Giant Football Blog

Rehabbing Toomer is nearly caught up

Amani Toomer never has looked forward to a preseason game as much as he is to the one tomorrow night. He may play only 10-12 snaps in Baltimore when the Giants take on the Ravens, but even one play would be a big step for the 32-year-old receiver. Toomer has not been in a game since he tore the ACL in his left knee last Nov.5 - a long 9-1/2 months ago.

"It's been a daily thing," Toomer said yesterday before practice at the University at Albany. "There hasn't been a day in the last eight, nine months that I haven't tried to do something that has to do with getting myself back on the field." Continue

Age-old question

If anything, Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters, after all these years, have a knack for anticipation, which is why they could foresee the overriding question hovering over the Giants defensive backfield before it ever was asked. “Can we hold up?” McQuarters said yesterday with a chuckle.

None of the defensive machinations of first-year coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will amount to anything but idle summer chatter if Madison and McQuarters cannot hold up their end. Cornerback is a position for the young, but the Giants are rolling the dice with a pair of starters who are anything but. Continue

Demps off to strong start in making a Giant improvement

Banished to the second team after a rough debut season with the Giants, Will Demps played like a man on a mission Saturday night. He showed impressive speed, delivered hard hits and didn't miss any big tackles.

In the Giants' preseason opener, the safety was everything he was supposed to be last year. "That's the Will Demps they couldn't get last year," Demps said before practice yesterday at the University at Albany. "I feel like there's no hesitation in my game anymore. Just from the first preseason game they can kind of see what Will Demps really is. Now they can say, 'That's the guy. Wow.'" Continue

Giants' Tuck is getting noticed by Coughlin

Justin Tuck wasn't surprised by how well his surgically repaired left foot held up in a quarter's work on Saturday. He was a little surprised at the stream of compliments that have come his way from the usually tight-lipped head coach. "I really didn't know what to expect from him or how important he would be for our team," Tom Coughlin said. "I'm excited by the way he's playing."

The Giants went from drafting Mathias Kiwanuka into a clogged defensive end spot 16 months ago to being desperate for pass-rushing help when their training camp opened. Tuck, the Giants' third-round pick in 2005, lost 10 games last season to a Lisfranc joint sprain in his foot; the surgery to put a plate and screws into the foot to hold it in place cost him the entire spring. Continue

Prankster has Jeremy in rage

Be forewarned. Whoever nailed Jeremy Shockey with the latest training-camp prank is going to live to regret picking this particular target.

After lunch yesterday, Shockey went to sign some autographs and revealed a very purple left hand, stained with dye after he stuck it inside his glove, not knowing that it had been booby-trapped with the unwashable substance that banks use to mark money. It will take days for Shockey to remove the deep purple stain, and undoubtedly much less time to identify the culprit. Continue

Smith grabs attention

Shortly after the Giants drafted Steve Smith in the second round in April, he got a call from Sinorice Moss, whom the Giants took in the second round the year before. The conversation quickly turned to the future - their future as the dynamic receiving duo for the Giants. Amani Toomer has heard that all before, of course - more times than he can remember. Every year it seems there's another young receiver who is supposed to be the future of the franchise. In fact, 12 years ago, it was him. "Then I sat on the bench for a couple of years and it didn't look that way for awhile," Toomer recalled. "So it's a tough thing to say. It's an even tougher thing to make come true."

Despite Toomer's cautionary tale, Smith and Moss have been two of the early stars of training camp and they will get a huge stage tomorrow night when they start across from each other in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers at Giants Stadium. With Toomer limited while recovering from knee surgery and Plaxico Burress hobbled by two problematic ankles, Moss and Smith both know this is their moment. Continue

Rookie TE ready to show who's the boss

Of all the players gearing up for their first taste of live NFL action, Kevin Boss may find himself feeling the greatest culture shock. Boss, the Giants' rookie tight end, played at Western Oregon, a Division II school that does not have any sort of pipeline into professional football.

"A tremendous leap now from where he was and what he's going to see in these pre-season games," tight ends coach Mike Pope said yesterday. "It's going to be a real learning experience, and hopefully he doesn't hyperventilate." Continue

Giants' Butler is loud when it counts

James Butler came out of nowhere -- actually, a tiny Georgia town called Climax and Georgia Tech -- to grab a roster spot with the .Giants in 2005 after going undrafted. He was supposed to learn the safety position and be a contributor on special teams. That rookie season, Butler did a little bit of both. He had two interceptions and started a game as the third safety in dime packages.

