July 15 - UPDATE The Giants announced the schedule for their 2013 training camp, which will be held at the team's Timex Performance Center. The camp will begin on Friday, July 26, when all players report for physicals, meetings and conditioning testing. The first practice session will be held on Saturday, July 27 at 1:30 p.m. General admission seating for approximately 2,000 is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Standing room along the fence line of the perimeter of the practice fields is also available. There is no admission charge for watching training camp workouts and parking is free.

July 15 Victor Cruz tweeted that the 'hood' would catch up with Zimmerman despite his being of acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Cruz immediately deleted the tweet after posting it.
He then sent a series of messages on Twitter Sunday apologizing for the statement and expanding on his feelings about the case.
Victor Cruz tweets "I immediately realized my tweet was a mistake and I apologize, that's why I deleted it. I never have and never will advocate violence under any circumstances."

After making 11 starts last year as an emergency fill-in, Stevie Brown now understands both sides of the NFL. He knows what it's like to be promised a roster spot only to be cut a day later like he was in Oakland. He also knows what it's like to pick off eight passes in limited duty, setting a franchise record for interception return yards as he did last year.

NFC East News
One move each team in the NFC East needed to make but didn't.
New York Giants: Anything of consequence at linebacker.
Dallas Cowboys: Upgrade at right tackle.
Philadelphia Eagles: Spend some money on the secondary.
Washington Redskins: Get Pierre Garcon's foot fixed.

July 14 Antrel Rolle kept waiting for the phone call from the Giants that never came. Not that Rolle believed his roster spot was in jeopardy - because that was not the case despite rampant rumors to the contrary on social media and talk radio - but there was some trepidation on his part. Michael Boley and Chris Canty were jettisoned within 24 hours of one another in February.

From Thursday to Sunday, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and New York Giants signal-caller Eli Manning take a break from the professional grind to teach high school players the tricks of the trade.

July 12 The proverbial ink had yet to dry on Victor Cruz's New York Giants contract extension and people were already asking about Hakeem Nicks, who will need a new contract himself before the 2014 season begins and is likely going to cost more.

Stop us if you've heard this one before, but an NFL player is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery from an injury. The player in question this time is Giants fullback Henry Hynoski, who injured the MCL and lateral plateau in his left knee during OTAs.

July 11 Osi Umenyiora's departure and Jason Pierre-Paul's rehab will allow the Giants to take a long look at some of the younger pass rushers they have behind Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka. Adrian Tracy, third-round pick Damontre Moore, Justin Trattou and Adewale Ojomo will compete to be a part of the defensive end rotation.

In the wake of Victor Cruz signing his contract extension through the 2018 season, pundits have weighed in on where the Giants' wide receiver stacks up around the NFL. Former players and current analysts Shaun O'Hara and Donovan McNabb recently debated the topic on NFL Network's "Total Access."

July 10 Victor Cruz was a guest on WFAN. When asked by Mike Francesa about the unit's potential this year, he said: "You haven't seen what we're capable of."
Cruz and the Giants are a catch made in heaven, and once the market for slot receivers was set by the modest, two-year, $12 million guaranteed contract Welker signed with the Broncos, it was only a matter of time before a deal was struck.
The Giants keep their slot receiver at a price that isn't too far off what they were reportedly willing to pay all along. Cruz is happy. Giants are happy. Hakeem Nicks? That'll be the question now.
Nicks moves to the head of the line. He, not Cruz, is the Giants' No. 1 receiver, but he has a long history of injuries that complicates his value. He's going to want an enormous deal.
The Giants aren't likely to convince Nicks to negotiate a new deal this offseason. They'd like to, but there's no way Nicks wants to negotiate off the injury-plagued, disappointing 2012 season he just had.

Rosemary Pluchino, a waitress at the Colonial Diner in Lyndhurst, said star Giants receiver Victor Cruz is just a regular guy who knows everyone's name at the diner. "I think he deserves more than $43 million," said Hyung Chang, co-owner of Ridge Road Cleaners, the dry-cleaning shop where Cruz takes his laundry. "He never acts like a superstar. He's very respectful."

Stadium News
The developers of the American Dream Meadowlands project filed suit against the ownership of the New York Jets and Giants on Tuesday, accusing the teams of an "unlawful campaign' to delay the construction of the entertainment complex.

July 9 Victor Cruz and the New York Giants have reached agreement after one of the longest, most publicized contract negotiations in NFL history. Cruz signed a five-year extension worth $43 million on Monday on top of the one-year tender the Pro Bowl wide receiver has already signed.
The $8.6 million-per-season payout on the extension puts Cruz outside of the 10 highest-paid wide receivers in football. Still, the guaranteed portion is in the realm of wide receivers such as DeSean Jackson, of the Philadelphia Eagles.
On top of the financials, though, this deal is a sweet one for Cruz because it keeps him in New York, where he obviously wants to be. Cruz also likes the idea of being a star. He has his clothing line. He has plans to do some sort of TV show. He's got his Chunky Soup commercials. He's in on this Jay-Z Roc Nation deal.
Cruz knew he had to protect his best interest, but intensely disliked being separated from his teammates. "That was the hardest part for me," Cruz said. "I'd see guys here and there, whether it was in the city or different spots around town. It was tough to talk to them, because they know I want to be there, they know that my heart was there, but it was the business side."

Former Giants
Barrett Green is suing the Redskins. He says a career-ending knee injury during a game on Dec. 5, 2004, in Washington. He's saying his career-ending knee injury resulted from a bounty program in which the team's coaches encouraged players to intentionally injure opponents.

July 8 - UPDATE Victor Cruz came to training camp as the longest of long shots to make the Giants roster. This year he'll come to camp as the highest-paid receiver they've ever had. The 26-year-old star from nearby Paterson, N.J., guaranteed that status on Monday when he agreed to a blockbuster, five-year, $43 million contract extension, with the Giants.

July 8 Giants linebacker Dan Connor was arrested at Philadelphia International Airport on Saturday on charges he tried to carry a knife on board an airliner, police said. When the Giants signed Connor in March, a team press release said he was "expected to play middle linebacker." Connor was signed following the release of Chase Blackburn as a free agent.

The Giants have made two Super Bowl runs riding the coattails of a relentless pass rush that has given every quarterback in the NFL fits. This year, however, the front four will have a different look, as stalwart Osi Umenyiora is now in Atlanta.

July 6 The long-awaited battle at right tackle between first-rounder Justin Pugh, James Brewer, and David Diehl is set to kickoff this summer. However, depending on what happens with David Baas, that battle could quickly become a two-horse race between Brewer and Diehl.

Cornerback Corey Webster made news in March when he agreed to take a $3 million pay cut on his $7 million salary in order to remain a Giant going into the 2013 season. Secondary/cornerbacks coach Peter Giunta thinks Webster will be motivated to bounce back from a poor 2012. "Definitely," Giunta said.

Eli Manning & Abby welcome daughter Lucy Thomas. The quarterback and his wife of five years welcomed their second daughter on June 17, but kept the good news a secret until July 4! Lucy joins the couple's first daughter Ava Frances, 2. The Mannings announced they were adding another member to their family in March.

July 4 Later this month, the New York Giants will open their training camp at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford as they prepare to kick off the 2013 campaign. But next week, the organization is running a camp in Princeton as it holds its New York Giants Youth Football Camp at the Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart from July 8-12.

July 3 Victor Cruz has talked about getting a big-money contract extension from the Giants ever since his breakout 2011 season. And now, in the summer of 2013, it appears he may be close to getting that deal. "Good things come to those who wait," Cruz tweeted late Monday night.
In just three seasons (he missed nearly all of 2010 with a hamstring injury), Cruz has made his mark on both the Giants' and the NFL's record book. In 2011, he set the single-season Giants receiving record with 1,536 yards. Despite missing the 2010 season, Cruz has compiled the most receiving yards (2,628) in his first three seasons by an undrafted free agent since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
The Giants reportedly offered Cruz a contract paying him roughly $8 million per season with between $15 million to $18 million guaranteed. But satisfying Cruz is only half the equation for the Giants and their young receiving tandem, which also includes Hakeem Nicks, who's making $2.725 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract.

