Giants sign 3 free agents on first day of offseason program

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – The Giants kicked off their offseason conditioning program Monday by adding free agent running back Bobby Rainey, linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, and offensive tackle Byron Stingily to their roster.

The veteran signings were designed to add depth and competition. It follows general manager Jerry Reese’s $204.25 million spending spree that procured starting talent in Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon, Jets defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison, Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins, and Redskins linebacker Keenan Robinson on the March 9 opening of the free-agent signing period.

Monday’s signings brought a mixture of starting experience and special teams expertise.

The Giants have the most direct familiarity with Rainey, who played under offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan in 2013 when Sullivan held the same job with Tampa Bay. Rainey broke a franchise-record 80-yard touchdown run that year.

Entering his fifth season, the 5-foot-8, 212-pound Rainey has played in 46 games with 11 starts with Baltimore, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay. He has three 100-yard rushing games in a career that includes 249 carries for 990 yards and six touchdowns, 51 catches for 377 yards and two touchdowns.

Rainey’s biggest value comes on special teams, where he owns a 9.5-yard average on 36 punt returns and 24.7-yard average on 32 kickoff returns.

Sheppard, 6-2, 249, has the most starting experience with 45 for Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Miami. He didn’t miss a game in his first two seasons after the Bills made him their third-round pick out of LSU in 2011. But it wasn’t until last season with Miami that he managed career highs with 102 tackles and 13 tackles for losses in 13 starts.

He also started two playoff games for the Colts in 2013, with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Stingily was Tennessee’s sixth-round pick in 2011 and started nine of his 20 games between 2012 and 2014. The 6-5, 318-pound tackle was waived at the end of last year’s training camp. The Steelers signed him Oct. 19, but he never played a game for them.

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