NFL

Giants take a chance on enigmatic LB Aaron Curry

May 10, 2013, 6:22 PM | Updated: 6:39 pm

LISTEN:

By TOM CANAVAN

AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants are giving linebacker Aaron Curry a second chance at making it in the NFL.

The Giants on Friday signed Curry to a one-year contract, hoping the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft can reinvent himself after showing little while playing with Seattle and Oakland in what has been a disappointing career.

“We’re always looking for players and we like giving guys second opportunities,” general manager Jerry Reese said after the Giants finished the first session of a two-day minicamp for rookies and free agents. “He’s worked hard to get back and he worked out well for us. If he didn’t work out well for us we wouldn’t be fooling around with this. But he worked out for us well. He was the fourth pick in the draft a few years ago, so obviously we think he has some talent. We had him rated high back then.

“We’ll see what happens this spring with him.”

New York wanted to draft a linebacker last month after it lost middle linebacker Chase Blackburn to free agency and released weakside linebacker Michael Boley. However, the Giants never found the value when they picked.

Curry wasn’t immediately available for comment, but he tweeted: “Excited to be a Giant!!!”

Curry offers the Giants a low-risk option for a defense that was among the worst in the league last season. He can play either middle or strongside. The drawback is that he had knee problems last season and is about 10 pounds overweight at 265.

The other issue is Curry’s NFL career overall. He hasn’t done much since the Seahawks gave him a six-year, $60 million contract. He lasted little more than two seasons in Seattle before being traded to the Raiders on Oct. 12, 2011 for two draft picks.

The Wake Forest product played in 13 games for the Raiders before being waived on Nov. 16. He spent all but two games in 2012 on the physically unable to perform list. Overall, he has started 39 of 48 games with 203 combined tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles.

“Of course, it’s a low risk,” Reese said. “It’s an opportunity for him. If he comes on and he looks like the player that he was when he was the fourth pick in the draft, it’s a win-win for everybody.”

Reese said there isn’t a lot to see recently since Curry hasn’t played much.

“Sometimes a guy can go to a new environment and reinvent himself,” he said. “We’re hoping that’s what happens with him.”

Strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka is the only returning starting from last year’s 4-3 defense, but there have been suggestions that the Giants plan to play him more on the defensive line after losing Osi Umenyiora to free agency and releasing tackle Chris Canty.

Veteran Keith Rivers was re-signed and Dan Connor was added as a free agent, but the other holdovers – Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger, Jacquian Williams – don’t have much experience.

Curry was awarded the 2008 Butkus Award, presented to the nation’s top linebacker. He played in 51 games with 49 starts for the Demon Deacons and finished third in school history with 45 1/2 tackles for losses and ninth with 332 total tackles.

NFL

Lano Hill...

Nick Bowman

Finally healthy, safety Lano Hill helping create sparks on Seahawks defense

Now Seahawks safety Lano Hill is finally healthy, he's part of a defense that features some of the most talent it's had in years.

5 years ago

jacob martin, seahawks...

Nick Bowman

Game beginning to slow down for Seahawks DE Jacob Martin

Temple University standout and 2018 draft pick Jacob Martin is still learning to play at the NFL level, but this season, he's looking to step up as a pass rusher for the Seahawks.

5 years ago

nfl, saints, pass interference...

Stacy Rost

The NFL’s new pass interference replay rule, explained

What does the new pass interference replay rule entail? ESPN's Kevin Seifert joined John Clayton on 710 ESPN Seattle Thursday to explain the ruling, how it's supposed to work, and how the league can avoid the disaster of too many game stoppages.

5 years ago

super bowl...

Danny O'Neil

O’Neil: Was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history strangely satisfying?

We spend too much time on the winners in sports whether it’s explaining their on-field strategy or pin-pointing the specific psychological traits behind the success. The losers are always more interesting.

5 years ago

The late Paul Allen owned the Seahawks for over 20 years. (AP)...

SeattleSports.com Staff

Seahawks to wear commemorative patches honoring Paul Allen

Starting Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks will don commemorative patches bearing the initials of late owner Paul Allen.

6 years ago

Tom Brady...

Danny O'Neil

How has Tom Brady accomplished so much? Just ask him

Time vs. Tom? Well, Danny O'Neil is cheering for the clock given the way New England quarterback Tom Brady has not just bought into his own mythology but is actively selling it.

6 years ago

Giants take a chance on enigmatic LB Aaron Curry