Report: New York Giants Sign Former Cowboys MLB Dan Connor to 1-Year Deal

The Giants met with Dan Connor on Saturday to discuss a possible deal.

According to Michael David Smith of NBC's Pro Football Talk, the team has signed the linebacker to a deal.

"

Dan Connor signs one year deal with Giants, per league source.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 16, 2013"

Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star Ledger also confirmed the deal for Connor and the Giants.

"

Confirmed LB Dan Connor signed a one-year deal with Giants, as @profootballtalk reported. #nyg

— Jenny Vrentas (@JennyVrentas) March 16, 2013"

The linebacker was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2012 and started in eight games for Rob Ryan's defense.

Connor had 55 tackles for Dallas last season in his limited playing time, but was released as a salary cap casualty.

Before Dallas, Connor spent four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, getting drafted by them in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Connor's signing may in fact signal the end of Chase Blackburn's tenure with the Giants, as he could be looking for a bigger deal in free agency.

They still have Mark Herzlich on the team, who will likely be Connor's competition for the starting job in 2013.

With this signing, you also have to wonder if they will end their pursuit of free-agent linebacker Karlos Dansby, who the team had been expressed having interest in this past week.

The team had been interested in Jasper Brinkley, but he signed a two-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Another linebacker the Giants were linked to was Cincinnati Bengals veteran Rey Maualuga, and just like Dansby, you have to wonder if Connor's signing ends that as well.

"

RT @darinawad1: Giants going after any serious LB's? ... Have expressed at least some interest in Bengals LB Rey Maualuga.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2013"

But for now, the middle linebacker competition will come down to Connor and Herzlich.

Stay tuned, Giants fans.

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