Giants Hold First OTA Practice; Brian Witherspoon May Have Torn ACL

New York Giants Hold First OTA Practice: The Giants held their first Organized Team Activity (OTA) practice yesterday at the Timex Performance Center. They will hold another today.

Only four Giants were not present for the first voluntary OTA: DE Osi Umenyiora (unhappy with contract), DT Chris Canty (knee), TE Jake Ballard (knee), and TE Adrien Robinson (finishing school).

“All of these workouts are important for everybody to get back into a football mentality,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Our first thing out here is safety. We don’t have any pads on; we don’t even have shells on now. We do have helmets in this phase. We can go against each other a little bit in this phase. But the development is real important. Just to learn the new language is really critical…to get the communication down, the adjustments down. All this stuff is very, very important, obviously, to the development of our team.

“I just told the players: We have two OTAs this week, three next, four the following, we have the White House (visit), and then we have a mandatory (mini-camp) camp. Before you know it, we’ll be in training camp. We need to have a good focus, a good concentration now, a good learning – everybody kind of build themselves back up to football speed.”

“It’s real basic stuff, basic install,” said OG Kevin Boothe. “But it’s good to have that refresher and find basic ways to improve on certain plays. I think that’s where the veterans are looking. The rookies are looking to learn the plays. We’re looking to improve the plays. We’re doing a lot of film study of previous years, including last year, and working on our technique and trying to improve.”

For an overview of yesterday’s practice, see the following report:

• The Star-Ledger (Practice Report)

A Sights & Sounds video of yesterday’s OTA practice is available at Giants.com.

CB Brian Witherspoon May Have Torn ACL Again: CB Brian Witherspoon, who torn the ACL in his knee last preseason, appears to have torn the same ligament during yesterday’s OTA practice.

“I’m afraid it was an ACL again,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Yes, (the same one.)”

“It was heartbreaking,” said CB Terrell Thomas of Witherspoon’s injury. “Just a basic Cover 2 drill, seemed like the knee just gave out.”

TE Martellus Bennett and CB Antwaun Molden left practice early with hamstring injuries.

CB Terrell Thomas, who tore his ACL last August, was limited to individual drills. “I’m in no rush,’’ Thomas said. “I’ve been saying it from day one. I’m in no rush. I’m ahead of schedule and I’m going to do what I can and going to keep pushing it but I’m not going to rush it at all…Training camp, I’ll be a full go, without a doubt. The way my knee’s feeling right now, I should be able to do everything by then.”

WR Domenik Hixon, who tore his ACL last September, practiced. “I felt good,” said Hixon. “Didn’t even think about it.”

CB Prince Amukamara (foot) and TE Travis Beckum (knee) are still recovering from offseason medical procedures.

WR Dan DePalma is recovering from offseason hip surgery.

New York Giants to Be Honored at White House on June 8th: The Giants will be honored at the White House on June 8th for winning the 2011 NFL Championship.

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&A’s: Video clips of yesterday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• HB David Wilson (Video)
• WR Victor Cruz (Video)
• DE Justin Tuck (Video)
• CB Terrell Thomas (Video)

Article on Head Coach Tom Coughlin: Coach Coughlin Earns Special Award by Michael Eisen of Giants.com

Article on QB Eli Manning: Eli Manning is No Longer ‘Peyton’s Little Brother’ by Lee Roth of The Democrat & Chronicle

Article on WR Victor Cruz: Cruz Adjusting to New Role with Giants by Kieran Darcy of ESPNNewYork.com

Article on OC David Baas: David Baas Establishing Himself at Center by Dave Salomone of Giants.com

Article on OT Matt McCants: Giants Rookie Matt McCants Awaits Challenge of Facing Pro Bowl Ends in Practice by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Article on FB/RB Joe Martinek: Rutgers’ Martinek Trying to Stick as Giants FB by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Article on CB Justin Tryon: CB Tryon Works Back From Broken Arm by Dan Salomone of Giants.com