Sept 11 How Michael Strahan, Kevin Mawae talked sense to NFL after 9/11. It was Strahan and Mawae who talked to their teammates, then talked to players across the league who had seen the horrors unfold on TV but were geographically detached from what that truly meant.

Two New Jersey and New York police unions have pledged to pay the fine of Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson if he wears custom cleats designed to honor victims of the 9/11 attacks during a game Sunday.

Sept 10 Victor Cruz went up for Eli Manning's pass in the back of the end zone and it's taken him nearly two years to land back on his feet. In fact, when Cruz runs out of the tunnel at Jerry World on Sunday afternoon for the Giants season opener against the Cowboys, he will need more than a calendar to track the last time he played.

The Giants announced that quarterback Eli Manning, linebacker Jonathan Casillas and long snapper Zak DeOssie were voted as the team's captains for the season. First-year head coach Ben McAdoo will also name three additional game captains each week.
Predictably, Eli Manning was voted by his teammates as offensive captain for the 10th straight season. Not surprisingly, the Giants' second-longest-tenured player, Zak DeOssie, was chosen to be the special teams captain for the sixth consecutive year. Linebacker Jonathan Casillas wasn't the obvious choice to be named the third full-season captain in just his second season with the Giants.

Jay Bromley could see the smoke from his classroom that clear Tuesday morning 15 years ago. Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys, played on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be a day of remembrance for all the Giants. But Bromley, the Giants' third-year defensive tackle, is the only player on either squad's current active roster who hails from New York City. A Flushing native, Bromley was 9-years-old and in class at PS 50 in Jamaica when the World Trade Center was attacked.

NFL News
The NFL season kicks off en masse Sunday on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and the playing and observance of the national anthem - once considered a symbol of national unity - will be in the spotlight as America wonders if additional players will choose to kneel, instead of stand, to protest racial divisiveness.

Sept 9 Eli Manning knows how a bad preseason can still lead to a Super Bowl. "He has been around a long time, and I can't emphasize enough to you or anybody what a great pro he is," Giants offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said he isn't worried about his starting quarterback heading into the season opener against the Cowboys Sunday.
Zero. It's the number of points Eli Manning was able to score this preseason, but it's also the number of concerns offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan has regarding his starting quarterback's readiness. "Eli Manning is the least of our worries at this point," he said.

Victor Cruz could stay healthy, have a great season for the Giants and still not win the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award. Why? Because Jason Pierre-Paul is a man on a mission, that's why.

Can Odell Beckham Jr. keep it up? Can the Giants' sensational wide receiver continue his relentless go pattern through the team's and the NFL's record books? Can he make his third professional season as productive and memorable as his first two?.

NFL News
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disagrees with Colin Kaepernick's choice to kneel during the national anthem, but recognizes the quarterback's right to protest.

Sept 8 Victor Cruz hasn't played in a regular-season game since October 2014 due to knee and calf injuries, but he appears to be back and ready to contribute. Unlike when he left off, he won't be the team's No. 1 receiver.
Randy Bullock will be the Giants' Week 1 kicker in Dallas, with Josh Brown suspended one game. That means Bullock, 26, will be guaranteed his $760,000 salary, since he is a vested veteran with four credited NFL seasons, even though it's likely he won't be on the roster when Brown returns in Week 2. So he's an expensive Week 1 fill-in.
Rookie Darian Thompson practiced Wednesday on a limited basis, and the Giants hope he can play a role Sunday in the season opener.
To say this year already has been a wild ride for Dak Prescott would be an understatement. listening to Prescott tell it, the whole crazy journey that will culminate Sunday when he leads the Cowboys against the Giants in the season opener at AT&T Stadium was meant to be all along.

The Giants' season-opening game has presented Ben McAdoo with a situation he might not experience again this season. Dallas will attack the Giants with rookies at quarterback (Dak Prescott) and running back (Ezekiel Elliott), a premier receiver in Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten, who McAdoo said, "is one of the finest to ever play the tight end position."

Eli Manning was asked what sticks out from the Giants' 27-26 season-opening loss to the Cowboys last season. The Giants were on the verge of scoring a touchdown that likely would have put the game away, but Manning told Rashad Jennings not to score for fear that the Cowboys would've had too much time on the clock to answer back.

Former Giants
Jim Fassel can relate to Ben McAdoo's coaching challenge.

NFL News
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he disagrees with Colin Kaepernick's choice to kneel during the national anthem, but recognizes the quarterback's right to protest.

Sept 7 Special Report - Slowly, and at times not so slowly, the Giants have become Ben McAdoo's team, as he wrests it away from the shadow of former head coach Tom Coughlin. It's a long process. Most of the players McAdoo has picked as starters for Sunday's season-opener in Dallas were Coughlin's players. But there are a few significant exceptions.
--- For instance, middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who joined the team just four days prior to the start of the 2015 season and played in 15 games - starting the final nine - has been waived. In his place is a free agent signee, Kelvin Sheppard - who is scheduled to start Sunday.
--- All six draft picks earned a spot on the final 53-man roster, while Coughlin, as is well-known, didn't really like (or trust) rookies. The six are cornerback Eli Apple, wide receiver Sterling Shepard, linebacker B.J. Goodson, tight end Jerell Adams, running back Paul Perkins and free safety Darian Thompson.

Sept 6 Giants have run out of excuses: It's Super Bowl or bust. Four years. Four long years without a playoff appearance. A defensive coordinator fired. Tom Coughlin gone. Enough is enough. No excuses. It's time. It's time to be Giants again.

The Giants signed Josh Johnson on Monday, and the veteran is here to push Ryan Nassib, who struggled as Eli Manning's understudy this preseason, according to head coach Ben McAdoo.
Johnson, who was cut by the Ravens this past weekend, has played in 29 games with five starts in his career. He has not thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2011. Johnson did have a good preseason, though, in Baltimore.
Kelvin Sheppard, who signed with the Giants in April to little fanfare on a one-year, veteran minimum deal, has won out as the team's middle linebacker. That became clear Monday as last year's starter, Jasper Brinkley, was released to make room for new quarterback Josh Johnson.

The preseason has rarely meant so much to an established player. For Victor Cruz, any snaps were significant after most of his past two years were spent on sidelines or outside stadiums.
There were some who didn't think he'd make it, that his career was over. But this is Victor Cruz we're talking about, a receiver who bucked the odds once before as an undrafted free agent out of UMass and who is about to buck the odds yet again.

Ben McAdoo said the Giants will "never stop looking" for new players, but when it comes to his offensive line it sounds as if he's more likely to stand pat than add anyone else.
Eli Manning has the longest active streak of consecutive games in the league, having started 194 games in a row, including the playoffs and two Super Bowl victories during which he was named MVP.

Sept 5 Eli Manning, Giants now down to just one legit foe for NFC East crown after Eagles deal Sam Bradford. The NFC East starting quarterbacks: Manning, Cousins and two rookies. This officially makes the NFC East a two-team race: Giants vs. Washington, Manning vs. Cousins.

As much as they would like to, it's impossible for the Giants who were part of last year's season-opening debacle in Dallas to put it out of their minds. It was one of the most bewildering losses in recent history for the Giants, setting the tone for a season of ill-advised decisions and late-game flops. And now, it seems, there is only one way to exorcise it. They must go back to Dallas and beat the Cowboys on Sunday.

When Montori Hughes made the Giants' 53-man roster on Saturday, the team announced that he was switching his jersey number to 99. Hughes never got to wear it. He was waived on Sunday, according to his agent, when the Giants were awarded another defensive tackle.
Defensive tackle Robert Thomas was awarded off waivers to the Giants, one day after he was released by the Carolina Panthers. To create a roster opening for Thomas, the Giants waived defensive tackle Montori Hughes.

Many of the players cut by the Giants on Saturday won't be going far. The team has brought back 10 of those players to its 10-man practice squad as of Sunday afternoon. Wide receiver Geremy Davis is the most notable addition of the practice squad.

Former Giants
Andre Williams is heading to San Diego. The former Giants running back was claimed off waivers by the Chargers on Sunday.

Sept 4 Ben McAdoo suggested the Giants would have a few surprise cuts as they pared down their roster to 53 players. They delivered with a last-minute stunner, waiving running back Andre Williams, their fourth-round pick in 2014.
Two seasons and 305 lackluster carries later, the Andre Williams experiment in East Rutherford is over. The Giants' disappointing third-year running back was one of the team's final cuts on Saturday afternoon. "We're going to miss him," McAdoo said.
They made 22 moves, and the most eye-catching was that they waived running back Andre Williams, who had a promising rookie year, slumped badly in 2015 and apparently did not do enough this summer to beat out Orleans Darkwa, Bobby Rainey or rookie Paul Perkins.
Williams' departure leaves the Giants with five running backs in veterans Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa and Bobby Rainey, and rookie Paul Perkins. Williams' numbers declined last season, when he rushed for 257 yards on 88 carries, scored one touchdown and caught one pass.

Packers release Pro Bowl guard: How it could help the Giants. The answer to the Giants' prayers on their offensive line might have been answered by the football powers-that-be in Green Bay who decided to cut Josh Sitton, a three-time Pro Bowl guard.

Josh Brown remains with Big Blue. The Giants officially placed Brown on the reserve/suspended list Saturday, as the team whittled its roster down to 53 players.

Former Giants
Lawrence Taylor adds another mugshot to his collection.

Sept 3 Even the safe players think cut day is a Giant headache. The football locker room is normally a sanctuary from worldly worries. It's where players go to escape reality and find comfort in their bubble of focus. But not this weekend.
Like all NFL teams, the Giants must remove 22 players from their roster by 4 p.m. to reach the regular-season limit of 53. And McAdoo was reluctant to even mention players by name. He had the telephonic version of a poker face, refusing to tip his hand.

Aside from the quarterback position, which I won't count here because it is all about Eli Manning, the Giants' greatest strength so far this preseason has been the defensive line. Olivier Vernon looks like an elite pass rusher.

A return to the scene of one of their most devastating losses is sure to jolt the Giants' memory as they prepare for their season opener against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
That was the site of the Giants' opener last year, the one which ended in embarrassing fashion as Eli Manning threw an incomplete pass instead of taking a sack or the Giants running the ball with the lead and Dallas possessing zero timeouts.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan, Tom Brady, team for 'Religion of Sports' TV series. The six-episode docuseries will air on the Audience Network starting in November.

