The subject came up when Reese was questioned about the team's deep supply of wide receivers, more than enough to go around, probably more than can be kept, and yet some of them far too good to simply cut loose.

"We had that problem last year with the running backs," he said. "We knew we were going to keep Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Reuben Droughns. The rookie (Ahmad Bradshaw) gave us a lot of speed and flash and he seemed to be consistent. So there just wasn't room for Ryan Grant."

Rather than cutting Grant, however, the Giants managed a low-level trade for him to Green Bay, getting a sixth-round draft pick in return. When injuries took their toll, the Packers turned to Grant, who had been an undrafted free-agent signee by the Giants out of Notre Dame. He became a star, gaining nearly 1,000 yards in eight games.

So now the wide receivers are all knocking on the door. For the record, they are starters Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, followed (in general order) by Steve Smith, Domenic Hixon, Brandon London, Sinorice Moss, Michael Jennings, rookie Mario Manningham, Craphonso Thorpe and one of the heroes of the Super Bowl victory, David Tyree.

Tyree is currently on the PUP list (knee surgery) and he may stay there when final cuts are done, which means he's looking at six weeks of inactivity followed by three weeks of being allowed to practice before the Giants have to make a decision. That decision could be to leave him there for the season, to activate him or to waive him as injured.

But there are still way too many, and Reese is more than peripherally aware of the problem.

"There is still a way to go in the preseason and anything (such as injuries) can happen," he says. "I am convinced that we will keep the best players, and that includes the best wide receivers. Who they will be, and how many of them we keep, is still to be decided."

Burress' foot and ankle have not allowed him to practice yet. Toomer is 34 years old. Manningham is battling a mysteriously long and drawn-out quad strain. Moss has shown signs of snapping out of his two-year comatose condition but nothing is etched in stone yet.

So Reese waits, counts his wide receivers and puts off a decision.

CAMP CALENDAR: The Giants broke camp Aug. 17, one day before their second preseason game of the summer, a Monday-nighter at home vs. Cleveland. Future "training camp" practices will be held at Giants Stadium.