May 1 Special Report - Now that the draft is over, you must have looked over the list of the Giants' draftees and wondered: Why this guy? Why in this round? What about him, or that, or on and on? To ask questions about any draft class is not only valid but prudent. So let's ask aloud one question about each player the Giants selected.

Tom Coughlin and John Mara both said repeatedly that they wanted to get better in the trenches, the offensive and defensive lines. Meanwhile Reese dropped a clue about having had more than just a passing fancy about the time now being right to develop a quarterback. So in looking at the Giants draft class, was it any coincidence that four of their seven picks represented the trenches and a fifth guy is the quarterback?

Victor Cruz is the only restricted free agent still unsigned by the Giants, and Tom Coughlin is concerned. Speaking on WFAN Monday afternoon, Coughlin said he hoped at this point Cruz would have signed a deal and been involved in offseason workouts. The deadline for another team to sign restricted free agents to an offer sheet was April 19. Read more: Giants' Coughlin: Cruz contract situation 'has to be a concern'.

When first-round draft choice Justin Pugh arrives for rookie minicamp next week, he will be issued his Giants helmet, pads and jersey. Chris Snee suggests he bring another piece of equipment. "Pugh, if you are reading this, get a credit card," Snee said. Let the initiation begin.

The Giants rookie minicamp which is scheduled for May 10-11 will have more than just the 7 drafted rookies. It will also include guys who were on the practice squad, guys signed to reserve/future contracts who were not on an NFL roster last year, the undrafted free agents who signed the standard three-year deal, and a handful of tryout players hoping to convince the coaches to invite them to summer camp.

Apr 30 The Giants did not know which specific players they would select in the NFL Draft, but they did have a definitive strategy as to what areas of need they wanted to address. Sure, they always attempt to pick the best player available when their selection rolls around, but this year - more than most years - they had a pre-set goal in mind. Get bigger and tougher up front.

It was a shocker at the time when the Giants traded up and did so for a quarterback. Drafting Ryan Nassib in the fourth round and moving up and surrendering a sixth-round pick for a guy that Jerry Reese honestly hopes never plays had a lot of fans scratching their heads. There were cornerbacks, safeties and (gasp!) linebackers available in the fourth round.

Eli Manning doesn't know Ryan Nassib, but he understands the challenges the youngster is about to face."It's not learning the stuff - you're going to learn it," he said. "It's knowing how to execute it on the field. When things break down or when your first read's not there and you have to go to your second read, you have to make good decisions and play at a high level each and every play."

Three times since 2006, and twice since 2009, the Eagles and Giants have gone after the same position in the first round of the draft. Each time the Eagles picked first and each time the Giants, as it turned out, got the better player. Did it happen again this year? Chip Kelly and Co. better hope they did better than their predecessors in head-to-head picks with Giants general manager Jerry Reese and his personnel staff. This year it happened twice."

Apr 29 Eli Manning kind of figured it would happen sooner or later. The Giants' franchise quarterback knew the team could draft a young quarterback prospect to learn behind him. So when the Giants traded up to grab Syracuse's Ryan Nassib, Manning felt it was good to finally have a highly regarded rookie in the quarterbacks room moving forward.

Giants top pick Justin Pugh grew into football out of hockey. Perhaps no one has had Pugh's best interests at heart more than his stepfather. Pugh's parents divorced when he was in kindergarten and his mother, Carolyn, remarried a few years later. Pugh was rambunctious and spoiled to the core by his mother and sister when Frank Gavaghan came into his life. Gavaghan was a law-and-order guy. He put an end to Pugh's temper tantrums.

Apr 28 Special Report - While you were you giving undivided attention to what the New York Giants were doing in the 2013 Draft -- at least, you are paying attention now -- the three other NFC East teams also feasted on the available college players, with varying success. It is important to note that while we have no idea how well these players will develop, it isn't unfair to try to gauge which team -- Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington -- may have had the best draft. We need to take a close at what Giants rivals did since they'll play each other twice each this season, so let's do it.

Report Card: Grading the Giants' draft. A lot of the players the Giants were eyeing had been picked. Alabama tackle D.J. Fluker, Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro and LSU safety Eric Reid were all gone. In fact, the Niners traded with the Cowboys to take Reid right before the Giants picked. So the Giants opted to fill a big need with an offensive lineman they feel can play tackle, guard or center.

Apr 27 - UPDATE - The Giants selected Ohio guard Eric Herman and UMass RB Michael Cox with their two seventh-round picks. Herman, who is 6-foot-4, 320 pounds, started three seasons at right guard before moving to right tackle his senior season. Ohio University records pancake blocks, and Herman recorded team-highs, including 128 his senior season. Cox played for Michigan from 2008-11 before transferring to the University of Massachusetts. He started all 12 games at running back for UMass in 2012, recording 715 yards and five touchdowns on 198 carries.

NFC East News
NFC East draft analysis - The draft started off heavy in the NFC East, as the three teams with first-round picks this year used them on offensive linemen. And while there were a few little surprises and treats along the way, it never really got hot. All four of the division's teams had workmanlike drafts that balanced need and value and didn't stray into any of the juicy storylines. No Manti Te'o, Geno Smith or Tyrann Mathieu for us.

The Giants finally added to the back of their defense in the fifth round, selecting Richmond safety Cooper Taylor with the No. 152 pick overall. Taylor is a massive safety who could flex to linebacker, with a 6-foot-4, 228-pound frame. He missed a few games with a knee injury in 2011, and last year damaged his pectoral muscle during a lift in June then broke a bone in each hand. The Giants had Taylor in for a pre-draft visit, which may have been for a medical check-up.
On March 19th, 2013, Cooper Taylor was measured at 228 pounds for scouts in attendance for the Spiders' Pro Day. He exploded out of the blocks and was timed at 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Taylor was also clocked at 1.60 seconds in the 10-yard dash. He added a 4.29-second timing in the 20-yard short shuttle and performed the three-cone drill in 6.96 seconds. In other agility tests, he lifted 225 pounds 23 times during the bench press drill. He added a 36 ½-inch vertical jump and 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump.

The Giants made an interesting and uncharacteristic move in the fourth round of the NFL draft, trading up six spots and picking Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib with the 110th overall selection. Nassib is the second Syracuse player the Giants and Syracuse-alum head coach Tom Coughlin have taken in this year's draft, joining first-round offensive lineman Justin Pugh.
Ryan Nassib appeared in 48 games at Syracuse, starting his final 38 contests...Completed 791-of-1,312 passes (60.29%) for 9,190 yards, 70 touchdowns and 28 touchdowns...Scored six more times on 242 carries for 168 yards (0.69 ypc) and caught one pass for a 4-yard loss. Taking over a young offensive unit that had ranked 94th among 120 major college teams with an average of 330.42 yards per game in 2009, Nassib would close out his career guiding a unit that ranked 17th nationally and paced the Big East Conference with an average of 476.00 yards per game in 2012.

Apr 27 The Giants have used their first three draft picks this year on linemen, last night adding Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins with the 49th overall pick, in the second round, and Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore with the 81st overall pick, in the third round. They join Justin Pugh, the Syracuse tackle taken Thursday night, in what has been a display of the Giants' commitment to get better in the trenches.
The Giants spent the 2012 season protecting Eli Manning with an aging offensive line, and fighting in vain to stop the run with an undersized, veteran-laden defensive line. Three rounds into this NFL draft, those two units have gotten younger, bigger and faster. A trench makeover that began Thursday with the first-round selection of Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh continued on Friday, as the Giants found explosive talent and serious beef for their defensive line.
In a span of about 22 hours, the Giants added some 871 pounds to their respective lines of scrimmage. Their two picks last night specifically targeted 2012 weaknesses in run defense and pass rush. They added Hankins to a defense that ranked 31st overall last season, including a troubling 25th against the run (129.1 yards allowed per game on 4.6 yards per carry). Then they added Moore, who had 12 1/2 sacks and 21 tackles for losses to a pass rush that produced only 33 sacks last season. "We were 31st in league on defense ... that's enough said," coach Tom Coughlin said last night.

