"The Giants waited until just a week before the start of training camp to address one of their most pressing needs, yesterday signing former Pro Bowl middle linebacker Keith Bulluck.

The Giants beat out a late charge from the Cardinals to add Bulluck, 33, after the Suffern, N.Y., native and Syracuse product was not re-signed by the Titans because of concerns about his surgically repaired right knee.

Big Blue have been in dire need of a middle linebacker since Antonio Pierce retired after last season and the team missed out on Alabama middle linebacker Rolando McClain in the first round of the draft.

Bulluck — a product of Clarkstown North High School — worked out for the Giants earlier this week to show that he had recovered from knee surgery.

The Giants, who open camp next Sunday in Albany, realized that their plan to go with former fifth-round pick Jonathan Goff as Pierce's replacement was not the answer for a defense that allowed the second-most points in franchise history during last year's 8-8 debacle."