Sept 2 Instant Analysis: Giants 17, Patriots 9.
Giants' 1st team offensive line bad again to end preseason vs. Patriots.
Giants' 2nd-team defense stands tall vs. Tom Brady in win over Patriots.
Brady plays 1st half vs. Giants in tuneup for suspension.
Tom Brady gets his last reps before becoming a spectator to start season.
Tom Brady the only exciting thing in Giants' preseason finale.
Tavarres King Shines in Giants' 17-9 Win Over Patriots.
Victor Cruz flashes speed in Giants' final preseason game.
Giants miss chance to give Eli Manning more work with offense.
Ben McAdoo on Eli Manning's lack of preseason playing time.
Odell Beckham makes a play for Tom Brady's jersey.
Giants top the Patriots 17-6 to win their final preseason game - Photos.

Sept 1 Giants - New England Patriots preview. Here's a look at what to watch as the New York Giants host the New England Patriots in the 2016 preseason finale.
Giants vs. Patriots: 10 things to watch for. Giants.com highlights 10 storylines to follow as the Giants host the Patriots.
Game Preview: Patriots at Giants. The Patriots have faced the Giants more than any other team in the preseason with 25 matchups. The Patriots are off to a 3-0 preseason start and will be looking to finish the preseason with a perfect record for the fourth time in team history.

Rosters must be trimmed to 53 by Saturday. "We're obviously going to take a nice long look at some guys at the bottom part of the roster and give them an opportunity,'' McAdoo said.
To all those who have been watching the starting offense for the Giants struggle through three preseason games, running back Shane Vereen has a message for you. "Relax," he said.

Ryan Nassib, a fourth-round pick in 2013, could potentially throw his last pass in a game as a Giant on Thursday, when Big Blue takes on the Patriots in their final preseason tune up.

There is not much time for Will Beatty to get re-acclimated on the Giants' offensive line. The regular season begins in 11 days and he has not played in a long, long time - not since December 2014.

Aug 31 The Giants started the week with 90 players. By Tuesday afternoon, the roster was cut to 74 players. The NFL required teams to cut their rosters to 75 players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Giants made a series of moves on Monday and Tuesday to get under that limit, leaving an extra spot open for the imminent signing of offensive lineman Will Beatty.
Players are cut for a variety of reasons, the biggest of which is performance. Sometimes an injury is involved and sometimes a team might really like a prospect to where they hope to slide him to the practice squad. Let's take a look at the roster moves made today and where each player stood before getting the bad news.

Ben McAdoo said everything his struggling offensive line has been battling of late was correctable. And one of the ways the Giants believe they can correct it, apparently, is by bringing back a familiar face.
Former Giants tackle Will Beatty was a salary-cap casualty when he was waived in February, but he agreed to terms Tuesday to return and help shore up an offensive line that has performed poorly in three preseason games.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin turns 71 on Wednesday, as he enters just his third season out of coaching since 1968. Will Coughlin coach again in 2017?

Aug 30 The Giants began trimming their roster down on Monday, waiving four players (two with injury distinctions) that played in a combined 29 games for them during the 2015 season.

After Saturday's preseason win over the Jets, the Giants returned to practice where they have a quick turnaround before Thursday's finale against the Patriots.

The Giants' offensive line heard Ben McAdoo criticizing their blocking, but Marshall Newhouse said they already knew they hadn't been good enough.

Ben McAdoo doesn't want his Giants to follow Colin Kaepernick's lead, but issue isn't going away. The Giants coach took a stand in his own right by proclaiming: "I'd be disappointed if one of our guys chose not to stand."

Aug 29 While Giants coach Ben McAdoo said Sunday that "frustration doesn't solve anything," he said he shares in Odell Beckham Jr.'s visible disgust on the field Saturday night with Big Blue's offensive performance.
McAdoo admitted "no one's happy with how the first offense operated" against the Jets, and understandably so. The starters played eight series, and all eight ended in a punt or interception.
McAdoo was so disgusted he wouldn't rule out playing some offensive starters in Thursday's preseason finale at home against the Patriots.

With Eli Manning on the field, the Giants did not run one play inside Jets' territory. They collected three first downs and Manning was sacked once, hit cleanly by a blitzing Calvin Pryor and the running game went nowhere fast.
When Ben McAdoo says the offense needs to "go forward," he doesn't mean in the sense of progressing to the next game and getting ready for the regular season. He means literally that they have to move forward. Like, instead of backward.

Giants players and their staff apparently made a point to stand for the National Anthem before their preseason game against the Jets on Saturday night, according to a local reporter.

Former Giants
Rueben Randle among Eagles' cuts.

Aug 28 Giants Edge Jets 21-20 as starting offense struggles again.
First-team offense struggles; Postgame notes and stats.
Giants 1st team offense abysmal again in win over Jets.
Giants' last real offense tune-up as demoralizing as it gets.
Eli Manning's durability will be tested behind this Giants offensive line.
Giants, Jets both struggle offensively in third preseason game.
Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. makes right call to bail on pass.
Giants WR Victor Cruz makes long-awaited return against Jets.
Victor Cruz briefly gives Giants a lift in first game action since October 2014
Victor Cruz makes successful return in win over Jets.
Five things we learned from Giants win over Jets.
Giants' J.T. Thomas delivers speech, tips interception to Kerry Wynn.
Kerry Wynn makes nifty move on 73-yard interception return for TD.

NFC East News
Cowboys - Romo injury 'significant setback'. Cowboys confident in plan to ride with the rookie.
Eagles - Sam Bradford, Eagles shine in big win over Indianapolis Colts.
Redskins - Five observations from the Redskins' preseason win over the Bills.

Aug 27 The third preseason game is known as the "dress rehearsal" around the NFL, the game where starters traditionally play the longest before kicking off the regular season. Coach Ben McAdoo said he would like to take the first stringers into "early in the third quarter."

The watching was the hardest part for Eli Apple. The rookie cornerback, a first-round draft pick from Ohio State, will return Saturday night to play against the Jets after missing the preseason game in Buffalo with a left knee injury suffered in the opener with the Dolphins.

The third preseason game is known as the "dress rehearsal" around the NFL, the game where starters traditionally play the longest before kicking off the regular season. Coach Ben McAdoo said he would like to take the first stringers into "early in the third quarter."

Aug 26 All signs point to Victor Cruz returning to face Jets. "It-s the story of my life," Cruz said. "You can-t write it any better than this. This is the way my career has gone. It-s the way my professional career has gone. The Jets preseason game has always been some type of landmark situation for me, so here we go again."
First-year head coach Ben McAdoo has played it cautiously, making sure not to sound too positive as Cruz navigated his way through training camp, suffered a setback when he was sidelined with a sore groin and slowly climbed back to health. McAdoo is not hiding his feelings any longer. "Very optimistic,-- he said about Cruz playing Saturday night.

The third preseason game is traditionally when starters play the longest, and McAdoo said he would like to take the first stringer into "early in the third quarter" against the Jets. The Giants lost their first two outings to the Dolphins and Bills and haven-t scored for seven consecutive quarters.
There are different levels of preseason hysteria. Neither the Jets nor Giants have particularly impressed this preseason, but that could mean nothing or everything depending on the team, says SiriusXM analyst and former NFL safety Solomon Wilcots.

A Florida judge has green-lighted Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul-s invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against ESPN and its reporter Adam Schefter for posting his private medical records online to millions of readers.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin is certainly keeping busy. The former Giants coach, who joined the NFL earlier in the summer, has added a second new gig: He'll be joining the NFL's Competition Committee, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Aug 25 Today is Thursday, yesterday was Wednesday, and the game is Saturday. There is still plenty of time to go before Victor Cruz makes his official return to football for the first time since October of 2014.
Simply practicing two days in a row is a triumph for Cruz, who missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury. But now - knock on wood - the star wide receiver finally seems to be on course to play in the season opener in Dallas on Sept. 11.
Giants players and coaches are trying to not get too excited about how good Victor Cruz looked on the practice field again on Wednesday. They really are.

Giants coach Ben McAdoo promised a physical week of practice after the team's ugly 21-0 loss to the Bills on Saturday in the second preseason game. McAdoo delivered on Wednesday.
New kicker Randy Bullock got his first opportunity to show his teammates what he can do with the ball off his foot and it wasn't too shabby, at least from a kickoff perspective.

Giants president and co-owner John Mara, looking visibly shaken but steadfastly resolved, said Wednesday the organization knew about Josh Brown's 2015 domestic violence arrest and related allegations when the team re-signed the kicker this past April, and that the team will not cut Brown unless it's for football reasons.
And while many will continue to question the team's decision to keep Brown despite knowing about the May 2015 arrest and Molly Brown's accusations that her husband had physically abused her more than 20 times, Mara is now willing to stake his reputation and that of his organization on deciding to live with the consequences of his decision.
So the Giants are just like every other NFL franchise that cuts corners for wins. Got it. It's impossible to read this Josh Brown situation any other way. "I think this is an organization that always tries to do the right thing," owner John Mara said Wednesday during a press conference that even he admitted was days late. "I don't know that we always get it done, but we try." If they tried in this case, they failed.
Standing on a patio while his team practiced behind him, Mara spoke with reporters for almost 12 minutes. Mentioning his own four daughters and seven sisters - "I know I've got to face each one of them," he said - Mara insisted the Giants did their due diligence and reached, as he said, an "informed decision."

Aug 24 Victor Cruz participated in his first full practice since he injured his groin on Aug. 9, and while the entire organization was undoubtedly happy and relieved to see it happen, Beckham clearly was the most tickled by the return.
Lining up most often in the slot, Cruz caught several passes and demonstrated an impressive burst running upfield. Cruz did not speak publicly after the workout, but Odell Beckham Jr., his fellow star receiver and close friend, did.

Randy Bullock is walking into a unorthodox, and controversial, kicking situation. But while most figure the former Jet to be a short-timer here with the Giants, Bullock says he sees himself fighting with the embattled Josh Brown for a roster spot.
Bullock is looked at as the replacement during Josh Brown's suspension, but McAdoo wouldn't say if the signing of Bullock affects Brown's long-term standing with the team.
On Tuesday, head coach Ben McAdoo again hid behind his comments on Josh Brown from last Thursday. John Mara, who was at practice Tuesday, has not addressed the matter.

