Giants release Michael Boley, leaving questions at linebacker

Last offseason, the Giants traded with the Bengals to acquire Keith Rivers (#55, bottom), a former first round pick. He's young and athletic and should be a full-time starter this season for the Giants - that is, if they are able to re-sign him. He is about to hit the open market. If they don't re-sign him, then that trade will have been a waste.Once an undrafted free agent, Chase Blackburn (#93) finds himself for the first time in his career in a position of advantage. he now has a full season's worth of a body of work to show the rest of the NFL that he is a capable middle linebacker, and the Giants may have competition to re-sign him.The New York Giants released linebacker Michael Boley today, opening up a hole in the middle of their defense. The linebacking unit that looked like a strength entering the season already needs to be rebuilt.View the list »
Michael Boley

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The New York Giants have announced today that they have released veteran linebacker Michael Boley. The eight year veteran has spent the last four seasons with the Giants after beginning his career with the Atlanta Falcons. He was instrumental in helping the Giants reach Super Bowl XLVI, a game in which he led the team in tackles.

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But Boley was slowed by injury this past season, despite recording an interception in each of the team’s first three games. He saw his snap count drastically reduced in the last two games of the season as the Giants missed the playoffs.

According to ESPN New York writer Ohm Youngmisuk, Boley was scheduled to make $4.25 million in base salary next season, which was certainly a prime reason for the team parting ways with him. Boley, who will turn 31 next season, still has a lot left in the tank, but perhaps it was not enough to justify the salary cap hit.

With Michael Boley now out of the picture and other key players scheduled to hit free agency, what might the Giants’ linebacking unit look like next season? Here is a list of options.

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  • The New York Giants released linebacker Michael Boley today, opening up a hole in the middle of their defense. The linebacking unit that looked like a strength entering the season already needs to be rebuilt.
  • Once an undrafted free agent, Chase Blackburn (#93) finds himself for the first time in his career in a position of advantage. he now has a full season's worth of a body of work to show the rest of the NFL that he is a capable middle linebacker, and the Giants may have competition to re-sign him.
  • Last offseason, the Giants traded with the Bengals to acquire Keith Rivers (#55, bottom), a former first round pick. He's young and athletic and should be a full-time starter this season for the Giants - that is, if they are able to re-sign him. He is about to hit the open market. If they don't re-sign him, then that trade will have been a waste.
  • Mathias Kiwanuka, a former first round draft pick of the team as a defensive end, has flirted with the linebacker position for the past couple of seasons. He played quite a bit on the defensive line in certain situations during the season, however, and that may only increase if the Giants so not re-sign Osi Umenyiora.
  • Jacquian Williams will be entering his third season with the Giants after being drafted in the sixth round in 2011. The team likes his speed and coverage ability as an outside linebacker in their system, and has even come on the field in the dime package. If he can stay healthy, he could have a starting spot in 2013.
  • Mark Herzlich was once regarded as a surefire first round pick coming out of college, but after a battle with cancer, went undrafted. In two seasons, Herzlich has yet to supplant Chase Blackburn as the middle linebacker, who has clearly been the better player. Blackburn is a free agent; are the Giants willing to turn the defense over to Herzlich in his third season?
  • Spencer Paysinger has been a special teams ace for the past two seasons for the Giants, and he saw some time on defense late in the season last year. Do the Giants have a bigger plan for him in 2013? Can he be a quality starter, or at least a sub-package performer?
  • With the Giants close to the salary cap as it is (hence the release of Michael Boley), the team will not turn to free agency to address their linebacking situation. But it is possible that they could draft a linebacker in the first round. The Giants went offense with their first two picks last time, so it may be the defense's turn anyway. They drafted cornerback Prince Amukamara and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in back to back years before 2012. Might Manti Te'o find himself in blue?
View the list

, Newark Football Examiner

Having grown up in New Jersey, Matt has naturally been around Giants and Jets football his entire life. But at a young age, he also found an affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as he got older, his fondness for the game itself grew beyond rooting for certain teams. Although the NFL season...

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