New York Giants Return Home to the United States

New York Giants Return Home to the United States:  The Giants were scheduled to leave London yesterday afternoon.  The players will be at Giants Stadium today for weight training and conditioning, as well as a team meeting.  Since the Giants have a bye this weekend, the players will then be off until next Monday.

“It will be good to get home, have the off week and get back to a regular schedule,” said QB Eli Manning. “It has been a fun trip, it has been neat. But it has been different. We’re used to the same thing every day and having our normal schedule. Then all of a sudden you’re thrown for a little loop here. But we did a good job of handling it and staying focused on what our goal was, which was to win the game.”

“When you’re on a streak, you want it to continue,” said DE Michael Strahan of the upcoming bye. “You hate to have a break. But at the same time we need a break.  It’s been long for us. We had a Monday night game. We had an early Sunday night game. We had the trip here. We’re tired and we need a break. It comes at the right time for us, eight games into it.”

“After eight straight weeks, the guys are getting tired,” said Manning.

HB Brandon Jacobs, who is still nursing a sore ankle, says he can use the break but he is also already looking forward to playing Dallas on November 11th.  “I hate Dallas,” said Jacobs. “When I was growing up, everybody was for Dallas, and I didn’t like them, for that reason.”

Injury Report:  CB Kevin Dockery injured his shoulder against the Miami Dolphins.  CB Corey Webster filled in for him.  Dockery’s injury is said not to be serious.  X-rays were negative.

Those who will benefit from the bye include Dockery, WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), HB Brandon Jacobs (ankle), HB Derrick Ward (ankle), SS James Butler (ankle/hamstring), and WR Steve Smith (shoulder/hamstring).

Giants Sticking with PK Lawrence Tynes:  Head Coach Tom Coughlin said yesterday that the Giants were not going to change place kickers despite the fact that PK Lawrence Tynes has missed two extra points and a 29-yard field goal thus far this season.  “He’s been our kicker for the first eight games; we are 6-2,” said Coughlin. “There have been some disappointments, but we’re sticking with him.”

Notes:  The Giants are 15-4 in games prior to the regular season bye week, tying them for the second-best record in the NFL.  However, the Giants are also 4-14 in games after the bye.

The last time the Giants won six regular season games in a row was in 1994.

QB Eli Manning is 11-1 as a starting quarterback in October.

DE Michael Strahan has now played in his 208th regular season game, moving into sole possession of first place on the Giants’ career list. He had been tied with former Giant TE Howard Cross.