But that caused the management and personnel departments to begin eyeing the veteran free agent lists, to concentrate on the draft and to self-critique their own roster in order to maintain at least the level of excellence that propelled them to a 13-3 record (and an 11-1 start to the season).

Much of the decision-making will involve WR Plaxico Burress -- as in will he or won't he return, will he or won't he be in prison, and will he or won't he be adequately replaced? "Nothing can be done until we learn the legal ramifications and what happens to him there," says general manager Jerry Reese. Burress has a March 31 court date in New York City, more than a month after the UFA period begins.

Another veteran receiver will be crucial, especially since the 34-year-old Amani Toomer's contract has expired. There has been talk of interest in Cincinnati's Chad Johnson ("Ocho Cinco") but no one will comment.

As to the draft, and depending on how many first round picks the Giants have (they could acquire the Saints pick via a complicated process involving the New Orleans acquisition of MLB Jonathan Vilma from the Jets), their first choices almost have to be a WR and a LB, unless one of the few quality OLTs appears.

It would be difficult to replace the 6-6, 225-pound Burress but if he isn't there the Giants must move on without him and find some sort of new "go to" guy.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Eli Manning. Backup -- David Carr.

Manning is the starter without question. He is soon going to sign a new contract, reportedly calling for $110 million-120 million for an eight-year period. Having completed his fifth season with the Giants, his resume shows one Super Bowl victory and four total playoff appearances. He is, on the other hand, still a work in progress, and there is definitely an upside to his projected future. He has shown clear improvement in each of his previous seasons. Carr was signed to a one-year contract in order to assess his talents. The former first overall pick in 2002 (two years before Eli Manning) had limited exposure in games but did enough to display his natural talents. "He has a fine skill set," general manager Jerry Reese said. It is thought that Carr still harbors hopes of being a starter, which means he'll have to move on.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- Brandon Jacobs, FB Madison Hedgecock. Backups -- Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, Reuben Droughns, Kay-Jay Harris.

Jacobs, the 6-4, 265-pound star, gained 1,089 yards in 2008, teaming with Ward, his replacement, who added 1,025. It was only the third instance of two RBs going over 1,000 yards in NFL history. One will probably not be on the team next season, as both are UFA eligible and both would insist on starter salary. The Giants will almost certainly not be able to afford both of them. Bradshaw is an elusive, quick runner with enough power to propel him through a single seam and the speed to turn it into a big play. He also is valuable on special teams as a kick and punt returner. Hedgecock earned second-tier Pro Bowl honors as a blocking fullback who gets little or no running or receiving opportunities. If Ward is the one to sign on elsewhere, Ware should be his replacement. Droughns is probably on his way to retirement, and Harris, on injured reserve all season, has an outside chance.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Kevin Boss. Backups -- Michael Matthews, Darcy Johnson, Martrez Milner.

Boss, who is 6-5 and 260, finished his second season as the indisputable starter with good downfield speed and ever-improving blocking skills. He'll remain the starter unless a veteran is acquired. Matthews is a strong blocker, better than Johnson, who on the other hand is a slightly better receiver. Milner spent the season on the practice squad and is likely training camp fodder.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Amani Toomer, Domenik Hixon. Backups -- Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, Taye Biddle, Paul Raymond, Micah Rucker, David Tyree, Derek Hagan, Plaxico Burress.

The loss of Burress (he's facing charges for carrying a concealed, loaded handgun with which he shot himself in the thigh), who spent the last four games suspended and on the non-football injury list, hurt the offense significantly. He is 6-6, 225 with great speed and hands and caused defenses to double-cover him, or at least assign a "man and a half" to keep him in check. Hixon has speed, not great hands or concentration, and he was not a satisfactory replacement. Toomer is a 12-year veteran who is a FA and has not heard a word from the team, so he is likely gone. Smith is the third man in, a possession-type receiver who is useful but not spectacular. Moss is generally regarded as a second-round failure. Manningham didn't have much impact as a rookie. Biddle, Raymond and Rucker were on the practice squad. Tyree, one of the heroes of Super Bowl XLII, underwent knee surgery in March and spent the season on injured reserve, perhaps intentionally because it would have been a publicity disaster to release him so soon.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT David Diehl, LG Rich Seubert, C Shaun O'Hara, RG Chris Snee, RT Kareem McKenzie. Backups -- Guy Whimper, Grey Ruegamer, Kevin Boothe, Adam Koets, Mike Fladell, Cliff Louis.

