Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger reports that the New York Giants have forked over big money for defensive end Justin Tuck, who isn’t even a starter.

Per Garafolo, Tuck gets a five-year, $30 million contract with $16 million in guaranteed money. 

The third-round pick in 2005 was signed through 2008.  He was scheduled to earn a base salary of $520,000 next season.

Though, on the surface, the deal is protection against an offseason decision by Michael Strahan to retire, the magnitude of the contract will do little to make Strahan not want more money to continue to play.  Tuck’s deal has an average value of $6 million, and Strahan is making only (only?) $4 million per year.

And why in the heck would the Giants be focused on paying Tuck at a time when the team should be preparing to topple the Packers in the NFC title game?  With Tuck under contract for another season, there was plenty of time to get something done.