It comes as a bit of a surprise as the team signed veteran free agent Dan Connor to compete -- and many believe -- take the job after Michael Boley was released and the team opted not to re-sign Chase Blackburn.

In related linebacking news, Herzlich was flanked by Spencer Paysinger and Keith Rivers, not Jacquian Williams.

And for a team that did not make the playoffs in 2012, there are a plethora of storylines as new faces and veterans in need to reviving their image return to the field.

1. The health of Hakeem Nicks

FBO calls the current starting trio -- Dan Connor, Keith Rivers and Jacquian Williams -- a patchwork unit, which is the M.O. for Giants general manager Jerry Reese.

"For a team with such a rich a history at the linebacker position, it's hard to remember the last time the Giants had even one really good player in their linebacking corps."

"He will probably play more on the defensive line" this year," the GM said.

With the shakeup along the defensive line this off-season -- losing Osi Umenyiora to the Falcons -- Kiwanuka can serve as another pass rusher to complement Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck, who will line up at numerous positions up front.

Offensively, the team re-signed left tackle Will Beatty and added Brandon Myers to replace Martellus Bennett, who signed with the Chicago Bears. Also making the lineup is first-round selection Justin Pugh, who is penciled in at left guard, as well as Victor Cruz, who has yet to re-sign with the team for the coming season.

Writes Rotoworld:

Pugh and Hankins were the Giants' first and second-round selections in the 2013 NFL Draft, respectively. Pugh, the offensive tackle out of Syracuse, should start Week 1, filling an immediate need along the offensive line.

Giants.com writers believe Hankins could make an impact right away and eventually take over for Linval Joseph, while Schmeelk believes he'll be a Day 1 starter, alongside Pugh.

Yet the team chose not to draft a linebacker.

The Giants bolstered its offensive and defensive lines, added depth to the running back corps and secondary, and even added a pair of linebackers in the form of undrafted free agents Etienne Sabino out of Ohio State and Charles Dieusel of Mount Union.

At No. 19, Kiper projects the Giants to draft cornerback Desmond Trufant from the University of Washington. The 6-foot, 190-pound former Huskie impressed at the NFL Combine, solidifying his status as a first-round talent.

NFL.com compares Trufant to Cardinals cornerback Antoine Cason, praising him for his size, athleticism and short-area foot quickness. However, experts believe he'll have to improve his overall strength on the professional level.

The team has added placekicker Josh Brown, linebacker Dan Connor, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, safety Ryan Mundy, wide receiver Louis Murphy, tight end Brandon Myers and cornerback Aaron Ross.

In addition, tackle Will Beatty,?guard Keith Boothe,?quarterback David Carr, linebacker Keith Rivers and?defensive tackle Shaun Rodgers have all re-upped with the team.

?Anytime you step on the field you have something to prove ? me, more so,? Rivers said. ?Obviously, I have to prove I can stay healthy. I haven?t necessarily been able to be trusted to stay healthy. Hopefully, taking a big rest this offseason will help me do that.?

Playing in 13 games in 2009 with the Bengals, Rivers recorded 46 tackles, a sack and an interception. He pretty much duplicated those numbers a year later in the same playing time.

https://twitter.com/JennyVrentas/status/312273612574973952

From Rotoworld: The ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft, Rivers has been a borderline-complete bust in the pros. Turning 27 in May, Rivers made six starts last season and racked up six special teams tackles. He'll battle for a roster spot in camp.

As the media gathers in New Orleans, New York Giants players are watching from their couches as a new king of the football world is crowned on Sunday.

Owner John Mara and GM Jerry Reese expressed their dismay with the team missing out on the playoffs this season. Obviously, change is on the horizon.

Kindle, who left the Giants facility without a contract, was cut from the Baltimore Raven's practice squad earlier this month.

The former Texas pass-rusher was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. His career hit a speed bump, however, when he fractured his skull while falling down the stairs his rookie season.

Whether it's via free agency, the draft or trades, the Giants need to upgrade their pass rush, which will allow their linebackers to focus more on stopping the revent and their defensive backs on generating turnovers.

The heart and soul of the Giants D: the defensive line. Let's begin there.

Several Giants, including Antrel Rolle and Chase Blackburn, were injured during the game and did not return.

Rolle suffered a possible concussion after slamming his head into the turf while defending a pass to Dez Bryant along the sidelines late in the fourth quarter. Rolle went to make a big hit, but once he realized Bryant would not make the catch, he jumped to avoid contact but landed on his head.

Nicks (knee, ankle) rode the exercise bike during practice, which leads us to believe his availability for Sunday's game v. Cleveland is in serious doubt.

Barden (concussion) has not been cleared to resume practicing yet.

"Any time you get a rookie, every game, every practice, they?re learning," Eli Manning told reporters yesterday. "The more reps you can get them, especially with the first group, what we?re doing, different things, changing things, more audibles, he?s got to be put in that situation on a whim. He?s got to know exactly what his assignment is, and what?s going on. You have to throw that at him a little bit, see how he adjusts, see how quickly the game is played at this level, and how you have to know the offense like the back of your hand."

Odds in his favor or not, wideout David Douglas ?- a UDFA out of Arizona - has been making the most of his opportunity in Albany thus far. (AP photo: Kathy Willens)

With the season opener against the Cowboys a little bit more than a month away, there will plenty of storylines and position battles to watch as the Giants open up camp in Albany.

There will be a few players with something to prove. That being said, here are five Giants in need of good training camp.

Once again, the Bengals are the winners in a trade. Cincinnati is getting the 167th overall pick for a first-round pick who could never stay healthy. Rivers has talent but he missed 29 games in four seasons. A wrist injury sidelined him for the entire 2011 season.

So, the Bengals got a fifth-rounder when they probably would've taken anything to unload the disappointing No. 9 pick from the 2008 draft and his $2.1 million salary. That's the best offer that the Bengals could've received for Rivers, who lost his starting job to Thomas Howard and would've played special teams this season.

?We?re excited to have another talented player in the mix for our defensive staff to work with,? general manager Jerry Reese said on the team's website today. ?We try to create competition at every position, and Keith will definitely bring some competition to our linebacker group.?

The Giants will be getting Rivers, the ninth-overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, for a bargain it seems. As per Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger:

According to someone informed of the logistics of the deal, the team restructured the linebacker's deal. The person, who requested anonymity because the financials weren't to be discussed, did not provide specifics.

"Someone alerted me to the post last night and I did some checking. If this one is out of left field and completely bogus, no one has told me that yet. In fact, I get the impression the Huddle?s sleuth is hot on the trail of this one. As I said on Twitter, there might be some fire behind this smoke.

Adding to my suspicions is the fact Rivers is in the area right now. The former USC standout, whom the Bengals selected ninth overall in 2008, tweeted to someone Tuesday night he?s ?stopping in NYC? on his way back from a trip to France and Italy. Of course, if you follow his timeline, you?ll see he stopped here on the way out as well."