If you thought Josh Norman's disdain for the Giants started last December with his infamous battle with Odell Beckham Jr., you'd be way off. As it turns out, the Redskins cornerback has held a grudge against the Giants since before he entered the NFL.

Aug 23 Two days after Tom Obarski pulled a short field goal to the left in an ugly 21-0 preseason loss to the Bills, the Giants have made a move to bolster their unconventional kicking situation, waiving Obarski and signing veteran Randy Bullock after a successful tryout on Monday.
Obarski, who has never kicked in a regular-season game, hooked a 27-yard field goal attempt in a preseason loss in Buffalo. It was his only kick of the game. Obarski joined the Giants on Jan. 6.

Jason Pierre-Paul said the accusation of numerous acts of domestic violence made against Giants kicker Josh Brown by his now former wife in a 2015 police report "doesn't matter" and that he and his teammates "look past" those allegations.

Aug 22 Victor Cruz will join Giants during Monday's practice. There's no more "hopefully." No more "see how he feels" or "if all goes well" or "expecting."
The Giants wide receiver is scheduled to participate in a light practice on Monday. This will be Cruz's second attempt to return from a groin injury that first cropped up on Aug. 9.

The rehearsals have been good, but when the bright lights come on, the Giants have yet to perform to their capabilities. "We've seen some great things in practice that haven't carried over to the games yet," coach Ben McAdoo said today on a conference call. "But we still have some work to do."

The issues on offense, in the view of Ben McAdoo, are that the Giants are not physical enough, are not fundamentally strong enough and are not protecting the ball well enough. Rather than up the ante on the physical nature of his practices, the first-year head coach said he likes the drills he uses and sees no need for radical changes.

Giants attempt to reverse injury trend with new strength coach Aaron Wellman. Wellman, 42, just three years McAdoo's senior, is here because of the injury history. There is no issue more sensitive to the Giants than their inability to stay healthy for many years under Coughlin.

Giants owner John Mara and GM Jerry Reese still have not commented on the Josh Brown domestic violence suspension, related incidents and the team's re-signing of the veteran kicker. More importantly, they have not acted.

Aug 21 Buffalo 21, Giants 0: Hits, Misses and Musings. So here's the thing.
New York Giants downed by Buffalo Bills 21-0.
Instant Analysis: Bills 21, Giants 0.
Bills overcome pregame distractions to beat Giants 21-0.
Instant analysis: What's the fix for Giants' struggling offensive line?
Few positives for Giants in ugly preseason loss to Bills.
Eli Manning, Giants first-team offense can't get anything going in preseason loss to Bills.

Giants co-owner John Mara, as he exited the visitors' locker room after Saturday's 21-0 preseason loss to the Bills, had little to say about the budding controversy surrounding kicker Josh Brown.
The Giants said the same thing about the Josh Brown situation on Saturday. That is, they had nothing to say.

Aug 20 Some of the marquee names on the Giants' injury list will at least join the team in Buffalo for Saturday's preseason game (4 p.m., MY9). Wide receiver Victor Cruz (groin), cornerback Eli Apple (knee) and left guard Justin Pugh (shoulder) traveled with the team to Buffalo.
The Giants opened the preseason without two of their most important starters after coach Ben McAdoo opted to sit quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. However, all signs point toward them playing on Saturday (4 p.m. ET) against the Bills.

Aug 19 The heck with Rex Ryan's blitzes, even if it is preseason and even if Colts owner Jim Irsay strongly hinted last week that Andrew Luck took a seat because the team didn't want him subjected to Ryan's pass rush. Eli Manning wants the Bills' coach to give him everything he's got.
To say that Eli Manning is looking forward to playing in the Giants' second preseason game on Saturday is an understatement. With no confusion setting in about his status for this weekend's game, Manning said he's looking forward to playing against Ryan's aggressive defense.

Josh Brown does not agree with the NFL's decision to suspend him for the season opener for what he described as "just a moment'' that led to an arrest for domestic abuse, followed by a quick dismissal of the charges stemming from an incident that took place.
Josh Brown's ex-wife told police on the day of his 2015 arrest that the Giants kicker had been physically violent with her over 20 times and that she had previously had a protection order.

Aug 18 The Giants may be nearing the end of training camp, but there are still competitions to be won and lost on the depth chart. Middle linebacker is one of them.
The Giants will hold a shorter practice, perhaps even a walk-through, Thursday to wrap up the week before heading to Buffalo. Head coach Ben McAdoo, by the way, did say that he expected Eli Manning to get some snaps against the Bills.

Ben McAdoo said Eli Manning "absolutely" will play on Saturday against the Bills in the Giants' second preseason game. Manning did not play in the opener against Miami and there had been speculation the Giants might hold him out against Buffalo as well.

Victor Cruz has a succinct message for any doubters who think his career is over. "Tune in," the Giants receiver said after missing another practice because of a groin injury. "That's all."
Cruz didn't practice with the team, but completed several rigorous drills under the direction of strength and conditioning coach Aaron Wellman.

Why Giants long-time snapper Zak DeOssie is in a fight for job. DeOssie, the longest tenured Giant next to Manning, missed the final four games of the 2015 season after playing in 140 straight. He says his wrist, initially injured in Week 3, is fine now.

Giants kicker Josh Brown was suspended one game by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy. Brown was arrested in May of 2015 on a domestic violence charge, according to documents obtained by NJ Advance Media. It is unclear if the arrest is the reason for his suspension.

Aug 17 The sky is not falling on Victor Cruz, and those calling for the Giants to cut their losses and move on from him should chill the heck out. Sometimes, where there is smoke, there is fire. Sometimes, it is merely smoke and easy to douse. All eyes Wednesday will be on Cruz when the Giants take the field.

The Giants in some ways did not get what they expected last season out of Dwayne Harris, and they realize the reason why. Harris was brought in to upgrade every aspect of the special teams,but the Giants never quite were able to utilize Harris the way they envisioned. He frequently was needed as the third receiver, and something had to give.

The Giants' 6-10 record wasn't the only thing that bothered Shane Vereen last year - he felt the running game came up short, too. Though Vereen wants the running game to improve as a whole, he is often associated more with the passing game. Last season, Vereen had nearly as many receptions (59) as he did rushes (61), and he's had at least 47 receptions in each of the last three years, dating back to his time in New England.

35,000 push-ups later, Giants' Andre Williams seeing work pay off. He started by doing 1,000 push-ups and 300 pull-ups for five straight days and gradually increased his workload until he was doing 2,500 push-ups and 600 pull-ups for five days. The results, he said, were fantastic. "It felt very good," he said this week after gaining a team-high 41 yards on nine carries, with a long of 16 yards.

With a $200 million-plus free-agent upgrade on defense, a promising first-round cornerback and a maddening sequence of narrow defeats in 2015, there is no in between this year for Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. "[The Super Bowl] is definitely the talk around here," the 30-year-old elder statesman of the secondary said.

Kelvin Sheppard knew what he was getting into when he signed with the Giants as a free agent in April. With veteran middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley returning after starting the final nine games of last season, Sheppard was prepared for a position battle. That is exactly what has unfolded in training camp.

NFC East News
NFC East Roundup: Preseason Week 1 in the books.

Aug 16 Special Report - Most of you watched the Giants' offensive line try to play on Friday night. The operable word here is "try," since they didn't do all that well. But general manager Jerry Reese was satisfied, not that he wouldn't want to see the unit perform better. "It was the first game," he said, "and we have players who are experienced in this league."

Ben McAdoo revealed he had "a nice conversation" Sunday afternoon with Victor Cruz, the again-injured Giants receiver who missed another practice Monday because of a sore groin.
Cruz was not made available to the media after practice. The Giants are off Tuesday before returning to practice Wednesday. McAdoo would not rule him out for Saturday's preseason game at the Buffalo Bills, but it's hard to see Cruz playing in that contest if he does not practice Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the rest of Giants training camp pushed on without Cruz. Young receivers are fighting for roster spots and well aware that Cruz's status will affect their chances of making the 53-man roster and possibly the role they will play in the regular season.
So far, there's no indication the Giants are losing patience with Cruz, but if several young prospects continue to sparkle in camp, the organization could be faced with deciding how long is long enough to wait on Cruz. Odell Beckham and Shepard already are forming a promising tandem. In addition, Lewis and White are making the most of their share of reps in team drills.

In addition to Cruz, the Giants backed off a bit on receiver Sterling Shepard (groin), who didn't do any team drills. Not practicing were receiver Geremy Davis (hamstring), tight end Will Johnson (burner), fullback Nikita Whitlock (unknown), linebacker J.T. Thomas (hamstring/PUP), and defensive end Kerry Wynn (groin). McAdoo said that Shepard, who worked through some soreness yesterday, did not have a setback.

Finally somebody lit a fire under this Giants training camp on Monday, those somebodies being defensive tackle Damon "Snacks" Harrison and left guard Justin Pugh, who exploded into a brief heavyweight scuffle that was quickly squashed but left its mark on the sweltering practice's mood and tone.
It was hard to see what started the altercation, but Harrison clearly was upset. It looked like Harrison took a quick swing or two at Pugh, but the players were quickly separated. There was a little more jawing after the next play, but the other members of both lines didn't let it escalate.

Aug 15 Giants have that sinking feeling: Victor Cruz isn't getting better. McAdoo didn't sound as if he expected Cruz back on the field anytime soon.
Receiver Victor Cruz returned to practice on a limited basis after missing last week with a groin strain, did some individual drills, but not the participating in the receivers vs. defensive backs drills.
Cruz was able to do some activities, though not all. And he never appeared to run anything at full speed. Even the routes he engaged in with the full offense seemed to be dialed back from a sprint.

While Victor Cruz continues to be bothered by a groin injury, the rest of the Giants' injury report was positive on Sunday. Rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard was a full participant in Sunday's practice. Rookie cornerback Eli Apple was dressed for practice, but worked on the side with other injured players.

Many of the Giants veterans have taken it upon themselves to help out the younger guys during this training camp and Landon Collins has been no exception. The second-year safety has taken it upon himself to mentor for rookie Darian Thompson.
If he's still there when the Giants begin their season in Dallas four weeks from today, Thompson will be the second rookie in as many years to start at free safety. Last year, it was second-round selection Landon Collins, who started all 16 games. Collins is now the strong safety.

