As the clock ticks toward the bewitching hour, the 12:01 a.m. beginning of free agency, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News has a breakdown of what is likely to happen with the four key unrestricted Giants' free agents.
Paraphrased from Vacchiano, it breaks down like this.
• Gibril Wilson -- Gone. Wants way more than the Giants are willing to pay and has suitors.
• Kawika Mitchell -- The Giants are still trying with the veteran linebacker, but he is likely to hit the market.
• Reggie Torbor -- Gone. There is no guarantee of consistent playing time in New York for him. He'll go someplace where he knows he will start.
• Derrick Ward -- Gone. Thinks he can get better money elsewhere, and the Giants won't bid for a guy who would be their No. 3 tailback.
As I've said before, the only one that hurts me out of this group is Wilson. There are no replacements for him on the roster, and few quality safeties on the market. Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger says Cincinnati's Madieu Williams, or the Jets' Erik Coleman would top the list of potential replacements.
As for the linebacker situation, even if both Mitchell and Torbor leave I'm not worried about it. Mathias Kiwanuka was progressing well in his transition to linebacker, and all Gerris Wilkinson needs to blossom is an opportunity to play full time. There is also, of course, the draft.
ESPN speculates today that the Giants might chase restricted free agent Michael Boley of Atlanta if they lose both players.
ESPN had this to say about Boley, who just completed his third season.
Whether he fits or not, the fact that Boley is an RFA seems to make it unlikely he would become a Giant.
Ernie Palladino of the Journal News had reported previously that the Giants have about $20 million in cap space. Newsday reports, though, that GM Jerry Reese is not expecting to be a major player in the free agent market, pretty much the status quo from last season.