Management does not make moves simply to please the fans but the move the Giants made on Friday will do just that. Chase Blackburn, the veteran linebacker who authored one of the feel-good stories of the Super Bowl run, has agreed to a one-year contract and will return to the team he’s played for the past seven seasons.

Blackburn became one of the most popular players on the roster after he came off the couch and into a starring role. He was out of football at the start of the 2011 season and the Giants, beset by injuries at linebacker, finally re-signed him in December. Five days later, he was on the field and coming away with a rare interception off Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Blackburn ended up starting the final seven games – the last three in the regular season and all four in the playoffs – providing savvy and leadership at middle linebacker as the Giants went 6-1 with him making all the defensive calls. He came up with a leaping interception off Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI, fending off Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski for the ball.

Despite the heroics, Blackburn was not a priority in free agency for the Giants and they only offered him a one-year deal at minimum salary ($825,000). Blackburn did not attract much interest and has come back to the team that in 2005 gave him a shot as an undrafted player out of Akron. Blackburn eventually became the team’s special teams captain in 2010 but has played mostly in a reserve linebacker role.

The Giants offseason workout program begins on Monday and Blackburn is expected to be at the team facility to officially sign his new contract. He returns to a team loaded with linebackers. Keith Rivers arrives in a trade with the Bengals, the four rookie linebackers on the team a year ago are all back and starters Michael Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka also return.