July 2 GM Jerry Reese focused on beefing up his defensive line by adding defensive tackles Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson and drafting Johnathan Hankins. He brought back Aaron Ross and Shaun Rogers and signed Aaron Curry and Dan Connor, among other moves. But Justin Tuck thinks the Giants can also improve from within by altering their mindset.

Wide receiver Victor Cruz calmed the nerves of New York Giants fans when he signed a restricted free agent tender this summer and now reports are that he and the Giants will have a deal done before training camp begins. Though Cruz has performed well the last few seasons, The Giants may be looking for something more from him.

Justin Tuck knows the NFL has an image problem, but the Giants' defensive captain knows there's not much he can do to fix it .Tuck believes the Giants have reflected well on the league, but according to a database kept by the San Diego Tribune, 29 players have been arrested since the Super Bowl.

Giants defensive tackle Shaun Rogers reported $400,000 in jewelry stolen from a safe in a Miami hotel. A woman has been arrested in connection with that theft and others.

June 30 Antrel Rolle considers himself to be a Pro Bowl player, but for the past two years the rest of the NFL did not. He says he is going to change that perception. "Absolutely, there's no doubt about it," Rolle said recently.

For those who continue to worry about whether Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz will be on the field on opening day, you can stop. Nicks, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery, should be good to go even if he's limited at first. Cruz? His situation is a little trickier.

June 29 Rueben Randle's locker is located between stalls belonging to fellow wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Randle had some unexpected space to stretch his 6-2 with Nicks missing voluntary workouts and Cruz absent for all offseason programs. Randle's maturity impressed Kevin Gilbride, the Giants offensive coordinator, who said the second-year receiver is expected to play a significant role in the Giants' offense this season.

Giants Chairman Steve Tisch will join the panel of ABC's "Shark Tank" for the new season that launches in the fall. Tisch will be a "guest shark," ABC announced Friday, alongside John Paul DeJoria, cofounder of Paul Mitchell hair products. The regular Shark panel will also return: Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymon John and Kevin O'Leary.

June 28 Hakeem Nicks is doing his best to make up for lost time. The Giants' big-play receiver skipped the team's voluntary offseason workout program in May, for reasons he still prefers not to discuss. But he's working to get caught up now, and he said Thursday that he'll spend some extra time with quarterback Eli Manning over the next few weeks.
Hakeem Nicks, who has one year remaining on his rookie contract, admitted this is a huge year for him. He said he'll report to training camp on time and be full-go. "It's definitely big," he said of the upcoming season. "Talking about it can't do it justice. I just have to go out there and do what is expected."

Brandon Myers is looking to successfully follow in the footsteps of Kevin Boss, Jake Ballard and Martellus Bennett as he is expected to be the Giants fourth different starting tight end in as many seasons. Myers, signed this offseason by the Giants, is coming off an excellent year in Oakland in which he caught 79 passes for 806 yards, both team highs.

Giants History
Tim Mara purchased a National Football League franchise for New York for $500. Bob Folwell was named head coach and back in 1925 the uniformes were blue jerseys, tan pants and had no numbers.

June 27 The Giants, compared to the last rankings in early May, dropped seven places to No. 17, one spot behind the Dallas Cowboys and one in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers. "The hits just keep on coming. Jason Pierre-Paul could miss significant time after having surgery on his back. Then there's the lingering Victor Cruz situation. These fiscal matters usually take care of themselves. But while Cruz was training with the New York Islanders' director of sports performance, one wonders if Hakeem Nicks was also there replacing the voltage regulator on the Isles' zamboni, because he sure as heck wasn't at Giants OTAs." - Elliot Harrison.

Former Giants
Tiki Barber has been following David Wilson since the speedy back was at Virginia Tech. And the most productive running back to wear a Giants uniform thinks Wilson could be really special. Barber was dangerous on the field as a running and receiving threat. But the three-time Pro Bowler thinks Wilson is even more dynamic. "Oh yeah," Barber said. "I wasn't fast. I was quick, I was elusive, I had good vision but I didn't have breakaway speed like he does. I wasn't the athlete like he is. I worked hard to get where I was. As long as he doesn't take that for granted and works hard on top of it, he can be fantastic."

Jeff Feagles remembers punter Dave Jennings. Feagles said two memories stand out above the rest when thinking about Jennings - one good, one bittersweet. As far as appreciation goes, Jennings will always have a special place in the hearts of Giants fans. But Feagles thought Jennings deserved more credit around the NFL. "If you're a little bit of a historian for the position like I am, you would understand that he should have got a lot more credit and he should have got a lot more respect."

June 26 A month before training camp starts, Justin Tuck looks and feels like he's in terrific shape. He has been training and eating right, and the New York Giants defensive end even walked over hot coals to improve his state of mind.
Justin Tuck has a vision of what he wants the Giants defense to be and that image does not include again being a pop gun in the shadow of Eli Manning's high-octane offensive attack. "I hope the defense can carry this team," Tuck said.

With several talented and intriguing players, the Giants corps of wide receivers is looking to have its biggest season ever in 2013. If Victor Cruz reaches that goal, he will have had quite a season. In 2012, Cruz led the Giants with 86 receptions for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Justin Tuck believes Victor Cruz "did the smart thing" by signing his one-year RFA tender. Cruz continues to seek a long-term extension with the Giants. Tuck thinks the receiver signing his tender should keep the ball rolling toward an agreement.
Obviously, from the Giants' perspective, Cruz signing the tender was the smart thing to do. It gives them reason to believe they'll have their team whole when the season starts and that their offense can function as they've planned it to behind Manning and a high-powered passing game.
Coming off a strong finish to the 2012 season and making major strides during recent organized team activities, Rueben Randle appears poised for a breakout year in his second NFL campaign. Randle caught four passes for 58 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Giants closed out the 2012 season with a 42-7 victory over the Eagles.

Former Giants
Tiki Barber calls Warren Sapp an 'idiot' for attacking Michael Strahan. "Warren's an idiot," Barber said, according to reports. "He just wants to say things to be idiotic. I played with Stray for my whole career. He is the greatest of the great. He is a great teammate, he kept things light, but on game day he was as serious as a heart attack and it showed in his play."

June 24 Unless something major changes, David Wilson, last year's first round pick, will be the starter while Andre Brown, who is coming off a broken leg, will be the change of pace guy. But what about the rest of the depth? That's where the questions lie.

Entering his third year with the Giants, Mark Herzlich continues the road back from the health scare that forced him to miss the 2009 season at Boston College after he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Once considered a first-round talent, he had to stick on the Giants roster as an undrafted free agent and plays with a titanium rod inserted into his left femur.

June 21 Jim Herrmann's thoughts on the linebackers. Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich and Keith Rivers could enter camp as the starters in the Giants' base defense. Herrmann said the most important thing, in the wake of changes to the linebackers group, is developing a cohesive unit. Mathias Kiwanuka is moving back to defensive end and Chase Blackburn and Michael Boley are no longer with the team.

Victor Cruz mirrors the Giants workouts while holding out for bigger deal. Sean Donellan, the New York Islanders director of sports performance, has been training the Giants' star receiver this offseason, making sure Cruz didn't lose a step while his agents worked on what he hopes will be a lucrative, long-term contract.

The Giants corps of running backs will have a significantly different look in 2013. The new starter is exciting second-year pro David Wilson, the Giants' first-round draft choice in 2012. Wilson had the second-highest yardage total by an NFL rookie in 2012; he finished just one yard behind Tampa Bay's Doug Martin - who was selected immediately prior to Wilson in the 2012 NFL Draft - who had 1,926 total yards. Sharing the load with Wilson will be Andre Brown, who had a breakout season in 2012.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan - Warren Sapp has made it clear over and over again that he doesn't like or respect former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan. And it appears he's not willing to let their bizarre feud go. Sapp said former Bucs teammate Simeon Rice deserves to be in the Hall before Strahan, and that Strahan made a career out of rushing against "the weak guy" of offensive lines.
Michael Strahan's career - "didn't take off until he was moved from right end to the left side,'' said Sapp, who beat out Strahan for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. "You know the right tackle is the worst of the five... They moved him to the weak guy. One-on-one with the (Eagles right tackle) Jon Runyans for eight quarters every year.

