Josh Cribbs Could Sign with New York Giants?; The Month of May for the Giants

Josh Cribbs Could Sign with New York Giants?: According to ProFootballTalk.com, unrestricted free agent WR/Returner Josh Cribbs will likely sign with one of four teams: the Giants, Jets, Raiders, or Lions. Cribbs visited the Giants last week.

The Month of May for the New York Giants: The Giants are currently in the last week of “Phase Two” of the offseason workout program. This portion of the program includes on-field workouts that involve individual player instruction and drills as well as limited team drills (i.e., no offensive vs. defense). No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

“Phase Three” begins next week and will last four weeks. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permissible. The Giants will also hold Organized Team Activity (OTA) workouts on May 22-23 and May 29-31 this month.

QB Eli Manning hopes restricted free agent WR Victor Cruz will return to work very soon. “We get into some real practices next week,” said Manning yesterday. “So hopefully as we get kind of into those live going-against-a-defense practices, he will get back in so we can get back to work.”

New York Giants Hoping WR Jerrel Jernigan Steps It Up: The Giants have made it clear that it is time for WR Jerrel Jernigan to begin making plays. Jernigan was drafted by the Giants in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft, but he has only caught three passes for 22 yards in his first two years in the NFL.

The Giants envision Jernigan as a weapon out of the slot position.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Jerrel Jernigan and what he can do inside,” said Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride last Friday. “I think it’s about time that he steps up and I think we feel he has enough ability and he’s been here now long enough. Until Victor (Cruz) gets back, he’ll be the main guy inside at the slot position. It’s a chance for him to shine and step forward and do the things that we believe he can do…really it’s JJ inside…It’s going to be a great opportunity for him.”

“Hopefully Victor is back very soon and will play at a high level,” said QB Eli Manning yesterday. “Jerrel’s also got to be able to help us. He has speed, he has skills, been in the system now a number of years so hopefully he can step up and fill a role for us. The more talented guys you have on the team able to make plays for you the better off you’ll be.”

Jersey Number Changes: Per Giants.com, the following players have new jersey uniform numbers:

• WR Jeremy Horne – #13 (Ramses Barden’s old #)
• TE Jamie Childers – #87 (Domenik Hixon’s old #)
• TE Michael Palmer – #85 (Martellus Bennett’s old #)
• OG Eric Herman – #62
• DT Shaun Rogers – #95 (Rocky Bernard’s old #)
• DT Frank Okam – #70
• LB Aaron Curry – #59 (Michael Boley’s old #)
• CB Junior Mertile – #49
• S John Stevenson- #48

Giants.com Q&A With OL Justin Pugh: The video of a recent Giants.com interview with OL Justin Pugh is available at Giants.com.

Giants.com Q&A With QB Ryan Nassib: The transcript of a recent Giants.com interview with QB Ryan Nassib is available at Giants.com.

Article on OL Justin Pugh: Giants’ Justin Pugh Ready, Willing and Able to Slide to the Right Side by Dave Hutchinson of The Star-Ledger

Article on S Cooper Taylor: Giants Safety Beats Heart Issue by Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record

Quotes: Giants’ Chairman/Executive VP Steve Tisch on LB Aaron Curry: “He’s got such an athletic talent. I know he is going to be very focused in these (OTAs) through training camp. I’m glad we got him. I think he can be a real game-changer.”

QB Eli Manning on QB Ryan Nassib: “Seems like a good kid and talented. Got to see just a few games of film while he was at Syracuse. He is working hard and doing everything he can to learn the system and get up to speed on everything. Look forward to having him in the meeting room and getting to know him.”