Aug 14 The Giants return to practice on Sunday for what should be a tough week of practice. Temperatures are expected to top 90 degrees all week and coach Ben McAdoo is a bit ornery after the team had six fumbles (two lost) and two interceptions in Friday's 27-10 loss to the Dolphins in the preseason opener.

As promised, Victor Cruz's absence won't be a long one. The Giants wide receiver is expected to return to practice on Sunday after being sidelined since Tuesday with tightness in his groin.
Not all injury news is as good. At least not yet. First-round pick Eli Apple, who left Friday's game with what the Giants called at the time a lower left leg strain, underwent an MRI on Saturday to further evaluate his condition. He is unlikely to practice on Sunday.

Ben McAdoo likes the Giants' depth at several positions, or at least the encouraging potential for options at wide receiver, running back, tight end and even on the defensive line, at linebacker and in what he called an "interesting" secondary. The drop off from McAdoo's first-team offensive line to his second unit in pass protection Friday night was jarring, however, in a 27-10 preseason opening loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Bill Parcells won his first preseason game as Giants head coach. Tom Coughlin won his first preseason game as Giants head coach. Ben McAdoo McAdidn't. It means nothing, of course, because Parcells went 3-12-1 in his rookie 1983 season and Coughlin went 5-11 with Kurt Warner and a rookie named Eli Manning.

Giants' Owa Odighizuwa opens up another path to QB. When the Giants flashed their pass rush on Friday night against the Dolphins, it came from expected sources. But the other piece of the pass rush was a bit more unexpected.
Odighizuwa came off the bench to provide three solo tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hits, putting on display the versatility the Giants envisioned for him when they took him out of UCLA in the third round of the 2015 draft.

Former Giants
Wellington Mara: Remembering Giants' Wellington Mara on 100th anniversary of his birth.

Aug 13 Giants squander early lead; fall to Dolphins 27-10.
Rebuilt Giants 'D' starts strong in 27-10 loss to Dolphins.
Miami 27, Giants 10: Hits, Misses & Musings.
Giants-Dolphins takeaways: Ryan Nassib struggles, Olivier Vernon stars in loss.
Ryan Nassib has three turnovers after Giants' first-teamers take a seat.
Ryan Nassib's outing makes Eli Manning even more valuable.
Manning, Beckham sit and Giants drop preseason opener.
Andre Williams finishes as Giants leading rusher in preseason opener.
New Giants starting defense puts squeeze on Dolphins.
So far, so good for Giants brand new, super-expensive defense.
Giants 1st round pick Eli Apple 'feeling fine' after injury scare.
After two injuries in preseason debut, rookie WR says 'don't freak out'.
Two impressive Giants rookies exit with injuries.
Giants coach Ben McAdoo a work in progress on the sideline.
Ben McAdoo says Giants hoping for Victor Cruz return Sunday.

Aug 12 Giants vs. Dolphins: 10 things to watch for. Friday night will be the first time Ben McAdoo takes the sideline as head coach of the New York Football Giants. Handed the reins in January, the former offensive coordinator has worked tirelessly since then to build the team in his image: sound, smart, tough, committed to discipline and poise. Now it's time to put it to the test.

It is imperative that Ryan Nassib continues to show Giants management that they count on him if the worst case arises. That makes the play of the seldom-used, fourth-year backup in Friday night's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins as significant as anything that will happen at MetLife Stadium.
If history holds for 2016, quarterback Ryan Nassib won't have much of anything to show at the end of his fourth year with the Giants, the final one on his rookie deal. That's why these next four games are so significant for him. That's why this is his contract preseason.

Aug 11 The team resumed training camp on Wednesday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center for the final practice before Friday's preseason opener against Miami.
Despite the overcast skies, the Giants managed to get their practice in, even if at times the rain came down heavy enough to send people scrambling for cover. It's all good though actually, as current weather forecasts are calling for rain Friday night when the Giants host Miami in their preseason opener.

Victor Cruz thinks he could have prevented Odell Beckham Jr.'s meltdown against Josh Norman last year -- if only he had been there.
The Giants had their last full practice before their preseason opener on Wednesday -- Cruz was a non-participant -- and won't practice again until Sunday.
As Victor Cruz wages his uphill comeback battle, it is Beckham whom the young wide receivers in the room look to as a mentor. He can teach them the invaluable lessons he has learned the hard way about never letting a cornerback bait you into self-destructive behavior that hurts the team.
As Beckham enters only his third NFL season, he is taking on a new role for the Giants. Not only is he a superstar receiver, but a mentor. A teacher. A professor whose lessons are heard on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Friday night is the preseason opener for the Giants, against the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Ryan Nassib will be warming up in the bullpen, knowing he will replace the starter, just like every other summer since 2013.
That's how it's been since Nassib arrived as a fourth-round draft choice in 2013; he plays in the preseason (when in the last two years he threw 177 passes to Manning's 79) before moving to the sideline when the games count in the standings.

Aug 10 The Giants logged another marathon practice session, going a little over two hours in full pads Tuesday as head coach Ben McAdoo continues to get his guys ready for the preseason opener Friday against Miami.
A day after Eli Manning and the offense dominated practice, the Giants defense fought back on Tuesday. The unit had one of its best days of training camp.
Training camp is the time for players to compete and show they can be all those things. Over the next month, the Giants will find 53 of them before kicking off Week 1 at Dallas on Sept. 11.

Victor Cruz expected to play in the Giants' preseason opener on Friday against the Miami Dolphins. But that was before the wide receiver experienced groin tightness that limited his participation in Tuesday's practice.
No decision has been made about whether he will play in the Giants' preseason opener in MetLife Stadium on Friday against the Miami Dolphins.
But Cruz said he had expected to play Friday night and acknowledged this injury now "clouds" his status for game action, and hearing that just evokes a natural sinking feeling. Cruz has not played in a game since Oct. 12, 2014, in Philadelphia.

Aug 9 With three practices to go before Friday night's preseason opener, the Giants returned to the fields at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center after players had Sunday off.
Head coach Ben McAdoo has already said that the team isn't going to spend a lot of time on the Dolphins. Rather, they're going to continue to focus on continuing to build the Giants up to the level McAdoo expects, which is to be tough, fundamentally sound and smart football players.
Ryan Nassib should handle the bulk of the Giants' snaps in Friday night's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium, and Monday's practice demonstrated one of the fourth-year backup's strengths: Going deep.

The Giants kick off the preseason this Friday night against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Leading up to the game, the team released its first unofficial depth chart of the 2016 season.
Will Victor Cruz play for Giants vs. Dolphins on Friday? Asked whether Cruz is on track to participate in the game, McAdoo said he is "not going to talk much about play time."

Eli Manning doesn't have a nickname. Believe that? Twelve Giants seasons, two Super Bowls and yet no universal term of endearment like the Mets' "Dark Knight," Matt Harvey, the Rangers' "King," Henrik Lundqvist, or the retired Yankees' "Captain," Derek Jeter.
Manning was named MVP of his two Super Bowl wins and had a number of memorable plays and passes in those games. But those teams also were bolstered by a tenacious defense and a strong, physical running game.

Aug 8 Michael Irvin says Giants receivers 'dangerous'. It has not all come together just yet, not by a long shot. Interestingly, the only one of the three receivers who has put together an unblemished and eye-opening training camp is Shepard, the rookie second-round pick from Oklahoma.

We've seen eight Giants practices over the past 10 days (well, seven practices and a walkthrough), so it's a good time to take our second official crack at projecting the Giants' 53-man roster.

Owa Odighizuwa grew up watching Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora dominate opponents and wanted to do the same. He was familiar with the lore. Which is why, despite one injury-riddled rookie season, he still feels like he is on track for greatness.

For eighth-year middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, football and family are one in the same. On the playing field, the Thomson, Georgia native commands a presence as a 6'1", 255-pound middle linebacker who has the nickname "the Hitman" because of his explosive and fast style of play.

LB Devon Kennard hoping his system will lead to breakout season. Kennard's notebooks in training camp are filled with a rainbow of highlights that help certain topics stand out as he jots them down.

NFL News
An emotional and invigorating Hall of Fame weekend came to a grinding halt Sunday night when the Packers-Colts game was canceled because of poor field conditions.

Aug 7 Shane Vereen has stood out at Giants training camp not only because he is making plays but because the versatile veteran running back never seems to come off the field.
Odell Beckham Jr. returns to taking full-speed reps at Giants practice. Beckham picked up right where he left off almost a week after leaving practice with lacerations on his lower left leg.
Jason Pierre-Paul's first tastes of full contact without using the club to protect his mangled right hand have been a success.
Ben McAdoo said that Saturday's training camp practice would be long, physical and fast. He wasn't kidding. It was all three of those things and more making Sunday a much-needed day off for the players.   Photos  |  Photos.

For the first time since training camp began, cornerback Eli Apple showcased the coverage that led the Giants to select him with the 10th overall pick in April's NFL draft.
Someone in the crowd asked McAdoo about plans for the preseason opener against Miami. "We're not going to spend a lot of time on Miami," he said. "We're going to spend a lot of time on ourselves."
With the first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins less than one week away, we take a look at ESPN senior writer John Clayton's keys to a successful 2016 Giants season.

Larry Donnell never thought his career was in jeopardy. But as the wait to be medically cleared to play football following a serious neck injury last November dragged on, and speculation he might never be able to play again started to spread, so did his uncertainty.
Leon Hall adjusting to life with Giants after spending 9 years with Cincinnati Bengals. Leon Hall has about two weeks to figure it out.

NFL News
Pro Football Hall of Fame 2016: Ceremony Recap, Speech Highlights and Reaction.

Aug 6 The lacerations to Odell Beckham Jr.'s left leg only cost him three practices. The Giants wide receiver was back on the field in the team's walkthrough on Friday, taking part in positional and team drills and fielding punts.
After two straight days of intense hitting (yes, with pads), head coach Ben McAdoo gave his players a bit of a break today. The Giants coach changed the practice schedule, starting things an hour later and turning the practice into an hour-long walk-through which was run at not even half-speed.

Ben McAdoo put the pedal to the metal the last few days at training camp before taking his foot off the gas a little bit on Friday. They better catch their breath while they can; coming up the longest practice thus far this summer.
Ben McAdoo is still easing Victor Cruz back, but he said he was glad to see the veteran wide receiver take a few licks in Thursday's practice. Twice in that workout Cruz was knocked off his feet. Both times he got back up without any issues.

