The New York Giants haven't given their fans many chances to feel good about the team the past three years. It appears Friday will be an exception.

Former Giants defensive end Justin Tuck will sign a ceremonial one-day contract and formally retire as a member of the Giants on Friday, the team announced. It's not shocking news, since Tuck announced his retirement on his Facebook page in early February, but Tuck is a Giant worthy of the modest-but-moving retirement news conference moment the team has granted to Super Bowl heroes such as Chris Snee and Osi Umenyiora in recent years.

As much as any member of the Super Bowl XLII and XLVI championship teams, Tuck was a player and a man to make Giants fans proud. He was a productive member of one of the franchise's legendary defensive lines, helping lead a pass rush integral to both Super Bowl victories against Tom Brady's Patriots. He emerged as a locker room leader and mentor, taking the mantle from Michael Strahan and working with young stars such as Jason Pierre-Paul late in his career. Tuck was and continues to be a significant figure in the community, throwing his post-career energy into the RUSH for Literacy foundation he runs with his wife, Lauran.

So when Tuck steps to the podium Friday to formally announce his retirement and speak lovingly about the nine years he spent with the Giants, it will be a reminder of a lot of very good things that went on during that wonderful recent era in team history. Giants fans of younger vintages love to remember those two Super Bowl runs, and justifiably so. The way things have gone since, it's good to allow the fans to skip down memory lane for a day with smiles on their faces.