Eli Manning has made previous pleas to Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress asking them to attend the Giants' offseason workout program, and they have always said "No." There's no reason for Manning to believe they have changed their minds. But it never hurts to ask, so he did. "Yeah, I've talked to both of them," Manning said Wednesday. "I said, 'Hey, I probably won't start throwing until mid-April. That's when I'd like you here. Right now if you want to be training someplace else, that's fine with me.' I'll talk to them as that gets closer and see what everybody is planning." At the moment, both Burress and Shockey are planning to spend most of the offseason training on their own in Miami, just as they have for several years.

Now that Al Wilson failed his physical with the New York Giants, his value has plummeted. If the Broncos can't deal Wilson, he could return to the Broncos, although most likely at a pay cut from his listed $5.2 million salary. If Wilson doesn't like the pay cut, he could accept his release and become a free agent. Yes, the NFL is a cold-hearted business, even for players as popular and accomplished as Wilson. "I like Al," Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said here Sunday. "The defensive coaches didn't think his play made it worth what we were paying him."

Al Wilson's new agent confirmed Thursday night that the Broncos are shopping around for a trade partner but that a deal for the star middle linebacker isn't imminent. The NFL Network reported Thursday that talks with the Giants have heated up after the Lions and Eagles showed strong interest.

Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress were again among the no-shows as the Giants opened their offseason workout program on Monday. Both players have annually skipped the technically voluntary program to work out with personal trainers in Miami. New Giants GM Jerry Reese had said he hoped to talk the tight end and wide receiver into attending at least part of the program this year. And quarterback Eli Manning said in January that he thought Burress "might be here a little bit more this offseason."

Fullback Vonta Leach signed an offer sheet for a four-year contract with the Giants on Monday. The Texans, Leach's current team, have seven days to match the deal, worth more than $7 million. If they don't match, Leach becomes a Giant.

Eli Manning will be under center for the Giants for at least three more years. The Giants officially established their long-term commitment to Manning, exercising a "buy-back" option on the current contract. As the top pick in the 2004 draft, Manning signed a six-year contract ranging from $45 million to $54 million. The deal, which included a rookie-record $20 million signing bonus, contained an incentive clause that allowed Manning to void the final two years. To guarantee Manning's future with the team, the Giants added the "buy-back" option, a clause which permits the team to buy back the 2008 and 2009 seasons for a reported $5 million.

New York Giants linebacker Brandon Short was in a jewelry story located right next to the leather goods shop where New York City police killed a gunman who had minutes earlier shot to death two volunteer cops and a pizza restaurant worker, the New York Daily News reported Friday. "I was fearful for my life," said Short, 29. "There were bullets flying everywhere. "It was a crowded street in Manhattan. Some people were running through restaurants, running down alleys to get away," Short said. "It's a miracle that no bullets actually went through the window."

LaVar Arrington is about a month away from being able to pass an NFL physical, according to his agent Kevin Poston, and intends to play next season. Arrington, who negotiated his release from Washington last year and was cut by the Giants after one season, still is recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon but has drawn some free agent interest, Poston said.

Despite reports that the Giants are expecting to meet this week with linebacker Cato June, no visit has been scheduled and thus far, there's been little interest by the Giants in the unrestricted free agent from the Colts. The Giants have make contact with June's agent, but no talks of any substance have taken place. Clearly, if the Giants have any desire to sign June to bolster their depleted linebacker corps, they are willing to wait to see how whatever market there is for June develops.

Reuben Droughns, Cleveland's only 1,000-yard rusher since 1985, was traded to the New York Giants, who need a feature running back following Tiki Barber's retirement. In return for Droughns, who became expendable after the Browns signed free agent Jamal Lewis to a one-year contract, the Giants sent Cleveland wide receiver Tim Carter. As part of a three-year contract extension he signed last year, Droughns was due a roster bonus this month. But instead of paying him or releasing the 28-year-old and getting nothing in return, the Browns acquired Carter, a part-time starter who had 22 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns last season.