Giants agree to terms with LB Jameel McClain

Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

NFL.com’s Mike Silver reports that Jameel McClain is now a New York Giant. McClain recorded 84 tackles in 2011 and 79 through 13 games in 2011 before suffering a frightening spine injury. A spinal cord contusion to be precise. He miraculously returned to the gridiron last season, making ten starts at inside linebacker for Baltimore and notching 29 solo tackles and a forced fumble.

The Giants rewarded Jon Beason with a $19 million contract, but make no mistake — that was the exception not the rule. This franchise plugs linebacker holes with underachieving mediocrity and hopes for the best… like putting a band-aid over a bullet hole. While he may lack for game changing talent, McClain will unquestionably bring heart and toughness to the squad. Exactly how they’ll utilize another ILB is a different story.

It seems unlikely the Jints will address LB in the first few rounds of the NFL Draft, but they badly need to add bodies (optimally talented ones) at the position.