EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The New York Giants made their final move Thursday to get under the $71.1 million salary cap by Friday's deadline, waiving linebacker Jesse Armstead.
Armstead, a five-time Pro Bowler, has played his entire nine-year career with the Giants. He has 30 1/2 career sacks, but was a disappointment last season when he registered just 1 1/2 sacks and 88 tackles.
The 31-year-old Armstead was left exposed by the Giants in the expansion draft because of his $5.7 salary cap charge in 2002, but was not selected by Houston.
Armstead has been a fixture on the Giants' defense, starting 96 consecutive games while never missing a game in his NFL career. The 6-1, 240-pounder had a career-high nine sacks in 1999.
A serious knee injury at Miami as a collegian enabled the Giants to make Armstead an eighth-round steal in the 1993 draft. After playing primarily on special teams in first two seasons, Armstead started two games in 1995 before taking over at weakside linebacker the following year.
Starting strong safety Sam Garnes, veteran cornerback Dave Thomas and backup quarterback Jason Garrett were all waived Wednesday and tight end Howard Cross, the lone player remaining from New York's Super Bowl winning team in 1990, announced his retirement.
Garnes was due to make $1.7 million and Garrett, the veteran backup to Kerry Collins, had a salary tag of $1.5 million in 2002.
