Sept 20 Hakeem Nicks was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his career day in the Giants' 41-34 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nicks had 10 receptions for a career-high 199 yards and a 23-yard touchdown in the victory. The 199 yards surpassed his previous high of 165 yards that he set in the NFC Divisional round against the Green Bay Packers last season.
Hakeem Nicks had been preparing for his first NFL regular-season game here in his hometown, in the state where he was a star college receiver. He expected a big turnout from his family members, and he said this homecoming would be special. Nicks, who did not make the trip to North Carolina, was added to a list of key Giants players ruled out this week: running back Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), right tackle David Diehl (knee) and No. 3 receiver Domenik Hixon (concussion).

Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott had seen what Eli Manning did to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers many times before. McDermott, a former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator, has watched Manning since he came into the league and knows his defense will be facing one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks Thursday night.

Giants would be wise to employ spy to stop Cam. Asked if he likes to use a spy with quarterbacks such as Newton, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said: "If it's necessary, yes, I'll use a spy versus an athletic quarterback like Cam Newton or Michael Vick. There's no doubt about it.
It's a matchup of one of the league's most mobile quarterbacks against one of its most feared pass rushes. And Cam Newton, the one with the fleet feet, knows what he has to do against the Giants' defense Thursday night. "It just comes down to protecting and still executing with the football," Newton said.

Sept 19 Tom Coughlin stood in the center of the Giants locker room Sunday, surrounded by his players after their improbable 41-34 comeback win over the Buccaneers, and told them: "You went out and won a football game that most would have said was gone. We are 1-1 now. Thank God." But why do the Giants insist on making it so hard on themselves?
Giants offense can't find end zone when it reaches red zone. In their first two games, the offense didn't go where it desired once in the zone. The problem is not advancing to the 'green zone' and tallying points; the Giants have made eight trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line and scored on each visit. The issue is adding seven points instead of settling for three, particularly within the 5-yard line.

There won't be much time for improvement this week. The Giants will have to make the most of every meeting, every practice and every walk-through. "We're not going to get in a lot of the preparation that normally we would get," cornerback Corey Webster said yesterday. "But I think both teams are going through the same situation."
There isn't much time for the Giants to recuperate. And they could sure use more time. Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), Domenik Hixon (concussion) and David Diehl (knee) all didn't practice this week and although Tom Coughlin was short on details he did indicate their chances of playing Thursday are slim.

For the Carolina game, the Giants will have one actual full practice, on Tuesday. Normally, they have three full practices (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday). This does not matter to NFL suits and owners. They are more concerned with their television strategy. Dough is the driving force in its expansion.

Citing concerns about player safety, the choppy flow of games, and countless obvious penalties that have gone uncalled, several Giants players blasted the NFL on Tuesday for letting the lockout of the regular officials linger into the regular season. They didn't blame the replacement officials, either. They placed responsibility for this mess at the feet of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Thursday will be a homecoming of sorts for Hakeem Nicks, who grew up in Charlotte and played college football at North Carolina. He'll play his first career regular season game in Carolina, and expects to have several family members at the game. He says he grew up a Panthers fan, looking up to diminutive wideout Steve Smith for the heart Smith showed on the field.

Amid the hundreds and hundreds of yards through the air, Henry Hynoski etched his own section into the record books on Sunday against Tampa Bay. One rush, three yards. It doesn't look like a lot on paper, but it was much more than a short gain. It was the first time a Giants fullback had received a handoff since Madison Hedgecock in Week 16 of 2008.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano didn't break any NFL kneel-down rules and still isn't apologizing for his aggressive tactics of going after the Giants when they were lined up in victory formation Sunday. "To me it's a clean, hard, tough, finish-the-game play," Schiano said Monday. "Some people disagree with that. That's certainly what makes the world go round."
Giants fans of a certain age vividly remember the afternoon of Nov. 19, 1978 - "The Fumble". Herm Edwards didn't admonish Schiano's decision, but was careful to say every situation was different. "If you're down one score and there are some seconds left and you think you can cause a fumble, then all bets are off. You do what you need to do ... but the thing you don't want, if you're down two or three scores, one team's trying to kneel and the opponent takes out the knee of an offensive lineman, then you've got an issue.

NFL News
Steve Sabol was an innovator and a historian, a filmmaker and an entertainer, and above all else, among the biggest reasons the NFL has reached these absurd levels of fan interest and TV viewership.

Sept 18 The final kneeldown of the Giants' 41-34 win over the Buccaneers Sunday dominated the post-game conversation, but the NFL won't get involved. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said no action will be taken by the league regarding the play.
After ordering his players to dive into the line of scrimmage and try to dislodge the ball as Eli Manning knelt down at the end of the Giants' 41-34 win on Sunday, Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano insisted, "There's nothing dirty about (the tactic). There's nothing illegal about it." Well, at least he was half right.

Tom Coughlin didn't offer much in detail about his injured Giants other than David Diehl has an MCL injury. But the head coach did touch on a few other subjects. He liked what he saw from his offensive line and how Will Beatty and Sean Locklear responded after Diehl went down.
Tom Coughlin was asked If Bradshaw couldn't go against the Panthers, would he have Andre Brown as the starter? "I don't know that yet. We'll just have to see where we are on that."

Andre Brown had just two career regular season carries to his name and thought his role would be limited to special teams. By the end of the day he had 13 rushes for 71 yards and the game-winning touchdown, which came a play after Eli Manning told him to purposely fall short of the end zone to milk more time off the clock.
On Sunday morning, Andre Brown arrived at MetLife Stadium preparing to play special teams. By Monday morning, the New York Giants running back found himself on a conference call, talking to reporters about his 71-yard rushing performance in place of the injured Ahmad Bradshaw.
Sunday was the high point of Brown's football career, which has been defined by disappointment, including by being waived seven times by five different teams. This summer, he beat out D.J. Ware for a spot on the roster, which leads to Sunday, Bradshaw's first-half neck injury and Brown's surprise chance.

The Giants pass defense, from the rush to coverage in the secondary, has been under the microscope through the first two weeks of the season. Up front, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul have just one sack and one hit between the three of them. On the back end, the secondary has been thinned by injuries and victimized by long pass plays.
Cornerback Corey Webster hopes the Giants can eliminate some of the big plays they've been giving up on defense, including five passes of 20 yards or more in Sunday's 41-34 win against Tampa Bay. How do they go about doing that? Webster said he thinks it will help if the defensive backs play more aggressively at the line of scrimmage.

Eli Manning showed the many aspects of his personality Sunday: The really bad Eli nearly put the Giants in a dangerous 0-2 hole to start the season before the really good Eli came back to win the game.

Sept 17 Giants win over Tampa Bay, 41-34  |  Photos  |  Photos|  Photos  |  Videos

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On The Game: Game 2 Gamegirl "... Things looked great when Martellus Bennett caught a touchdown pass from Manning and the Giants were up 34-27 with only 4 minutes left. Of course the Bucs tied at 34-34 with 2 minutes left, but this is what you live for. You're at the edge of your seat as Andre Brown does his own Ahmad Bradshaw imitation but doesn't fall into the endzone for a touchdown that could leave the Bucs with too much time. Brown scores on the next play, and you go wild! It's great to be a Giants fan!.." Mikefan. "... The Giants had dug themselves into a hole and were slow coming out of it. In the third quarter all they did was match field goals with Tampa Bay. They waited until the fourth quarter to explode with a field goal and three touchdowns. Without Manning feeding the Bucs interceptions they were out scored 28-10 in the final two quarters..."

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ESPN - Eli Manning passes for 510 yards as Giants rally for wild victory.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 41, Buccaneers 34.
ESPN- Manning comes up big vs. Bucs blitz.
ESPN - Andre Brown rises to occasion vs. Bucs.
ESPN - Offensive line, minus one, gets job done.
ESPN - Secondary is primary.
Giants.com - Giants win thriller over Bucs, 41-34.
Giants.com - Andre Brown plays key role in win.
Giants.com - WRs reach statistical milestones vs. Bucs.
InsideFootball - Giants Get Redemption in 41-34 Win Over Bucs.
StarLedger - Eli Manning's career day leads Giants to 41-34 victory against Bucs.
StarLedger - Eli Manning's entire career flashed before his eyes on one eventful Sunday.
StarLedger - Giants upset about Buccaneers' 'cheap shot' on final kneeldown.
StarLedger - Giants lose David Diehl, Ahmad Bradshaw and Domenik Hixon vs. Bucs.
StarLedger - Andre Brown stepped up for Giants when Ahmad Bradshaw went down.
StarLedger - Giants' receiving duo has record-setting day.
StarLedger - Eric LeGrand returns to MetLife Stadium for pregame coin toss.
NYDai;yNews - Mann, oh Mann: Eli leads Giants past Bucs in thriller.
NYDailyNews - Coughlin steamed at Schiano for kneel down breach.
NYDailyNews - Giants know slow start can have Super ending.
NYDailyNews - Andre Brown goes from bench warmer to star in Week 2 victory.
NYPost - Manning's 510 yards lift Big Blue to victory.
NYPost - Schiano's 'order' was uncalled for.
NYPost - Victor honors grandma with touchdown salsa.
NYPost - Hakeem comes up big with game on the line.
TheRecord - Backup RB Andre Brown delivers.
NYTimes - Giants' Waiting Game Is a Work in Progress.
TampaBayTimes - Buccaneers lose lead, fall to New York Giants 41-34.
Buccaneers.com - Giant Opportunity Slips Away from Bucs.

Game 2 Preview - Giants (0-1) vs Tampa Bay (1-0)
Giants - It feels like the Giants have been on a bye week as it's been so long since their 24-17 loss to the Cowboys. With plenty of time to prepare for this game, they watched first hand and saw that Tampa Bay allowed just 10 rushing yards (no misprint), against one of the best running teams in the NFL, to win their home opener over the Panthers 16-10.
Tampa Bay - They won only four games last year which which is surprising since they started out the season with a 4-2 record. You need to go on a 10 game losing streak to accomplish that feat and that's just what they did. Not surprisingly, the players earned themselves a new head coach for their lack of efforts. Just about everyone on this coaching staff is new to this team and some are new to the NFL.

Sept 16 Linebacker Keith Rivers is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a hamstring injury, the Giants announced. Cornerback Prince Amukamara (ankle) and receiver Hakeem Nicks (foot) are questionable.

Is it a must-win? Not yet. But we will learn something about the Giants today. We will learn about their resolve and their desperation to repeat as world champions.

The Giants can't go back and re-do last week, what they can do and what they need to do this week is buckle down and come back with the game of their lives against a very beatable, but emerging Bucs team.

