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.

By DAVE KLEIN
For those of you who are fans of preseason games, besides counting yourselves among a decided minority, this is the one to watch.

It pits the Giants against the Jets tomorrow (Friday) night in Giants Stadium at 8 p.m... It is the third preseason foolishness of the summer, the one in which the veterans play at least the full first half.

Oh, and for those of you who still feel it involves "the bragging rights of New York," it is well to remember that the game is played in New Jersey and that tired old cliché hasn't been accurate in two decades.

But there are things for which to look, signs that might make things more clear. You'll see a first half played by Eli Manning and his first-line offense, which will include running back Tiki Barber getting slightly more help from a rejuvenated Brandon Jacobs. You'll see the first team defense, which may well become a pass-rushing monster all season, and you'll see if the secondary has come together after two summer games.

In the second half, you may see a large change in head coach Tom Coughlin's thinking, since Jared Lorenzen is going to be the second quarterback; not Tim Hasselbeck and not Rob Johnson.

"I'm excited about the chance," says the Hefty Lefty. "I have worked hard all summer and now this is a major opportunity. I think he [Coughlin] is serious about considering me [as the second quarterback]. I have definitely come a lot farther then I was three weeks ago. I don't know for sure if I can jump in and start a game, but I do know I would be better at it than in the past."

In his two games this summer (and only Manning has played in both of them) Lorenzen, the 6-4, 289-pound second-year product of the University of Kentucky has completed seven of 12 passes for 58 yards. He has shown poise and savvy, and did put together a 62-yard drive in 16 plays that allowed Jay Feely to kick the winning field goal against Baltimore two weeks ago.

"It's big for me to be in there with the twos [second team] and not the threes," he said. "When the game starts I'll watch what Eli is doing and then I'll see what I have to do."

In practice last Monday, when the team was still in training camp in Albany, N.Y., Lorenzen threw one pass that epitomized his potential value. He uncorked a 60-yard spiral down the sideline that dropped perfectly into the hands of the receiver, David Tyree. "He throws the tightest spiral I have seen in a long time," noted one of the myriad of defensive backs.

EXTRA POINTS -- Among those who will not play tomorrow night are center Shaun O'Hara (knee), tackle Luke Petitgout (back spasms), guard-center Rich Seubert (toe), weakside linebacker Carlos Emmons (burner, pinched nerve), rookie wide receiver Sinorice Moss (quad) and running back Derrick Ward (broken foot). In addition, cornerback Brandon Williams will not be present due to a death in the family.

Veteran Bob Whitfield is likely to start for Petitgout with veteran free agent Grey Ruegamer at center for O'Hara. Brandon Short will take Emmons' place.

Historical note: In his entire career, the late Tom Landry threw only one touchdown pass. It came when he was with the Giants, and it was a 70-yard touchdown strike to Bill Stribling on Nov. 30, 1952, in a 63-7 loss to Pittsburgh. Stribling passed away last Monday at the age of 78.

The Giants and Jets have met in a summer game every year since 1969 (in the Yale Bowl, when the Jets were coming off their only Super Bowl appearance). They Jets hold a 19-17-1 lead in the summer series, but the Giants lead the regular season competition, 6-4 (and why don't they play every year?).

Don't forget to put in your E-GIANTS Fantasy Football League roster (see Vol. 9-14b for rules and details), and remember to e-mail it to cvelt@comcast.net. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, Sept. 6, there will be non-cash prizes for the first five finishers, there is no entry fee and results will be posted each week.

Among the new faces you might expect to see on the final 53-man roster include free agents such as cornerback E.J. Underwood, linebacker Nick McNeil and wide receivers Michael Jennings and Anthony Mix. These are in addition to the draft picks who figure to stick -- defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, linebacker Gerris Wilkinson, defensive tackle Barry Cofield, offensive tackle Guy Whimper. It is still a borderline situation for the other two draft picks, defensive backs Charlie Peprah and Gerrick McPhearson.

So who goes? Veterans on the bubble include linebacker Carlos Emmons, defensive end Adrian Awasom, quarterback Rob Johnson (or Tim Hasselbeck) and a few others who will get caught in the rookie-or-veteran decisions.

If you don't plan to use your preseason tickets for the Aug. 31 home game against New England, it's not too late to donate them to kids who would appreciate the favor. Try The Valerie Fund, and for details call 1-800-8VALERIE. The Valerie Fund provides care and treatment for children with cancer and other blood-related diseases in the metropolitan area.

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

NEW - Send a request to davesklein@aol.com for a free week's worth of news!

Stop in and visit "Mike's Keys to the Internet"
Links to every newspaper and magazine that's available on the net. 

Website by Mike