BleedinBlue Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 From NJ.com The Giants' first signing of free agency in 2014 wasn't an offensive lineman, tight end or running back. It was a linebacker. The Giants agree to terms with linebacker O'Brien Schofield on a reported two-year, $8 million deal. Pro Football Talk first reported the deal. Schofield, 26, spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks. He spent the previous three years with the Arizona Cardinals, where he was mostly a reserve. Schofields started 11 games in four NFL seasons. The Giants plan to use him as a linebacker and passing-down defensive end. Schofield (6-foot-3, 242 pounds) has 11.5 career sacks. Linebacker remains a position of need for the Giants even after the signing. The team is still believed to be interested in re-signing middle linebacker Jon Beason. The Giants also re-signed Mark Herzlich and tendered a contract to Spencer Paysinger this offseason. Jacquian Williams is also still under contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedinBlue Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 From ESPN: Considering how little attention the New York Giants have paid to the linebacker position in recent years, it's a little surprising to see them sign O'Brien Schofield for two years and $8 million. Schofield was an outside linebacker in the Seahawks' 4-3 defensive front last year. And while, yes, he did play in the Super Bowl, a lot of the Seahawks' backups played in the Super Bowl because they were running away with the game by halftime. Schofield But a closer look indicates that the Giants may view this as a more creative signing. Schofield has been known to line up from time to time as a pass-rusher, and when he was coming out of college he was thought of as a player who could help in that regard. He finished second in the Big Ten with 12 sacks for Wisconsin in 2009. But he tore an ACL during Senior Bowl practice in 2010 and fell to the fourth round, where the Arizona Cardinals picked him. So Schofield projects, for the Giants, as a guy who can contribute as an outside linebacker and possibly as a situational pass-rusher, which is something for which they're always looking. Especially if Justin Tuck doesn't re-sign, Jason Pierre-Paul continues to struggle with injuries and Damontre Moore doesn't develop, the Giants will be thin at pass-rusher, and it's possible Schofield could factor into the rotation. That would explain the price tag, which seems high for a weakside linebacker. I do not think the Schofield signing precludes the Giants from re-signing middle linebacker Jon Beason, who is checking out the market to see what he's worth and remains in contact with the Giants as he talks to other teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sephiroth Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Dumpster diving on the first day! Way to go, Reese! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigblue25 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Meh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMFP Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I'll try to keep an open mind, but the injury and reserve status have me concerned. Then again, a big part of the Giants' problems last year centered on the fact that they couldn't shake a block when they brought a 5 man rush. But $4mm a year?.....man, if Beason signs elsewhere for around that amount, it's going to raise some question about Reese's sanity. This has to mean Kiwi is gone, and maybe Rivers....don't know the details of their contracts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steitzenhaus Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Yeah, seems like a lot of money. I guess we'd have to see the details of the contract though in terms of what's guaranteed. He had 8.5 sacks combined the two years prior in what I'm assuming was a limited role so at least he can get to the qb a little bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pizan Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Not feeling this signing but I'll reserve judgement until free agency is over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMFP Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 One thing for sure is the giants need a lot more thump from their outside linebackers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Good thing I guess is that some seahawks fans I've seen on other forums liked him and are sad he's gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeGL Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Idk, i'll reserve judgement. I think they must see something in him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishgutmartyr Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Maybe they're hoping for an occasional successful LB blitz this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmenroc Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I'll hold off on judging the guy mainly because I don't know much about him, but pulling a back up from one of the better defenses in the league...I'll take a little confidence in that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*SDMF* Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 So we signed a backup for 4 mill a year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Meh Fuck. I scrolled down to see what you, Jim, and Fish have to say... Thanks for ruining my day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I'll hold off on judging the guy mainly because I don't know much about him, but pulling a back up from one of the better defenses in the league...I'll take a little confidence in that. Is he black? if so, +2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmenroc Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 So we signed a backup for 4 mill a year? My point above was that a backup on one of the league's best defenses could be a starter on another. If we're looking at him as a starter, than 4 mil isn't absurd. If we're looking at him as a backup/ST guy, then he shouldn't be paid any more than Herzlich just got. So I think that tells us what their intent is for the guy. Further, I don't know if we have the details on how the deal is structured just yet. It could be incentive laden and they're reporting the maximum amount of the deal (which if I remember correctly, is what counts against the cap, whether the player achieves the incentives or not). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herc Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 this signing sucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herc Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 and seahawk fans are huge irrational homers. they are the easiest fan base to troll if you're into that sort of thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herc Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 we could've had him for 900k last july when he was waived by the cardinals but we passed. then he plays about 4 snaps for the seahawks and we give him 4 million. keep up the good work, jr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. P Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 and seahawk fans are huge irrational homers. they are the easiest fan base to troll if you're into that sort of thing You could use that logic to say sea hawk fans would be saying he's just a product of their great system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herc Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 haha well they think all their players are the best is what i mean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeMesiS Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMFP Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Maybe they're hoping for an occasional successful LB blitz this season. This x 100. I lost track of how many times I watched the Giants offense struggle to pick up a blitzing linebacker......and in the same game, watch the Giants linebackers get completely stone-walled on the blitz. So fucking frustrating. Jon Beason was the exception, and it paid huge dividends. A linebacker can be fast as shit (see: J-Will), but if he can't shake a block, that speed is washed off the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Good thing its a two year deal and not a four year at double the price. Makes you wonder if we could have picked up Demarcus Ware if we waited two more days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigblue25 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Ian Rapoport @RapSheet 33m "The #Giants deal with LB O’Brien Schofield is now on hold, according to sources. They had questions about his physical (knee)." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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