New York Giants: Reasons Not To Sign Jake Long

December 1, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams tackle Jake Long (77) is looked at by medical staff after an injury against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Rams 23-13. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

1. He Can’t Stay Healthy

Long has missed games due to injury in every season since 2011. He has injured his right ACL twice and also sustained a triceps injury. Long got a second chance with the Rams in 2013 and he kept getting injured. Long was a great player before the injuries but we don’t know that he can ever be the same player he once was. Long isn’t the player he once was and the Giants cannot expect him to be that player.

Your backup plan should be reliable. What happens if the Giants bring in Long, he gets hurt in training camp and the Giants are right back where they started? The Giants cannot count on Long as his past injuries make him an unknown quantity. There is absolutely no guarantee that the Giants will get more out of Long than they will out of what they already have on the roster.

Long is 30 years old, this surely wouldn’t be a long term move. But signing a 30 year old with four straight seasons with injuries is just an unsafe investment. The Giants don’t really need Long to be a long term solution at left tackle though. The Giants drafted Ereck Flowers and Will Beatty will return at some point next season. That being said, signing Long would be a short sighted move of desperation.

Next: The Giants Can Survive The Beatty Injury