Moving to strengthen its offensive line, the New York Giants signed the poet Maya Angelou, a 6'6", 285-pound presence that General Manager Ernie Accorsi said "palpably upgrades our depth and literacy."

"She's big, tough and eloquent," Accorsi said. "Her presence in the locker-room alone is a huge benefit."

Tom Coughlin, the team's head coach, said he expected Angelou to dress and shower with the the men unself-consciously. "She's a big girl. She can take care of herself. Nobody with a half a brain's gonna mess with her."

In private workouts, Angelou, 67, mesmerized the team's coaches and scouts with her quickness, strength and general agility. During a break from her workout, she read from a new poem, reducing the coaching staff to tears.

"It was moving," said Richie Giacomo, a senior scout. "A unique meter, sort've between a haiku and sonnet. Coach Coughlin was really choked up. He just said, 'Slot that broad in there. Somewhere. Anywhere.'"