NY Giant Nation: New York Giants Football Blog

How We get Back to the Top

2010-02-01T17:52:00.002-05:00

With another Giants season fading quickly into a distant memory and the Super bowl less than a week away, Giants fans can begin to accept that this was never a team of destiny in 2009. Only a biased observer would try and argue that these Giants could have given either Indy or New Orleans a run for their money this year in Miami. The Colts and Saints deserve to be the final two standing today even after late season “collapses” that led many talking heads to predict an early exit for both or at least one of them in this year’s playoffs. Hopefully, the Giants will be watching on Sunday as these two goliaths match up against one another, because this team has much to learn if they want to get back to their own championship hopes. This is not to say that this team is far away, personnel wise, from competing for the Lombardi Trophy once again, but there is much work to be done, and the Giants must rededicate themselves physically and mentally to get back to playing at this point in the season.

As unimaginable as it may be, it seems obvious it is the defense that needs a complete renovation at almost every level. Just two years removed from their remarkable run through the playoffs, things have taken a complete 180 on that side of the ball. Bill Sheridan was a disaster, especially in contrast to the genius of Steve Spagnuolo who seemed to squeeze maximum effort out of this group every game. Injuries, also, showed a true lack of depth behind the starters, this can be traced back to the GM Jerry Reese who must be evaluating the team’s personnel on a day-to-day basis even when there appears to be no holes in the lineup.

Offensively, the team may have taken a step forward in 2009. Eli Manning had arguably the best season of his career. He led the Giants with the 8^th ranked scoring offense in the league, however offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride didn’t seem willing to let him take over offensively in some games, instead reverting back to a 2007 mindset when the running game led the way in dominant fashion. This kind of backwards thinking will cause teams to falter after good years. This can be the difference for teams creating success year in and year out, and is how the Patriots won three Super bowls in five years. The receiving corps turned out to be quite formidable after the loss of Plaxico Burress, it was the running game that seemed to lack identity, never managing to have the right back on the field in the right situation. There is some shuffling to be done on the offensive line but other than that this group seems prepared to put up some points in 2010/11.

The following is a concise analysis looking ahead to the 2010 offseason:

RB: Brandon Jacobs is either at the end of the line, worn out from a bruising style of rushing, or a readjustment is needed to get him back to the bulldozer he naturally is. Giving Jacobs 10-15 carries a game is not enough for a running back who thrives on wearing out the defense over a game until he is literally running through defenders, I understand the thinking is that this would preserve him over a season and it worked but he was virtually ineffective and seemingly unmotivated especially on some of the 3^rd and 1’s that were not converted by the big man.

QB: Nothing needs to be said here, Eli Manning was fantastic this year, 93.1 passer rating, over 4,000 yards thru the air, and 27 touchdown passes make him a serious threat to enter the elite status of quarterbacks that only a handful in the league can lay claim to.

WR: This young corps of receivers must make Eli Manning excited at the prospect of the future. Dominick Hixon is a restricted free agent and could become unrestricted if 2010 becomes an uncapped year. It would be great to be able to bring him back but he won’t be worth it if he demands top dollar in the offseason. Hackeem Nicks and Mario Manningham appear to be a formidable top two for some time to come.

OL: This group has been a staple of the Giants offense for some time but they appeared to lose some push as the season wore on. With Will Beatty waiting in the wings, it would appear the best option would be to cut Kareem McKenzie who regressed tremendously with the season. Even the likes of Rick Seubert and David Diehl should have their talent evaluated; other avenues should be evaluated and considered leaving no stone unturned.

DL: The defensive line was assumed to be one of the top units in the league before the year started but this hypothesis proved disastrous and disappointing can only begin to encompass how bad they were. Barry Cofield may turn out to be a free agent in which case he should be allowed to walk. Fred Robbins is now a shadow of his former self and should be cut immediately. And although there may be Giants fans out there willing to give this man another year in which to redeem himself, Osi Umenyiora should be given the axe as well, keeping him will only lead to more disappointment next year, I assure you. The Giants should do everything they can to grab Elvis Dumervil who would be looked at as the second coming of Umenyiora, before he broke down.