Ahmad Bradshaw sees it as his responsibility to lead the Giants back to the No. 1 ranking they earned in 2008, with their "Earth, Wind & Fire" trio of Jacobs, Bradshaw and Derrick Ward. "I take full ownership," Bradshaw said of the running game.

Marvin Austin is dying to play in a real football game. Can you blame him? It's been almost three years since his last one. The 23-year-old defensive tackle may finally get his chance on Sunday, when the Giants take on the Buccaneers.

The job Mike Sullivan was offered in the days after Super Bowl XLVI was the opportunity of a lifetime. He knew the chance to be an offensive coordinator in the NFL was too good to turn down.

After Rutgers revival, Greg Schiano tries to save the NFL's beleaguered Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Schiano may have left college football, but he is giving it the old college try in the NFL.

Jaquian Williams struggled some in coverage against the Cowboys, so he is hoping to be more consistent in every facet against the Bucs. Being a native of the Tampa Bay area certainly adds spice to the game as well.

Sept 15 Special Report Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is just the second of the season for the Giants, which makes those talking heads crying about a "must game" and a "key to the season" all the more pointless. But it should be pointed out that in any of the NFL's divisions, starting off with a record of 0-2 can be hazardous to the well-being and continued good health of not only the team but its fans.

In the long run, David Wilson might turn out to be a more productive running back than Doug Martin. But in the here and now, Martin is the more NFL-ready player. So says Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.

On paper, it should be a mismatch. Eli Manning going against Josh Freeman is a bit like John Wayne against Barney Fife. Manning has two Super Bowl rings, while Freeman, in his fourth NFL season, is still trying to establish himself as a reliable pro quarterback.

Linebacker Michael Boley had started 39 of the 41 games he'd played in since joining the Giants prior to the 2009 season. But on opening night 2012, with the Giants celebrating their Super Bowl championship and playing in front of a national TV audience, Boley had to wait his turn to get on the field.

Football players, Justin Tuck reminded the media on Thursday, hate looking back, analyzing what has happened. The future, as in the immediate future of the next game, is all that matters.
To Justin Tuck, it's time the young players act as if they're fed up with it as well. "Definitely. I think they just don't understand the sense of urgency and professionalism that's needed in this locker room."

The last time Marvin Austin played in a football game, it was December of 2009. He was a junior at the University of North Carolina, playing against Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Sept 14 How does a team beginning it's Super Bowl title defense against a division rival the NFL's season opener, not prepare with the necessary intensity? "You're asking the million-dollar question," Tuck said. "I don't know...It's a fair question. I would if I could give you a correct answer. Some things are unexplainable."
In the season-opening loss to the Cowboys, Romo would elude an aggressive Pierre-Paul or throw the ball before Pierre-Paul could punish him with a hit. Other times, Pierre-Paul needed to wrestle his way through a lineman's grip that went unnoticed by the replacement referees. "I don't complain, but I was frustrated on the part of the holding situation," Pierre-Paul said.

Justin Tuck predicts you'll see a very different New York Giants team on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "The energy in practice is I think double what it was last week," Tuck said Thursday. "Guys seem to be a little bit more excited about playing football. I think last week we were a little sluggish."
While no one will ever fault an athlete for trying his best in a game, sometimes there can be instances where guys overdo it and end up hurting the team. That appears to have been the case with the Giants defense, which last week against Dallas was unable to accomplish much of anything.

The Giants eye getting into the win column for the first time this season when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. While the Giants struggled, the Bucs had an impressive showing against the Panthers in their opening game, using a strong rush defense to hold off their NFC South foe, 16-10.
The Giants - There wasn't a single unit that played well and it looked to us as though the entire team lacked urgency. It's a bit unusual to get a wake-up call so early in the season. The Giants need to come out with fire in their eyes this week.

Kevin Gilbride gave a frank appraisal when asked to compare Doug Martin, the rookie running back drafted 31st overall by the Buccaneers, and David Wilson, the rookie running back drafted 32nd overall by the Giants. "Different styles. I think David has great explosion and great speed," the Giants offensive coordinator said today. "I think Doug Martin looked more -- what's the word I want to say? -- versatile.
Although we may never know, it was widely believed that the Giants were eyeballing running back Doug Martin for their first round pick in this year's draft. However, the Bucs grabbed Martin, and the Giants took David Wilson. So now that the dust has settled and the two rookies will show their stuff on the same field of play this Sunday, what have been the differences so far?

There is no Mario Manningham to make teams pay for over-playing the Giants' top two receivers. A free agent who got away, Manningham will be opening up the offense for the 49ers this year, looking to be a "game-changer." As we saw in the Giants' opener against the Cowboys, his void threatens to be a recurring problem Big Blue must fix.

Hakeem Nicks stayed true to his word, recovering enough from the broken bone in his foot to be on the field for the start of the regular season. But some of the pain still lingers, and he admitted that "certain things" -- routes or cuts -- cause him more discomfort than others. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said that can, at times, factor into his play-calling.

In the Bucs' Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib broke free on the edge and got to the rookie punter. The Bucs recovered and kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive for a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter. Making sure that won't happen to Weatherford this week is Chase Blackburn, who has taken over the role of personal protector so far this season.

It appears Sean Locklear will get his second consecutive start at left tackle when the Giants face the Buccaneers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Will Beatty -- the projected starter at LT coming into the season -- is finally healthy and practicing, after missing most of the preseason with a bad back. But Locklear is still listed as the starter on the depth chart.

Kevin Gilbride's mustache, a legendary lip adornment that won two Super Bowl championships and was respected as one of the most enduring examples of responsible facial hair in sports, died last month in a shaving accident at the Giants' practice facility here. It was believed to be about 41.

Sept 13 Tom Coughlin said rookie running back David Wilson has gone through some new drills especially designed to help him hold onto the ball and so far, the veteran coach likes what he sees from the first-year NFL player. "He's anxious to do right," Coughlin said Wednesday morning. "He's a little bit out of the doghouse."
David Wilson understands Coughlin's perspective. He said he's heard the phrase "high and tight" repeatedly all week, and blames himself for not focusing on that against Dallas. No, Wilson said, he didn't leave the ball exposed for Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee to knock it out. But he also didn't truly squeeze it, either.
David Wilson received some words of encouragement from teammate Ahmad Bradshaw, who as a rookie had ball security issues as well and who was able to speak from experience to his younger teammate. "I told him I've been the same situation as a rookie-the same plays, the same situation," Bradshaw said.

The next time Victor Cruz does his patented salsa touchdown celebration, it will have an even more special meaning. The Giants receiver first learned the dance from his grandmother, Lucy Molina, who passed away Monday night at age 77.
It would be an emotional and fitting tribute to her if Cruz gets a chance to salsa in the end zone against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If he does, it would also mean he caught the football and made a big play - two things he had trouble doing in that 24-17 loss to Dallas.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a new coaching staff but one that is very familiar with the New York Giants' way of thinking. Former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has Mike Sullivan running his offense and Bill Sheridan orchestrating the defense. Coughlin wasn't revealing much Wednesday on how he may deal with Tampa Bay being so familiar with the Giants. "They've both been here; they've both been in our system," said Coughlin.
About 4:30 p.m. last Sunday, David Carr was doing the same thing as many of his Giants teammates: tuning in to the Buccaneers-Panthers game while relaxing at home. And the Tampa Bay offense had him riveted. "It looks identical," Carr said, comparing the Buccaneers' system to the Giants'. "You could see it on the TV copy even. When they're checking, they're saying the same things we're saying. "You see them doing the same things. The same words, the same hand signals. Everything."

After spending 11 years as the head coach at Rutgers University, Greg Schiano, the New Jersey native, was hired to be the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past January. And this weekend, he'll bring his new team north to his old home, to face the Giants in just his second game as an NFL head coach.
Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik was willing to gamble on Schiano because he said he was impressed with his ability to develop players at Rutgers like Gary Brackett, an undrafted linebacker who excelled for the Indianapolis Colts, and Ray Rice, a star running back for the Baltimore Ravens. "It looked like they were predeveloped to perform in the N.F.L.," Dominik said.

Tom Coughlin, of course, understands the challenges of moving from a head coaching job in the college ranks to the pros. He led Boston College for three seasons before being hired as the first head coach of the expansion Jaguars. Asked if he remembered questions about whether a successful college system could translate to the pros, Coughlin said, "There's a well-documented record of that. Thank you."
When Greg Schiano returns to the Meadowlands to play the Super Bowl champion Giants Sunday at MetLife Stadium, it will be more than just a trip down memory lane. It will be another chance to remember the sheer terror and unimaginable sadness that occured in 2010 when Schiano was still coaching Rutgers and one of his players, defensive tackle Eric LeGrand injured his spine while making a tackle during a game against Army and was paralyzed below the shoulders.

Something's got to give. On Sunday, the New York Giants, who had the worst rush offense in the NFL last year, host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had the league's worst rush defense.
Will Beatty thought he was ready to start at left tackle in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, but Sean Locklear got the call. Instead, Beatty saw playing time only as a jumbo tight end. Now the ball is in the coaching staff's court.

Giants versus Buccaneers isn't the only game taking place Sunday at MetLife Stadium. You'll also get to watch the Bennett Bowl. Giants tight end Martellus Bennett and Bucs defensive end Michael Bennett are brothers, born just 14 months apart, and will both start for their respective teams this weekend. Better yet, they'll almost certainly be lined up against one other on a bunch of plays, too.
It's also going to be exciting for the Bennett family, which will be on hand to watch both brothers play. "There's a lot we both want to accomplish in life and I think this is one of our first dreams that are coming true -he's starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and I'm starting for the NYG. So it doesn't get much better than that for the Bennett family."
In their previous meeting, Martellus' Cowboys defeated Michael's Bucs, 31-15. It was one of Tampa Bay's 10 straight losses to end the season. Martellus didn't make his brother buy him something nice that time. "I just told him, 'Don't worry about it. It's not your fault, brother,'" Bennett said.

Zak DeOssie is in his sixth season as the Giants' long snapper, but Tynes said Blackburn, the Giants' starting middle linebacker, can snap for both punts and field goals. Blackburn practices 20 to 30 long snaps each day during the jog-through at the start of practice, Tynes said. "We work at it every day," Tynes said. "We don't leave any stones unturned. Chase is really good." The Giants also have a third option, back-up center Jim Cordle.

Sept 12 Antrel Rolle is aware that the Giants right now are last in the NFC East with an 0-1 record. He watched some of the Redskins' win over the Saints and admitted, "they looked pretty impressive."

Victor Cruz was the latest player to have strong words about the Giants' season-opening loss to the Cowboys, calling it a "rude awakening" and a "wake-up call" in his weekly spot today on WFAN Radio.

On Sunday, the Giants will face Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman, who has the ability to move and strength to escape sacks. Then Perry Fewell's defense will have to find a way to contain Carolina's Cam Newton before opposing Michael Vick and the Eagles in Week 4. The Giants' pass rush will have to be patient and disciplined.

