Tom Rock of Newsday provides an update on the DE Chris Canty front.

Just heard back from a second source who told me the Giants have every intention of keeping an open mind when it comes to Chris Canty and they will meet with him on Sunday. The signings of Boley and Bernard, the source said, will have “no effect” on the Giants’ intentions with Canty.

Ralph Vacchiano reports the Giants are not interested in signing both Rocky Bernard and Canty.

Here is Canty’s official website which is very impressive.

According to the Newark Star Legder  the Giants have signed Michael Boley signed a 5 year 25 million dollar deal with 11 million in gauranteed money.

Boley is a great addition, and most likely will take the strong side, allowing Brian Kehl to develop at the weakside. Although some are speculating that Boley would best be suited as a playmaker at the WILL spot. Either way the Giants defense has been improved and with the possible addition of Chris Canty the defense would be vastly improved. Did I mention the Giants were a top 10 defense without these 2.

For the Naysayers (stupid naysayers) Boley did get benched last year, but many blame defensive coordinator Mike Smith’s read and react defense. Boley is an aggressive player who is better off blitzing or in man coverage then sitting back and reacting, a perfect fit for Sheridan and big blue.  

Mike Garafolo at the Star-Ledger reports the Giants are close to signing LB Michael Boley to a 5-year $25 million deal.  The deal is expected to guarantee $10 million.

Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News confirms the signing is close as well.

Update 8:47 a.m. ET -  The deal is done pending a physical according to Newsday. Here is the Daily News article on the signing.

Update 2:00 PM, Feb 28-

Rotoworld.com is now reporting that, according to NFL Network’s Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $17 million over five years, with $7.2 million guaranteed.

Update 6:45 PM-

ESPN’s Bill Williamson denies that this is a done deal.

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David White of The San Francisco Chronicle reports that free agent safety Brian Dawkins has left the Eagles for the Denver Broncos. Dawkins, 35, was thought to have lost a step last season, but a rejuvenated performance has quieted his critics.

His ability to hit hard and late have not quite eroded. Glad he won’t be injuring any Giants this year.

Tom Rock of Newsday reports that the Giants and Chris Canty are setting up a visit, most likely for tomorrow. Originally Canty was set to meet with the Redskins but they went out and signed Jabba the hut to play tackle instead.  Canty, 26 years old,  is 6′7,”  and weighs in at 304 pounds.

So far the Giants plan to bring in  3 defensive players (Michael Boley, Antonio Smith and  Rocky Bernard), and Canty would make a fourth. Signing one of the 2 defensive tackles (Smith could slide inside as well making 3) means the Giants wouldn’t have to be overly concerned with the off-season knee surgeries that  Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins just underwent. It also means that one of these players may replace Robbins when he becomes a free agent next year. Both Canty and Bernard are solid run stuffers, Bernard has the edge in pass rushing but Canty is younger and still developing, plus he played in a 3-4 so rushing the  QB was not his main focus. With a 6′7” frame he has  great upside and his potential has yet to be reached, but he also has more potential suitors then Bernard, including Bernard’s former team the Seattle Seahawks. It would be sweet to have a former Cowboy come into his own in Blue. Canty is the prize for me, but Bernard would me more then adeqaute.

Michael Boley is scheduled to get in tonight. As Ralph Vacchiano reports  the Giants intend to move fast but an offer may not be made until tomorrow. SI.com’s Peter King reports the Giants might offer Boley 5 million per year which may not be enough for Boley.

First off how in god’s name does Peter King know this, does Reese call him before he extends an offer? Ridiculous! Anyhow, Boley has the potential to be a pro bowler so King’s  5 million dollar guess may be on the low side, but after a tough year in 2008 this may get the job done. Boley would fit well in the Giants defensive schemes, that is if they stay similar to Steve Spagnuolo’s.

According to ESPN  Kellen Winslow has been traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for undisclosed draft picks.

Winslow, 25, was a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2004. During his rookie campaign, Winslow went down with a broken leg, just a mere two games into the season. He was expected to fully recover in time for the start of the following season, however, in May of 2005, Winslow was thrown from a street bike that he purchased while driving around a community college parking lot.

After two seasons of misfortunes, Winslow was finally able to live up to the first-round expectations, by recording 89 receptions for 875 yards with three touchdowns during the 2006 season. He then followed that up with an outstanding 82 catch season for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, Winslow played in 10 games, but missed seven due to being hospitalized with a staph infection. He finished the season with 43 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns.

