George Young, the late Giant GM, once said this about the NFL in the era of the salary cap: If you’re a great player making great money, you’re safe. If you’re a good player making great money, you’re in danger.
Micheal Barrow is just another victim of that credo.
The middle linebacker, one of the Giants’ most productive players, yesterday was released, ensuring that the team will have three new starting linebackers. Carlos Emmons and Barrett Green last week were signed as free-agent additions and were expected to be anchored by Barrow.
That won’t happen, as the Giants under new coach Tom Coughlin continue to get reshaped. The team took a look at Barrow, who turns 34 next month, determined he couldn’t play up to his contract and decided to part ways perhaps a year too early rather than a year too late.
Barrow was scheduled to earn $3.45 million in base salary for the 2004 season, and next week he was set to receive a $1 million roster bonus. The Giants, looking to add another cornerback, safety, offensive tackle and now a linebacker, save $3 million on the cap by jettisoning Barrow, money they’ll use to sign several players.
Nick Greisen, a third-year player and career backup, could be given a shot at the starting middle linebacker job, though other players will be added, opening the spot for competition. An early pick in the upcoming NFL draft might also be used on a linebacker.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever been a part of in football,” GM Ernie Accorsi said. “But in this system, when a player’s salary-cap number is so high that it begins to strangle your opportunities to improve multiple areas of your team, it has to come to this.”
Barrow told CBS Sportsline that the Giants asked him to take a 60 percent cut in pay and the team informed him last week he’d be cut. “For whatever reason, they purposely held on to me for another week,” Barrow said.
Accorsi countered by saying, “We worked feverishly trying to get a reduction to save him.”
A key free-agent addition in 2000 who helped the Giants reach the Super Bowl, Barrow clearly can still play. This past season, he started all 16 games and finished with a career-high and team-high 177 tackles, including 122 solo. He served along with Michael Strahan as the defensive captain.
“I have no harsh feelings at all,” Barrow said, “because I’m smart enough to have understood the business side of the game.”
The LB Shuffle
Release of Micheal Barrow yesterday completed Giants’ purge of starting linebacking corps
OUT
DHANI JONES
Weakside
Free agent – signed by Eagles
MICHEAL BARROW
Middle
Released – available
BRANDON SHORT
Strongside
Free agent – available
IN
BARRETT GREEN
Weakside
Free agent from Lions
CARLOS EMMONS
Strongside
Free agent from Eagles