Alford and Kehl Could Find Themselves on the Chopping Block

No one likes to talk about it, but we are just a few short days away from the Giants having to cut 22 players from their active roster.  They will undoubtedly sign a few to their practice squad, but only rookies are eligible.  No matter how you slice it, there will be some veteran names you recognize being let go on Saturday.  Here is a look at each position by the numbers and how I think it might shake out:

Safeties:


Currently: 8 on the roster
2009: 3

Safe: Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, Kenny Phillips
Hot Seat: Michael Johnson
Pack your Bags: John Busing, Sha'reff Rashad, and Seth Williams

Breakdown:  The Giants will likely keep 4 safeties this year.  It's definitely Johnson's job to lose, but he hasn't been overly impressive as of late.  Then again, neither have the other 3.  Giants could add a free-agent if they don't like what Johnson shows.

Cornerbacks:  

Currently: 6
2009: 5

Safe:  Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Bruce Johnson 
Hot Seat:  Aaron Ross (Inj)
Pack your Bags: Courtney Brown and DJ Johnson

Breakdown:  As Antrel Rolle can play corner, the Giants may elect to go with only 4 corners this year.  If they do, both Brown and Johnson will be released.  If they stick with 5, then those two will be battling it out, however, it's likely that the Giants will look for help elsewhere if they need it.  If Ross's injury is worse than the Giants have let on, then he could end up on IR.


Defensive End:

Currently:  7
2009: 4

Safe: Mathias Kiwanuka, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora
Hot Seat: Dave Tollefson
Pack your bags: Alex Hall and Tommie Hill

Breakdown:  Hall and Hill are dead men walking.  I think the Giants hold onto Tollefson who's had a great summer and go with 5 defensive ends.

Defensive Tackles:

Currently: 7
2009: 4

Safe:  Chris Canty, Linval Joseph, Barry Cofield
Hot Seat:  Rocky Bernard, Jay Alford,
Pack Your Bags: Nate Collins and Dwayne Hendricks

Breakdown:  This is where it gets interesting.  Collins and Hendricks are gone, but can the Giants afford to keep 5 DT's AND 5 DE's?  Something has got to give, and I think it may be Alford.

Linebackers:

Currently: 8 (not including DeOssie)
2009: 8 (not including DeOssie)

Safe:  Clint Sintim, Keith Bulluck, Michael Boley, Jonathan Goff, and Phillip Dillard. 
Hot Seat:  Gerris Wilkinson, Bryan Kehl and Chase Blackburn (Inj)
Pack Your Bags:  N/A

Breakdown:  Blackburn is probably safe, but if his knee isn't healing right he'll be placed on IR.  Wilkinson has played well in my opinion, so I think he hangs on as well.  The Giants need to trim the roster somewhere, and I think this might be one of those positions.  I think Kehl winds up the odd-man out.


Offensive Line:

Currently: 14
2009: 9

Safe:  Rich Seubert, Chris Snee, David Diehl, Kareem McKenzie, William Beatty
Hot Seat:  Shaun O'Hara (inj), Shawn Andrews (inj), Adam Koets, Guy Whimper, and Mitch Petrus
Pack Your Bags: Jacob Bender, Dennis Landolt, Jim Cordle, Taylor Herb


Breakdown:  The Giants are worried about O'Hara's ankle, so even though I don't think he'll end up on IR, I don't want to rule it out either.  Obviously, he's the starting center if healthy.  Andrews' back has held up so far, but if he suffers a set-back tonight he could be gone.  Landolt and Cordle are definitely going, and if O'Hara and Andrews are healthy, then Bender and Herb will definitely join them.  I think Koets is the other cut, getting them down to 9.  Petrus likely makes the roster but quite frankly hasn't looked very good so far.  Remember that the Giants also have Kevin Boothe on the PUP list, so if he comes back and is able to play after week 6, then Whimper might be looking for a job then too.

Wide Receivers:

Currently: 8
2009: 7

Safe:  Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Derek Hagan, Mario Manningham, and Victor Cruz (yeah I think it's a done deal now).
Hot Seat: Ramses Barden (inj)
Pack Your Bags: Tim Brown and Duke Calhoun


Breakdown: Again, Barden is only listed as being on the hot seat because of his back issues.  If he gets the all-clear he'll be on the active roster.  Tim Brown and Duke Calhoun are both potential practice squad guys--Brown has a better shot--but I don't see them making the 53 man roster.  The Giants may take a look at a free agent or two, but I think they go with 6 wide receivers this year.

Tight Ends:

Currently: 4
2009: 3

Safe: Kevin Boss and Travis Beckum
Hot Seat: Scott Chandler and Bear Pascoe
Pack Your Bags: N/A

Breakdown:  I think Chandler gets the axe, Pascoe makes the team.

Runningbacks:

Currently: 7
2009: 5

Safe: Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Brown, Madison Hedgecock
Hot Seat: DJ Ware
Pack Your Bags: Gartrell Johnson and Jerome Johnson

Breakdown:  Jerome Johnson has done nothing to unseat Hedgecock for the full-back job, so he'll be gone.  I think this is the end of the road for Gartrell Johnson.  DJ Ware is probably safe unless the Giants decide they'd rather have Alford and Kehl.


Quaterbacks:

Currently: 3
2009: 2

Safe: Eli Manning and Rhett Bomar
Hot Seat: N/A
Pack Your Bags: Dominic Randolph

Breakdown: Randolph will hope to play well enough tonight to get a spot on the practice squad, but that's it.  The Giants could bring in a veteran to challenge Bomar for the #2 spot if they aren't comfortable, which could shake up the roster even more.  Even if they bring in a veteran, they'll have to hold onto Bomar at this point I would think.

Specialists:

Currently: 3
2009: 3

Safe: Lawrence Tynes and Zak Deossie
Hot Seat: Matt Dodge
Pack Your Bags: N/A

Breakdown:  Most likely nothing will change with this group, but if Dodge is inconsistent tonight the Giants may look for a veteran punter on the waiver wire.

As you can see, getting down to 53 ain't easy.  What do you think?  Who should go, who should stay?