Spencer

Paysinger

Boley went down with under two minutes left in the first half and was replaced by rookie Spencer Paysinger. Boley will not return.

This duo showed enough over the final three games of the season to let the Giants feel comfortable cutting Michael Boley Tuesday. It’s a position battle for IDP owners to watch as Boley was able to average 6.2 tackles per game during his four-year run manning the weak side of Giants’ 4-3 scheme.

The Giants are holding a deep, open competition at linebacker in camp -- including Dan Connor, Aaron Curry, and Jacquian Williams -- but the trio of Herzlich, Paysinger, and Rivers is expected to open the season as starters. None of the three have a ton of IDP value because they’ll be rotated too often.

Paysinger’s “right of first refusal” tender is worth $1.431 million. He played 707 snaps for New York last season and was arguably the second best linebacker on the roster. Reynolds’ ERFA tender is worth $570,000.

He’s the domino after the release of longtime ILB David Harris. 29-year-old Paysinger (on June 28) played 334 snaps for Miami last season and will compete for a depth and special teams job with tanking Gang Green.

Paysinger, 26 in June, started ten games last season, recording 74 tackles and a sack. He isn’t particularly effective in run or pass defense, and would likely serve best in a fourth linebacker role. Expect Paysinger to face competition from Jameel McClain in training camp. Paysinger will be a free agent in 2015.

A reserve linebacker and special teamer, Paysinger will theoretically be tasked with replacing Jason Trusnik, who signed with the Panthers on Tuesday. Paysinger appeared in 15 games last season, but played just 81 snaps on defense.

Paysinger appeared in 15 games for the Giants last season, but played just 81 snaps on defense. He has 14 games of starting experience, but would likely be trying to latch on as a core special teamer for Gang Green.

Miami will look to add linebacker talent in the draft, but Paysinger signed with the Dolphins because he saw an opportunity to start. “I did my homework on them before the trip and I saw that they had a few linebackers that aren’t with the team anymore and it just looked like an opportunity,” Paysinger said. “For me, it’s all about having an opportunity.” Paysinger only played 81 snaps as a reserve linebacker for the Giants last season, but he held his own in an extended stint as a starter in 2013.

Paysinger, a 10-game starter for the Giants in 2013, regressed to a strict special teams role last season. He could likely be had by the LB-needy Dolphins for the veteran minimum.