E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only five sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

By DAVE KLEIN
It had become increasingly more evident that the Giants yesterday had signed free agent offensive (right) tackle Kareem McKenzie of the New York Jets, and at roughly 4:30 p.m. the announcement was made.

Indeed, they did sign the 6-6, 330-pound four-year veteran, and at the same time made him the highest-paid offensive lineman on the team. Details of his contract, not released by the team but available elsewhere, include a $12.5 million signing bonus, a seven-year contract for a total of $36 million and the surety that fully $18 million of the contract would be "front-loaded," allowing him to earn that money in his first three seasons with the team.

"I am a right tackle and that's what I was brought in here to play," he said later in the afternoon via a conference call. "There were other teams interested in talking to me, but once the Giants' offer became clear, it was everything I wanted, including the chance to come home [the Penn State product is from Willingboro, N.J.] and to play in the same stadium."

He admitted, jokingly, that he gets the chance to play in the "luxurious" locker room since the room set aside for the Jets, who use Giants Stadium for their home games, is bare bones in decoration and amenities.

"I never seriously thought there was a chance the Jets would re-sign me," he continued. "I tried to make this whole project as fair as possible. This is an organization that wanted me, that wants to win and has a history of winning, if you discount the last two years."

McKenzie insisted that he was not frightened off by the specter of head coach Tom Coughlin and his disciplinary practices. "I read all the same things in the papers," he said, "but I had no preconception of him. I want to get to know him one on one, and I do think he gets an unfair shake in the media. From what I can see, his overall concern is about his players and winning."

"He is a young, powerful and consistent offensive tackle," said Coughlin. "He has put together a string of years where his production has been very high. He has shown outstanding durability. He's a big, strong man who has been an integral part of their [the Jets] running game."

McKenzie started the last 48 consecutive games at right tackle for the Jets, and he was flagged only once last season (false start in the final game). In his three years as a starter, he had no penalties in 2002, two in 2003 and the one last season.

McKenzie admitted that the lure of playing with young quarterback Eli Manning figured heavily in his decision. "He was a major part, yes," he said. "He's a great quarterback. You can see that by what he did last season, and he's not going to do anything but go up. His family history, his work ethic -- it's all exciting and I want to be a part of it."

As to the Jets, McKenzie said, "I spoke with [general manager] Terry Bradway, but I knew we weren't going to get close to any kind of offer. The Jets have trouble keeping their key players." He did acknowledge that recent losses of running back LaMont Jordan and defensive tackle Jason Ferguson validated his point, but he said he didn't leave merely because they did.

"This was the best fit for me," he said. "That's why I did it. I had other trips scheduled [to visit other suitors] but with all the Giants offered, and including the chance to stay here and get a little closer to home, I didn't want to waste anybody's time."

At the same time, the Jets did sign one of the Giants' free agents, defensive tackle-end Lance Legree, perhaps as a replacement for Ferguson, who signed Wednesday with the Dallas Cowboys. Legree, however, is best used as a role player and that still leaves the Jets without a starter at the position.

The fact that McKenzie is a right tackle means that young David Diehl, who was far more effective as a rookie at right guard two years ago than he was last year when moved to right tackle, can go back to the guard position -- although indications are that he will switch to left guard.

That would enable last year's rookie, Chris Snee, to remain at right guard, leaving Shaun O'Hara (finally healthy) at center -- and Luke Petitgout at left tackle. All things considered, Petitgout has to play better than he did last season.

Assuming these changes are made, the Giants' offensive line should look like this: McKenzie at right tackle, Snee at right guard, O'Hara at center, Diehl at left guard and Petitgout at left tackle. That would make Jason Whittle, who started at left guard last season, a quality backup at guard as well as center, and if the injured guard Rich Seubert comes back (he missed all of last season recuperating from the severely broken leg he suffered Oct. 19, 2003) he would be yet another experienced backup guard.

* * *
From another NFL source comes a markedly different view of newly-signed free agent middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, the Thursday night signing.

"He's a great pickup, maybe the best signing of the free agent market so far," the man said. "He played every down for the Redskins, which means they left him in on passing situations. He makes their defense significantly better."

The same source indicated that the Giants are "in the lead" in the sweepstakes surrounding wide receiver Plaxico Burress. This is more of a reach, at least under the heading of believability, because putting such a free spirit together with head coach Tom Coughlin seems destined to come to no good.

Not so, says the source. Burress is a good guy who has strange friends, and it will no doubt be pointed out to him by the Giants that those friends are going to adversely affect his football career if the tendency continues. He's 6-5 and 225 with outrageous speed, and he would be everything Eli Manning daydreams about these days.

But he is going to cost a ton of money; the Giants have it, but will they agree to spend it?

Stay tuned. Pierce, Burress and McKenzie? Somebody must be doing something right this time around.

EXTRA POINTS -- Coughlin announced a few changes on his coaching staff. … Dave DeGuglielmo, who worked as offensive quality control coach last year, is now the assistant offensive line coach. … David Merritt, who had been defensive quality control coach, is now an overall defensive assistant. … John DeFilippo is the team's new offensive quality control coach, having spent the last two years as quarterbacks coach at Columbia University.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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