Tyree Cut; Matthews Traded as Coughlin trims roster to 53

Whenever this point in the season, or offseason, rolls around, I always wonder how difficult it must be both for coach and player to cut or be cut by an NFL team.  After reading Tom Coughlin’s book this past offseason, I earned a great deal more respect for him than I had already, and I know that he has as hard a time on this day than any other coach.  It had to be particularly difficult yesterday when Coughlin and the Giants cut WR David Tyree, who was not only a special teams Pro Bowler, but will forever be remembered for that miraculous catch he made in Super Bowl 42 to keep the drive alive and keep the championship run alive.  If he doesn’t make that catch, we probably don’t have a championship, and Coughlin knows that.

David Tyree is such a class act,” the coach said. “What a great guy he is. When he came in to see me, I had a lot of emotions running through my head. He put everything at ease, he had a big smile on his face. I told David he is forever etched in the annals of New York Giants history. That will never change. That moment in history will stand forever in time.”

The Giants also traded TE Michael Matthews to the Patriots for a conditional draft choice.  The G-men must have seen something in rookie Travis Beckum, and this was another one that was tough for Coughlin.

Here is the rest of the list of who was released: QBs Andre’ Woodson and Rhett Bomar; RB Allen Patrick; FB Dwayne Wright; OLs Terrence Pennington, Orrin Thompson and Cliff Louis; WR Shaun Bodiford; DLs Maurice Evans, Tommie Hill, Robert Henderson and Anthony Bryant; LB Kenny Ingram; CB DeAndre Wright; and safeties Travonti Johsnon, Vince Anderson and Sha’reff Rashad.

Along with Wright, the Giants cut Stoney Woodson earlier in the week, meaning both of the CBs they drafted in April did not make the team.  And Coughlin admitted that cutting Andre Woodson was also difficult because the player has come a long way, but the team will go into the season once again with just two quarterbacks, Eli Manning and David Carr.  WR Sinorice Moss was also on the bubble but had to have helped his chances with a brilliant performance against the Patriots on Thursday.

Rookie WR Derek Hagan also beat out Tyree, and will likely replace Tyree on special teams for the most part.  And Hakeem Nicks, the Giants’ top draft choice this past April, led the NFL in receiving yards in the preseason with 272.  With Matthews traded, Nicks will now wear number 88.

DT Jay Alford, who had season ending surgery this past week, was put on injured reserve.

Offense (26)

QB (2): Eli Manning, David Carr

RB (3): Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware

FB (1): Madison Hedgecock

WR (7): Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Derek Hagan

TE (3): Kevin Boss, Darcy Johnson, Travis Beckum

OL (10): Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, Rich Seubert, Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Kevin Boothe, Tutan Reyes, Guy Whimper, Adam Koets, Will Beatty

Defense (25)

DL (9): Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, Dave Tollefson, Leger Douzable

LB (8): Antonio Pierce, Danny Clark, Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson, Clint Sintim, Zak DeOssie, Jonathan Goff, Bryan Kehl

DB (8): Corey Webster, Aaron Ross, Michael Johnson, Kenny Phillips, Kevin Dockery, Terrell Thomas, C.C. Brown, Bruce Johnson

Special Teams (2)

K (1): Lawrence Tynes

Tags: 53 man roster, Andre Woodson, David Carr, David Tyree, Derek Hagan, Eli Manning, Giants, Hakeem Nicks, Michael Matthews, Patriots, roster cuts, Sinorice Moss, Super Bowl 42, Tom Coughlin