Giants express interest in bringing back Jon Beason, sources say

Happy New Year's, Giants fans. All indications are that the Giants want to bring middle linebacker Jon Beason back next season.

The Giants have already expressed an interest in keeping Beason and there is a strong likelihood he returns for 2014, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told NJ.com. Beason is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

The Giants traded a seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Beason in early October. The move was instrumental in turning around the Giants’ defense, which struggled early in the season. They finished eighth in the NFL in total defense with a strong second half.

Beason, 28, had 98 tackles in 12 games with the Giants. Veteran safety Antrel Rolle said Tuesday on WFAN that keeping Beason is “a must.” Former Giant and current NFL Network analyst Shaun O'Hara said over the weekend it should be the Giants' top offseason priority.

The well-respected Beason has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain with the Giants.

“I would love to play here next year,” said Beason, who suffered an Achilles tear in 2011 followed by a knee tear in 2012, after the season finale on Sunday.

“I want to continue to play football at a high level and I’m trying to win a championship. … That’s my No. 1 priority, right. And that is something I think we can do here. I think the pieces are here and you don’t really need to look elsewhere.”

The Giants were apparently happy with his performance. So happy that they have already begun the process of trying to retain his services.

“Jon came in and I think he stabilized our defense,” general manager Jerry Reese said in his postseason press conference. “He came in, he had a voice right away and he fit in very quickly with the players. He did a good job for us.

“We think it was a good trade at the time and we still think it was a good trade. We’ll evaluate Jon as we move into the offseason and we’ll see where that goes.”


(nj.com)