LB: With Antonio Pierce expected to not be retained; this group surely needs to be revamped. With who or through what kind of acquisition is up in the air. The draft is one option with Florida’s Brandon Spikes expected to be on the Giants radar come April. Demeco Ryans is on the market, as well as Karlos Dansby and both should be given a look.

CB: The secondary has a chance to redeem itself potentially come next season. Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas and Aaron Ross are formidable to good players that could have a great season if safety Kenny Phillips comes back in good shape from knee surgery. CC Brown should be cut however; this evaluation does not mean the Giants should not pursue upgrades at literally every position on the defensive side.

Expect a lot of hard work this offseason from Reese or you can watch for his head to be on the chopping block come next year.

Charger 21, Giants 20

2009-11-09T00:11:00.000-05:00

My oh my what a game it turned out to be in the Meadowlands on Sunday. A lot of Giants fans I'm sure had a feeling of anxiousness and enthusiasm to see how their beloved Big Blue would respond since getting trounced last Sunday in Philadelphia. The answer is simply that they did indeed lose another game to push their losing streak to four straight. The positive part of this loss, if there is any positive in losing is that the Giants seemed to play three and a half quarters of football. With that said, obviously three and a half quarters is not near enough to get a win in the National Football League and the Giants experienced that first hand Sunday.

Looking at the problems that the Giants have faced during this stretch, their offense seemed to produce solid numbers today. Eli Manning and company managed to out gain San Diego by a count of 304-266. Manning seemed solid in completing 25 of 33 passes for a total of 215 yards and two touchdowns. Notice there was no mention of an interception in that stat line. So what went wrong? First and foremost the Giants are still not letting the run become established. The ability to pound the football has ever so magically vacated this team's repertoire and it is a major concern. Brandon Jacobs finished the game with 11 carries and 67 yards. That is a 6.1 yard per carry ratio and the guy only touches the rock 11 times? Not very logical on the offensive coordinators part. Jacob's running mate, Ahmad Bradshaw got the ball handed his way 14 times and managed 39 yards. Now simply put, the player with the most running yards and seems to be more effective runs less. That in a sense is hurting the New York Giants.

With the ability to stick to the run and establish it early, opens passing lanes for Manning and his receivers to work more freely. Instead, there were countless times today when the offense is still launching passes down field and not connecting on first and ten. Then, on a second and ten they are predicted to run the ball and prove so more than half of the time. This can force some bad third down situations for the offense and kind of give the make or break type of feel in the offensive flow. That break in the offensive flow came inside the four yard line after a Terrell Thomas interception and return. The Giants were in business in the red zone with four opportunities and yet again, failed. Run, pass or what have you, a winning team needs to find ways to get seven instead of three in that situation.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants played solid and held LaDanian Tomlinson to just 22 yards. That is stellar! They forced Phillip Rivers into two interceptions, so there are your turnovers. The only known fact and ailing complication the Giants face is the ability to create that ever so important pass rush. Again, Rivers was hit late if at all and was sacked just twice. After playing well as a collective unit for three and a half quarters, the moment of truth suddenly became the moment to forget. Rivers was able to move the ball 80 yards on the Chargers' final drive of the game and throw the game winning touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson.

But wait, the Giants were supposed to win. According to the players and personnel they had a great week of practice and preparation. The mood in the locker room was upbeat and enthusiastic to be playing at home with a chance of ending this so called, "misery." That was the supposed action plan. The reality of it all is that the Giants sit at 5-4 heading into their buy week with the likes of Dallas now 6-2 after their win tonight against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are 5-3 and the Giants are in third place looking up. Big Blue faces a very tough road the rest of the way, starting with hosting the Atlanta Falcons two weeks from now. The true test of this 2007 champion will be turning around this dismal streak they have inevitably put together.

Photos Courtesy of: Giants.com

Leaders Fed Up!

2009-11-05T02:08:00.000-05:00

According to giants.com writer, Michael Eisen, the leaders of this team in particular Antonio Pierce stepped up and criticized their efforts for the last three weeks. Pierce went on to state, "We are turning into the laughingstocks as far as how we are playing defense." Pretty powerful words from the coach of the defensive unit. I mean giving up 112 points in three games certainly provides an uncharacteristic view of what Giants defense has been the past two to three seasons. The good news is that both defensive end Chris Canty and line backer Michael Boley practiced in full today and look to make their return. Boley played particularly well against Tampa in the Giants' 24-0 shut out. Canty was seen as a great addition from the Cowboys in the off season.

