The New York Giants have been quiet for much of the NFL off-season to date. No coaching changes. No big-name players released. No visits from any of the few big-name free agents already on the market.
Well, with the collective bargaining agreement about to expire this evening at 11:59 p.m. ET that has changed. Over the past couple of days the Giants have issued tenders to several free agents, and have signed running back D.J. Ware and wide receivers/kick returners Domenik Hixon and Darius Reynaud to new contracts.
Ware, a reserve running back, received a two-year deal. Hixon signed a one-year deal, and the length of Reynaud's extension was not immediately announced.
The Giants also tendered contract to several restricted and exclusive rights free agents.
One-year contract tenders were given to restricted free agents OL Kevin Boothe, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, TE Kevin Boss, DT Barry Cofield, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, WR Steve Smith and DE Dave Tollefson.
Boss, Bradshaw, Cofield, and Tollefson received second-round tenders. Boothe, Kiwanuka and Smith each received an original round tender.
The Giants have also tendered one-year contracts to two exclusive rights players: OL Jamon Meredith and TE/FB Bear Pascoe.
The Giants seem to following a lockout strategy of keeping as many players as they possibly can, thus limiting roster questions and the need for a large volume of free-agent signings if and when an abbreviated free-agent period or training camp is held.