The Giants didn't add a center in the draft and have yet to decide whether to re-sign free agent veteran Grey Ruegamer. The next best thing, according to offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, is to see whether Seubert can make the transition. But in the back of his mind looms an even more possible center, reserve tackle Adam Koets.

"He's the guy we'd like to see handle the job in the OTA periods and in training camp," Flaherty said. "He's going to get a lot of work."

That would be perfect, since moving Seubert into O'Hara's position should an injury occur would mean two new players on the line, Seubert at center and whoever replaces him at guard. If Koets can do it, he can simply be plugged in.

The Giants don't seem as anxious to find a new left tackle as their fans and the media, all of whom still feel that David Diehl, the starter, would become a Pro Bowl guard if he was switched. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder has played guard during his six seasons with the team as a fifth-round draft pick via Illinois. In fact, he has played both guard positions as well as both tackle spots.

"I'm a left tackle," he insists. "That is where I am most comfortable and that is where the coaches seem to want me to be. If they tell me I have to move somewhere else, fine. I'll do whatever they say. But if it's because I get beat by some of the really fast pass rushing defensive ends in the league (DeMarcus Ware of Dallas, Andre Carter of Washington, Dwight Freeney of Indianapolis), I wish those people would tell me which left tackles don't have trouble with guys like that."

--One of the free agents signed by the Giants, DE Maurice Evans of Penn State, has attracted the attention of defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan and position coach Mike Waufle.

"He looks different from the average guy," Sheridan said. "He seems to know more about how to play the game, and he had a very good (two-day) camp."

Evans had 12.5 sacks as a sophomore, then missed some games last season and was suspended for three others by coach Joe Paterno, which caused him to opt out of his senior season and make himself eligible for the draft. It wasn't totally successful -- he didn't get drafted -- but he has a strong chance to make the roster.

--WR Hakeem Nicks, the Giants' first-round pick (North Carolina), and Ramses Barden, the first of two third-round picks (Cal Poly), were spectacular in the rookie camp. Neither dropped a single pass in the two-day drills and both showed good speed, natural moves and toughness. Hicks is 6-feet-1, 210, while Barden, whose father played basketball at NYU before moving to California, is 6-6, 230.

--Sheridan was impressed with SLB Clint Sintim, the 6-3, 245-pounder drafted from Virginia in the second round. "He has a natural pass-rusher's skill set," he said. "He is going to do just fine playing over the tight end and I think he can cause a lot of havoc during a game." Sintim played for former Giants defensive coordinator Al Groh, who he said, "helped me prepare for the NFL," and he thinks the Cavalier's 3-4 defense was another key factor. "I know that formation and I can always get into the 4-3," he added.

--There is still no word on whether WR Amani Toomer and CB-S R.W. McQuarters will be re-signed. Both are UFAs who have not received any offers, and while both might add to the team's depth and with on-field coaching assistance, they are probably "too expensive" to re-sign, since both (especially Toomer) would probably balk at the veteran minimum salary.

--QB Eli Manning and his wife, Abby, have donated "an undisclosed amount" to kick off the $10 million drive for the establishing of the new St. Vincent's Hospital birthing center, which will now be called the Abby and Eli Manning Birth Center. It will be constructed in Manhattan, and Eli said: "I am happy to be giving something back to the community. Both Abby and I feel strongly about this and while we aren't ready yet, we do hope to start a family in the near future."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The closest thing we ever did as a team in Houston (with the Texans) was go to practice. This is exciting and I can't wait. I knew the team atmosphere here and it was one of the main reasons I decided to sign with the Giants." -- SS-FS C.C. Brown on his impending "paint ball shootout" with members of the Giants.