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Giants Bolster D-Line
Renalodo Wynn is the third veteran defensive player the Giants have added this offseason
By Mike Eisen, Giants.com

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JUNE 2, 2008

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - The Giants today added to their stable of experienced defensive linemen by signing 12-year veteran Renaldo Wynn.

The Giants also placed linebacker Keith O'Neil on their reserve/retired list. O'Neil joined the team on Feb. 18.

Wynn is the third veteran defensive players the Giants have added this offseason, joining safety Sammy Knight and linebacker Danny Clark. Wynn and Clark both entered the league with Coughlin's Jaguars and were teammates in Jacksonville in 2000 and 2001.

A 6-3, 284-pounder from Notre Dame, Wynn has played in 164 career games with 128 starts. He has 205 tackles (161 solo), 25.0 sacks, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. Wynn has also started all four postseason games in which he's played. In the playoffs, he has 10 tackles (seven solo) and a fumble recovery.

In 2007, Wynn signed with the Saints on Sept. 10. He played in 12 games with one start and finished with 13 tackles (12 solo) and 3.5 sacks.

Wynn joins a Giants defensive line that includes Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Dave Tollefson, seventh-round draft choice Robert Henderson and rookie free agents Wallace Gilberry and Alex Morrow at defensive end and Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, Jay Alford and several untested rookies at tackle. Seven-time Pro Bowl end Michael Strahan has not yet announced whether he will return for a 16th season.

"Renaldo is a solid veteran who can give us some snaps on the inside or the outside," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He's a real team football player who will give us some depth and competition at a couple of different positions, so we're excited to see what he can do for us.

"We always like to add defensive linemen. We're still not sure what Michael is going to do as far as retirement goes. If Michael does retire it gives us a veteran who can play end and tackle. It gives us more veteran depth, instead of having too many young guys."

"I drafted Renaldo coming out of Notre Dame and he has the versatility to play both tackle and end, which is very attractive," Coughlin said. "We played against him when he was in Washington. Renaldo has always been a very smart, durable guy who can play multiple positions. He's a good solid team guy and an outstanding character guy who is great for the locker room. He works well with young players. He's a steady, heady player. Quite frankly, in our situation, we'll be a player down if Strahan does retire and we have to protect ourselves."

Coughlin is impressed with Wynn's ability to play both tackle and end.

"That's very valuable," Coughlin said. "We've seen that with Justin Tuck. Renaldo can play the run on first and second down - he doesn't have to come in only on pass downs. He played inside last year, so he can defend against the run."

Wynn, who will turn 34 on Sept. 3, the day before the Giants open their season against Washington, was the 21st overall selection of the 1997 NFL Draft. He made several All-Rookie teams after finishing the season with 60 tackles (25 solo) and 2.5 sacks. Wynn made his first NFL start on Nov. 2, 1997 vs. Tennessee.

The following year, Wynn started six games at tackle and nine at end (seven on the right side), but missed the final regular season game and the playoffs with a groin injury. In 2001, his final season in Jacksonville, Wynn played and started all 16 games for the first time and had a career-high 5.0 sacks.

Wynn signed with the Redskins as a free agent on March 28, 2002. He started every game in his first three seasons in Washington, recording sack totals of 2.5, 2.0 and 3.0. In 2005, Wynn played in 16 games with 15 starts. He fractured his forearm in an NFC Wild Card playoff victory at Tampa Bay and was placed on injured reserve.

In 2006, Wynn played in 15 games with one start and was honored as the Redskins nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is given annually to the player that is not only outstanding on the field, but also in the community.

As a senior at Notre Dame in 1996, Wynn played left defensive end and had 61 tackles (41 solo), with nine sacks and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. He graduated with a degree in sociology.

A native of Chicago, Wynn was an All-Midwest selection at DeLaSalle High School, where he also lettered four years in basketball and three in track as a long jumper.

Wynn and his wife, LaTanya, have a daughter, Kennedy. He was born on Sept. 3, 1974.