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Keith Rivers | Linebacker

Team: New York Giants
Age / DOB:  (27) / 5/5/1986
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 235
College: USC
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Giants re-signed LB Keith Rivers.
The ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft, Rivers has been a borderline-complete bust in the pros. Turning 27 in May, Rivers made six starts last season and racked up six special teams tackles. He'll battle for a roster spot in camp. Mar 14 - 2:50 PM
Source: Jenny Vrentas on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Giants LB Keith Rivers was involved in a car accident during New York's Week 11 bye.

"He had a car accident last week," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He is being evaluated. He bruised a knee. We hope that is all it is." Rivers has failed to crack the Giants' starting lineup this season. He sounds doubtful for Week 12.
Source: ESPN New York
Mon, Nov 19, 2012 02:27:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Giants LB Keith Rivers was forced from New York's Week 8 game against the Cowboys with a strained calf, and will not return.

The reserve linebacker departed late in the fourth quarter. Rivers missed time earlier this season with a hamstring injury.
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 07:30:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Giants LB Keith Rivers left Thursday night's game with a hamstring injury and is questionable to return.

Rivers was limited in practice this week with a balky hamstring. The reserve linebacker re-aggravated the injury while covering a first quarter kickoff.
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 09:06:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

The Giants currently view LB Keith Rivers as a versatile reserve capable of playing both weak-side and middle linebacker.

Rivers is currently working behind WLB Michael Boley, and DC Perry Fewell says "at some point in time, he'll play some Mike linebacker for us as we continue in our OTAs." It's possible Rivers could eventually push current first-team MLB Chase Blackburn. Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka are locked in as outside starters.
Source: New York Daily News
Thu, May 31, 2012 11:08:00 AM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

The National Football Post reports that bad blood between LB Keith Rivers and the Bengals' organization contributed to his eventual trade to the Giants.

Rivers had wrist surgery near the end of the 2011 lockout. At that time, it was expected that he'd open the season on PUP, meaning he still could collect his paycheck. Instead, the Bengals placed him on the non-football injury list because they felt Rivers should've had the surgery earlier in the offseason. Rivers filed a grievance, which inevitably led to hard feelings. Rivers was traded to the Giants for a fifth-round pick in April.
Related: Bengals
Source: National Football Post
Sun, May 6, 2012 12:34:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Recently acquired Giants WLB Keith Rivers will make $1.25 million in 2012.

Rivers also had the final year of his rookie deal (2013) voided. It's a nearly $1 million cut from his originally scheduled $2.16 million, and a sign he might not be locked into a starting job after missing all of 2011 with a wrist injury. With WLB Michael Boley tentatively expected to shift to the middle, however, Rivers remains the favorite to start on the weak-side.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger
Mon, Apr 16, 2012 12:53:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Giants acquired WLB Keith Rivers from the Bengals in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft.

It's the last pick in the fifth round, so it's as close as you can possibly get to the sixth. Rivers developed a bit of a "soft" reputation as the former No. 9 overall pick in the draft with Cincinnati, but he was not averse to playing through injuries and is a quality run defender when healthy. Look for Michael Boley to start at middle linebacker for the Giants. Rivers should handle the weak-side duties, with Mathias Kiwanuka staying on the strong side.
Related: Bengals, Michael Boley
Source: Ralph Vacchiano on Twitter
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 02:06:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Updating a previous item, the Newark Star-Ledger confirms a Giants trade for Bengals WLB Keith Rivers is being finalized and is "going to happen."

NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora backs up the report. Rivers is no longer in the Bengals' plans after missing time due to plantar fasciitis, a broken jaw, ankle surgery, a severe calf strain, and last year's wrist surgery over the past four seasons. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Rivers will likely cost the Giants a draft pick no higher than the fifth round. He's worth the dice roll at that price.
Related: Giants
Source: Newark Star-Ledger
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 11:33:00 AM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

According to the Newark Star-Ledger, there may be "fire behind the smoke" on rumors of the Giants discussing a trade for Bengals OLB Keith Rivers.

Giants beat writer Mike Garafolo advised Twitter followers to "sit tight" while Bengals beat writer Joe Reedy confirms the "wheels are turning." Rotoworld's Evan Silva had been predicting a Rivers trade entering the final year of his rookie contract, but the 2008 first-rounder is no lock to pass a physical after missing all of last season due to wrist surgery. GM Jerry Reese recently hinted that Michael Boley could be moved to middle linebacker, leaving a vacancy on the weak side.
Related: Giants
Source: Newark Star-Ledger
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 08:18:00 AM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

A league source tells the Cincinnati Enquirer WLB Keith Rivers' wrist injury is "neither degenerative (nor) career threatening."

The Enquirer recently referred to Rivers' wrist issue, which held him out for all of 2011, as degenerative. If Rivers' wrist is indeed on the mend and in no danger of getting worse, he could draw trade interest this offseason, though it would figure to be minimal since he's due $2.16 million.
Source: Joe Reedy on Twitter
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 04:48:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer refers to WLB Keith Rivers' 2011 wrist injury as "degenerative."

Rivers never did play in 2011 after undergoing offseason wrist surgery. A "degenerative" condition means it may not get better, and could potentially even get worse. We'd previously speculated Rivers might be on the trade block entering the last year of his rookie deal, but he might not be able to pass physicals. The former first-round pick has an uncertain football future.
Source: Joe Reedy on Twitter
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 11:58:00 AM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Bengals WLB Keith Rivers (wrist) will remain on the non-football/injury list for the remainder of the season.

Rivers is still not fully recovered from July wrist surgery. Tuesday marks the final day of the three-week window the Bengals had to decide whether to activate Rivers after his return to practice. Rivers is under contract through 2013. Thomas Howard will hold down the weak side for the remainder of this season.
Related: Thomas Howard
Source: Cincinnati Bengals on Twitter
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 04:11:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Bengals WLB Keith Rivers (NFI, wrist) has resumed practicing.

The Bengals now have three weeks to add Rivers to the active roster or shut him down for the season. Thomas Howard has played well in Rivers' absence, but he should be a major contributor down the stretch as long as he's healthy.
Source: ProFootballTalk on Twitter
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 02:34:00 PM
Keith Rivers - LB - Giants

Bengals WLB Keith Rivers (PUP, wrist) is expected to return to practice sometime this week.

The Bengals will have three weeks to decide whether to activate Rivers onto their 53-man roster. With Thomas Howard filling in on the weak side, the Bengals have the No. 4 scoring defense in football.
Source: Joe Reedy on Twitter
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 11:33:00 AM

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TE1Brandon Myers
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5Larry Donnell
K1Josh Brown
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