Last season, Butler was supposed to play more defense, even with Will Demps being brought in via free agency. But a congenital kidney ailment cut Butler's training camp short and he was barely heard from outside of special teams after dropping a sure interception in the end zone against the Colts on the opening drive of the regular season. Continue

Banged-up Blue takes breather

The schedule is all-important to Tom Coughlin, but he made an adjustment yesterday morning, taking the pads off his Giants and putting the team in walk-through mode for an entire practice. Coughlin had seen enough the past few days to warrant pulling back a bit. A rash of nagging and semi-serious injuries left the Giants hurting in several areas.

So the morning workout was more about mental preparation, with an eye on Saturday's preseason opener against the Panthers at Giants Stadium. "I wanted to take some of the younger guys and some of the injured guys, get them involved in things they can do so they know exactly where they stand from a learning standpoint," Coughlin said. "Let their legs recover a little bit. Continue

Giants' full-time job

You get no visions of grandeur from Robert Douglas, who at the moment is the only true fullback in training camp with the Giants - and hoping it stays that way. "It really doesn't bother me that I don't get any glory," Douglas said yesterday between sweltering practice sessions. "I don't need to be the greatest fullback of all time, just as long as we're winning, I'll be happy." Continue

Be like Mike

When Osi Umenyiora was asked what effect on him the possible retirement of Michael Strahan would have, he contributed the following headline-making material. “It doesn’t matter,” Umenyiora said.

Don’t bother to stop the presses. This was not a backlash against Strahan. Entering his fifth season, Umenyiora believes the resume he’s already put together with the Giants has earned him special attention from opposing coaches in the form of constant double-teams and star-player treatment from the guys on the other side. Whether Strahan is here or not. Continue

Mathias awaits Mike

Mathias Kiwanuka probably thought that letting go of Vince Young prematurely was the hardest thing he would experience as a Giant. That was before he entered a three-month crash course on how to become a linebacker, studying films and learning to become comfortable in his new space a few yards behind where he used to line up with one hand in the grass at defensive end. But the toughest task in the new position is covering tight ends such as Jeremy Shockey. Continue

Knee not a problem for Giants receiver Toomer

Amani Toomer has been asked about a few other Giants - Michael Strahan, his longtime teammate, and young receivers Sinorice Moss and Steve Smith. Toomer is accustomed to being overlooked. But he's not ready to talk retirement, like Strahan, or about the future of the Giants' receiving corps, as with Moss and Smith. Toomer, as of now the longest-tenured Giant as he enters his 12th season, is only looking to prove his surgically repaired left knee is healthy enough for him to consistently contribute. Continue

Giant corners get their man

Sam Madison has played man-to-man defense for as long as he can remember. Corey Webster played it all through high school and college. They have both excelled in that scheme and struggled when they dropped into a zone. So why did the Giants' defense run mostly out of a zone last year? "It was the scheme that we were running at the time," Madison said. "I have no idea," Webster added. "I can't answer that question. I just know this year we'll do a lot more of man-to-man." Continue

Fully J-Loaded

The ball came out of the large and meaty hand of Jared Lorenzen, cutting through the stillness of another overheated morning yesterday, a perfect spiral to the right sideline.

Rookie cornerback Aaron Ross was in position to make a play but could not, as the placement and velocity of the football was in such synch that all Ross could to was reach upward in futility then whip his neck around to see another rookie, towering tight end Kevin Boss, make the grab in full stride before sliding to the grass. Check off another brilliant throw by Lorenzen. Continue

David can Diehl with new post

It seems to happen once every practice, sometimes more often than that. David Diehl lines up to protect Eli Manning's blind side, and then Osi Umenyiora makes a move and blows right by. It's only a week into the conversion of the 6-5, 319-pound Diehl from left guard to left tackle, so struggles - especially against a defensive end as quick as Umenyiora - were expected. But that doesn't make them any easier for Diehl to take.

"Yeah, he's gotten me bad early on," Diehl said. "It ticks me off. It happens and it's going to happen sometimes. It's how you bounce back from it. You make sure you learn from it and you see on film what you did wrong and what you need to do to correct it. You fix it and make sure it doesn't happen again." Continue

Idle Plaxico a happy camper

Plaxico Burress has spent the last two days in the trainer's room getting treatment on his ankles, and he's made it through less than half of the Giants' practices so far. Still, when he's been out there, he feels he's put on quite a show. "I think I'm having my best camp," Burress said yesterday. "I'm running in open field, getting off the line of scrimmage fine, still making athletic plays. I don't think there's any setbacks. I'm doing what I'm capable of doing."

Burress, the Giants' No. 1 receiver, knew he'd be limited to one practice a day because he was recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle back in March. But he was reduced to none-a-day after he landed awkwardly and sprained his right ankle Thursday night. Continue

Kiwanuka adjusting to new position

One of the biggest challenges for Mathias Kiwanuka during his switch from defensive end to linebacker didn't come on the field. It was in the film room. While watching tape in the spring, Kiwanuka was supposed to be focusing on the "When you see yourself, it's hard not to look at yourself," Kiwanuka said the other day between practices at training camp. "As a player, you're always drawn to, 'What did I do on this play?'"

