Giants Offer Fullback Vonta Leach a Contract
The Giants have offered restricted free agent fullback Vonta Leach a contract. The Houston Texans will now have the chance to match the Giants offer or allow Leach to go to New York — should he sign the Giants offer sheet. No contract details have been released.
Should the Texans refuse an offer sheet to Leach, the Giants would not owe any compensation because Leach entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
Leach (6′0, 250 lbs.) is a powerful, run blocking fullback. He seems to fit the mold of what the Giants are currently trying to do; create a dominating rush offense. Not only is he a good blocker, he can also catch a pass or two if need be.
I personally think this would be a good fit for what the Giants are trying to do. While I am a huge Jim Finn fan, the Giants need someone to get out ahead and “pave the way.”
Other Notes:
The Giants have raised their ticket prices … again.
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64 Responses to “Giants Offer Fullback Vonta Leach a Contract”
March 16th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Dan - Finally, some good news in a long time.
I’m all for the signing of Vonta Leach.
Do you know how much the contract that the Giants have offered is worth?
March 16th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Our objective clearly this yr is to punish our opponents physically i love it !!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BIG BLUE
March 16th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I like Leach, but feel that Finn is a better all-around player.
I think the Giants will try to eat up the clock more this year with runners like Leach.
With Tiki gone, and no McGahee or Bell coming here, the Giants are changing their running style.
Move the sticks and eat the clock with a bull style of play.
It also means more blocking for Eli, but less options.
George Vreeland Hill
March 16th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Peter - No details on the offer… yet. Hopefully I’ll get some soon.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Dan:
Talk about smash-mouth football, sheeesh. I guess they realize with a weak O-line, they will need as many strong bull-type runners as possible. I can never disagree with ball-control style football which is the Giant’s historical trademark, correct me if I’m wrong. At least under Parcells, it was and it sure as heck worked especially in the plus/minus department. Again, hard to disagree with brute force but it wouldn’t hurt to get one mighty-mite in the draft (round 4?). Anyway, this gives me greater hope that the team will focus on defense in rounds 1 thru 3.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
If you can run the ball and stop the ball, you’ll win a lot of games.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Peter:
You bet - it also keeps your defense off the field which really helps during a 16+ games season. This style would also take some of the heat off of Eli. Do you think there are any more offensive lineman out there that can help and what do you think of the rumors of the Giants taking Levi Brown at #20 if he’s there and putting him at LT? Hard to argue with that.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Love this move. If they sign this guy we will be taking a big step in the right direction. As much as I love Finn the guy is 30 maybe even 32. Imagine how scared defenders are going to be when they see Vonta coming out of the back field with Jacobs right behind him. Mwahahahaha is all I can say. And yes smash mouth running has always been our trade mark its about time we get back to it. As far as the Giants taking Levi Brown, well thats as likely to happen as me being the start OT next year. Brown is going to go within the first five picks. He is the second best OT in the draft and plenty of teams including the Texan will be looking for help their. Though it would be a dream if we got Brown.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
I would love this move. Leach is a big guy. Nothing like smashmouth football!
I’m a big Jim Finn fan, but he’s more the type of FB to block for Tiki … Finn is a bit faster and “smaller”, keeping people from getting good contact on Barber (and letting Tiki use his quickness to avoid an on-coming tackler from infront).
Jacobs can still run while he’s got 2 or 3 guys hanging onto him, thus a guy to keep the way ahead of him clear is perfect :p
March 16th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Brown will NOT go in the top 5. There were some chances of him going in the top 10 (#9 to the Dolphins), but the Dolphins have stated that they aren’t going to get him (unless they trade down). He is the 2nd best tackle in the draft, and other teams have bigger needs, and there are better players to take, value-wise. For instance, would you rather take Reggie Nelson or Levi Brown? Most teams will go with Nelson;)
I think Brown will be available for us, and I wouldn’t mind him…but I still like the thought of trading down in the 1st, then getting 2 other picks (and getting James Marten in the 3rd or 4th round). Boston College has done well for us in the past.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Dan - Finally something to talk about. I think it’s a good move. Hopefully Houston doesn’t put up too much of a fight for his services. The only problem I have is now we have to WAIT again and see what Houston does. How long do Houston have to decide? I forget. Is it 5 days or something?
