Giants sign PK John Carney in biggest cutdown move

The biggest move the Super Bowl champion New York Giants made on the NFL cutdown day was an addition - the signing of 44-year-old placekicker John Carney.

The fifth leading scorer in NFL history, Carney was signed Saturday to handle the kicking job until Lawrence Tynes recovers from a knee injury sustained about three weeks ago in training camp.

The Giants open the season on Thursday against the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium.

"When you go into your first game of the year, and you're in the situation we're in from the standpoint of our placekicker, there isn't any question that in the back of your mind is the fact this is a veteran," coach Tom Coughlin said. "That's really the number one thing. John Carney has so much experience and been in this league for so long, kicked so many game-winning field goals and been in so many tight situations. It's very difficult to overlook that part of it, especially when you're week-to-week with your present kicker, a guy that's kicked a 47-yarder to put you in the Super Bowl."

Carney has played 274 regular season games for six teams, hitting almost 82 percent of his field goal attempts. He has scored 1,812 points in his previous 20 seasons.

Carney played in 13 games for Jacksonville and Kansas City last season, hitting 12 of 14 field goal attempts.

"I've been training and I feel good," Carney said, who kicked in Giants Stadium on Saturday. "I feel strong and healthy. I'm motivated to continue my career."

Coughlin said Tynes is progressing slowly.

There was speculation that the Giants might cut several veterans on Saturday, but cornerbacks Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters and halfback Reuben Droughns all made the roster.

The most surprising move is that the Giants are going to go into the season with Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and David Carr as their only quarterbacks.

Anthony Wright, who was Manning's backup last season, was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury suffered in the second preseason game.

Andre Woodson, the Kentucky quarterback who was taken in the sixth round, was waived after struggling in training camp and most recently in the preseason finale against New England.

Backup offensive tackle Guy Whimper and rookie center Digger Bujnoch also were placed on injured reserve. Whimper broke a foot and Bujnoch sprained a knee on Thursday against New England.