Giants might try Keith Rivers at middle linebacker

Add a name to the Giants' middle linebacker mix.

Besides returning candidates Chase Blackburn, Mark Herzlich and Greg Jones, and the one general manager Jerry Reese suggested earlier this offseason, Michael Boley, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said they are trying to see if newly acquired Keith Rivers can play the position.

"We are not opposed to putting Keith Rivers [there], giving him the opportunity to compete for that role also," Fewell said at Saturday's rookie minicamp.

Fewell said there will be a lot of competition at linebacker, which he called "an area of emphasis for us." The Giants would seem to have an abundance of players at the position, returning six who started at one point or another for them in 2011. But only three can play at one time, and very often it's only two of them when the Giants use sub packages.

That will leave Fewell trying to put the best combinations on the field, particularly at middle linebacker.

"I sense that we are going to put it up for grabs," Fewell said of the middle linebacker spot, which, as it stands now, is Blackburn's, he added. "Whoever can take the bull by the horns and lead us will have the opportunity to step up and play."

Not-so-final cut

No one at rookie minicamp wants to get cut. For Markus Kuhn, it was too late.

Kuhn, a seventh-round pick, said he lacerated his leg last week while helping a friend move. Somehow a knife blade was sticking out of one of the boxes. The defensive tackle has not participated in the minicamp.

"We are excited about him," Tom Coughlin said. "I just wish we could have gotten to see him a little bit out here [on the field]."

Kuhn, who was born in Germany and played for North Carolina State, said he received stitches for the wound and that the Giants' medical staff told him to sit out during this camp as a precaution. He offered advice for those who might be looking to transport boxes with knives sticking out.

"It's dangerous," he said. "Hire people to move for you.''

Giant steps

RB David Wilson said a big emphasis in Saturday's workout was blitz pickup. "You know coming in that, regardless of the team, you have to protect the quarterback," the first-round pick said. "With him on the ground, you're going to lose games. My position is key to that." . . . C Jamaal Jackson, who was in camp as a tryout on Friday, told the Giants he's retiring . . . CB Jayron Hosley, who left practice early with a cramp Friday afternoon, participated Saturday . . . Southern Mississippi LB Korey Williams made a late push for a roster spot with an interception and a tackle for a loss in the final few plays of the camp.