Micah Rucker is going to get another chance.

The former Eastern All-American wide receiver signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants on Friday.

Rucker was originally signed to the Giants’ practice squad on Dec. 3 after spending time at the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad. He also spent the beginning of the NFL season as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rucker spoke at lengths with Giants’ wide receiver coach Mike Sullivan toward the end of the season, but said he was still surprised.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen,” he said.

He wants to focus on the playbook as much as possible during the offseason, and is preparing for training camp in March.

“I have to just focus myself,” Rucker said.

He also said he does not know if all the coaches will be there for the next season.

Rucker also knows that his free-agent contract is not necessarily a guarantee.

“Anybody can be released and cut at any time,” he said.

Rucker will rely on his experience the second time around.

He was cut from the Steelers after being signed on May 1. He played in Pittsburgh’s preseason games and was waived on Aug. 31 and signed to the Steelers’ practice squad two days later.

Pittsburgh terminated his contract on Sept. 8. Rucker was on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad from Sept. 23-30.

“That experience got me ready for everything,” Rucker said. “I just wasn’t ready. Camp was so long and so grueling. I just broke down.”

He is currently living with an uncle in New Jersey who is a professor at a local college.

Rucker is about 10 minutes from the Giants’ practice facility.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.