A pair of NFL veterans are at the Giants’ rookie minicamp this weekend in hopes of continuing their careers.
Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News reports that wide receiver Limas Sweed and center Jamaal Jackson are both trying to catch on with the Super Bowl champions after seeing their careers derailed in recent years. Sweed was a major disappointment in Pittsburgh, catching just seven passes in 20 games for the team after they made him a second-round pick in 2008. Sweed hasn’t played since 2009 after Achilles and shoulder injuries helped ease his way out of Pittsburgh.
“I’ve been playing football all my life,” Sweed said. “And when you’ve lost something like football, you don’t let it go. You do what you have to do. That’s putting the work in, overtime, being here at a rookie minicamp and just having fun and starting all over again. By whatever means it takes to get back, I’m willing to do it.”
Sweed’s a definite longshot to get a contract, let alone make the roster. The Giants have Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Rueben Randle, Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan and Ramses Barden looking for spots on the depth chart and all but Randle already have experience in the offense.
Jackson might have a better shot, if only because the Giants have some flux on their offensive line. He was the Eagles’ starting center for five years before tearing his triceps in the 2010 opener. The Eagles released him after he spent last season as a backup with the team.