 | Jeff Feagles, Giants locked in contract standoff |
 Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger
In January, the question about Jeff Feagles’ future was his desire to return for a 23rd season.
Now, it’s a matter of money.
The 44-year-old punter and the Giants are currently locked in a contract standoff and are not close to a resolution, according to someone informed of the progress of negotiations. The person, who requested anonymity because neither side has commented on the status of talks, said Feagles and the Giants “are not seeing eye-to-eye on salary” right now.
Feagles’ agent, Steve Weinberg, wouldn’t confirm the stalled negotiations, though he did say he’s had talks with the team and that his client is preparing to continue a career that has now spanned four decades.
“Jeff fully intends to play this year and maybe beyond that,” Weinberg said. “He’s training hard, working hard and he plans to continue his career in the National Football League.”
Feagles, who represented himself when he signed a two-year contract in 2008, earned salaries of $1 million and $1.5 million the past two seasons, respectively. He’s currently an unrestricted free agent.
Feagles did not return a message left on his cell phone earlier this week. A Giants spokesman had no comment when asked about the progress of negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Giants are scheduled to work out former Australian rules football player Jy Bond Thursday, according to Bond’s agent, Kristen Kuliga. The 30-year-old Bond, whose stated goal on his website is “to make a career in the NFL as a consistent, solid performer and reliable team player,” was signed as a free agent by the Dolphins last April but released in June.
Bond’s workout doesn’t mean the Giants have decided the Feagles era is over, as the representatives for some of the top free agents available (such as Mitch Berger, Hunter Smith and Dirk Johnson) said they haven’t heard from the Giants about their clients. The agent for former Buccaneer Josh Bidwell could not be reached for comment.
Last season, Feagles had a few poorly struck kicks go off the side of his foot and his overall production slipped slightly. His average of 40.7 yards per punt was down more than 3 yards from his 2008 number and his 36 net-yards average was nearly 4 yards fewer than the year before, when he was named to his second Pro Bowl.
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/03/p_jeff_feagles_giants_locked_i.html
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