There was some talk earlier this offseason about the Giants moving Michael Boley to middle linebacker and when the Giants traded a 5^th round pick for Keith Rivers, an outside linebacker, that talk seemed confirmed. Not so fast, says Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Fewell said that incumbent starter Chase Blackburn will open training camp as the starter and Boley will remain outside.

Blackburn played very well for the Giants down the stretch, even picking off a Tom Brady deep strike to Rob Gronkowski in a win over the Patriots in Super Bowl 46. However, there’s a reason he was without a team in November when the Giants signed him. The career journeyman has never been able to lock down a starting job. Blackburn will not be without competition and Rivers sounds like the #2 guy on the depth chart at the position right now, even though he’s only ever played outside. 2^nd year players Mark Herzlich and Greg Jones are also in the mix. This position will be decided in training camp, but it appears it’s Blackburn’s job to lose.