Lately, Kiwanuka hasn't had any trouble focusing on his responsibilities because he has compiled plenty of tape on himself at linebacker. Nor is he looking back to his old position, taking a peek at Osi Umenyiora or Justin Tuck and wishing he was back on the line with his hand in the grass. strong-side linebacker. But he often found himself watching No. 97, who was lined up at end. Continue

Linebackers could be strength for Giants

The Giants and quality linebackers haven't exactly gone together the last decade or so. The draft has been a relative wasteland for them at the position, and aside from Antonio Pierce, the free-agent talent brought in hasn't had enough of an impact.

There's a good chance that could change this season. Mathias Kiwanuka is learning the strong-side position slowly, but his natural skills are promising. Pierce is entrenched in the middle as the defensive leader. Reggie Torbor, Chase Blackburn and Gerris Wilkinson, along with rookie Zak DeOssie, could give the Giants real depth. Continue

Rough corners

Play after play, the ball was flung in the direction of Aaron Ross, the Giants first-round draft pick, a cornerback who surely will have better days.

First, Jared Lorenzen threw one of his fastballs at David Tyree, who made a diving catch in front of Ross. Next, Sinorice Moss lost Ross on a fake and hauled in an Eli Manning pass. Finally, Ross failed to stick with Michael Jennings, who broke free but dropped a ball thrown directly into his hands by Manning. If this were a fight, Ross would have been disqualified. Continue

Giant 'D' turns to Pierce

There are moments on the field when Antonio Pierce can feel Michael Strahan's absence. When things aren't going well for the defense, he can feel everyone's eyes on him. "Guys are kind of looking to me like, 'Hey, say something. Let's get a word,'" Pierce said. "I've always had that feeling, so it's something I would do naturally. But now if I don't do it, it's kind of like, 'Uhhh.... ' Before, if I didn't do it, Strahan would definitely be right there."

Strahan, of course, remains home in California, contemplating retirement and so far racking up $100,016 in fines for his seven-day training-camp holdout. He's not only left a huge void on the left side of the Giants' defensive line, but another one in the huddle, where his powerful voice carried weight. Continue

Shockey's time

The obsession about who is not here at Giants training camp was supposed to revolve around Tiki Barber. That storyline was interrupted by a summer held hostage by Michael Strahan.

Strahan's absence and holdout greatly affects the defensive front; Barber's retirement changes the dynamic in the running game and alters the face of the offense. When someone was needed to get the tough yards, pick up the first down, offer a state-of-the-team address or, on occasion, to tweak the coaching staff, Barber willingly moved front and center. Continue

Mara: Not way for Strahan to end career

Giants president and co-owner John Mara has given Michael Strahan plenty of money over the years and gotten plenty of good years in return. Mara believes his defensive star when Strahan said he's considering retirement and not looking for a raise. But Mara also believes this saga is unbecoming of someone with Strahan's legacy.

"This is no way for his career to end," Mara said yesterday. "He should go out on a much better note than this. I still believe he's going to be in at some point, but who knows?"Yesterday was Mara's first day at Giants training camp and he spent the morning as he usually does, watching his team practice. He wished Strahan was on the field, but he's grown accustomed to the realities of dealing with players. Continue

Healthy Toomer out to make fans forget last year

By the last home game, Amani Toomer couldn’t take it anymore, not that he was alone in his feelings. Of course, he was only 10 feet from the sideline, on crutches, “wanting to lace ‘em up,” as opposed to the fans wanting to string ‘em up or just throw up. Regardless, the same basic frustrations kept Toomer at home during the Saints debacle.

“It was killing me, seeing the person playing my position getting single coverage when they were doubling Plax [Burress] and Shockey,” said Toomer. “There were opportunities to make plays.” Continue

Big Blue blowup

If the Giants actually sign Simeon Rice to replace Michael Strahan, do not expect Osi Umenyiora to embrace the move by welcoming the former Buccaneer with open arms. Every day the Giants have been in training camp, Umenyiora has spoken with missing Michael. The two are fast friends and have the same agent, Tony Agnone. Connect the dots. Much of what Strahan is thinking and feeling, Umenyiora yesterday was saying and revealing.

"We're not talking about Julius Peppers," Umenyiora said, comparing Rice to the Panthers' stud defensive end. "Simeon Rice is an outstanding pass rusher, but that's what he is." Continue

Toomer taking return from injury in stride

Amani Toomer stunned his coach on Friday afternoon with how well he did in the Giants' conditioning test. Then he surprised everyone again yesterday morning with a good performance in his first practice in nearly nine months. "I felt a little bit rusty," Toomer said. "But no pain, no swelling. I feel pretty good. I didn't really push it as much as I could have."