Apr 26 - UPDATE - The Giants took aim at solving one of their greatest weaknesses last season by selecting Ohio State's run-stopping defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins in the second round Friday night. The Giants went pass rusher in the third round when they nabbed Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore, once projected as a first-round talent who likely scared some teams away with poor NFL Combine numbers. Moore, 20, collected 26.5 sacks in three career seasons with the Aggies, leading Giants director of college scouting Marc Ross to say, "The guy's production is off the charts when you compare him to the guys picked ahead of him at his position."

The Giants selected Texas A&M DE Damontre Moore with their third round pick. Moore is an intriguing prospect, whose career got off to a blazing start, sharing the limelight with All-American Von Miller at the "Joker" position during his freshman season. Moore has been relentless in his attacks in the backfield, as his 26.5 quarterback sacks are not only fifth-best among active players, but rank sixth in school history. A collision-type tackler, he caused eight fumbles during his 38-game career and has also been a capable performer on special teams, where he was credited with a pair of blocked kicks.
With Osi Umenyiora leaving for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, the Giants needed to replenish their pass rush pantry. So with their third-round pick (No. 81 overall), the Giants selected defensive end Damontre Moore of Texas A&M. Moore was extremely well regarded a year ago, and there's no denying his talent or his collegiate production (26.5 sacks in three seasons). For those reasons, he represented great value for the Giants at the pick. So what's the catch?

The Giants passed on Florida DT Sharrif Floyd in the first round, but they went defensive tackle in the second round. Johnathan Hankins is a big wide body who will eat up space and hopefully solidify the run defense. The Giants finished 25th against the run in 2012. It has become clear that with their first two picks, the Giants are making an effort to get stronger in the trenches on both the offensive and defensive line.
Hankins is still developing consistent mechanics and needs to improve his hand usage, but when he shoots and connects with his punch, he easily pushes the blocker back on his heels. He is a very intense player who competes on instincts, but does do a nice job of locating the ball when sifting through piles. He plays at the low stance needed to explode off the snap to generate sudden movement into the backfield and uses his arm swipes like clubs when defeating single blocks.

Apr 26 Giants Shore Up Aging Offensive Line.
With an aging and oft-injured offensive line, the Giants were expected to look seriously at guards and tackles during the first round of Thursday's NFL draft. It helped that it was a draft deep with talented offensive linemen. But when the four top-rated tackles and the two most highly regarded guards were selected nearly an hour before the Giants picked 19th, could the team still justify taking an offensive lineman? Talented defensive linemen were still available, as was a celebrated tight end and the one of the best-known players coming out of college, Manti Te'o. The Giants stayed the course and took Syracuse offensive lineman Justin Pugh.

More on the Draft.
The Pick: Justin Pugh - Pros and Cons.
Experts grade Giants first round selection.
Report Card: Giants pick Pugh
Highlights and Analysis of the N.F.L. Draft.
What to expect from the Giants as the draft moves to Day 2.
NFC EAST - Two more rounds tonight.

Apr 25 - UPDATE - With Alabama T D.J. Fluker and safeties Kenny Vaccaro and Eric Reid gone, the Giants went for Syracuse's Justin Pugh to bolster the offensive line. The Giants passed on Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, who was projected by some to be a top-five pick. The Giants, though, need an offensive lineman who could potentially start at right tackle this season and in the future.
Pugh drew rave responses from his head coach, Doug Marrone, a former Syracuse offensive lineman himself, when the Orange leader was asked who he thought was the best offensive lineman in the Big East Conference. Pugh's elevation to the elite at his position came through countless hours of hard work in preparing to be the dominating blocker he has become on game day.

Justin Pugh is the first offensive lineman they've taken in the first round since Luke Petitgout in 1999. Pugh played tackle in college, but his arms measured short at the combine, so the pre-draft consensus was that he might be better used at guard in the NFL. The Giants have an immediate need at right tackle and could try Pugh there. And with starters Kevin Boothe and Chris Snee returning at the guard spots, there doesn't seem to be room for him to play guard for them right away.
Despite a ton of holes on their 31st-ranked defense, the Giants reached down and added some youth to their aging offensive line when they selected Syracuse tackle Justin Pugh with the 19th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. Pugh was the fifth offensive tackle and the seventh offensive lineman taken in the first round. He was also was mostly forecasted to be a second-round pick. The 6-4, 307-pounder could be an immediate factor for the Giants too. They did bring back David Diehl at right tackle after he accepted a pay cut, but there's no guarantee he'll be locked into a starting job.

Jerry Reese watched what he called "tape after tape after tape" of Justin Pugh playing football for Syracuse over the last few months and kept an eye on one particular aspect of his game. With 32-inch-long arms -- a little short for an outside offensive lineman -- the Giants' general manager was looking for a reason to knock him out of the first round, for an opportunity to say his wing span was too much of a detriment to take him early in the draft. "I never saw that come into play," Reese said.

Apr 25 Special Report - The annual NFL College Player Draft is exhausting. People spend months and months trying to figure out who their team will name as its first-round draft pick. Nobody outside the team's inner sanctum knows anything about what the key personnel are thinking, nothing about what's on that Holy Grail called the Value Board and, perhaps most important, when you are drafting 19th, as the Giants are Thursday night, they don't know who the teams above them are going to select and what trades are going to be made above them.
It's a quandary of insoluble problems, and the late George Young once addressed it with elementary but brilliant logic: "If you have the 10th pick," he said, "you compile a list of the 10 players you most want, and when your turn comes up the highest guy on your list becomes your selection. So who will the Giants pick as their first round choice? (Drum roll here.......clanging of cymbals.......beating of snare drums.....) MANTI TE'O, the middle linebacker from Notre Dame.

The Manti Te'o image rehabilitation project appears to be working. The controversial Notre Dame linebacker's stock, which dropped like a stone in the wake of his bizarre "dead fake girlfriend" tale and a woeful performance in the BCS title game, is back on the rise. And at just the right time, too - four days before Thursday's first round at Radio City Music Hall.
The last place Manti Te'o wanted to be after his fake girlfriend fiasco was revealed to the world was anywhere near a spotlight. He went into hiding, as much as he could. Public appearances were rare. Interviews were even rarer. He and his handlers knew that the best way to stop the questions and the jokes and the constant psycho-analysis was to go where no one could find him. That will change, though, if he's drafted by the Giants on Thursday night.

The Giants already know what it is like having to deal with Robert Griffin III and have conferred with college coaches to help them prepare for the high-octane offense new head coach Chip Kelly is bringing to the Eagles. There's a need for speed in the NFC East and there's a linebacker available in the NFL Draft who can provide it. "I definitely do think I can catch them," Alec Ogletree told The Post Tuesday.
Ogltree is a talented player and has been able to use that talent to emerge as one of the best linebacker prospects in this draft. However, Ogletree's concentration on the field is wanting at times. He seems to take certain plays off. In college his natural ability was able to help him recover and make plays but he might not be able to get away with it at the next level.

Expectations are three of the first five selections in the opening round will be offensive linemen, and there certainly is a chance the Giants later on will join in on the trend. Their history - and the history of general manager Jerry Reese - suggests bolstering the offensive line with a first-round pick is not the way the Giants will go, but that could change with D.J. Fluker looming as a possible and massive addition.
Fluker did not take a pre-draft visit to the Giants, but he did meet with offensive line coach Pat Flaherty at Alabama's Pro Day. The Giants have shown "a good amount of interest," Fluker said. "They are interested. I am one of the guys that is physical," he continued. "First and foremost at Alabama, that's what we do. Run-first team, pass on third down. That is about it. We make sure we establish ourselves early."

The Giants have had an active offseason. They signed eight free agents who played with other teams in 2012: kicker Josh Brown (Cincinnati), linebacker Dan Connor (Dallas), defensive tackles Cullen Jenkins (Philadelphia) and Mike Patterson (Philadelphia), tight end Brandon Myers (Oakland), safety Ryan Mundy (Pittsburgh), cornerback Aaron Ross (Jacksonville and a Giant from 2007-2011) and Louis Murphy (Carolina). The Giants also re-signed tackle Will Beatty, guard Kevin Boothe, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, linebacker Keith Rivers, quarterback David Carr, tight end Bear Pascoe and running backs Andre Brown and Ryan Torain.

