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The Fallback player - Mathias Kiwanuka


g-dawg

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Its a RISKY move and one that Falcons doctors would have to sign off on given the neck surgery/injury. Having said that, this guy is a very good pass-rusher and is 28yrs old. He had 4 sacks in 3 games last year before going on IR. If he's healthy he will be a bargain - if he gets hurt, it will be a bust - nothing ventured, nothing gained but you could get more sacks out of healthy Kiwanuka(MAYBE) than Charles Johnson at 1/2 the cost and one-third of the guaranteed money.

Giants' Mathias Kiwanuka cleared to return from season-ending neck injury

Published: Saturday, February 26, 2011, 7:03 PM

By Jenny Vrentas/The Star-Ledger

mathias-kiwanuka.jpg

INDIANAPOLIS — Mathias Kiwanuka has been cleared to return to the football field after his season-ending neck injury, Giants general manager Jerry Reese said today — and the versatile defensive end and linebacker told the team that he is committed to doing so.

In his morning news conference at the NFL Scouting Combine, Reese originally said Kiwanuka was not “out of the woods” yet in his rehab from a herniated disc in his neck. But a few hours later, Reese issued a statement saying he had spoken with vice president of medical services Ronnie Barnes, who told him that Kiwanuka received medical clearance in his final written evaluation Friday night.

Kiwanuka sought input from several doctors to determine whether he could return to the game without risking his health.

“The consensus of all of the spine physicians and Dr. (Russ) Warren is that it is safe for Mathias to return to play,” Reese said in the statement. “I have talked to Mathias, and he is fully committed to returning to football.”

Kiwanuka, 27, will be a free agent, so the Giants will have to decide if he returns to their team. They have indicated that they would like to re-sign the 2006 first-round pick.

He was placed on injured reserve in October, and the team was cautious in discussing his future, pointing out that neck injuries require extra care. Reese said Kiwanuka had been getting “good reports” during his rehab, but the final decision depended on whether he would be medically permitted to play and whether he wanted to return.

Now assured of both, Reese and the Giants have a business decision to make — albeit one that may wait until after the uncertain labor landscape is settled.

“Do we offer him a one-year deal so that he can re-establish his value or do we go in a different direction?” Reese said during his season-ending news conference on Jan. 3.

Kiwanuka recorded four sacks in the three games he played in 2010 and was a key part of new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s scheme. He contributed at defensive end and also at linebacker in Fewell’s “Big Base” defense, putting the good of the team ahead of his reluctance to play the linebacker position.

The Giants fell out of the playoff picture down the stretch, and Fewell acknowledged that he thought about what difference having Kiwanuka could have made.

“I think about that all the time. Tom (Coughlin) tells me don’t cry over spilled milk,” Fewell said in Week 17. “You never know the impact of a player, but I think about him(Kiwanuka) like, ‘Boy if we had him, we could do this, we could do this, we would be like this, we would be like that, we could change our complexion a little bit more,’ but we’ll never know, but we do miss him. There’s no doubt about that.”

Kiwanuka’s medical green light means he has the chance to make that impact in 2011 — whether for the Giants, or elsewhere.

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I literally forgot about him until this morning. He was THE guy I wanted. I still want Ray Edwards but I know that's unlikely. Would love to get Kiwi if he comes relatively cheap.

yeah, I would prefer Edwards but not at the difference in cost - which will be great.

I have little doubt now that Edwards is gonna get at least $11million/season now - which is too much for his "hot/cold" motor.

I will buy Kiwanuka at around $7million/yr for a shorter deal with less risk to the Falcons.

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I like the idea of either but avril is rfa I believe. Kiwaniuka would be exciting if his contract was very incentive based

somebody said earlier that Avril is tendered at a 3rd round level - would hate to give up another draft pick unless this guy is da-truf

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Guest Gritz

I think Mathias would instantly upgrade our pressure up front.....I actually like him better than Edwards if that neck is okay.