A defense that can terrify the passer. A defense with playmakers in the secondary. A defense that can close out the fourth quarter. A defense that is feared again, honors its heritage as a Big Blue Bully and makes Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson and Michael Strahan proud again. It is no longer Mission: Impossible for Steve Spagnuolo.

Leon Hall lined up at slot cornerback during Friday's light walkthrough practice, his first with the Giants. And that is where his first opportunity to play will come. But there might be other opportunities afforded to the veteran in the days and weeks to come.

Olivier Vernon and Ereck Flowers already had plenty in common before they had gotten on the field together as Giants. They both grew up in the Miami area. They both went on to play for the University of Miami.
Back home in Miami, Olivier Vernon has a jersey he will eventually get around to framing. It's not his jersey, at least not one that he wore in any game. No, this one is a Giants jersey. An Ereck Flowers jersey.

Former Giants
Justin Tuck was part of two Super Bowl championship defenses that got after the quarterback. After seeing the 2016 team up close for the first time this week at training camp, the former defensive end doesn't see a reason why the Giants can't get back to that level.
Damontre Moore has blown what many assumed was his last chance.But could he get a last, last chance in Dallas?

Aug 5 With a little more than a week until their preseason opener, the New York Giants hit the field again on Thursday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Five things we learned at training camp.   |   Standout players from Training Camp practice.
In some ways, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has to be loving all the new pieces the front office has given him on defense. His guys include a mixture of returning faces such as linebacker Devon Kennard, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. They've been trying to blend in with newcomers.

Leon Hall has a gut feeling the Giants are going to be good this year. That feeling is what prompted the veteran cornerback to spurn a return invitation to the Bengals and sign with Big Blue on Thursday, giving the Giants an instant upgrade at their slot corner position.
After a career with the Bengals, a team that made him a contract offer, he said, and was in need of a veteran cornerback because of injuries, Hall decided to try something new. "It's bittersweet," he said of leaving Cincinnati. "It was a tough decision to make."

The Giants had the worst defense in football last year, and Jonathan Casillas says there are reminders every day of that fact when he watches film. "It's tough to watch sometimes. We weren't as good as we should have been," Casillas said Thursday. "And I feel like, honestly, I think we let (Tom) Coughlin down."
Casillas was part of that 32nd ranked defensive unit which last year allowed an average of 420.3 yards per game, the most in the NFL. While many of the men who contributed to that disaster are no longer with the team, Casillas still shudders a bit when he thinks back a season that went so horribly wrong for so many reasons.

Leon Hall has a gut feeling the Giants are going to be good this year. That feeling is what prompted the veteran cornerback to spurn a return invitation to the Bengals and sign with Big Blue on Thursday, giving the Giants an instant upgrade at their slot corner position.
After a career with the Bengals, a team that made him a contract offer, he said, and was in need of a veteran cornerback because of injuries, Hall decided to try something new. "It's bittersweet," he said of leaving Cincinnati. "It was a tough decision to make.

Aug 4 The Giants held their longest practice thus far of training camp and their first with the full pads. The team is building up to their longest practice of camp, scheduled for August 6.
With their preseason opener on the horizon, the New York Giants are powering through with eight practices in 10 days at training camp.  |  Photos.

Odell Beckham Jr. did not practice for a second consecutive day, but he did some running and cutting Wednesday, and it looks as though it will not be long before he returns to work with his teammates at Giants training camp.
Odell Beckham Jr. may return to practice on Thursday. Or Friday. The Giants aren't particularly worried about the detail of the timing.

The Giants desperately need Jason Pierre-Paul, one year after blowing off so much of his right hand in a terrifying Fourth of July fireworks accident, to be a disruptive sack machine once again, even if he says he has nothing to prove because it's a miracle he's even playing.

Aug 3 Coach Ben McAdoo ratcheted training camp up a notch on Tuesday with what he called a "thud tempo" practice. Players strapped on the shoulder pads for the first time this year, and they were popping.
The goal of the thump-and-release is to keep guys off the ground as much as possible. That wasn't the case early on and McAdoo certainly let his players know in no uncertain terms that he wasn't happy with what he saw.

Running backs coach Craig Johnson revealed that the team went to the infamous four-man running back rotation last year out of necessity, not coaching ideology as many originally thought.
The Giants' offense isn't designed for a 2,000-yard rusher. It may not even be designed for 2,000 rushing yards as a team. With Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr., the task for the running game is far different from those teams Johnson coached in the past.

Aug 2 How the Giants perform this season should fall on GM Jerry Reese. The talent wasn't there last season, and Reese is still here. Now, the Giants have more talent, but in the NFL, talent does not guarantee victories.
One thing Reese is adamant he does not feel is added pressure. Mara did not mince words in January, saying that, "Jerry knows this is on him. I've had that discussion with him. He can't hide from the record.

Eugene Monroe. Phil Loadholt. Anthony Davis. Russell Okung. Donald Penn. Ryan Clady. Name an offensive tackle on the market this offseason and odds are that he's been linked to the Giants as a potential upgrade for right tackle Marshall Newhouse.
There was a time when it tore him up, when the bombardment of criticism, insults and ill wishes would cause him to lash out or look inward to figure out what was so wrong with him. Marshall Newhouse did not understand why there was so much venom out there.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin will work closely with Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, on what the league says is a variety of issues to support and improve the game.
Tom Coughlin, who turns 70 at the end of August, still believes he should be the Giants' head coach. And he wants to coach again.
Leonard Marshall prepares to bring own marijuana-based product to market when legal. He predicts the NFL will eventually have to loosen its ban on marijuana as more NFL players embrace it for pain relief.

Aug 1 Odell Beckham Jr. suffers cuts on leg after colliding with Janoris Jenkins, but insists injury is 'nothing too bad'.
Jenkins quickly stood up and jogged away. Beckham? He was swarmed by an army of trainers and medical staff who sprinted to him and began working on the area around his left ankle.
The Giants actually suffered a significant scare when receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had to leave practice early after getting his feet tangled up with cornerback Janoris Jenkins on a deep pass.
After a thorough checkup, Beckham eventually got to his feet and took his place with the other punt returners during a special teams drill.
The day's headlines were dominated by Odell Beckham Jr., who left early after getting tangled up with Janoris Jenkins on a long pass play. But there was plenty of other action, as we also heard from general manager Jerry Reese. So let's get to it.

July 31 After rain pushed the first practice of training camp indoors, the gates at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center opened on Saturday to a "sea of red, white and blue," in the words of first-year head coach Ben McAdoo.
When was the last time Ben McAdoo saw an interception in a practice and was pleased by it? "I think it would be never," he said. And yet on Saturday, that's exactly what happened. Thus is the life of a former offensive coordinator who is now a head coach.

Larry Donnell made several catches in the first training camp workout fans were permitted to attend. It was a satisfying performance for a player who missed the second half of the 2015 season with a neck injury. "He made a couple of plays down the middle of the field," coach Ben McAdoo said. "Winning down the middle of the field is huge for this offense, and he's someone that could definitely do that for us.

Giants head coach Ben McAdoo has a very loud and clear message for his young players. "We're not going to be afraid to play young players." Such is one of the many differences in the coaching philosophies between McAdoo and his successor Tom Coughlin, the latter of whom, with very few exceptions, tended to favor the security offered by veterans, only turning to rookies when injuries would begin depleting a position.

It's a good day for the Giants when there is very little to talk about regarding Victor Cruz. The wide receiver participated fully in his second straight practice on Saturday, made a few catches in drills, ran his allotted routes and took his full number of reps... and that's it.
The first few days of training camp, Sterling Shepard got off easy. He walked away from the practice field after workouts and didn't have to do the usual rookie's job of hauling in the equipment of the veterans. Victor Cruz conceded that after the first full practice it simply slipped his mind to tell Shepard to carry his helmet.

Ask Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard about fellow rookie Eli Apple's greatest attribute as a cornerback and the answer comes without hesitation. "He's one of those guys that has a lot of range," Shepard said of the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Apple.
Rodgers-Cromartie spent some of Saturday's practice playing in the slot during 7-on-7 drills and in a walkthrough, while free agent acquisition Janoris Jenkins and rookie Eli Apple stayed on the outside. At the moment, the plan still appears to be for Rodgers-Cromartie and Jenkins to play on the outside, and any slot snaps for either are just a case of due diligence and cross-training.

July 30 Victor Cruz may have passed Thursday's conditioning and medical tests, participated in Friday's first practice of training camp and gotten cleared to continue forward without any limitations, but the Giants wide receiver said he isn't "back." At least not now.
The Giants will be absolutely thrilled - and more than a bit surprised - if Cruz can return to the form that made him one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL. They need him to be healthy, get on the field, stay on the field and become a threat that defenses must honor to alleviate the heavy burden Odell Beckham Jr. carries.
It's likely no one was more thrilled by Cruz's return than Odell Beckham Jr. When OBJ was drafted two years ago, the Giants envisioned Cruz and him forming perhaps the NFL's most dynamic receiving duo. But while Beckham has been otherworldly by himself, they teamed up for just six quarters before Cruz went down.

Between the lines, Beckham has at times gone over the edge, most notably late last season when a series of altercations with then-Panthers cornerback Josh Norman led to a one-game suspension. Opponents realize they can get under Beckham's skin, a tactic that will be repeated until he proves he can rise above it.
More recently, Beckham re-opened that wound with Norman in an interview appearing in GQ in which he suggested that his nemesis signed with division rival Washington to remain relevant. Such comments, along with Beckham's jet-set offseason lifestyle might very well have made the bull's eye on his back even bigger.
Josh Norman on Odell Beckham: 'He's talking about me, but I'm not talking about him'. Norman, the Washington cornerback who got under Beckham's skin last season as a Carolina Panther, threw the latest barb out from camp on Friday.

Former Giants
Lucas Petitgout has pleaded guilty to simple assault and was sentenced to one-year probation in connection with an attack on his estranged wife.

July 29 Special Report - Somehow, you get the idea that head coach Ben McAdoo wasn't just saying the right words when the Giants "sort of" opened training camp Thursday. They'll practice for the first time Friday, having gone through physicals Thursday, and that resulted in three players being put on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list - all defensive guys.
They were tackle Damon Harrison (knee swelling), linebacker J.T. Thomas (sore hamstring) and tackle Jay Bromley (recovering from ankle surgery. At this point in the pre-season, the PUP list doesn't mean all that much. In fact, McAdoo likens it to "keeping him on hold" when he talks about a player on PUP in July.