Apr 24 Running back Andre Brown has signed his one-year restricted free agent tender with the Giants. The Giants now have just one restricted free agent, receiver Victor Cruz, still unsigned.
The signing of Brown was inevitable given his injury history, which included a broken leg that forced him to miss the final month of last season. Because of that and the fact that he only had 385 total yards last season, the Giants knew no one would surrender a second-round pick to sign him.

Apr 23 Be patient. That was Giants co-owner John Mara's message about receiver Victor Cruz's unresolved contract situation. "It will get done at some point," Mara said Monday night. Mara politely declined further comment, though his brief statement was optimistic and encouraging -more so than general manager Jerry Reese's characterization of the situation last week.

Ever wonder what it's like to be a scout for an NFL team? Leading up to their signature event, the NFL Draft, a few members of the Giants' scouting department bring you a behind-the-scenes look into the profession.

Apr 22 Jerry Reese is not happy with the 19th overall pick in the NFL Draft. "We don't like picking 19," Reese said. "That is early for us. We hate picking this high." Sitting at No. 19 is 13 spots higher than the Giants general manager wants to be. A year ago, Reese was thrilled to take running back David Wilson with the 32nd pick in the first round.

Apr 21 Victor Cruz is no longer a restricted free agent. But that doesn't make him a Giant, as the two teams have yet to come to a deal. For both parties, there are clear reasons to be hesitant. Cruz is aware that with another big season, he can make much more money than the Giants are offering (which is around $7 million per year).
Eli Manning said he does not expect to see Cruz at the Giants facility until a long-term deal is struck. The next deadline is in June, when, if Cruz has not signed his tender, the Giants are permitted to reduce the contract offer to 110 percent of his 2012 salary, which would equate to $594,000.
Victor Cruz cannot be fined for missing anything until the June 11-13 three-day veteran mini-camp, which is mandatory. General manager Jerry Reese admitted this week he cannot assume Cruz will be on the roster for the start of the season, although the likelihood remains high he will be.

There was no defense for the Giants' defensive performance last season. That was obvious to everyone. The pass rush was sometimes non-existent. The coverage was spotty. The run defense was, at times, poor. The Giants didn't exactly go "all in" on fixing their defense in free agency, either.

Apr 20 Giants already talking Super Bowl. The media are partly to blame. But the Giants actually have been talking about it ever since they opened their voluntary offseason workout program on Monday.
A year after having the most difficult lineup in the NFL, the Giants will play the 24th-toughest schedule in 2013, based on opponents' records in 2012.
Giants in 2013 - Predicting each game. This time, the Giants will be looking to ruin the Cowboys' home opener. In 2007, the last time the Giants opened the season in Dallas, they lost but went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Inside Football 2013 Giants Mock Draft: Round 1 (19th Overall) - Offensive tackle. From the outside looking in, depth at this position would appear to be a real concern. Will Beatty is locked in as the left tackle, but on the other side.
Health has been a concern for the offensive line. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Giants used 16 different groups of five linemen, tied for 27th. Over the past four seasons, the Giants averaged 16 different combinations during a season.

David Carr was asked - Do you ever wonder how your career might've changed if you were chosen by another, more established, team or a team that didn't have to start you immediately? Carr - "Sitting here now, I would love to be on the field. But looking back at it, I think it would've been better off -- not only for me but for the team in Houston -- for me to sit there and watch a guy. The first NFL game I ever saw I was playing in, and it was a shock to the system and something I wasn't truly prepared for."

Former Giants
Rich Seubert's first experience at the NFL Draft will take place almost 2 1/2 years after he played his last game. Seubert, the former guard who joined the Giants as a rookie free agent and spent 10 seasons with the franchise, has been selected to announce the team's second-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Apr 19 New York Giants schedule analysis. They aren't defending Super Bowl champions this year, but the Giants remain a prime-time darling with five nationally televised games in 2013. It all begins Week 1 in Dallas, when they play the Cowboys in a Sunday night matchup. They get a Thursday night game in Week 6 in Chicago against the Bears and a home game against the Vikings on "Monday Night Football" in Week 7. They host the Packers on Sunday night in Week 11, then visit Robert Griffin III and the Redskins in Washington for another Sunday night game in Week 13.

The Giants may not own the toughest schedule in the NFL this time around but it won't be a cakewalk either in 2013. The Giants will play five-of-their-eight home games against 2012 playoff teams - Washington, Green Bay, Minnesota, Seattle and Denver. And they'll finish the season with another tough second-half stretch.
Five prime time games, the third meeting between quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning, and two December contests against defending NFC East champion Washington highlight the Giants' 2013 regular-season schedule.

Eli Manning got his wish. The Giants quarterback predicted this morning that the third Manning Bowl, between him and older brother Peyton, would come early in the 2013 season. And as Manning guessed, the NFL schedule includes the Giants hosting the Broncos in Week 2.
Peyton has owned this sibling rivalry, going 2-0 against little brother Eli as the Colts' signal-caller. But Manning says he'll relish this showdown anyway. "Anytime you play your brother, it is special, and it is unique. And I cherish those moments."

Eli Manning is not staring at the door inside Timex Performance Center anticipating Victor Cruz will walk through any time soon. "I have a feeling I'll see Victor here when the contract's done," Manning said on Thursday, adding that an arrival by Cruz before that would be "a bonus."
General manager Jerry Reese offered a slightly more opened-ended take on Cruz and his quest for a new contract with the Giants: don't take anything for granted. "I don't assume anything," said Reese. "We'll see - I can tell you this - when we get ready to play, when the season starts, we'll have some good players out there."
Reese referred to Cruz in the past tense when he told reporters: "It's all about the team for us. He was a nice piece to what we were doing. We'll see where it goes with respect to his contract. I'm not sure if Victor will be out there or not. I don't assume anything. If Victor is not here, we have other receivers."

Several new Giants met with reporters Thursday, on the first day of offseason media availability, and they sounded excited about their new team and the upcoming season. Cullen Jenkins played for the Eagles the past two seasons, after spending the previous seven in Green Bay. And he's been impressed by what he's seen in the first week of offseason workouts.

Corey Webster has been "in communication" with fellow LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu through his ups and downs over the past few years, and Webster said he would vouch to the Giants for the potential draftee. "If I'm here, I can have him right underneath my wing, so I can make sure that it's going the right way," Webster said at Giants headquarters.

NFC East News
Washington Redskins schedule analysis.
Dallas Cowboys schedule analysis.
Philadelphia Eagles schedule analysis.

Apr 18 The Giants' list of draft needs includes a linebacker and a defensive end, but it's hard to tell which of those positions is the biggest need at the moment. That's because the Giants have yet to say whether Mathias Kiwanuka is still a linebacker or if he's moving back to defensive end.
If there's been one hallmark of the New York Giants' success in recent years, it's been Jerry Reese's ability to find value in picks outside the top 10 of the first round -- Kenny Phillips (31st overall in 2008), Hakeem Nicks (29th in 2009) and Jason Pierre-Paul (15th in '10) worked out well for a team that's just over a year removed from a Super Bowl win.

Eli Manning doesn't have to be sharp or slinging the ball this time of year. But he is, according to his quarterback guru. Manning and a few of his Giants receivers last week were at Duke University - along with big brother Peyton and some of his Broncos targets - for workouts conducted by David Cutcliffe, Eli's former coach at Ole Miss.
When asked by ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd what happened with Manning last season, Cutcliffe mentioned Hakeem Nicks' injuries slowing down the offense and hinted that Manning might've been bothered by an injury, as well. "Well, there are always a lot of things that we don't read about or know," Cutcliffe explained.

A sack artist at Notre Dame, Justin Tuck watched as six DEs were taken ahead of him in the '05 draft. The wait was much longer than expected, and the feeling of disappointment still lingers with him today. Justin Tuck was projected to go by most in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft. However, the pass-rusher nicknamed "The Freak" by his Notre Dame teammates dropped to the third round and had to wait hours before the New York Giants finally called his name.

Apr 17 Andre Brown, who had famously been cut eight times by five NFL teams before finding his way back to the Giants, rushed for 385 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns last season before breaking his leg. His goal this year, however lofty it sounds, is to more than double those tallies.
Andre Brown wants 22 touchdowns, 1,333 yards for NY Giants in 2013. The burly running back has big plans for the upcoming season, with hopes of making the most of the opportunity facing him now that Ahmad Bradshaw is no longer with Big Blue.

