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Zak DeOssie

Giants LS Zak DeOssie Retires

August 7th, 2020 at 1:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Months after Eli Manning‘s retirement, the other holdover from the Giants’ most recent two Super Bowl teams will call it quits. Long snapper Zak DeOssie announced his retirement Friday (Twitter link), though he indicated he made this decision months ago.

DeOssie played for the Giants throughout his career, which spanned from 2007-19, and snapped for both of Big Blue’s 21st-century championship teams. His 199 regular-season games rank behind only Manning, Michael Strahan, tight end Howard Cross and defensive lineman George Martin in Giants history.

This move was not unexpected. The Giants anticipated DeOssie’s retirement months ago, when they signed former Broncos long snapper Casey Kreiter. DeOssie, 36, finished last season on IR after suffering knee and wrist injuries. DeOssie missed five games. Throughout his career, the former fourth-round pick only missed nine.

This will signal a new era for the Giants. Their longest-tenured player now, wideout Sterling Shepard, has only been with the team since 2016.

Giants, LS Casey Kreiter Agree To Deal

April 1st, 2020 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants will reunite Riley Dixon with his former long snapper. Casey Kreiter agreed to terms with the Giants on Wednesday, the team announced.

Dixon and Kreiter played together for two seasons with the Broncos. The team non-tendered Kreiter as an RFA last year but re-signed him. The Broncos will move on from their four-year snapper this offseason.

While terms of this deal are not known, veteran snappers are confined to a precise salary range — anywhere from $1.1-$1.3MM per year. In addition to spending four seasons in Denver, Kreiter went to camp twice with the Cowboys during Jason Garrett‘s HC tenure.

Colin Holba snapped in five Giants games last season and remains under contract. The addition of the 29-year-old Kreiter also figures to spell the end of Zak DeOssie‘s time with the Giants. The two-time Pro Bowler went on IR last season. DeOssie spent 13 seasons with the Giants, snapping in both their most recent Super Bowl-winning campaigns.

The Giants expect DeOssie to retire, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter). That would mean losing the final two members of their Super Bowl champion teams in one offseason, with Eli Manning having called it quits after 16 seasons.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/19

November 30th, 2019 at 5:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

Giants To Place Zak DeOssie On IR

November 28th, 2019 at 2:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are expected to place longtime long snapper Zak DeOssie on injured reserve with knee and wrist injuries, sources tell NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). The injury may mark the end of DeOssie’s time with the Giants, as he looks ahead to his 36th birthday in May.

DeOssie entered the league as a 2007 fourth-round pick of the Giants and went on to win two Super Bowls rings the club. The long snapper and Eli Manning represent the last two players from the Giants’ last Super Bowl victory, and both players could exit the organization in the coming months. After those two, the longest tenured Giants are cornerback Janoris Jenkins and wide receiver Sterling Shepard.

DeOssie was named to the Pro Bowl twice, in 2008 and again in 2010. Before now, he missed just four games in his career, all in the 2015 season.

The Brown product re-upped with the Giants on a one-year deal in the spring, fresh off of his previous two-year contract worth $2.315MM. He’ll be eligible for free agency in March.

Giants To Re-Sign Zak DeOssie

March 12th, 2019 at 4:23pm CST by Rory Parks

Zak DeOssie and the Giants can’t seem to get enough of each other. Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com tweets that Big Blue is re-signing its long-time long snapper, though he does not pass along any other contract details.

DeOssie has been with the Giants since New York selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, which makes him the second-longest-tenured member of the roster (behind only Eli Manning). He has been named to the Pro Bowl twice (in 2008 and 2010) and has only missed four games in his career, all in the 2015 season.

The 34-year-old Ivy Leaguer just finished a two-year pact worth $2.315MM.

Giants HC: We’ll “Take A Look” At Peterson

March 1st, 2017 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

Adrian Peterson appears poised to hit the open market after having his option declined by the Vikings. Already, we have at least one confirmed suitor. Coach Ben McAdoo told reporters today the team will “take a look” at the soon-to-be free agent (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle).

The Giants will have to make some changes in the running game after parting ways with Rashad Jennings earlier this offseason. Peterson comes with as many durability concerns as Jennings (if not more), but also offers greater upside. Peterson could serve as the Giants’ No. 1 back with rising sophomore Paul Perkins taking on a good chunk of the workload. The Giants could also supplement a Peterson-led RB depth chart with an addition or two in the draft or free agency. As Eli Manning heads into his late 30s, the Giants are eager to capitalize on their closing window and build a winner for 2017.

