Giants Draft Two Defensive Backs on Day One:  Without moving up or down in the draft, the Giants selected safety Kenny Phillips (Miami) and cornerback Terrell Thomas (USC) in the first and second rounds respectively of the 2008 NFL Draft.

For a scouting report on both players as well as media Q&A transcripts with General Manager Jerry Reese, Director of College Scouting Marc Ross, Head Coach Tom Coughlin, and Phillips, see the 2008 NFL Draft Review section of the website.

Here are the videos of today’s media Q&A sessions from Giants.com:

• General Manager Jerry Reese
• Head Coach Tom Coughlin
• Director of College Scouting Marc Ross

Video highlights of both players are available at Giants.com:

• Safety Kenny Phillips
• Cornerback Terrell Thomas

TE Jeremy Shockey Remains a New York Giant:  Despite media reports and internet rumors to the contrary, TE Jeremy Shockey was not traded to another team today.  Interestingly, General Manager Jerry Reese and Head Coach Tom Coughlin  did not address the media until after the New Orleans Saints had made their second-round selection.  That pick was rumored to be a part of any trade package that would be necessary to obtain Shockey.

The Daily News‘ Giants’ Blog is reporting that the trade to New Orleans did not occur because the Saints never came close to meeting the Giants’ trade demands.  An NFL source told The Daily News that the Giants would not lower their demands.  The Blog now says the Giants were serious about not wanting to trade Shockey, but were willing to listen to offers.  The Daily News says the Saints offered their second-round pick in the 2008 Draft and either a sixth-round pick in the 2008 Draft or a fifth-round pick in the 2009 Draft.

"Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end," said Reese.  "And I’m going to leave it at that.  Let’s talk about the draft pick.  There is really nothing to talk about.  Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end, and really that is the end of the story.  Anybody want to talk about the draft pick?"

"Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and that is the way it is," said Coughlin.  "Despite all that has been said and what have you, as I stand here right now, he is our starting tight end."

When Coughlin was asked if Shockey was close to being traded, Coughlin responded, "I don’t know that.  There has been a lot of talk, very little activity."

Coughlin was then asked if a trade possibility was dead.  "There is so much that goes on with regard to the draft in terms of picks and players that you learn over the years that the discussions come and go," said Coughlin.  "Whether there is any seriousness to them that is probably for someone else to say.  These conversations are made all the time.  The phone does ring.  This has been reported in the paper.  There have been comments about it and I don’t really have anything else to say other than the fact that Jeremy Shockey, while a New York Giant, while playing in our program, has worked very hard.  He has done a good job in mentoring, if you will, a lot of these young guys that had to come through and play for us this year, and he has outstanding ability, as you all know, and there is no change in that status as of right now."

BBI Draft Preview Article - Linebackers:  Our 2008 Draft Preview: Linebackers article by KWALL is now available in The Draft section of the website.

BBI on Vermont Radio This Saturday:  Eric, the senior editor and owner of BigBlueInteractive.com, will be interviewed on ESPN/WCAT 1390 (Burlington, Vermont) this Saturday at 10:40AM to discuss the Giants and this weekend’s NFL draft.  The show will be streamed live at www.wcat1390.com.

More on Shockey:  According to today’s Star-Ledger, "multiple, unspecified teams" have made trade offers for disgruntled TE Jeremy Shockey, but the trade proposals "haven’t been good enough for the Giants to even consider trading Shockey."  One source told the paper that the Giants are seeking a first-round pick in return for the tight end.  Another unidentified team source told the paper that the Giants are not convinced Shockey will hold out if a trade or a new role on offense is not presented, even though Shockey apparently threatened to do so.

Newsday is reporting that most inquiries for Shockey "have been cursory and short-lived" according to one source.  The paper says the Saints have only offered their second-round pick in the upcoming draft for the tight end.

Editorial on TE Jeremy Shockey:  Giants Should Only Trade Shockey for Real Value by Bob Glauber of Newsday

Umenyiora Says He Will Not Hold Out:  DE Osi Umenyiora says he is not thrilled with his current contract, but he also says he will not hold out in an effort to obtain a new one.