Justin Tuck says the Giants just need Victor Cruz by opening day. "Victor has to do what Victor thinks is best for Victor. And he doesn't have to answer to anybody else. He's his own man. At the end of the day, I don't care if he misses all the workout program. As long as he's there on - What day do we open up? - that Sunday. Whatever day that is, if I see No. 80 with the New York Giants, then I'm cool with that.
Cruz at present is not under contract, so it would have been somewhere between unusual and bizarre for him to show up and work out at the Timex Performance Center. Cruz, as a restricted free agent, has until Friday to sign an offer sheet with another team, which is almost definitely not going to happen, as compensation for his services is a first-round draft pick.

Despite Tom Coughlin's assessment, Jason Pierre-Paul says he was not out of shape. Jason Pierre-Paul says he was in "great shape" last season, which is not the way his head coach, Tom Coughlin, characterized JPP's physical condition in 2012.
Jason Pierre-Paul sounds tired of the Giants' annual roller-coaster act. The defensive end wants to see the Giants get serious and be more consistent. "We can't B.S. around this year. The falling down, and going up, that [stinks]. You know what I mean? Because it's like every year it happens. Every year."

At the end of the Giants' failed 2012 title defense, Jerry Reese made it clear that he felt the roster was not "that far off" from contending again. But the disappointed general manager said his team "will look a little differently" in 2013. Osi Umenyiora, Kenny Phillips, Chris Canty, Michael Boley and Chase Blackburn are gone. Former Eagles Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson are now Giants run-stuffers. Dan Connor is projected to start at middle linebacker and Aaron Ross is back in the secondary.

It's a little early to talk about the season's final game, but the Giants are well aware that Super Bowl XLVIII will be played in MetLife Stadium. They'd love to cap a comeback season by becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl on their home field.

Former Giants
Pat Summerall, who kicked one of the most famous field goals in Giants history and was later one of the nation's most popular announcers for 40 years, died in Dallas of cardiac arrest. He was 82.
Pat Summerall was the calm alongside John Madden's storm. Over four decades, Summerall described some of the biggest games in America in his deep, resonant voice.
Pat Summerall, in the wind and driving snow in December 1958, kicked a golden 49-yard field goal at Yankee Stadium to beat the Browns and launch the Giants' journey toward an NFL championship game against the Colts that forever changed the face of professional football.

Apr 16 Star receiver Victor Cruz, a restricted free agent, was notably absent Monday as the Giants players descended upon East Rutherford for the start of their voluntary offseason program.
Cruz is seeking a long-term contract extension and wants more than the current $7 million-per-year offer sources say he has on the table from the Giants.
Cruz has not spoken to reporters since the days leading up to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. He could not be reached for comment and team officials did not address Cruz's situation Monday.

The most challenging season of Hakeem Nicks' career ended last December without a reception in cameo appearances in the Giants' final two games, the first time as a pro he was held without a catch.
After having an offseason scope on his left knee, Nicks has been running full speed for "a couple of weeks," he said in comments distributed through the team. Nicks was able to test his cleaned-up knee last week in informal workouts with quarterback Eli Manning at Duke University.

Apr 15 Defensive linemen are strength of this year's NFL draft. With a dearth of talent at both the quarterback and running back positions, just a smattering of quality wide receivers and what one scout called "the worst group of linebackers in years," the defensive line position, particularly inside, stands out in this Class of 2013.

Mike Catapano was not invited to the scouting combine, and when 15 NFL teams showed up last month for Princeton's pro day, it was considered a good turnout. On his high school field, he dropped his black duffel bag to the ground, started to stretch and took the next step to becoming this year's most unlikely draft pick, the first Princeton Tiger drafted in a dozen years. Among the Ivys, only Columbia has gone longer without a drafted player; the last one was Marcellus Wiley, who was a second-round pick in 1997.

Apr 14 Manti Te'o never actually saw his imaginary dead girlfriend Lennay Kekua, but the past two days he got an up-close-and-personal look at the Giants during a visit at the team facility two weeks before the NFL Draft.
GM Jerry Reese said at the scouting combine that he was more concerned about Te'o's football skills than the Internet girlfriend hoax. Reese said he would let Te'o explain his situation to the Giants once the linebacker was brought in for a visit.
David Wilson did not visit with the Giants before they selected him in the first round of last year's NFL Draft. Prince Amukamara was not brought to East Rutherford the year before, either. Which means if the Giants are going to select Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o with the 19th pick at the April 25 draft, they will be breaking a recent trend.
Based on his pedigree and the Giants' need, Te'o makes plenty of sense as the pick at No. 19 in the first round. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist, a remarkably productive player at Notre Dame and also considered to be a team leader.

Apr 13 Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o visited the Giants on Thursday night and Friday and left Friday afternoon. The Giants own the 19th pick in the draft and Te'o is expected by most draft experts to go anywhere around where the Giants draft to the late first round.
The Giants still have a need at the linebacker position. They cut weak-side starter Michael Boley, and middle linebacker Chase Blackburn signed with the Panthers in free agency. The Giants added Dan Connor, a middle linebacker, and re-signed Keith Rivers, but could use added talent among a very young group of players.
And it's entirely possible that Te'o could help the Giants. Teams are permitted to host just 30 out-of-area prospects, so they try to be selective. The fact that the Giants invited Te'o to the facility means they would seriously consider choosing him at some point.

Apr 12 The biggest question for the Giants' offseason program, which begins Monday: Will Victor Cruz be present? The talented young receiver, a restricted free agent, has not yet signed his first-round tender with the team, nor have the sides yet been able to work out a long-term deal.
Justin Tuck knows that Victor Cruz would have his reasons for not showing up in East Rutherford on Monday, when the Giants begin their voluntary offseason workout program. But the Giants' veteran defensive end also thinks that Cruz should - and will - show up.

Why Victor Cruz might not report to the Giants offseason program. While Cruz could report for the program to work out, because he is not under contract, in order to participate in anything other than the classroom sessions, he would have to sign an injury waiver. Is that a gamble Cruz is willing to take given that the RFA signing period ends April 19? Don't count on it, as if he does sign such a waiver, he loses a great deal of leverage in his quest for a new contract.

Justin Tuck is hoping to have a big bounce-back year in the final year of his contract. He's had a total of nine sacks in the past two seasons since posting 11.5 sacks in 2010. It certainly didn't feel good for Tuck to see one of his best friends depart. But Tuck is happy for Osi Umenyiora and understands it will take a collective effort to replace No. 72.

NFL News
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman says half of NFL's players use Adderall, then backs off claim The NFL released the following statement: "The comments are ill-informed and inaccurate.

Apr 11 Eli Manning has been firing passes to Victor Cruz in North Carolina this week. And the quarterback hopes he will be doing the same this offseason with Cruz at the Giants' practice facility when the team trains.
The Giants quarterback, along with older brother Peyton, is working out at Duke University this week. The Mannings are there with Duke coach David Cutcliffe, a college coach of both brothers, as well as three Giants and three Broncos teammates.
Eli brought Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Louis Murphy. Peyton Manning has Broncos teammates Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker. Voluntary workouts are scheduled to begin for both the Broncos and Giants next week.

NFC East News
Who's coming, going, staying, a look at the comings and goings around the NFC East.

Apr 10 Dubbed "Miracle at the Meadowlands No.2", DeSean Jackson's amazing punt return vs. the New York Giants in 2010 has been voted the "Greatest Play of All Time" by NFL.com. At the time, the win was viewed as the start of something special for the Eagles. Things did not workout that way, however, as they lost in the first round of the playoffs that year.
Eli's miraculous escape combined with Tyree's improbable helmet catch with Rodney Harrison draped all over him, is a play which set up the greatest upset in Super Bowl History...and should be the winner. It is not just this crazy play itself, it's the setting and the consequences. If that play is not made, The 2007 Patriots would be celebrated as the greatest team ever.

As is often the case, Jerry Reese didn't make any huge, sexy splashes in free agency. But the Giants general manager still managed to address the areas of need for his roster all while managing a tight salary cap.

NFL.com columnist Adam Schein ranked the top coaches in the NFL, and Coughlin came in at No. 2 behind the Patriots' Belichick. "Like Belichick, he's a future Hall of Famer," Schein wrote. "Coughlin has two rings and gets his Giants to overachieve. He's a fantastic motivator and in-game coach."

