Now there are two key players missing -- Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, who suffered a torn meniscus cartilage in Preseason Game 3 against the New York Jets and was placed on Injured Reserve, rendering him out for the season.

A feeler was extended to Strahan, but after a day of consideration -- "running a million scenarios around in my head," he said -- the decision was to stay retired despite an offer of allegedly $6 million for the season.

So now the defense, which is still among the NFL's best, will have to be revamped. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo began weaving another set of intricate machinations with the move back to end of strong-side linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, who had been drafted in the first round of 2006 as an end but who was shifted to linebacker in the spring of 2007.

Now it's Kiwi and Justin Tuck on the ends, Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins at the tackles, Danny Clark (signed during the UFA period) at strong-side linebacker and Gerris Wilkinson, who had been embroiled in a close contest with Clark on the other side, at weak side.

The net result? Five key defensive players from the Super Bowl season are gone - Strahan, Umenyiora, free safety Gibril Wilson (to Oakland), weak-side linebacker Kawika Mitchell (to Buffalo) and strong-side linebacker Reggie Torbor, who filled in for the final 10 games when Kiwi was injured on Nov. 18 ) to Miami).

"Injuries are part of this game," Spagnuolo says. "The key is whether you have the players to step up and take over a vacancy. I think we do. It will take some work and some time but I think we'll be okay."

Offensively, Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey is gone, traded to New Orleans after an off-season of discontent. This "addition by subtraction" might make quarterback Eli Manning more relaxed, and when he began the storybook drive to the playoffs -- winning four road games to capture the Super Bowl -- he had emerged as a leader, and he did so without Shockey, who missed the final two games of the season and all four playoff games with a broken leg.

The Giants' powerful running game will be run by committee -- Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward, in that order. The offensive line is intact, although there are signs of increasing concern involving left tackle David Diehl, who doesn't have quick enough feet for the position and is prone to surrendering sacks. He gave up 13.5 last year and 3.5 in the first three games of this preseason schedule.

A slow-footed left tackle and a lean, lanky quarterback is sometimes the Devil's brew, and without Manning on the field, the Giants' depth at the position is horrifically shallow.

A repeat of the Super Bowl title is not likely but with proper adjustments and big seasons from a few unexpected players, the Giants should make it back to the playoffs.

COACHING: Tom Coughlin, 13th year, fifth with Giants (103-89 overall)

REMEMERING: 2007 regular season record 10-6 (2nd in NFC East); went 4-0 in playoffs, including victory in Super Bowl.

PREDICTING: 2008 regular season record: 10-6 (2nd in NFC East; lose in second round of playoffs).