With injuries really hampering these player's season's the Giants would most likely be in a situation to consider them their life line. Both players were positive about their workouts today showing enthusiasm that their health is in good condition and in good spirits. Another solid day of practice/film sessions should motivate Big Blue and their returning players for their bout against San Diego.

Chargers vs. Giants Game Preview

2009-11-05T00:35:00.000-05:00

After three straight weeks of lackadaisical effort and three losses, the Giants gear up this week to take on the some what inconsistent San Diego Chargers this Sunday at the Meadowlands. The last time New York took the field at home, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals were able to come in and post a 27-17 victory. Last week, Big Blue got their rear ends beat in every facet of the game on the road in Philadelphia. Can the Giants stop the bleeding this week against this west coast opponent that boasts two talented running backs?

First thing is first. The Giants need to start maximizing their efforts up front on the defensive line. Their lack of pass rush and pressure on the opposing quarterback is really exposing the young secondary of this team. Everyone in the world can watch the games and blame the secondary solely for the lack of coverage and being in the wrong spots. If you do that, then you are wrong. The secondary starts up front with the amount of confusion and pressure the defensive line causes. Quarterbacks will be out of rhythm and then begin to rush throws or attempt to make plays with their feet. With this in mind, the secondary gets that extra second or two to make that important adjustment to the ball and make a play. The Giants are playing with a secondary that is somewhat depleted. Aaron Ross has yet to see action this year in his corner back position due to a hamstring injury. In the second game of the season, stud safety Kenny Phillips went down with a knee injury that will have him sidelined for the year. The verdict; C.C. Brown, an average at best four year veteran and rookie Bruce Johnson trying to fill the void. Brown has been caught more than once out of place and that problem needs to be addressed immediately.

Up front, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck have been just a tad bit above average this season with an inconsistent pass rush being produced. For this team to win and stop the bleeding of this three game losing streak, they need to be great. In the middle, Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins will need to plug the gaps on running plays and funnel the line towards the ball. The exciting thing about this week is that former Cowboy Chris Canty and linebacker Michael Boley will be back in the line up. Boley will help even out the line backer core with Antonio Pierce to provide better speed in coverage situations. Canty should be able to put himself in position to make plays when called upon, as well as keep Tuck and Umenyiora healthy. The defenses job this week: pressure Phillip Rivers into bad situations and force a turnover or two. Stop the run often and early and do not allow either back, Tomlinson or Sproles to get into a rhythm.

Offensively, the Giants have been abysmal in this three game losing streak. Eli Manning has not been playing like the contact player he is deemed to be. Forcing throws and being a bit indecisive at times has been the theory these past three weeks. Manning and the offense need to start establishing the run and pounding the football. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw need to get back to their punishing ways and run with authority. Shawn Merriman possesses good talent on the defensive side for the Chargers and the line and backs need to be aware of when he is blitzing in pass situations. Antonio Cromartie is a very talented defensive back, who's cousin intercepted a pass against the Giants when they hosted the Cardinals. So expect some ball hawking to be done on his part this weekend. Another key aspect to watch is the history behind these two quarterbacks taking the field. Manning was originally selected number one overall in the draft by San Diego, but did not feel that was where his heart was. Hence the move into the Big Blue picture and has led the Giants to a Superbowl in his six year career. Rivers was swapped for Manning after being picked fourth by Big Blue. There may be some tension and heat provided on the field between these two quarterbacks as both may have something to prove.

The Final Verdict: Defensively, play with tenacity and bring back that swagger that Giants football is all about. On the offensive side, establish an identity early with the run and let the pass open itself up after proving they can move the ball fluently down the field. This week is a huge game for the Giants as they head into their bye week in week 10. If they win, they can then possibly have a confidence build and finish the season strong. Losing four in a row may be tough to bounce back from morale wise. It all goes down at 4:15 this Sunday from the swamps of the Meadowlands.

Over 10,000 fans at Practice August 7th.

2009-08-12T14:34:00.000-04:00

Kevin Boss reports on his twitter account:

What a great turnout. Its great to see the NYGiantNation supporting the team.