As we all know Kellen Winslow is a soldier, a crazy one, but a soldier nonetheless.  

Update 12pm ET  - Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News reports The Giants are also set to meet with DE Antonio Smith who played in the Superbowl with the Arizona Cardinals. Smith is expected to meet with the Eagles, Texans and again with the Cardinals.

With the attention Smith is receiving it is unlikely the Giants, with a wealth of  defensive ends, match other teams offers. Then again as Ernie Accorsi said “you can never have enough pass rushers.”

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 Tom Rock of Newsday is reporting that along with LB Michael Boley, DT Rocky Bernard will also be visiting the Giants. The Giants met with Bernard three years ago before he re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks. Bernard is 29 years old, he is 6-3 308 pounds.

With Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins recuperating from off-season knee surgery’s depth is a need at defensive tackle. Interestingly both Boley and Bernard (sounds like a bad  law firm) have had fairly recent run ins with the law, something worth noting after the year Plaxico had.  

Update 6pm ET – ESPN is reporting that Bart Scott is officially a Jet. The deal is officially for 6 years and 48 million dollars. Earlier in the day the Jets had a 40 million dollar offer, the Ravens raised to 42 and then the Jets pushed all in with 48 mill, apparently folding up the Baltimore hand.

So the Jets lose the chance to replace G Brandon Moore with G Chris Chemoaetu but they certainly locked down their prized possession which was Scott. No doubt Scott is a great LB and with Harris and Pace already there the Jets certainly have a formidable unit for Rex Ryan. Still, the Redskins haven’t figure out how to spend and win, it’ll be interesting to see if the Jets can. No doubt this makes Gang green a much better team and quite frankly they may have the best backers in the game other then the steel curtain.

Update 4pm ET – The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Ravens have jumped back into the negotiations and nothing id finalized. According to the report the Ravens have upped the offer to 42 million and now “leadership” seems to be Scott’s main concern. Allegedly Rex Ryan of the Jets has offered Scott he keys to the D, Scott wants the same in Baltimore.

Umm what? He wants a leadership clause?Well the Jets just lost out on Guard Chris Kemoeatu who re-signed with the Steelers and TE Chris Baker who sigened with the Patriots so what started out as a good day for Gang Green may end ugly. For the record both ESPN’s Sportcenter and Adam Schefter had reported the Jets and Scott had agreed in principle to a deal.

Update 12pm ET  – ESPN(Sportcenter) is reporting that Bart Scott has officially agreed to a deal with the Jets.

Update 11:24am ET-The Patriots have signed ex Jet TE Chris Baker, terms of the contract have yet to be released.

There is nothing like hearing your rival has signed one of your teams players. With that said Dustin Keller looks like he is on his way to being a dominant pass catching TE.

Original Post:

 Adam Schefter of NFL.com is reporting that LB Bart Scott will sign with the New York Jets. The deal is said to be worth 8 million a year and 40 million in total.

Scott is one of the best free agent linebackers on the market. If this deal does in fact go through it will mean the Jets have made yet  another significant signing in the last 2 years. It also means the Giants will search elsewhere for an upgrade at the SAM and the WILL.  

ESPN is reporting that Albert Haynesworth is officially a Washington Redskin. The deal could be worth over 100 million dollars  for 7 years, with 41 million in gauranteed money. Haynesworth becomes the highest paid defensive player in all of football and the only non-QB to be making 100 million. A groundbreaking contract.

Classic Redskins, classic Daniel Snyder. A massive contract for another marquee free agent, but so far this spending has yet to work out. Their Defensive line is not intimidating but it certainly got a massive overhaul today. Running up the middle against Washington just got a lot harder. Has Brandon Jacobs finally met his match?

ESPN is reporting that Fred Taylor, the 16th all time leading rusher is now officially a New England Patriot.

ESPN is also reporting that Sage Rosenfels has been traded from the Texans to the Vikings for a fourth round pick. The Vikings have extended Rosenfels to a 2 year 9 million dollar deal as well.

Rosenfels is a guy who always puts up nice numbers (I know from my seven fantasy teams last year). He has a good arm and is very accurate, that said he has yet to prove he can win. Certainly his chances of winning have greatly improved with a running back like AP behind him. Their defense isn’t to shabby either. Make no mistake the Vikings just got a lot better. The company line is that Sage will compete with Tavaris Jackson, but this is Rosenfels job all the way.