Toomer, who tore his ACL last November, will be limited to one practice per day at training camp for the foreseeable future, but he put on quite a show in his one appearance. The veteran receiver caught several passes, including a nice grab on the sideline where he stopped short, turned, snatched the ball and turned upfield. "Ol' 81, I haven't seen him in a while," fellow wideout Plaxico Burress said. "It's good to have him back. He's one of the guys that kind of keeps everybody upbeat. It's just good to see him out there running around." Continue

As camp nears, Strahan status remains a Giant question

Michael Strahan almost certainly will report to training camp with the rest of his Giants teammates on Thursday morning. Probably ... at least, he will unless he changes his mind.

According to sources on both sides, there are no current plans for the 35-year-old Strahan to hold out in an effort to get an increase in his $4 million salary, despite months of rumors and reports. However, everyone acknowledges that Strahan is unhappy with his contract, not thrilled with the team's offseason activity, and is a wild card who on a whim could decide not to show up. Continue

In with the blue

No, the Giants do not head to Albany for the start of training camp instantly saddled with a losing record or already mired in last place. It only feels that way.

The Giants on Friday begin their month-long upstate stay on even footing with every other NFL team, eager and optimistic and ready to strap on the pads and commence with the heavy lifting and hitting. Every camp opens up with its own set of unique problems to get fixed and concerns to address. The Giants have more of these than most teams that want to believe they are playoff contenders. Continue

Fans' guide to Giants camp

Where

University at Albany

When

Saturday, July 28-Wednesday, Aug. 23

Times

Practices alternate between one and two per day; the two-a-days run from 8:40-10:40 a.m. and 6:10-8:10 p.m. One-a-days are 2:40-4:40 p.m.

Tickets

Admission is free and there are a limited number of bleacher seats around the fields for fans. PARKING $5 a day or $15 for the entire camp, which can be purchased through the university ticket office.

Giants preseason schedule

AUG. 11 CAROLINA, 8 p.m., Ch. 4

AUG. 19 at Baltimore, 8 p.m., Ch. 4

AUG. 25 JETS, 8 p.m., Ch. 4

AUG. 30 at New England, 7:30 p.m., Ch. 4

(Newsday)

Tom will hear gripes from players' committee

In an effort aimed at fostering a better flow of communication between players and head coach and nip any and all sniping in the bud, Tom Coughlin will assemble a Leadership Council that will come to him with grievances and/or suggestions not long after the Giants open training camp in Albany.

"It'll be comprised of different people in different stages, position-wise and number of years of service," Coughlin told The Post. "And hopefully that will be a means of communication between the players and myself." Coughlin would not divulge names, but Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Shaun O'Hara and Antonio Pierce are certain to be members of the Leadership Council. "I think it could be anywhere from 8-to-12 [players]," Coughlin said. Continue

Shockey, Burress no-shows at Giants camp

Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress were again among the no-shows as the Giants opened their offseason workout program yesterday. Both players have annually skipped the technically voluntary program to work out with personal trainers in Miami. New Giants GM Jerry Reese had said he hoped to talk the tight end and wide receiver into attending at least part of the program this year. And quarterback Eli Manning said in January that he thought Burress "might be here a little bit more this offseason."

It's possible they both still will attend part of the program, which runs through June. Among the players who did attend yesterday were Michael Strahan, who is recovering from a badly sprained foot, and William Joseph, who has skipped the program in the past. Continue

Lorenzen may be one at No. 2

Jared Lorenzen will take his shot at the Giants' backup quarterback job when he replaces Eli Manning sometime in the second half of Friday night's preseason game against the Jets. The 6-4, 285-pound Lorenzen has had a terrific training camp in his second season with the Giants. Known more in his first NFL season for his weight than for his ability, he's surprised many by mounting a challenge to Tim Hasselbeck and Rob Johnson for the backup job.

Manning and Lorenzen will be the only two quarterbacks to have appeared in all three preseason games for the Giants. Lorenzen has completed seven of 12 passes for 58 yards and in Baltimore led the Giants on a game-winning field-goal drive. Hasselbeck will follow Lorenzen in the game, if there is time, Tom Coughlin said. Johnson is not expected to play. Asked if Lorenzen had earned the chance to be the backup on Friday, Coughlin said, "It's his turn." Continue

Diehl him in

News flash: David Diehl practiced last night. He's expected to do so again today. At a time when every ache and pain is documented, when players take a day off with this strain and miss a portion of a workout with that muscle pull, Diehl's name never appears on the wounded list.

As training camp wound down, Diehl's presence on the field was not a story. Not ever. He came, he worked, and he's set to leave today when the Giants - luxury SUVs and Mercedes sedans gassed and ready - speed off the University at Albany campus this afternoon after a late-morning practice and a quick lunch. Diehl will join the caravan after another summer of perfect attendance. Continue

Kiwanuka emerges as key

When the Giants chose Mathias Kiwanuka in the first round of the draft in April, even a few defensive players raised their eyebrows at the choice. With Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck on the roster, what was the point of taking another defensive end? "Of course, when that comes across you wonder what they were thinking and what was the purpose behind it," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "But obviously it looks like they made the right decision. The guy can flat-out play."

All it took was one training camp and two preseason games for the players to see what the Giants' scouts and front office saw in the 6-5, 262-pounder out of Boston College. His speed and tenacity make him difficult to block. And he is already way ahead of where most of his new teammates expected him to be. Continue

Working man

The Giants chart every one of the hundreds of Eli Manning passes and break down the success or failure of each throw into one of four quadrants on the field. If, for example, Manning is missing on too many throws to his left middle, that means he's not properly opening up his body for a more effective motion.

Manning yesterday was asked about the data, about what the quadrant study revealed, but after a moment or two actually appeared amused by the analysis. "You all are looking into it more than I've been," he said, smiling. "It's very simple, really." Continue

Coughlin opens door to Plaxico

A few weeks ago, Plaxico Burress lamented that he wished he had a better relationship with Tom Coughlin, and added that he might if only Coughlin would learn to lighten up. Yesterday, Coughlin said that if Burress - or any player - wants a relationship, "the door's open. Come on in. Sit down."

Addressing his tenuous relationship with his star receiver during a wide-ranging, 39-minute interview with beat writers, Coughlin insisted, "I'm just as approachable as anybody else for a good story or a laugh or anything like that. I'm no different than anybody else that way." He also said he does not purposely try to keep his players at arm's length. And even if his style bothers some, his intentions are only to win. Continue

Coughlin: close battle for remaining QB spots

Following his first game action in 2 1/2 years after elbow surgery, Rob Johnson was hard on himself in the aftermath of last Friday's 17-0 preseason victory over the Chiefs. Yesterday, Tom Coughlin was not as harsh.

"You saw the athleticism, you saw all of the maneuverability, you saw the competitive nature," Coughlin said. "You saw him make the completion on fourth down to keep the drive going. He thought he had a touchdown on the ball that was tipped on third down, down close. It's inconsistent, but he did gain a lot by playing. He hadn't played in a long time. It definitely helped him." Continue

Robbins in front by a nose

The word "soft" didn't sit well with Fred Robbins when Tom Coughlin tossed it at the Giants' defensive line, because it was pretty clear it was thrown in the direction of the defensive tackles. And it took only two plays into Thursday night's preseason game for Robbins to make his feelings clear.

That's when the 6-4, 325-pounder stuffed Chiefs running back Larry Johnson for a four-yard loss. And that was the first signal that the 29-year-old Robbins wasn't ready to give up his job without a fight. Continue

Jacobs tries to solidify spot as Tiki's backup

Tom Coughlin ticked off the names of a few younger players he liked from Thursday's 17-0 win over the Chiefs: Michael Jennings, the speedy punt returner and wide receiver; Mike Jemison, last on the running back depth chart; and Guy Whimper, a rookie tackle who shook off a sore hip to play well late.

Those are not players who will have a huge impact on the 2006 Giants.One young player who can, Brandon Jacobs, has been showing Coughlin some new maturity over the first two preseason games. And it's not just about barreling over opponents with the ball in his hands. Continue

Silent Strahan to let play talk

Michael Strahan looks good. It's hard to look bad behind the wheel of a Bentley or an Aston Martin, the cars Strahan has been driving to training camp. On the practice field, it's harder to tell.

At 34, Strahan doesn't need to kill himself on every play, and Tom Coughlin held him out of last Friday's preseason opener in Baltimore for preservation. Strahan will play tonight against the Chiefs, but even 20 or so plays may give little indication of how prepared the seven-time Pro Bowler is for his 14th season. Continue

Carter rolling past Moss

One of the anticipated moves when Giants training camp started was that before long, rookie Sinorice Moss would supplant Tim Carter as the No. 3 receiver. That hasn't happened. Moss strained a quadriceps muscle and hasn't practiced since July 29. Oft-injured Carter fought through tendinitis in his knee and has been a fixture on the field, attracting praise from Tom Coughlin for his durability.

"Tim has hung in there," Coughlin said. "He's been on the field. The guys that are out practicing and playing, they might not be a stellar player every day, but they are out there." Continue

Third & long for Johnson

Eleven years ago, Rob Johnson was a promising, young USC star with a golden arm and what Tom Coughlin described as "that look in his eye." He was smart, talented, athletic and had his whole career in front of him. Tonight at Giants Stadium, the 33-year-old QB will be taking one last shot at prolonging that career.

