Source: Giants plan to cut Shaun O’Hara

Posted by Mike Florio on July 26, 2011, 2:07 PM EDT


On Monday, Giants center Shaun O’Hara, the team’s NFLPA representative, said that he is “extremely pleased” that the lockout is over.

He may be feeling different emotions right now.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Giants plan to release O’Hara.

An 11-year veteran who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Browns and the last seven in New York, O’Hara appeared in only six games last year.

O’Hara was due to earn $3.45 million in 2011. The Giants reportedly are more than $6 million over the 2011 salary cap. On Monday, O’Hara scoffed at the notion that he could be forced to take a pay cut.

“I don’t see why that should be an issue as long as I’m healthy,” O’Hara said, per the Bergen Record (via ESPNNewYork.com).

Apparently, he’ll be taking a hike instead.

UPDATE: Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News reports that O’Hara says he’s not aware of being released. (We initially assumed that the Giants have told O’Hara the news. The text message from the source does not indicate that the team has informed O’Hara of the move.)

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Update: MG confirms

Here's a list of potential replacements

Free Agents:

David Baas
Jon Goodwin
Samson Satele
Jason Spitz
Chris Spencer
Scott Mruczkowski
Chris Chester
Kyle Cook
Lyle Sendlein

Possible Trades:

Max Unger Seattle
Joe Hawley Atlanta
Jeff Faine or Ted Larsen Tampa
Matt Tennant New Orleans
Eric Olsen Denver

Just incase you guys aren't too familiar with those players I listed. Sendlein is the cream of the crop. He'll get good money. I still prefer Samson Satele. I think he turned things around nicely in Oakland. Joe Hawley is my favorite trade option. I'm very high on him.

I'm not too familiar with any of those players but I think our future center may be on the team right now.
Possibly Koets, Snee, or Petrus?

If O'Hara and Seubert are both gone, I think we will look at Sendelin

Snee is the most likely in house option right now, I guess we could look at a RG

What was not to like about Koets when given his chance?

56 Crazed Dogs wrote:What was not to like about Koets when given his chance?

Koets is a good back up in my opinon, not a guy you anchor you season on


I guess he is cheap though

I guess a factor why O'Hara is gone:


Shaun O'Hara tells Zach Berman that he doesn't see why it'd be necessary
to talk about re-working his contract as long as his injury is healed
up and he's ready to play. Folks, this is a contract situation worth
watching. The Giants may have some tough choices to make. They'll need
to get under the cap. They have quite a few of their own free agents to
sign. And they did manage to get by without O'Hara for most of 2010. Not
saying he'll be cut, but it's not completely crazy to imagine it.
Especially if he doesn't want to talk about re-working his deal.

^^ That was actually in the first article if you read it.


As far as his replacement already being on the team I really can't imagine we would want to move our probowl RG (who did have a down year last season) to center. I think we keep that right side intact while we re-tool C to left tackle for continuity purposes. Koets is a quality backup with experience everywhere along the line but he is recovering from injury so thats a lot to bank on. Petrus has no legit experience at center.

I missed that, but you can be sure Reese has a plan.

I am hoping it is either Lyle Sendlein or trading for someone like Max Unger

Yea those would be the best case scenarios.

Also, Olin Kruetz should be added to the list.

Pizan wrote:Yea those would be the best case scenarios.

Also, Olin Kruetz should be added to the list.

I would be ok with a quality RG and move Snee

There are quite a lot of quality FA guards this year.

Didn't Boothe also take some snaps at center last year?

Petrus has no nfl experience at center in the pros so I know he has virtually no chance at starting the season. But maybe they think he can be coached up and get a chance at some point. The guy is as strong as an ox, I do know that.

If thats the case, Todd, a quality vet signing like Kruetz makes sense as a stop gap deal to keep the seat warm for Petrus.

I think we brought Boothe back because he'll be the first lineman off the bench if someone gets hurt. We need that after losing two starters and possibly a third with Andrews.

LT- Beatty,
LG- Diehl, Petrus
C- , Koets
RG- Snee, Boothe
RT- McKenzie, Brewer

If Beatty gets hurt Diehl goes back to LT with Petrus or Boothe playing LG. If McKenzie goes down then Boothe goes to LG or RT with Diehl maybe sliding to RT. Boothe gives us flexibility.

56 Crazed Dogs wrote:Didn't Boothe also take some snaps at center last year?

Petrus has no nfl experience at center in the pros so I know he has virtually no chance at starting the season. But maybe they think he can be coached up and get a chance at some point. The guy is as strong as an ox, I do know that.

I think it was the year before initially (when Koets first started) and then perhaps as a backup in camp, but it wasnt long from memory.

I think Petrus is expected to contribute sooner rather than later. not sure whether thats at G or C