Boley suspension clouds Giants' situation at WLB

Giants MLB Michael Boley has been suspended for the team's regular-season opener for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy, with the New York Daily News reporting it to be for a May 2008 arrested and charge of battery. The paper also reported that the Giants new of the potential suspension when they signed Boley as a free agent during the spring.

Boley underwent hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in late June and will be out for eight to 10 weeks. He apparently suffered the injury in an early OTA workout but kept going, even to the extent of fully participating in the recently held mandatory minicamp June 16-18, but had to succumb to the arthroscopic procedure June 24.

Boley, who spent the first four years of his NFL career with Atlanta, was expected to win the starting weak-side job, but since he might not be healthy until just prior to the start of the season and is now suspended for Week 1 anyway, so his status on the depth chart becomes more and more uncertain. Weak-side linebacker was a problem for the Giants in 2008 with three players starting at various points of the season -- Chase Blackburn, rookie Bryan Kehl and Gerris Wilkinson. Since Boley's surgery took place prior to the start of camp, he can be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and thus free up a roster spot for one of the as-yet unsigned draft choices.