Eli restructures his contract
Quarterback Eli Manning of the New York Giants drops back to pass during the first half. (Feb. 5, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
If you add on the bonus money Manning got when he signed, which already has been spread throughout the life of the contract, his actual cap number for this season is $9.6 million. Without the relief of the $6.75 million, it would have been $16.35 million.
The Giants still might have some work to do to get under the salary cap by Tuesday's deadline (even though the actual salary cap won't be known until sometime Friday, according to reports). They are negotiating with running back Brandon Jacobs on a reduction in his $4.9-million salary in 2012, and if they cannot reach an agreement, they might end up cutting him.
Johnson, a cornerback, suffered a torn Achilles in the preseason. Ballard was a play-making tight end for most of the season before he tore his ACL in the Super Bowl. The Giants expect Ballard to start the 2012 season on the PUP list.
Although he was the only offensive lineman to start every game at the same position last year, the Giants will not make an effort to resign free-agent tackle Kareem McKenzie. The 33-year-old veteran has started every game at right tackle in each of the last two seasons and has won two Super Bowls with the Giants. The Giants will have several options to replace him, including moving David Diehl to the position, relying on second-year prospect James Brewer or drafting a young lineman for the job. McKenzie told Newsday during the season that he wants to play two more years . . . RB Ahmad Bradshaw had a non-surgical procedure to help in the healing of the stress fracture in his right foot. He played the second half of the season with the injury . . . WR Domenik Hixon's contract is a one-year deal for $615,000 and no signing bonus, which means that coming off a second ACL tear in two years, if he doesn't make the team, the Giants won't owe him anything . . . Lunda Wells, an LSU assistant coach, reportedly has been hired as the Giants' offensive quality control coach. He replaces Kevin M. Gilbride, who was promoted to receivers coach last week.