March 16th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Three yards and a cloud of dust….Ivy League football at it’s best..
March 16th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
This will be a good test to see how clever Reese and his team are. I’m sure there are clever ways to write a contract that you don’t want to see matched. If I’m not mistaken you can guarantee starts…playing time… and structure payments in various ways that create a ‘poison pill’ to the team trying to retan him. Let’s see what grade they get on their first exam.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Being able to gain 3 or 4 yards an attempt on first and second down keeps the “O” and Eli out of the 3rd and long obvious passing situations which is always a good thing. It is Giants football…
March 16th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
With that size maybe he can play OLB too!
March 16th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Did leach except the offer from what i hear before it becomes a ball in houstons court vonta has to accept the offer.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
If they sign Leach I wonder if they’ll still keep Finn… probably not since Droughns can play FB also.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Seems pretty obvious that Finn is out. I’m guessing they add a speed back/KR in the draft. Of course that all changes if this deal falls through.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Also… I doubt they made an offer less than what he’s making. And they’ve spoken to his agent. So I’m sure it’s all but automatic that it’s accepted.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
This is to the Giants fans that are fustrated about Jerry Reese:
“Further evidence that, despite all the attention paid to free agency, the draft remains the best way to build a winner came from this year’s Pro Bowl. Of the 97 players on the two rosters, 87 were still with the original team that drafted them. Of the remaining 10 players, nine were with teams that signed them as free agents and one, Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, was acquired via trade. Just five of the Pro Bowl players were veterans who switched teams via free agency in 2006.”
Sit tight Giants fans. The best team that we have seen in recent history, the Patriots, were so successful, not because of the free agency, but because of the draft.
March 16th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I wonder, maybe we could get something for Finn via a trade. I know Green Bay is dangling that OT, and I think they need a RB. Maybe we could give Finn for that OT? Or Finn for a late round draftpick from someone?
Finn obviously has to have SOME value. He did block for Tiki’s best years. Obviously a team that will see all the 200 yard games Tiki had could bite.
March 16th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I’ve heard that Leach and his agent did not accept the Giants’ offer and they are on their way to visit Dallas to see if they can get a better offer from the Cowboys. At the beginning of free agency, there were only three guys I would have liked: Clements, L. Davis and Leach. How many more guys are we going to lose? If you don’t count Droughns (trade), the Giants have lost them all!
March 16th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Forget it, Finn has little to no value. How do you think the Giants got him initially? No one else wnated him!
March 16th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
SOUNDS GREAT IF THEY CAN GET THE GUY. WE STILL NEED MASSIVE HELP ON DEFENSE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECONDARY. WEBSTER IS THE WORST!! HE NEEDS TO GO, ALL THE REST I THIINK CAN GET IT TOGETHER ESPECIALLY IF WE ADD A GOOD CORNER.
CURTIS GOING TO THE EAGLES KILLS ME. I THINK WE NEED A RECEIVER MORE THAN ANYONE NOTICES. IF WE CAN PROPOSE A PASSING THREAT, THAT WOULD TAKE SOME DEFENDERS OUT OF THE BOX AND THEREFOR RELEIVE SOME PRESSURE FOR ELI AND THE RUNNING GAME. WHATS YOU GUYS THINK?
March 16th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Well… I guess they’re failing the first test. Why offer if you’re not sure you’ll get an acceptance? Looks like they got played for suckers.
March 16th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Sporting News 2006 scouting report on Leach
Strengths: Keeps his head down, and is a powerful straight-line blocker. Rolls his hips in the hole, and keeps feet moving upon contact.
