Aaron

Ross

The Saints don’t have the cap space to keep Porter, and his old position coach in New Orleans is now the head coach of the Raiders. Ross won’t be back with the Giants after they re-signed Terrell Thomas on Tuesday.

Ross was getting picked on by Sam Bradford last night and struggled against the Redskins in Week 1. So coach Tom Coughlin sat Ross down in favor of Michael Coe. It was “just an attempt to find a solution to one of the problems we were having,” Coughlin said. Ross later came back in the game after sulking on the sidelines. The preseason loss of Terrell Thomas (ACL tear) is looming large in the Giants’ secondary.

Forced into a starting role for the first time since 2008 last season after Terrell Thomas’ ACL rear, Ross responded with a highly-average campaign, but was solid in coverage. He notched 60 tackles and a career-high four picks. Ross is capable of playing both in the slot and on the outside, and has even seen time at safety. He’ll provide versatile veteran insurance for a team that was ravaged by injury in its secondary late in 2011. Look for Ross to be the Jaguars’ No. 3 safety and No. 3 cornerback.

Ross was presumably written out of the Giants’ future when the G-Men re-signed Terrell Thomas Tuesday. Ross had a middling 2011, but would provide proven veteran insurance for RCB Leon Hall as he works his way back from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.

The deal includes $11 million guaranteed and an option year. It’s a nice haul for a player recovering from the second torn right ACL of his career. Thomas has yet to resume sprinting, but is tentatively expected to be ready for training camp. His re-signing means the end of fellow free agent Aaron Ross’ time in New York. Thomas graded out as just the league’s 60th best corner by Pro Football Focus in 2010 before missing all of 2011. He is an efficient tackler with playmaking ability when healthy, though. This was a big signing for the Giants, keeping a top-five free agent cornerback from hitting the market.

Ross’ wife won the bronze medal in the 400 meters at the 2008 Olympics. After placing an emphasis on recruiting players with wives and steady home lives, the Jaguars are practicing what they preach by excusing Ross for a few days in August.

Ross will first visit the Bengals. Washington has had its sights set on the second-tier cornerbacks after losing out on Cortland Finnegan.

Mathis is coming off a late-season ACL tear and Ross signed a relatively large offseason contract, so the latter figures to be the favorite. Coach Mike Mularkey indicated that the loser of the Mathis-Ross battle will be the Jaguars’ nickel back. Ross should cover the slot on passing downs regardless.

Ross is four years older than Porter and would likely come cheaper, especially if Porter checks out medically with teams. Ross played for new Saints DC Steve Spagnuolo with the Giants. The former first-round pick has played all three cornerback positions as well as safety, giving Ross plus versatility.

According to beat writer Ralph Vacchiano, “it appears that Thomas is their preferred choice.” Thomas is coming off an ACL tear, but he’s a better player when healthy than Ross. It’s worth keeping in mind that Ross turns 30 in mid-September. He just finished his rookie contract, but is no spring chicken.