Kiwanuka happy to still be playing

Mathias Kiwanuka should be counting his millions from a long-term contract right now. The former first-round pick was lining up to have a breakout 2010 season with four sacks in the first three games and would have hit the market as one of the top free agents this offseason.

Instead, he's back with the Giants, playing on a short-term contract, trying to re-establish his value. His reaction to that? Well, it could be worse.

"The other side of that coin is I could be done playing football," he said.

A bulging disc in his neck ended his season last year and Kiwanuka was not cleared to play until the winter, long after the Giants had been eliminated from playoff contention. Now he's back -- or at least re-signed with the Giants and awaiting a ratified CBA to really be back -- with a new outlook. He admitted that the idea of the neck injury ending his career was "a very real possibility."

"I think a lot of that played into my decision to come back," he said.

"When you're a fifth-year player looking at the possible end of your career, it puts things in perspective. I was blessed by God and I thank God I have the opportunity to come back."

This isn't the first time Kiwanuka has returned from a serious injury. He fractured his leg and missed the end of the Super Bowl run in 2007, so he knows what to expect when he gets back on the field.

"It's something that's going to be in the back of your head until you get out there and get that first hit," he said. "I know the process. I understand there's going to be a little bit of that [hesitation], but after I get out there and get a first hit it's full steam ahead." Boss going coastal?

Kevin Boss had said in a radio interview last week that he would be interested in playing for the Raiders, especially since he grew up on the West Coast. Wednesday night he was in Oakland working out for the Raiders, according to reports. The free agent has received an offer from the Giants but with the Raiders' Zach Miller signing with the Seahawks, he could be the top replacement option for Oakland.

One person who will be disappointed by that is recently signed Giants TE Ben Patrick, who said one of the reasons he came to New York from Arizona was for the chance to play alongside Boss. Giant steps

RB Andre Brown, a former fourth-round pick of the Giants, was signed as a free agent. Brown tore his Achilles in his rookie training camp and never played a down for the team. He was most recently released by the Redskins . . . Stacy Andrews, brother of former OL Shawn Andrews, signed . . . Free agent RB Ahmad Bradshaw signed his contract, the terms of which he had agreed to on Monday.