Plan B at Linebacker?

By Die Hard - InReeseWeTrust.blogspot.com 7/3/09

Going into the summer of redemption as I would like to call it, the New York Giants might be in desperate need of a backup plan if Michael Boley's injury is as bad as it sounds. Boley has a torn labrum and needs hip surgery that will force him out of action for a minimum of 8-10 weeks. The newly signed Boley, has only practiced with the defense during the one week of mini camp so he will almost definitely need training camp to develop along with the other newcomers of the defense. Unfortunately, Boley will be unable to participate in any practices until the earliest late August or early September. Do the Giants want to go into the 2009 season with Danny Clark and Chase Blackburn as the starting linebackers alongside Antonio Pierce? The only way for the newly stacked defensive line to be the force that we hope it will be, is with a linebacking core that can back them up.

In my opinion, the Giants must sign a linebacker as insurance to protect themselves against Boley's injury being worse than we thought. There is only one free agent that can come right in and fill the Gants need without having the Giants lose a step, Derrick Brooks! The lifetime Tampa Bay Buccaneer, is an 11 time Pro-bowler, a 6 time All-Pro and one of the best defensive leaders over the last decade in the NFL. The one issue that everyone will have with signing Brooks, is his age. However, I think the Giants only need Brooks to be a 2-down linebacker, with Kiwanuka waiting in the wings to come in on 3rd down to rush the passer at linebacker. Not only is Brooks one of the top linebackers over the past ten years, but he also is one of the smartest. Just to have Brooks in training camp to help mentor and develop the Giants young linebackers such as Clint Sintim, Jonathan Goff and Bryan Kehl would be a huge plus. Hopefully the Giants have a plan up their sleeves and I hope Derrick Brooks is the answer.