The defending Super Bowl champs get a crack at the Bucs with a rushing attack that desperately needs a reason to feel good about itself after a horrible performance against the Cowboys in their opener last week. After gaining just 82 yards on the ground against Dallas, the Giants now face a Bucs defense that looked like a brick wall.

Sept 11 The Giants got back to work after a three-day weekend off. The time away didn't do much to lessen their dissatisfaction over their season-opening 24-17 loss to the Cowboys last Wednesday. "I think every guy in this locker room is disgusted with how we played," Justin Tuck said.
They were on Thursday and then had three days off - a long weekend - to sit back, think about all they did wrong, then watch plenty of NFL football on Sunday, as all three NFC East teams won, putting the Giants in sole possession of last place.

The Giants have until Sunday to regroup. While Romo is considered one of the league's more mobile quarterbacks, the NFL is now littered with dual-threat signal callers and the Giants will face three quarterbacks in as many weeks that are more dangerous with their legs in the Buccaneers' Josh Freeman, the Panthers' Cam Newton and the Eagles' Michael Vick.
Osi Umenyiora walked off the field last Wednesday night shaking his head in disbelief. He was stunned that the Giants' three vaunted defensive ends - Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and himself - hadn't sacked Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo even once.

Victor Cruz had a rough season-opening game in the loss to the Cowboys. "I know I didn't play well," said Cruz, 25. "I mean, I caught a few balls. I had a couple nice plays, but I had drops. I had chances to move the chains when the ball was thrown to me and I didn't do so. Obviously, I was hard on myself. I'm always hard on myself when it comes to things like that, and I just want to redeem myself. I'm pretty upset about it."

Defensive tackle Marvin Austin practiced on Monday and hopes to play on Sunday against Tampa Bay. "We'll see," head coach Tom Coughlin said of Austin making his season debut. "I think how he comes back tomorrow, we'll know a little better."
Marvin Austin has yet to see the field for a regular season NFL game thanks to a torn pectoral muscle that wipes out last year, and a back problem that's slowed down his progress this year.
He watched helplessly as the three-man rotation of Rocky Bernard, Linval Joseph and Markus Kuhn - with occasional help from Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck - played a heavy dose of snaps in the season opener at defensive tackle against the Dallas Cowboys and was gashed by running back DeMarco Murray as it wore on.

Prince Amukamara practiced for the first time since sustaining a high-ankle sprain against the Chicago Bears in the third game of the preseason.
Prince Amukamara searched for the right word to use to describe how he feels about playing on Sunday against the Buccaneers. "I'm very, what's the word you guys use ... optimistic," Amukamara said on Monday.
With the Giants' defensive secondary hurting at the cornerback spot - Michael Coe was sidelined as he continues to recover from what he described on Thursday as a "mild" hamstring strain - the Giants are hoping Amukamara has made enough progress to get back into the starting lineup this week.

Sept 10 Bad news for Dallas Cowboys after Sunday's NFL games. Cowboys fans might not be feeling very well after Sunday's games. Their NFC East rivals -- the Eagles and Redskins -- won games on Sunday to tie the Cowboys (1-0) atop the division. Most alarming: The play of Washington rookie Robert Griffin III (Baylor).

The Redskins' only scheduled prime-time game to this point is the Dec. 3 "Monday Night Football" matchup at home against the defending Super Bowl champion Giants, but they will be in the spotlight at 4:15 p.m. ET Thanksgiving Day, when they take on the division-rival Cowboys in Dallas.

NFC East News
Cowboys 24-17 win didn't make up for 2011's Week 17 loss to the same Giants, which ended the Cowboys' season, or the Week 14 debacle versus New York at home. But it was an opportunity to prove to themselves they could win in such circumstances. Ultimately, they solved a problem that plagued them last year, holding a lead in the final minutes.
Redskins begin Robert Griffin III era with 40-32 win at New Orleans Saints Griffin completed his first eight passes, including an 88-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon, tying for the second-longest scoring pass by a quarterback making his NFL debut.
Eagles Michael Vick was plagued with four interceptions in 17-16 victory over the host Cleveland Browns. Vick completed 29-of-56 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. The interceptions nearly finished off the Eagles in their season-opening game.

Former Giants
Mario Manningham made his debut with the 49ers in Week 1 against the Packers. He caught four passes for 29 yards in the 30-22 win. Manningham was targeted four times by quarterback Alex Smith in the contest and had a long reception of 11 yards.
Brandon Jacobs (knee) was ruled out by the 49ers for their Week 1 showdown with the Packers. Jacobs missed all three days of practice before the team left for Green Bay.

Sept 9 Eli Manning pass short middle in end zone to Martellus Bennett for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Bennett's first experience in a fourth-quarter huddle with Manning: "Everybody in the huddle, on this offense, shows a lot of perseverance. So in the huddle nobody ever panicked."
He showed his athleticism on a 12-yard catch in the third quarter when he sidestepped a defender to pick up an extra eight yards (the play was called back due to a penalty) and especially on his touchdown in the fourth quarter where he fought through tight coverage, made a reaching grab, got his foot in bounds and then flipped head over heels.

Keith Rivers and Michael Boley form an interesting duo, both natural weak side linebackers - Boley a returning starter from a Super Bowl defense, Rivers the newcomer on the scene after four largely disappointing years in Cincinnati. Rivers started against the Cowboys only because Boley was coming off a strained hamstring and the Giants wanted to limit his snaps.

Among the bigger story lines in the Giants' Super Bowl run last season were Antrel Rolle's saving the defense by playing the nickel cornerback role and providing run support from that spot, as well as Deon Grant helping in a three-safety package. It was noted and appreciated by the linebackers. Now, though, they'd like to be the ones carrying the defense.

Sept 8 Special Report Someone asked if Wilson has been fumbling frequently in practice, and Tom came up with an actually amusing response: "No, he hasn't fumbled in practice, but on the other hand, there hasn't been any tackling in practice, either."
--- You have probably read about the passing of Art Modell, the former Browns' and Ravens' owner who died this week at the age of 87. ... He was one of the country's good guys and true sportsmen, and the few occasions when we met were memorable. ...
Once I was working for The Star-Ledger at Monmouth Park when I got a message in the press box that the late Wellington Mara was in a box and if I had time I should say hello. That was a summons one didn't ignore, so between races (I think the third and fourth) I went to the box, and there was Modell, too.

After every Giants game, ESPN will be doing a "Stock Watch" containing three Giants things that are on the way up, and three Giants things that are headed downhill at the moment.

Eli Manning was asked if he was able to see more positives on the film than you thought? "Yeah. I think there were definitely positives. The second half, we played pretty well. Two scoring drives, only had three possessions, so I think you just saw missed opportunities."

Those searching for favorable omens in the wake of the loss to the Dallas Cowboys will note that each of the last two seasons that ended with a Giants Super Bowl victory began with a defeat to an NFC East rival.

No one carries less weight around the Giants than Jayron Hosley. But he is the one player who might be capable of tipping the scales in favor of a defense that looks as if there's a rupture spewing pass completions all over leaky cornerbacks.

David Wilson last week set some lofty personal goals for his rookie season, but he discovered in his first regular season game that they will be impossible to reach if he doesn't hold onto the football.

Will Hill didn't even have his own number: He was No. 38B for the New York Giants. His makeshift locker was one of dozens crammed into the middle of the team's oval-shaped locker room, part of a temporary settlement inhabited by football players waiting to get cut.

NFL News
He might find some who disagree, but Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday that the replacement referees who worked the NFL's season opener did a good job.

Sept 7 What Tom Coughlin saw in Wednesday night's 24-17 loss to the Cowboys was a team that fell victim to mistakes and missed opportunities. He also saw a squad that he did not believe had prepared adequately. He sternly noted that "two of the three practices last week, quite frankly, weren't good enough."
The Giants battled many of the same demons and "little things" that they did a year ago, before they went on their dominant late-season run. They couldn't run the ball in from the goal line, the receivers dropped passes - including three drive-killers by Victor Cruz - and a supposedly staunch defense "didn't execute our techniques," Chase Blackburn said.

The Giants were supposed to build a bridge from the end of last season directly into this one, to recreate the dominant form of their final six victories rather than the .500 mediocrity that came before.
Almost all of their problems in their 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday night - from their lack of a running game, to no time for Eli Manning to throw, to a pass rush that kept missing the target, to a struggling secondary - were the things the Giants struggled with most of last season, too.

So in June, Tom Coughlin was awarded a three-year, $20 million contract extension, securing himself for life. Now - just one game into the Giants' Super Bowl defense, which really was no defense at all based on the lackluster buzz-kill evening they provided for their expectant fans in Wednesday night's 24-17 loss to the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium - is when Coughlin must truly earn those extension dollars.

Tom Coughlin rattled the statistic off with conviction. The Giants are 46-9, good for an .840 winning percentage, during his tenure when they win the turnover battle, Coughlin highlighted. So when rookie running back David Wilson lost a fumble on his second career carry to terminate a promising drive in Cowboys' territory last night, Coughlin made a resolute decision: he kept his backup running back off the field.
Asked if he benched Wilson because of the fumble or because he feared the rookie's confidence was shaken, Coughlin said "It's more, 'Let the veteran play and let's hope we don't have another occasion to shoot ourselves in the foot.'" No one ever explained this to Wilson, the first-round draft pick from Virginia Tech. Nobody really had to.

Last season, when the Giants won the Super Bowl, they did it because Nicks, Cruz and Mario Manningham beat defensive backs on a regular basis. So why, then, is Coach Tom Coughlin still so enamored with the age-old football principle of run-pass balance? "I think it just gives you so many more options," Coughlin said Thursday.

The Giants have no idea who will start at cornerback opposite Corey Webster in Week 2 against the Buccaneers. Prince Amukamara, the projected starter in the preseason, is still nursing a high ankle sprain and has yet to begin running again. The bottom line is, the Giants suddenly look dangerously thin in the secondary. When asked if the team would consider bringing in another cornerback from outside the organization, Coughlin said, "We'll consider anything."

There are a couple of ways you can look at the Giants' 24-17 loss to the Cowboys. You can sit there and wring your hands in worry, or you can see the silver lining in the clouds. What silver lining, you might ask? The Giants, who last year and all off-season were the toast of the town, were taken down a peg by an opponent with whom many analysts have a love affair and who see as a potential division champion.

NFL News
John Mara on the passing of former Browns/Ravens owner Art Modell: "Art Modell was one of the greatest owners in the history of the NFL. He contributed in so many ways to the success of this League and he deserves a place in Canton. More importantly, he was a decent man and a great friend to my family. We will miss him dearly."