If you're a Giants fan and bought a new Nike jersey this past season, chances are it had the number 80 on it. The NFL released a list of the 25 top-selling player jerseys on NFLShop.com, and Victor Cruz came in at No. 8 overall, second only to Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis among non-quarterbacks.

The NFC East has picked up a few steps since Aaron Ross last played in it. During his stint in Jacksonville, Robert Griffin III emerged with Washington, and the Eagles this offseason ushered in their new coach Chip Kelly, known for his up-tempo offense. But speed is no stranger to Ross. His wife and fellow University of Texas product, Sanya Richards-Ross, is a four-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field.

The Giants have not ruled out the re-signing of Brandon Jacobs, their one-time bruising running back. There have not been any formal discussions between the Giants and Jacobs and at this point he remains a not-very-hot commodity on the open market as the leftover players in free agency try to find teams to employ them.

NFL News
Three rule proposals that addressed player safety were overwhelmingly approved by the league's owners. The first prohibits offensive or defensive players from initiating contact with the top/crown of the helmet when they are clearly outside the tackle box. A second new rule will provide more protection to the snapper and other offensive linemen during a field goal or extra point attempt. The third player safety rule concerned the "peel back" block.

Apr 9 Tom Coughlin and some of the Super Bowl champion Giants appear in the movie "Running for Jim." The short video of a cross-country runner crawling across a finish line that inspired the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2012 is part of a documentary that will premiere at the Soho International Film Festival Tuesday night.

Andre Brown signs with agent Drew Rosenhaus. Brown is going to be forced to sign his second-round tender and play out this season for $2.02 million. With Wilson on the roster, the team will not commit a significant portion of their salary cap space to a backup running back. This is a contract year for Brown, and nest offseason may be the only chance he ever gets to receive a multi-million dollar contract

Former Giants
Brandon Jacobs says he's "Trying to get back in "a New York Giants Uniform". When healthy, Jacobs is a mean, physical back and a leader in the locker room. He understands the Giants' offensive system, he's clearly willing to fill a reserve role and, in all likelihood, would come at a minimum price.

Apr 6 The Giants could face Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and possibly Tom Brady this summer, which should help determine if their defense is improved from the ghastly 2012 meltdown. It will be an all-AFC preseason schedule for the Giants, who will face the Steelers, Colts, Jets and Patriots, four opponents they will not play in the regular season.

Aaron Ross says if he could get a do-over, he would again sign with the Jaguars after winning a second Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011. "It was a nice paid vacation to Florida, so I definitely wouldn't take back the decision." Ross said Friday on the NFL Network.
As if Aaron Ross couldn't become more unpopular among Jaguars fans after he played poorly in his only year with the team in 2012, he did during an appearance Friday on NFL AM on the NFL Network. Ross signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract before last year. He started nine of 14 games, making 65 tackles but no interceptions. He was cut last month as a part of the Jaguars' roster purge.
Aaron Ross apologized to the Jacksonville Jaguars, their fans and the city for joking on Friday that his lone season with the team was like "a nice paid vacation to Florida." Ross said, "Jacksonville treated me and my wife with the utmost respect and I really appreciated what they did for me and did for us.

Apr 5 Ever wonder what Tom Coughlin's favorite ice cream flavor is? Or how about which Giant left the most lasting impression on him? Or which historical figure he would most want to talk to?:
He said that he slept soundly before the Giants' two Super Bowl appearances while he was head coach because the team was prepared meticulously. He was confident they would win (and they did).

The Giants announced the opponents for their 2013 preseason games. They will play four AFC opponents for the first time since 2010. The Giants will host the Colts and Jets and travel to Pittsburgh and New England. The Giants will not play any of their preseason opponents in the regular season.
The Giants will host the Colts in a nationally televised game set for Sunday, August 18 at 8 p.m. in a game that will be televised by FOX. It will be the teams' first preseason meeting since the Giants defeated the Colts in Indianapolis, 26-20, on Aug. 11, 1984 - the year the Colts moved from Baltimore.

Apr 4 The Giants have signed defensive tackle Mike Patterson to a one-year contract. He visited the Giants Tuesday. Patterson was the Eagles' first round pick in 2005 and has spent his entire eight-year career with that organization.
Patterson arrives with a serious medical history. Clearly, the Giants are serious about upgrading their defense, which gave up more yards in 2012 (6,134) than any other season in franchise history. They also allowed 129.1 rushing yards per game, which directly led to several unsightly losses in a 9-7 season.
The Giants now have plenty of depth and bodies up front to surround starter Linval Joseph. They also still have young defensive tackles Marvin Austin and Markus Kuhn. Figure the Giants, who allowed 100 yards rushing or more in 10 games last season, to start Joseph and Jenkins and then rotate Patterson and Rogers if they are healthy. The Giants certainly look like they beefed up their front line to stop the run.

Imagine going from Tom Brady to Eli Manning? It could happen for receiver Julian Edelman. When healthy, Edelman is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL, averaging 13.2 yards on 72 career punt returns and that is an area where the Giants are lacking.

Former Giants
Domenik Hixon is following linebacker Chase Blackburn to Carolina. Hixon -- who had 39 receptions for 567 yards and two touchdowns and was the team's punt returner by the end of the season -- joins Blackburn and Dave Gettleman, who left the Giants as the team's pro personnel guru to become the Panthers' GM.

NFL News
In its quest to keep fans in the stands, and give them a reason not to view games in high definition in their livings rooms, the NFL. will put cameras into all home team locker rooms next season.

Apr 3 Experts predict the Giants draft pick. The upcoming NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 25.

The Giants were interested in free-agent quarterback Pat White, but White preferred the Washington Redskins.

Apr 2 Special Report - Victor Cruz, although he hasn't received another offer from another team and it is beginning to look as though he won't. Why? He probably wants more money - or his agent, Tom Condon, does - and teams are a bit reluctant to spend that much on a position that is so easily filled. Besides, the offer he has received from the Giants, said to be five years and $35 million, is probably more than another team would risk and therefore he either takes it or plays for the one-year tender of $2.879 million and tests the market next year, when he's all grown up as an Unrestricted Free Agent.

According to a league source, the San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to make an offer to Giants restricted free-agent wide receiver Victor Cruz within the next few days. The 49ers could not be reached for a comment and Cruz's agent, Tom Condon, would not comment on the situation. The 49ers would likely need to offer Cruz a deal that averages well over $8 million a year and has a large amount of guaranteed money. The Giants would then have an opportunity to match the offer, which they likely would not do.

Three weeks after signing ex-Eagle Cullen Jenkins, the Giants are bringing in his former Philly defensive linemate Mike Patterson on Tuesday, the Daily News has learned. The 29-year-old Patterson, who is a former first-round pick out of USC (in 2005), was cut on the same day as Jenkins in late February, as part of Philadelphia's salary cap purge.

Giants free agency scorecard - Signed by Giants:
DT Cullen Jenkins - 3 years/$8 million K Josh Brown - 1 year/$1.005 million CB Aaron Ross - 1 year/$780,000 S Ryan Mundy - 1 year/$780,000 TE Brandon Myers - 1 year/$2.25 million (technically 4 years/$14.25 million, but final three years are "voidable" years). LB Dan Connor - 1 year/$780,000 WR Louis Murphy - 1 year/$715,000.

Former Giants
Plaxico Burress - A circuit court has ordered the auction of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress' Virginia Beach home to satisfy liens against the property due a judgment resulting from a 2008 traffic accident in Florida.

Mar 31 Victor Cruz earned his opportunity with the Giants in the summer of 2011 after Steve Smith suffered a serious knee injury late the previous season, but now Cruz risks losing a huge payday if he doesn't go to school on what happened with Smith. Smith was headed for a big contract with the Giants late in the 2010 season - there were reports he turned down a five-year $35 million offer with $15 million guaranteed.

Mar 30 With dual-threat quarterbacks taking the NFL by storm last year, the Giants might be looking to find one of their own. Pat White, the former West Virginia star who is trying to resurrect an NFL career that seemed to die back in 2010, has plans to head to New Jersey for a visit and a workout with the Giants early next week. He's obviously not a threat to Eli Manning or even backup David Carr, but having a third-string quarterback who can run the read-option for the scout team couldn't hurt in the NFC East, where the Redskins and Eagles will likely run similar offenses this year.

