The rich made themselves richer — in terms of money to spend to rebuild a decayed roster.
The Giants on Wednesday got down the brutal business of shedding veteran players who combined lethal realities: high salaries and multiple injuries. They released left tackle Will Beatty and guard Geoff Schwartz and announced the retirement of oft-injured linebacker Jon Beason, cuts that add about $12 million to their 2016 salary cap.
The moves give general manager Jerry Reese and the Giants approximately $60 million in cap space heading into the offseason, and figure they will be active participants on the open market. Reese, under fire from ownership to improve the talent base, must re-fortify a team coming off back-to-back 6-10 seasons, losing that cost Tom Coughlin his head-coaching job and ushered in the ascension of Ben McAdoo from offensive coordinator to head coach.
How would Cordy Glenn of the Bills look at left tackle, where Beatty had been the starter (when healthy) since 2011? That could allow Ereck Flowers to slide over to right tackle. What about the Browns’ Mitchell Schwartz — Geoff’s younger brother — at right tackle? At guard for Geoff Schwartz, how would Kelechi Osemele (Ravens) or — if the Giants really want to roll the dice — Richie Incognito (Bills) sound as offensive-line starters? At linebacker, Derrick Johnson (Chiefs), Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan (both from the Super Bowl champion Broncos) are not middle linebackers in the Beason mold, but all would be significant upgrades to the NFL’s worst-rated defense in 2015.
None of the roster deletions qualify as shocking, or even surprising. Beatty, after starting every game for three years, missed the entire 2015 season with a torn pectoral and his spot at left tackle has been taken by Flowers, the 2015 first-round pick. Beason played in just five games this past season and has missed 23 of 32 games the past two years. Schwartz was signed in 2014 to anchor a starting-guard spot but was unable to stay on the field because of serious lower leg injuries. He played in just two games in 2014 and 11 games in 2015 after fracturing his ankle.
Beatty was set to make $6.6 million, Schwartz was set to make $3.9 million and Beason was scheduled to make $2.8 million. Beason is 31, Beatty is 30 and Schwartz is 29.
Of the three players cut, Beatty was the lone original Giant, a second-round pick in 2009 out of UConn. Beatty had his moments, but he was never a physical presence on the offensive line and never lived up to the five-year, $38.75 million contract — with $19 million in guaranteed money — he signed prior to the 2013 season. He tried to return in October from the torn pectoral muscle but tore his rotator cuff, requiring additional surgery.
Beason needed knee surgery to solve a cartilage problem and consultations with several doctors all led him down the same path — they all advised him to retire. If he did not, the Giants would have released him.
“I always tried to give my all and be competitive,” Beason said. “I wanted to go out and continue to play at a high level, giving my all. I was able to do that.”
Popular, glib and immensely smart on the field, Beason certainly could pursue a coaching career if he desires, but he is a natural for television if that is a direction that interests him. He was a 2007 first-round pick of the Panthers and emerged as the face of the Carolina franchise. Injuries set in though, and he was traded to the Giants (for a seventh-round pick) early in the 2013 season.
“I feel like I let people down in terms of my availability to play on Sundays,” Beason said. “It was extremely difficult and unfortunately consistent the latter part of my career. I know that those things were out of my control, and there wasn’t one single thing I could have done more with the cards I was dealt to ensure that I was available more and healthy, and able to go out and help my team compete.”
Geoff Schwartz last week said his ankle was “100 percent fine’’ and seemed surprised when his job security was questioned.
“I feel like what I went through last year and the way I played, I hope they understand that,’’ he said. “Look, when I’ve been healthy I’m a good football player, it’s pretty simple.’’