The Giants reported to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday for physicals and conditioning evaluation. With the first practice scheduled for tomorrow, we heard from some of the players and coach Ben McAdoo to set the table for the next 45 days until opening kickoff at Dallas.
McAdoo told his players in the Giants' first team meeting of camp that "our goal is still to put the fifth trophy in the case." McAdoo still believes that this specific team can accomplish that lofty goal. He didn't have to talk Super Bowl on Day One, but he did, and he put more pressure on himself.

Giants defense 'didn't trust the system' in 2015, Landon Collins says. Landon Collins said the biggest issue facing last year's defense wasn't play-calling or missed tackles or blown assignments. It was simply a matter of trust. A trust that took too long to develop.
Collins recognizes that he has to work on trusting defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defensive system. Collins believes that the combination of Spagnuolo system as well as the integration of many new faces to the team made adjusting to the new defense more difficult.

July 28 Giants Training Camp Guide: What you need to know.
The Giants report to training camp. Here's a primer of questions facing the team.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin, former Giants coach, joins NFL's football operations department.
Hakeem Nicks signing with Saints as 3 ex-Giants earn pre-camp deals.

July 27 Everything you need to know about the New York Giants annual training camp that begins July 28. After limping to the finish line last season-figuratively and literally-the New York Giants renovated their coaching staff and their roster.
After a dozen years of Tom Coughlin running things, it's now Ben McAdoo's first camp in control and he's got almost a quarter of a billion dollars worth of free agents to help him turn things around and get the Giants back into playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.
Ben McAdoo made it clear right away with his "evolution, not revolution" mission statement. And, when asked about the clocks in the team facility - which for a dozen years famously had been set five minutes fast - McAdoo sounded proud to declare: "We remain on TC time." For the most part, though, TC time is at an end.

Victor Cruz has heard all the doubters. The Giants wide receiver is aware of the skepticism about his ability to return to Pro Bowl form after missing most of the past two seasons with injuries.

NFL News
Speculation has been rampant for months that the NFL will hold the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia.

July 26 Giants fans hoping for their team to snap a four-year playoff drought are thinking too small. Odell Beckham is thinking big, as in Super Bowl LI big - as in he apparently aspires to be as royal and revered in New York and the NFL as LeBron James is in Cleveland and in basketball.
Beckham has alluded to having "divine feelings" about Super Bowl LI and his quarterback, Eli Manning, went public with his opinion earlier this month that the Giants have built a playoff contender.

July 24 The five biggest questions facing Giants entering training camp.

July 22 Odell Beckham Jr.'s comments about Josh Norman in the August edition of GQ are receiving a lot of attention, and understandably so.
Players won't report to NFL training camps for several days, but Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman are talking trash like it's September already.

Giants fans who were hoping their team would sign Eugene Monroe now have to look elsewhere. Monroe, the free-agent offensive tackle who was released by the Baltimore Ravens last month, announced his retirement from the NFL.

July 20 Giants to induct Tom Coughlin, Justin Tuck, Ernie Accorsi into Ring of Honor on Nov. 14. The Giants will waste no time in giving Tom Coughlin his due recognition.
In something of an olive branch following his de facto firing at the end of the 2015 season, the Giants announced they will be inducting Coughlin, along with former defensive end Justin Tuck and longtime general manager Ernie Accorsi.
The Giants careers of Tom Coughlin and Justin Tuck intertwined with Ernie Accorsi from the beginning. In 2004, Accorsi, then the team's general manager, was instrumental in the hiring of Coughlin as head coach. A year later he drafted Tuck. |  Ring of Honor Giants.

July 18 When the Giants open training camp later this month, they'll do so with the hopes of putting their recent injury woes behind them and returning to the sort of success they're used to. Additionally, they'll also be aiming to get new players - acquired via both free agency and the NFL Draft - acclimated prior to their Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

July 17 Can QB Logan Thomas succeed with Giants? The Giants seem to be seriously searching for a third quarterback to keep on their 53-man roster. How else do you explain the constant shuffling of the third quarterback throughout the spring?

NFC East News
NFC East preview: The New York Giants might be the most intriguing team.

July 14 The Giants announced the schedule for their 2016 training camp. The camp will feature 11 practice sessions open to the public at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, which is located on the MetLife Sports Complex. There is no admission charge for watching training camp workouts.
The camp will keep in effect a new autograph policy. Autographs are now restricted to fans 12 and under, and only the first 400 fans that sign up and receive a wristband will be able to line up for the post-practice signing.

Jason Pierre-Paul is suing Schefter and ESPN for publishing an image of his medical records in July of 2015 when Schefter reported Pierre-Paul's right index finger had been amputated after his hand was severely damaged in a fireworks accident. Two hospital workers were also fired for inappropriately accessing Pierre-Paul's records, although one is now suing Jackson Health System.

From Rashad Jennings to Andre Williams to Shane Vereen to Orleans Darkwa to rookie Paul Perkins, there's certainly talent for head coach Ben McAdoo to use. Yet, based on last year, no one player looks capable of standing out and becoming the lead guy.
Big Blue will need a strong season from Jennings and the entire running back corps to complement what's expected to be a strong passing game. Last season, the Giants finished 19th in the league, averaging just 100.6 yards per game on the ground.

Will Tye ready for 2nd season: 'I'm going to get better every year'. After season-ending injuries to veterans Daniel Fells and Larry Donnell, Tye went from the practice squad to the starter's job, registering 42 catches for 464 yards and three touchdowns over 13 games with seven starts.

July 12 The Giants were pleased with what Brad Wing gave them last season as their hand-picked replacement for longtime punter Steve Weatherford. Now they are making an investment in Wing, announcing Monday a three-year extension that runs through the 2019 season.
Wing wasn't much of an improvement in that category, though. The LSU product, who played two seasons with Odell Beckham Jr. in Baton Rouge and is good friends with the wide receiver, ranked 25th in the league last season with a net average of 38.9 yards.

The Giants will wear white pants with blue jerseys for all eight of their regular season home games, the team casually revealed on its official website on Monday afternoon. The white jersey/gray pants road game combination remains the same.
This is the first major, permanent uniform change that the Giants have made since after the 1999 season. Going into 2000, the team switched from white pants to gray. That being said, someone in the organization clearly likes the white pants because they've been slowly creeping back into the team's uniform rotation in recent years.

July 10 Keep it, or give it up? One of the most important decisions facing Ben McAdoo entering his first season as head coach of the Giants is whether or not he will call the plays on offense. This may not, on the surface, seem like a big deal, but it is.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells says McAdoo likely to call plays.

July 8 Odell Beckham Jr. was ranked the No. 10 player in the NFL by his peers on Wednesday night. That seems like a high honor for a player just two seasons into his career. But apparently Beckham has his sights set higher.
No player in NFL history has recorded more receiving yards than Beckham (2,755) in his first two seasons. With Beckham and Manning, the Giants had at least two representatives in the "Top 100"
for the first time since 2013. That year, Manning (43), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (55) and wide receiver Victor Cruz (58) made the list.

Former Giants
Kenny Phillips, who was the Giants' first-round pick in 2008 and later their starting safety during the run to Super Bowl XLVI, has retired from the NFL.

July 7 It would have been news had Eli Manning said the Giants would miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season since winning Super Bowl XLVI. But when he was asked Wednesday if he believes the 2016 Giants are playoff-bound, Manning responded as you would expect from the quarterback.

July 5 Ben McAdoo, 2016 Coach of the Year? That's what one outlet is predicting. Sporting News' preseason NFL preview magazine has hit newsstands, and its crystal ball says McAdoo will be honored as the league's top coach in his rookie season after leading the Giants back to the playoffs.

July 4 Why 2016 will be a career-defining season for Jason Pierre-Paul. We know he can still impact games. Pierre-Paul miraculously demonstrated that during his abbreviated 2015 season, giving the Giants' punchless pass rush a clear lift from Day 1. But he also showed clear limitations. Pierre-Paul only finished with one sack in eight games.

Why do Giants refuse to address their most glaring need? Offensive line - Returning players: Ereck Flowers, Justin Pugh, Weston Richburg, John Jerry, Marshall Newhouse, Bobby Hart, Emmett Cleary, Adam Gettis Key newcomers: Ryan Seymour (free agent), Byron Stingily (free agent), Dillon Farrell (free agent) Assessment: Really? The front office did not add one player who can step in and start, or at least step in and compete for a starting job?

July 3 The NFL will soon be uploading, in full, archived broadcasts of 96 classic games - three for each team - to YouTube. The league held fan votes for each fan base, and here are the trio of classic Giants games that made the cut: - Super Bowl XLII vs. New England Patriots - 2007 NFC Championship vs. Green Bay Packers: - Super Bowl XXV vs. Buffalo Bills.

July 1 Special Report - Playing quarters: An early review of the 2016 schedule. Sure, the Giants and everyone else in the NFL just broke for their version of summer vacation, but looming in the distance is this thing called the 2016 regular season. There is a common notion, only sometimes credited to former head coach Tom Coughlin, that the season can evenly be broken into quarters and that the goal of each team should be to win three out of four games in each quarter, which would, in turn, result in a 12-4 record.

June 30 A year after a life-changing fireworks accident, Jason Pierre-Paul is trying to make sure those celebrating the holiday stateside hear his story, and think twice.
Jason Pierre-Paul is using himself as a warning. Nearly a year after the Giants defensive end mangled his right hand in a July 4 fireworks accident, Pierre-Paul is producing public-service announcements about the dangers of them.

Giants writers answer 30 questions in 30 days before the start of Training Camp. hich draft pick will start the most games in his rookie season? Which free agent signing will have the biggest impact on the team in 2016? What was the biggest storyline of the offseason?

June 29 Offensive lineman John Jerry speaks candidly about how he's improved under the watchful eye of LeCharles Bentley at the O-Line Performance Center, how Marshall Newhouse is underappreciated, and how the Giants offensive line is going to be a lot better in 2016.
For three straight years, the Giants used either a first- or second-round pick on an offensive lineman. This year, they need that investment to start paying off. Right tackle is the spot the Giants would like to upgrade.