Mar 29 Just hours before he officially became an ex-Giant and signed with the Falcons, Umenyiora said he placed one last call to Reese, the Giants' general manager he once swore he'd never talk to again.
Umenyiora said he spoke with Jerry Reese Wednesday morning, and the two had a "great conversation." Umenyiora's Giants career was marked by 75 career sacks as well as a long-standing contract dispute, but Umenyiora credited Reese for assisting in his new opportunity.
Umenyiora's two-year contract is worth $8.5 million, with $5 million guaranteed. The maximum value of the deal is $12 million. The Giants considered bringing Umenyiora back but for considerably less money than he received from the Falcons.
"This team is the most talented team that I have seen in my life, probably," said Umenyiora, who lives in Atlanta in the offseason. Umenyiora is looking forward to showing what he can do again as a full-time starter and he believes playing indoors provides "ideal [conditions] for a player like myself."

Stadium News
The Super Bowl wants you: Volunteers needed to assist with game-related events. MetLife Stadium will host next February's Super Bowl XLVIII. Locals must attend a training session, work at least 2 shifts of three to four hours each between Jan. 25 and Feb. 3, 2014 and agree to a "standard background check."
The train platforms on the lower level of Secaucus Junction can only accommodate eight-car train sets, so the platforms will have to be lengthened by 120 feet to allow for 10-car trains in time for the Super Bowl in February at MetLife Stadium.

Mar 28 By the time Osi Umenyiora blew kisses to the MetLife Stadium crowd after the Giants' final game last December, he knew his time as a Giant was likely up.
General manager Jerry Reese considers Umenyiora one of his favorite players, not only on the Giants but also in the entire NFL. That sentiment, though, did not prompt Reese to offer Umenyiora any financial incentive to stay.
Umenyiora's run with the Giants came to an end Wednesday when he agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Falcons, a team in need of pass-rush help after releasing veteran defensive end John Abraham.
Umenyiora has been looking forward to becoming a free agent for years after becoming disenchanted with a six-year extension he signed back in 2005. He has long maintained that he is a starting defensive end in this league and wants to be paid like a starter.

Chase Blackburn will forever be remembered in Giants lore for his interception of Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI, leaping in front of Rob Gronkowski to greatly help the Giants beat the Patriots.
Chase Blackburn was the starting middle linebacker for the Giants last season, but he had to find a new home after the Giants signed linebacker Dan Connor.
Blackburn was looking for a multi-year deal in free agency after playing the past two seasons on one-year pacts. The Panthers were willing to offer that, while the Giants have been giving one-year, minimum contracts to most of the free agents they have signed.

Mar 27 The Giants always wanted right tackle David Diehl back for another season, but only at their price. The 32-year-old Diehl finally agreed to their price and accepted a massive pay cut that will keep him with the Giants for one more season.
The right tackle, who has played his entire 10-year NFL career with the Giants, agreed to lower his base salary from $4.475 million to $1 million. No years were added onto his contract, which expires after the 2013 season, so this was a straight pay cut,
The Giants needed to free up cap space and recently re-signed left guard Kevin Boothe to a one-year deal. Boothe is listed with a 2013 base salary of $840,000. By keeping Boothe and Diehl for this coming season at such a cheap price, the Giants have retained much-needed experience, versatility and depth on the offensive line.

Shaun Rogers certainly doesn't travel light when it comes to jewelry. The Giants defensive tackle this past weekend reportedly was robbed of $500,000 worth of jewelry in Miami Beach, according to CBS Miami via the Miami Beach Police.
Rogers and his group met a woman at Club Liv and brought her back to his room at the Fontainebleau Hotel about 7 a.m. That's when he put his jewelry in a safe inside his room. But when Rogers awoke at 12:30 p.m., both the woman and the jewelry - straight out of the locked safe, apparently - were gone.

The Giants will once again wear an "alternate uniform" this season, but it won't have anything to do with the red jerseys they shelved six years ago. In fact, this time it will have nothing to do with a jersey at all.
Players will wear white pants instead of the traditional gray for select games in which they wear their blue jerseys, either home or away. The specific games have not been selected. The Giants will not wear the white pants with their white jerseys.

Mar 26 The Giants are bringing their entire offensive line back for one more year. They secured the final piece to that puzzle on Monday when they re-signed left guard Kevin Boothe.
Had Boothe signed elsewhere, the Giants may have been forced to strongly consider selecting an offensive lineman in the first round (19th overall pick) of next month's draft.
Why did it take so long? The Giants were limited in what they could offer Boothe, who tested the market. It certainly appears the market wasn't great for Boothe. Surely he wanted more than a one-year deal.
Boothe has been with the Giants since 2007, winning two Super Bowls and serving as a versatile back-up until he settled in at left guard. The eight-year veteran has started 22 consecutive games at the position, including the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI run.

Mar 24 Osi Umenyiora has never publicly closed the door on a Giants return. But the veteran defensive end, who played the first 10 seasons of his career for the Giants, has his eye on a new destination: The Atlanta Falcons, where he took a free-agent visit last week.
Umenyiora has a home in Atlanta and has visited with the Falcons, who could use a pass rusher to replace John Abraham. Umenyiora appears to be a good fit for the Falcons.
So one of the finest pass-rushers in Giants history is set to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Umenyiora will likely ink his deal with Atlanta by Monday, according to the report. Terms for the deal were not immediately available.

Mar 23 Eli Manning has sources when it comes to keeping up with the inner workings of the Giants' front office during free agency. But despite what you might believe regarding the power a player of his caliber may wield, Manning insists he does not have general manager Jerry Reese on speed dial this time of year. He says he finds out like just about everybody else: newspapers, television and an occasional source, here and there. (TeamGiants.com? - TG Staff note)

Victor Cruz, according to league sources, had been seeking a deal in the range of $10-11 million per season - essentially what No. 1 receivers had been getting on the open market. The Giants, according to sources, don't value him that high, though they are willing to pay more than the $6 million per season that a pair of slot receivers - Wes Welker and Danny Amendola - recently got on the open market.
The Giants are limited by their cap space at the moment but Eli Manning, Chris Snee and David Diehl all have said this week that they would be open to considering altering their contracts to help sign Victor Cruz and left guard Kevin Boothe to long-term deals.

The Atlanta Falcons are making a strong push to sign New York Giants free agent defensive end Osi Umenyiora and are trying to wrap up a deal before the end of the weekend, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Friday.

Re-signing Terrell Thomas and bringing back Aaron Ross gives the Giants impressive depth at cornerback (assuming Thomas can return to the field after a third ACL surgery). And Ryan Mundy is an under-the-radar acquisition that should pay big dividends. He was a productive, durable player in Pittsburgh. The man he replaced, Kenny Phillips, missed nine games last season. It's hard to be productive when you're not on the field.

Mar 22 Jason Pierre-Paul might be one of the Giants' biggest stars, but Tom Coughlin made it clear the young defensive end isn't immune from public criticism by his coach. Speaking at the NFL's annual meetings, Coughlin revealed that Pierre-Paul reported to training camp overweight last summer and struggled much of the year to get rid of the extra pounds. Coughlin admitted Pierre-Paul's weight was an issue much of the year.

Add David Wilson to the growing list of those who aren't happy with the rule where ball carriers cannot use the crown of their helmets to deliver blows. "Leading with your helmet is something that naturally happens when you are running," Wilson said. "Nobody runs straight up. There is a difference between a forcible blow with the crown of the helmet and a natural angle that happened to occur."
Wilson has been mostly staying in New Jersey, training and preparing at the Giants' facility. He said he's added a few pounds of muscle -- he wants to play between 208 and 210 pounds, up from 205 last year -- in order to be a better pass protector, which he knows is the key to him staying on the field."

Eli Manning said he'd be willing to listen if the Giants approached him about reworking his contract to get Victor Cruz in the fold and right tackle David Diehl said to count him in. "I would be willing to do some things to restructure and help other guys out and keep a great teammate ... like Victor Cruz," Diehl said.

