New York Giants Mini-Camp Begins; Hakeem Nicks Shows Up

New York Giants Mini-Camp Begins: The Giants’ mandatory, full-team mini-camp began on Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday and Thursday. There will be media access on all three days of the mini-camp. Brief reports on Tuesday’s practice are also available from the following sites:

• Giants.com News Flash (Video)
• Giants.com Sights & Sounds (Video)
• Practice Report: No. 88 Back on the Field by Kieran Darcy of ESPNNewYork.com

Wednesday’s schedule:

• 11:00 AM – 12:00 noon – Media Q&A with players
• 3:25 – 5:05 PM – Practice
• After Practice – Tom Coughlin press conference

Hakeem Nicks Shows Up at Mini-Camp: WR Hakeem Nicks, who inexplicably (at least publicly) skipped all of the Giants’ voluntary Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices this spring, reported to mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday.

When asked why he skipped the OTAs, Nicks responded, “I’m not here to talk about that.”

Nicks was also asked if his absence was related to his contract situation. Nicks is entering the last year of his rookie contract. “I told you all back in the spring I don’t really talk about my contract in the media,” said Nicks. “No disrespect to anybody.”

Nicks was also asked about why he failed to let Head Coach Tom Coughlin know that he was not attending the OTAs. “Well, I feel where he was coming from,” said Nicks. “I could have done a better job at reaching out, but I did. We finally got to talk. We got things straightened out on that end. Coach Coughlin…that’s my guy. That relationship can’t go south. I felt where he was coming from. I should have done a better job at reaching out to him, but I’m here now and they’re excited to see me.”

Coughlin was asked if he and Nicks cleared the air. “That’s between he and I,” replied Coughlin. “We talked. We’ll talk again…He’s definitely not in tune with where we are. We’ve had nine OTAs and we’ve thrown a lot at him. He’s just had one meeting. If he’s around, he’ll pick it up quick. He’ll get it fast.”

“I would hope that (QB Eli Manning and Nicks) would do some work between now and (training camp) together so that they would make up for some lost time and one thing I did mention to him is you’ve got to kind of go out in the backyard like you did when you were a kid with the quarterback and you guys get on the same page,” said Coughlin.

Nicks, who suffered foot (broken) and knee injuries last year (offseason arthroscopic knee surgery), was also asked about his health. “The knee is feeling good,” said Nicks. “I’ve been doing everything up to today. We haven’t talked about what I’m going to do yet so far in this mini-camp, but I’m going to talk to Coach Coughlin and then I’ll talk to the trainers and then we’ll take it from there.”

Nicks was also asked about his teammate, restricted free agent WR Victor Cruz, who has been absent from all team activities this offseason. “He’s doing good,” said Nicks. “His mind is in the right spot. He understands the business side of it. He understands the game as well, but he still loves this team and he still wants to be here.”

Injury Report: Head Coach Tom Coughlin was asked if OC David Baas (elbow and other unknown injuries) and OG Chris Snee (hip) would be ready to practice in training camp. “That’s what I’m told, that they will be ready to go,” said Coughlin. “I’m sure there will be some limitations. It won’t be like what it is here. They’ll be able to work.”

Coughlin was also asked about FB Henry Hynoski, who recently underwent knee surgery (MCL and chip fracture). “He’s doing well,” replied Coughlin. “Everyday he’s in there.”

Regarding DE Jason Pierre-Paul (recent back surgery), Coughlin said, “He’s back and he’s here, but he’s in the process of getting to the point where he can do some things and I know that probably for the first three or four weeks he’s not going to be doing much.”

DT Markus Kuhn, who tore the ACL in one of his knees last season, says he hopes to be able to practice by the start of training camp.

CB Terrell Thomas, who is coming off his third ACL surgery in the same knee, performed in some individuals drills on the sidelines.

WR Hakeem Nicks (knee) practiced on a limited basis. “He got some work in today and that was good,” said Coughlin.

Giants Interested in FB Vonta Leach: According to The Star-Ledger, the Giants have expressed interest in FB Vonta Leach, who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday. However, Leach is apparently visiting the Dolphins on Wednesday.

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

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

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)

Article on TE/FB Bear Pascoe: Bear Pascoe Feels Prepared to Take Over as Giants’ Starting Fullback by Michael J. Fensom of The Star-Ledger

Article on LB Mark Herzlich: Herzlich Hopes 2013 is Breakthrough Year by Kieran Darcy of ESPNNewYork.com

Notes: Former Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who was cut by the Giants in February, has signed a 1-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts.