The key word: formerly.

The Giants opted not to sign the 36-year-old after yesterday's workout, preferring to stick with whom they have. According to someone familiar with the Giants' impressions of the one-time Saint and Falcon, the team was pleased with Horn's hands and route-running, but his deep speed and explosiveness out of breaks was a question mark. The person requested anonymity because the Giants don't comment publicly on workouts.

Still, someone informed of what the team told Horn said the team left the door open for a possible signing in the near future.

But then, Horn went on Sporting News Radio in the afternoon and perhaps slammed that open door in the process.

"Honestly, I kind of felt like I was brought in to give those young guys a spark to say, 'Hey, I know you've got a job but you can be replaced,'" Horn said during the interview. "So I think it kind of boosted and gave those young guys a spark to let them know that Joe Horn was there and their playing time could be taken if they don't get their act together."

Horn, who has a fear of flying, went on to say he "took the trip, got on a plane, bumpy flight and all" because he wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender. He said he also got good feedback from the coaching staff.

"However, before I could step in the locker room, I had an itinerary with my flight back to Atlanta," he said.

The Giants did the same thing to Derek Hagan last week and then brought him back to sign on Tuesday. Perhaps they won't give Horn a return itinerary now that he's shown his old, outspoken side.

As for the Giants, they're not admitting to any concerns about how their passing game has fared without Plaxico Burress. At least statistically, they might not have to. With Burress in the lineup, the Giants' top three wide receivers (Burress, Amani Toomer and Steve Smith) generated 126.8 yards per game. Without Burress, the team's top three receivers (Toomer, Smith and Domenik Hixon) combined for 151.2 yards per game.

But the attention Burress demanded from defenses hasn't been replaced, something that doesn't bother coach Tom Coughlin - at least publicly.

"I'm not worried. That's not the right word," Coughlin said. "But always vigilant about what's available? Yes."

The Giants still believe they have plenty of options available on their roster, though had they known what was coming, they might have upped their trade offer for Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez before the trading deadline. Or perhaps they would have kept David Tyree on the active roster to see if he had any more postseason magic up his sleeve (or on his helmet).

But now is no time for regrets and looking backward for the Giants (11-3), not with Sunday's game against the Panthers (11-3) determining home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. To reach that goal, the Giants will have to throw the ball against a Carolina defense that will likely stack defenders near the line of scrimmage as all three of the Giants' last three opponents have done.

That means they'll continue to rely on their younger receivers, including Hixon, who's still nursing a foot and ankle injury that affected him during Sunday's loss to the Cowboys.

"I felt it during (the game) and afterward," Hixon said. "But everybody's playing with nicks and bruises."

Hixon had six catches for 60 yards against Dallas, and he drew a pass-interference penalty that netted 32 yards. Late in the game, he had an opportunity to catch a 29-yard touchdown, but he gave a one-handed effort on a ball that seemed to catch him by surprise. If he made that catch, maybe things wouldn't look so dire right now.

"We're confident with the receivers that we have right now and they're doing a good job of getting open on some stuff," quarterback Eli Manning said. "I have to find them and get the ball in their hands."

For weeks, the Giants have been talking about getting the ball in rookie Mario Manningham's hands.

Manningham said the lack of chances has been "frustrating, but I'm not going to let it frustrate me because I know how good of a team we are."

Good enough without Horn? The Giants will find out.

Mike Garafolo may be reached at mgarafolo@starledger.com