MORE THE MERI'ER

Surprise signing of experienced, if troubled, safety meant to ease concerns

The Giants’ troublesome safety position received a major boost Sunday afternoon.

In a surprising move that displayed their desperation, Big Blue announced the addition of twotime Pro Bowler Brandon Meriweather, an attimes troubled but also productive safety who brings ample experience and a hardhitting edge to the back end of the Giants’ secondary.

“I’m excited, man,” Meriweather, who reportedly tried out for the team Sunday morning, told the Giants’ website. “Any time you can come to a great organization, you’ve always got to be excited and ready to help.

“I’m going to go in and I’m go

ing to put my all into it. I’m going to get with coach every day until I get it the way I knew every other defense.”

The Giants are certainly hoping his will be a similar effect to former University of Miami teammate Jon Beason’s, who invigorated a weak linebacker corps two years ago, when general manager Jerry Reese landed the injuryprone player for a seventhround pick inseason.

“He’s going to help us tremendously, a veteran, another voice back there,” Beason told the website, “and I think it’s going to make our secondary a lot better.”

The re is risk involved. Durability is a question mark with Meriweather, who hasn’t played a full season since 2010 and is joining his fourth team in six years. He insists he has a lot left. When asked if he’s still the same Pro Bowlcaliber player, Meriweather said, “I know I am.”

Meriweather has been suspended twice by the league for illegal hits and has violated the NFL’s rules against hitting defenseless opponents in the head six times, costing him more than $100,000 in fines. Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall, in 2013, suggested Meriweather be thrown out of the league because of his vicious cheap hits. “Guys like that really don’t understand that there is life after football,” said Marshall, then with the Bears. “I respect the league trying to better our game, and guys like that, maybe he needs to get suspended or taken out of the game completely.”

Meriweather was also found guilty in 2012 for a DUI. But the former Patriots firstround pick has stayed out of trouble off the field of late.

The 31yearold Meriweather, wearing No. 43, took part in his first Giants practice early Sunday evening — mere minutes after his signing was announced — and was used in sevenonseven drills, getting far more reps than he expected.

“I thought I was going to do some running around, but not that,” he said. “It’s always good to learn on the fly. ... That’s the way you learn.”