EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - The New York Giants have agreed to terms keeping linebacker Jon Beason on the roster.
A person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press that the veteran entering his eighth NFL season will return to the Giants. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.
Beason was acquired from Carolina last October for a seventh-round pick after he lost his job. He played well for New York, which had been weak in the middle of its defense.
The 29-year-old Beason was a first-round draft pick of the Panthers in 2007 and made the All-Pro team in 2008.
New York also re-signed placekicker Josh Brown and safety Stevie Brown, and officially signed guard Geoff Schwartz, running back Rashad Jennings and center J.D. Walton.
New York also waived linebacker Marcus Dowtin on Wednesday.
Josh Brown set a franchise record in 2013 by making 17 consecutive field goals in his first season with the Giants. He hit 23 of 26 field goal attempts, a percentage of 88.5 that is third highest in Giants history. Brown also made all 31 extra points for 100 points.
At Philadelphia, Brown scored all of the Giants’ points in a 15-7 victory on field goals of 40, 44, 33, 46 and 27 yards. He was the first Giant to kick three field goals of 40 yards or longer in a game since 1991, when Matt Bahr did it.
A 12-year veteran, Brown previously played for the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams.
Stevie Brown missed last season with a knee injury after a strong 2012 campaign. He tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason game against the Jets and underwent surgery two weeks later.
In his first season with the Giants in 2012, Brown had 11 starts at strong safety and led the team and tied for second in the NFL with eight interceptions. Brown’s eight interceptions were the most by a Giant since Willie Williams had 10 in 1968 and his 307 interception return yards broke the former Giants’ single-season record of 251, set by Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell in 1949 and matched by Dick Lynch in 1963. Brown twice intercepted two passes in a game.
Stevie Brown played in 23 games with Oakland and Indianapolis before joining the Giants.
The deals with Schwartz and Jennings address the Giants’ two biggest needs.
Schwartz has played with Carolina, Minnesota and the Chiefs, and joins the Giants after they waived-injured center David Baas, who missed most of last season with neck and knee injuries. With Chris Snee returning for an 11th season, Schwartz would fill the hole at left guard, and that would allow Kevin Boothe to play center if he can be re-signed. Justin Pugh will be the right tackle and Will Beatty will return at left tackle, if he can get over the broken leg he sustained in the final game of the regular season.
Walton could challenge Boothe for the center’s job, and if he claimed it the Giants would have depth at guard, too.
The running back situation was iffy because of the uncertainty involving former first-round pick David Wilson. He had surgery for a neck injury and his future is a question mark. Jennings rushed for 733 yards in 15 games with Oakland, and played well against the Giants, gaining 88 yards on 20 carries.
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