NFL

Boss could return to Giants

The Giants never wanted to part with Kevin Boss, and Boss never wanted to leave the Giants, but the tight end really had no choice a year ago, when the Raiders came in with a four-year, $16 million offer that guaranteed twice as much money as the Giants were willing to ante up.

After one disappointing season in Oakland, Boss is soon to be a free agent again. The Raiders, according to ESPN and other sources, will release Boss, and it sure seems like a match made in heaven that he could return to the Giants.

After all, the Giants badly need one and perhaps two tight ends, after Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum went down with torn ACLs in Super Bowl XLVI.

Following reconstructive knee surgery, each will need extensive recovery time and most likely will start the 2012 season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning they will miss at least the first six games of the season.

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Boss, 28, will be jettisoned by the Raiders because he was due a $2 million roster bonus this week. That’s money the Raiders did not want to pay for a player who didn’t have much of an impact last season.

He was slowed by injuries early in the season and, in 14 games, had 28 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns.

Boss was an extremely popular player with the Giants, a favorite of tight ends coach Mike Pope, and unless the Giants feel he has nothing left in the tank, a reunion makes sense.

Plus, the Raiders owe Boss $2 million in guaranteed money for the upcoming season, so it figures he will not be too difficult to sign.