Giants, Michael Boley Close to Deal

UPDATE: It's official, and reportedly it's for five years and $25 million, with $11 million guaranteed.

Compared to previous free agency opening days, 2009 has been a relatively understated affair; no glut of cap-busting deals, or championship-hungry teams overreaching for once great players now getting by on reputation alone. Sure, there have been a couple huge deals -- both thanks to Dan Snyder, naturally -- but most teams have waded cautiously into the process, only pursuing players that fill an obvious need.

A perfect example: the Giants and linebacker Michael Boley. The two sides are close to agreeing to a five-year, $25 million deal, including $10 million in guarantees. Boley has been one of the best young linebackers in the league during his four-year career, even if most people outside Atlanta haven't heard of him.

Boley, 26, was scheduled to arrive in New Jersey sometime tonight for dinner with coaches and team officials. One source said he could sign the deal as early as tonight, though both sides seemed extremely confident something official would get done before the 6-3, 223-pounder is scheduled to leave tomorrow. At this point, it appears it would take a disastrous first meeting or something surprising in his physical to prevent this deal from happening.

Boley, although undersized, brings something to the Giants linebackers corps that has been missing in recent seasons: speed. Now it's just a matter of getting his name on the contract.