"Right now it’s not the time for me to try to do anything crazy like that," said Umenyiora.  "I’m not going to say I wasn’t thinking about it.  I mean, come on, you see what’s going on out there (with escalating salaries), but I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.  I’m happy to be here.  I want to be here.  I don’t want to seem disrespectful.  I don’t want to do anything crazy.  I’m cool…Of course I’d like to get paid more, no question.  But I’m OK."

Umenyiora signed a 6-year, $41 million contract extension in December 2005 that currently keeps him under contract through the 2012 season.  He says he has not approached the Giants about renegotiating his contract nor does he intend to do so in the near future.  "The Giants are a first-class organization," said Umenyiora.  "When it’s time to do the right thing, they will do the right thing.  Right now, I’m just going to go out and try to earn what they’ve paid me already."

Article on LB Gerris Wilkinson:  Making a Move by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Quotes:  DE Osi Umenyiora on DE Michael Strahan:  "I talked to him after the season and I thought he was going to retire.  I talked to him a month ago and I thought he was coming back.  And then I talked to him maybe a week ago and I thought he was going to retire.  It just changes day to day with Michael."

BBI Draft Preview Article - Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Running Backs:  Our 2008 Draft Preview: Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Running Backs article by KWALL is now available in The Draft section of the website.

Shockey Trade Talk Won’t Go Away:  The Daily News is reporting that the Seattle Seahawks are now also interested in possibly trading for TE Jeremy Shockey.  Earlier reports had said the New Orleans Saints had offered the Giants their #2 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft for Shockey.  The paper says one source has indicated that other unidentified teams have expressed an interest as well.

The Daily News says that team sources have said the Giants are not actively shopping Shockey but have listened to offers and are considering the possibility.  The paper also reports that some sources within the organization believe Shockey will be traded before the first day of the draft (this Saturday) is over.  Other sources have told The Daily News that it will depend on the strength of the trade offers.

Editorial on TE Jeremy Shockey:  Giants Should Trade Unhappy Shockey by Arthur Staple of Newsday

Tyree Has Knee Surgery:  WR David Tyree had surgery on his right knee last week and will not be able to practice until training camp starts in late July.  He will miss the Organized Team Activity (OTA) days and the full-squad mini-camp.  The details of the injury are not known but Tyree said the knee "locked up on him" at some point during the past couple of weeks.  The Daily News Giants’ Blog is reporting that Tyree may have partially torn his meniscus.

"It more or less happened after (the season)," Tyree said.  "It’s something that they basically had to go in, take care of and clean up…I had to go take care of business.  I looked at the MRI and it was the best decision.  It was basically do it now or take the chance of going into the season and have something worse happen."

"I’m not the least bit worried about it and I’ll be ready for training camp," said Tyree.

Giants Looking to Address Defensive Tackle Position?:  According to The Daily News‘ Giants’ Blog, team source says the Giants are interested in addressing the defensive tackle position in this weekend’s NFL Draft.  The team supposedly wants to improve its interior pass rush.  The Blog speculates that DT Fred Robbins may not be with the Giants more than another season due to age and salary concerns.

Media Q&A With LT David Diehl:  The video of yesterday’s media Q&A session with LT David Diehl is available at Giants.com.

Notes and Quotes:  TE Darcy Johnson, who was the front runner for the #2 tight end position until he was forced to have knee surgery during training camp last year, says his knee is 100 percent.  Johnson says his weight is now up to 270.

TE Kevin Boss on the assertion by some that the Giants were better off without TE Jeremy Shockey last season: "It’s disappointing to me, it upsets me how he’s been treated in the media since the Super Bowl.  People have kind of just given up on him.  It’s upsetting for all of us as a team to have all of our teammates talked about like that…It would tear anybody up.  That’s upsetting for all of us as a team.  We wouldn’t have been there without Jeremy.  He made a lot of big plays to get us where we were…He’ll be back.  I’ve got a lot more to learn from him.  He’s been a great mentor.  Obviously he’s a better player than me.  He can do some things I can’t yet."