Former Giants
Phil Simms: Playing Buddy Ryan's defense 'was misery'. Ryan passed away Tuesday at the age of 85. Simms appeared on CBS Sports Network to reminisce about his experiences competing against Ryan and defensive units that "made it impossible for many years to do anything against him."

June 26 Why is Mark Herzlich still a Giant? Reasons more profound than blackmail. Who does he know? He laughs. Just four players have been with the team longer: Eli Manning (entering his 13th season), Zak DeOssie (10th), Jason Pierre-Paul (seventh) and Victor Cruz (seventh).

June 25 Local children will have the chance to learn from Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. later this summer when his inaugural football camp will be held in New Jersey.

Former Giants
Leonard Marshall has emerged as a major advocate for medical marijuana, and he recently sat down with The MMQB's Kalyn Kahler for a fascinating question-and-answer feature to discuss his stance.

NFL News
NFL 'monitoring' UK situation with 3 games (including Giants-Rams) there this year.

June 24 Odell Beckham Jr. is the best in the league after the catch. Beckham was the only elite receiver in the Top 15 of YAC+. Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Dez Bryant and others all finished well behind Beckham in this statistic.

The Giants return the core of their special teams in 2016 after a record-setting season for the outfit. From Josh Brown turning in one of the top-five scoring campaigns in team history to Dwayne Harris doing something no other Giant had done since 1955, there's no overlooking the third phase of the game heading into 2016.

NFL NEWS
Beeping football may reduce fumblitis. Coaches have taught ball security for decades, but this technology adds another element.

June 22 The Giants and Jets are scheduled to play their annual preseason game on August 27, but the summer showdown between the crosstown/in-state/across-the-parking lot rivals may be losing its name.

If you have two corners in this league, you're short one because of how often teams use three wide receivers. That was part of the thinking that went into drafting Eli Apple, who joined veterans Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins in the cornerbacks room.

Orleans Darkwa spent the spring on the shelf. OTAs and minicamps went on without him. Darkwa said he could've practiced and played if necessary, but they took the safe route in the spring even though it put him at a disadvantage. This summer will be different.

Former Giants
Rich Seubert, a former New York Giants offensive lineman who helped the team win Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots, has been named the next head coach at Watchung Hillsay.
Lawrence Taylor on Joe Theismann: 'I did him a favor'. Giants great Lawrence Taylor claimed that he did Joe Theismann a favor by breaking the Washington quarterback's right leg on a gruesome sack sequence in 1985 that ended Theismann's career.

June 21 Eli Manning overpaid? That's what Pro Football Focus thinks, as it laid out its case for why the Giants' franchise quarterback is the NFL's most overcompensated player on ESPN.com. Here's what PFF had to say.

June 19 For 10 weeks, the Giants gave new head coach Ben McAdoo all sorts of data, which will help him piece together a depth chart for his first training camp running the show. They stayed healthy throughout their offseason workouts and practices, incorporated their free agent defensive trio of Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins and Damon "Snacks" Harrison, and were given an early indoctrination into McAdoo's methods.

June 18 The Giants swapped quarterbacks at the back end of their roster before the end of the spring when they were awarded Logan Thomas on Friday off waivers. Thomas was released Thursday by the Miami Dolphins. He replaces quarterback B.J. Daniels on the Giants roster.

Cornerback Donte Deayon impresses Giants. Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, first-round pick Eli Apple and Trevin Wade would seem to have the top four spots on lockdown. The Giants will keep at minimum five corners and perhaps even six with the chance that they could sign another veteran such as Leon Hall, who visited earlier this spring, in advance of the season.

How Ben McAdoo and the Giants handled playcalling this spring. It was on again and off again, here and there, not with any sort of consistency or permanent designation. When McAdoo wasn't calling the offensive plays at Giants practices this spring it was offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan's turn.

Why undrafted rookie Romeo Okwara has a good shot to crack Giants roster. While they are set with starters Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon, the Giants have some uncertainties and depth concerns at defensive end after their two stars.

It takes a few years to properly evaluate a draft class, so it is silly to make any pronouncement after six or seven weeks. But (you knew there would be a "but") it is not too early to offer an admittedly hot-take prediction for the 2016 draft picks.

June 17 As the Giants break for six weeks following the completion of minicamp on Wednesday, coach Ben McAdoo hopes they will "all make smart and wise decisions."
Running back Rashad Jennings said he and a few other older Giants met with the younger players to "remind them that they worked their entire life to get to this position and find themselves in one of these buildings and how it can be taken away so quickly."

Five reasons it feels like this will be the Giants' year . Odell Beckham was asked to stop and think ahead for just a moment this week, to dream of a time when he and Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard would all be on the field together.
Players return from their break on July 28 for the start of training camp, and then it's off to the races. Meanwhile, vacation is a relative term for coaches. Here are five things we learned at minicamp.

June 16 Thirty-two. 31. 30. 25. No, those aren't the numbers on a Powerball ticket. They are the Giants' respective league rankings a season ago in overall defense, pass defense, yards-per-play, points-per-game and run defense. It all added up to the NFL's worst defensive unit.
The numbers were pitiful. Last in the league in yards allowed. Thirtieth in points allowed and in sacks. The second-most passing yards allowed in NFL history. It really is no wonder that the 2015 Giants didn't make the playoffs. Steve Spagnuolo doesn't want to hear about that, though.
Steve Spagnuolo had a steely look in his eyes when asked how confident he is that the days of owning the worst defense are over. "They're done," he said. "We're gonna be better. We're gonna be better because of players. We're gonna be better because of better coaching, less mistakes.

Like defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said, it's funny how you have to add a last name to "Eli" now at practice. That's because cornerback Eli Apple, the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is making a name for himself.
Apple, the Giants' first-round draft choice this year, probably won't be a two-time Super Bowl MVP, and isn't going to set team passing records like Eli Manning. But the talented cornerback from Ohio State should contribute as a rookie and for many years afterward.
Eli Apple stood across the line of scrimmage from Odell Beckham Jr. awaiting the snap count. First-round pick from 2016 vs. first-round pick -- and eventual All-Pro -- from 2014. Here we go.
On Wednesday, the Giants' first round draft pick, playing mostly outside, had his best practice of the spring. He broke up passes intended for Odell Beckham Jr. and Roger Lewis, knocking Beckham off balance. Apple then prevented Myles White from coming down with a touchdown in the corner of the end zone.

The Giants have spent the offseason looking for an upgrade at right tackle. Now, with the offseason almost over, they may have found their man.
The Giants are in the market and have inquired about Eugene Monroe, who on Wednesday was released by the Ravens.
Monroe, a native of Plainfield, New Jersey, was a first-round pick of the Jaguars in 2009 and was traded to the Ravens in 2013.
Monroe has season-ending shoulder surgery last season, and has not practiced this offseason. But he recently said he has been medically cleared.

June 15 Victor Cruz has never been so happy to get insulted. Victor Cruz was getting some grief from his teammates Tuesday, and loving every bit of the ribbing.
Cruz said he feels his recovery is "right at that turning point" and that "the plan is definitely to be 100% full go" for training camp.
Cruz ran routes and caught passes. He felt the camaraderie that comes with being able to work alongside Odell Beckham, Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants. Who is the new guy?" teammates joked as he ran through the gauntlet drill.
All parties retain their optimism tinged with caution, because Cruz and the Giants traveled a similar path a year ago, and that ultimately led to nowhere.

Hard as it is to believe, there was a time when Odell Beckham felt he didn't get enough attention, when he craved the spotlight that some of his fellow receivers had. "I tell people now," Beckham was saying on Tuesday, "'Be careful what you ask for.'"
After an offseason that has seen Beckham pop up in tabloids for a variety of reasons from flirting with Khloe Kardashian to training at the house of the rapper Drake, Beckham said he wouldn't mind some of his former anonymity.

June 13 When his position coach reminds him about his veteran status, Giants tight end Will Tye looks around to make sure Kevin M. Gilbride is talking to him. When Larry Donnell is referred to as an elder statesman among the other tight ends, he flinches a bit. No one knows for certain what is going on with the Giants at tight end, as they have collected youngsters with little or no NFL pedigree. Of the five on the roster, only one, Jerell Adams, was even drafted.

It's Monday morning. Time for another edition of Monday Morning Giants to get you caught up on all the weekend's news, and ready for a busy week ahead.
The Giants minicamp will wrap up the team's offseason program this week. The minicamp, which runs Tuesday through Thursday, will follow the same rules as the OTAs as far as having no pads or contact.
Throughout the spring, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has rotated different guys at the slot cornerback, including first-round pick Eli Apple, and projected starters Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins. If that doesn't sound appealing to you, then I don't blame you.

June 12 Special Report - It is not commonplace for NFL teams to find a gold nugget on their roster, especially one who was not drafted out of college. But the Giants might have made just such a discovery with wide receiver/H-back Darius Powe, who is 6-3, 220 and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49. The fact that he attended the University of California and caught passes from the NFL's top overall selection, quarterback Jared Goff, makes him slightly more interesting.

When the Giants close out their offseason program this week with mandatory minicamp at the Quest Diagnostic Training Center, wide receiver Victor Cruz may be doing some real work with his teammates. He could be practicing to some degree for the first time since last November.

Former Giants
Leonard Marshall swapped Big Blue for leafy green. The former Pro Bowl defensive end will appear as one of the keynote speakers at the three-day Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo - coming to the Javits Center on Wednesday.

June 10 Nine down. One to go. As spring football winds down, the New York Giants held their ninth practice of organized team activities on Thursday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. On a windy day not uncommon to East Rutherford, the longest-tenured Giant on defense intercepted the longest-tenured Giant on offense for the highlight of the afternoon.

Eli Manning was revealed as the No. 47-ranked player Wednesday night on NFL Network as Nos. 41-50 of the 2016 edition continued its rollout.
After a two-year absence from the controversial list, Eli Manning has once again been voted one of the Top 100 players in the NFL. The Giants' quarterback, who last appeared on the list in 2013, made his third career appearance on the NFL Network list.

June 8 Entering his third season running McAdoo's offense, Eli Manning in 2016 is looking to follow up two of his best statistical campaigns. The Pro Bowler threw three touchdowns in practice, including a pair from the red zone to tight end Larry Donnell and rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
There has been a buzz around rookie wideout Sterling Shepard since the Giants drafted him in the second round. And former Giants wideout, Super Bowl XLII hero and Montclair native David Tyree says it's obvious why when you see him in action.