June 20 Hakeem Nicks unsure of future: 'I enjoy being a Giant right now'. Nicks revealed Wednesday that he formally apologized to Giants coach Tom Coughlin for breaking his promise to attend voluntary workouts but isn't sorry he skipped them, with the star receiver citing injury concerns -- not his contract -- for his high-profile absence.

Eli Manning's two Super Bowl championships means the blockbuster Accorsi pulled off to get him is one of the great trades in NFL history. Accorsi gets plenty of thank yous from Giants fans when they spot him on the streets in Manhattan.

Former Giants
Dave Jennings, former All-Pro punter for the NY Giants, dead at 61 Jennings, who went on to a long career in broadcasting after his NFL playing days, fought a brave battle against Parkinson's disease for nearly two decades. He died early Wednesday morning.
Dave Jennings was class on and off the field. Even after the young lion with the booming leg arrived to boot him off Bill Parcells' Giants, Dave Jennings never stopped treating Sean Landeta like a champ. It is why Landeta was so glad he got to say goodbye Tuesday, hours before his old friend succumbed much too early at 61 to Parkinson's disease.
Dave Jennings played for the Giants from 1974-84. He holds the franchise records for punts (931, or 405 more than runner-up Sean Landeta) and yards (38,792). Jennings was selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 1978, '79, '80 and '82. He punted a career-high 104 times in 1979, which was the Giants record until Brad Maynard had 111 punts in 1997. Jennings punted for more than 4,000 yards in a season three times (1979-81) and had a career-best 44.8-yard average in 1980.

June 19 Victor Cruz has no choice between now and training camp but to sign the multi-year offer the Giants weeks ago put on the table, because playing for less than $3 million for this season makes absolutely no sense. Cruz eyed a deal that averaged at least $10 million per year and the Giants countered with a contract that would pay him more than $7 million per year. It is believed the Giants are offering $12-15 million in guaranteed money and Cruz is seeking $15-18 million in guaranteed money.

The Giants could have a spirited quarterback competition this summer. It just won't be for the starting job. Eli Manning enters his 10th Giants season as secure as any quarterback in the NFL. The two-time Super Bowl winner and three-time Pro Bowler has started 135 consecutive regular-season games, the third-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history. In 2012, Manning became the franchise leader in completions (2,612) and touchdown passes (211). He is second in passing (4,457) attempts and yards (31,527). Former GM Ernie Accorsi's Scouting Report.

June 18 What coach Mike Pope thinks about the tight ends. The JPP of tight ends: The tight end people are most curious about is Adrien Robinson, the "JPP of tight ends." Robinson has been a project, but Pope likes what he has seen this offseason. "Adrien Robinson appears to have gone into the land of the believers," Pope said recently.

Who impressed at Mini Camp? Wide receiver Rueben Randle - Victor Cruz didn't participate and Hakeem Nicks was limited. In their absence, Randle was the best receiver in camp. Not only did he catch passes running a variety of routes, Rueben, as offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride noted, has a great understanding of his responsibilities and demonstrated more professionalism than he did as a rookie. Randle could join with Nicks and Cruz to give the Giants a lethal trio of wide receivers.

June 15 Victor Cruz still doesn't have his long-term deal with the Giants, but he is now signed up for at least one more year. The restricted free agent returned to the Meadowlands on Friday morning where he finally signed his one-year, $2.879 million tender, an NFL source confirmed. By doing so, Cruz beat a Monday deadline where the Giants had the option of reducing his tender all the way down to $630,000.
It is believed the Giants have pushed their offer to $8 million per year, while Cruz is reportedly seeking an average of $9 million. The expectation is Cruz and the Giants will eventually find common ground with a significant portion of the money guaranteed. The desire to remain with the Giants has never been an issue for Cruz, whose production over the past two regular seasons garnered him plenty of attention.
He's the only player in club history to have at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in a season. He has done it twice. At the conclusion of minicamp on Thursday, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said Cruz's decision to not participate in the offseason program has been harmful not only to himself but the team.
If Cruz does not sign a long-term deal with the Giants, they could wind up losing both Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, who is entering the fifth and final year of a $12.54 million deal he signed in 2009. Nicks, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in March, skipped organized team activities last week for a reason he chose not to disclose publicly.

Stadium News
The committee in charge of the 2014 Meadowlands Super Bowl has sent a letter to all 565 municipalities in New Jersey encouraging them to participate in a statewide celebration of the Super Bowl coming to MetLife Stadium on Feb. 2. But the letter also warns the towns very specifically to make sure they don't violate the National Football League's licensing rules while promoting their events.

June 14 Kevin Gilbride says Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz harmed by time away from Giants. 'They haven't been working, listening or growing," Gilbride said. 'They haven't been developing. They haven't been receiving the coaching that they need to get better. To be quite frank, both of them need it."
Victor Cruz wasn't here. Hakeem Nicks finally showed up but certainly didn't over-extend himself. But Rueben Randle was here and he rose above all other Giants receivers in the three-day mini-camp that concluded on Thursday.
Nicks returned to the practice field this week, and Cruz is expected to re-sign eventually. But you can expect to see a lot more of Randle in 2013, even with those two on board. "Oh, he's gonna play. He's gonna play a lot," Gilbride said. "He'll play first, second down, he'll be an outside receiver for us -- whether he's at the X or the Z, he's gonna play. He's looking like he deserves to be out there for significant time."

The Giants wrapped up their three-day mandatory minicamp on Thursday at the Timex Performance Center and won't fully return until training camp at the end of next month. Until then, there are 10 takeaways from the offseason program.

The Giants are aiming for redemption on defense in 2013. Last year's unit ranked No. 31 in the NFL, allowing 383.4 yards per game. Through offseason practices -- including the three-day minicamp that concluded today in East Rutherford -- the Giants defense has focused on communication. A sense of togetherness has been formed, said Perry Fewell, the Giants' defensive coordinator.
Stopping the run has been the battle cry this spring. The Giants allowed at least 140 yards rushing in seven of their 16 games. Three times opponents rushed for over 200 yards. 'We've talked about how we couldn't stop the run when we needed to last season," Mark Herzlich said. 'People say, 'It's the defensive line.' But it starts with the linebackers. We have to fill our gaps and play downhill."
Mark Herzlich disputes the notion that the Giants' middle linebacker job is his to lose. 'I think it's mine to secure," Herzlich said today. 'I don't think anyone is handing anybody anything, but I feel like if I work hard and play well, then I have a good shot at hopefully making a difference for the team."

The Giants defense is aiming to make a major comeback in 2013. And cornerback Prince Amukamara plans to be a big part of it. "I really want to be the No. 1 corner on this team, and I feel like right now Corey [Webster] is, and my goal is to always just try to beat him out. And I think as soon as I establish myself as the No. 1 corner [on the team], then hopefully just become the No. 1 corner in the whole league."
No one is uttering Amukamara's name with the best corners in the league, but the Giants would like to think he can rise near the top of the pack. They had Amukamara ranked considerably higher than No. 19, and they could not believe their good fortune when he was sitting there at that spot in the 2011 NFL Draft.

June 13 Special Report - In 2005, the Giants spent their second-round draft pick (they didn't have a first, it went to San Diego as final payment for the Great Eli Manning Robbery) and chose LSU cornerback Corey Webster. In 2007, when they did have a first round pick, they used it on Texas cornerback Aaron Ross. In 2008, their first pick was dedicated to safety Kenny Phillips of Miami (Fla.), and the second pick went for cornerback Terrell Thomas of USC. Ready for the recap?

Defensive back Terrell Thomas says he will be ready for the start of training camp without any limitations. How much the Giants will let him do when camp begins in late July remains to be seen. But Thomas, who missed the past two seasons because of knee injuries, believes he will surprise many.
Will Thomas help heal a fractured secondary, which allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game last season? Will he do so as a cornerback, where he started every game during the two seasons prior to his first ACL injury as a Giant, or a safety? At safety, Thomas' knee would be protected from some of the sharp cuts required from a cornerback.