Weaknesses: Is a hit-or-miss blocker. Is very stiff. Shows marginal hands.
Bottom line: Leach is a smashmouth fullback.
March 16th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Free agent LB Cato June will visit the Buccaneers on Friday.
This will be his first visit. June fits best in a Tampa 2, so the Bucs could be a fit if Derrick Brooks is willing to move to middle linebacker.
March 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/
A slight correction: It turns out the Giants have not yet presented an offer sheet to restricted free agent Vonta Leach, according to his agent, Ralph Vitolo.
Posted by Ralph Vacchiano at 4:26 PM
Is this true? or did it happen?
March 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
PFT was reporting that we wanted to sign Davis for more than Dallas’ offer because we wanted him to play Left Tackle. This sounds crazy but although he sucks at pass blocking, he was a beast at run blocking. So I see that Reese actually does have a plan by signing VL and RD. And I think it is great. Re-establishing our power running attack reminds me of our earlier glory days with Otis Anderson. Now I hope he remembers that the other half of our past glory day identity was a dominating defense. We’ll see if he focuses on LB and DT in the draft.
March 16th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
smash mouth football, I love it!! lets hope our new OC and TC are really planning it this way (I would assume they do if they offered him a contract)..
March 16th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
http://blog.nj.com/ledgergiants/
Posted by Mike Garafolo March 16, 2007 5:13PM
Someone familiar with the Giants’ salary-cap situation told us here at the Ledger yesterday the team is currently about $5.5 million under the cap. The person also pegged the Jets’ number at about $11 million. The Giants’ cap number took a hit when QB Eli Manning’s escalators kicked in recently, bumping his 2007 base salary up to $6 million.
Figure the Giants’ rookie pool to be about $4 million to sign their draft picks. Quick math tells me they have only $1.5 million to toss at free agents right now. But remember something: These cap numbers can change easily. The Giants could cut players, restructure their contracts, guarantee a few bonuses and do all kinds of stuff to create cap room. In other words, their current cap number won’t prevent them from spending more than $1.5 million in the next few weeks.
March 16th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Where did all of our cap money go ????
March 16th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Uh, is Garafolo on crack (though I wouldn’t doubt that) ? .. We had like $20 mil earlier. Is he forgetting the space that Tiki’s leaving created and the cuts we made? Oh, and the CBA space that everyone got.
I think we have closer to $15 mil in cap space..
March 16th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
ME Human - It’s another case of maybe, could be. One report says yes and that one apparently says no. It’s such nonsense. It would make sense if the Giants DID offer the contract since they have nothing to lose by doing so.
March 16th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Thanks Dan for keeping me sane
March 16th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Awesome, a blocking FB…
Not awesome…our glaring needs at OT, WR, CB, and OLB
March 16th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Let’s remember, smash mouth may win you games in the regular season, but in the playoffs most teams can stop stop the run. The colts didn’t win with smash mouth. There are three words that describe how you win in this league and that is balance, unpredictability, and execution being the last and most important one.
March 16th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
P.S. And don’t talk about Giant teams from 15-20 yrs. ago. D-linemen and line backers, and every other position has transformed since then.
March 16th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Peter, how quickly tou forgot the signing of Dillon, Bobby Hamilton, Brian Cox, Rodney Harrison, Larry Izzo, Roosevelt Colvin, and the list grows. ALL picked up by the Pats in Free agency. The only difference between the Pat and Giants is the Pats draft smarter. They don’t draft a guy who can only see out of 1 eye(Cedric Jones), or a Jarrod Bunch, or Tyrone Wheatley, or a bum in Will Allen. They draft guys like Seymour, Asante Samuel. Lawrence Maroney (whom the giants could have drafted if they wanted), and of course Tom Brady. That’s the differnce between the Giants and Pats. Sorry, I forgot to throw in Will Peterson or whatever his name is thisn year.
March 16th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
I like the fact that we are going young fast and strong, love it. Our Lb’s Wilk, Player in draf, And Pierce in the middle. We will be fun to watch.
