A source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com the planned tender for Cruz, which hasn’t yet officially been made by the team.

The two sides have been unable to reach an extension so the team will tender the highest RFA tender available, worth $2.879 million for this season, to Cruz.

The first-round tender also means that the Giants will have “the right of first refusal” if another team makes Cruz a lucrative contract offer. The Giants can match any deal made by another team or receive a first-round pick as compensation if they refuse to match.

The Giants also tendered safety Stevie Brown and running back Andre Brown at second-round tenders, worth $2.023 million in salary. Mara, speaking to reporters at an NFL event, said the team did not tender restricted free agent running back Ryan Torain, who still could re-sign with the team later.

The Giants want to re-sign Cruz to a long-term deal but the two sides have been apart on financial terms. Cruz’s camp will want to see how much wide receivers like the recently traded Percy Harvin, and free agents Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace will sign for soon.

The Giants are taking a risk by tendering Cruz since their cap space is somewhat limited and they still need to re-sign free agents such as left guard Kevin Boothe and tight end Martellus Bennett. The team also wants to sign Hakeem Nicks to a long-term extension with the wide receiver entering the final year of his deal.

Teams typically do not show much interest in restricted free agents but Cruz, 26, is coming off two incredibly productive seasons with a total of 168 catches for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The Giants hope that the RFA tender will allow them to keep Cruz for this season and give them more time to negotiate a long-term extension.

The post Victor Cruz to get 1st-round tender appeared first on IdealCapper.

Big hits — some legal, some not so much — also turned the outspoken five-time Pro Bowler into focal point for a league-wide crackdown on helmet-to-helmet contact.

Harrison’s outlaw image made him beloved in Pittsburgh but reviled elsewhere. His onerous contract, however, no longer worked for a team with serious salary cap issues. The Steelers released the former Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday when the two sides could not agree on a more cap-friendly deal.

“It’s been a great run but all good things must come to a end,” Harrison posted on his Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. “Thank you Steelers Nation I will miss you all!”

Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert and Harrison’s agent Bill Parise had spent the last few days trying to iron out a new deal but couldn’t reach any common ground. Harrison was entering the final two years of a $51-million extension he signed in 2009 and was scheduled to make $6.57 million in 2013.

Harrison was set to make $7.6 million in 2014. By releasing Harrison, the Steelers create $5.105 million in cap space.

They’ve already put that money to good use, too.

A source told ESPN’s John Clayton that the Steelers gave $1,323,000 tender offers to four restricted free agents — running back Jonathan Dwyer, running back Isaac Redman, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle Steve McLendon.

Harrison — who turns 35 in May — will find himself looking for work for the first time since he became a fixture on the right side of Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense in 2006.

“James has been an integral part of our success during his years in Pittsburgh and has helped us win two Lombardi trophies during that time,” Colbert said in a statement. “We appreciate all of his efforts and wish him the best.”

Harrison is the first cap move by the Steelers this offseason as they try to get under the $123 million salary cap by Tuesday, when the new league year begins. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and linebacker Lawrence Timmons have restructured their contracts to help get Pittsburgh under the cap number but Colbert told reporters after the Steelers finished a disappointing 8-8 in 2012 “terminations” would also be necessary.

“Sooner or later you have to pay the debt and you never want to get to a point where you have to gut your team and start over because we have to compete for a championship every year,” Colbert said in January.

This isn’t the first time the Steelers have released a star to save money. They let go wide receiver Hines Ward and linebacker James Farrior last spring, but unlike Ward and Farrior — who both retired rather than sign elsewhere — Harrison remains intent on playing in 2013.

Harrison missed the first three games of the 2012 season with a minor knee injury but was one of Pittsburgh’s steadiest performers over the second half of the year. He finished with six sacks, tied for the team lead, and a pair of forced fumbles as the Steelers finished No. 1 in total defense for the fourth time since Harrison became a starter.

“James has played a major role in the success of this organization during his time in Pittsburgh,” coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “I appreciate everything he has done in my six years as head coach.”

In many ways Harrison’s success is emblematic of “The Steeler Way.” Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002, Harrison spent two years on the practice squad before getting signed by the Baltimore Ravens, who sent the undersized Harrison — listed at 6-feet — to NFL Europe for some seasoning. The Ravens eventually cut him loose and Pittsburgh brought him back hoping he had matured.

