O'Hara, Seubert to be released by Giants
Giants center Shaun O'Hara missed the first week of training camp with an ankle injury. Credit: Howard Schnapp, 2009
One was considered the MVP of the 2010 season for his outstanding play and flexibility. The other, a former captain, was the cornerstone of a Super Bowl-winning offensive line. But at the end of the week, both Rich Seubert and Shaun O'Hara will be identified by another title: former Giants.
The two veterans were told Tuesday that they will be released by the team at the end of the week in moves that will alleviate some salary from the looming cap crunch under a new CBA but, according to a person familiar with the team's thinking, had more to do with their physical status as the season is about to begin.
The two players will be formally released Thursday afternoon, as per the calendar set forth by the league following the end of the lockout earlier this week. O'Hara worked toward ending the lockout in his role as Giants player representative in the NFLPA.
Seubert had no comment on the team's decision but said he would speak to reporters Thursday when the move becomes official and he has had time to process the news. He is one of the most popular and longest-tenured Giants in the locker room. O'Hara was not immediately available for comment.
Seubert was the first player to arrive at the Timex Performance Center Tuesday morning, coming through the gate at 9:53 a.m. About an hour and a half later he left the complex and did not look happy. He did not stop to talk with reporters.
An undrafted free agent who made the team as a rookie in 2001, Seubert, 32, overcame a gruesome broken leg in 2003 to become a starting guard on the Super Bowl-winning team. He played the position until last year, when he split time at guard and center after injuries claimed O'Hara and Adam Koets. General manager Jerry Reese, when wrapping up the season with reporters, called Seubert the team's MVP.
Seubert was due $2.2 million this season, a number the Giants can now take away from their cap number, which was reported to be about $6 million over the $120-million limit. O'Hara, 34, was due to earn $3.45 million in 2011 and underwent multiple surgeries during the offseason for foot injuries that cost him most of the 2010 season even though he was named to the Pro Bowl roster.
The Giants could re-sign the players later in the preseason for less money than they were due, but the physical concerns of the team seemed to outweigh any financial implications.
The moves leave a big hole in the middle of the offensive line.
Koets would be the player on the current roster to fill in at center and the Giants will likely move David Diehl from tackle to guard to replace Seubert. The team could also bring in a veteran starter during free agency.
Although it will be possible for the Giants to replace the two veterans on the field, replacing their presence and wisdom in the locker room will be more difficult. Both were considered to not only be the physical heart of the offense but the soul of it as well, fighting through numerous injuries.
The decision to release the two may seem a surprise, but after an uncapped year in 2010, players came into the week aware of the possibilities.
"It's sad to lose some of the guys, but with the new cap it's going to come," cornerback Terrell Thomas said, speaking in general terms. "There are going to be some guys who thought they were coming back who are going to be cut and some guys who thought they were going to be signed who are not."
