Giants sign free-agent receiver Clayton

The Giants will try to replace one former first-round pick who has become a burgeoning star with another first-rounder whose career never took off as planned.

With Hakeem Nicks sidelined for three weeks or so with containment syndrome in his lower left leg, the Giants signed free-agent receiver Michael Clayton yesterday to a one-year contract for the rest of the season.

Clayton, the Bucs' first-round pick in 2004, had a superb rookie season, with 80 catches for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns. His career went downhill after that, however, and the Bucs released him this past September. He played four games in the UFL for the Omaha Nighthawks this fall.

The Giants were able to sign Clayton without paying the $150,000 fee to the UFL because he played in four or fewer games in the league this season. The UFL's championship game is this week, but the Nighthawks are not playing in it, so Clayton was available for a workout with the Giants yesterday.

To make room for Clayton, the Giants waived tight end Jake Ballard. The rookie was elevated from the practice squad last week and played against the Eagles. He is expected to be back on the Giants' practice squad. The Giants also lost practice-squad defensive back Brandon Hughes, whom the Eagles signed to replace injured Ellis Hobbs.

Unlike last week, when the Giants signed receiver Derek Hagan, who was on the team before, Clayton must be force-fed the CliffsNotes version of the offense. The 28-year-old will need to be on the field Sunday against the Jaguars.

In the last two weeks the Giants lost three of their top four receivers. Pro Bowler Steve Smith partially tore a pectoral muscle at practice Nov. 11, Ramses Barden fractured his ankle against the Cowboys on Nov. 14, and on Sunday Nicks got hurt. Barden has been put on injured reserve, while Smith could be back next week against the Redskins.

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The addition leaves the Giants' depth chart at receiver with Mario Manningham on top, followed by Hagan, Clayton, rookie Duke Calhoun and special-teamer Darius Reynaud.