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Mathias Kiwanuka | Linebacker

Team: New York Giants
Age / DOB:  (30) / 3/8/1983
Ht / Wt:  6'5' / 267
College: Boston College
Contract: view contract details
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Justin Tuck said teammate Mathias Kiwanuka's heart is "set" on playing defensive end this season.
Kiwanuka played out of position at strong-side linebacker last year and ended up with just 37 tackles and three sacks. The Giants currently have holes at both defensive end and linebacker, but moving Kiwi back to his natural spot seems like a no-brainer. Even at 30 years old, he'd be a reasonable third end behind Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck. Apr 18 - 9:21 AM
Source: New York Daily News

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Player News

Date:
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

ESPN New York expects the Giants to move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end full-time in 2013.

Kiwanuka struggled at linebacker last season, and may be able to rejuvenate his career at his natural position. With Osi Umenyiora ticketed for Atlanta, Kiwanuka could push LE Justin Tuck across from RE Jason Pierre-Paul. The Giants figure to upgrade their linebackers in the draft, but for now have Keith Rivers on the strong side, Jacquian Williams at weak side, and Mark Herzlich in the middle.
Source: ESPN New York
Mar 25 - 4:40 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants SLB Mathias Kiwanuka has agreed to convert $1.5 million of his 2013 base salary into a signing bonus, freeing up cap space.

The $1.5 million was already a guaranteed portion of Kiwanuka's $2.95 million salary. So he's not losing any money. The simple restructure will give the G-Men a better chance to re-sign key free agents Martellus Bennett and Will Beatty. Kiwanuka, 30, managed just 37 tackles and three sacks as a 2012 role player.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger
Feb 25 - 2:26 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants SLB Mathias Kiwanuka (groin) expects to be fine for Opening Day against the Cowboys.

"I’ll be ready," Kiwanuka said after Friday's preseason game. The Giants and Cowboys are squaring off four days before anyone else in Week 1, but Kiwi's injury doesn't sound like a threat to his Wednesday Night Football status.
Source: New York Daily News
Sat, Aug 25, 2012 11:15:00 AM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants SLB Mathias Kiwanuka was forced from Friday's preseason game against the Bears with a strained groin.

Kiwanuka has 12 days to get ready for Week 1, but groin injuries have a tendency to linger, so it's not a given he'll be ready for Opening Night against Dallas. Kiwanuka was having a big game before going down, abusing the Bears' shaky line and routinely pressuring Jay Cutler.
Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter
Fri, Aug 24, 2012 09:56:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants SLB Mathias Kiwanuka's three-year extension is worth $16.5 million and includes $10.95 million guaranteed.

Kiwanuka received an $8.5 million signing bonus. His 2012 salary is guaranteed, as is over half of Kiwi's $2.95 million salary in 2013. Kiwanuka is assured of being a Giant through his age-30 season, and is under control through his age-32 campaign. The Kiwanuka deal can't be sitting well with Osi Umenyiora, who has been begging for a new contract several years running.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBC Sports
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 05:23:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants signed SLB Mathias Kiwanuka to a three-year extension through 2015.

Without the new deal, Kiwanuka would have entered a contract year in 2012. The 29-year-old pass rusher has settled in as largely a strong-side linebacker in the Giants' 3-4. Per Rotoworld offseason acquisition Mike Clay, Kiwi played 69 percent of his 2011 snaps at linebacker, 21 percent at end, and 8 percent as an interior tackle. Kiwanuka finished with a career high 84 tackles, 3.5 of them good for sacks. He's now under contract through his age-32 season.
Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 03:04:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants DC Perry Fewell plans to use Mathias Kiwanuka as the team's starting strong-side linebacker on first and second downs.

"He’s going to play linebacker this year," said LBs coach Jim Herrmann. "In our base package he’s a linebacker. When we go to third down, all bets are off." Playing linebacker puts a cap on Kiwi's ceiling in IDP leagues, unless you can still use him at defensive end. He should have more tackles than most ends.
Source: ESPN New York
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 06:06:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants agreed to terms with DE/OLB Mathias Kiwanuka on a two-year contract.

There goes Osi Umenyiora's holdout leverage. Kiwi is a high-risk investment because of his neck injuries, but his versatility and pass-rushing ability also made him one of the most intriguing defenders on the market. The Giants may now be open to offers for Umenyiora, though Kiwanuck also figures to see plenty of time at outside linebacker with the position in flux.
Related: Osi Umenyiora
Source: Justin Tuck on Twitter
Thu, Jul 28, 2011 01:02:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

ESPN New York's Ohm Youngmisuk has a "gut feeling" the Giants will re-sign free agent DE Mathias Kiwanuka.

It's believed the Giants are hoping to sign Kiwanuka to a one-year deal as he comes off a serious neck injury. If that hasn't changed, Youngmisuk's gut feel has a good chance of being incorrect. If Kiwanuka ultimately walks, 2010 first-round pick Jason Pierre-Paul would move into the team's No. 3 defensive end role.
Related: Jason Pierre-Paul
Source: ESPN New York
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 10:35:00 AM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants GM Jerry Reese has reportedly considered offering free agent Mathias Kiwanuka a one-year offer to "re-establish his value."

Kiwi is expected to be "all systems go" for training camp, but the Giants want him to prove that his neck will withstand a 16-game season under a "low-risk, short-term deal." If that's the case, Reese figures to have plenty of competition for his services from teams offering incentive-laden deals. The Boston Herald has suggested the Patriots will be interested in Kiwi as an outside linebacker.
Related: Patriots
Source: New York Post
Sun, Jul 3, 2011 03:07:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Free agent DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck) is taking part in players-only workouts with the Giants this week.

Kiwanuka was granted medical clearance in February to resume his football career. It's nice to see him back on the field. Kiwi is a five-year veteran, so it's far from guaranteed that he'll be back with the G-Men for the 2011 season despite his second-rounder tender.
Source: ESPN New York
Tue, Jun 7, 2011 08:15:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants extended an original-round restricted free agent tender to DE Mathias Kiwanuka.

Kiwanuka would bring a second-rounder in compensation. The Giants are just going through the motions, however, believing that Kiwi will be unrestricted as a five-year veteran. Coming off a serious neck injury, Kiwi was recently given clearance to continue his football career.
Source: New York Daily News
Tue, Mar 1, 2011 06:05:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants GM Jerry Reese issued a statement Saturday, announcing that free agent DE Mathias Kiwanuka (neck) has received medical clearance to continue his career.

Clarifying earlier comments that suggested Kiwanuka's neck injury was career threatening, Reese also said Kiwi is "fully committed to returning to football." Kiwanuka is a five-year NFL veteran, so the Giants could attempt to keep him with a restricted free agent tender. He's not going to get a long-term extension considering his injury and the Giants' line depth.
Source: Ohm Youngmisuk on Twitter
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 02:06:00 PM
Mathias Kiwanuka - LB - Giants

Giants GM Jerry Reese acknowledged at the Combine that free agent DE Mathias Kiwanuka's career is in jeopardy following a season-ending neck injury.

"It's a possibility," said Reese. "He’s got to make a decision: Do I want to play? There’s risk, period, but when you have a neck injury you have to be careful." A herniated disc in Kiwanuka's neck ended his 2010 season after three games. He avoided surgery, but there is plenty of doubt about his career. "If he gets cleared by doctors," added Reese, "I think he'll play."
Source: New York Daily News
Sat, Feb 26, 2011 12:18:00 PM

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