New York Giants sign ex-Dolphin WR Hagan

New York Giants sign ex-Dolphin WR Hagan
December 17
Newark Star-Ledger
"After Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, Giants coach Tom Coughlin was asked if there are enough weapons on his offense without Plaxico Burress.

"There's got to be," Coughlin said. "This is our team."

Well, their team added another potential weapon Tuesday in former Dolphins wide receiver Derek Hagan, who signed a two-year contract with the Giants after working out for them last week.

Hagan, 24, was the Dolphins' third-round pick in 2006 after setting a Pac-10 Conference record with 258 career receptions at Arizona State. Hagan had 53 catches for 645 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons with Miami, but had been a free agent since the Dolphins cut him early last month. He visited several teams, including the Lions, Vikings and Buccaneers, before working out for the Giants.

Hagan, who is 6-2 and 215 pounds, came out of college with a reputation as a solid route runner with decent speed. The problem during his time with Miami was his hands, having dropped several passes. Hagan's struggles might also have been due to having to play for three offensive coordinators during his Dolphins career.

Whatever the cause, Hagan's struggles, combined with the emergence of wide receiver Greg Camarillo, made him expendable for Miami's general manager Jeff Ireland and vice president of football operations Bill Parcells.

Hagan played the split end -- or "X" receiver -- position with the Dolphins, so perhaps that's where the Giants envision him playing. That's where Burress played and is now where Domenik Hixon most often lines up.

Since Burress accidentally shot himself in a nightclub last month, landing him on the non-football injury list, the Giants offense has been held to 36 points in three games. (Defense and special teams have provided nine points.)

A huge problem is the absence of Burress, who commanded double teams on nearly every play. Without him on the field, opponents have been able to roll coverages elsewhere, commit another defender to the box to stop the run, and free up linebackers who often provided extra help underneath Burress' routes.

Hagan won't be such a presence for the Giants, but if he can hold on to the ball, he might have a future with the team.

To create room on the roster for Hagan, the Giants placed running back Reuben Droughns on injured reserve with a neck injury suffered against Dallas. Droughns collided with linebacker Gerris Wilkinson on the opening kickoff. Wilkinson suffered a sprained knee and is expected to miss several weeks. It was the same knee he injured earlier this season and caused him to miss six games."
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