EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -The New York Giants added depth at linebacker, signing Brandon Short on Wednesday.

Short spent the first four years of his career with the Giants before playing the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

``The Giants have always been a class organization, and I'm happy to be back and be a part of it,'' Short said. ``I have great memories of my time here.''

Short was a fourth-round draft choice of the Giants in 2000, and was a reserve on New York's NFC Championship team as a rookie. He was a starter in each of the next three seasons before joining the Panthers as a free agent prior to the 2004 season. In two years in Carolina, he played in 32 games with 17 starts.

He has played in 91 career regular-season games with 61 starts. He has 350 tackles (229 solo), 7 1/2 sacks, 10 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He has also played in seven postseason games with three starts and has not missed a game since Nov. 26, 2000.

``Brandon has played on winning teams his whole career, including with the New York Giants,'' general manager Ernie Accorsi said. ``He's a winner and a great teammate and it's terrific to have him back.''

Short started 15 of 16 regular season games and two of three postseason games last season at strongside linebacker for the NFC finalist Panthers. In the two games he didn't start - against the Jets on Nov. 13 and the NFC Wild Card Game against the Giants - Carolina opened the game with five defensive backs.

Short was released by the Panthers on March 2.

The Giants' linebacker corps was hit hard by injuries last season. Four players ended up on injured reserve: Barrett Green, Carlos Emmons, Chase Blackburn and late-season acquisition Roman Phifer.

Antonio Pierce, the star of the group, missed the final four games with an ankle injury, and Reggie Torbor missed the last two with a hamstring pull.

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