EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -While high-profile free agents like LaVar Arrington and Keyshawn Johnson have passed through town and departed without signed deals this off-season, the Giants have quietly and methodically rebuilt their secondary with players they hope will improve the team’s most vulnerable area.

The results were on display side-byside in the locker room yesterday, where cornerbacks Sam Madison and R.W.Mc-Quarters and safety Will Demps occupy adjacent stalls. The three carry a combined 24 years of NFL experience,not to mention the expectations of an entire franchise and the region it serves.

They will be expected to upgrade last year’s patchwork unit that suffered from inconsistent play after starter Will Peterson went down with a back injury in September. Cornerback Will Allen and safeties Brent Alexander and Shaun Williams are gone, and Peterson’s status is uncertain,leaving a wide-open competition at cornerback between the newcomers and holdovers Corey Webster and Curtis Deloatch.

Madison, a four-time Pro Bowl selec tion, seems a likely candidate to step into a leadership role, though his first task seems to be to dispel rumors that at 31 going on 32, he may be on the down side of his career. Last season with Miami he had two interceptions in 15 games for a defense that had just 14, fewer than 22 NFL teams.

“I can count on one hand the number of touchdowns I gave up, the number of big plays I gave up,” he said. “My body’s good, my mind’s right. I have a fresh start. I was one of the guys they wanted from the first day, to be able to compete and bring some leadership. So it feels good. Nothing but smiles on my face.”

Demps, a four-year starter for a Baltimore defense that was ranked no lower than sixth in the NFL the last three seasons, figures to step right in at safety alongside Gibril Wilson, who is suddenly the defense’s elder statesman approaching his third year.

Of the three new players, Demps sounded the happiest to be a Giant.

“It’s a good opportunity because they’re winning,” he said. “I see Baltimore as a stepping stone, where I got groomed to be a free safety and make the calls and be a leader in the backfield. I think it’s just my time and my calling to come here.”

Also yesterday, quarterback Eli Manning said he has no plans to go to Florida to throw with tight end Jeremy Shockey or wide receiver Plaxico Burress, both of whom are or will be working out at the University of Miami instead of with the team.

“I need to be here,” Manning said. “This is where everything is. Hopefully we can get them up here if it works out, to find time and throw a little.”

The Giants’ season opener against Indianapolis will give Manning a rare chance to compete against older brother Peyton. He recalled what it was like as a youngster playing with Peyton and eldest sibling Cooper.

“I was usually permanent center, or maybe if no one was guarding me they’d throw me the ball once in a while. If I dropped that one, I knew I wouldn’t get another one the rest of the day.”

Elsewhere, linebacker Chase Blackburn said he is healed from the neck and back injury that forced him to miss the team’s last two games.