The New York Giants and veteran offensive lineman Mike Remmers agreed in principle to a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Saturday that could be worth up to $4 million based on potential incentives.
Remmers provides the Giants with the last piece to their offensive line puzzle — a starting right tackle.
Here’s a quick look at five things to know about Remmers:
Recovering from undisclosed injury
Remmers took months to join the Giants because of an inability to pass a physical. And while the injury hasn’t been disclosed for whatever reason, it was significant enough for general manager Dave Gettleman to keep a close eye on.
“Well, he’s still rehabbing, and we’re continuing to talk with him, so we’ll see,” Gettleman said in late April. “Time will tell. Got to rehab. Going to bring him in and take another look eventually.”
Even now, the Giants and Remmers have only agreed to a deal in principle, which may indicate he’s not yet ready to pass a physical, but that it could be on the horizon.
It’s unlikely anything will crop up to derail the signing now, but it has happened before.
History with Shurmur, Shula and Gettleman
Dave Gettleman brought Remmers in while serving as the Carolina Panthers’ general manager, and the lineman went on to start for three seasons. During that time, Mike Shula was his offensive coordinator, so there’s a significant amount of familiarity there.
However, Remmers’ familiarity with the Giants’ shot-callers doesn’t end there.
In addition to Gettleman and Shula, Remmers also previously played for Pat Shurmur, who served as his offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017.
With the Panthers, Remmers went on to appear in the Super Bowl. With the Vikings, he reached the NFC Championship Game.
Chip on his shoulder
Remmers has long been considered a bit of underdog, receiving no scholarship offers out of High School, instead qualifying academically and eventually earning preferred walk-on status at Oregon State.
However, even there Remmers was redshirted as a freshman and not given an opportunity until the starter went down with injury. But that’s when things turned around as Remmers played well, gained a stranglehold on the starting job and never looked back.
History then repeated itself as Remmers went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, signing with Denver Broncos as a rookie free agent and eventually clawing his way to the position he’s in now.
Humiliated in Super Bowl 50
Remmers’ worst career game came on the biggest stage of his life — Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
Facing the unenviable task of having to stop Denver Broncos edge rusher Von Miller, Remmers was embarrassed, allowing two sacks and several pressures in the crushing loss.
Miller, of course, went on to be named the game’s MVP and deservedly so.
“It’s unfortunate,” Remmers said, via the Charlotte Observer. “I’ll be kicking myself the rest of my life about that game. But it’s behind me, and there’s nothing I can do about it now except to learn and grow from it.
“I think that’s exactly what I’ve done. I’m going to continue to grow from this experience.”
Versatility and experience
The Giants signed Remmers to compete at right tackle this coming season, but he could serve as a Swiss Army Knife in the event of injuries across the line.
In addition to his ability at tackle, Remmers has also spent some time inside at guard, and is more than capable at both positions. This will provide the Giants some added value in the event they ever need it (they hope they don’t).
In total, Remmers has appeared in 65 career games with 64 starts.
