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Former Dallas LB Dan Connor signs with New York Giants, Source says Raiders Myers, too

By: Tom Canavan, The Associated Press

Saturday, Mar. 16, 2013 at 8:17 PM | Comments: 0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants signed a new middle linebacker and according to a person familiar with the situation agreed to terms with a new tight end.

The Giants announced Saturday that they had signed former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dan Connor, while a person familiar with the situation said that the team also reached an agreement with tight end Brandon Myers, who had his best season with the Oakland Raiders in 2012.

The agreement with Myers was revealed hours after it was learned the Giants signed receiver Louis Murphy, said the person who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the deals.

The agreement with Myers fills the Giants' biggest need since Martellus Bennett had left the club to sign with the Bears as a free agent.

Myers caught 79 passes for 806 yards and four touchdowns last season, including a team-record 14 against Cleveland in December.

Connor can play both inside and outside, but prefers the inside so his signing means that New York probably won't bring back middle linebacker Chase Blackburn, who is a free agent.

Connor started five games at middle linebacker for Dallas last season, making 56 tackles. He also started three games at weakside linebacker. He played his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

"Being able stay in the same division is great," said Connor, released by the Cowboys on Monday. "Talking to the Giants coaches, the (4-3) system seems to fit me. I wanted to get back into a 4-3 look. It's a great opportunity. When my agent called me and said they were interested I was so thrilled. This is a class organization with a lot of tradition. They're a successful team with a winning tradition and it was something I wanted to be a part of. I'm really looking forward to it."

Connor has played in 56 career games with 27 starts. He has 222 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Connor set a Penn State record with 419 career tackles in 45 games (37 starts). He also had 14 sacks and four interceptions.

Murphy played with Carolina last season and caught 25 passes, including one for a touchdown. He played his first three seasons with Oakland, catching 90 passes and six TDs.

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