Giants Release DB Wooten

June 14, 1999 / 5:30 PM EDT / AP

The New York Giants released veteran defensive backs Tito Wooten and Curtis Buckley Monday, saying they had to make room under the salary cap to sign younger players.

Losing Wooten will free up a reported $1.1 million for the Giants and give the 27-year-old a chance to court other offers.

Â"There are some things you have no control over. The Giants had to do what was in their best interest,Â" Wooten said. Â"I view this as an opportunity to re-establish myself in the league.Â"

Wooten, a fourth-round draft choice in 1994, made 13 starts at free safety last season, coming up with 74 tackles and three sacks. He played on special teams before moving into the starting lineup in 1996. His best season was 1997, when he recorded 90 tackles and five interceptions.

But Wooten has been criticized for poor conditioning and off-field behavior. His girlfriend committed suicide last year, a month after dropping charges against him of simple assault.

Shaun Williams, the Giants' first-round draft choice in 1998, will compete for the starting free safety position with Percy Ellsworth, who has 12 interceptions in three seasons.

Â"We made the moves today because you can see that some things are going to happen down the road,Â" coach Jim Fassel said. Â"These are two veterans, and we wanted to give them a chance to catch on somewhere else.Â"

Buckley, 28, joined the Giants last season after being waived by San Francisco on Nov. 12. He had five special teams tackles in six games with the Giants. He spent his first three NFL seasons in Tampa Bay.