Second-year running back David Wilson has been clocked as fast as 4.29 in the 40-yard dash. He's the first Giants back since Tiki Barber to have take-it-to-the-house speed. The table seems set for Wilson to have a breakout season in 2013 as he receives the bulk of the first-team reps during the Giants' three-day minicamp at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, but he doesn't want to part ways with his first love: kickoff returns.
Wilson, a 2012 first-round pick, lost a fumble on the second carry of his pro career and struggled in pass protection. So, despite his seemingly superhuman speed and success as a kick returner, he only saw 18 carries in his first 10 games. "I had to find a place on special teams for over half the season. I had my shots here and there and I took advantage of them, I felt. I showed I can be productive."

Two fights broke out near the end of practice on Day 2 of the Giants' three-day minicamp. First, offensive lineman Bryant Browning and defensive end Damontre Moore mixed it up during 11-on-11 drills. A couple minutes later, wide receiver Jeremy Horne and cornerback Charles James tangled, causing practice to be stopped again. "Cut the [B.S.] out," coach Tom Coughlin yelled after the second scrap was broken up. "Execute the play and get credit for it." The four players involved are in their first year with the team.

Free agency can bring together disparate factions. The only battles remaining between Chris Snee and Cullen Jenkins will be friendly fire, played out this summer at training camp. The Giants with great haste targeted Jenkins after he was released by the Eagles and quickly signed him to a three-year, $8 million contract. It was a signing hailed by Snee and his mates on the offensive line.

David Carr faces a challenge from draft pick Ryan Nassib as the Giants' backup QB. Carr was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft in 2002 out of Fresno State, selected by the Houston Texans, an expansion team at the time. He spent five years in Houston, but the Texans went just 24-56 during that time. And Carr took a tremendous beating -- sacked an NFL-record 76 times as a rookie, and leading the league in QB sacks in two of the next three seasons as well.

Victor Cruz's approach to restricted free agency might have been counterproductive to signing a new contract. An important date to watch with Cruz's situation is June 17. It gives the Giants a one-day window to reduce Cruz's $2.879 million restricted free agent tender to $630,000. Playing hardball with Cruz's tender could result in him missing training camp and potentially part of the regular season.

Giants second year defensive tackle Markus Kuhn has dealt with several issues that have kept him off the field. Kuhn tore his ACL in week ten last year against the Bengals, ending his promising rookie campaign. Now, Kuhn is six months into his recovery and he believes his time off has made him better.

Tom Coughlin revealed that RB Ryan Torain, who's been sidelined this camp, is dealing with a hamstring injury. Coughlin also noted that Hakeem Nicks, who's trying to gradually work his way back to full strength, did a little more work today than he did yesterday, and depending on how he responds, he'll likely do more tomorrow.

June 12 Hakeem Nicks returns in time for the Giants mandatory minicamp. Nicks declined to offer any apologies or explanations for his odd absence from the Giants' 'voluntary' offseason training program the last three weeks.
Nicks said he did alert general manager Jerry Reese that he would not be attending the OTAs. "From my point of view he seemed to understand," Nicks said.
I should have called Coach. That's the only do-over star receiver Hakeem Nicks wanted Tuesday as he finally showed up after staying away from the Giants the past two weeks.
Tom Coughlin said he has spoken to Nicks but the conversation will remain private. As expected, fellow wide out Victor Cruz, a restricted free agent who is in talks for a long-term contract, was not present.
As could probably be expected, Nicks, who is coming back from offseason knee surgery, is behind the rest of the team and is trying to get back into the groove. "We don't know where he's at so we're trying to figure that out," Coughlin said.

Just a few lockers down from Hakeem Nicks, who was mobbed by the media on Tuesday morning, Mark Herzlich quietly discussed the biggest opportunity of his life. Nicks' presence at Day 1 of the Giants' three-day mandatory minicamp is the biggest story of the day. But Herzlich could be one of the biggest, and best, stories of the summer, as he tries to secure the team's starting middle linebacker job.

Tom Coughlin said Jason Pierre-Paul has returned to New York after surgery a week ago to fix a herniated disk in his lower back. Recovery from the procedure usually lasts three months, placing Pierre-Paul in jeopardy of missing the Giants' season-opening game Sept. 8 against the Cowboys.
Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka will be expected to make the biggest leap in production while Jason Pierre-Paul begins his three-month recovery from back surgery. The Giants believe they have enough talent in the defensive line room to survive.

Ryan Mundy has played behind Troy Polamalu for the past four seasons and won a ring as a member of the Steelers practice squad after the 2008 season. Now he's with the Giants - who have won two Super Bowls in the past six seasons - and will play behind veteran Antrel Rolle and the emerging Stevie Brown, who had eight interceptions in a breakout 2012 season.

After four years together at Syracuse, tackle Justin Pugh and quarterback Ryan Nassib just can't seem to get away from each other. The Giants' first- and fourth-round draft picks reported to mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday morning in East Rutherford, beaming about their chance to play professional football and comforted to see a familiar face among so many new ones.

The Giants have reached out to Vonta Leach, the Pro Bowl fullback released by the Baltimore Ravens. Leach, who has a reputation as a punishing blocker and leader in the locker room, has also drawn interest from the Miami Dolphins and will visit with the team Wednesday morning, the person said.

Former Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw, who helped the Giants win two Super Bowls during his six-year tenure with the team, has joined the Indianapolis Colts.

June 11 Eli Manning expects to see his top receiver at Giants mini camp starting Tuesday. While Nicks is expected to show up for the mandatory veterans mini camp, Victor Cruz still remains unsigned as he continues to negotiate a long-term extension. Since Cruz hasn't signed his one-year RFA tender yet, he can't be fined by the team for not attending the camp.

Cooper Taylor, who was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in 2009, was drafted in the fifth round by the Giants. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound safety has the blend of size, speed, smarts and versatility that makes his coaches' hearts race. The Giants are trying their big safety at different positions.
Taylor admits he didn't take the "typical path" to the NFL, but there's nothing typical about the 6-4, 228-pound safety that the Giants drafted out of the University of Richmond in the fifth round last month. He's so big he said he's often mistaken for a quarterback or a receiver. Even Taylor didn't think he was an NFL prospect in the hours after his heartbeat went crazy.

Former Giants
Daid Tyree made what was the greatest catch in Super Bowl history. But there was another moment in Tyree's life, bigger than what happened on that field, and it occurred in a first grade classroom.
Related - Giants shocking Super Bowl victory.

June 9 Kara Keough has already scripted how "this circus that we call life" will play out eight months from now, at least in her mind and her heart. Her fiancé, Kyle Bosworth - the newest linebacker for the Giants - is going to cap the best season of his football career by winning Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium.

The sorry state of NFC East CB play. On the list of the 10 worst 2012 cornerbacks in yards allowed per pass, we find former Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha at No. 2 (as in, only one worse) with 10.7 yards allowed. DeAngelo Hall, back with the Redskins this year at a reduced salary, came in fifth at 10.0 yards allowed. And Corey Webster of the New York Giants, who also had his salary cut this offseason, came in seventh-worst at 9.7 yards allowed.

Safety Stevie Brown is one of the "one years" who will make up nearly half of the Giants' regular-season roster. One-year deals have taken over the NFL, with big money reserved for a select few, which is why Kevin Boothe surveyed the open market and estimated "everybody's disappointed except for five people."

Former Giants
Chad Jones, a two-sport star at LSU, gave up football to pursue a baseball career. He has now taken the next step in making one of the most improbable and inspiring comebacks you'll ever see, having been drafted in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

June 8 David Wilson's ascension to the starting running back job has been shoved to the background because of the attention generated by Victor Cruz's and Hakeem Nicks' absences and Jason Pierre-Paul's surgery. But how well Wilson produces in his new role will be a critical determinant in whether the Giants enjoy a successful season in 2013.

Mathias Kiwanuka is not looking to replace Jason Pierre-Paul as he steps up and into the starting role vacated by the All-Pro pass rusher. Kiwanuka is looking forward to reminding everyone what he can do while Pierre-Paul is recovering from back surgery, especially now that the former is once again a full-time defensive end with the Giants.