Three go, two stay

2009-02-10T01:04:00.002-05:00

I actually think these were all the right moves.

In the first roster adjustments of the off-season, the Giants have cut Sam Madison, Rueben Droughns and Sammy Knight.

On the flip side, the Giants signed David Carr on a one-year, $2.1 million contract. Carr received a $1 mil signing bonus, and will be paid $1 mil for the season. The price of a competent back-up QB has skyrocketed, thanks to Tom Brady and Matt Cassell.

The Giants have also brought back Lawrence Tynes. Is this going to be another season of "Who is the kicker this week?"

What's next?

2009-02-03T13:30:00.003-05:00

The Giants ended the season on a sour note, losing to the Eagles in the playoffs.

Now it's time to look ahead.

The team needs a few more pieces to the puzzle to really prosper in the 2009-2010 season.

First up: Wide recievers
More than ever, we know the Giants need a nice, big receiver. After Plaxico went out with the gunshot to the leg, Eli Manning struggled to find a consistent receiver. Eli's passes also tend to sail, so getting a 6' 5" WR with big hands would be a huge addition.

Next: Who's the RB?
The Giants have to figure out who is going to carry the ball for them next season. Re-sign Brandon Jacobs seemed to be a no-brainer, but now with the knee injuries it may be more of a question mark. Derrick Ward is also a free agent, so it looks like they have to choose between the two. I think the Giants will keep Jacobs and then rely on Danny Ware to fill in as next years Ward. Ward to Ware. D to E. Only makes sense in the alphabet.

Third: Sign Eli?
Is it worth it? Yes, he won a Super Bowl MVP. Yes, he led the team to the championship. But is he worth a huge price tag. Rumors have been swirling that the Giants are looking to sign Manning long term. I'm not so sure. He's decent, and I'd like to see him around for a few more years, but I don't think I'm willing to lay the franchise in his hands.

Hixon & Starters Dominant in 37-34 Pre-Season Victory

2008-08-19T21:38:00.003-04:00

Domenik Hixon is really making the most of his opportunity this pre-season. As the top 3 Giants wideouts continue to sit, Hixon continues to impress. He was the star of the game against the Browns on Monday night. He finished the game with 4 receptions for 63 yards and two TDs. He also ran back a kickoff following a safety for 82 yards to the end zone. All his scoring action happened in the crazy first quarter and the Giants never looked back.

The starters looked head and shoulders above the Browns' starters on this night. Browns starting QB, Derek Anderson suffered a concussion and hurt his wrist after he was sacked by Osi Umenyiora in the 2nd Quarter.

Danny Ware also showed some nice flashes of talent throughout the second half as he racked up 97 yards on the ground on 10 carries. He had also made a 59 yard kick off return.

Eli, who struggled in the first quarter in the Lions game, finished 4 of 7 for 52 yards and two scores.

Giants' WRs Still Ailing

2008-08-17T19:57:00.004-04:00

The Giants have had a full training camp and have not had their full wide receiver corps healthy at all. The majority of receivers have been struck with nagging injuries that haven't allowed them to practice much at all. This could create a chemistry problem with QB Eli Manning. Just when Eli and the receivers seemed like they were really starting to click during last year's post season, this injury issue happens. Plaxico Burress has barely practiced at all until recently taking part in walk throughs. Amani Toomer and Steve Smith have had persistent injuries that have sidelined them for much of camp and Rookie Mario Manningham has been slow in recovering from a quad injury, frustrating the coaching staff.

Eli has also began to speculate if this will lead to a little rustiness early on. Here's an article that delves further into this problem from the Daily News by Ralph Vacchiano:

Eli Manning wonders when receivers will take the field

Derrick Ward Article

2008-08-14T11:00:00.003-04:00

Derrick Ward is in the midst of a pretty important training camp. He has to battle with backfield mates, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw for playing time this year. He proved last season that he could be more than just an insurance policy.
Ward is looking to show that he can be a an effective weapon despite being a part of a crowded backfield. He was almost a forgotten part of last year's team when he went down with a broken leg against the Bears. He made some big contributions when injuries struck the Giants backfield and made sure the offense didn't skip a beat. He hopes he can re-capture that short lived success and remind Giants fans that this could be a three headed monster rather than a two man show.