Sept 6 Giants lose to the Cowboys, 24-17   |   Photos  |  Photos

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On The Game: Game 1 Gamegirl "... I felt sure the Giants would come roaring back in the second half. The Giants did score two more touchdowns but were lackluster in their play. The strange thing about this game was that it seemed like the Cowboys owned the clock and time of possession by plying up more and more penalties and then overcoming their penalty yardage by making first downs. They came up with two touchdowns as well in the second half and one fieldgoal..." Mikefan. "...Gamegirl mentioned that you'll have to wait awhile to see the Giants play again, but if you have the opportunity, try to preview the Buccaneers - Panthers game this Sunday at 4:25pm. The Giants face both those teams next, Tampa Bay first and then Carolina just four days later. More Sunday distractions would be the other two division teams playing at 1pm. If you can't dial-in the Eagles or Redskins, the double quarterbacked Jets play at that same time, and Peyton Manning makes his first start for Denver, playing Pittsburgh later that night. Peyton has some big shoes to fill. If you remember, last year Tim Tebow ended the Steelers' season with an overtime victory in the first round of the AFC playoffs..."

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ESPN - Tony Romo throws 2 TDs to Kevin Ogletree in Cowboys' win over Giants.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Cowboys 24, Giants 17.
Giants.com - Giants drop opener to Cowboys, 24-17.
Giants.com - Giants vs. Cowboys Postgame Quotes.
Giants.com - Giants vs. Cowboys Postgame Stats & Notes.
InsideFootball - Giants Served Humble Pie in 24-17 Loss to Cowboys.
InsideFootball - David Wilson Vows to Learn from Mistake.
StarLedger - Giants fall to Dallas Cowboys, 24-17, in season opener.
StarLedger - Rookie David Wilson benched after fumble on second career carry.
StarLedger - Victor Cruz has three drops, two penalties and one bad night.
StarLedger - Tony Romo, Cowboys dominate as Giants' lauded pass rush fails to show up.
StarLedger - Giants' injury-decimated secondary torched by Cowboys.
NYDailyNews - Giants drop NFL opener to Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, 24-17.
NYDailyNews - Boys bash Big Blue in opener, 24-17.
NYDailyNews - Victor Cruz receives 'humble check' after dropping three passes.
NYPost - Giants corners struggle against Cowboys.
NYPost - Giants' Wilson has costly fumble in debut.
NYPost - Fill-in referees 'hold' back Giants in opener.
Record - Loss proves to Giants that last season is over.
NYTimes - After Pregame Pomp, a Pratfall.
NYTimes - Cowboys' Romo Wins Signature Victory.
NYTimes - For Replacement Referees, Questioned Calls and Praise.
HuffingtonPost - Cowboys Defeat Giants: Ogletree's Catches, Cruz' Drops Standout.

Game 1 Preview - Giants (0-0) vs Cowboys (0-0)
NY Giants -They started last season 6-2, then lost 4 games in a row to sit at 6-6. It did not look good as over the years Tom Coughlin's teams tended to fade in the final games. This time they decided there would be no 'final game' until they were the ones putting the stamp on it. Beating the right teams at the right time, they lost only one more regular season game to finish at 9-7 and this spirited bunch never looked back as they fought tooth and nail throughout the playoffs. The 'final stamp' on the 2011 NFL season was a Giants Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.
Dallas Cowboys - Jason Garrett was a keeper for the 2011 season, but after a 7-4 start they finished 8-8 with the Cowboys losing both their games against division teams, the Giants and the Eagles. Just before that final game with the Giants, club owner Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys wouldn't be playing for Garrett's job. "His job has no bearing and is not a part of this ballgame. Yes, he's going to be our coach next year, period. No matter what the score is." They lost, and for now, Jason Garrett is still the head coach. Jones has declared that fans should come watch his team "beat the New York Giants' asses" this season.

Sept 5 The Dallas Cowboys will enter MetLife Stadium battling serious injuries on offense and defense. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, a key run stuffer, has already been ruled out due to a high ankle sprain. Meanwhile, tight end Jason Witten, Tony Romo's favorite target, is doubtful as he continues to recover from a lacerated spleen.

For the last five years Eli Manning and Tony Romo have been tied together by more than the longstanding rivalry between the Giants and the Cowboys. They are linked in a battle that has shaped the balance of power in the NFC East and will continue to do so for the next five years. They are also locked into the age-old question of who is better.
While Manning has 21 career 4th quarter comebacks and is 21-22 in games where he had an opportunity for a 4th quarter comeback, Romo is just 13-20 in 4th quarter comeback opportunities. But let's leave that to the side for now. Because based on their regular season statistics, Romo absolutely crushes Manning, at least statistically.

The Giants are the defending Super Bowl champs, with almost every key player from last season back in the fold. So there's plenty of reasons to feel confident, Giants fans. Here are the three biggest reasons why you should like your team's chances heading into the 2012 regular season. 1. The pass rush. 2. The quarterback. 3. The coach.
They signed the more athletic Martellus Bennett to replace departed tight end Jake Ballard. They drafted David Wilson to replace the lumbering Brandon Jacobs, and they replaced receiver Mario Manningham with the return of Domenik Hixon and by drafting the promising Rueben Randle in the second round.
There's plenty to be excited about when it comes to the Giants' strengths this season. But there are also three things that have me slightly concerned entering the season opener for the defending champs: Left tackle/offensive line: Cornerback: Stopping the run.

Justin Tuck and the rest of the Big Blue defense set on stopping the Dallas Cowboys' ground game, running back DeMarco Murray. Then a rookie, Murray rushed for 31 total yards in just eight minutes against the Giants before breaking his ankle during Week 14 of the 2011 season. And Murray, who rushed for a Cowboys-record 253 yards in his first start last season, is more aggressive than his replacement, Felix Jones.

Jason Pierre-Paul, 23, is the latest elite defensive end in the Giants' seemingly endless supply. He is already widely regarded as one of the NFL's best defensive linemen and will be joined by a healthy Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck tonight in the Giants' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys - completing perhaps the league's premier group of defensive ends.

Regulars won't ref Giants' opener. One of the replacement officials, Shannon Eastin, would become the first woman to officiate a regular-season NFL game Sunday if the stalemate isn't settled before she works the Lions-Rams game in Detroit.
Unlike last year's lockout of players, which was largely about creating the economic structure for the league for the next decade, this dispute is a relatively simple one over compensation and benefits. Current officials want to retain a traditional pension program; the league wants to move the part-time officials into a 401(k).

Giants co-owner John Mara will attend a corporate event Wednesday morning with his Cowboys counterpart Jerry Jones, and yes, he said the playful offseason banter between the two teams will continue right up to game day. "I'm going to have a little fun with him, believe me," Mara said in the days leading up to the season opener between the NFC East rivals.
Giants owner John Mara says when he sees the word, "dynasty," or "repeat" associated with his team, he cringes. "I would tell you that it's almost impossible to do it now, because the talent in this league is so spread out."

The Giants know all about how treacherous the Season After can be. The past three times they defended their title, their seasons became soap operas despite the best-laid plans to stay as hungry and as humble as they'd been during their title quests.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan makes debut as 'Live! With Kelly' co-host; After months of searching, Kelly Ripa taps ex-Giants star for seat.
Antonio Pierce is aware of the predictions circulating on the eve of the NFL upcoming season. Pierce believes the Packers are the favorites to win the Super Bowl this year.

Sept 4 The Giants open up the season against Dallas on Wednesday; what follows is one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. So how do you prepare for getting a team's best effort week in and week out, particularly when you're playing against a slate full of quality opponents?
Predicting the Giants would go 9-7 in 2011 was no great stretch and, in fact, that was forecast on these pages one year ago. Anticipating that modest record would produce a division title, an improbable playoff run and Super Bowl triumph, well, that wasn't part of the foreseen scenario. They did it, and now for the encore.

The crowd, the national stage, the sight of banners being unveiled and the feeling of being on the field for the first relevant game since the confetti fell in Lucas Oil Stadium in February will give the Giants an adrenaline advantage over the visiting Cowboys. Since the NFL began the tradition of having the Super Bowl winner host the first game of the season a few days in advance of Sunday (usually it's a Thursday, but the Democratic National Convention nudged the Giants to a Wednesday this year), the defending champions are 8-0.

The Giants roster carries 13 players who will be attempting to make history by becoming the first three-ring Giants: Manning, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Corey Webster, David Diehl, Chris Snee, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kevin Boothe, Domenik Hixon, Chase Blackburn, Lawrence Tynes and Zak DeOssie.

This year's slogan is "Build the Bridge," and last time the Giants were defending a Super Bowl title - in 2008 - construction began smoothly as they started the season a blistering 11-1. Then Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh at a New York City night club and the season deteriorated. The Giants finished the regular season 1-3 and were bounced in the Wild Card round of the playoffs by the Eagles.

The Giants are now the NFL's model franchise, with two Super Bowl titles in the last five seasons to go along with their always loyal fan base, but there are times John Mara wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about the darkest period in team history. He was 9 years old when the Giants made the playoffs in 1963 and 27 years old when they next made them in 1981.

Jerry Jones toned down the anti-Giants rhetoric dramatically in the days leading up to this week's game. Vows to beat their butts were replaced by flowery compliments. Jones also claimed he was "very pleased" when he found out the NFL had scheduled the Cowboys to open against the Giants, even if it meant a grueling road game for his team right off the bat. "It's going to be quite a challenge, but one we're looking forward to very much," the Dallas boss said.

Entering the season, the Giants' offense has two primary concerns. First, the offensive line has little proven depth, and the organization only added a journeyman to the cast. The Giants are hoping that a healthy duo of center David Baas and right guard Chris Snee, along with the professionalism of Sean Locklear, will solidify a unit where there is a serious lack of youth among the starters - left guard Kevin Boothe is the youngest at 29.

Tight end Martellus Bennett, who signed a one-year contract with the Giants as a free agent in March, is eager to demonstrate in the season opener against Dallas on Wednesday night that he is establishing a rapport with Eli Manning that he never enjoyed with Tony Romo during four disappointing years with the Cowboys. Bennett said after practice Monday that he never exchanged text messages with Romo. Phone calls? "I just got his number my last year on the team," he said.

Osi Umenyiora was asked how many times they plan on getting to the Cowboys' signal caller Tony Romo in the season opener. "As many times as possible," he said. "He has a very quick release. We know he's not going to sit there and hold the ball. He's going to try to get the ball out quick. The receivers are going to be running shorter routes."

Michael Coe is the most experienced inexperienced starter in the NFL. Well, maybe not the most, but the 28-year-old cornerback isn't the average player in line to make his first start in the NFL. Rather, Coe enters his sixth season in the league - third with the Giants in Perry Fewell's system - as the likely starting second corner, given Prince Amukamara's ankle injury and Terrell Thomas being placed on injured reserve.

