EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants are giving linebacker Aaron Curry a second chance at making it in the NFL. The Giants on Friday signed Curry to a one-year contract, hoping the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft can reinvent himself after showing little while playing with Seattle and Oakland in what has been a disappointing career. "Were always looking for players and we like giving guys second opportunities," general manager Jerry Reese said after the Giants finished the first session of a two-day minicamp for rookies and free agents. "Hes worked hard to get back and he worked out well for us. If he didnt work out well for us we wouldnt be fooling around with this. But he worked out for us well. He was the fourth pick in the draft a few years ago, so obviously we think he has some talent. We had him rated high back then. "Well see what happens this spring with him." New York wanted to draft a linebacker last month after it lost middle linebacker Chase Blackburn to free agency and released weakside linebacker Michael Boley. However, the Giants never found the value when they picked. Curry wasnt immediately available for comment, but he tweeted: "Excited to be a Giant!!!" Curry offers the Giants a low-risk option for a defence that was among the worst in the league last season. He can play either middle or strongside. The drawback is that he had knee problems last season and is about 10 pounds overweight at 265. The other issue is Currys NFL career overall. He hasnt done much since the Seahawks gave him a six-year, $60 million contract. He lasted little more than two seasons in Seattle before being traded to the Raiders on Oct. 12, 2011 for two draft picks. The Wake Forest product played in 13 games for the Raiders before being waived on Nov. 16. He spent all but two games in 2012 on the physically unable to perform list. Overall, he has started 39 of 48 games with 203 combined tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles. "Of course, its a low risk," Reese said. "Its an opportunity for him. If he comes on and he looks like the player that he was when he was the fourth pick in the draft, its a win-win for everybody." Reese said there isnt a lot to see recently since Curry hasnt played much. "Sometimes a guy can go to a new environment and reinvent himself," he said. "Were hoping thats what happens with him." Strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka is the only returning starting from last years 4-3 defence, but there have been suggestions that the Giants plan to play him more on the defensive line after losing Osi Umenyiora to free agency and releasing tackle Chris Canty. Veteran Keith Rivers was re-signed and Dan Connor was added as a free agent, but the other holdovers -- Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger, Jacquian Williams -- dont have much experience. Curry was awarded the 2008 Butkus Award, presented to the nations top linebacker. He played in 51 games with 49 starts for the Demon Deacons and finished third in school history with 45 1/2 tackles for losses and ninth with 332 total tackles. Adidas Clearance Sale . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Ultra Boost Cheap Real . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. http://www.stansmithdiscount.com/discount-stan-smith-shoes.html . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Buy Adidas Nmd . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Cheap Stan Smith White .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury.Its fair to say Jurgen Klopp was delighted to complete a deal to bring Schalke centre-back Joel Matip to Liverpool this summer. The Cameroon international will switch to Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season, when his contract with the German club runs out.Im very happy, said the Reds boss. Everybody who knows him would have been interested. However, Klopp conceded Matip was not the most famous player in England, despite playing over 150 Bundesliga games for Schalke.To find out more about Liverpools new signing, we caught up with Sky reporters in Germany Dirk große Schlarmann and Torben Hoffmann - who both insist Matip can thrive under Klopps coaching. Matip top class Jurgen Klopp discusses the defenders qualities He is a good defender. Hes young and will make the next step under Jurgen Klopp, Hoffmann told Sky Sports.Hes not currently at the level of the best defenders in Germany, such as Mats Hummels or Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber or Javi Martinez. But after these top guys hes in the next group.The big point is Jurgen has known him for five or six years, has played a lot against Schalke, and knows his strengths. Its a good decision. This season he made a big step and reached another stage in his development. Now he is the boss in the defence. Dirk gro?e Schlarmann Schlarmann agrees and says, after a season in which Matip has taken on the role of leader of the Schalke defence, the centre-back is rapidly improving.This season he made a big step and reached another stage in his development, Schlarmann said. He got a lot of responsibility because of injuries to Matija Nastasic and Benedikt Howedes. Now he is the boss in the defence.He has also moved into the top 10 defenders in the Bundesliga and has potential for further development. Joel Matip has become Schalkes top defender, says Schlarmann Both point out Matip is just as comfortable playing in midfield as in defence and Hoffmann says the 24-year-old will be an improvement on current Liverpool centre-backs Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho when it comes to distribution.ddddddddddddHe plays very good passes - he can do short passes and long crosses, said Hoffmann. That will be good for the play from defence to midfield or direct to the striker. I think it will be an advance on Toure or Sakho, for example. Matip is strong in the air - and an asset in both boxes Hoffmann also believes Matip could be a solution to Liverpools recurring problems with defending set-pieces.At 6ft 4in, the Cameroon international is dominant in the air - a bonus in both boxes.Hes tall and hes scored a lot from corner-kicks and free-kicks, said Hoffmann. Hes a very good header of the ball, in the defence and also in the offence. Who is Joel Matip? We profile the Schalke defender who will join Liverpool If theres one area where Matip can improve, its communication - Schlarmann describes Matip as a conservative guy, not known for talking much - but it seems Schalke are sorry to see him go, especially on a free transfer.Its really hard for Schalke because hes young, has potential and they do not get any money for him, said Schlarmann. He is better than their other centre-backs, Howedes and Nastasic.Schalkes loss will be Liverpools gain, though. And the view from Germany is the Reds appear to have landed themselves a bargain. Do you think Joel Matip will be a success at Liverpool? Let us know using the message boards or by tweeting @SkyFootball Also See: Who is Joel Matip? Klopp: Matip top-class ' ' '