Big Blue Interactive

Steve Weatherford – Photo by Icon Sports Media

Injury Report – Seven Miss Practice: HB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), WR Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), OC David Baas (abdomen/neck), LB Chase Blackburn (calf), LB Jacquian Williams (foot), CB Corey Webster (hamstring), and CB Will Blackmon (knee) missed practice yesterday.

“We are trying to be smart and not aggravate something that is there that will be able to be managed in a short amount of time and make sure that there is not anything else that happens,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin of the players held out of practice.

“I’m not (worried about it),” said Nicks. “This is what you play for, whether it’s hurting or not, I’m gonna go regardless. Right now I’m taking these little bit of days that we got to get it back better. Not any big deal. Early this season, I landed on it again in the game, it’s a little sore, just working on my range of motion right now.”

“I got my neck issue and it should be fine,” Baas said. “I massage, ice, all the normal stuff. But (I) should be back out there tomorrow doing stuff.”

DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee) practiced on a limited basis.

S Tyler Sash (concussion) fully practiced.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Thursday Press Conference: The transcript of yesterday’s press conference with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at Giants.com.

Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of yesterday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• WR Victor Cruz (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• WR Mario Manningham (Video)
• WR Devin Thomas (Video)
• TE Jake Ballard (Video)
• OT Kareem McKenzie (Video)
• OG Kevin Boothe (Video)
• DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Video)
• LB Mathias Kiwanuka (Video)
• S Antrel Rolle (Video)
• S Deon Grant (Video)
• S Tyler Sash (Video)

WFAN Interview with WR Devin Thomas: The audio of yesterday’s WFAN interview with WR Devin Thomas is available at CBSNewYork.com.

Articles on the Giants’ Preparation for the Super Bowl:

• Giants Players Staying in the Moment by Michael Eisen of Giants.com
• Giants Take Time Out to Focus on Families by Ben Shpigel of The New York Times

Article on the 2011 New York Giants: The Skinny on Beating the Giants by Greg A. Bedard of The Boston Globe

Article on the Giants and QB Tom Brady: Giants Will Never Forget Brady Slight by Steve Serby of The New York Post

Article on Head Coach Tom Coughlin and Former Giants FB Charles Way: Unsung Giant Showed Coughlin the Way by Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on Head Coach Tom Coughlin: No Quit in Coach Coughlin by Mike Lupica of The Daily News

Article on the Giants’ Offensive Line: Offensive Line Looking to Rebound by Matt Ehalt of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on WR Victor Cruz: Cruz Has Hoboken to Thank for Success by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on WRs Devin Thomas and Michael Clayton: Giants’ Devin Thomas, Michael Clayton Connect as Kindred Spirits by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Article on DE Jason Pierre-Paul: Pierre-Paul’s Childhood Lessons Keep Him Grounded by George Willis of The New York Post

Article on DT Jimmy Kennedy: Kennedy ‘Pissed Off’ About Not Playing, But Trying to ‘Transfer Anger’ by Jeff Roberts of The Bergen Record

Article on S Deon Grant: Grant Gets Opportunity to Right Some Wrongs by Dan Salomone of Giants.com

Article on OT Tony Ugoh, DT Rocky Bernard, S Antrel Rolle, and S Deon Grant: Four Giants Recall Being on the Losing Side of the Super Bowl by Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record

Articles on Giants’ President/CEO John Mara:

• Mara Rides Whirlwind Clear Into Super Bowl by Sam Borden of The New York Times
• Giants’ John Mara Has Brought His Father’s Team Into a New Era by Dave D’Alessandro of The Star-Ledger

Article on Former Giants QB Phil Simms and Super Bowl XXI: Simms Like Yesterday for Super Phil by Hank Gola of The Daily News

BBI Store Updated with NFC Championship Gear: Check out the NFC Championship gear in the BBI Store!

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Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of yesterday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• DE Justin Tuck (Video)
• LB Michael Boley (Video)
• S Antrel Rolle (Video)
• PK Lawrence Tynes (Video)
• P Steve Weatherford (Video)

ESPN Radio Interview With WR Victor Cruz: The audio of yesterday’s ESPN Radio interview with WR Victor Cruz is available at ESPN.com.

