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Limas Sweed, Jamaal Jackson trying out for Giants

Posted by Josh Alper on May 11, 2012, 4:28 PM EDT

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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.

I like both these moves

If they work out, we add decent talent at a good value.

and we can use vet depth at centre (perhaps even moving Baas to LG if things really work out?)

Former Eagles center Jamaal Jackson said on Friday that he was participating in Giants minicamp to see what he had left in the tank. Apparently, he didn't have much.

After participating in both of yesterday's sessions, the eight-year veteran told the Giants that he decided to retire.

"He just said, 'Coach, I just don’t feel like my heart is in it,'” Tom Coughlin said.
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Considering he was a second-round pick and had a big game in the 2006 National Championship game, Limas Sweed was one of the more interesting names on the roster for Giants rookie camp.

After the past few days, it'll be a shock if he's on the roster come Monday.

The veteran wide receiver struggled to make an impact and this afternoon and dropped three passes, thus reinforcing a knock on him from his days with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On one play, he nearly hauled in a pass up the right sideline but couldn't control the ball as cornerback E.J. Whitley (tryout, Abilene Christian) got his hand in there. The next two should've been easy catches but bounced right off Sweed's hands. Even on a catch he did make, Sweed didn't make it a clean grab. Sweed also slipped on one play, leading to an easy interception for cornerback Dante Hughes (veteran tryout).

Sweed came here trying to make an impression. It's extremely unlikely at this point it was a good one.

It doesn't hurt to try, but they I like our depth at both positions ayways.