The Giants had a deadline decision to make Monday regarding Shane Vereen, who did virtually nothing on the field in 2016 after tearing his triceps muscle twice.
Vereen had a $500,000 bonus payable to him if he was on the roster at 4 p.m., and considering the lost season he is coming off – only five games played – keeping him was not a foregone conclusion.
But the Giants value what Vereen brings to the field, and he is not going anywhere. A source confirmed an NFL Network report that Vereen is part of the team’s plans and will receive the roster bonus.
The Giants signed Vereen in 2015, fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the Patriots, and seemingly was destined to bring his unique skill-set to an offense in need of a running back adept at catching passes out of the backfield. Vereen played in all 16 games in 2015. He had 61 rushing attempts for 260 yards and caught a career-high 59 passes for 494 yards and four touchdowns. He was a useful contributor, but did not make the expected impact.
His 2016 season never really got going. He tore his triceps in a Sept. 25 loss to the Redskins, and the Giants put him on injured reserve with a designation to return. Vereen was able to make it back for the Dec. 11 game against the Cowboys, but his return did not last. The next week, against the Lions, Vereen suffered a second tear to his surgically repaired left triceps, ending his season. He finished with 33 rushing attempts for 158 yards and one touchdown and 11 receptions for 94 yards.
Vereen, 28, is needed in a backfield remarkably short on NFL experience. Paul Perkins is coming off an encouraging rookie season and is line for increased playing time – and possibly starting status – in 2017.
The Giants also re-signed Orleans Darkwa, who was mostly a special teams player last season before landing on injured reserve. The Giants will add another running back, either in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Vereen is scheduled to make $3.1 million in salary for 2017. His hit against the salary cap is $4.9 million. If the Giants parted ways with him, they would have saved about $3.5 million on the cap, but likely would have searched for a veteran running back to replace him.