Here is my thinking of the kind of thing I currently expect to see
in free agency

cut Shawn Andrews, this may be a big call, but I don't think
his health can be relied upon. Andrews is worth $6.5m (2011: $3 million (+ $3.5 million roster bonus due on 30th day of "league year") which is
better invested in other players

rework Jacobs contract. He isn't playing up to it at the moment. Use some of the savings here to address FB.

The big decision is whether you pay Osi or trade Osi; either way one thing should happen. It could depend on trade value, but Osi has been
good to the Giants and the Giants do look after players who deserve it. I
currently think Osi's deal will be topped up (possibly with incentives). Osi is
back to his best, I expect the franchise to look after him, it is after all how
they do business.

---

Departures

Grant, Cofield, Kiwanuka, Bradshaw, Boss and Boothe get better deals
elsewhere.

Blackburn, Wilkinson and Johnson are not brought back.

Signings

resign WR Steve Smith,


FB Vonta Leach, Houston

Leach won't be cheap, he wants to be the highest paid FB (Leonard
Weaver, got a three-year, $11.2 million deal last spring with $6.5 million guaranteed). Don't forget we offered Leach a 3 year $8mil deal back in 2007. Leach adds another dimension to our power running game with Jacobs and Barber , which will be an excellent counter to the smaller faster defenses that are becoming popular.

Getting our power running game will be the #1 way to get our offense back on track. We have a quality passing game and our ground game will really punish and wear down defenses.

RB Marion Barber, Cowboys

Brashaw has Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent and will likely get his big deal somewhere. Barber gives us a cheaper option to back up Jacobs.


TE Schuylar Oordt, Northern Iowa (6'6", 261lb, 4.67)

a small school TE who is a good reciever and tools to improve (remind you of anyone?). Oordt is under rated and has been productive in college (66 rec, 1,170yds, 17.7 ave, 11 TDs. With Boss's departure Beckum seems
the logical starter, but don't be surprised of Pascoe emerges as a quality TE.


OLB Thomas Howard (Oakland)

Howard was the odd man out in the very talented raiders LB group. Howard does have very good coverage skills and excellent speed, which is exactly what our current LB lack. Howard also has experience at both SLB and WLB, and is a good fit for Fewell's Tampa style defense.

Updated

MLB Paul Pozlunzsy (Buffalo)

I have had Pozlunzsy here for some time and after a re-think I am going back that way. Poslunzsy is an ideal fit for us at MLB (and I believe at the top of our
free agency wish list), plus he knows Fewell and Fewell's schemes. You
have to think Poslunzsy would love to play behind our Dline and for a
team with legitimate playoff aspirations.

Note - I would like to see 2 LBs in free agency, but not sure that will happen, even with a 2nd tier guy like Howard.

S Jarrad Page (New England)

Page is buried a little on the Pats depth chart with both Chung and Merriweather ahead of him and will likelt face competition from rookie Rasi Dowling. Page can play either safety spot, has decent experience and would be a good value veteran option in the depth chart (effectively replacing Grant and Johnson).


DE Veron Gholston (New York Jets)

Gholston has been a bust for the Jets, but Gholston young and has genuine ability and may be better suited to the 4-3 he played in college. The Giants
are a good fit for him, easing him into their DL rotation and using him on special teams; they also have had success with players with character concerns. If anyone can get Gholston back on track, it will be at NYG.


S Deunta Williams, North Carolina (6-2, 205, 4.55)

Depth and special teams, other good options include Deandre McDaniel, Jeron Johnson, Jerrard Tarrant and Joe Lefeged.


C Tim Barnes, Missouri (6-4, 300, 5.17)

A developmental center. Other options include Zane Taylor, Jake Kirkpatrick and Alex Linnenkohl

this is roughly how I expect to see our roster shaping up.

Offense

QB (2) - Eli Manning, Sage Rosenfels

RB (3) - Brandon Jacobs, Marion Barber (fa), DJ Ware/ Da'Rel Scott

FB (1) - Vonta Leach

WR (6) - Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Ramsees Barden, Jerrell Jernigan, Domenik Hixon/ Derek Hagan/ Victor Cruz/ Duke Calhoun

TE (3) - Travis Beckum, Bear Pascoe, Schuylar Oordt (udfa)/ Jake Ballard

OT (4) - Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl, Will Beatty, James Brewer

OG (3) - Chris Snee, Rich Seubert, Mitch Petrus/ Jamon Meredith

OC (3) - Shaun O'Hara, Adam Koets, Tim Barnes (udfa)


Defense

DE (5) - Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dave Tollefson, Vernon Gholston (fa)/ Alex Hall

DT (4) - Chris Canty, Linval Joseph, Rocky Bernard, Marvin Austin

SLB (2) - Jon Goff, Clint Sintim/ Adrian Tracy

MLB (2) - Paul Poslunzsy (fa), Greg Jones/ Phillip Dillard

WLB (2) - Michael Boley, Jaquain Williams

CB (5) - Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, Bruce Johnson/ Brian Jackson/ Brian Witherspoon/ Michael Coe

S (5) - Antrell Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Jarrad Page (fa), Tyler Sash, Deunta Williams (udfa)


Special Teams

K (1) - Lawrence Tynes

P (1) - Matt Dodge

LS (1) - Zak DeOssie

I am not expecting to see us replace Grant with another free agent. I don't think we will use as many 3 safety sets.

