EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants signed free-agent linebacker Danny Clark to a two-year contract today.

"He is a veteran linebacker who can play all three spots," general manager Jerry Reese said. "He has been an outstanding special teams player. He is going to create competition in both areas, special teams and at linebacker. He fits the New York Giant mold."

An eight-year veteran out of Illinois, Clark was drafted by Giants coach Tom Coughlin in 2000 when Coughlin was Jacksonville's head coach.

The 30-year-old Clark played four years for Jacksonville and also has played for Oakland, New Orleans and Houston. For the Texans last season he started eight games and had 51 tackles and an interception.

"He made me do the right things," Clark said of Coughlin. "He ultimately teaches you how to be a professional. He teaches you to be accountable to your teammates and be on time and dressed appropriately. All of that stuff molds a young guy into an upstanding citizen in this league, which is hard to find sometimes."

Coughlin said Clark is being brought in as an outside linebacker for the Super Bowl champions, who lost both Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor to free agency.

"He is a very physical, very versatile player," Coughlin said of Clark. "Over the years, he has been a very good special teams player. Clark is a veteran guy with an outstanding work ethic. He will fit in well with our players in the locker room. He will have an opportunity to compete for a position."

Clark's best season was in 2004 when he started all 16 games for the Raiders and had 129 tackles and two sacks.

"I have a passion for all three linebacker spots," Clark said. "I am a middle linebacker by trade and I am darn good at outside linebacker as well. I think when you go downhill my emphasis is on making big hits and disconnecting the ball from the ballcarrier. It doesn't matter where you line up as long as you go and make plays doing it."