Mike Garafolo of The Newark Star-Ledger writes an article on Ward: New York Giants RB Derrick Ward Ready to Play

Plax Suits Up

2008-08-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

It was the first time all camp that you could catch Plaxico Burress wearing pads. After sitting out all of training camp so far due to a bum ankle, Plax finally hit the practice field yesterday. Burress seemingly hasn't practiced in about a full year as he didn't sniff the practice field since the very beginning of last year as he fought through injuries.

It was good to see Burress taking a step in the right direction, although he was only jogging some routes and participated in the walk throughs. The Giants got him back but did not have Toomer or Derrick Ward on the practice field. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Tom Coughlin said, "We’re going to have to see with them, they both have sore knees and are going to have to see the doctor." The team is hopeful Ward will return to practice Thursday as there is no practice to be held today.

While there is a lot of hype and attention surrounding Giants rookie Saftey Kenny Phillips, Terrell Thomas is flying under the radar a bit but has still impressed the coaches to this point. Here's a good read on the second round pick out of USC by Tom Rock of Newsday:

Giants Rookie Thomas is First-Class Second Rounder

Hixon Raising Eyebrows

2008-08-12T10:06:00.000-04:00

The Giants knew they had considerable depth at WR but they didn't expect to see some players rise to the occassion in training camp. Domenik Hixon, a special teamer for most of his NFL career, has really stepped up while many of the top Giants WRs are nursing injuries early in camp.

Hixon was signed last year after being cut by the Broncos early in the season. He served as the team's return man and showed very good speed and had a couple returns for touchdowns. He was given a chance to be looked at more closely as a true WR option when Burress, Toomer, Steve Smith, and Mario Manningham all suffered injuries in Albany.

He has continued to wow the coaching staff and they now envision him as a potential deep threat WR due to his blazing speed. But Hixon wants to become a viable option for Eli and not just a player who sees afew snaps a game. He has an uphill battle to climb to get more playing time but it should be interesting to see what his role will be come time for the regular season.

Here's a nice article from the Newark Star Ledger by Jenny Vrentas that focuses on Hixon and how he's learning from fellow WR, Amani Toomer:

Hixon Learns from One of the Best

The Giants only conducted a walk through indoors due to unfavorable weather conditions.Those who did not participate include:
WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), WR Mario Manningham (quad), WR David Tyree (PUP - knee), RT Shane Olivea (back), LB Jonathan Goff (back), and CB R.W. McQuarters (undisclosed personal issue)

Some good news on the Giants rookie LB, Jonathan Goff. He had suffered a fractured transverse process in his back in the pre-season opener and the early indication was that he would be out indefinitely and possibly miss of all his rookie year. But now GM Jerry Reese has said he is hopeful that Goff will return in time for the last pre-season game.

Also, rookie DE Robert Henderson was cut after he suffered a serious ankle injury. He was drafted in the 6th round.

Plaxico Watch

2008-08-11T14:10:00.000-04:00

Plaxico Burress has yet to practice during traing camp but don't think it's in relation to his off season contract demands. Burress has a bum ankle and doesn't want to play the season with a nagging injury like he did all of last year. We all know Burress does not need to practice to make an impact on Sundays but it would be nice to see him get some reps in with Eli soon so they can get their timing back down.

Burress comments on his current injury status after running some routes:
"I definitely want to be out there, but Plaxico Burress has to take care of Plaxico Burress. I’m going to make all the right judgments as far as my health, as far as my ankle before I go out there on the football field. When I get out there, I’m going to be running a hundred miles an hour with no restrictions."

Burress also watched as his agent, Drew Rosenhaus left Albany without a new contract. But Burress claims there won't be a problem if a deal was not reached by the start of the regular season. "For a guy like myself, when I’m on the football field, I’m concentrating on football," said Burress.

Jerry Reese still feels like a deal can get done soon but no real talks have been reported as of late.

Source: Newsday

Giants Lose Pre-Season Opener to Lions 13-10

2008-08-08T10:47:00.000-04:00

The pre-season is officially underway for the Giants and things did not go as smoothly as they would have liked, especially with the first unit.