Every year, there are talented college football players who, for whatever the reason, go undrafted. Those players end up in a massive talent pool from which NFL teams pick with a dream of finding the next Victor Cruz, a guy that people passed over but who comes out of nowhere to capture the hearts and imaginations of the team's fan base.

June 7 Hakeem Nicks continued his unexplained absence from the Giants' voluntary offseason practice sessions. The final one is Friday - at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford. Fellow wide out Victor Cruz, a restricted free agent who is in talks for a long-term contract, was also not in attendance.
The good news is Nicks will likely be at the Giants' mandatory full-team mini-camp next week - at least "I would expect that he would," Coughlin said. If he doesn't, the Giants can fine him up to $66,150 - $11,025 for the first missed day, $22,050 for the second and $33,075 for the third.
As long as Cruz and Nicks are away from the team, Manning promises he will focus on improving his own game and making sure he leads the receivers who are in the building, including Rueben Randle, who impressed yet again Thursday. "I've gotta worry about the guys that are here. That's all I can do," Manning said.

The Giants held their eighth OTA of the spring on Thursday, the final one reporters were allowed to watch, before next week's mandatory minicamp. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul wasn't present following his back surgery earlier this week, but he was still a hot topic of conversation. The Giants worked a lot on goal-line sets and red-zone packages on Thursday. And there were a few standout plays, and players.
The decision to return Mathias Kiwanuka to defensive end fulltime was made long before Jason Pierre-Paul had back surgery earlier this week. But it certainly looks more prescient now that the two-time Pro Bowler has begun a recovery and rehabilitation period that is expected to be approximately 12 weeks long.
Jacquian Williams has officially stepped into the ring. The fight for linebacker spots on the Giants' roster has been underway all offseason, but until Thursday, it was missing one of its top competitors. Williams, who is dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of six games in the middle of last season, took his first defensive snaps in the Giants' eighth OTA workout.

Former Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw and the Indianapolis Colts are negotiating a contract after a Thursday visit.Bradshaw completed six good seasons with the Giants and scored the Super Bowl XLVI-winning touchdown against the New England Patriots. The Colts ground game ranked No. 22 in yards per game last season (104.4) and No. 26 in yards per attempt (3.9).

June 6 Antrel Rolle is looking forward to getting a healthy and 100 percent Jason Pierre-Paul back. "I called [our agent] Drew Rosenhaus to get updated with Jason Pierre-Paul's injury," Rolle said on NFL Network. "I am just glad he is getting it taken care of now because 80 percent of JPP is better than a lot of people at 100 percent in this league.
There was rampant speculation regarding how the Giants will compensate for the expected three-month loss of their most valuable player not named Eli Manning, considering the former All-Pro defensive end is not expected back on the field until late August at the earliest. So here is the simple answer Big Blue must accept from the jump: there is no replacing him.
Who knows what setbacks there'll be along the way? Who knows how long it'll take to get ready once he gets back on a field? And when he does, who'll know if he'll even be the same player - this year or ever again? The what-ifs are frightening because the Giants were desperately counting on Pierre-Paul to return to form in 2013 to help rescue their declining pass rush and a defense that ranked 31st in 2012.
Pierre-Paul following Tuesday's microdiscectomy has an excellent shot to play in the opener and the odds are extremely high he will once again be a premier pass rusher, according to Dr. Andrew Hecht, orthopaedic surgeon and co-director of Spine Surgery and director of the Spine Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

David Wilson and Andre Brown look to mimic some of the successful two-back systems of the recent past this season. In 2013, the Giants' top two tailbacks hope to become just the second pair of 1,000-yard backs in team history, and they could emerge as one of the NFL's most productive tailback pairings.

June 5 Let the countdown begin for Jason Pierre-Paul, who Tuesday morning in Los Angeles underwent what the Giants termed successful surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. The Giants say the recovery time is approximately 12 weeks, which would be Aug. 27 - 12 days before the Sept. 8 season-opener in Dallas.
Not having Pierre-Paul for any length of time would be a huge blow to a Giants defense that ranked 31st last season. They've already lost Osi Umenyiora, who signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons, and Justin Tuck is 30 and has seen his skills and production decline in recent years.
Pierre-Paul has a history of back issues from his college days and labored through back pain in his rookie camp in 2010. His back issues flare up from time to time. Osi Umenyiora started a game against Washington last year for Pierre-Paul, who came off the bench in that game due to back pain.

Justin Tuck was standing on the red carpet posing for pictures with celebrities when an old friend gave him a big bear hug. Osi Umenyiora came out to attend Tuck's charity billiards event at Slate last week, and the two quickly caught up and shared some laughs.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan remembers Deacon Jones. Jones died on Monday night at 74. "I was shocked, because he was one of those guys you never thought would die," Strahan told Giants.com. "He had that energy about him." Strahan credits Jones with being "the founding father of defensive ends."

NFL News
Deal on use of images divides retirees Leagues have resisted paying retired players for using their images, arguing that they were already paid to play. Players have sued leagues seeking compensation and often failed.

June 4 Ramses Barden just re-signed with the New York Giants. But that won't stop the receiver from looking into what he may do once his football career is over. In a few weeks from now, Barden, punter Steve Weatherford and former Giants Jeff Feagles and Michael Clayton, all chosen as four of 24 current and former NFL players, will participate in this year's NFL Broadcast Boot Camp at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, N.J.

Friends hanging out with Giants running back Andre Brown ran out on a $1,000 bar tab during a power outage at a New Jersey club. We're told Brown and 15 pals ordered 12 bottles of vodka and several glasses of Champagne over two hours at 46 Lounge in Totowa on May 23.

Does Victor Cruz need a reality check? On Monday, the New York Daily News reported that the dynamic receiver was in talks for his own reality television program, news that quickly made the rounds on social media and was panned by fans of the New York Giants.
It's a bit confusing, since Cruz was quoted extensively in the initial reports about weighing offers for a television show. Cruz never says he's trying to land a reality show, however. "I definitely want it to be my show," Cruz said in the Daily News.

June 3 Aaron Curry is no longer seeking redemption. A lot has changed since the former All-American linebacker was selected fourth overall by Seattle in the 2009 draft. Now comes possibly the final chapter of an unlikely comeback story as Curry hopes to take advantage of an opportunity with the Giants, who can only hope for a reboot on the football field.
Aaron Curry doesn't blame anyone or anything, not the defensive system in Seattle, some coaching conspiracy or the knee injury that slowed him down the last two seasons. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes that's gonna help the Giants be successful," he says.

With the dynamic introduction of a new breed of quarterback and style of offense exemplified by Washington Redskins' quarter back Robert Griffen III running the read option, New York Giants' GM Jerry Reese has gone back to the drawing board to plug the holes in the middle by acquiring large defensive tackles.

Former Giants
Chad Jones is reinventing himself, finding a new role in an old sport that he has spurned twice.Three years removed from the car accident that nearly cost him his left leg and four years removed from his last go-round on the diamond.

June 1 Thus far in OTAs, the focus of the Giants offense has been the vertical passing game. Even without Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, last year's big play receivers, Eli Manning and company have looked to stretch the field with their young pass-catchers.

Justin Tuck says he's not worried about Hakeem Nicks being ready for the season. But that doesn't mean Tuck isn't worried about what is going on with Nicks.

Bear Pascoe is once again proving to be one of the most useful, and underrated, players on the Giants. Pascoe's natural position is tight end, but with the knee injury to fullback Henry Hynoski suffered last week at the team's first OTA of the offseason, Pascoe has now stepped into Hynoski's spot.

The Giants unveiled a piece of the uniform they haven't worn since 1999 -- white pants. First announced in late March, the team will wear the white instead of the traditional gray for select games in which they wear blue jerseys, either home or away.

Former Giants
Kenny Phillips was signed by the Eagles as a low-risk, high-reward option at safety. When healthy, he can be one of the best safeties in the league. There is a reason, however, that the deal he signed with the Eagles carried no guaranteed money.

May 31 The Giants held their fourth OTA of the offseason on Thursday. The big story was the continued absence of wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.
"Am I disappointed? No, I'm glad," Coughlin cracked when asked whether Nicks' absence was disappointing to him. "Certainly I am [disappointed].
Coughlin said he has found it hard to balance the fact that the OTAs are voluntary yet most teams consider them mandatory. "How do I balance it?" he repeated. "Not very well."

