Giants hope Beatty can earn LT spot
File photo of Giants lineman Will Beatty. (Aug. 3, 2010) Credit: Jon Winslow
The release of Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert isn't the only change on the Giants' offensive line. It appears likely that when the Giants take the field for the first time this weekend, they'll have a new starting left tackle in Will Beatty.
The third-year player has had several spot starts at both tackle positions and as a blocking tight end, but now the Giants want him to realize his potential and become the bookend they thought he could be.
"During the offseason, they let me know that they did draft me for the left tackle position, and if I want it, I still have to prove myself. It's not something that's just given to me," Beatty told Newsday Thursday nightby phone. "It's going to be a dream for me just to go out there and line up as the left tackle, but I still have to keep that left tackle spot."
Beatty said he added 10 to 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason and expects to weigh in Friday at close to 320 pounds. He finished last season at 305.
With Beatty at tackle, that means David Diehl likely will move to guard. "I have no idea until I come in [to camp], but I've always been a team guy," Diehl said Thursday at a Sirius NFL Radio event in Manhattan. " . . . I'm always going to be a guy who does what's best for the football team."
Vets speak out
O'Hara and Seubert spoke publicly for the first time since receiving word that they will not be back. They plan to work out and continue their rehab together. "I don't think either one of us wants to see the other guy go through it," O'Hara said of being out of a job. "But we do have a drinking buddy right now."
Seubert vowed to continue rehabbing his surgically repaired knee and return to an NFL field. As for being told Tuesday that he would be released, Seubert borrowed a hunting analogy.
Giant steps
T Shawn Andrews and FB Madison Hedgecock were also released, as well as Tiki Barber from their reserve/retired list. They are expected to release Rocky Bernard Saturday . . . They came to terms with seventh-round pick RB Da'Rel Scott.
With Cody Derespina
