The harsh reality of free agency

The Giants lost another player to free agency this week, with cornerback Aaron Ross signing with the Jaguars. This after Mario Manningham headed to San Francisco last week, and the likelihood that Brandon Jacobs and Kareem McKenzie won't be back with the team.

It's not all bad, as Terrell Thomas is back, as is Steve Weatherford. But this is the nature of free agency, especially coming off of a championship. Guys are going to get big deals elsewhere, and you can't possibly keep them all. The disappointing part to me, is that the Giants don't get a chance to defend their title as the exact same group. But, of course, that's just not practical in the NFL, and it's understood going in that Super Bowl or not, your team isn't going to be the exact same one the next season.

So, to Ross, Manningham, and the inevitable others who won't be back with Big Blue, I say thank you. You'll always be remembered fondly for what you did as Giants, on such a special 2011 team - and in Ross's case, a special 2007 team as well. And I certainly can't begrudge them their massive free agency paydays.

However, these guys are all replaceable. Jerry Reese proved this last offseason, after Kevin Boss and Steve Smith left, and he'll again find players to step right in this year. For Manningham, it could be Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden, Devin Thomas, or none of the above. For Ross, it will be probably be Terrell Thomas or Prince Amukamara.

On a somewhat related Giants note, after struggling with worries of 5-11 last season, I have learned to never have that fear again. No matter who gets injured, or who leaves in free agency, between now and September. The reason is simple. As long as they have Eli Manning, they always have a chance. So many times during last season, I was thinking either, "Eventually this isn't going to work out," or at the very least, "Do they have to make it so difficult on themselves every time?" But what a joy it was to watch him lead the Giants to the game winning score, every single time they needed it.