Giants and the 2008 Draft:

• Giants Eye More Jerry Reese Picking by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News
• Giants on the Clock by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post
• After High-Impact Drafts, Giants Can Cruise by Tom Rock of Newsday
• Giants GM Reese Knows NFL Draft is a Crapshoot by Rick Carpiniello of The Journal News

Eli Gets Married:  Giants’ Eli Manning Married in Mexico by Jo Piazza of The Daily News

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Shockey Would Welcome Trade?:  According to today’s Daily News, TE Jeremy Shockey is frustrated with the Giants and would welcome a trade to the New Orleans Saints.  The paper says Shockey is telling friends he is upset with his role in the Giants’ offense, his contract, and the perception that the Giants’ late-season success was based on his absence.  He also is apparently worried that he will be blamed if the team fails in 2008.

Team sources have told the paper that "at least two clubs" have inquired about Shockey and "the Giants have made it clear they are willing to listen."  The Daily News says the Saints offered their second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft for Shockey last month but the Giants wanted more.  "We’re not just going to give him away," said one unidentified team source.  With Shockey coming off a broken leg and never being able to complete a full 16-game season, team sources told the paper that they do not believe the bidding will get high enough for the Giants to seriously consider trading Shockey.

The Daily News says Shockey could not be reached for comment and that his agent would also not comment on the situation.

General Manager Jerry Reese’s Pre-Draft Press Conference:  The transcript of yesterday’s pre-draft press conference with General Manager Jerry Reese is available at Giants.com.  The video of the press conference is also available at Giants.com:

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III
• Part IV

Main highlights from the press conference:

• DE Michael Strahan:  Reese says Strahan has not made a decision as to whether he will retire or not.  "We would like for Michael to make a decision before (the draft), but I don’t think that would happen," said Reese.  "He has been around, he deserves to take whatever time he needs to take.  Sooner is better for us, but it is not going to weigh on any decisions on what we are going to do in the draft.  We are going to try to draft good players in the draft whether Michael is here or not.  I don’t think that weighs too much on who we are drafting…If he decides to play, how long is he going to play?  Is it one year?  Two years?  Who knows if he decides to play how long he is going to play, so we will draft again just like if he is going to be here or if he is not going to be here.  It is not going to affect us in the draft."

• LB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka:  "Kiwi gives us flexibility," said Reese.  "We like guys like that, guys that give you some flexibility.  Kiwi can play defensive end, he can play linebacker for us, so he gives us some flexibility.  That is a good problem to have with Kiwi.  Right now on the depth chart he is a linebacker, but that doesn’t mean he will be a linebacker when we play the Redskins on Thursday (in the regular season opener)."

• TE Jeremy Shockey:   When Reese was asked about the trade rumors, he responded, "Right now all I can say on Jeremy Shockey is that he is our starting tight end…I have not (contacted other teams about Shockey)…There have been conversations (with other teams)…Anything can happen in personnel, but right now, like I said, Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and we are looking forward for him to be back on the field for us this fall…I think he wants to be part of the football team."

• Injury Report:   "From our doctors and trainers, everybody has said that (Shockey’s) leg is coming along well, so he will be ready to go…I don’t think we have any issues medically.  (WR Plaxico Burress) is going to be fine, (HB) Derrick Ward is going to be fine, Kiwi, all those guys are ready to go.  They will be ready to go…Not necessarily right now, when I say ready to go, I am talking about training camp.  They are going to be ready to go for training camp unless they have some kind of setback at some point."
  

Change in Giants’ Preseason Schedule:  The NFL announced yesterday that the Giants-Panthers preseason game in Charlotte has been switched to a Giants-Lions preseason game in Detroit.  For the complete 2008 Giants’ preseason schedule, see the 2008 Schedule section of the website. 

One More Pre-Draft Visit Revealed:  According to The Star-Ledger’s Giants’ Blog, TE/FB John Tereshinski (Wake Forest) will meet with the Giants prior to the 2008 NFL Draft.  See yesterday’s "News and Notes" update for 27 other pre-draft visits.

Review of BBI Draft Chat With Colin of the Great Blue North Draft Report:  The transcript of yesterday’s chat session with Colin, the editor of the Great Blue North Draft Report, is available in The Corner Forum of the website.