The Giants currently have 90 players competing for jobs, honing their skills or rehabbing injuries, but arguably none of them is having as significant a spring as Rueben Randle.
With Nicks and Cruz absent from voluntary OTAs, Randle is one of several receivers who are seeing added reps with Manning. Jerrel Jernigan and Louis Murphy are two other receivers taking advantage of the valuable practice time.
Louis Murphy is the most experienced wide receiver on the Giants roster for OTA's, but he is the least experienced veteran receiver when it comes to working with Eli Manning. However, Murphy is gaining on the others in the very quickly this spring.

Tom Coughlin on the fourth OTA. | Giants OTA Report - Lineups - Highlights/Lowlights.

Andre Brown has run the gamut of emotions in his stop-and-go NFL career. Beginning with a ruptured Achilles tendon that cost him his entire rookie season, Brown has since been waived eight times, worn five different jerseys, signed on and off practice squads, earned a starting role, led a team in rushing touchdowns, and, last May, he even got a ring.

As far as the Giants coaches have been concerned these past few seasons, the tight ends might just as well be another group of big guys tasked with mostly blocking and, on occasions, going out for a pass. But this year, that could very well change.

Kyle Bosworth, the newest Giant, cannot enter a football locker room unnoticed. His name precedes him. "They expect me to arrive in a helicopter," Bosworth said, a reference to his famous uncle, Brian Bosworth, who in 1987 was transported to his first practice with the Seattle Seahawks via helicopter.

Former Giants
Steve Smith, the former Giants Pro Bowl wide receiver, announced his retirement Wednesday. Two Giants who were close to Smith - Terrell Thomas and Ross - were saddened to hear of his retirement. "Shocking," Thomas said of Smith's retirement. Ross was the Giants' first-round draft choice in 2007; he was taken 31 spots ahead of Smith. "I'm sure he made the best decision for himself."

Former Giants
Bill Austin, a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the New York Giants and a member of their 1956 NFL championship team, has died at his home in Las Vegas. He was 84.

Stadium News
Giants and Jets go to court to stop American Dream project. - "If completed, American Dream will clog the complex's already congested transportation networks and create a transportation nightmare when events are held at MetLife Stadium."

May 30 Despite being at the 90-man roster limit for training camp, the Giants added a couple of players to their offseason roster after Wednesday's 4 PM ET league deadline. The additions are tight end Chase Clemente, formerly out of LSU, and linebacker Kyle Bosworth.

Greatest coaches in NFL history: Tom Coughlin No. 14 - Two Super rallies. On hot seat in 2007 and 2011, Coughlin led Giants to championship glory each time.

Examining the Giants' draft class of 2009. Of their nine picks that year, only four players remain on the roster. First-round pick Hakeem Nicks turned out to be a gem at 29th overall. Nicks has been the top receiver the Giants hoped he would become. But Nicks has been slowed by injuries and he enters a pivotal contract year.

Former Giants
Steve Smith, who once was Eli Manning's favorite target and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII, retired on Wednesday. Smith announced his retirement through a statement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who signed Smith for this season.

NFL News
New technology is next wave of scouting and analysis in NFL, if league allows it. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were monitored with advanced metrics over the past few seasons at Lambeau Field.

May 29 There are signings that make complete sense, signings that are head-scratchers and signings made to specifically address a specific need. Count the addition of Louis Murphy as the latter.

Former Giants
Plaxico Burress: Super Bowl champ, Pro Bowl wide receiver, first-round draft pick, and ... owner of a luxury sock line? Yes, that's not a misprint.

NFL News
The NFL draft is moving to May next year. The league officially announced that the 2014 edition will be held May 8-10 at Radio City Music Hall because of a scheduling conflict in April at the venue.

May 28 No one talks much about Terrell Thomas when it comes to planning for the 2013 season because no one knows what to expect, so no one wants to jinx anything. No one wants to build up false hopes only to see them crash down the way they did last year.

May 27 Jacquian Williams should be the Giants' best linebacker this upcoming season due to his talent and the sad, uncertain state of the other players on the roster at the position. The 24-year-old's distinctive quality is his speed. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the South Florida pro day leading up to the 2011 NFL draft. This is a tremendous time for a linebacker.

Aaron Curry is ready to show he's an elite linebacker. Curry, a well-sculptured 6-2, 265 pounds, impressed the Giants with his workout - though they want him to drop 10 pounds - and signed a one-year deal. The club is hoping he can help solidify a linebacking corps that lost Chase Blackburn (Carolina) and released Michael Boley. He will play strongside linebacker.

May 26 To this point, the good news for the New York Giants on Hynoski is that the knee injury he suffered in Wednesday's practice is relatively minor (i.e., not a torn ACL) and that there's still a chance he could return for Week 1. However, if he's not back in time, or if he has to miss a significant portion of the season, the Giants don't have many good options.

Former Giants
Chris Canty usually doesn't hold back anything he says, like when he declared that the Giants suffered from a Super Bowl hangover last year.
Chris Canty was cut by Giants and signed with the Ravens this offseason -- and believes he's going to a team with a better quarterback.

May 25 Terrell Thomas is trying to exert more self-control this time around. Last year, Thomas busted his rear end to make it back for training camp after his second torn ACL. Now that he is attempting to come back from a third ACL surgery, Thomas is learning to try to be more patient.

Former Giants
Mario Manningham confident he will fill Crabtree void. The San Francisco 49ers will be counting on Mario Manningham this year more than ever after losing leading receiver Michael Crabtree for possibly the entire season because of a torn Achilles tendon earlier this week.

May 24 Special Report - For the biggest surprise of the week, the Giants have re-signed wide receiver Ramses Barden . Oh, wait, for another of the biggest surprises of the week, veteran wide receiver Hakeem Nicks insists his absence from the OTA sessions is not contract (make that money) related, despite the fact that slot wide receiver Victor Cruz is negotiating for something between $7 and $8 million a year on a four- or five-year basis and that Nicks, in the last year of his current agreement, will make "only" $2.775 million in 2013.

The Giants brought back a familiar face as they strive to improve their depth at wide receiver. Ramses Barden, who spent the previous four seasons with the team, was re-signed and joined his teammates on the field for the latter part of organized team activity.

Fullback Henry Hynoski suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament and a chip fracture to the lateral plateau of his left knee during the team's first OTA practice on Wednesday and will undergo surgery to repair the ligament and the fracture,. It's unclear if he'll be ready for the start of the season.

May 23 Fullback Henry Hynoski injured his knee and was carted off the field during Wednesday's OTA. Hynoski was set to undergo an MRI on his knee. The Giants fullback has become a valuable component of the offense and head coach Tom Coughlin said he was praying for the best.
On the second play of an 11-on-11 drill, Hynoski took a handoff from quarterback Eli Manning and banged knees with running back Andre Brown. He went down in a heap and was carted off the field.

Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz's absence Wednesday from the team's first OTA at the Timex Performance Center was expected. Fellow wideout Hakeem Nicks' no-show was not. "He should be here," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who was clearly irritated.
Could the absence be contract-related? Nicks' rookie deal is set to expire after this season, but the wideout had given no indication of a possible holdout. And, unlike Cruz, he attended Phase I of the Giants' OTA workouts a few weeks ago.

Hakeem Nicks sent the team a little message by not showing up for practice Wednesday. Pay day is coming soon for Nicks, too. That was the unstated goal of Nicks' not attending the Giants' organized team activity practice, a team source indicated Wednesday.
Concerned about receiver Hakeem Nicks' absence today? Don't be. Nicks is under contract and while he's believed to be in town - he was honored last night at a United Way gala - these practices are VOLUNTARY.

The biggest story of the Giants' first organized team activities of the offseason was the absence of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. The biggest opportunity went to the wide receivers who got increased reps in their places. Rueben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan served as the starters in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, and new addition Louis Murphy saw plenty of action too.

