Giants throw vet Locklear into mix at RT

The Giants seemed to have a number of options to replace Kareem McKenzie at right tackle this season. Now they have one more.

They signed veteran offensive lineman Sean Locklear today. Locklear played seven seasons for the Seahawks and played last year with the Redskins. While he has a lot of versatility, where does he feel most comfortable playing?

“I prefer right (tackle),” Locklear said in a Giants press release announcing his signing. “That’s the position I played the most. But, you know, I can play both. I’m willing to play both – wherever it fits.

“I talked to all of the coaches – the offensive line coach (Pat Flaherty), Coach (Tom) Coughlin,” Locklear continued. “They said ‘Come and compete, just like everybody else. Nothing is handed to you.’ Which, we all know that. Nothing’s handed to me. So I’m excited to get here and obviously learn and be ready to get back to playing football.”

McKenzie played right tackle for the Giants since 2005. McKenzie is an unrestricted free agent and the Giants are not pursuing him to bring him back. Locklear started at least 10 games a season for the last six of his seven seasons in Seattle and started four games for the Redskins last year.

Some of the in-house options the Giants have at the position include David Diehl, who played the spot early in his career before moving to guard last season and eventually finishing up at left tackle; and last year’s draft pick James Brewer. Diehl could also compete at left tackle again, depending on how Will Beatty is able to come back from his detached retina suffered midway through the 2011 season.

“It’s exciting,” Locklear said. “I was on the other end of two games against the Giants last year, followed them pretty well in their run to the Super Bowl. But, actually, when I got the call I was kind of excited about the chance to actually play in New York and who doesn’t want to play with the team who just got done winning the Super Bowl? My thing is to just get in here and start fresh, start learning again and try to help this team get back to where they want to go.”