Hakeem Nicks and Jayron Hosley say they will play vs. Cowboys. Hakeem Nicks didn't practice for the second consecutive day, but said he'll be uniform for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday night.

Under the lights. Primetime network broadcast. Running out of the tunnel with the defending champs onto the NFL stage for the first time. In the United States, that's a typical dream growing up. But what about overseas? "This kid from Germany dreamed about it, too," said Markus Kuhn, tapping his chest with his index finger.

Former Giants
Shaun O'Hara announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday. O'Hara, who played 11 years in the NFL, including the final seven for the Giants, delivered an emotional speech in the Giants' field house that ended with "I will always feel like a Giant, and beat them Cowboys!"
Shaun O'Hara grew up in New Jersey, learning the game from his father and then at Hillsborough High School. He was a walk-on at Rutgers and went on to establish himself as a top lineman for the Scarlet Knights.
Tiki Barber said on Friday that he has some questions about the 2012 Giants. But are they legitimate ones? "I get some fears about some of the things that I've seen so far in the preseason," Barber said.

Sept 3 Giants vs. Cowboys Scouting Report - Several Cowboys suffered injuries in the preseason. The most serious was Jason Witten's lacerated spleen and internal bleeding. The seven-time Pro Bowler is not expected to play in the opener. Quarterback Tony Romo is still the point man for the Dallas offense. Romo is 47-30 as a starter in the regular season. Last year, he had a career-high 102.5 passer rating while throwing 31 touchdown passes against only 10 interceptions.

Former Giants center Shaun O'Hara announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.

Justin Tuck knows exactly what the Cowboys want to do on Wednesday. They want to arrive at MetLife Stadium and ruin the Giants' first game of 2012, putting a quick blemish on Big Blue's title defense while regaining the upper hand in this NFC East rivalry all at once. If Tuck has his way, that won't happen. Instead, the Cowboys will come to East Rutherford and be mere spectators as the Giants' defensive line establishes itself and sends a message to the rest of the NFL.
"They got a lot of stuff going on. We're trying to figure out what kind of looks we're going to get. I think, for the most part, it is getting into the game and kind of feeling your way through the first couple of series with them. They got a new offensive line coach in Callahan, who was with the Jets so we can kind of look at some of the things the Jets did to us last year and things of that nature."

Adewale Ojomo, if you somehow haven't heard by now, made the Giants' final roster after pretty much coming out of nowhere and surprising even Justin Tuck by recording four sacks in the team's final three preseason games, including the strip sack to set up the game-winning field goal against the New England Patriots. Tuck wasn't the only one stunned by the undrafted free agent's emergence.

With the injury bug biting several Giants cornerbacks during training camp, Michael Coe will start opposite Corey Webster in Wednesday night's opener against Dallas. It's a big opportunity for the unproven 28-year-old, who will have his hands full covering explosive wide receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.
Michael Coe, who has never started an NFL game, will probably be called upon Wednesday night to help shut down Cowboys receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin. As a sign of that faith, the Giants have decided to keep only five cornerbacks on the roster, even though Coe and the rookie Jayron Hosley have also battled injuries during the preseason.

Eli Manning - "Last year, the last game of the regular season, we played them and the winner goes to the playoffs. So it's very fitting that we open the season with them and we know we have to play our best football if we expect to win. They have a lot of ability over there, so it will be a great way to start the season at home on a Wednesday night at our own stadium. It should be a great atmosphere."
For every question Tony Romo gets asked, Eli Manning has the answers he wants. With a second Super Bowl win in February and a second MVP trophy to add to his shelf, Manning has established himself as one of the league's best winners, if not its statistical champion. And as much as some outside observers claim that Romo's a better bet (Amani Toomer anyone?), there isn't a quarterback in the NFL who would take Romo's regular-season stats over Manning's postseason ones.

Offensive tackle Sean Locklear, a journeyman who has been with three NFL teams over his nine-year NFL career, is quickly showing the coaches that his accumulated experience is more than sufficient in helping to protect quarterback Eli Manning's blind side.
Sean Locklear will protect Eli Manning's blind side on Wednesday night instead of projected starter Will Beatty, according to someone informed of the team's plans for this week's game, said Beatty is expected to dress but will serve as a backup and perhaps a tight end in certain formations, as the team attempts to advance his recovery from a nagging back issue.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride confirmed that Domenik Hixon will start as the third wide receiver as expected. Hixon has started as the third wideout the entire camp, and the Giants trust the veteran and know what they have with him.
Gilbride prefixed his answer with "right now," which indicates the No. 3 wide receiver role will likely be fluid. Rookie Rueben Randle, Jerrel Jernigan and Ramses Barden may all see snaps as the Giants figure out their personnel early in the season.

Sept 2 Linebacker Michael Boley practiced for the first time after missing the entire preseason with a strained hamstring, and though he was limited he declared, "I feel like I'll be ready," for the Giants' season-opener Wednesday against Dallas.

Despite coming off a second Super Bowl win and what he says was his best season, Eli Manning is not satisfied. He's still working to get better. So days before the Giants begin their title defense against the Cowboys, Manning made it clear: He may have had the best season of his career last year (and that's his assessment), but he can be better in 2012.

Tight end Martellus Bennett was asked if once he learned the Giants offense, could he be be a Pro Bowl tight end? "That's my goal, to be the best right end in the NFL. My goal is to be the perfect tight end for the New York Giants. If it gets me in the Pro Bowl, so be it. But as long as I'm the perfect guy for this team, whether it's blocking, catching, I know I want to be the prototypical tight end."
On Wednesday, Bennett hopes to show the Giants and his old team, the Cowboys, that he is money on the field as a full-time starter for the first time in his pro career. After spending his first four years playing behind All-Pro Jason Witten, Bennett is ready to break out.
It took Bennett three seasons in Dallas before he even got his hands on QB Tony Romo's phone number, but in only a few months of being with the Giants, he and QB Eli Manning have been texting frequently. And they're connecting nearly as much on the field as well. In four preseason games Bennett hauled in seven passes for 49 yards and one touchdown.

Victor Cruz scored nine touchdowns in 2011, but Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr says the Giants wideout won't score any against him this year. "All that salsa dancing, that's fine, but you've got to come through me," Carr said during an appearance on ESPN. "I don't plan on seeing no dancing."
The Cowboys, who are sporting new cornerbacks (Brandon Carr and rookie Morris Claiborne) are looking to curtail the effectiveness of quarterback Eli Manning, who completed 63.7 percent of his pass attempts last year against them, and company.
At left corner is veteran Brandon Carr, who played in all 64 regular season games in four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before leaving as a free agent. The right corner is manned by rookie Morris Claiborne, whom Dallas selected with the sixth overall selection after trading up in this year's draft.

Former Giants
D.J. Ware, released by the team on Friday, has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team and Ware's agency have announced.
D.J. Ware may have chosen the Buccaneers in part because of the presence of new Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan, who joined Schiano's staff this offseason after a long stint as a Giants' offensive coach.

Sept 1 The Giants placed cornerback Terrell Thomas and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers on the injured reserve as the defending champions reduced their roster to 53 on Friday. The Giants trimmed their roster to 53 by also parting ways with veteran running back D.J. Ware, linebacker Greg Jones and wide receiver and fan favorite David Douglas.
The Giants could have opted to put Thomas on the new modified injured reserve list, which would have put him out for the first eight weeks of the season, but clearly, they feel his knee is not capable of holding up to the rigors of the NFL.
Based on the NFL's new Injured Reserve Policy, "only players with a 'major injury' who are placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, September 4, or thereafter during the season, will be eligible to be reactivated at a later time."
For the second time in two years, Terrell Thomas' season is over before it began. And this time his Giants career may be over too. Even though Thomas had projected a return to the field no later than the end of September, the Giants obviously weren't willing to wait. It's not likely that if he returns he'd return to play for the Giants.

Just six days before they host the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants reached the 53-man regular-season roster limit and the lists of the players let go and those remaining included the usual assortment of minor surprises. Besides D.J. Ware's, the contracts of four other veterans were terminated: cornerback Dante Hughes, defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, wide receiver Isaiah Stanback and offensive lineman Chris White.

As he polished off an ultra-impressive preseason with the biggest play of a forgettable game, Adewale Ojomo for the first time was presented with a scenario never really openly discussed: What happens if you actually make the Giants' final roster? He arrived this summer seemingly as training camp fodder on the defensive line, where the Giants were loaded. Ojomo didn't miss a snap and feasted on backups in the preseason games to register four sacks.

Jerry Jones said for the first time publicly what the Cowboys might have been thinking for a while with Jason Witten - holding him out until the Seattle game. "If we can gain on it, in this case gain another 10 days at least before we played Seattle - which would be no contact here for the Giants game - there's almost 27 days difference," Jones said on his Friday morning radio show on KRLD 105.3 FM The Fan.

It's been almost four years now and the hole is still there, both in their hearts and in the trophy case in the lobby. Justin Tuck still thinks about it all the time, a chance at back-to-back championships that was stolen away. The Giants were, in Tuck's eyes, "the best team in football" in 2008. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory so many thought was a fluke, they bowled over their doubters with an 11-1 start.

Phil Simms expects the Giants to win another Super Bowl soon. "The stars are all mature, almost everyone is in their prime," Simms said. "You look at Osi Umenyiora, it's like he took a youth pill because they just have so many guys to run out there."

Aug 31 Special Report Head coach Tom Coughlin doesn't look at the Giants the way fans do. He wasn't bored by the seemingly endless 6-3 victory over New England Wednesday night, he simply viewed the exercise as a learning and teaching tool. It was pointed out that of all the areas of the team, perhaps the defensive ends and defensive tackles would be the toughest to sort through and finally separate. Coughlin agreed, but added: "It's a good problem to have, don't you think?"

There are always tough decisions to make when paring down an NFL roster to the final 53 players. The Giants will have some especially difficult ones, particularly on the defensive line.
General manager Jerry Reese, head coach Tom Coughlin and the rest of his staff have some very tough decisions to make in the next 24 hours or so.
Giants final 53-man roster projections from Star-Ledger beat writers. The Star-Ledger Giants beat writers are split on the fate of linebacker Greg Jones.
ESPN roster analysis: Ohm Youngmisuk - final 53. I like what Spencer Paysinger and Greg Jones can do on special teams on punts and kickoffs, and their potential for the future down the road. But I could very well be wrong here and the Giants might cut one of these players.