On Tuesday, a person close to Peterson told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press the Raiders could also be a frontrunner for his services. Here’s a look at a few more potential landing spots from Peterson and other Giants items:

  • In addition to the Giants, the best team fits for Adrian Peterson would be the Seahawks, Patriots, Broncos, and Cowboys, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) opines.
  • Long snapper Zak DeOssie‘s deal with the Giants is for two years and $2.315MM, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. There is also $400K guaranteed in the deal.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/24/17

February 24th, 2017 at 4:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Friday’s minor moves:

  • The Giants signed long snapper Zak DeOssie to a new two-year contract, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). DeOssie, 32, has been a Giant since they selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft.
  • The Broncos signed defensive lineman Bobby Richardson, as Mike Klis of 9NEWS tweets. The 24-year-old Richardson had brief stays on the practice squads of the Redskins and Chiefs last season. Prior to that, the ex-Saint started in 11 of 15 appearances as a rookie in 2015 and posted 40 tackles to go with an interception.
  • The 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver DeAndre Carter to a two-year deal. Carter, who played his college football at Sacramento State, went undrafted in 2015 and has since spent time with the Ravens, Raiders and Patriots.

East Rumors: McCoy, R. Matthews, Bradford

February 19th, 2016 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office released a statement today that essentially says there’s no update on the LeSean McCoy investigation (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News).

“I understand that people are interested in the outcome of our investigation, but we’re not going to rush because some people are impatient,” said Philadelphia DA R. Seth Williams in the statement, adding that his “only goal is to get it right, not fast.”

Williams said he has not yet decided whether to press charges against the Bills running back or anyone else involved in the nightclub altercation that took place earlier this month, so it looks like we’ll have to wait until at least next week for any sort of decision.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:

  • Wide receiver Rishard Matthews has been considered likely to leave the Dolphins this offseason, but the club has reached out to Mathews about discussing a new deal, according to Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. That doesn’t necessarily means that the Fins will re-sign Mathews, but there’s some level of interest in bringing him back.
  • The Eagles continue to say they want to re-sign quarterback Sam Bradford, with de-facto GM Howie Roseman the latest to weigh in on the topic, as Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com details. Still, Roseman cautioned that any deal has “got to work for the other side and the player” in addition to working for the team. At this point, I’d be surprised if the two sides got something done prior to free agency, unless the Eagles are willing to use the franchise tag, since there’s no incentive for Bradford to accept a below-market offer.
  • While it’s premature to say Jets linebacker Demario Davis is a goner, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com expects the team to let Davis test the open market, where he’s likely to get a better deal than the Jets will be willing to offer.
  • According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter), Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie will make $1.1MM on his new one-year contract with the team, which features $275K in guaranteed money.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/17/16

February 17th, 2016 at 8:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves:

  • The Patriots have released defensive back Leonard Johnson, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Johnson signed with the Patriots on December 9th and went on to appear in four regular season games (three starts). Johnson made 17 starts for the Bucs from 2012-14.
  • The Giants re-signed long snapper Zak DeOssie, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). DeOssie is one of the Giants’ longest-tenured players, having served as the team’s long snapper since being drafted in the fourth round in 2007. A two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the club’s captains, the 31-year-old never missed a game due to injury until he was placed on IR in December.

Giants Place Larry Donnell, Zak DeOssie On IR

December 8th, 2015 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

As the Giants attempt to push for the NFC East division crown over the last four weeks of the 2015 season, the team will be without one of its offensive playmakers, as well as a key special-teamer. The team announced today that it has placed tight end Larry Donnell and long snapper Zak DeOssie on the injured reserve list, ending their seasons. Donnell suffered a neck injury last month, while DeOssie is battling a wrist injury.

Donnell, who hasn’t seen the field since going down on November 1, grabbed 29 balls for 223 yards and two touchdowns in eight games this season. It’s not clear whether his neck injury is one that will affect his career in the long term, but there always appeared to be little chance he’d get back on the field this season. Today’s move confirms that.

DeOssie, meanwhile, is one of the Giants’ longest-tenured players, having served as the team’s long snapper since being drafted in the fourth round in 2007. A two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the club’s captains, the 31-year-old had never missed a game due to injury until now. DeOssie is a free agent at season’s end, but I’d expect the two sides to work out a deal to keep him in New York going forward.

Replacing Donnell and DeOssie on the Giants’ 53-man roster are cornerback Tramain Jacobs and long snapper Danny Aiken. Jacobs had been on the club’s practice squad, while Aiken recently landed back on the free agent market after being cut by the Panthers.