A Giant collapse? Not uh

I'll admit it. When the news first broke that the New York Giants had released LaVar Arrington and Luke Petitgout yesterday, I was shocked, stunned, and, quite frankly, appalled. How can the Giants seriously cut Arrington, a 28-year old linebacker whom New York gave a seven-year, $49 million incentive-laden contract last April, and Petitgout, a 30-year old tackle who has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Giants? Bad moves? They would seem to be at first glance, but when one looks at the big picture, their opinion instantly changes.

The Giants not only released Arrington and Petigout, but also Carlos Emmons and Chad Morton. Emmons, a 33-year old linebacker, was as sturdy as a piece of paper and, although he had his moments with New York, is no longer capable of playing a full-time role. Morton, a 29-year old halfback used as a kick returner, used to be a great return man with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins, but his production dipped tremendously since becoming a member of Big Blue. What is the point here? These cuts gave the Giants around $25 million in cap space when combined with the retirement of Tiki Barber.

So what does New York do next? Simple. They go after the biggest names on the free agent market, such as Lance Briggs, Adalius Thomas, Nate Clements, and Asante Samuel. When the Giants signed Plaxico Burress, Antonio Pierce, Kareem McKenzie, and Jay Feely during the 2005 off-season, they had only $9 million of cap room to work with. Imagine what they can do with in between $25-30 million? I can see the G-Men picking up at least two of these commodities. Briggs will most likely be their primary target at linebacker, and Clements at cornerback. However, Thomas and Samuel aren't slouches themselves.

New general manager Jerry Reese knows exactly what he is doing. With the recent news that Arrington is contemplating retirement due to a slew of injuries over the past several years, any other GM would have done the same thing. Petitgout's injury was also more severe than originally anticipated, as even when his leg was fully healed late in the season, he still could not take the field. All Reese did was get rid of two injury-plagued players (who are most likely past their prime) to free up millions of dollars in cap space to sign younger, more talented names.

There are also rumors coming out of New York that Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin are considering starting Mathias Kiwanuka at linebacker next season. The 23-year old Kiwanuka, New York's first-round draft pick last year, tallied 53 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles as a defensive end in the 2006-2007 campaign. "Kiwi," as he is called, did not even start the entire season, as he began the year behind Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora on the depth chart. Then, when both Strahan and Umenyiora went down, Kiwanuka got his chance to showcase his skills, and he did so in a very big way. He certainly has the speed and the talent to play linebacker, and his close-to-6'7" frame will allow him to bat down many passes.

To cover the vacancy at left tackle, the Giants will either sign a free agent or go with second-year man Guy Whimper, who, although he didn't make a single appearance on the offensive line last year, is extremely talented. The big-name free agent that New York may look at to fill the void left by Petigout is massive Leonard Davis, a 6'6", 370-pound behemoth who has spent all six of his NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Davis would team up with McKenzie to form the biggest, and one of the best, tackle combos in the National Football League.

So, here is a breakdown of Big Blue's potential free agent targets, listed in order of importance to the Giants:

1. Lance Briggs, OLB- The 26-year old Briggs has already developed into one of the best linebackers in the league. Last season, he posted 130 tackles, two interceptions and forced four fumbles en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. He will be New York's primary target in free agency this off-season, and although he will command a hefty price tag, Reese will be willing to dish out the cash. Still, there remains the possibility that he will be franchise-tagged by the Chicago Bears.

2. Adalius Thomas, OLB- Thomas, 29, is one of the most versatile defensive players in the NFL. He can play linebacker, defensive end, and even safety on occasion. The 270-pounder recorded 83 tackles and 11 sacks last season. He is one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the business and would form a formidable attack with Strahan, Umenyiora, Kiwanuka, and Fred Robbins in terms of attacking the quarterback. If the Giants aren't able to get their hands on Briggs, expect them to turn their attention to Thomas, although he may be franchise-tagged by the Baltimore Ravens.

3. Nate Clements, CB- Clements is a game-changing cornerback. At the ripe age of 27, he has already stamped his name among the best corners in the National Football League. Clements racked up 70 tackles and three picks last season and also forced and recovered two fumbles to boot. He once forced five fumbles in a season, and in that same year, logged six interceptions and 73 tackles. His career high in stops is 99, and he has amassed five defensive touchdowns in his six-year career. Clements is the best cornerback on the market and will not be franchised by the Buffalo Bills.

4. Asante Samuel, CB- Some reports stated that Samuel would definitely be franchised by the New England Patriots, but those reports are now being conflicted by others that say New England will use their franchise tag on tight end Daniel Graham. If that's the case, then expect the 26-year old Samuel to be one of the most sought after free agents in recent memory. He intercepted 10 passes during the regular season last year and two in the post-season, both for touchdowns. He also totaled 64 tackles and defended 14 passes. Samuel really showcased his talent in the playoffs this season, deflecting virtually any ball that came his way.

5. Leonard Davis, T- As I said before, the guy is huge. Although Davis hasn't lived up to expectations, due much in part to his laziness and lack of work ethic, he will still be a highly targeted free agent in the off-season. His sheer size provides a wall for the quarterback to throw behind, and he is probably the strongest player in the NFL. The 28-year old Davis is a top five tackle in the league when he is at the top of his game, and I can't see him being lazy under Coughlin. Expect the Giants to make a run at him, although the four players above will probably command more attention.