In my time being a fan, starting in the mid-1990s, Michael Strahan, Tiki Barber and Amani Toomer (though he did sign a deal with the Chiefs but was cut before the season) are the only Giants? greats I remember that played their entire careers in New York.

Hopefully, we can say that about Eli Manning some day, but next up on that list is Justin Tuck, to build off the last post by John Fennelly.

The Newark Star-Ledger believes Giants impending free agent DT Linval?Joseph could command $35-40 million on a new contract.

"Joseph is just 25 years old and is coming off a third consecutive strong season. He's started 46 of the Giants' past 48 games and has nine sacks over that span. Joseph is also a quality run-stuffing defensive tackle at 6-foot-4, 323. He's our No. 2 free-agent defensive tackle, behind Chicago's Henry Melton and ahead of Green Bay's B.J. Raji. The Giants will likely prioritize Joseph.We know the Giants want to keep Joseph, but the price could end up being too high. They committed themselves to fortifying the middle of the defensive line last offseason, signing Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson, while spending a draft choice on Ohio State's Jonathan Hankins.

During the first day of organized team activities Wednesday, the team revealed a new defensive tackle rotation amid off-season signing and draft picks.

With Chris Canty now a member of the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens and Rocky Bernard gone, Linval Joseph is one of only a few veterans who remain on the roster from last season.

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.

The Giants had seven picks in this weekend's draft, adding depth to a number of key positions, including offensive and defensive line, running back and the secondary. Of course, a position that remained untouched was linebacker.

From the top:

Patterson, the longtime Philadelphia Eagle, was released in late February. The 29-year-old former first-round draft pick visited with the Detroit Lions shortly after, but no deal was reached.

Patterson's visit included a physical, according to reports, as Patterson's seizure during training camp in 2011 nearly ended his career. In January 2012, he underwent surgery to remove an arteriovenous malformation from his brain.

Two Sundays ago, Isaac Redman gashed the Giants for 147 yards on the ground. ?There was nothing fancy about that attack. ?The Giants were simply bulldozed. ?Almost all of Redman?s runs were inside the tackles. ?This past Sunday, the Bengals weren?t anywhere near as successful as the Steelers, as they gained just 76 yards on 28 carries, but something jumped out on tape. ?Offensive linemen are moving Linval Joseph pretty easily.

Double-teams in the NFL are often misunderstood. ?Sometimes the perception is that if a player is being double blocked, the offense fears that defender. ?That?s true in the passing game, but only occasionally in the run game. ?Teams will often double a player if they think they can move him off the ball. ?They?ll double, then once the defender has been cleared out, one of the offensive linemen will peel off and go after a linebacker or safety. ?The better run stuffing interior defensive linemen in the NFL are able to anchor against double teams. ?A stalemate is a win.

But without that play, this game would have gone down as an incredible disappointment, especially defensively. Luckily for the Giants, the Redskins lost the turnover battle, committing four after only having five total in the previous six games.

All week, the Giants focused on stopping rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Redskins? powerful running game. However, the Redskins turned in a stellar rushing performance, led by the team?s other rookie Alfred Morris, who rushed for 120 yards including 94 in the first half.

QB Keeping 2: In 2011, NFL teams now have the luxury of dressing 46 players on game day. This essentially means that the 3rd string QB is no longer an ?emergency option.? The Giants have chosen to forgo the 3rd QB all together since 2008, and I?m not so sure that changes this season. Obviously Eli is the number 1, but he heads up a current corps of 4 talented signal callers.

David Carr (first pick ever of the Houston Texans in 2002) is my favorite to win the job, and not just because he is less expensive than the other veteran alternative. Yes he is about 2 million cheaper than Sage Rosenfels, but he is also equally talented and more versatile. Quite frankly, I expected him to win the starting job in San Francisco last year and I still think he will be a starter again in this league before he retires. Rosenfels may also be trade bait for another CB (more later).

Now, with that said lets all raise a pint to Jerry Reese and laugh at some of the comments he thinks we should believe. Roll the highlights...

1. "We had a game plan and we are sticking to our game plan" - So what plan would that be?? Loosing 3 out of 5 of our top Free Agents and ignore anyone on the open market that might make this team better?

Let?s state the obvious. Eli Manning is the starter. Continuing with the obvious theme, Manning needs to improve.

I don?t want to hear one more excuse about the players around him, injuries, or any other outside factor. He is supposedly the chosen one, the franchise symbol. Yes, many of his interceptions last season bounced off receiver?s hands. Yes the run game bottomed out at times in 2009. Yes, two seasons ago he surpassed 4,000 yards in the air. It doesn?t matter. He?s being paid to be a leader. If a receiver can?t catch, teach him how. If a member of your offense is obnoxious and overbearing in the huddle/locker room, handle it.

This year, things are different. Barry Cofield is gone and so is Rocky Bernard. All that is left at DT is veteran Chris Canty and rookie Marvin Austin. Joseph will play this year. He will play lots.

The masses will come out and challenge you on your virtual pulpit and force you to defend your stance. Then, there's the alternative: you can give in.

Whether there is football or not the New York? Giants have some house keeping to take care of.? Pay Barry Cofield.

Duke Calhoun will join Cruz in sweatpants on the sidelines. Interesting to see who guns for New York on punts.

Surprisingly Linval Joseph is also sitting this one out. This leaves the Giants with only 3 DTs.

A 24-17 defeat is not exactly disappointing when you consider the circumstances.? New York played the entire game with a third string QB.? How many times have you witnessed a third string QB even play a series at the pro level, let alone an entire game?

That said, here's what we learned:

This evening they announced the signing of first round selection Jason Pierre-Paul to a deal worth approx $20 million.

They also closed on second rounder Linval Joseph and brought in another safety, John Busing - a veteran who played in Cincinnati and Houston.

1) Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida ? Just playing GM in my head, I can think of a number of different ways I would have played this pick. Reese could have gone BPA and taken Derrick Morgan, giving the team a great backup LE, who offers the same kind of element as Big Mike Strahan, including run stopping ability and leadership. He could have gone need and reached a little bit for Sean Weatherspoon to play MLB. Spoon is a projected 10-year starter and another player that offers strong leadership and even a little swagger, a la Antonio Pierce. Instead Reese drafted a third RE, and a very raw one at that, a raw one with high bust potential. Go figure. How good does that aces front look if Tuck and Kiwi slide to the middle and Morgan and Osi are on the outside? I?m just saying? I certainly could be wrong and if this was a team with no needs I would be much more okay with this pick, but as of right now, I hate it: F

2) Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina ? I like this pick, but why not Taylor Mays, the safety that was projected to go top 5 last draft season? If you ask me what unit I think needs the most help from last season, it?s unquestionably the safeties, especially considering Phillip?s long-term outlook. Mays, so far has proven his biggest fault is that he actually listens to his coaches. Unfortunately that was Pete Carroll at USC last season. Under The Great Mike Singletary Mays appears to be blossoming? so far. At any rate Joseph is a solid pick. He won?t contribute this season as DTs usually are quiet year one, but he?ll make a name for himself in no time and keep the middle solid: B

Taylor In Court Today; Not Guilty Plea Expected

Taylor is accused of third-degree rape, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, and patronizing a prostitute.

He is expected to plead not guilty to all charges.

Giants Have A History Of Finding Gems In Round Two Of Draft

Many first-rounders have been either washouts or have yet to emerge.? William Joseph never made an impact on the DL and is long gone.? DE Mathias Kiwanuka is starting this season, but he's been slow to develop.? CB Aaron Ross can't seem to stay on the field and? S Kenny Phillips' future is uncertain.

This year's top pick, DE Jason Pierre-Paul has arrived to mixed reviews.? Some experts say the sky's the limit, while others have panned the pick mercilessly.

For my first post I thought I would try to establish a rubric, so to speak, for my own dissatisfaction with the MLB situation.? I know it seems sometimes that I (Igs) am only seeing this thing from the ?glass half empty? perspective, but in truth there are a number of important angles that inform my reservations:

How close are the Giants?

Rookies Get Good Taste of What It's Like to Be a Giant

I joined a small group of media people that included the local beat reporters in observing the latest crop of youngsters chosen to don the vaunted Giant blue.

The morning session contained two influential outside forces that made everyone a bit uncomfortable.? The temperature, which rose to the mid-80's by 11am, and a ridiculously loud rock music festival being held in the parking lot.

Giant Fans Should Be Pleased With Draft Thus Far

While everyone is whining about the Giants not selecting a MLB, I was shaking my head at Big Blue's new found wealth at the positions in front and behind the linebackers.

If Linval Joseph is as good as advertised, they wont need a MLB behind him because no one will get past him anyway. Sort of like a jack-knifed tractor-trailer on the Gowanus. Let's just say he jams thing ups.