Landon Collins was the first rookie safety in franchise history to start all 16 games and the first rookie defensive player to do so since Barry Cofield in 2006. Collins led the Giants with 108 tackles and unquestionably progressed as the season went on, but will probably best be remembered for failing to secure what would have been a game-clinching interception of Tom Brady in what devolved into a crushing 27-26 loss to the Patriots.

Jason Pierre-Paul to warn kids of dangers of fireworks in advance of 4th of July. Two sources familiar with his plans told the Daily News he is planning to do some type of public service announcements in the coming weeks as a way to get the word out that he's serious: Fireworks are dangerous. Kids shouldn't play with them. After all, look what happened to him.

Former Giants
Rueben Randle's first offseason with the Eagles hit a bump when he learned that he needed to have his gallbladder removed.
Rueban Randle had limited opportunities to showcase his talent to the coaching staff this spring because had his gallbladder removed in late May.

NFC East News
NFC Least? Not when it comes to wide receivers as Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham lead the way. Here's a closer look at how the division is catching on.

NFL News
NFL commissioner: No deal with Tom Brady.
NFL Twitter hacker kills off Roger Goodell.

June 7 Head coach Ben McAdoo has consistently insisted that there is no depth chart, nor will there be, at least for a while. Well one guy who seems to be taking full advantage of his opportunities is rookie safety Darian Thompson, who once again split reps on the first-team defense with third-year player Nat Berhe.
In the early moments of red-zone play during Monday's OTA workout in East Rutherford, Thompson, the club's third-round pick, watched an Eli Manning pass deflect off the hands of receiver Odell Beckham Jr., then alertly made the interception.

When Justin Pugh defended teammates Marshall Newhouse and John Jerry from their very loud critics last week, it may have been one of the most important blocks he has thrown. Not because it stopped people in the outside world from fretting over that right side of the line, but because of what it meant inside the Giants' offensive line room.
Marshall Newhouse started 14 games for the Giants last season. By now, many observers figured there would be a new right tackle on the scene, but there is not. On Monday, Newhouse again lined up with the starters during another Organized Team Activity practice.

The sound of a familiar voice barking out assignments brought some comfort for undrafted cornerback Donte Deayon in his quest to stand out among the Giants.
His name is Donte Deayon, nickname Neon, given him by his mother, a Deion Sanders fan, and he stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 160 pounds.

You won't have to worry about Jason Pierre-Paul this Fourth of July. "I'll be gone," the Giants defensive end said of the holiday coming up next month. "I won't even be in the United States. Where I'm going, they don't celebrate the Fourth of July."
JPP can and should celebrate this: He's alive, he's playing football, and he's done his absolute best to turn a horrible negative into something positive. In truth, he's handled his tragedy better than anyone ever imagined he would.

June 5 What do the Giants really have with Ryan Nassib? The untrained eye can see that Nassib is light-years ahead of where he was at this point two years ago when McAdoo arrived with the new Giants offense. Even the Giants can't be certain if Nassib will stick around or if he's even the answer when Manning's career eventually comes to a close.

Justin Pugh played guard (and some tackle) for the Giants last season at 310 pounds. In his estimation, it wasn't enough. He could survive long-term as a tackle at that weight, but not as a guard.

June 4 The Giants wrapped up the week with their sixth of 10 organized team activities (OTAs) on Friday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Players will be back on the field June 6, 7, 9, and 10 before mandatory minicamp runs June 14-16.

Andre Williams has posted some impressive numbers this offseason. He lost 12 pounds of fat and reduced his waist from 36 to 31½ inches. The Giants' third-year running back hopes the reduction in those numbers leads to an increase in others, most notably his rushing total, which dropped precipitously when he was an NFL sophomore in 2015.

The latest no-name tight end to bubble to the surface with the Giants may already be making his move at organized team activities. This is Matt LaCosse's big chance. He was signed as an undrafted free agent last year but was waived early in training camp when he suffered a hamstring injury. He was re-signed later in the season and worked his way into the lineup by Week 16.
The Giants signed Will Johnson away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in April. He's currently listed on the team roster as a fullback, but Johnson has worked with the tight ends so far during the two OTA practices open to the media. McAdoo has been coy so far about how he plans to utilize Johnson.

June 3 As the NFL hit 100 days to Kickoff Weekend, the Giants reached the midway point of organized team activities on Thursday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. A pair of young tight ends led what was a loaded highlight reel during the fifth of 10 OTA practices.  Photos

The Giants never came out and told Geremy Davis he would be inactive for the final six games of last season. But the wideout quickly realized he was unlikely to see any more game time during his rookie season. After a nondescript first season in the league, Davis has impressed so far this offseason.

Safety first? According to both fans and media, one of the New York Giants' biggest offseason needs was the safety position. The Giants' personnel department, as is often the case, saw things differently.

Odell Beckham Jr. is more popular than Tom Brady and every non-QB in the NFL. What the list says is that quarterbacks are king when it comes to the NFL. (Not a surprise.) Of the 16 NFL players on the ESPN list, 12 are quarterbacks, with Beckham the most popular non-quarterback.

Former Giants
Tiki Barber picks Kirk Cousins over Eli Manning as best quarterback in the NFC East.
Steve Weatherford, one of the world's most noted workout fiends, says he was thrown out of a local gym for "excessive breathing/grunting."

June 2 Top receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul did not show up for Wednesday's OTA session in East Rutherford, but according to Giants head coach Ben McAdoo, both players' absences from the nonmandatory workout were expected.
Voluntary or not, anticipated or not, McAdoo made it clear he would like to see everyone at these workouts. Last week, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie missed the opening OTA practice.

It certainly is a lot easier to make the most impressive catch of the day at Giants practice when the king of the art form, Odell Beckham Jr., is not in attendance. But Geremy Davis' sideline grab over cornerback Janoris Jenkins on Wednesday might have stood up to just about anything Mr. One-Handed-Grab could have shown.

When Darian Thompson showed up for his rookie minicamp, the Giants coaches were impressed right away with his ability to run the defense from the free safety position. In the very first workout he was yelling orders and making checks to get everyone lined up properly.

The more one sees New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo's program unfold, the more there is to like. Very early on, McAdoo once said that the goal is to train the way they want to play the game. That means at an upbeat tempo and with a focus on fundamentals.

Justin Pugh has heard the criticisms about the right side of the Giants offensive line, and he thinks they're unfair.Pugh's confidence stems from his intimate knowledge of his teammates, their preparation, their work habits, the way they think, and the kind of people they are.
The Giants' 2015 offensive line consisted of Pugh at left guard, Weston Richburg at center, Ereck Flowers at left tackle and Jerry and Newhouse on the right side. Speculation was rampant Newhouse and/or Jerry would be replaced as starters.
Pugh offered unconditional endorsements for Newhouse and Jerry, calling Newhouse "a hell of a player" and saying Jerry "has to be one of the most underrated guards in the NFL."

One of the qualities the Giants liked about Keenan Robinson when they signed him is his ability to provide a presence in pass coverage. The Giants were routinely carved up by tight ends down field last season.

June 1 After some BBQs and golfing on a long Memorial Day weekend, the Giants get back to work on Wednesday. They'll take the field at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center for organized team activities (OTA). The full details for this workout which is open to the media.
The Giants held three OTA practices last week, leaving seven more (June 1-3, June 6-7, June 9-10) to complete before a three-day mandatory minicamp opens June 14.

O-line continuity - which every team craves - could bite Giants. As it currently stands, their offensive line could return intact from 2015, prompting more alarm than glee. Three of the spots are safe and secure: Ereck Flowers at left tackle, Justin Pugh at left guard and Weston Richburg at center.
The results of Flowers' rookie year indicate there should be real concern. He struggled to handle pass rushers off the edge, and led the league in pressures allowed. Until he blossoms into the player the Giants expected when they drafted Flowers ninth overall in 2015, it's far from a given.

NFL News
The NFL is moving the Pro Bowl from Honolulu to Orlando this season, three people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

May 29 Anthony Dable's path to the Giants' training facility is so improbable, so ridiculous that it is hard to believe it wasn't made up by a bunch of Hollywood scriptwriters.

Giants rookie Eli Apple was finishing up his first day of organized team activities Monday when ESPN announced that his mother, Annie, would be joining its "Sunday NFL Countdown" pregame show as a contributor.
ESPN's decision to hire Annie Apple works for all involved parties - except the Giants. Say there is some controversy involving the Giants. It's reasonable to suggest the "Countdown" crew might turn to Annie Apple for her opinion. If they don't, they won't be doing their job.

May 27 Andre Williams looks to move on from sophomore season bust. Do not give up on Andre Williams. That was the strong sentiment and nearly verbatim plea of coach Ben McAdoo a few weeks after a dismal season for the Giants and Williams mercifully came to an end.

Something was missing from that 2015 defense that allowed it to flounder near the bottom in most statistical rankings. Not only were they shorthanded in talent at several positions, they also clearly lacked leadership. J.T. Thomas is hoping to change that.

May 25 Special Report - Hate to keep harping on the Giants' offensive line, but it is critical to the health and well-being of both quarterback Eli Manning and whichever running back offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan chooses to put on the field in what seems to be a merry-go-round program for 2016.
The problem is this: The left side of the line appears to be solid, with tackle Erick Flowers, guard Justin Pugh and center Weston Richburg. But that leaves two more hopeful starters, as right guard and right tackle, and for the moment the names are John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse.

Any way you look at it, the Giants need Owa Odighizuwa. He's their contingency plan off the edge for Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul. He's also the best hope to be their next Justin Tuck or Robert Ayers, pass rushers who did damage from multiple spots on the defensive line.

NFL News
Patriots join 'Deflategate' battle in court for first time.

May 25 The Giants resumed organized team activities on Tuesday at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Because of rain in the area, they practiced inside the fieldhouse, where we saw how deep the wide receiver competition will be this summer.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is back. The Giants top cornerback was in the building for Tuesday's OTA workout, a league source confirmed, ending a brief stir surrounding his absence a day earlier.

Why Giants' interchangeable LBs are blessing and curse. Jasper Brinkley is one of eight players at the position on the Giants roster, and seven of them have fairly extensive NFL resumes.

NFL News
NFL approves major changes to replay, challenges.
Super Bowls awarded to Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles.