaware. Though Culpepper says he is speaking with several teams and does not seem concerned about his job status, it's hard to imagine another team that would be a better situation for him.
If he had signed with Green Bay before the draft, he would have had the chance to back up an inexperienced, unproven player on a team with legitimate Super Bowl talent everywhere else on the roster. Should Rodgers badly falter or get injured, Culpepper could have been waiting in the wings.
Commence corpulence humor: the Giants have released heavy-set quarterback Jared Lorenzen. This comes as shocking news, not so much because Lorenzen was ever considered anything more than a Eli Manning's backup during his three-year career, but because New York's front office thought him to be less effective at his job than David Carr. Which is another way of a saying Lorenzen now replaces Jesse Palmer as the worst quarterback on the planet. Sad times, indeed.
The Giants still have four quarterbacks heading into training camp -- Manning, Carr, Anthony Wright and rookie Andre Woodson -- and there's a chance the team goes into the season with just two on the active roster. Wright has been a competent backup for most of his career, but I wouldn't be surprised if David Carr gets the nod because, well, I have no idea (because his nickname is mittens, maybe?).
Woodson could end up on the practice squad if he's slow to pick up the offense, and that's not necessarily a bad thing (Ryan Grant got his start there). Or, maybe the coaches will come to their senses, send Carr packing, and go into the season with Wright and Woodson behind Manning.
As for Lorenzen's future, I'd have to say it looks grim. Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich are still looking for work, and I can't imagine any team would prefer the Hefty Lefty to two former first-round picks. That said, I don't think Lorenzen will be demanding a shot at a starting job, so who knows.
Unless you're a scout or front-office type, it's hard to know exactly when Andre Woodson went from a potential first-round pick to second-day afterthought. For us non-scout-yy/front-office-y types, the transition seemingly happened sometime around the Senior Bowl.
Woodson had a pedestrian performance there, and was unable to participate at the NFL Combine, and by the time his Pro Day rolled around, his fate was apparently already determined. To everybody but Woodson, anyway.
"It was kind of tough to swallow as the draft was going on," the 6-4, 227-pounder said. "As it went past the third round, fourth round, I still couldn't believe I hadn't been taken off the board yet. You know, those types of things happen. Unfortunately it happened to me. But I'm just going to be very positive about it and try to be a better quarterback so maybe possibly down the road I'll get an opportunity to get back on the field."
Currently, Woodson is looking up at Eli Manning, David Carr, Anthony Wright, and around Jared Lorenzen on the depth chart. If you're an optimist, you might roll out the tired "hey, Tom Brady was a sixth-rounder and look how he turned out!" comparison; if you're a realist, it's pretty clear that Woodson's immediate future is probably on the taxi squad.
That's not to say Carr, Wright and Lorenzen are anything more than warm bodies, but they have experience and a better understanding of the offense. That will change in time, and hell, maybe Woodson will be Brady to Eli Manning's Drew Bledsoe. Not likely, I know; it's just too bad the Bears didn't take him
Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the New York Giants have reached an agreement on a one-year, $1 million contract with free agent quarterback David Carr, who will serve as the backup to Eli Manning in 2008.
Carr, who like Manning is a former first overall pick in the NFL draft, spent 2007 with the Carolina Panthers after spending the first five years of his NFL career with the Houston Texans.
For the most part, Giants fans have reacted favorably since news first broke that the Giants were considering signing Carr. And to an extent, that's understandable: A $1 million salary is relatively cheap for a backup quarterback, and if Manning gets hurt, Carr at least provides some experience.
On the other hand, Carr has had many, many opportunities and has never managed to do much of anything as an NFL quarterback. Carr might be the worst quarterback in NFL history at recognizing and avoiding the pass rush. Is he better than 2007 backups Anthony Wright and Jared Lorenzen? Maybe. But not by a lot.
Still looking to improve their quarterback depth behind Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, the New York Giants have scheduled a visit with former number one overall draft pick David Carr.
Carr, who was recently released from the Carolina Panthers, will arrive in New York this evening for a sit down with head coach Tom Coughlin and Co., and remain until at least tomorrow afternoon.
Although fans in both Houston and Carolina believe Carr is the reincarnation of Ryan Leaf, Giants fans seem a bit more upbeat about the 29-year old. And with back-ups like Anthony Wrong Wright and Jared Lorenzen, who can blame them?
Over the first six years of his career, Carr often fell victim to some awful pass protection. In 82 professional games, he was sacked a mind-boggling 262 times, but still managed to improve statistically nearly every season -- until last year, that is.
Still, Carr has all the tools to be a successful NFL quarterback. He's got good size, speed, athleticism and a very solid arm -- he just doesn't have a quality supporting cast. And although he'd merely be a backup in New York, it would give him an opportunity (in the preseason) to showcase his ability when there solid offensive line in front of him.
NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.
The Baltimore Ravens have already taken their first step toward 2008. John Harbaugh is the new coach and brings with him the expectation of a more disciplined team that takes better advantage of its resources. Some have argued that this team is close to playoff position but, truthfully, change is needed to restore this team to the level of a contender. As it has for years, the major obstacle for the Ravens to overcome is at football's marquee position. 1. Quarterback – Elvis Grbac. Randall Cunningham. Jeff Blake. Chris Redman. Kyle Boller. Anthony Wright. Steve McNair. Those are the men who have started at quarterback for the Ravens since Trent Dilfer won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. Other than McNair in 2006, not a one of them has done anything to earn a second season on the job, and McNair went down in flames in year two. Boller didn't embarrass himself at the end of this season but he didn't do anything to warm the cockles of your heart either.
Billick was Boller's biggest champion and we don't know who will be running the offense in 2008, so it's anybody's guess as to who will be under center.
The injury to starting quarterback Eli Manning has apparently rattled the New York Giants. Although Manning has been cleared to play (maybe) this weekend against the Packers, the thought of him actually missing games has forced the Giants to reevaluate their back-up situation. Would they really feel comfortable with Jared Lorenzen or Anthony Wright leading the team? The answer, as you may have expected, is no.
Chris, the son of legendary Giants quarterback Phil Simms, has been battling a variety of injuries since having his spleen removed in late September of last year. And while he did see a little action in the preseason, there are still questions surrounding his health and a mysterious proprioception illness. However, even with all of those variables on the table, he still appears to be a better back-up than Lorenzen or Wright.
As a Giants fan, the homer side of me would like to see the local boy come home, but not at the expense of losing Manning for an extended period of time. Sure, it'd be a great story to have Simms come in and play for the same team his Father did, but Eli is the franchise and he proved that on Sunday night.
Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer. 
At some point, roughly a year ago, 
Ross Tucker is a former NFL player who's turned out to be an even better writer. He's 
Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the New York Giants have reached an agreement on a one-year, $1 million contract with free agent quarterback 
Still looking to improve their quarterback depth behind Super Bowl MVP 
NFL Offseason Roadmap
The injury to starting quarterback 