It ended up being one of the better bargains in team history.

Harrison eventually blossomed into one of the league’s most feared pass rushers. He helped the Steelers win their fifth Super Bowl in 2006 and was named the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, when he collected 16 sacks.

Chasing their second championship in four years, Harrison put together one of the most spectacular plays in Super Bowl history, returning a Kurt Warner interception 100 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half in a game the Steelers eventually won 27-23.

Yet Harrison’s violent play sometimes came at a hefty price. He was fined multiple times for hits to the head.

Feeling he was being unfairly persecuted by the league, Harrison called commissioner Roger Goodell a “crook” and a “devil” during an interview with Men’s Journal in early 2011. Harrison later apologized and promised to clean up his act.

It didn’t exactly work. Harrison was suspended for a game in December, 2011, after his helmet smacked into Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy’s facemask a moment after McCoy released the ball.

Harrison did not receive any letters from the commissioner’s office in 2012 but his physical style of play took a toll on his body. He missed all of training camp with a knee injury and admitted he had endured “a dozen” concussions over the course of his career.

The Steelers hope they have Harrison’s replacement in 24-year-old Jason Worilds, who finished with five sacks in limited action last season.

The post Steelers release James Harrison appeared first on IdealCapper.

The deal includes $19 million guaranteed.

Beatty’s agents, Alan Herman and Jared Fox, declined to confirm the deal and its details when contacted Wednesday. The two sides spent part of the weekend at the combine trying to reach an agreement.

Beatty — who turns 28 on Saturday — took his physical and now will spend the prime of his career with the Giants.

The left tackle has played in 50 games (31 starts) since being drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2009 draft.

Beatty was a major priority for the Giants in free agency. He started 15 games this past season at left tackle despite missing most of the offseason and training camp with a back issue. With Beatty back in the fold, the Giants can focus now on re-signing starting left guard Kevin Boothe to solidify the left side of the offensive line.

Tight end Martellus Bennett is also another free agent the Giants would like to have back. General manager Jerry Reese recently released veterans such as running back Ahmad Bradshaw, defensive tackle Chris Canty and linebacker Michael Boley to clear cap space to keep young free agents like Beatty. Reese may have some more maneuvering to do to keep some of his free agents and restricted free agents like wide receiver Victor Cruz, safety Stevie Brown and running back Andre Brown.

Reese will also try to strengthen the offensive line. The line can use more depth with right guard Chris Snee, center David Baas and tackle David Diehl all undergoing offseason surgery.

The post Giants to re-sign OT Will Beatty appeared first on IdealCapper.

After releasing linebacker Michael Boley on Tuesday, the Giants cut their veteran starting running back and the versatile Canty as they try to create more cap space while also moving in a different direction following a 9-7 season that finished with no playoffs for the 2011 Super Bowl champs. The Giants could release more veterans before next month’s free agency period begins.

“I saw it coming because of the money,” Bradshaw told ESPN’s Josina Anderson. “Everything is about money I guess, so yes I was expecting it. I’m not discouraged at all. I’m just looking towards getting healthy and working with somebody else. That is all I can do. The Giants fans will always be remembered and always be loved. This is where I started and I just want to thank everybody for their support. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.”

Bradshaw, 26, rushed for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns as the team’s primary running back. However, he has had a history of battling through feet and ankle injuries and recently had surgery to have a screw replaced in his right foot, keeping him out for another eight weeks. Bradshaw has missed 12 games in his six seasons with the Giants but helped them win two Super Bowls during his New York tenure.

The Giants were projected to be $4.7 million over the salary cap for 2013 by NFL senior writer John Clayton and the team has to create space to try to keep free agents like left tackle Will Beatty and restricted free agents like Victor Cruz, Stevie Brown and Andre Brown.

Bradshaw was uncertain about his future toward the end of the season. The Giants’ 2012 first-round pick David Wilson emerged toward the end of the season and Andre Brown scored eight touchdowns this past season before breaking his leg.

Canty was due to make $6.25 million in base salary this upcoming season. He played in just nine games this past season after having knee surgery in the offseason.

The post Giants release Ahmad Bradshaw appeared first on IdealCapper.