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If they only tendered him 3rd rnd I will take back some credit I've given their FO. somebody will give that for him I just don't think we will. U ?

i read in detroit paper this morning on internet that Lions are already working on long-term deal for Avril - so if we signed him i think the Lions would match. Doubt we could get him.

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I'm concerned about the middle of the D-line as well. We need more push in the middle. We have no idea what kind of player that Peria Jerry is going to be, and we are counting on him to play big this year. We need him to stay healthy and have a big year.Babineaux has been good, but we need more plays and depth from the middle.

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I'd rather have Edwards, Avril, Osi, or Babin. Right now Kiwanuka is looking like a plan F for us.

would you rather have Edwards at $12MM/yr?

would you rather have Babin at $9-$10MM/yr?

Lions already working on long-term extension for RFA Avril (3rd round tender)

would you rather trade 2nd round pick and give Osi $11mil/yr?

I like Kiwi better than any of those options for the cost in $$$ and/or draft picks.

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i read in detroit paper this morning on internet that Lions are already working on long-term deal for Avril - so if we signed him i think the Lions would match. Doubt we could get him.

Def agree all things considered. They are def building a monster d line for many years to come. I think I could play de for them and get a few sacks with all that talent

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would you rather have Edwards at $12MM/yr?

would you rather have Babin at $9-$10MM/yr?

Lions already working on long-term extension for RFA Avril (3rd round tender)

would you rather trade 2nd round pick and give Osi $11mil/yr?

This. We cannot afford to vastly overpay any FA with the cap nowadays

I like Kiwi better than any of those options for the cost in $$$ and/or draft picks.

Edited by Butudontseeme
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Guest mashburn

would you rather have Edwards at $12MM/yr?

would you rather have Babin at $9-$10MM/yr?

Lions already working on long-term extension for RFA Avril (3rd round tender)

would you rather trade 2nd round pick and give Osi $11mil/yr?

I like Kiwi better than any of those options for the cost in $$$ and/or draft picks.

I agree. Just his injury has out me back. do you know what the succes rate is for a DE with a neck injury? have you heard how he is doing?

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yeah, I would prefer Edwards but not at the difference in cost - which will be great.

I have little doubt now that Edwards is gonna get at least $11million/season now - which is too much for his "hot/cold" motor.

I will buy Kiwanuka at around $7million/yr for a shorter deal with less risk to the Falcons.

What makes you want edwards he played on line with three prowbowlers and only cracked8 sacks 2 seasons

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Guest mashburn

My link

your topic has been stolen, almost just a fast as you posted this. LOL

anyhow it kinda says it a little better. do not neg me for saying that, LOL. but they go on to say he could sign for a one or two year deal.

I really say we should go for this option. plus biermann could keep in rotation with him, so he stays healthy and does not over work his self.

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yeah, I would prefer Edwards but not at the difference in cost - which will be great.

I have little doubt now that Edwards is gonna get at least $11million/season now - which is too much for his "hot/cold" motor.

I will buy Kiwanuka at around $7million/yr for a shorter deal with less risk to the Falcons.

Yea, I wouldn't go anymore than 8.5-9 mill on Edwards, but he'll get more than that. I just really hope that Babin isn't even CONSIDERED by our front office.

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We need an upgrade at DE and Kiwanuka isn't an upgrade at all.

What? He'd be an instant upgrade over ANY LDE we have. He's a 8 sack a year guy if he gets full playing time and we have nobody else that will do that. And he's at least an update in the rotation that doesn't exist because Biermann is a rotational guy that starts and we have nobody else worthwhile to rotate. We NEED another DE.

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What? He'd be an instant upgrade over ANY LDE we have. He's a 8 sack a year guy if he gets full playing time and we have nobody else that will do that. And he's at least an update in the rotation that doesn't exist because Biermann is a rotational guy that starts and we have nobody else worthwhile to rotate. We NEED another DE.

Yes. This is correct. Health pending of course

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