These next two days are nothing new to Andre Brown. Now in his fourth season in the league, Brown has been cut seven times by his estimation. "This is not a very good feeling," the running back said after the Giants' 6-3 win Wednesday night.
Giants wide receiver Ramses Barden, who had four catches in the preseason finale vs. the New England Patriots, said he's "in a good rhythm and I plan on continuing."
On the eve of cutdown day, WR David Douglas was asked point-blank if the past few months put it in his head that he belongs in the NFL. Douglas recorded just one catch for 23 yards, but showed his poise in fielding kicks and punts, predominantly in the third game against Chicago.

Though Will Beatty did not suit up for a preseason game and is dealing with the constant uncertainty with his back injury, Tom Coughlin believes there's a chance the Giants' left tackle could be ready for Wednesday's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
If Prince Amukamara and Jayron Hosley have it their way, they will in uniform Wednesday night's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. But the cornerbacks won't and they'll need to prove over the next few days that they can step on the further without a hitch.

Justin Tuck, who endured multiple injuries last season, said the NFL's new short-term injured reserve rules can be good to save players' seasons but bad because teams can manipulate their rosters.
This new rule should benefit the Giants, who could potentially designate a player like cornerback Terrell Thomas or defensive tackle Marvin Austin as their "designated for return" injured reserve player.

Tom Coughlin has done his best to avoid giving his opinion on the replacement officials that have presided this preseason and will at least start the regular season during the lockout. But Wednesday night, he was left asking the media for their opinion on a call.

They stayed quiet throughout the offseason, and quiet throughout the preseason, even as former opponents delivered rip after rip after rip. Indeed, in the Giants' eyes, the NFL continues to underestimate them, and loud-mouthed Cowboys owner Jerry Jones exemplifies that attitude.

Former Giants
Brandon Jacobs said Mathias Kiwanuka "has never been so right" to say Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones should want to beat the Giants because "the Giants have been whupping his ass for a long time."
Lawrence Taylor continues to downplay the off-field issues that plagued him both during and after his career. "It is what it is, I'm not going to keep going over that thing," Taylor said on ESPN's SportsCenter.

Aug 30 ESPN - Giants win over Patriots, 6-3.

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Giants.com - Giants defeat Patriots, 6-3.
Giants.com - Giants vs. Patriots Postgame Quotes.
Giants.com - DE Ojomo makes impact vs. Patriots.
ESPN - Lawrence Tynes' late FG helps Giants defeat Pats again 6-3.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 6, Patriots 3.
ESPN - Barden builds on momentum.
ESPN - Andre Brown shines in preseason finale.
ESPN - Ojo makes case for spot on crowded D-line.
ESPN - Hakeem Nicks: 'It's full-go now'..
StarLedger - Nicks looks good in 6-3 preseason finale win over New England.
StarLedger - Giants' final preseason game - Three things we learned..
Insidefootball - Giants Have Mixed Results in 6-3 Win vs. Patriots.
InsideFootball - Nicks Makes Preseason Return.
InsideFootball - Adewale Ojomo Caps an Impressive Preseason.
InsideFootball - Giants 6- Patriots 3: Notes & Quotes.
NYDailyNews - Giants work Nicks back into the mix during 6-3 preseason victory.
NYPost - Hakeem back in Giants' yawner win.
NYPost - Randle in running for returns.
NYPost - Ojomo making push to make Giants' final roster.
NYTimes - On Night for Backups, Nicks Returns to Action.
NEPatriotsLife - Patriots fall 6-3 to the Giants.

Aug 29 The two combatants of Super Bowl XLVI will be going head- to-head for the first time since that memorable title bout in Indianapolis back in February, though neither the stakes nor the intensity will be anywhere near as high when the Giants and Patriots square off this time around.
The final preseason game against the Patriots is Wednesday night. This is a final chance for bubble players to impress the coaching staff. With the Giants cutting their roster down from 75 to 53 on Friday, have a look at the offense, position-by-position, and who might stay or go.

Five things to look for when the Giants take on the Patriots. 1) Health. Get in, get out, and get to the opener. 2) Final audition. 22 players won't see the weekend on the Giants roster. 3) Middle of the line. Watch Markus Kuhn and Dwayne Hendricks. Both are having a successful preseason so far. 4) Coughlin's corners. The secondary hit a speed bump with injuries. 5) Coughlin vs. Belichick. Any time these two colleagues-turned-rivals face each other, you're talking about a lot of NFL lore on one football field -- five Super Bowls worth.

Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants take on the Patriots. 1) WR Hakeem Nicks - After practicing for the first time last week, Nicks dialed it up and went full speed on Monday. 2) CB Michael Coe - Presumably the starter in place of injured Prince Amukamara. 3) DE Adewale Ojomo - Undisputed sack leader of the Giants this preseason. 4) WR Ramses Barden - It took until his fourth preseason for Barden to find the end zone in a New York Giants uniform. 5) WR David Douglas - Battling the numbers game, Douglas had an impressive performance against the Bears.

Adrian Tracy and David Douglas have been two of the brightest albeit unexpected preseason stars for the Giants, making plays and gaining plenty of attention while also garnering raves from teammates and the coaching staff, most notably coach Tom Coughlin.

The Giants used to be pleased with their depth at tackle. That was before Chris Canty's recovery didn't come along as he'd initially hoped, before Marvin Austin suffered a back injury that's still bugging him, and before Shaun Rogers went down with a blood clot in his calf. Rookie Markus Kuhn and former undrafted free agent Dwayne Hendricks have impressed, but the real key will be Rocky Bernard. The 11th-year veteran will likely be a starter for the first time since 2008.

Chris Canty and Jeff Hostetler were named Man of the Year and Alumni Man of the Year, respectively, for their work in the community. Canty was honored for the work he does through his Chris Canty Foundation and with the Giants' community relations department. John Mara introduced Hostetler. "He played sparingly until Phil Simms broke his foot on December 15 in our game against Buffalo. Jeff then came in... I can still remember all the media experts out there saying that our season was over, there was no way that we could advance to the playoffs and win a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback like that."

NFL News
In one NFL preseason game, the referee announced a penalty with his back to the television camera. In another, an official twice referred to a team from Atlanta as Arizona. That referee, whose previous experience included a stint in the Lingerie Football League, also mixed up which team had won the coin toss.

Aug 28 The Giants pared 15 players from their roster to reach the NFL's roster limit of 75 players. The Giants and the rest of the NFL must reach the regular-season roster limit of 53 players by 9 p.m. Friday. The Giants host New England in their final preseason game Wednesday and will face Dallas in the regular season opener on September 5.

The Giants will be without defensive tackle Chris Canty and tight end Travis Beckum for at least the first six games of the season as they placed both injured players on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday. The moves are not surprising since Canty and Beckum were both on the training camp PUP list and have both been recovering from offseason knee surgery.
Both players, who are coming off knee surgeries, began training camp on the active/PUP list, which means they counted against the 90-man roster. Now, they won't count against the 75-man roster, a limit the Giants needed to meet Monday by 4 p.m.
Chris Canty truly believed in his heart that the surgical procedure that he had in the off-season on his knee would steadily progress, and that he'd be ready for the start of the 2012 NFL season.
"I'm not gonna say I saw it coming," Canty said. "Obviously I was optimistic about it. I feel good, I feel in pretty good shape considering all the factors. But ultimately this was a decision that was made in the best interest of the football team."
With Chris Canty out, it's time for Linval Joseph to step up for Giants. The combination of the underappreciated Joseph and veteran Rocky Bernard will complement the dominance of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora off the edges.

Left tackle Will Beatty returned to practice on Monday and got some work in with the first team during the two-minute drill. Beatty has been in and out of practice with a back injury, which has been hampering him since OTAs. Linebacker Michael Boley (hamstring) did some running on the sidelines.

Cornerback Terrell Thomas looks at the landscape of the roster and knows that there are never any guarantees. "That's why I'm working my butt off every day because it's a numbers game," he said. "They drafted a first rounder last year and a third rounder this year, and those guys are gunning for my spot and I understand that."
Terrell Thomas isn't sure what will happen with him when the Giants reduce their roster to 53 on Friday. He still holds out hope of playing in the season opener against Dallas, but that seems to be a long shot. Thomas said there has been no hint of him potentially landing on the injured reserve so far to create room on the roster.

Cornerback Michael Coe suddenly has emerged as a key figure for the Giants' regular-season opener against the visiting Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 5 and at least through the early portion of the schedule. Amukamara had replaced Terrell Thomas, who is rehabilitating an injury to his right anterior cruciate ligament.
Due in part to his history of injuries, Coe has never made an NFL start. In fact, since he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, he has only appeared in 27 games. Which leaves a player a lot of time to make sure mental reps are more than just buzzwords. In his mind, he has dropped into Corey Webster's or Prince Amukamara's shoes hundreds of times.

Giants safety Tyler Sash said he'll meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his four-game suspension for using the drug Adderall. Giants running back Andre Brown was also suspended for using Adderall, though the ruling was reversed on appeal.

Aug 27 Thirteen Giants missed practice, another was hurt during the workout and the team must lop 15 players off the roster by 4 p.m. tomorrow.
Safety Tyler Sash was carted off the practice field, unable to put any weight on his right leg.

Given Wednesday's matchup with the Cowboys is the earliest opening game in NFL history (as far as the day of the week, that is), the Giants' starters will probably take it as easy as they ever have. That means more time for Adewale Ojomo.
Adewale Ojomo, a backup defensive end fighting for a roster spot, has been impressive in his last two games, with a team-leading total of three sacks. He had two of those sacks against the Jets.

Undrafted rookie Matt Broha had a sack in each of the first two preseason games and followed that with a two-tackle performance against the Chicago Bears on Friday.

David Douglas didn't have the statistics to show he had an impressive performance against the Bears, but Tom Coughlin noticed.

Tom Coughlin said he's seen some good things from Will Hill and, if he makes the team, can envision using him as a "move around" safety in nickel and dime packages, much like they used Antrel Rolle and the now-departed Deon Grant last season.

Prince Amukamara said his high-ankle sprain has made a big improvement over the past few days, though he's not sure how long he'll be sidelined.
In speaking yesterday for the first time since the injury, Amukamara seemed pretty optimistic. He also said he felt "a huge improvement" from the last couple of days.

Shaun Rogers hopes he can play this season after doctors discovered a blood clot in his left calf. Rogers, 34, rededicated himself over the offseason and lost over 50 pounds, going from 380-plus to 334, which made the diagnosis all the more frustrating.

Aug 26 Ramses Barden has big game at right time for Giants. And though head coach Tom Coughlin would undoubtedly never say whether Barden's roster spot was dependent on such a performance, the Giants' coach certainly indicated Barden made a case for keeping it.
With a pair of cut days looming this week - rosters must go from 90 to 75 players Monday, then down to 53 on Friday - Barden was asked if he has thought about what it would be like if the Giants decided to release him. "Never once -- I don't know how you could think like that," he said.

