EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Aldrick Rosas promised he was ready for competition in his quest to win the starting kicking job this summer.
The Giants are giving him some.
Former Jets second-round pick and former Bengal Mike Nugent signed with the team Tuesday morning prior to the Giants' return to the practice field following a day off.
Nugent, 35, is a 13-year veteran who has played in 158 regular-season and postseason games. Rosas, 22, has never kicked in a regular-season game.
"The way I look at it is there is a lot of competitions going around with other teams," Rosas said Sunday. "So, every day it's not just me kicking by myself out here. I'm looking constantly with every team, every competition keeping up with everybody. At the end of the day, I'm competing against 32 teams, 32 other spots. So, I'm blessed to be here and I enjoy the huge opportunity I have here and the confidence that I am building with the team. It's going very well so far I would say."
Rosas went 4 for 4 during practice Sunday, with his last attempt squeezing just inside the right upright. He spent last preseason with the Titans and the Giants signed him this winter, giving him the first chance to claim the gig this summer.
It's likely the Giants signed Nugent six days into camp in part to gauge Rosas' reaction as to whether their inexperienced kicker gets rattled by the presence of a veteran.
The Giants used three kickers last season: Josh Brown, who was suspended and ultimately released; Randy Bullock, who kicked in Week 1; and Robbie Gould, who was brought aboard in October when Brown and the team parted ways.