Ramses Barden is back in NY Giants' picture, close to signing one-year deal with Big Blue Despite rumored interest from the Carolina Panthers, a market for Barden never materialized.
There's no doubt Barden has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. The 6-foot-6, 224-pound receiver strikes an imposing figure, but he never found consistent playing time in his first four seasons in New York.

Linebacker Aaron Curry was among the players making their Giants debut Wednesday in the team's first organized team activities of the offseason. Curry lined up with the second unit, but his performance in the locker room after practice was starter-worthy.

The Giants opened their first OTA practice with Keith Rivers, Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger as the starting linebackers. Jacquian Williams is expected to start, but he only participated in individual drills as he continues to take it easy with a PCL knee injury that slowed him down and forced him out of six games last year.

May 22 One of the key things being undersold on Jason Pierre-Paul's performance in 2012 is that too much focus is being placed on his "headline" pass rush number. While a drop from 17 to 7 sacks is inherently disappointing, Pierre-Paul is so much more than a pass rusher.

Approaching the most pivotal season of his Giants career, defensive captain Justin Tuck added 12 steps to his offseason regimen. Twelve steps over scorching hot coals that hovered at about 2,000 degrees. "This ain't no gimmick," Tuck said. "They were hot. You felt the heat."

There will be something different in the Giants' wide receiver meetings this season, and Hakeem Nicks knows it. The wideout has seen it already, in the Giants' handful of workouts. Younger wideouts come up to him and ask him questions about "their routes, stuff about the offense, and stuff like that," he says. And then they hang on his words.

Giants will not rush Hakeem Nicks. Hakeem Nicks is being cautious and, at this point, who could blame him? Nobody knows better how a misstep this time of year can cost you an entire season. Nicks won't be able to step on the practice field free of flashbacks to how his 2012 campaign was sidetracked for all intents and purposes a year ago this week.

The Giants and restricted free agent wide receiver Victor Cruz apparently aren't as close to a long-term deal as some thought. Co-owner Steve Tisch said as much at the NFL meetings in Boston.

Stadium News
With a little more than eight months until the New York City area hosts the NFL's first cold-weather Super Bowl, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch discussed the region's preparations at the NFL spring meetings on Tuesday.

May 20 Cooper Taylor was in elementary school in the Atlanta area back in the late 1990s when Jason Sehorn was starring for the Giants as a one-of-a-kind cornerback. Not many rookies about to enter the NFL nowadays point to Sehorn as the player they emulate, but there is a glaring reason why Taylor does.
Taylor admits he didn't take the "typical path" to the NFL, but there's nothing typical about the 6-4, 228-pound safety that the Giants drafted out of the University of Richmond in the fifth round last month. He's so big he said he's often mistaken for a quarterback or a receiver.

May 16 Charles Woodson is one of the many veteran free agents still available, and the Giants are always in the market for veterans on the cheap. Woodson's agent, Carl Poston, told ESPN's Josina Anderson that "The Giants have just put their toe in the water again for Charles Woodson."
Apparently that toe didn't go in very deeply, though. At least not yet. According to one team source, there is nothing imminent between the Giants and Woodson and no free-agent visit has been arranged. The Giants don't appear to have a lot of room for Woodson, who certainly would remain at safety for them.

When Damontre Moore first arrived to the Giants facility last week, the rookie defensive end found a note in his locker stall. The note was from Justin Tuck. The defensive captain had a message for the team's newest quarterback-sacking prospect: "I hope you are ready to work."

The phrases "Aaron Curry" and "fourth pick in the draft" have appeared in the same sentence so often it wouldn't be shocking if his birth certificate has been amended to reflect the designation. Curry admits now he wasn't prepared to carry the weight of everyone else's hopes. Curry is expected to compete for a job at either middle or strongside linebacker. He has begun bonding with his new teammates in the Giants' offseason conditioning program.

NFL News
The Justice Department dropped fraud charges against a New Jersey sports memorabilia dealer earlier this month after defense attorneys claimed witnesses - including three employees of the New York Giants - lied to federal agents and the grand jury that indicted the dealer.

May 14 There were rumblings circulating Tuesday that things might be heating up with Victor Cruz's contract negotiations. But two sources said there is nothing imminent at the moment and that it appears it is status quo in talks between Cruz and the Giants on a potential extension.
Eli Manning is hoping the thaw in what has been an icy Victor Cruz contract negotiation comes next week, because the Giants are hitting the field and Manning wants one of his top receivers out there with him.
Cruz, 26, is said to be seeking a market-rate deal for a No. 1 wide receiver, usually worth $10 to $11 million per season. The Giants are believed to have offered Cruz a contract averaging $8 million per season that includes between $15 to $18 million guaranteed.

May 14 Eli Manning hopes Victor Cruz will be able to join the Giants as soon as next week, when the team ramps up its practices in OTAs. "We get into some real practices next week," Manning said at a Guiding Eyes for the Blind event on Monday night. "So hopefully as we get kind of into those live going-against-a-defense practices, he will get back in so we can get back to work."
Veterans minicamp is certainly the first sign of what could come in the negotiations if Cruz attends or skips. And shortly after that, the Giants can opt to reduce the $2.879 million one-year RFA tender given to the receiver, should they choose to go that route.

Giants rookie Damontre Moore is out to prove he won't disappoint when it comes to his practice work ethic. Moore gave his all during games, not so much in practice or in the weight room. "That wasn't one of my strong fortes," Moore said Saturday during Giants rookie mini-camp.

Stadium News
The long-stalled American Dream retail and entertainment complex in the Meadowlands - once known as Xanadu - is getting yet another makeover, sparking new concerns by the Giants and Jets over the scope of the controversial project.

NFL News
The U.S. Senate is going after NFL's non-profit status, and it's about time. The NFL is a non-profit organization. That means it conducts itself as an enterprise which promotes a "common business interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit," the Internal Revenue Code tells us. Go ahead, we'll pause while you re-hinge your jaw before we proceed.

May 13 The Giants signed six players to the roster over the weekend. Joining new linebacker Aaron Curry will be defensive tackle Frank Okam, tight end Michael Palmer, wide receiver Jeremy Horne, cornerback Junior Mertile and safety John Stevenson. Horne, 26, was teammates with Victor Cruz at UMass and the 6-2 receiver stood out at rookie camp. So did Mertile and Stevenson. Mertile is a 6-1 rookie tryout from Florida International. Stevenson, who had an interception off Ryan Nassib in practice on Friday, is a 5-11 rookie safety from Georgia Southern.

May 12 The Giants had to run for cover halfway through Saturday's afternoon practice when thunder and lightening arrived at the Timex Performance Center field. It was the second showing for the rookies at the Giants' rookie minicamp. The weather may have moved things around, but several of the newbies seemed to be getting more comfortable with the Giants' routine and playbook.
After overcast skies threatened to force the Giants indoors, the team managed to get the third of four practices in exactly where head coach Tom Coughlin prefers they be - outdoors. And while stars and busts are not going to emerge from this kind of camp given the purpose of the camp, it's still interesting to watch. I firmly believe this is one of the best executed rookie camps I've covered.

With 2013 Giants rookie minicamp in the books, here are a few takeaways. There's something special about this draft class. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I haven't been this impressed by a draft class since 2007 - and we all know how well that class turned out. What I'm getting at is I could conceivably seeing the bulk of this class contributing as soon as this year, be it at different points.

Giants believe rookie DT Johnathan Hankins will bolster their run defense. They're hoping he can fortify a unit that ranked next-to-last in the NFL in total defense last season and 25th against the run.

Giants third-round pick Damontre Moore is a first-round talent some say, if he would only listen The pass rusher out of Texas A&M slid to the Giants in the third round amid concerns he lacked emotional maturity and physical strength.

Giants rookie QB Ryan Nassib impresses coach Tom Coughlin; club makes several roster moves. The Giants announced the signing of six players at the conclusion of their rookie minicamp: DT Frank Okam, TE Michael Palmer, WR Jeremy Horne, DBs Junior Mertile and John Stevenson and LB Aaron Curry, who was signed on Friday.
Nassib, the Giants' fourth-round pick out of Syracuse, looked pretty crisp in his two days of drills. Unlike Manning, who famously had a pass knocked down by a blocking dummy during one of his first workouts, Nassib seemed confident in the pocket and had few errant throws.
Wearing his red No. 9 jersey, Nassib looked good on some throws - a pair of nice sideline throws to Syracuse teammate Marcus Sales, a rookie tryout - and uncomfortable on others, such as an interception during 7-on-7 in the morning practice.

