The Giants today welcomed back an old friend when they signed linebacker Chase Blackburn, who played for the team from 2005-10.
To make room on the roster, the Giants placed tackle Will Beatty on injured reserve.
Blackburn, 6-3 and 247 pounds, led the Giants in special teams tackles in each of his six seasons. He also started games at middle linebacker and weakside linebacker.
The 28-year-old Blackburn has played in 93 regular season games with 17 starts and in six postseason games. His career regular season totals include 108 tackles (65 solo), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions (including one returned 32 yards for a touchdown), three passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 104 special teams tackles.
In 2010, Blackburn played in 14 games with the vast majority of his action on special teams. He missed games at Indianapolis (9/19) and vs. Tennessee (9/26) with a knee sprain. Blackburn led the team with 17 special teams tackles (13 solo), including three in each of three consecutive games at Minnesota (12/13), vs. Philadelphia (12/19) and at Green Bay (12/26).
Blackburn made the 2005 Giants' final roster as a rookie free agent from Akron. That season, he played in 15 games with two starts and led the Giants with a career-high 22 special teams tackles. Blackburn started two games at middle linebacker after Antonio Pierce suffered a season-ending ankle injury and returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown at Washington.
Blackburn played in all 16 games – and six playoff games – every season from 2006-09. He started a career-high eight games in 2008 and seven in 2009. His special teams tackles totals in those seasons were 14, 17, 18 and 16.
Blackburn will be a veteran presence on a linebacker corps that includes four rookies – Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones, Jacquian Williams and Spencer Paysinger. Herzlich injured his ankle in Monday night's loss in New Orleans.
Beatty started the season's first 10 games at left tackle. He underwent surgery last week to repair a detached retina in his right eye. In his absence, David Diehl moved back to left tackle and Kevin Boothe stepped in at left guard.
The Giants also signed Isaiah Stanback to their practice squad and terminated the practice squad contract of quarterback Ryan Perrilloux (for the sixth time this season).
Stanback was a fourth-round draft choice in 2007 by the Dallas Cowboys from the University of Washington. He has also been with New England and Seattle. Stanback has played in 16 regular season games with two starts (for the 2009 Patriots) and has five receptions and 14 kickoff returns.
QUESTION & ANSWER WITH LB CHASE BLACKBURNQ: Excited to be back?A: It's unbelievable to be back.
Q: What have you been doing?A: Working out, hanging with the family. We just had our second boy on the first.
Q: What's his name?A: Bentley Brooks. Life is good. Been hanging out with them and trying to take care of the family a little bit and just get settled in to Ohio. We're back with our family.
Q: When did you get the call?A: Yesterday, a little after four.
Q: Who called you?A: I can't remember her name. It was a girl I didn't know. And then I got a call from Kevin Abrams. And then I got a call from Matt Harriss. I got a couple of calls.
Q: You found out about 4:15, what time was the flight?A: 6:12 was the flight. It got delayed three times. So I didn't actually fly out until 8:30.
Q: You have two little kids at home and you said…A: I have to go. I had my bags p acked so I was ready to go. I've been working out and I had some pretty good workouts with some other teams over this time, some good calls, good conversations. Talking about if something happens, you'll be a guy that we call. So I kept a bag packed. It's the business that we're in. It can be any minute. I wouldn't have had time to pack too much if I wasn't already set up. She knows. She married me. She knew what she got with it. That's how you go. At the drop of a hat you have to go.
Q: Did they tell you what they're looking for from you?A: Linebacker, special teams. Come back in, do the same things I've done in the past. Just try to give that leadership again, try to get right back into it. I know I haven't played a lot of football lately, but I'm going to give it everything I can, just like I always do.
Q: You know the system.A: Right. That's what they look at. That was one of the reasons, I think, they brought me back, knowing the system, knowing the special teams, knowing the guys. I know the chemistry in the locker room and things like that. I know the coaches and what they expect. I think that all plays into it, but I'm just glad to be back wearing that NY, even though I'm in number 93. I still have the NY on the chest.
Q: You lead the team in special teams tackles six years in a row. You have five games.A: I have to get about five a game. Hey, I'm going to do whatever it takes, I'm going to try. I'm sure things have been done crazier than that.
Q: You haven't worn pads in a while.A: It was the first time I wore a helmet in a long time too. I noticed it, maybe, the first couple of plays I was out there. After that it's natural. It's riding a bike. You put that stuff back on, you want to hit somebody. It was nice being back out there. I didn't sleep last night. I thought it was game day today. Seriously, I just sat there going through all of the playbook. Obviously I knew kind of the stuff they run here and the system. Just trying to replay everything in mind to get a jump start on what was going on. I had last year's playbooks, all of my notebooks. Just kind of read through those and just have to remember all of the terminology.
Q: When you sat in the meeting today did it come back?A: Oh yeah. A couple of the guys, Boley like 'you didn't miss anything.' Just trying to get back to thinking. That's a big part of my, is doing the right things at the right times and being in the right spot and trying to get people lined up and things like that. First things first, learn the playbook and get back out there and then I'm sure game shape will tell. No matter what you do on your own, running and everything, you're still not getting in game shape. I haven't played a game, but I'm going to do everything I can. I'll push through it. No matter how tired I get, I'll push through it and we'll figure it out.
Q: You were here for a tryout, what did they tell you then?A: Stay ready. They're going to stay with the rookies. They had some guys that they wanted to try out and see how things worked. Injuries have forced them into getting a guy in. I guess fortunate enough for me, I was the guy to be called.
Q: You can provide some type of leadership and direction to these kids?A: I'm sure that's part of it. I'm not trying to sound arrogant or conceded. Like I said, I try to know the playbook. I'm trying to know all three positions. So I do bring that element to it and being a captain last year, a lot of the old guys, like I said, the veterans and guys who were here know me and respect my game and what I do. That gives me a heads up, a little one up on things, to be able to come in and not feel like the odd man out. A lot of times when guys come in at the end of the season, they're just kind of sitting back and watching things go and trying to just barely fit in. I'm trying to step back up and take over where I was at last year and in the past.
Q: Did you watch Monday night's game?A: I watched the first half on Monday and then I had to go to bed because we have a one month old. I recorded it and watched the second half on Tuesday morning when I woke up. It's a game. Things happen. We won a Super Bowl, we outscored the first two weeks 80-something to seven or something, something crazy. We gave up 84 points in two games. Crazier things have happened. You just have to bounce back and stick together and gel as a team. Give better effort and we'll be alright.
Q: Did they tell you where you're going to play?A: Same as always. Middle and opportunity to play the weak side, same thing. Special teams I'll be bounced around and fit in where the gaps may be.
Q: Are you looking forward to the first hit?A: I'm looking forward to every hit, not just the first one.
Q: How do you think you'll feel Monday morning?A: I'm sure I'll be sore. I talked to Osi and he said when he came back he was pretty sore after he was out for a while. I'm sure I'll be sore, but that's what ice tubes are for.
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