March 16th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
How could we go from being close to 20 mil under the cap to being 1.5 mil under??? That report makes no sense.
Is there any other source reporting that or any other confirmation of it being true?
March 16th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
If the Giants had only $11.5 m, had to pay El Manning an escalator clause of $6 m and need to set aside $4 m for the 2007 draftees, then this would leave the team with only $1.5 to spend on FAs. Is this why Reese cut Droughns bonus and salary in half and has been hesitant to sign any FA? With only that much money left to spend, the Giants could barely afford to sign anyone. How can this team be so fucked up financially?
March 16th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
This is what I have from KFFL
Giants | Team makes offer to Leach
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:42:29 -0700
Darren Urban, of the East Valley Tribune, reports the New York Giants have made an offer to restricted free-agent FB Vonta Leach (Texans), according to his agent.
Cowboys | Leach may visit
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:29:24 -0700
Darren Urban, of the East Valley Tribune, reports the Dallas Cowboys may meet with restricted free-agent FB Vonta Leach (Texans).
March 16th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Frank, Eli’s contract escalated his base salary temporarily in his 4th year, so he sees more of the $45 million we signed him for. The options were to either restructure his contract, something people assume we did, which would then cut his cap number down this year but give him a buttload more money in bonuses and in the future, or cutting him. One pays Manning more money, one leaves the Giants scrambling for any quarterback, let alone a franchise cornerstone.
Besides that $6 million chunk for Eli, and adding in the $4.5 million needed for our rookie class, we still should have somewhere around $6 million left, given the estimates that we had to begin free agency with.
Someone either got their numbers screwed at the start, or someone is getting their numbers screwed now.
March 16th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Oh god damnit I forgot to close a bold tag. Sorry.
March 16th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
everyday i read something else that makes feel like next year is going to worse than the dave brown and danny kanell eras.
well, at least those teams had defenses.
yours truly avery sad giants fan
March 16th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Nah eddie, we will be better than the dave brown danny kanell eras… i like the idea of trying to pound it out. i still think we need another wr cause toomer is done.33 coming off a major knee inj… honestly how much longer does he have. he has been good in his day but now we have to move on.
March 16th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Even if we get Leach, which it sounds like we won’t. I am very dissapointed this offseason. We have done absolutely NOTHING to improve on defense. And very very little to improve on offense.
March 16th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Dan- Please stop getting all of our hopes up for our first signing of the free agency period. Don’t post things without concrete evidence, I do understand that this a rumor mill, but your killing us.
Giants | Leach has not received offer yet
Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:19:17 -0700
Updating a previous report, Ralph Vacchiano, of the New York Daily News, reports the New York Giants have not offered a contract to restricted free-agent FB Vonta Leach (Texans). The Giants may have told Leach what the offer may be, but will not give him the offer sheet until they are sure he will sign.
March 16th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I would love to see Leach come to New York. He is a better fit then Finn. By signing him I would know that Reese is alive and knows that it is the free agency period.
March 16th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
First time I’ve poster here and doing it just to give you a little more reader feedback. Please do not stop posting rumors, it’s why I visit this site. I get my concrete info from ESPN, from a site like this I look forward to reading about possibilities and rumors and how they may affect our team. However if there are contradicting sources an update would be nice.
On another note, looks like we are really ready for some smashmouth football and I think this is great. As someone commented earlier it will take all the pressure off of Eli and our Defense. With Toomer back we are regaining another solid option for Eli to also help take pressure off. I think our offense will be ready to go and hopefully a good rookie class will help bolster our D.
March 16th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
hey Dan is Cato now a 1% chance?
