The Sports Xchange

The New York Giants signed linebacker Jasper Brinkley on Wednesday after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys.

Brinkley was cut Monday despite the Cowboys guaranteeing him $2 million in his two-year, $6.5 million deal he signed as a free agent in March.

The Giants and Cowboys meet in Sunday night’s season opener in Dallas.

The 6-foot-1, 252-pound Brinkley has played in 79 regular-season games with 33 starts for the Minnesota Vikings (2009-12 and 2014) and Arizona Cardinals (2013). Brinkley missed the 2011 season because of a hip injury he suffered in the preseason.

Brinkley’s career totals include 270 tackles, a sack, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles in the regular season, and 15 tackles (11 solo) in three postseason games. He also has 32 special teams tackles.

In 2014, Brinkley played in all 16 games for the fourth time in his career, with 11 starts for the Vikings. He had 85 tackles and his only career sack.

Brinkley entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft choice by the Vikings from the University of South Carolina in 2009.

The Giants also filled the final two openings on their practice squad with quarterback G.J. Kinne and linebacker Gerald Rivers.