Player Interviews on WFAN: Audio of yesterday’s interviews with the following players is available at CBSNewYork.com:

• DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Audio)
• S Antrel Rolle (Audio)

Article on Head Coach Tom Coughlin and QB Eli Manning: Déjà Vu All Over Again by Peter King of SportsIllustrated.com

Article on QBs Eli and Peyton Manning: Peyton Manning a Cheerleader for His Brother by Judy Battista of The New York Times

Articles on QB Eli Manning:

• Eli Manning Says the Super Bowl is All Business by Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record
• The Patriots Don’t Have Eli by Aditi Kinkhabwala of The Wall Street Journal

Article on P Steve Weatherford: Giants Punter Steve Weatherford Doesn’t Keep Calm, Even in Most Important Moments by Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger

Article on Giants’ Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Chris Mara: Chris Mara Eyeing a Different Trophy by Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on Former Giants’ Owner Wellington Mara: Spirit of Mara Can Still Be Felt by Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post

Articles on Former Giants’ WR David Tyree:

• Tyree Still Using Head and Heart by Tim Smith of The Daily News
• For David Tyree Serendipity Can Create a Moment to Hang Your Hat On by Dave D’Alessandro of The Star-Ledger

BBI Store Updated with NFC Championship Gear: Check out the NFC Championship gear in the BBI Store!

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In Overtime, Giants Win NFC Championship: The New York Giants defeated the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime on Sunday night. With the victory, the Giants won their fifth NFC Championship in team history and have earned the right to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5.

The game was a slugfest. The offensive star of the game for the Giants was QB Eli Manning, who completed 32-of-58 passes for 316 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. However, as an indication of the fierceness of the contest, Manning was officially sacked 6 times and hit 12 times.

The Giants dominated in terms of the number of offensive plays (90 to 57) and time of possession (39:36 to 28:18), but only held a slight advantage in total net yards (352 to 328). The Giants out-gained the 49ers in net yards passing (267 to 178), but the 49ers rushed for nearly twice as many yards (150 to 85). The deciding statistic was turnovers. The 49ers’ special special teams turned the ball over twice. The Giants did not turn the football over.

In five first-half possessions, the 49ers punted four times. However, on their second possession of the game, QB Alex Smith hit TE Vernon Davis for a 73-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 advantage. On the other four drives, the 49ers only gained 46 yards and four first downs.

In the Giants’ five first-half possessions, the Giants ran far more plays (43) and first downs (12), but only had 10 points to show for it. After picking up a couple of first downs on their first drive, a sack and fumble by Manning pushed the Giants back to their own 30-yard line and forced a punt. After San Francisco went up 7-0, the Giants moved the ball to the 49er 34-yard line, but the Giants could not convert on 3rd-and-1 (incomplete pass) and 4th-and-1 (HB Brandon Jacobs stuffed). The Giants turned the football over on downs.

After a 3-and-out by San Francisco, the Giants put together their best drive of the first half by driving 69 yards in 10 plays to tie the game at 7-7 with Manning’s 6-yard touchdown pass to TE Bear Pascoe. The key plays on the drive were a 36-yard pass from Manning to WR Victor Cruz on 3rd-and-6 and a 6-yard pass from Manning to Cruz on 3rd-and-4.

The Giants picked up one first down on their fourth possession before punting when Manning was sacked again, this time on 3rd-and-2. After another 3-and-out by the 49ers, the Giants drove 51 yards in 10 plays to set up a 31-yard field goal by PK Lawrence Tynes. Cruz was again Manning’s favorite target on this drive, catching passes of 15, 11, 17, and 13 yards.

At halftime, the Giants led 10-7.

The Giants’ offense was largely shutdown in the second half of the game. In nine second-half possessions, the Giants punted eight times. The Giants only gained five first downs in the 3rd and 4th quarters and went 3-and-out five times.

The 49ers had a little better success. While San Francisco was forced to punt five times, they did regain the lead 14-10 in the 3rd quarter on quick three-play drive. After a 2-yard run by HB Frank Gore, Gore caught a 24-yard pass from Smith. On the very next snap, Smith hit Davis for a 28-yard score.

The first big break for the Giants happened with a little over 11 minutes left in the game. Punting from their own 15-yard line, Steve Weatherford’s 56-yard punt grazed the leg of punt returner Kyle Williams. WR Devin Thomas recovered the muffed punt at the San Francisco 29-yard line. On 3rd-and-7, Manning found WR Hakeem Nicks for 14 yards and a first down. After a holding penalty pushed the Giants back, Manning fired a missile on 3rd-and-15 to WR Mario Manningham for a 17-yard touchdown. The Giants regained the lead 17-14 with 8:34 to play.

But the 49ers responded with a scoring drive of their own. Williams returned the kickoff 40 yards to the San Francisco 45-yard line. After a 5-yard penalty on the Giants, the 49ers picked up 35 yards on runs by Alex Smith and HB Kendall Hunter. The drive stalled at the Giants’ 7-yard line and PK David Akers hit the 25-yard field goal to tie the game with 5:39 to play.

