faba Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Giants continue changes, drop Morton Tiki officially retires, takes job with NBC By Michael Eisen/ New York Giants Tiki Barber officially began his post-football career Tuesday when he announced he will work for NBC. (AP) EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants continued to reshape their roster today with an eye toward the 2007 season as they announced the release of return specialist Chad Morton. In addition, the Giants formally placed Tiki Barber - their career rushing leader - on the reserve/retired list. Barber officially filed his retirement papers with the NFL yesterday and today was introduced by NBC as a correspondent for "Today" and an analyst for "Football Night in America." Morton joined the Giants on Sept. 3, 2005 and served as the team's primary punt returner for two seasons, as well as the leading kickoff returner in 2006. Although he played only 31 regular season games for the Giants, he is seventh on the franchise's career list with 721 punt return yards and 10th with 1,229 kickoff return yards. In 2006, Morton played in 15 games before suffering a torn ACL against New Orleans on Dec. 24. He was placed on injured reserve and subsequently underwent surgery. Morton finished seventh in the NFC with a 9.2-yard average on 29 punt returns. He also averaged 21.6 yards on 31 kickoff returns. The previous season, Morton was the Giants' punt returner for all 16 regular season games and the primary kickoff returner for six games. He also handled both chores in the NFC Wild Card Game. Morton, who was voted a first Pro Bowl alternate, finished fifth in the NFC and eighth in the NFL with a 9.6-yard punt return average. He had career-long punt returns of 58 and 55 yards, and he scored on a 52-yard return in the season opener against Arizona. Morton, who played tailback, wide receiver, free safety, cornerback and returner at the University of Southern California, entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft choice of the Saints in 2000. After one year in New Orleans he was traded to the Jets. Morton signed with the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent in 2003 and played two seasons for the team. He was with New England in the summer of 2005, was released and signed by the Giants four days later. Barber signed a three-year contract with NBC, for whom he will begin working on April 16. He will report on a variety of topics for "Today" - including health, technology and parenting - and will analyze NFL games as a member of the network's "Football Night in America" Sunday prime time telecasts. Barber appeared at a news conference at NBC's Manhattan studios with NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker, NBC News President Steve Capus, and Dick Ebersol, the Chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. "It is an honor and a privilege to be with NBC and particularly with 'Today,'" Barber said. "When I started thinking about doing news - probably 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireSatherclapclap Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Should have never left Jets never was as good in DC or NYG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavePo88 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 quick, lets sign him!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AG Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 quick, lets sign him!!!!! Why the heck would we want Chad Morton? He was BAD for the Giants and we already have a young, Pro Bowl, fastest at the Pro Bowl CB and returner in Justin Miller... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AG Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Also, the Giants Bob Whitfield retired....Wow they are losing a alot of thier roster... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drago Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Why the heck would we want Chad Morton? He was BAD for the Giants and we already have a young, Pro Bowl, fastest at the Pro Bowl CB and returner in Justin Miller... he was kidding... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AG Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 he was kidding... I was hoping that was sarcasim but after being on the Mets board for 3 years when I see someone say something dumb they usally mean it...Stupid Trolls... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyjunc Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I am happy for Chad, this guy was a complete jerk when he left us after we tried to give him the same contratc. the way he taunted our bench after Washington beat is in '03 I'll never forget. i hope he never plays again and he's never been the same player sine Westhoff made him look like a good return man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.I.MikeBleedsGreen Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 That doesn't surprise me ,chad has lost a step plus is getting no positive yards when he gets the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangenious420 Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Tell you what though, when he opened that season with two kickoff returns for scores against the Bills, I almost had a heart attack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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