Sometime in the second quarter of tonight's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Johnson will lead the Giant offense and take his shot at the backup quarterback job. It will be his first game action since Dec. 22, 2003 when he was with the Oakland Raiders. A few months later he underwent Tommy John elbow surgery to repair that once-golden arm. Continue

Plaxico sacks Coughlin's style

Plaxico Burress came to the Giants last year and prepared himself physically for a great season. He had one of the best of his six NFL seasons and one of the best ever for a Giants receiver. Mentally, he was a bit unprepared for Tom Coughlin, and the laid-back Burress and the intense Coughlin never meshed well. Burress was fined for lateness, benched for a quarter in San Diego, then took a powder for the exit meeting with his coach after the playoff loss to the Panthers.

The 6-5, 225-pound Burress knows now what to expect, so he's prepared himself physically and mentally for this season. He admitted to "breaking down a little" at the end of last season after starting with five touchdown catches in six games, so he tried to build stamina this offseason for the seasonlong grind of double-teams. Continue

All systems are go for 'O'

The Giants offense that looked so out of sync last Friday in Baltimore was missing several key components. But all of them are expected to be in the lineup tomorrow night. RB Tiki Barber, TE Jeremy Shockey (concussion) and G Chris Snee (knee) are all expected to play at Giants Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. And they should be joined by WR Amani Toomer, who had been nursing a strained hamstring at camp this week. Continue

Catch-22

Tiki Barber will play Thursday night against the Chiefs. So will Michael Strahan. Those two veteran stars were given the night off last week in Baltimore for the preseason opener. It was coach Tom Coughlin's way of easing the physical load on older players.

That's the juggling act every NFL coach must consider as training camp wears on and four preseason games fill the calendar before the start of the regular season. Do the veterans play? If so, how much? Injuries are inevitable during any games; can they be avoided in the preseason? Continue

Rookie DT gets his shot

After their "soft" performance Friday night, it's possible that at least one of the Giants' starting defensive tackles on opening night will be someone who is not yet on the roster. Rookie Barry Cofield hopes the Giants look inside first.

"That's what I think deep inside: Why can't I step up and be that guy?" the fourth-round pick said yesterday. "But I understand the coaches when they want a guy with experience. I haven't been through a season this long in all my life, so to put all that on my shoulders, I can understand their apprehension. But I'm trying to show them I can do it." Continue

Osi tired of hearing Coughlin's criticism

Two days after what Tom Coughlin called a "soft" performance in Baltimore by the defensive line, yesterday's morning meeting wasn't a pleasant one for DE Osi Umenyiora. "Obviously, I'm the worst defensive end in all of football after hearing the comments that were made in there," he said. "At this point in my career I feel like I know when I made a mistake. There's nothing a coach can say to me that I haven't said to myself 10 times already. As soon as I mess up, I know. So you don't have to do that to me." (Daily News)

Jints may go to Mat

He'd be strolling around Boston, a striking figure at 6-5 and 260 pounds, tall and statuesque. Surely, Mathias Kiwanuka looked like an athlete. "My whole entire career at B.C., I'd be walking around the street and people would be like, 'Oh, what are you, a receiver?' " Kiwanuka said yesterday. "People always think defensive ends are bigger than what they are."

No, he's not a receiver. He's a rookie defensive end for the Giants, a first-round draft pick, selected despite a roster already rich with Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, a pair of Pro Bowl defensive ends, and the presence of Justin Tuck, a promising second-year player at that very same position. Continue

Pressure mounting on Joseph

There are moments when William Joseph is a force in the middle of the Giants' defensive line. He has been a dominant run-stuffer and he has put pressure on quarterbacks. Far too often, though, he has just disappered.

That is the mystery of the enigmatic Joseph, one of the defensive tackles the Giants are desperately hoping will respond to Tom Coughlin's criticisim that the defensive line was "soft" in Friday's preseason opener in Baltimore. "He's a good player," defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. "He's got all the talent in the world. He's an explosive player. All he's got to do is put it together and he'll be good." Continue

A Giant chance

There was no live scrimmage. No other team was brought in for one of those joint-session workouts. Heck, there hasn't even been much as far as full-contact goal-line drills. No one says the Giants aren't getting their work in during training camp at the University of Albany but, two weeks in, they need something more.

"We need to play," coach Tom Coughlin said. No kidding. There are only so many 7-on-7 passing drills to run and tackling dummies to hit. Enough is enough. The Giants need to up the tempo and raise the stakes, and both will be accomplished tonight when they open up their preseason schedule against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Continue

Giant getting quick look

Nobody made a bigger first impression than Michael Jennings when the Giants reported to camp. Tonight, the Giants will see if he can make a similar impression on the field. For Jennings, tonight's exhibition opener against the Baltimore Ravens is "the opportunity of a lifetime." The 5-11 former Florida State track star, who never played college football, expects to see plenty of action after the starters finish off their quarter. And he has his eyes focused directly on the Giants' sixth wide receiver spot.