March 17th, 2007 at 1:14 am
ok say we get this guy what going to happen to Finn
March 17th, 2007 at 2:40 am
I believe your cap numbers are way off. We are sitting at close to 10 million under the cap right now. Thats including Eli’s escalators. Another misconception is that the draft picks pool counts against our cap as well. It is my understanding that each team is alloted a certain amount of money depending on draft position in order to sign all of there picks. This being said we are in good shape. This is a site I use to keep track of our cap situation. http://www.giantscap.com/
March 17th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Regardless of whether or not a contract was offered, this move will not make a significant impact on our team at all. I’m happy with Jim Finn, and there is no way in hell both Leach and Finn would both suit up for games, so it would be a slight upgrade, if anything. We have way too many needs on the other side of the ball, but I guess it’s good to see our front office has a pulse. Now if they just had some “balls” and some logic, we might have gotten an impact player this free agency. I’m not going to count Reese out just yet, but it is hard to remain optimistic when we lose 9 some-odd players (one of them being the heart and soul of our offense) and gain only 1 decent player. Perhaps with the inflated market values, it was best that the Giants remained quiet, but there is work to be done. Let’s hope Reese has an incredible draft because this free agency period has been scary.
March 17th, 2007 at 5:50 am
It would be nice if they could fill a couple of holes before the draft. There is a lot of work to do and with the injuries last year we already had a look at what life will be like without Strahan and Toomer. Kiwi was a great draft pick and perhaps Rice will be the same at WR but the O-line is one injury away from oblivion. There is a screaming need for OLB and CB.
March 17th, 2007 at 6:52 am
It’s looking more and more like Cato was just trying to drive up his contract with the Colts. Maybe this was why other teams… including ours… seemed to pay him little interest.
March 17th, 2007 at 7:07 am
So what is the real story on the Giants’ salary cap status? Is it 1.5 mil under as NJ.com said in a blog yesterday or is it 10 mil under as DEREK says (I couldn’t get on his site after multiple steps)?
March 17th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Giunts56 - For the 50000000th time, CLICK THE LINKS IN MY ARTICLES.
Right here, words directly from Ernie Palladino: “The Giants have made Houston’s restricted fullback Vonta Leach an offer.”
March 17th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Giunts56 go to another site! God if one more person comes to this rumor site and starts complaining about the present of rumors I’m going to scream. Do you click on espn’s rumor section and then complain when they get something wrong too. Maybe next time you will look up rumor in the dictionary before you start talking about proof.
I also doubt the Giants are only 1.5 under the cap. If they are Reese is asleep at the wheel. The man cleared out a lot of cap room to use agressively. I hardly think he over looked Mannings contract when he said this. And I also don’t think ESPN would over look it when they calculated our cap space around 20 mil.
March 17th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Oh and just so you know Giunits the website that says that Vanta didn’t get an offer says right in the article that it is all semantics. That the Giants wont make the offer official unless they know he will except. So now you can calm down and go complain about weather.com not being a 100% accurate.
March 17th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Here’s the site again, I just clicked on it and it worked fine. Click on Giants Salary Cap, open and click the 2007 Salary Cap tab on the bottom.
http://www.giantscap.com/
March 17th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Giants56-You’re crazy. DONT LISTEN TO HIM DAN! Dont tell him not to post that. If anything he should post more of this stuff. I’d rather have my new GM look at a bunch of possibilities and not get anything done instead of hearing nothing and having no clue as to what he’s thinking and have nothing happened. At least from the rumors you know he’s working hard. I mean players have to accept offers too you know. Otherwise he’d just low-ball everyone and sign them to minimal contracts. No problem. Keep the rumors coming Dan. I’d rather hear about something that probably wont happen than to hear about nothing at all. AND IF PEOPLE DONT LIKE IT I SUGGEST YOU DONT COME HERE! YOU CHOOSE THE SITE. ITS NOT LIKE YOUR COMPUTER JUST MADE UP THE NAME AND NOW YOURE HERE. ITS A CHOICE. IF YOU THINK THIS SITE SUCKS DONT COME HERE.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Speaking as a Texans fan, we need Vonta Leach and have no good replacement for him; so, if the Texans staff has any sense at all, he’s not going anywhere.
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