The run defense was great as the front line closed any running lanes and stuffed Lions Running Backs all night. The problem was limiting the big plays through the air. The Lions were able to put up 7 points on their first drive despite not gaining any significant yardage through the run game. There were missed tackles and blown assignments but it was still just the first pre-season game and it takes some time to shake off some of the rust.

MLB Antonio Pierce commented on the defensive play by saying, “Obviously, giving up seven points on the first drive is never a good thing. We did a good job against the run. With the big pass plays down the field, we have to work on that, but guys are running around and had a lot of energy. That’s a good thing. We’ve got more work to do. That’s why you play the preseason.”

The first team offense looked out of sync. Although Brandon Jacobs made a real pretty juke that faked out CB Brian Kelly and he busted out a 20 yard gain. Bradshaw and Ward were non-factors in their attempt to gain more carries.

There was indeed a Sinorice Moss sighting as he connected with Anthony Wright on a 46 yard bomb down the sideline to set up the Giants' first points of the night. WR Brandon London also made a very nice catch after the run and continues to impress the coaching staff.

Those who did not participate in the game were:
WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), WR Steve Smith (groin), WR Mario Manningham (quad), WR David Tyree (knee), OT Shane Olivea (back), LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee), CB Sam Madison (sports hernia), and S Craig Dahl (knee).

Bleacher Report

2008-08-06T15:14:00.000-04:00

I have been writing articles on bleacherreport.com and here are some links to some of my work pertaining to the Giants. Enjoy.

NY Giants' Kenny Phillips Playing with a Chip on His Shoulder

2008 NFC East Preview

Mathias Kiwanuka Felt Jeremy Shockey's Pain Too

Jeremy Shockey's Gone from the New York Giants, but Who Will Step-Up?

Check out some of my other articles too. If you are in fanatasy football leagues I have a few articles with in depth rankings. Feel free to contact me with some feedback at gregory.caldarella@uconn.edu

First Pre-Season Game Nears

2008-08-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

Thursday will mark the first pre-season game of the year for the New York Giants. The G-men will square off against the Lions and the coaching staff and players are looking forward to starting the action.

Coach Coughlin announced who would most likely be sitting on the sidelines for the pre-season opener:
WRs Plaxico Burress (ankle), David Tyree (knee), Mario Manningham (quad) and Steve Smith (groin) and CB Sam Madison (sports hernia)

It is also expected that G Chris Snee and T Shane Olivea will also be sitting out.
Some good news on Chris Snee as tests on his shoulder revealed some minor tendinitis.

Coughlin also confirmed that WR Amani Toomer and LB Danny Clark will be active for the game despite battling some injuries early on in camp.

Coughlin was asked some questions at camp the other day. Here are some of the transcripts of what went down:

Is this an important step for guys like Darcy Johnson and Mathias Kiwanuka and Derrick Ward, who have not been in a competitive situation for a long time?

For Darcy it is, for sure. For Kiwanuka and Ward, it is a preseason game and the idea there, of course, is to get sharp again for them, because they were forced to miss some time with injuries. Both have performed in practice very well and actually have not asked for one quarter, not one time. I mentioned to you what I thought would be the attitude of Kiwanuka early on and it proved out. He went right to the trainers and said, ’I think I can play.’

Who are some of the young guys that are impressive up here that you want to see in game action?
All of these rookies, obviously. As many of the rookies as we can. I would have to say that Na’Shaun Goddard of late, he has had a couple pretty good days of practice, and I’m really looking forward to seeing him. Guy Whimper. People who have had some experience need to play a lot. I think when you look at our safety position, you want to see a lot of those kids play. Warrick, you want to see him in action. Continuous advancement of Michael Johnson. You want to see the running backs, which we have some depth, I want to take a real good look at Kay-Jay Harris and Danny Ware. Obviously those young receivers are all going to get a ton of plays.

Wilkinson Returns to Practice

2008-08-05T11:17:00.001-04:00

Gerris Wilkinson has been on the PUP list since the start of camp and was finally cleared to hit the practice field. Wilkinson was expected to compete for the starting weak side linebacking spot but his slow start thanks to injuries have already put him behind. He practiced with the 3rd unit behind Danny Clark and Jonathan Goff.