Chris Snee had hip surgery after making his fourth Pro Bowl trip with his family in January, knowing that decision would not impede his ability to be ready for training camp. "I knew the timetable of recovery, and I knew that I had some stuff I wanted to do with my kids before I was on crutches for a month. So I'll be ready (for camp).
Snee is due to make $6.7 million in base salary this season and has two years remaining on his contract. "They haven't (asked) but I've restructured in the past," said Snee. "I am a team player, I will do whatever necessary. At this point in your career, you want to win championships. I will do whatever it takes."

Mar 21 Eli Manning has his fingers crossed that his most productive receiver, Victor Cruz, will be back with the team in 2013 (and beyond). Cruz, who has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, is a restricted free agent.
"I would think he would want to stay in this area," Manning said of Cruz. "But in the end, if another team comes in and throws a big contract at him, then you've got to make those decisions."

Eli Manning compiled roughly a quarter of his 3,948 passing yards last season on completions to Victor Cruz. Manning tossed 10 of his 26 touchdown passes to the salsa-dancing Cruz, too.
The Giants quarterback made it clear that he wants his favorite target back next season, and he added that he's willing to do his part, open to possibly restructuring his contract to free up the money needed to sign Cruz to a long-term extension.

Eli Manning's football family just keeps growing! The New York Giants quarterback and wife Abby will be welcoming a new addition to their brood in June. The happy couple are already parents to adorable daughter Ava Frances, who will turn 2 on Thursday, March 21.

Tom Coughlin has pulled players aside during games to remind them not to lower their heads when they strike a blow. "Be careful," Coughlin has told players. "Do you know where your head was?"
Starting this season, NFL players will no longer be allowed to lower the head and use the crown of the helmet to deliver blows to opposing players. Former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs was none too pleased to hear that the rule passed by an overwhelming 31-1 vote.

Former Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw is still out of work since being released by the Giants last month. Bradshaw, who had offseason surgery on his troublesome right foot, says he elected to not work out for teams until he is healthier. But he said three teams have expressed interest in him so far: The Jets, Steelers and Packers.

Mar 20 David Carr hasn't gotten much of an opportunity to play while backing up Eli Manning in four of the last five seasons. But the veteran quarterback is still returning to hold the Giants' clipboard again.
Given that Carr has maintained his speed and agility, having him back is a plus for the Giants, especially with Robert Griffin III in Washington and Chip Kelly bringing a high-octane offense to the Eagles.

Stevie Brown as an afterthought and a depth player to most people when the Giants picked him off the scrap heap last spring. Now the safety is a very rich man.
Brown tweeted a picture of his contract. A source confirmed he signed the second-round RFA tender worth $2.023 million for this coming season.

The Giants are building a team one year at a time. At least that's the way it seems this offseason. Player after player has signed one-year deals with the Giants, as they try to squeeze in as much talent as they can under the salary cap. That's not a bad way to do business.

The book seemed to be closed on the short, disappointing Giants career of Ramses Barden when he said in a radio interview before free agency that he felt it was "probably best" to move on. However, after a week of free agency and apparently little action, a source close to Barden told the Daily News that the Giants are "still an option" for him. It's unclear whether the Giants feel the same way.

Victor Cruz surprised students at two Jersey City schools, bringing music, dance and a message of working hard in school and never quitting. "I just wanted to talk to you guys and tell you the importance of being in school," said Cruz.. He said he didn't commit himself in high school and "I really paid the price because I got kicked out of college twice."

NFL News
NFL owners pass two rules changes. The owners outlawed peel-back blocks anywhere on the field; previously, they were illegal only inside the tackle box. Also banned is overloading a formation while attempting to block a field goal or extra point. Owners delayed voting Tuesday on a rule change that would ban offensive players from using the crown of their helmets against defenders in the open field.

Mar 19 Matt Hasselbeck was released by the Titans today, putting the 14-year veteran quarterback out onto the open market. The former Seahawks and Titans starter is expected to draw a lot of interest from quarterback-needy teams. ESPN reported at least 10 teams are interested in Hasselbeck, including the Giants.

Osi Umenyiora has had a tumultuous nine-year run with the Giants, never shy about his unhappiness with his contract. Now that he's a free agent, teams haven't been lining up for his services, although a USA Today report on Monday said that the Lions and Dolphins are among those teams interested, but aren't willing to shell out big bucks he is looking for.

The Giants were busy over the weekend, signing tight end Brandon Myers, linebacker Dan Connor and wide receiver Louis Murphy. None of the signings are blockbuster moves but they are all solid additions and all likely done at reasonable prices.

NFL News
NFL is Pressured on Issues of Gay Rights. The NFL's investigation into why a team employee asked a college player if he liked girls during last month's scouting combine has found that the comment was part of casual banter - "chatter that was inappropriate" - but not part of a formal interview process, said Robert Gulliver, the league's top human resources executive.

Mar 18 Brandon Myers got the thumbs-up from Kevin Boss -- the Giants' starting tight end from 2007 to 2010, and Myers' Raiders teammate in 2011. Myers and Boss became "great friends" in Oakland, and before Myers was headed to New Jersey for a free-agent visit Saturday, Boss strongly recommended the franchise where he won a Super Bowl XLII ring.
The Giants would be thrilled if Myers even came close to duplicating his 79-catch, 806-yard, four-touchdown season for the Raiders. It not only would far exceed what they got out of the departed Martellus Bennett at that spot last season (55-626-6), it would be the most they've gotten out of a tight end since Jeremy Shockey's rookie season in 2002 (74-894-2).

Giants co-owner John Mara said they made a "significant" offer to Cruz for a long-term deal. Slot receivers such as Wes Welker and Danny Amendola landed $6 million-a-year contracts in free agency, but Steve Tisch told reporters he expects the potential Cruz offer to be north of $6 million per year.

Mar 17 There may be a 'risk,' as Giants co-owner John Mara noted, to giving Cruz a first-round restricted free agent tender, rather than signing him to a lucrative long-term contract. But it's a small one. Victor Cruz is still a year away from unrestricted free agency, so Big Blue doesn't have to give the popular wide receiver a mega-contract at the moment.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Victor Cruz isn't a free-agent target of the Minnesota Vikings or St. Louis Rams, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported Saturday, citing league sources. That improves the odds that Cruz remains with the Giants, because the Vikings and Rams are the only teams with two first-round picks in the April draft. .

The loss of Martellus Bennett was a big blow to the Giants' offense, but they softened that on Saturday by replacing him with a player coming off an even better year. The Giants agreed to terms with 27-year-old tight end Brandon Myers, who had a breakthrough season with the Oakland Raiders last year.

The Giants signed free-agent WR Louis Murphy to add depth as Big Blue expects to lose Domenix Hixon and Ramses Barden. Hixon is expected to leave as a free agent and, according to an NFL source, has already gotten one offer from Detroit. Barden, who had 14 catches for 220 yards last season, is also a departing free agent, saying recently that it's "probably best" to move on.

Chase Blackburn made one of the biggest plays of Super Bowl XLVI, intercepting a Tom Brady pass deep in Giants territory in the fourth quarter. But his Giants tenure may also be history. The Giants signed linebacker Dan Connor, writing in the press release that Connor "is expected to play middle linebacker."
Connor is entering his sixth NFL season. A third-round draft choice from Penn State by Carolina in 2008, he played four years with the Panthers before joining Dallas last year as a free agent. Now he is looking to settle down with the Giants.

Mar 16 The Giants added much-needed depth and experience in the back of their defense when they signed free agent safety Ryan Mundy, who played his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Who is Ryan Mundy? The Steelers found out, sometimes the hard way. He is an average player the Giants think they can get something more out of and in trying to decipher Mundy's snap counts, it appears Mundy was demoted twice, and ended the season as the team's 5th safety.

The Giants have brought in a handful of free agents for visits who would be low-cost supplements to their roster. The latest: Louis Murphy, the former Raiders and Panthers receiver, according to an ESPN report.
Murphy, 25, is a four-year NFL veteran who is extremely fast but not very productive. He was a 2009 fourth-round draft pick of the Raiders out of Florida and showed some promise as a rookie with 34 catches for 521 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn't done much since.

Keith Rivers joined the Giants last season with questions about his ability to stay on the field. He re-signed with the team still looking to provide positive answers to those queries.
With the recent release of Michael Boley and the possible departure of free agent Chase Blackburn, Rivers is the Giants' most experienced linebacker in a room that incluses Spencer Paysinger, Jacquian Williams and Mark Herzlich.