"It's a dream come true," the 26-year-old Jennings said. "You only get a certain amount of chances in life. Sometimes you get the ball and you've just got to make the shot. I'm going to just take the shot, let it go." Continue

Unknown Sims ready to run

After Tiki Barber gets his hands on the ball a few times, after Brandon Jacobs gets to rumble some, Giants fans who invest time watching tonight's preseason opener against the Ravens will get to see a whole lot of James Sims running with the football.

Who? Yes, that's often what these summer games are all about. Sims is an undrafted rookie free agent from Washington. He is a converted safety who last year led the Huskies with 495 rushing yards. With Derrick Ward out with a broken foot, everyone moves up on the depth chart and Ward's misfortune is Sims' reward, as he'll get a chance to open some eyes running against the Ravens' second- and third-string defense at M&T Bank Stadium. Continue

Raven reviews for Demps

There are two disparate ways Will Demps can view what he left behind in Baltimore. He can curse the Ravens for dumping him after four solid seasons or he can thank them for turning on the ignition of his career.

When he arrives tomorrow night at M&T Bank Stadium for his debut with the Giants, Demps knows he will be hit with a twinge of nostalgia and some strange vibes when the Ravens' defense takes the field without him. He's also fairly certain he will feel happy about where he started and even happier about where he's landed. Continue

Tim, Jared get 1st crack

Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen will get the first shots at winning the backup quarterback jobs behind Eli Manning. Rob Johnson's Giants debut will have to wait another week. That was the decision announced by Tom Coughlin yesterday, when he revealed his quarterback rotation for tomorrow night's preseason opener in Baltimore. Eli Manning will start, but is unlikely to play more than a quarter. Hasselbeck and then Lorenzen will come in next.

The 33-year-old Johnson, who played for Coughlin in Jacksonville and is attempting to come back from Tommy John surgery, will get his first shot at Giants Stadium on Aug.17 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Continue

Shockey not a happy camper

Jeremy Shockey yesterday called the way NFL teams run training camps a "debacle" and insists the rugged two-a-day practices serve mainly to get players worn down and injured. Shockey, back to action on a limited basis after suffering a concussion last week, will not be cleared to play in Friday's preseason opener in Baltimore.

The injury came when Shockey lunged to reach an Eli Manning pass, was hit with a glancing blow by safety Will Demps and then crashed head-first to the grass. Shockey maintains that today's players do not need to be put through the rigors that are a part of the annual summer football ritual. Continue

Jacobs' ladder

In his record-setting 2005 season, Tiki Barber touched the ball a staggering 427 times, yet his greatest contribution, his single most significant moment, quite possibly was a play in which the ball was not anywhere near his clutches.

It was Barber who, on a thrilling Oct. 23 afternoon at Giants Stadium, correctly deciphered where the Denver pressure was coming from. It was Barber who diagnosed that safety John Lynch would be charging up the middle and linebacker Ian Gold was set to rocket in from the edge. It was Barber who made the determination to move outside and to his right, intent on impeding the onrushing Gold. It was Barber who got the leverage to stand Gold up and push him back, enabling Eli Manning to backpedal just enough to buy the time for his game-winning touchdown toss to Amani Toomer. Continue

Seubert blocking out injury

There was a time when Rich Seubert looked like he was going to be a fixture on the Giants' offensive line for years. It's hard to believe that was three years ago. But Friday night in Baltimore, the 27-year-old Seubert will be back in the starting lineup, this time at right guard in place of the injured Chris Snee.

Seubert has been back in action for more than a year, but he's mostly been a reserve during his comeback from the frightening leg injury he suffered on Oct. 19, 2003. "I'm just holding Chris' spot down for him," Seubert said. "He'll be back before we know it. Chris is a tough kid." Continue

Shock returns to field

The largest training camp crowd of the summer roared in approval yesterday morning after Jeremy Shockey leaped to haul in an Eli Manning pass. It's never quite the same without Shockey on the field for the Giants.

The return of the tight end came six days after he suffered a concussion last Monday night. Shockey, who was hurt after taking a glancing blow from safety Will Demps and crashing head-first onto the field, missed four full days of practices but with his head cleared, the training staff declared him ready to go on a somewhat limited basis. Continue

Backup slinger

After each throw, it would be understandable if Tim Hasselbeck immediately craned his neck one way to see if coach Tom Coughlin was nodding in approval, and then turned his head the other way to see the reaction of his competition.