With Wilkinson coming off the PUP list, David Tyree is now the only Giant currently on the list. Tyree's roster spot is up for grabs and his absence has led to others getting a chance to impress the coaching staff. The emergence of Domenik Hixon could spell the end of the road for the Super Bowl hero.

Chris Snee was not on the practice field Monday and Coach Coughlin said that he is having his shoulder examined (including an MRI). Hopefully this is just a precautionary measure for the rising young lineman who just received a hefty new contract.

Those not practicing on Monday included:
WRs Plaxico Burress (ankle), Steve Smith (groin), Mario Manningham (quad) and David Tyree (knee/PUP) and CB Sam Madison (sports hernia)

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2008-08-04T18:27:00.000-04:00

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Bradshaw Reveals Reason for Jail Time

2008-08-04T13:09:00.000-04:00

Ahmad Bradshaw clarified why he had to serve 30 days in jail in June on Monday, saying it was due to two incidents that occurred in college.

He was arrested for underage drinking and resisting in 2004 and petty larceny after stealing a videogame at Marshall. "Both of them are the reason they kept this thing going since I was 15," he said. Bradshaw will not be disciplined.
Source: New York Daily News

8/3 Practice Report

2008-08-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

Here are the players that sat out practice on sunday:
DEs Justin Tuck (foot) and Osi Umenyiora (hip), WRs Plaxico Burress (ankle), Amani Toomer (leg), Mario Manningham (quad) and David Tyree (knee/PUP), LBs Zak DeOssie (back) and Gerris Wilkinson (knee/PUP), CB Sam Madison (sports hernia), RT Shane Olivea and S Craig Dahl (knee)

Gerris Wilkinson really seems to be losing ground on the outside linebacker position battle while he is still on the PUP list.
Wilkinson Losing Ground

Kenny Phillips (leg) and Steve Smith (groin) both returned to the practice field today. Phillips was back on the second team unit as he was taking first team snaps earlier this weekend.
Giants Rookie Phillips Making Big Impact

Bradshaw Jail Time Not Over

2008-08-03T17:44:00.000-04:00

Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw was fresh off his 30-day jail sentence for an outstanding incident that occurred during his college days at Marshall. He has now received word that his latest jail time will not be his last. According to the Bristol Herald-Courier, HB Ahmad Bradshaw is not through with his jail time. The paper says the sentence is that of 60-days and that Bradshaw will serve the remainder of the sentence (30 Days) after the 2008 NFL season. The league has commented on the matter and stated that Bradshaw will not face any kind of suspension for his actions which happened well before he was drafted into the league last year.

In contract talk updates, Plaxico Burress and the front office seem to have broken off contract talks at the moment. While Plax said he was optimistic something would get resolved before pre-season games started, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Burress' agent Drew Rosenhaus does not see Burress acting up in response to his contract demands.

Steve Smith Nagged by Injuries Again

2008-07-31T14:14:00.000-04:00

Steve Smith has been hampered by a sore groin for much of the start of training camp. He sat out practice again today and there is no word yet on his return to the practice field. Steve Smith needs to get healthy as he cannot afford to miss much time this year. He is expected to be a big key to the Giants offense in their search of replacing Shockey's production. However, fellow wideout, Amani Toomer returned today and looked fine after nursing a leg injury.

Here's the List of G-Men who sat out practice today:

WRs Plaxico Burress (ankle), David Tyree (knee/PUP) and Steve Smith (groin soreness), DE Osi Umenyiora (hip), LBs Gerris Wilkinson (knee/PUP) and Zak DeOssie (back), CB Sam Madison (sports hernia) and OL Adam Koets (dizziness)

Here's a nice blog site from new Giant LB Danny Clark, he gives daily camp journal updates

DannyClark55.com

Giants Open Training Camp With Chip on Their Shoulders

2008-07-30T10:29:00.000-04:00

The Giants have been used to playing with a chip on their shoulder but you figure that wouldn't be the case this year as they are fresh off their Super Bowl win. But it just seems that no matter what happens, nobody believes the Giants are for real. The Cowboys, Eagles, and Redskins have all received better reviews going into this year and the Giants are pegged as an overrated team yet again. Antonio Pierce and Justin Tuck have been very vocal about how they feel disrespected by off season comments and predictions. One Giants starter stated that the team is "motivated by the constant insults all offseason."