We will use our corners more.

If need be we have Thomas, Amukamra and Ross who could be worked in at safety if really needed.

Also with Cofield gone, expect to see more use of Tuck and JPP at UT as well as Austin on passing downs.

I am not a fan of Rocky Bernard, but if Cofield leaves he gives us a relatively cheap veteran prescence although I do expect Joseph to beat him out for the starting spot, with Canty and Joseph as the incumbent starters (not sure which positions though), if Jospeh can hold up NT, Canty could switch to UT. or Joseph could just slot in at UT.

You didn't really make any improvements other than FB and I can't justify paying a guy that much money when we can get a guy cheaper and come away with good results.

It looks like your opinion was heavily influenced by that article.

I don't think we lose much going with Beckum/Bear to replace Boss. I wouldn't be surprised if we carry only two TE's so we can carry an extra WR or LB.

3 centers? Also Kevin Boothe isn't on your final roster I thought you resigned him. Which I think will be unlikely because a team will look at him as a starter.

I would not be happy with Benard starting at UT to replace Cofield. Joseph is a NT he's Canty's primary backup/sub.

You didn't do anything at LB. Howard isn't near enough.

2 Rookie safeties? Don't see that happening.

Pizan wrote:You didn't really make any improvements other than FB and I can't justify paying a guy that much money when we can get a guy cheaper and come away with good results.

It looks like your opinion was heavily influenced by that article.

I don't think we lose much going with Beckum/Bear to replace Boss. I wouldn't be surprised if we carry only two TE's so we can carry an extra WR or LB.

3 centers? Also Kevin Boothe isn't on your final roster I thought you resigned him. Which I think will be unlikely because a team will look at him as a starter.

I would not be happy with Benard starting at UT to replace Cofield. Joseph is a NT he's Canty's primary backup/sub.

You didn't do anything at LB. Howard isn't near enough.

2 Rookie safeties? Don't see that happening.

Perhaps slightly, but not too much.

I have been having a look at the salary cap situation of late and I don't think we will be that active.

You are right about Boothe, I originally had Boothe as a guy competeing for a spot with Meredith, but he would be likely to be back. three centers is probably a luxury. Considering we have much cheaper options and it will cost to keep Boothe, he is likely gone.

I could also easily see us going 2 TEs for an extra WR or LB very easily. I just stuck with a traditional balance thats all.

As far as DTs go, I am not sold that both Canty and Joseph are only NTs. I think they could be a very strong pair inside (at least on running downs). Canty is the more explosive of the pair and Joseph is the most powerful, hence I was thinking that way (Canty UT, Joseph NT). I would like to see money here, I just dont see it, particularly when we can use Tuck and JPP inside at UT on passing downs.

I have long been an advocate of upgrading the power running game. Sure there are other FB options, but none as dominant as Leach; so if it is a case of 1 mil or so between a decent FB like Vickers or McClain or a great one like Leach, then it is a no brainer in my opinion. Vickers is probably the best option, but it really depends just how much he costs. Lets get Leach and really smack some defenses with Jacobs and Barber.

I was wondering about Howard or another LB. I want to see us sign Pos (as you know), but I am not sure it will happen. I also lookes closely at McIntosh (who is from NY), but in the end our biggest need is speed, coverage and athleticism. Howard is the best value option that emphasises that.

Update - Thinking about it, I am going to change my mind and go with Pos, it makes much more sense imho, particularly if we think Goff can play SLB.

I also revised my safety situation while you typed that.

we are right up there cap wise, not the highest and we will be under.

Teams like Dallas are going to be in trouble (who are over by a lot).

Webster is another guy I would look at trying to rework/extend the deal of, his cap number is huge.

Maybe if we did that we could bring in a decent MLB as well.

A couple things I like here.
Vonta Leach would certainly be an upgrade.
That would also allow us to put Pascoe back to his traditional role at TE, which I think he could be decent at.

I think the Giants still need to re-sign Boss simply because we don't know exactly how good Pascoe can be.

Travis Beckum is more of a utility receiver than anything else. It doesn't ease my mind if he is our number two tight end and blocking linebackers and lineman.

Signing Marion Barber would be nice. I like how your trying to get more of a power running game Pete. Barber doesn't go down easy and can wear down defenses when it matters. Barber's playing style reminds me a lot of Bradshaw's but would hopefuly come at a much cheaper price.

Poz would be a nice upgrade at LBer but can we afford to sign him will be the big question.

We could afford to sign Pos if we make consesions elsewhere, Shawn Andrews is a good start.

I am not sure Boss I will be back, it will depend on $$. I wouldn't disregard Pascoe though and we could also use more three WR sets, we certainly have the ammunition.

While Boss is a well rounded player and definitely a perfect fit for our offense he isnt a game changer so he shouldn't be high on the priority list. If we have the shot at bringing in a game changer I think Boss is definitely expendable.

I think we have to sign a top LB in FA. We have to make the money to do it.

Pizan wrote:While Boss is a well rounded player and definitely a perfect fit for our offense he isnt a game changer so he shouldn't be high on the priority list. If we have the shot at bringing in a game changer I think Boss is definitely expendable.

I think we have to sign a top LB in FA. We have to make the money to do it.

Also Boss did regress somewhat last year. I think he will get a decent contract somewhere. Also we will resign him if he is cheap.

I agree with Pizan, we have to create cap room for a LB