E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

BEHIND THE SCENES SCRAMBLING MARKED APPROVAL
OF THE GIANTS OPENER AGAINST THE REDSKINS
By DAVE KLEIN

In a reporter's notebook, notes are those tidbits of information that refuse to be expanded into full-length stories, but still maintain enough interest to be worth sharing.

So that's what this transmission is going to be all about, snippets and memos and the like, all related -- directly or indirectly -- to the Giants.

For instance:

It has been learned that there was much behind-the-scenes jockeying before the Giants agreed to open the season Sept. 4, that traditional Thursday Night extravaganza, against the Washington Redskins. ... First of all, they did not want the game to be against another NFC East Division member, and there just isn't a solid AFC opponent scheduled this season. ... It was deemed that neither Cincinnati nor Seattle was attractive enough, and the FOX network began throwing temper tantrums when the conversation got around to Dallas (the game is on NBC, don't you see).

There almost was no home game at all during the week, when the Giants considered the mass chaos that is going to result from thousands of fans attempting to find off-site parking because of the construction of the new stadium (now up to $1.7 billion, from $1.6 a few days ago). ... They would have accepted an opener on the road, which could have allowed the Steelers-Giants matchup of Big Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning, since the schedule puts them AT Pittsburgh

In the end, with special agreements being reached with several off-site parking facilities, the decision was that the Redskins -- at the very least -- were a "playoff team" and, in fact, beat the Giants in their second encounter. ... Also, it was the game in D.C. (actually, Maryland), third of the season, that got the Giants off their 0-2 start and led the way to a six-game winning streak.

Guard Chris Snee is in the final year of his current contract and he'll want a new one soon. ... This does not imply that the Giants don't want to give him one, so the deed should be done soon. ... After all, he is head coach Tom Coughlin's son-in-law, and these days that should count for something. ... According to a report in The (Newark, NJ) Star-Ledger and other outlets, Giants' wide receiver Plaxico Burress (who did not have surgery on his ankle) also didn't have surgery on his shoulder. .... That's right, he is said to have a partial tear of his AC joint, which was kept secret for a long, long time.

And no, don't look for Plax at the off-season workout and conditioning program which starts Monday at Giants Stadium. ... Chris Simms, son of former Giant legend Phil and currently a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has reportedly decided not to show up for their off-season program and wants to be traded. ... The Buccaneers have five quarterbacks at the moment -- the problem being that none of them are exactly headed for the Pro Bowl and Simms wants the chance to start, as well as start over again somewhere else. ... Where? The Vikings, Jets and Chiefs might show some interest if he was offered up in trade.

Speaking of trade, it begins to look more and more certain that cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is going to be sent from Tennessee to Dallas, provided that 1) the teams agree on the trading details, 2) he and his agent agree to a revised contract (he has two years left) and, perhaps most important, 3) that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell lifts the suspension on the gifted but troubled Jones. ... Someone less than kind points out that there are 6,281 strip clubs in the Dallas area should Pacman find himself as the newest Cowboy.

Giants' general manager Jerry Reese was on hand Wednesday when LSU held its Pro Day, showing off more than a dozen potential draft prizes. ... The star of the show was defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, but he could be a top five choice and all Reese could do was drool. ... Mark Lamping has been hired as president of the New Meadowlands Stadium Co., the governing body that will oversee construction (and everything else) concerning the new Giants-Jets Stadium reportedly to be ready for a 2010 opening. ... The project is said to be 30 percent completed now. ... And while it wouldn't be possible to name the place the Wellington Mara Stadium, it might be a nice touch to include in the new palace the Wellington Mara Field, don't you think?

Various draft experts (a loosely applied title) have swung back and forth between three players as the Giants' first round pick (the 31st overall). ... They include running back Felix Jones of Arkansas, middle linebacker Beau Bell of Nevada-Las Vegas and cornerback Reggie Smith of Oklahoma. ... One might suggest that a running back, unless he was the second coming of Adrian Peterson, might not be prudent for the Giants since they already have Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward and (at least for now) Reuben Droughns. ... The other two make sense, especially Bell, who acquired a nickname of "The Tackling Machine" in college.

Still to be decided is whether strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka will be moved back to defensive end, from whence he came, or be allowed to stay where he was moved last season, and where he started prior to his fractured fibula. ... Reports are that he stays at strongside unless he is absolutely needed up front, especially since he'll be used as a pass-rusher frequently in the State Spagnuolo defensive system. ... That might change, if only slightly, pending on a decision to retire by defensive end Michael Strahan.

Reports from the team say that all the surgically repaired Giants are progressing ahead of the expected rate, and that includes Kiwanuka, Ward and tight end Jeremy Shockey, among others. ... Does this mean they'll all show up at the team's workout and conditioning program that starts Monday? ... Sure, except for those who decide to practice in south Florida.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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