Training Camp News:
The top 3 Giants WRs all sat out practice yesterday as Plaxico is still nursing an ankle injury, Toomer has recently complained of swelling in the knee and Steve Smith left practice very early citing soreness.

Early word from camp is that rookie safety Kenny Phillips has been really impressive. He has also been delivering some pretty hard hits that have drawn the attention of the coaching staff. Head coach Tom Coughlin supposedly pulled him aside a couple of times to remind him that although he is excited to get going, it's still safety first for himself and his teammates.

Safety Craig Dahl will likely be returning to the Giants' roster sometime today. The reserve was cut last year after he suffered an ACL tear in the season finale versus the Pats. He had worked out for the Giants earlier this week but left without a contract but he should be getting the call very soon as it is speculated he will be signed shortly and he will continue his rehab with the team.

New Stadium Will Have PSLs

2008-06-28T14:28:00.000-04:00

Here's a copy of the letter sent out by John Mara and Steve Tisch regarding the implementation of Personal Seat Licenses at the New Meadowlands Stadium:

June 26, 2008

Dear Giants Season Ticket Holder:

As the Giants prepare to defend the Super Bowl championship, and with construction of a new state-of-the-art stadium and team practice facility well underway at the Meadowlands, these are exciting times for Giants fans.

The new stadium and practice facility are scheduled to open for the 2010 season and will offer Giants players, coaches and, most importantly, Giants fans the first-class facilities, services and amenities they deserve.

The stadium has been designed to provide fans with an unparalleled experience on Giants game days including: modernized food service, concessions, and restaurants; expanded team stores; tailgate zones, with improved tailgating facilities; upgraded and additional restrooms; Club seats with outstanding amenities; wider concourses; cutting-edge scoreboards that have in-stadium technology; and much more. The experience of getting to the stadium will be better too, with improved highway access, redesigned parking lots, and a new rail line serving New Jersey and New York. These improved amenities, together with the new state-of-the-art playing and training facilities, will position the Giants to attract championship-caliber players year after year.

At a cost of over $1.6 billion, the new stadium development is the largest 100 percent privately-financed stadium project in the United States. As with the other NFL cities that have recently opened new or significantly renovated stadiums, we cannot build these new facilities without the sale of "PSLs" (Personal Seat Licenses) to Giants season ticket holders. The net proceeds from the sale of the PSLs will be used to pay for the construction of the new stadium.

Once you purchase a PSL, you can control your seat for as long as the Giants continue to play in the new stadium. This means that, in addition to having the right to purchase the same season seats every year, you will also have the ability to transfer your PSL to other Giants fans, including to unrelated third parties.

We are working very hard to develop a program and process for the purchase of PSLs that will provide a broad range of choices to Giants season ticket holders. Here are a few things we can tell you now. Each seat in the new stadium will have a PSL. Over 90 percent of the upper level seats will have a $1,000 PSL. Less than 5,000 seats in the lower level will have a $20,000 PSL, which will be the most expensive PSL at the new stadium. The pricing of the PSLs for the other seats in the new stadium has not been finalized, but we hope and believe that you will be pleased with the options when we send more detailed information on the stadium’s PSL programs. You will begin receiving that information in a few weeks. The information will be sent out in stages so that our sales team can focus attention on every seat holder.

Thank you for your continued loyalty. Your ongoing support is sincerely valued, and it is the primary reason this new stadium will become a reality in 2010.

P.S. As the seat allocation process progresses, you can visit the new stadium’s website at www.NYG2010.com for updates.

Giants Show Snee the Money

2008-06-25T22:48:00.000-04:00

OG Gets a 43.5 Million Extension

It appears that Chris Snee, the rock of the Giants' interior line will be around for awhile. He and his father-in-law (Tom Coughlin) have to be smiling today after the Giants forked over $43.5 million to Snee in the form of a 6-year contract.

That should make Eli Manning and the running backs happy as well.

In other news, the team announced they signed three draft picks: LBs Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff and QB Andre Woodson. This is a good sign for Woodson. That, and the release of another former Kentucky QB - Jared Lorenzen.