The starting five was generally acknowledged as the best unit in the NFL, and despite a slight letdown in the NFC divisional playoff loss to Philadelphia, the unit lived up to that billing. There are no age problems on the starting unit, but it is possible that Diehl will be moved to left guard with Seubert taking the bench, if a likely left tackle replacement can be found. That would probably mean through the UFA lists, as it is unlikely the team will find a left tackle with instant starting ability in the draft. Snee was selected a starter for the Pro Bowl, while O'Hara made the roster. McKenzie was troubled with back spasms most of the season. Boothe filled in for him when necessary with mixed results. Whimper has not yet shown the skills the team expected of him. Ruegamer is a proven veteran with consistency. Koets may be on his last chance. Fladell and Louis have the size that warranted keeping them on the practice squad.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- DE Justin Tuck, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, DT Barry Cofield, DT Fred Robbins. Backups -- DE Osi Umenyiora, DT Jay Alford, DE Dave Tollefson, DE Jerome McDougle, DE Jeremy Clark, DT Leger Douzable, DE Renaldo Wynn, DE Robert Henderson.

The D-line lost veteran Michael Strahan to retirement and Pro Bowler Umenyiora to a preseason knee injury. That forced a return to defensive end for Kiwanuka, who had been moved to strongside linebacker the previous season. Cofield and Robbins did well, although Robbins is going to be 32 in March and has a weight problem. Tuck earned Pro Bowl starter honors and led the team in sacks. Alford is a reliable backup who could challenge for a starting spot in training camp. Tollefson is a situational pass rusher who has had some success. McDougle, Clark and Douzable are journeymen at best. Henderson was a rookie (sixth round) who spent the season on injured reserve.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- MLB Antonio Pierce, SLB Danny Clark, WLB Chase Blackburn. Backups -- SLB Zak DeOssie, WLB Bryan Kehl, MLB Rich Scanlon, WLB Gerris Wilkinson, WLB Jonathan Goff.

Depth is a problem here. Pierce has shown signs of age, rather abruptly, and his involvement in the Burress incident (he was there and reportedly attempted to cover it up) seemed to take its toll on his concentration. Clark was signed during the UFA period and performed well. Blackburn, thought to be a middle linebacker, was used at weakside linebacker when Kehl, Wilkinson and Goff all suffered injuries. It is possible that Blackburn will be put into the middle 'backer spot next season. Scanlon was a late-season signee. DeOssie, in his second season, is the long snapper and may yet earn more playing time.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Aaron Ross, RCB Corey Webster, SS James Butler, FS Michael Johnson. Backups -- SS Kenny Phillips, CB Kevin Dockery, CB Terrell Thomas, CB Sam Madison, CB/S R.W. McQuarters, CB Rashard Barksdale, CB Travonti Johnson.

Ross and Webster are young enough to be around for a long time. Ross was a first-round pick, Webster a second-rounder, and both have exhibited sufficient skills and savvy. Both seem capable of being cover corners. Butler was a rookie FA who blossomed but now will join the UFA list and might sign elsewhere. Phillips, a first-round pick in 2008, would be his replacement. Michael Johnson has continued to improve after being a seven-round pick in 2007. He will continue to start. Thomas was a second-rounder in 2008 and played well after learning the system. He will be the first nickel back next season. Dockery is a reliable reserve at both corners and contributes heavily on special teams. Madison and McQuarters were signed as aging veterans and they helped some, but it might be the end of the line. It almost certainly is for Madison, who suffered a fractured ankle in the final game of the regular season in Minnesota. Barksdale and Travonti Johnson are extremely limited and might not make it out of training camp.

SPECIAL TEAMS: P Jeff Feagles, K John Carney, KC Jay Alford, PC Zak DeOssie, KR Ahmad Bradshaw, PR R.W. McQuarters. Backups -- K Lawrence Tynes, KR
Domenik Hixon, KC Shaun O'Hara, KC Grey Ruegamer.

Feagles and Carney both made it to the Pro Bowl, perhaps the oldest pair from one team in the history of that post-post-season game. Feagles will return, Carney might not. Carney was signed as a replacement for Tynes (knee) on cutdown day and responded with a brilliant season, but at 44, he began to lose leg power later in the season and missed two field goals in the playoff loss. The return specialists are constantly in a state of flux. It is speculative whether Tynes will return, although he signed a five-year contract after the 2007 season.