The Giants came into the 2012 season thinking they were pretty stacked at cornerback. But if Prince Amukamara doesn't recover from a mild high-ankle sprain in time for the team's regular-season opener against the Cowboys on Sept. 5, who starts opposite Corey Webster?
Giants cornerback Bruce Johnson said he's still working on his technique as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon. "I'll be ready. I've just got to tighten up on my technical things," Johnson said when asked if he'll be needed to play a big role in light of the potential loss of Prince Amukamara for a bit.

With Prince Amukamara potentially missing a month or more, the Giants will likely go into the season opener against Dallas without two of their top three cornerbacks.
None of the corners has received a season-long sentence on I.R. yet this year, but the position continues to be plagued by a relentless spate of injuries.
With cornerback Terrell Thomas rehabilitating the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the Giants were counting on the seemingly star-crossed Amukamara to hold down the corner spot opposite the dependable Corey Webster.
Coughlin said that they would prefer to not have to move safety Antrel Rolle, who has experience at cornerback, to that position, and has not ruled out looking for help once the roster cuts are made by other teams.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan has shown the potential to be the next great football personality on television. He now has other avenues on his mind. Strahan is now on his way to significantly expanding his brand. Fox's "NFL Sunday" is now officially his -- very -- secondary gig

NFC East News
Cowboys 20, Rams 19 - Tony Romo threw his first touchdown passes of the preseason, both to wide receiver Dwayne Harris.
Redskins 30, Colts 17 - A showdown between the top two picks in this year's draft -- quarterbacks Andrew Luck of the Colts and Robert Griffin of the Redskins.
Eagles 27, Browns 10 - Mike Kafka continues to sit out with a broken hand and Foles continues to impress in these preseason games. The rookie could win the backup quarterback job.

Aug 25 Giants fall to Bears, 20-17.

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Giants.com - WR Barden shows playmaking ability vs. Bears.
Giants.com - CB Michael Coe steps in for Amukamara.
ESPN - Jason Campbell, Bears rally in 2nd half, upend Giants 20-17.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Bears 20, Giants 17.
ESPN - Kiwi: I'll be ready for regular opener.
ESPN - Could Barden be big-play threat?.
Giants.com - Giants fall to Bears, 20-17.
StarLedger - Prince Amukamara hurt as Giants lose 20-17 to Chicago Bears.
StarLedger - Giants vs. Bears: Bears defeat Giants 20-17.
StarLedger - David Wilson shows off more than just speed.
Insidefootball - Giants' Starters Play Well Despite 20-17 Loss to Bears.
InsideFootball - Chicago 20 - Giants 17: Notebook.
InsideFootball - Chicago 20 - Giants 17: Hits, Misses, & Musings.
InsideFootball - Barden's Big Night May Have Saved His Roster Spot.
NYDailyNews - Prince Amukamara suffers high right ankle sprain.
NYDailyNews - David Wilson impresses Eli Manning with some nifty move .
NYPost - Prince Amukamara forced out with high ankle sprain.
NYPost - Giants' Barden catches first TD.
NYPost - Wilson, Barden breakouts form silver lining for Big Blue.
NYPost - Kiwanuka exits game with strained groin.
Record - David Wilson stars, Prince Amukamara hurt in 20-17 loss.
NYTimes - Wilson Shines, but Amukamara Sustains Ankle Injury.
ChicagoTribune - Bears rally after shaky first half, down Giants 20-17.
ChicagoTribune - Even in victory, no easy answers for Bears.
ChicagoBears.com - Forte confident better days ahead for run game.
ChicagoBears.com - Marshall flashes big-play abilty in preseason win.
ChicagoBears.com - Bears rally to overcome key mistakes to beat Giants.

Aug 24 If you thought preseason was meaningless, think again. Here are five things to look for when the Giants take on the Bears on Friday, Aug. 24 at 8:00 PM: 1) First teams. 2) Pass rush. 3) Rushing attack. 4) Special teams. 5) Fringe players.
The third pre-season game is the closest you're going to get to regular-season speed. The starters will play into the third quarter before taking a seat. Winning the game is a minor objective. Fine-tuning your schemes is a priority but not as high as getting off the field unscathed.

The Giants are in accelerated development mode. They will face the Bears only 12 days prior to their regular season opener against NFC East rival Dallas. Coughlin wants to see a more productive running game. After finishing last in the NFL in 2011 and vowing throughout the offseason to improve, the Giants have run for a 3.2-yard average in two games.
Developing a more potent ground game has been a major theme this week as the Giants prepared to face the visiting Chicago Bears on Friday night. "It has been a high priority," Coughlin said of the running game. "It hasn't been accomplished very well. We will continue to try to develop the run in all capacities, whatever personnel combination is on the field."

Projecting the Giants' Final 53. Next week NFL teams will need to make their roster cuts, the first of which will take place on Monday by 4PM when teams drop from 90 to 75, and then the last cuts taking place next Friday, 8/31 by 9PM ET when teams must get down to the final 53.

Giants' woes are nothing to sniff at. Jason Pierre-Paul won't be playing Friday night against the Bears, but it's just a precaution. His back pain has nothing to do with slinging a 200-pound cornerback over his shoulder and dumping him in a tub of ice.

There is an attitude needed to play cornerback in the NFL. It is a cockiness that the elite ones say is different than at most other positions. It cannot easily be taught, either. This summer, the Giants are trying to find out whether Prince Amukamara is one of those who has it, or not.
Justin Tuck said Amukamara's had his best stretch of practices the last two weeks. His confidence could've been derailed when Cecil Shorts beat him for a touchdown on the opening drive of the preseason against the Jaguars, but he responded with a forced fumble on the next possession.

When training camp started, Markus Kuhn, a seventh-round pick from North Carolina State, seemed destined to be practice-squad material, given he was so raw and the defensive tackle position was so loaded. Things have changed.
Though the cards seem stacked against him -- his advanced age for a rookie and raw skills -- he has beaten the odds before. Those who know him believe he will again.

NFC East News
Cowboys - Jason Witten is likely to miss the season opener against against the Giants on Sept. 5, but he's likely to be back for the second game of the season against the Seahawks.
Eagles - Michael Vick has only ran 12 plays in two games due to two injuries. Of course, starters are rarely supposed to play for long in the preseason anyway, but this is pushing it.
Redskins - In the running back competition, the three backs who started last season have been coping with injuries.

NFL News
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says possibly using replacement referees for regular-season games is worthwhile to ensure long-term improvements to officiating. "These officials have been trained," Goodell said of the replacement refs who have been calling preseason games. "We've been working with them. We think they'll do a very credible job."

Aug 23 To an eight-year veteran, preseason games might feel meaningless - a mere formality before the marathon begins. Not to Corey Webster, though. The cornerback, whose stature in the locker room continues to grow, never scoffs at the opportunity to gauge what he's working with.

Jason Pierre-Paul will not suit up for the Giants' preseason home opener Friday night against the Chicago Bears because of back spasms. Pierre-Paul, a 2011 All-Pro, started each of the first two preseason games at defensive right end. He has four tackles, including two sacks. Veteran Osi Umenyiora will presumably start in his place.

After months of waiting for a call that just wouldn't come, Marcus Thomas eventually told his agent not to ring his phone unless he was notifying him about a job opportunity. That call came earlier this month. Thomas answered it. He did not say hello. "Where am I going?" the veteran defensive tackle, who was training in Florida, immediately asked.
Thomas kept working out down in Florida, and he finally got the call he was hoping for last week -- from the defending Super Bowl champs, no less. "I know this is a top program right here," said Thomas. "This defensive line is like one of the greatest D-lines I've been a part of. These older guys -- I'm a veteran myself, but I've still looked up to these guys, and (am) trying to learn things from them."

Aug 22 With the Giants needing to play a second game in less than a week, head coach Tom Coughlin has been busy trying to get them prepared for Friday's game against Chicago, a game in which the starters are likely to go deep into the game.
The Giants' regular season opener is just 15 days away, and yet the team still does not know who will be protecting Eli Manning's blind side against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. Projected starting left tackle Will Beatty missed yet another practice on Tuesday.
Without Beatty, nine-year veteran and first-year Giant Sean Locklear has played left tackle with David Diehl on the right side. Inquiring minds in the Giants' locker room wondered if a prolonged Beatty absence would result in the two tackles switching sides.
Sean Locklear has spent most of his career on the right side and only played a couple seasons at left tackle - in 2009 with Seattle and last season with Washington - but he's familiar with the position.

Giants linebacker Michael Boley tried to do some light running at the beginning of Tuesday's practice, but quickly had to shut it down after experiencing pain in his injured hamstring. "I felt like it was getting a little better, but tried running a little bit today, and still not where I need to be," said Boley.
With Michael Boley sidelined for all but a handful of practices since training camp began July 26, Keith Rivers has emerged in the last two weeks as the likely starter at outside linebacker for the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Tom Coughlin said "there's a ray of hope" that Shaun Rogers can return this season after he was originally ruled out for the year due to a blood clot in this left calf. The original reasoning for the lost season was that the blood thinning medication he would have to go on wouldn't allow him to play. But a second opinion has potentially changed the timetable.
Hakeem Nicks' second day of practice included a heavier workload and no setbacks. "It's not far off," Nicks said. "Obviously, I need some polishing up because I've been out for a while, but we've got enough time to make things right. A good solid week of practice and everything will be better."

David Wilson, the Giants' first-round draft pick, got reps with the first team for the second straight practice on Tuesday, and couldn't hide his excitement when talking with reporters afterward, smiling from ear to ear.
With Bradshaw's hand a bit nicked and Ware struggling, the Giants are trying to see what they have in Wilson, even if he's been less than perfect himself. "Um, I think I've been okay. I see a lot of room for improvement," Wilson said. "I know I'm not playing to full potential when I'm out there."
Wilson has modest goals entering the Chicago game. "I just want to go out there and get productive with the first team offense and show that I deserve more with the first team offense," he said. "I'm a rookie and I'm learning and the running back protecting the quarterback is a big role."

Da'Rel Scott believes the Giants "know" what he can do on the field, but the addition of first-round pick David Wilson and injury issues at other positions could conspire to limit the team's depth in the backfield. That leaves Scott in a bit of a predicament.

Safety Will Hill continues to make plays, and look like a guy who can contribute for the Giants this coming season. Hill recorded another interception during practice on Tuesday, picking off Ryan Perrilloux on a pass intended for Rueben Randle.
There was a time in his life when safety Will Hill had a sense of self-entitlement. Unfortunately, that thinking nearly cost him his dreams of playing professional football. These days, Hill has a much different attitude when it comes to his expectations.

