Armstead goes out a Giant

[stomperrob]

The 5-time Pro Bowl player signed a 1 day contract so he could officially retire as a Giant. He was definitely a good one!

Jessie's adieu is in Blue

Wednesday, June 13th 2007, 4:00 AM


The heart and soul of the Giants for nearly a decade will be back in blue for one more day.

Jessie Armstead, the emotional leader of the Giants for most of his nine years with the franchise (1993-2001), will re-sign with the team today so he can officially retire as a Giant. He unofficially retired three years ago when he suffered a preseason injury with the Carolina Panthers, but he always wanted to come back to New York.

He even worked out for the Giants in December 2005, when they were being crushed by injuries to their linebacking corps. However, according to someone who witnessed that workout, it was clear that Armstead had little left in his battered legs.

Armstead, 36, was one of the all-time greatest draft-day steals - an eighth-rounder out of Miami in 1993 who went on to make five Pro Bowls (1997-2001). He was released by the Giants after the 2001 season, but went on to play two more years with the Washington Redskins, before his career came to an end in Carolina.

Armstead played 11 seasons and finished with 752 tackles, 40 sacks and 12 interceptions. He will be on the field this morning - watching - when the Giants open a three-day, mandatory minicamp.

Ralph Vacchiano