Within those last few minutes of the 4th quarter, the Giants and 49ers both went 3-and-out twice before the Giants did manage to get near midfield after a 30-yard pass from Manning to HB Ahmad Bradshaw. But the drive stalled at the San Francisco 46-yard line and the Giants punted the ball away with less than 30 seconds in regulation. The 49ers ran three plays and reached the Giants’ 32-yard line as time expired.

In overtime, the Giants received the ball first, gained one first down, but then were forced to punt yet again. The 49ers then went 3-and-out. The Giants picked up one first down on their second possession in OT, but then had to punt again as Manning was sacked on 3rd-and-3.

Then came the second huge break of the game. Punting from the Giants’ 44-yard line, Weatherford’s 37-yard punt was returned again by returner Kyle Williams. LB Jacquian Williams forced Williams to fumble and the loose ball was recovered again by Devin Thomas at the San Francisco 24-yard line.

Bradshaw gained 18 yards on three successive runs before Manning took a knee at the 8-yard line. After a 5-yard delay-of-game penalty, Tynes nailed the 31-yard field goal to win the game.

Offensively, aside from Manning’s previously mentioned stats, Cruz caught 10 passes for 142 yards. Bradshaw carried the ball 20 times for 74 yards.

Defensively, DE Justin Tuck (1.5), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (0.5), DE Osi Umenyiora (0.5), and LB Mathias Kiwanuka (0.5) were credited with sacks.

Highlights/lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report: WR Hakeem Nicks injured his shoulder (AC joint) in the game but later returned. S Tyler Sash appears to have suffered a concussion.

Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were HB Da’Rel Scott, WR Ramses Barden, OC Jim Cordle, OT James Brewer, DE Justin Trattou, DT Jimmy Kennedy, and LB Mark Herzlich (ankle).

Article on DE Justin Tuck: Giants’ Justin Tuck Eyeing Super Bowl After a Year Filled With Loss of Family, Emotional Turmoil and Injuries by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

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Injury Update – Ballard and Baas Miss Practice; Nicks Added to Injury Report: TE Jake Ballard (knee) and OC David Baas (illness) missed practice yesterday. Ballard is officially listed as “questionable” for the game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday; Baas is “probable.”

Ballard partially tore his right posterior cruciate (PCL) ligament last month and missed the final two regular-season games. Press reports say Ballard received an injection on Thursday.

“They did a procedure (on Thursday) and there was a little swelling,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “It was not surgery.”

“I’m not concerned,” Ballard said. “I saw a doctor for a little bit last night and performed a procedure and I will be ready to go. They pulled me out to rest me for today.”

“(The recovery is) still pretty slow,” Ballard said. “Like I said, this PCL is not going to heal overnight. It’s usually about six, seven weeks before you really don’t feel it anymore. It’s only been about four maybe. Just playing football, if you land on it or anything, you can re-aggravate it. To really get healthy, you go about six, seven weeks without playing football. That’s not going to happen and I’ll be ready to go.”

The flu bug that hit QB Eli Manning earlier in the week apparently hit Baas yesterday.

HB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle), DE Justin Tuck (shoulder), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), LB Mark Herzlich (ankle), and CB Corey Webster (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis. All six players are listed as “probable” for the game.

“(Nicks) has a basketball ankle at times that he rolls and he did it this afternoon to a certain extent, but he doesn’t think it is going to be too bad,” said Coughlin.

“No, got no reason to be concerned about it,” said Nicks. “It’s an important game. I’ll put it out of my mind and won’t think about it…Just tape it up, wrap it up real good. I’ll be all right.”

QB Eli Manning (illness) fully practiced and is listed as “probable” for the game.

WFAN Interview with Head Coach Tom Coughlin: The audio of yesterday’s WFAN interview with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at CBSNewYork.com.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Friday Press Conference: The transcript and video of yesterday’s press conference with Head Coach Tom Coughlin are available at Giants.com.

Giants.com Q&A With Head Coach Tom Coughlin: The transcript of this week’s Giants.com Q&A with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at Giants.com.

Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of yesterday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• HB Ahmad Bradshaw (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• TE Jake Ballard (Video)
• DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Video)
• DT Chris Canty (Video)
• S Kenny Phillips (Video)

Player Interviews on WFAN: Audio of yesterday’s interviews with the following players is available at CBSNewYork.com:

• HB Ahmad Bradshaw (Audio)
• OG Kevin Boothe (Audio)
• DE Dave Tollefson (Audio)

Articles on Head Coach Tom Coughlin:

• Coughlin Cool, Confident Amid Storm by Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com
• Coach Recruits Patton for Inspiration by Steve Serby of The New York Post

Article on the Giants’ Wide Receivers: Giants Wideouts Have Game if Not Name by Jon Saraceno of USAToday.com

Article on the Giants’ Defensive Backs: Giants’ Defensive Backs Get It Together with the Help of Weekly Get-Togethers by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Article on the Giants’ Rookie Class: Rookies Gain Playoff Experience by Dan Salomone of Giants.com

Article on QB Eli Manning: Developing Arm Strength Feet First by Sam Borden of The New York Times

Articles on S Antrel Rolle:

• Inside the Brain of Antrel Rolle by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com
• Rolle Makes Giant Message Loud & Clear by Ebenezer Samuel of The Daily News

Article on LS Zak DeOssie: Giants’ Zak DeOssie Cherishes Anonymity on the Field by Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record

Article on General Manager Jerry Reese: The Incidental Masterpiece of Giants General Manager Jerry Reese by Greg Hanlon of CapitalNewYork.com

Article on Rev. William Dowd: Chaplain Helps Giants Keep Faith on the Football Field by Chris Harris of The Bergen Record

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BBI Giants-49ers Game Preview: Our preview of the upcoming Giants-49ers game is now available in the Game Previews and Reviews section of the website.

Injury Report – Eli is Sick: Aside from the 13 players on Injured Reserve, HB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) was the only Giant not to practice yesterday.

QB Eli Manning (illness), DE Justin Tuck (shoulder), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), LB Mark Herzlich (ankle), and CB Corey Webster (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis.

Manning left practice early because he was sick.

“Eli started practice but did not finish,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “He has a stomach bug and that is why he appears on the injury list. Hopefully it is just a 24-hour deal and he will feel better tomorrow.”

“You could tell he was hurting bad,” TE Jake Ballard said. “He usually toughs things out like that. You could tell he was dragging, and you don’t like to see your Pro Bowl quarterback throwing up or feeling like that. Hopefully he’s better tomorrow.”

“(I’m not concerned) as long as he’ll be out here tomorrow and Friday and be out here working with us,” said WR Victor Cruz. “It’s tough to pull him away from this field. No matter how sick he was, he didn’t want to leave the field today, but it’s just one of those things where he had to. We understand that, but by no means do I think our timing will be off or anything like that.”

It was Herzlich’s first action since the Saints game in late November. “It felt good,” Herzlich said. “It was awesome to be out there. I didn’t have much pain. It felt like I could do everything so it was feeling good…I’m really not that sore right now. We’ll see how it reacts (today), but as of right now I feel pretty good.”

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Wednesday Press Conference: The transcript and video of yesterday’s press conference with Head Coach Tom Coughlin are available at Giants.com.

Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of yesterday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB David Carr (Video)
• FB Henry Hynoski (Video)
• WR Victor Cruz (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• WR Mario Manningham (Video)
• TE Bear Pascoe (Video)
• OG Chris Snee (Video)
• OG Kevin Boothe (Video)
• DE Justin Tuck (Video)
• DE Dave Tollefson (Video)
• DT Chris Canty (Video)
• LB Michael Boley (Video)
• S Antrel Rolle (Video)

Article on the 2011 New York Giants: Sequels Tend to Outdo the Original by Aditi Kinkhabwala of The Wall Street Journal

Article on the Upcoming Game and the Weather/Field Conditions: Giants vs. 49ers: Weather for NFC Championship Game Could Be Wet by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Article on WR Victor Cruz: Victor Cruz’s Life is on Cruise Control by Tara Sullivan of The Bergen Record

Article on WR Hakeem Nicks: With Incredible 10 1⁄2-Inch Mitts, Hakeem Nicks is Catching Fire for Giants by Lenn Robins of The New York Post

Article on OT Will Beatty: Beatty Missing Giants’ Playoff Run by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Article on DE Justin Tuck: Tuck Puts Away Pain, Steps Up for Team by Michael Eisen of Giants.com

Article on S Antrel Rolle: Antrel Rolle, Giants’ Voice of Reason? by Dan Graziano of ESPN.com

Article on S Derrick Martin: Giants Leader Relishes His Special Duty by Joshua Robinson of The Wall Street Journal

Article on General Manager Jerry Reese: Failure is Not an Option for Jerry Reese by Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on the Previous Giants-49ers Playoff Games: History of Violence: Giants & 49ers by Hank Gola of The Daily News

Quotes: DT Chris Canty on the upcoming Giants-49ers game: “This is not going to be a cute football game. It’s not going to be for the meek and mild. This is going to be a bloodbath. That’s what it’s going to be. They do not try to make it a secret that they try to beat you up. We pride ourselves on being a physical football team. Something’s got to give on Sunday. Something’s got to give.”

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