The Giants signed weak-side linebacker Michael Boley on Feb. 28, hours after the free agent sweepstakes began.

Now he has been suspended for one game -- the opener -- by the NFL for a violation of the Personal Conduct Code. He was accused by his wife of "excessive violence" during a domestic incident in May 2008 when he was still a member of the Atlanta Falcons.

Information gathered recently seems to indicate that the Giants expected the "mild" suspension and were not reluctant in the slightest to sign Boley to a five-year, $25 million contract (of which $5.25 million is guaranteed in the first two years and $11 million in all).

Boley underwent hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in mid-June, at which time the team reported that he should be out "between eight and 10 weeks." That would almost certainly cost him most if not all of training camp and that lack of preparation would virtually insure his unavailability for the opening game (Sept. 13 at home vs. Washington).

In his stead it is expected that the Giants will start second-year Bryan Kehl, with Gerris Wilkinson and Chase Blackburn, in that order, as his backups. Boley played on the strong side for the Falcons, with whom he spent four seasons, but the Giants' scouts and coaches view the 6-3, 225-pounder as a pure weak-side 'backer with starting capabilities.

Meanwhile, the middle linebacker position seems set with veteran Antonio Pierce returning for what would be his 10th season, while rookie Clint Sintim is being given a strong chance to unseat veteran Danny Clark on the strong side.

Boley is part of an unusually high influx of defensive players signed by the Giants during the UFA period. The others include tackle-end Chris Canty, tackle Rocky Bernard and strong safety C.C. Brown.

Despite the charge and subsequent suspension, Giants' general manager Jerry Reese appears to be operating with the nerve of a riverboat gambler, and one must pause to wonder whether the decision to go ahead with the hip surgery was, at least in part, predicated by the suspension the team knew was coming.

OFFSEASON STANDOUT
DE Osi Umenyiora, who missed the entire 2008 season after a Pro Bowl appearance in 2007, has come back from his knee surgery with a vengeance and was flashing those "you can't block me" moves and quickness for most of the OTA period as well as the mandatory minicamp.

Also, first-round draft pick Hakeem Nicks was impressive going deep, often getting behind the secondary and making sure-handed catches. So, too, were a pair of other WRs -- third round pick Ramses Barden and third-year Sinorice Moss, who wowed 'em the first day of the minicamp but then (almost predictably) came up with yet another tweaked hamstring.

LINEUP WATCH
In his three-year stint with the Giants, WR Sinorice Moss (second-round pick in 2006) has noticeably failed to perform up to those standards expected of his lofty selection.

It isn't that he doesn't have the talent. The 5-8, 185-pounder has blazing speed, lightning-quick moves and flashes the ability to corkscrew defensive backs into the ground. It's just that he doesn't do any of those things in games. He is a world-class practice player, however, but always seems to come up with injuries after a torrid show of potential.

He is likely in his last season of teasing the offense. Once again, he was lights out in the minicamp and then came up with a pulled hamstring.

He is going to compete in a wide-open field, since last year's starters, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, are no longer on the roster. His competition includes two rookies (Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden), the probable starter Steve Smith, and contenders Domenik Hixon and Mario Manningham.

ROOKIE IMPRESSIONS
Undrafted free agent Maurice Evans, a defensive end from Penn State, showed why he was a sought-after signee by several teams immediately after the draft. He is only 6-2 and 265, but the kid from Brooklyn, N.Y., who left college after his junior season, seems to have a spot on an already-burgeoning list of DEs. "He has really good quickness and strength," says D-line coach Mike Waufle. Evans had 12.5 sacks as a sophomore, then had off-the-field problems with head coach Joe Paterno early in his junior season which included a knee injury. He is going to be a special teams regular and a situational pass rusher if he makes the final roster.

INJURY WATCH
WLB Michael Boley (hip surgery) will be lost for eight to 10 weeks after repairing a torn labrum which he hurt in an early OTA practice. ... Rookie SLB Clint Sintim (second round) came up with a hamstring pull that kept him out of the minicamp action.

CONTRACT TO WATCH
None of the veterans, at least not the starters, are on the cusp of a new contract. GM Jerry Reese took care of those guys early in the spring. But it might be interesting to see how long it takes to sign the first round pick, WR Hakeem Nicks, since he is being projected by some as an immediate starter and you know how agents react to that kind of good news.

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