Giants and Shawn Andrews Make Surprise Move

So this morning, I woke up to a very surprising NFL move the New York Giants signed former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Shawn Andrews. My first thought on hearing this was wow this could be a huge signing. Yes, Andrews has a very disturbing past, mainly back issues and bouts with depressions but the guy has amazing talent as evident by his three Pro-Bowl appearances.

While reading various takes on the signing, I’m more worried then excited about this move. Let me tell you right now thou, I’m not worried at all about Andrews, he’s a low risk, high reward signing. What worries me is what does this mean for the Giants offensive line.

First let’s look at the signing of Andrews. The Giants signed him for virtually nothing, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, reports that the deal is for six years but very team friendly, i.e. little guaranteed money.

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It turned out to be almost a no-risk signing for the Giants. Andrews’ agent, Rich Moran, told the Daily News in an e-mail that the six-year deal contains very little guaranteed money. He didn’t reveal the exact terms – - and they weren’t immediately available – - but he insisted there’s “more upside” in the second-year of the contract. That likely means it’s loaded with incentives and escalators related to playing time. It also means it won’t cost the Giants much if they decide at any point in the first year that the signing just didn’t work out.

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To me this is a great deal for the Giants, they’ve signed a 27-year old former Pro-Bowl lineman for nothing, when does that ever happen in today’s NFL? Yes, he’s got his baggage but they’ve got the wiggle room to get out of it if he doesn’t work out. If he does then they make out like complete bandits. If he works out the Giants can go from a back-up / insurance policy player to a Pro-Bowl caliber starter, something Eli Manning wouldn’t mind seeing at all.

If he doesn’t then oh well, he gets cut and costs the team almost nothing. That’s win-win in my book no matter how much the Eagles fans will bash the Giants for this signing.

So like I said earlier no matter how much I love this signing, it also scares me. What does this say about the Giants current offensive line? They’ve been the one constant for the Giants over the past few seasons, you knew who would be protecting Eli and even better they took pride in being a unit that’s stuck together for as long as they have.

At the start, I don’t think Andrews will threaten that continuity, what will threaten it is injuries and that is where my worries come in to play. The Jints line is just riddled with them right now.

Currently, guard Rich Seubert is healing from a broken hand and unable to participate in game action while Pro-Bowl guard Chris Snee is out indefinitely with swelling in his left knee. The team’s top backup Kevin Boothe is also on the sidelines with a torn pectoral muscle. So yes, this is a unit that is suffering right now.

I have to ask myself is this a move out of desperation? I have no doubt if the season opener was this weekend that Seubert would be on the field so I”m not worried about him. But you have to wonder is Snee’s left knee issues worse then the Giants are letting on? Only time will tell, hopefully it’s not that serious.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese sounds pretty excited this move, he’s a guy who loves taking these fliers on guys. Hopefully, this one works out.

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“Our personnel staff has been monitoring Shawn’s progress for awhile now,” Giants GM Jerry Reese said in a statement released by the team. “He looks great and had a very good workout for us yesterday. He can play both guard and both tackle positions. We just have to take him slow for the rest of the preseason to get him into game shape. Shawn is very excited and grateful for this opportunity to play for the New York Giants.”

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Back to Vacchiano of the Daily News, he also tweeted today that Andrews had multiple options in the past week. What this tells me is that other teams are either in desperate need or there is some change in his attitude. (hopefully change in attitude).

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@TheBlueScreen Agent says four teams were interested in G Shawn Andrews. #NYG were his 2nd visit. He cancelled 2 others after contract was offered.

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In the end thou, even with all the question marks about the Giants and Andrews health I like this move. If Shawn is the Pro-Bowl version he steps into the starting lineup, hopefully teaming with Snee. If Snee is out for long and Shawn is straight then he steps in for Chris. If Shawn is his 2008 and 2009 self then oh well, it was worth the minimal risk.