Tom Coughlin and his players initially seemed more concerned punter Steve Weatherford had made the weeks-old incident public by posting it on Twitter than entertaining the idea that Jason Pierre-Paul tossing the terrified-looking Amukamara in a tub of ice water might be wrong.
No one came out and ripped the punter, but plenty of players weren't happy about his itchy Twitter trigger finger. "There's a way of putting too much information out there, what's only going to be out there is what you put out there," Antrel Rolle said.
Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora said he knew the reaction to the Prince Amukamara cold-tub-dunking video would be "bad" but that the actual incident was a regular part of NFL locker room "culture."

Former Giants
Michael Strahan tried out for the co-host gig on 'Live!" With Kelly" in June and apparently made a great impression. Strahan will reportedly land the much-coveted slot as Ripa's cohost on "Live! With Kelly," which has been vacant since Regis Philbin stepped down last November.

Aug 21 First-round pick David Wilson took some snaps with the first team with Ahmad Bradshaw (bruised hand) limited. This is interesting since D.J. Ware has pretty much been the running back to get carries behind Bradshaw, followed by Andre Brown and then Wilson and Da'Rel Scott.
On Saturday against the Jets, DJ Ware dropped a screen pass, had trouble finding holes and allowed Aaron Maybin to get past him for a blocked punt. Today, Ware was behind Giants rookie David Wilson on the depth chart, though Tom Coughlin claimed that was the plan all along and not necessarily a reaction to Ware's performance on Saturday, particularly Ware's gaining only 15 yards on 11 carries.

With two preseason games remaining and only 16 days until the opener at home against Dallas, it's not clear who is ready to fill Brandon Jacobs' shoes as the No. 2 running back behind the injury-prone Bradshaw. It figures to be either DJ Ware or first-round pick David Wilson, but they combined for a measly 41 yards on 19 carries in the Giants' 26-3 win over the Jets on Saturday night.

According to Tom Coughlin, Will Beatty is still struggling to make progress with his back. Meanwhile, Marvin Austin is making progress, but there is concern about him practicing given the medication he's on. Jayron Hosley is being kept off his feet as much as possible as he's still sore, per Coughlin. And Coughlin said they're going to take things slow with Nicks, who was limited to make sure there are no setbacks.

Jayron Hosley's game-changing interception Saturday night for the Giants had just about everything you would expect from someone destined to be an All-Pro cornerback. Instincts. Anticipation. Execution. The eye-opening play even finished with a flourish: Hosley high-stepping the final 8 yards or so into the end zone for a rousing touchdown that all but buried the Jets in the Giants' 26-3 preseason victory at MetLife Stadium.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin calls the video posted by Steve Weatherford of Jason Pierre-Paul dumping Prince Amukamara in a cold tub "inappropriate on a couple levels." Coughlin, who addressed his team about it, said Steve Weatherford was wrong to post the video online "because there's trust in the locker room."
In Sunday's teleconference with reporters, Coughlin hinted that he was more disappointed that the video was posted for the social media world to see. He addressed the team this morning and players also said it was something that should've stayed in-house. "It's just disappointing because I pride myself on being a good example, obviously that was a lapse in judgment," Weatherford said.

Steve Weatherford says it was "simply horseplay." But the Giants punter does admit he made a key mistake: The video of Jason Pierre-Paul dumping Prince Amukamara in a cold tub never should have hit the Internet. "It's just disappointing," Weatherford said Monday, "because I pride myself on being a good example.
If Amukamara had hit his head on the bottom of the tub or hit his surgically repaired foot on the side, there would be public outcry against Jason Pierre-Paul. If Randle, unable to hold himself up, had swallowed a lung full of water, everyone would've agreed it was wrong.

NFC East News
The NFC East leads the league in hype. The huge media markets in which the teams play, the history of success, the rivalries ... all of it combines to create a perception that the NFC East is the best, most competitive and toughest division in the NFL.

Aug 20 Mark Sanchez and NY Jets get up-close look at how scary Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and NY Giants defense can be when everything's clicking Big Blue has a veteran, experienced defense with proven depth that is the bedrock of a defending champion.
With 8:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, an unblocked Will Hill had a free shot from Tim Tebow's blindside and drilled him for an easy sack to force fourth down. An angry Tebow got to his feet and immediately let his offensive line know he wasn't happy. Giants defensive tackle Powell said the defense could sense Tebow's frustration before then.

Tom Coughlin was still happy with some things and not so happy with other issues the day after the 26-3 win over the Jets. Coughlin weighed in on the running game, which produced a total of 58 yards on 32 carries against the Jets' defense.
In terms of the blocking up front, the Jets' linebackers seemed to have a great deal of success attacking the holes. There were also a handful of times when it looked as though the offensive linemen picked the wrong blockers to block, creating situations where a defender might be double-teamed, leaving another to run free.

The Giants were sure things couldn't get any worse for their running game after the way they performed last season. But that was before they lost Ahmad Bradshaw on Saturday night with an injured hand. The champs' top running back was forced from the Giants' 26-3 win over the Jets after just three carries with what the team said was a swollen right hand.

It isn't often when the Giants call Henry Hynoski's number to run the ball, but the fullback is hoping that happens a little more often after he picked up a first down in Saturday's 26-3 preseason victory over the Jets.

Victor Cruz knew it was coming. The Giants wideout had spent much of the first quarter yapping with Jets safety LaRon Landry. And Landry had already told Cruz to expect a hit. So when Cruz edged past Jets corner Kyle Wilson and caught an Eli Manning pass over the middle, Cruz knew what would happen next.

The Giants aren't sure when cornerback Jayron Hosley hurt his right foot, but they have figured out the nature of the rookie's injury. "They're going to deal with this as a turf toe kind of issue," Tom Coughlin said. "It's a toe issue. Hopefully nothing will turn up in terms of the tests." The diagnosis is far better than it once seemed.

Giants coach unhappy with 'inappropriate' video of players on Twitter. "No way anything that occurs within this family or within this group should that be a part of any kind of social media aspect," Coughlin said yesterday. "I'm gonna address that strongly because I've spent a little time on that this preseason and I'll look into it further."
In the postgame locker room following Saturday's preseason victory over the Jets, Prince Amukamara was informed by The Star-Ledger a video of him being thrown into a cold tub by Jason Pierre-Paul had been posted on the Internet. "Nnnnnnnooooooooooooo!" the Giants' cornerback exclaimed in style like that of an actor making a dramatic discovery. Yes.

Former Giants
Brandon Jacobs gets good news from MRI on left knee. Jacobs sent out a few, positive-sounding tweets Sunday afternoon, including one that apparently reacted to his MRI results: "Good Good Good."

Aug 19 StarLedger - Giants defense is impressive in 26-3 victory.

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ESPN - Giants stifle Jets behind Jayron Hosley's interception return for TD
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 26, Jets 3.
ESPN - Herzlich sidelined with hip pointer.
Giants.com - Giants sack Jets, 26-3.
StarLedger - Giants Ahmad Bradshaw leaves game with hand injury.
StarLedger - Giants lead Jets 26-3: live blog.
StarLedger - Jets offense struggles in 26-3 loss.
NYPost - Sanchez, Tebow can't move offense vs. Giants.
NYPost - Randle leaps into mix for No. 3 wideout.
NYPost - Hosley cow! Giant play injures rook.
NYPost - Tebow provides brief spark to Jets' lackluster offense.
NYPost - Big Blue defense rolls, Bradshaw hurts hand.
NYDailyNews - Big Blue shuts down Sanchez & Co., 26-3.
InsideFootball - Giants 26 - Jets 3: Hits, Misses, & Musings.
Record - Rex Ryan not worried about Jets' offensive play.

Aug 18 Game 2 of the pre-season begins the process of fine-tuning the play of the starters, where there is very little competition on the Giants. The defensive tackle position is the only one in flux, and that's due to injuries. The Jets will likely game plan heavily and come out chippy, so the Giants will have to be ready. The Jets will likely game plan heavily and come out chippy, so the Giants will have to be ready.

Eli Manning has delivered peace of mind and titles to the Giants, while the Jets endure a media circus. As a result of the foolish acquisition of Tim Tebow to cast a massive, undeserving shadow over their already-insecure young starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez, the Jets have become a full-blown circus this offseason.

The Giants are searching for another receiver to emerge as a third threat to go along with Hakeem Nicks and Cruz. And Domenik Hixon, Jerrel Jernigan, Ramses Barden and Rueben Randle could all use a stellar performance against the Jets to stake their claim to replacing Mario Manningham.

Victor Cruz has watched the other Giants receivers all summer, waiting to see who would step up into the third-receiver role. He's seen them all take turns grabbing the spotlight with Hakeem Nicks stuck on the sidelines.
Once Nicks is back for good, he and Cruz command the two starting spots and the search continues for the third receiver needed to really get Eli Manning's passing attack cranked up.

Antrel Rolle didn't like the fact the Giants gave up 156 yards rushing to the Jaguars. Never mind it was the preseason opener and half of the guys playing won't be on the roster in a few weeks. Tom Coughlin is pleased to see the players recognize the defensive front needs to improve, pronto.
There's no doubt which item sits atop the list and is a priority for tonight's game against the Jets. "The physical nature of the run and stop the run certainly is one right off the bat," Coughlin said.

David Carr could not care less about being the fourth-most talked about quarterback in New York/New Jersey football circles, let alone the suggestion he just might be the second-best at his position in these parts. Asked if his backup warranted such consideration and whether he should start a campaign for the honor, Eli Manning said with a laugh: "I'll leave that to y'all."

Aug 17 High draft status only keeps a player around for so long. Linebacker Clint Sintim, a second-round draft pick in 2009 who made no impact and battled numerous injuries, is no longer listed on the Giants' official roster and has been cut by the team.
Sintim, 26, was not going to be able to return for some time. The team's second round pick in 2009 was on the team's PUP list and failed his physical. Considered a long shot to make the team after suffering a torn ACL and patellar tendon last preseason, he hasn't played since last preseason.

In his last training camp news conference in Albany, Tom Coughlin was asked about Marvin Austin's back injury and said, "I'm praying that when the phone call comes, it's a good one." Coughlin apparently got a call, but it's still uncertain how good or bad the news was.
A couple days after their defensive line was rocked hard by injuries, the Giants have made a few roster moves to make sure they have enough healthy bodies to get through the rest of the regular season.

MSG, the official regional sports network of the Giants, will kick off its 2012-13 coverage of Giants football with "Giants Week fueled by HESS" - five nights of exclusive programming featuring the Super Bowl Champions - from Monday, August 20 through Friday, August 24.

Former Giants
Brandon Jacobs - From clear across the country, the former Giants running back dove head first into the Giants-Jets fray on Wednesday when he ripped the Jets for being a "''''circus" and a team that "can't ever one-up the Giants."
Brandon Jacobs returns to MetLife Stadium in Week 4 when his 49ers take on the Jets. The outspoken running back's comments will likely serve as bulletin board material for Ryan's crew.