For those of you who hate Givens today: did you hate him last week? Do you hate him in retrospect or only starting now? If you plan to hate every young player who leaves the team in free agency: better get used to it. You're going to have a lot of hate to carry around with you.
Givens has been the most productive and successful 7th rounder that I can remember. Depending on the details of his contract (and what we do in free agency), he's probably going to earn us a 3rd or a 4th round pick in the Compensatory Draft... which means his legacy on the team will outlast his personal tenure.
He's been a class guy, never b!tched to the media about playing time or money or not getting the ball. He's been a team guy, filling in when other players were hurt, playng any role needed of him, on ST, in the slot, as a blocker. Remember that his hands weren't all that good at first, and he worked hard to make himself a player.
And even when BB/SP made it clear to him that they basically dont want him back, he's been a pro's pro.
I've got nothing but respect. He's a self-made man, nothing handed to him, and he's come to the top of his sport.