T Stacy Andrews – The veteran tackle is in a tricky spot, still recovering from Deep Vein Thrombosis – dangerous blood clots that travelled from his legs to his lungs. He returned to New York this week for a checkup and his agent, Rich Moran, said he’s doing very well, the blood clots are completely gone, he’s been working out and wants to keep playing. The Giants are monitoring his health and bringing him back at some point seems likely if he’s back to full strength.
DT Rocky Bernard – The Giants cut him last summer, then re-signed him six days later when he finally agreed to a pay cut. He played well but he’s a soon-to-be 33-year-old reserve and he’s about to be pushed out of a job by Marvin Austin, the Giants’ second-round pick in 2011 who missed last year with a torn pec.
LB Chase Blackburn –As much as he solidified the linebacking corps and had the big interception in the Super Bowl, the Giants still view him the same way as they did last year when they didn’t sign him until midseason. He’s a depth player and they’d prefer to give their young linebackers a chance. If they bring in a veteran it’ll probably be someone else.
PR/DB Will Blackmon – The Giants seem to like him and he wouldn’t be expensive. Could be a minimum-deal option, especially if they’re not sure about Hixon’s ability to be their primary returner.
QB David Carr – The Giants have been in touch with his agent and they’d like him back. But the bigger question is: What does Carr want to do? Two years ago he decided to go somewhere he’d have a better shot to play, but things never really worked out in San Francisco. He’s 32 now and hasn’t started a game since 2007. If he’s accepted his lot in the NFL as a backup, he’d be welcome to stay. But who could blame him if he looked around for a spot behind a shakier starter? Sounds like he’s going to at least look around.
WR Michael Clayton – The coaching staff really likes him and he was a big help on special teams. But he’s approaching 30, coming off a torn meniscus in his knee in November, and the Giants seem committed to giving their younger receivers a try.
CB Michael Coe – He could be brought back to add depth to the defensive backfield and special teams help. It could depend on his recovery from his shoulder injury and whether the Giants choose to bring back Justin Tryon instead. My guess is Tryon would be ahead of him on the priority list.
LB Jonathan Goff – It sounds like the Giants want him back, but it all depends on the price he’s willing to accept. He may have been in line for a big deal, but the ACL diminishes his value. He’d probably have to take a short, prove-it type deal like LB Mathias Kiwanuka did last year – though much smaller than the two years, $8.6 million Kiwanuka got. I’m going to be honest: I don’t really have a good read on his situation. It helps him that the Giants don’t have much cap space to look elsewhere for an MLB.
S Deon Grant – He’s a smart veteran leader who can still produce in the right role, so it’s certainly conceivable the Giants would bring him back for a year. He’ll be 33 in a few days, though, and the business of the NFL is rough for the post-30 crowd, especially since the Giants like what safety Tyler Sash did in his rookie year.
DT Jimmy Kennedy – His brief year in his hometown included a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and a near-permanent spot on the game-day inactive list. He won’t be re-signed.
WR Mario Manningham – For all his talk of a 25-50% chance that he could return to the Giants, you might as well put the number close to zero. He wants a big-money, $7-8 million-per-year deal and the Giants don’t have the cap room for that. Even if they did, the reality is that the Super Bowl hero is their third receiver and you can’t give a third receiver that much. He’s gone. And probably to Tampa Bay.
S Derrick Martin – He’s a good special teams player (penalties aside), and that increases his value to the Giants. If he returns, it’ll likely be a small, one-year deal later on in free agency.
T Kareem McKenzie – As the Bergen Record reported earlier this week, the veteran lineman has already been told he won’t be coming back. He’s about to be 33 and not coming off his finest season, so that’s no surprise.
TE/FB Bear Pascoe (Restricted free agent) – I think he’ll get a tender offer from the Giants because he’s a valuable blocker and they don’t have many other tight ends. Keep in mind, though, even the lowest RFA tender is $1.26 million.
CB Aaron Ross – His agent has had some talks with the Giants about a new deal, but they don’t agree on his value and as of one week ago they expected he’d hit free agency on March 13. That may have changed, though, because the Giants are having more difficulty than they expected re-signing Terrell Thomas, whom they preferred to bring back. I’m working on more info on this, but I still think Ross re-signing before 4 p.m. Tuesday is a bit of a longshot. But who knows what his market value will be if he hits free agency? I can’t rule out a return for less money. Then again, the Giants have Corey Webster locked up long term and a first-round pick (Prince Amukamara) ready to take over for Ross. They liked what they saw of Amukamara last year.
KR/WR Devin Thomas – It probably depends on the price, but I get the feeling the former second-round pick would prefer going someplace where he’ll have a better opportunity to play receiver. With Manningham leaving, it’s worth noting that Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese hyped Jerrel Jernigan and Ramses Barden as possible replacements. Jernigan and RB Da’Rel Scott could also replace him on returns.
CB Terrell Thomas – As I mentioned over the weekend, I’m no longer sure which way this is going. A week ago I would’ve told you he was a lock to re-sign. Now I think it’s at least possible that he hits free agency (I get closer and closer to saying “probable” every time I get more information, but I’m not there yet). The two sides are talking, but so far they don’t have a match on price or length of the deal. That could change in an instant, but in an interview I did with him for a story in Sunday’s Daily News, he sometimes sounded like hitting the market was inevitable. I don’t want to read too much into his words and tone. All I’m saying is I’m not as convinced that he’ll be re-signed in the next few days as I once was.
DE Dave Tollefson -- Due to the way his contract was restructured, the Giants can’t re-sign him until after he hits free agency. Even though they consider him a valuable reserve, that could be problematic because Tollefson is going to look around and see if anyone views him as a starter or someone farther up the rotation. He’s a high-energy player who had five sacks last year. Someone else might give him some money and a chance.
DB Justin Tryon – The Giants felt like they got a steal when they picked him up after the Colts released him last season, and the coaches were beginning to rave about him before he broke his arm. They’ve expressed an interest in bringing him back, and they probably will at some point.
T Tony Ugoh – He could return as depth along the offensive line, though it’s likely either him or Stacy Andrews, probably not both.
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