May 11 It was a crowded Giants rookie minicamp Friday, with more than 60 players - most of them undrafted free agents - swarming multiple practice fields. There was a lot of young, energetic football muscle parading back and forth, a throng that often ran the wrong way or looked lost in the middle of an assignment.

The Giants began the first of four on-field practices with a combination of draft picks, undrafted free agent signings, veteran tryouts, rookie tryouts, and eligible already on the roster - 63 players all together - as head coach Tom Coughlin and the coaching staff sought to gauge how well the youngsters responded to the information being thrown at them in the classroom.

The Giants drafted Justin Pugh saying he can play guard, tackle or even center. But the fact that he was at right tackle during both practices on the first day of rookie camp could be an indication that Pugh may have a shot to be in the mix in the competition at right tackle.

It's called the "joker" position at Texas A&M, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end role in which Damontre Moore would rush from a stand-up position or with his hand on the ground. Sound familiar? The Giants have turned that job description into an art form with their use of Mathias Kiwanuka the past several seasons, and it seems the team has similar plans for Moore.

The first time Ryan Nassib talked to Eli Manning, he could barely hear a word the Giants quarterback said. "I usually don't pick up numbers I don't save but at that point I was picking up anything from New Jersey. My house was a little bit crazy, I had a tough time hearing him." Nassib hopes it's the first of many more talks over the next few years.

Seventh-round draft pick Michael Cox, a running back out of Massachusetts said he was "sort of familiar" with David Wilson's struggles last year to learn the pass blocking schemes so he could get on the field more. And he sympathizes with Wilson's plight. "There's a lot of material and everything to learn," Cox said.

Giants sign four draft picks but first-round choice Justin Pugh not among them. The Giants also announced the signing of six undrafted rookie free agents: WR Marcus Davis (Virginia Tech), LB Charles Dieuseul ((Mount Union), CB Charles James (Charleston Southern), LB Etienne Sabino (Ohio State), S Alonzo Tweedy (Virginia Tech) and RB Jeremy Wright (Louisville).

Free Agent LB Aaron Curry has signed on with the Giants. Curry, the fourth overall selection of the 2009 NFL Draft who is trying to revive his career, joined a Giants team seeking linebacker help.
The Giants had Aaron Curry high on their draft board in 2009, before the Seattle Seahawks took him with the fourth overall pick. But he never was as good as they thought he would be.
The one-year deal makes it clear this is a show-me contract, with little downside for the Giants. If Curry does not offer much during the spring and summer, he won't make the final roster.

May 10 Giants top pick Justin Pugh is set to show off mean streak That tenacity is something the Giants are hoping to see when they get their first look at Pugh and the rest of their draft class on Friday morning for the start of a three-day rookie minicamp.
Justin Pugh will slide a Giants jersey with his name on the back over his shoulders for the first time this afternoon when the team's rookies participate in a three-day minicamp at Timex Performance Center.

The case of Justin Tuck is a curious one. Not long ago, the New York Giants defensive end was regarded as one of the league's best young stars. The past two seasons of Justin Tuck have been a mopey muddle -- a confusing blend of injuries, ineffectiveness and a surprising, self-acknowledged struggle with motivation.

Former Browns kick return specialist and wide receiver Josh Cribbs and ex-Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry both visited the Giants but each departed without a contract. Cribbs, who has also visited the Raiders and Jets, will visit Detroit next on his free-agent tour. Curry, the No. 4 pick overall by Seattle in 2009, tweeted that his meeting with the Giants "went well ... little rough on the edges but nothing repetition and hard work can't smooth out." He later added, "my few hours with #Giants staff and players explain everything to me ... #first class."

Former Giants
Chad Jones, the safety whose promising career with the Giants was cut short by a horrific car accident just two months after he was drafted in 2010, has officially given up on a football comeback, according to a report. Now he'll try his hand at baseball instead.
Tiki Barber still doesn't understand why people don't like him. The former Giants running back had his brother, Ronde Barber, as a guest on his CBS Sports Radio show Thursday morning and asked his newly-retired twin why nobody likes him.

NFC East News
NFC East - Who's coming, going, or staying.

May 8 Training camp is less than three months away and Victor Cruz remains unsigned, but Giants co-owner John Mara remains "pretty confident" that a deal with the star receiver will eventually be struck.
Cruz is said to be seeking a market-rate deal for a No. 1 wide receiver worth $10 to $11 million per season. This offseason, wide receiver Mike Wallace signed a five-year, $60-million deal with the Dolphins that included $27 million in guaranteed money.

Former Giants
Ron Dayne has a Heisman Trophy, the all-time collegiate rushing record, a whole shelf of major awards, and two Rose Bowl victories during his time at Wisconsin. Now he gets to compound all of that into one acclaim: college football Hall of Famer.

May 7 The Giants' search for linebacking help will continue this week when they take a look at a player who was once expected to be one of the league's best. Aaron Curry, the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, is planning to make a free agent visit to the Giants on Thursday. He hasn't played since he was cut by the Oakland Raiders last November in part due to chronic knee problems that helped derail his career.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells is still looked upon as the greatest coach in Giants history, taking a franchise that was struggling and made them into an NFC powerhouse in the 1980's and early 1990's. The Giants added their former coach to their Hall of Fame wall with a photo along with other members of the current Hall of Fame.

Clint Sintim, a linebacker who had enough potential that the Giants took him in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft, has retired at the age of 27 after an NFL career in which he had more torn ACLs than games started.
Clint Sintim, the first of the New York Giants' two second-round picks in the 2009 draft, hasn't played since blowing out his right knee for the second time in the 2011 preseason. Why is this relevant to the blog on May 6, 2013?

May 6 Why Victor Cruz holding out for more money makes no sense. Coach Coughlin, "We want a win-win. We want Victor to be proud to be a New York Giant, proud of his contract." Hopefully, both sides will come to terms soon.

Former Giants
Tiki Barber and his new wife Traci Lynn Johnson were among the stars who emerged down South to attend the 139th Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

NFC East News
With the draft in the rearview mirror, what is the most pressing issue?
New York Giants: Resolve the Victor Cruz situation.
Dallas Cowboys: Figure out right tackle.
Philadelphia Eagles: Pick a quarterback.
Washington Redskins: Make sure to get Robert Griffin III healthy.

May 3 What they're saying: Jerry Reese on Eric Hermann, "A big, tough, nasty guard. We really liked him. We'd been looking at him on the board for a while there and we were hoping that if he could get to the seventh row he'd be a nice pick for us at that spot. He'll create some competition at the guard position -- tough, hard-nosed, big football player."

What they're saying: Tom Coughlin on Michael Cox, "A good-sized running back that puts together the size and the speed. He will come in here and battle and compete. And that is what we need is competition at that spot."

Former Giants
Michael Boley 'secretly arrested' on child abuse charges, report Three days after he was cut by the Giants, Boley reportedly turned himself into police in Alabama and was booked on charges of child abuse.

May 2 Fans were pleading with the Giants going into the draft to address a perceived weakness at linebacker. Alec Ogletree was a hot name in mock drafts. Manti Te'o was on the Giants' first round board. Yet somewhere between the war room inside Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford and the podium inside Radio City Music Hall, the prevailing notion that the Giants needed help at linebacker fell flat.

The Giants drafted two players, Justin Pugh and Ryan Nassib, who performed well at the 2013 Senior Bowl. Of the 254 players selected last weekend, 94 played in college football's all-star game in Mobile, Ala., including two of the Giants' latest picks. That's 37 percent of the 2013 class that benefited from accepting the invitation to play in late January and the most since 2002 produced 96. And while showcase games tend to be nothing more than an exhibition in other sports and levels, the Senior Bowl is part of the audition in college football.

Former Giants
Roman Oben sought help through the NFL and now offers assistance to former players. The void that confronts many former players after retirement hit him hard that first summer after leaving the NFL, just as he normally would have been packing up for training camp.