Understandable, yes. Productive, no. "My first couple of years, that's all I thought about," Hasselbeck said yesterday. "Really, it never helped me and usually I ended up being the guy who got cut. That obviously didn't work out real well." Continue

Driving '55'

Day after day, practice after practice, Tricia Arrington peers out on the field, watching her famous husband in action. Around her are fans and scouts and hangers-on, a varied collection gathered at the University of Albany. They come and they go. There is only one wife who stays on the scene day after day, practice after practice.

"She's awesome, isn't she?" LaVar Arrington marveled. "She's dedicated." One drill rolls into the next. Air horns blare, players - dripping in the summer swelter - stampede from one field to the other. Tricia Arrington takes it all in, seeing all but intently zeroing in on her husband, the new Giants linebacker wearing No. 55, now calling himself "Mr. Nickels," a one-time star eager for a new beginning in blue. Continue

Osi shows no signs of fall-off

Osi Umenyiora likes to say he doesn't think any offensive tackle should be able to block him one-on-one. And that's not just his first Pro Bowl selection talking. He said that last training camp, too, before his 14 1/2-sack season.

But the tackle who sees him most - especially during the long days of camp - sees enough evidence of growth in the defensive end that he believes Umenyiora again will back up his confident talk this season."He's becoming a complete player," said Luke Petitgout, who goes up against Umenyiora every day in practice. "He's not just flying off the ball. Well, he is, but he's not a one-dimensional player." Continue

Madison blues

Before Sam Madison ever stepped foot on the field here for training camp, he was asked if he still had something to prove. Entering his 10th season in the NFL, armed with four Pro Bowl appearances and 31 interceptions on his resume, Madison has done plenty of proving. But he has done nothing yet with the Giants.

"I still have something to prove to Coach [Tom] Coughlin," Madison said. "And you have a lot of other guys who heard about you playing in Miami and it doesn't matter what they have heard. It is what you do today." Continue

Plax comes up with swollen ankle

Plaxico Burress found a way to beat the blistering heat yesterday, spending the morning practice sitting on the sidelines with his right ankle wrapped in ice. Burress, the Giants' top receiver, missed the workout after waking up yesterday morning with unexplained swelling in his ankle. Neither he nor coach Tom Coughlin seemed to think the injury was serious.

"It's just a little sore." Burress said. "It's nothing to get overly excited about," he added. "I just woke up this morning. It was a little sore, a little stiff. I couldn't really get it warmed up. So I told the trainers I couldn't go." Continue

New York Giants Help American Cancer Society Tackle Cancer Issues

The New York Giants players, coaches and fans showed their support for the fight against cancer this morning by signing a banner as part of the American Cancer Society's Wall of Hope.  Signatures collected at training camp today will be on display in Washington DC next month with more than 400 other banners from around the country at the organization's national Celebration on the Hill event.  The display will is part of an effort to educate lawmakers and the public about cancer.

Tom Coughs up a break for Giants

Plaxico Burress wants Tom Coughlin to lighten up and he did yesterday. The coach cut practice short by half an hour yesterday, not because of Burress but due to the oppressive heat in what was the hottest day of this year's camp at the University at Albany.

With temperatures in the mid 90s but excessive conditions making it feel like 107, Coughlin repeatedly had his players watered down and well-hydrated while cutting down on passing plays to keep his players safe. After losing Jeremy Shockey to a mild concussion on the third to last play of the practice the night before, Coughlin did not want to see any of his players go down due to the unbearable heat. Continue

Heavy hitters

Entering his third year with the Giants, strong safety Gibril Wilson is heavier and more muscular than ever before. Joining him in the secondary is free safety Will Demps, who spent the previous four seasons forging a reputation as a hard hitter for the Ravens. As they learn each other's moves, a common goal has already surfaced. Make sure no one feels comfortable treading on their turf. And that includes teammates. Continue

Plax piles on Tom

Plaxico Burress would love to see Tom Coughlin crack a smile every now and then. Well, at least maybe once during training camp. One day after Jeremy Shockey said the Giants' coach can be "an ass sometimes" (which he added is needed), Burress said Coughlin could lighten up a bit. That would help warm up what has been a frosty relationship between the star wide receiver and the coach.

"He is definitely a tough guy," Burress said yesterday after the morning practice at the University at Albany. "As far as me and him, our relationship is getting a little better as far as a working relationship. We really didn't get off to a really good start and hopefully we can see eye to eye and I am pretty sure that we want to accomplish the same things as player and coach. Continue

Shockey drilled in drill

Jeremy Shockey collided with safety Will Demps trying to catch a pass near the end of last night's two-minute drill and stayed down for a few seconds before finishing the final two plays. After slamming his helmet down after the offense failed to convert a fourth down, Shockey walked off the field under his own power with a trainer but did step gingerly down a flight of stairs. The team did not release any further information on Shockey's status.

Earlier, he tried to kill any leftover controversy he created the day before with his comments about how tough To