The Giants went into free agency seemingly resigned to the fact Kenny Phillips was headed for a departure. Where their former first-round pick landed seemed to upset the fan base a bit Thursday.
Kenny Phillips said he was taught to dislike the Philadelphia Eagles. Only now the situation has been reversed. Phillips, 24, is the newest Eagles safety. He signed a one-year deal with the team on Friday.

Mar 15 The Giants should have a spirited competition at cornerback in training camp. Aaron Ross joins a group of corners that includes his close friend, Corey Webster, plus Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley and Terrell Thomas, who will attempt to return to the field after undergoing season-ending knee surgery each of the last two years.

The Giants added much-needed depth and experience in the back of their defense when they signed free agent safety Ryan Mundy, who played his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mundy should compete for playing time with the Giants. Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown are the current starters at safety.

The Giants made another relatively minor move that could pay off big this season by bringing back Keith Rivers. A source confirmed Rivers agreed to return to the Giants for a one-year deal. If Rivers can stay healthy, he can help replace Michael Boley. Boley, released in a cap-cutting move, had provided the Giants with speed and athleticism.

The odds of Kenny Phillips returning to play for the Giants this year was never good to begin with. But it certainly doesn't make Phillips' departure as a free agent easier to swallow knowing that he left to sign a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. This one won't sit well with Giants fans, who love Phillips. After all, remember the outrage and outcry when Steve Smith signed with the Eagles a few years ago?

So far, all's quiet on the Victor Cruz front. After the Giants tendered the restricted free agent at a first-round level earlier this week, other teams are free to submit offer sheets to lure away the talented young receiver. But so far -- although it is very early -- co-owner and team president John Mara hasn't heard of any other teams in play for Cruz's services.
Now that the Patriots have signed Danny Amendola, there might not be a team that would steal Victor Cruz away from the Giants. The Giants should be feeling a bit relieved that Belichick didn't sign Cruz to an offer sheet.

Mar 14 Goodbye, Lawrence Tynes. The Giants are moving on from the kicker that sent them to two Super Bowls with clutch overtime field goals. Tynes is an unrestricted free agent and the Giants on Wednesday signed Josh Brown, an 11-year veteran who will certainly be the favorite in a competition with David Buehler for the job.
Brown has demonstrated a strong leg through his 10-year career, including a career-long 58-yarder as a rookie in Seattle. His career field-goal percentage is 81.3. "It's a great opportunity for me, an opportunity to be part of a very storied franchise," Brown said. "I'm excited."
So it appears Tynes will join Chris Canty, Ahmad Bradshaw and Michael Boley as veterans who are moving on after helping the Giants win a Super Bowl just over a year ago. One thing the Giants could count on from Tynes was his ability to come through in the clutch. He helped the Giants march to two Super Bowls by making overtime field goals in the 2007 and 2011 NFC Championship Games.

Victor Cruz hopes Wes Welker, the prototype slot receiver, did not set a market yesterday when he left the Patriots and signed a two-year, $12 million contract to play catch with Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Cruz is looking for a whole lot more than $6 million per year and, as a restricted free agent, is hoping he gets it from the Giants or someone else. He won't get it from the Patriots.
What exactly is the market now for Cruz? ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Welker signed with the Broncos for a two-year deal worth $12 million. Welker is older than Cruz but Welker's deal might bode well for the Giants and it probably does Cruz no favors.
The Patriots talk a lot about the Patriot Way - about arriving early and staying late, about putting team above self. Welker and Tom Brady demonstrated it with their leaps of contract faith. Wednesday was part of the Patriot Way, too, the cold business decisions that really shouldn't surprise anyone anymore, that we should have seen coming in September, when the jilting of Welker began.

With Chase Blackburn possibly leaving, Giants to meet with Vikings' Brinkley. There doesn't seem to be a natural middle linebacker ready to step in on the roster, which is why the Giants on Wednesday will be visited by Jasper Brinkley, who started 15 games this past season in the middle for the Vikings.

The Giants announced three personnel moves on their coaching staff. Lunda Wells, entering his second season with the team, is the new assistant offensive line coach. He spent last season as an offensive assistant. Replacing Wells as the team's offensive assistant is Ryan Roeder, a former quarterback at the University at Albany who spent the last three seasons as the tight ends coach at Princeton University. The Giants also hired Robbie Leonard as the team's new defensive assistant.

Mar 13 The Giants won the Super Bowl a year ago, and narrowly missed a playoff bid this past season. It's a good thing they're confident in their roster's core, because this is not a time when the Giants will be aggressive shoppers in free agency.

The Giants have long been open to bringing back some of their own. The latest: Cornerback Aaron Ross, who will re-sign with the Giants. Ross was a first-round pick of the Giants in 2007 and won two Super Bowls with the team.
Ross, 30, lasted one year in Jacksonville before the Jaguars cut him loose. Ross, after five years with the Giants, signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Jaguars and started nine of the 14 games he played in 2012.
Ross is married to Sanya Richards-Ross, an Olympic gold medalist in track. The two of them are scheduled to star in a WE television network reality show this summer about their lives together, called "Glam & Gold."

The Giants will have a new starting tight end next season. Martellus Bennett, who had a career season for the Giants in 2012, agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Bears soon after free agency opened, the team announced.
It's not like the Giants don't have experience trying to find a new tight end. Eli Manning must feel like there's a revolving door at the position. Manning has lost Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and now Bennett all in successive years.

Former Giants
Chris Canty played for one defending Super Bowl champion last year, and now he'll play for another one this season. The defensive tackle, cut last month by the Giants in a salary-cap clearing move, signed with the Ravens.
Chris Canty had been a busy man since the Giants cutting him last month, visiting the Titans, Chiefs and Packers. According to one report, the Packers' doctors would not approve Canty after his physical. The 6-7, 317-pounder missed the first seven games of last season after having knee surgery after Super Bowl XLVI.
Plaxico Burress has re-upped with the Steelers, according to reports, in a deal that likely helps both parties. It's a one-year deal, according to a source, for the veteran minimum.

Mar 12 The Giants are not blinking, and are prepared to lose Victor Cruz if some free agent suitor makes him an exorbitant offer they can refuse rather than match.
If a team opts to sign Cruz to an offer sheet, the Giants will have "right of first refusal." If the offer sheet is too rich for their blood, the Giants can choose not to match and would receive a first-round pick as compensation.
In another twist, Cruz changed agents for the second time in a year, this time hiring CAA's Tom Condon, according to USA Today Sports. The Giants indicated some friction with Cruz's prior agents, Mara saying during Super Bowl week that they were asking for too much money.

Justin Tuck knew the Giants had a big gap to fill when Chris Canty was released. That's why the Giants' defensive captain likes the signing of defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, who could end up being the team's biggest addition of this offseason.
"I'm excited," said Jenkins, who visited five teams after being let go by Philadelphia. "I'm glad that it's over and especially with the Giants. This was my first visit and I had a good feeling here, especially talking with the coaches. Everybody was straight up, straight forward with me. I had a good gut feeling about New York."

Mar 11 When the Giants want someone on the open market they usually strike quickly and they stuck to that script again this year as Sunday they agreed to terms on a three-year deal with defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins. Six teams expressed interest in Jenkins but the Giants made the most sense, financially and in terms of having an open slot for him on the field.
Jenkins is expected to take over for Chris Canty (who was released in February in a cost-cutting move) in the starting lineup alongside Linval Joseph. From a salary perspective, the Giants replaced Canty, who was going to make $6.25 million this season in base salary and had two years left before his release, with Jenkins' three-year, $8 million deal.

Mar 10 Giants hoping to re-sign TE Martellus Bennett, also expressing interest in free agent Josh Cribbs Re-signing the 26-year-old Bennett is one of the Giants' top goals this offseason, according to a team source.
What happens if the Giants can't re-sign Bennett? It's hard imagining the Giants investing a lot of money in the tight end position since they have filled that spot with Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and Bennett in the past few seasons.

Osi Umenyiora met with NFL Network to talk about about free agency and if he would like to return to Big Blue. " I'd love to return there, that is home. I have spent a third of my life there in New York but there are a lot of things that are going to have to go on, a lot of people they are going to have to take care of. It is going to be a tough situation."