Land of the Giants: Hagan keeps hanging on

Here is your Thursday morning roundup of news and opinion regarding our New York Giants.

• Derek Hagan apparently continued his spectacular pre-season Wednesday with a tremendous catch to end practice. Tom Rock also has some good news on defensive tackle Chris Canty and linebacker Michael Boley. When it comes to Hagan, I just don't know how the Giants will justify it if they end up cutting him. 
• Mike Garafolo has a lot more on the Canty's condition.

"I felt pretty good moving around a little bit today, so hopefully we can build on that and continue to move forward," Canty said, though he admitted the big test will be Thursday morning. "You want to see how it feels -- if it's sore in the morning. But I'm not anticipating that. I'm thinking only the best and hopefully we'll be able to build off today."

Canty said he's "very hopeful" he'll be out there in Week 1. That's obviously the big goal for his return, but Canty realizes he's missing valuable time right now, especially since he's making the transition to a 4-3 defense (at tackle) after playing the last nine seasons in a 3-4 (at end) with the Cowboys and in college at Virginia.

"I got a few practices there in the beginning, but I really need some work on it to be where I want to be, to be where this ball club wants me to be in order to be able to contribute," Canty said, later adding this about the switch to a 4-3: "It's a completely new defense. It's the first time I've had to learn a new defense in nine years -- since high school. I've been playing 3-4 for the last decade. So playing a 4-3 is a little bit different so far as the philosophy, terminology and techniques. It's an adjustment, but at the end of the day football is football and I'm a football player."

• We keep talking about the Giants' offensive line depth. Well, Jason La Canfora of NFL.com lists Mark Tauscher and Levi Jones as currently available free agent offensive tackles who might be worth a look. 

Tauscher is coming off surgery, but is cleared to play and brings a pedigree of steady and heady play from his time in Green Bay. Jones’ attitude has come into question in the past, but when he’s on, he is good. Both of these players would be an upgrade for several teams over what they have at that position right now.

• In a separate post, LaCanfora mentions that Giants' linebacker Gerris Wilkinson could draw interest from several teams if the Giants were to decide he isn't in their plans. Wilkinson has spent some time this pre-season working at middle linebacker, increasing his versatility.
• Speaking of roster spots, David Tyree knows his chances are running out. The Baltimore Sun wonders if Tyree would be a fit with the receiver-needy Ravens.
• Peter King does not list Giants' linebacker Clint Sintim among the 10 most impressive rookies of the pre-season. No matter. When all is said and done, Sintim's pass-rushing skills and athleticism will likely have him among the league's top 10 most productive rookies. I have said it before, but Danny Clark won't have his starting job for long.