Giants React to the Return of Jason Pierre-Paul; Injury Report

 Posted by
Oct 282015
 
Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants (November 3, 2014)

Jason Pierre-Paul– © USA TODAY Sports Images

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GIANTS REACT TO THE RETURN OF JASON PIERRE-PAUL…
As was to be expected, Head Coach Tom Coughlin was repeatedly asked about the return of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to the team during his press conference on Wednesday.

“(Pierre-Paul) will start with the medical team,” said Coughlin. “He can do all the jog-thru’s, he can be out there for whatever we’re doing pre-practice, then he’s going to slide off to the side with the medical people, be under their supervision. How long that lasts is really according to how well they feel he’s able to proceed. He’s told me that he’s worked against bags, he’s delivered blows on a board and done all of those things. When he came in, he looked good. I asked him what he weighed, he said 268, and he was right on the money. So he’s worked, he’s been working. We’ll just see how fast this comes along.

“(His teammates) looked forward to seeing Jason. He’s excited about being here and he’s anxious to get started. I think that’s a good thing and the rest of the guys picked up on that right away…We’re all rooting for him, to be honest with you. He had a very traumatic experience and he’s done really what appears to be an outstanding job of preparing himself. He is mentally very upbeat, his attitude is outstanding. He’s anxious to go and play right now, to be honest with you. But they’re going to go relatively slow on that. Yeah, it will be a wonderful thing to have him come back, get ready to play, and play and contribute, which is his plan.”

Coughlin was asked how the injuries might now affect his game. “I’m hoping he’s as good as (he was),” replied Coughlin. “If you’ve studied him and you watched how he maneuvers when he does rush the passer, then he’ll use that hand basically as he always has, not necessarily as a grabber, but as a club.”

Pierre-Paul now weighs 268 pounds, down 10 pounds from his previous playing weight. “It’s a good weight,” said Coughlin.

Coughlin was also asked about how much Pierre-Paul will have to catch up with Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive system. “He’s got quite a bit to catch up on,” said Coughlin. “The terminology, sure. But he’s already started on that.”

“There’s no intention right now of him playing Sunday,” said a smiling Coughlin. “He would like to play.”

Pierre-Paul was heartily welcomed back by his teammates at a team meeting on Wednesday morning.

“It was like a standing (ovation),” said cornerback Prince Amukamara. “Everyone just cheered and was excited he’s back.”

“It’s a good day to be a Giant,” said defensive end Robert Ayers when asked about Pierre-Paul. “I think he is going to shock a lot of people…He’s a guy who’s very humbled, hungry, and motivated.”

“We know what we are up front, we know what we’ve been, we know what our strengths and weaknesses have been and he can definitely come and help out and help us improve with some of our weaknesses as a D-line,” said defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins. “He’s still fast as ever, quick as ever…He looked really good out there.”

“It’s no secret that we haven’t rushed the passer as well as we’d like to and I feel like that’s something that he definitely brings to the table, will definitely instantly help us with,” said Jenkins.

“He’s very serious, a lot more quiet, focused on what he has to do because he still has a journey ahead of him,” said Jenkins. “Just because he’s back here, his road getting back hasn’t stopped. He’s still focused on getting through that road.”

NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan has his doubts about Pierre-Paul’s future as a football player (audio from SiriusXM NFL Radio interview).

NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
WR Victor Cruz (calf), RG Geoff Schwartz (ankle), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (hamstring), LB Jon Beason (ankle), LB J.T. Thomas (ankle), and CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral) did not practice on Wednesday.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin already ruled out Cruz and Amukamara for this weekend’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Coughlin said Schwartz should return to practice on Thursday. Thomas was wearing a protective walking boot in the locker room, which is not a good sign for his availability on Sunday.

Because he is still on the Reserve/Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List, the Giants are not required to provide a formal update on OT Will Beatty (pectoral). Beatty returned to practice on a very limited basis last week. The Giants can only keep him on the PUP for two more weeks.

“Beatty is going to get a little bit more, little bit more, little bit more, scout team work,” said Coughlin. “I wouldn’t say (there is a possibility he might play this weekend). He’s got to start (fully practicing), he hasn’t even had shoulder pads on yet.”

LB Uani ‘Unga (neck) was limited and WR Odell Beckham (hamstring) fully practiced. “I think we’re back to the normal routine,” said Beckham who has missed most practices the past two weeks. “I don’t really quite know yet, but I definitely do feel better.”

DWAYNE HARRIS NAMED “NFC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK”…
New York Giants wide receiver/returner Dwayne Harris has been named the “NFC Special Teams Players of the Week” for his performance against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, last Sunday. In that game, Harris scored the game-winning touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the contest. Harris is the first Giants player to win the special teams award since place kicker Josh Brown in Week 15 of the 2013 season. Harris previously won the award three times with the Dallas Cowboys against the Giants, Eagles, and Redskins, giving him an NFC East sweep.

HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
The transcript of Tom Coughlin’s press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
The following transcripts and video of player media sessions on Wednesday are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

The audio of Wednesday’s ESPN Radio interview with wide receiver Rueben Randle is available at ESPN.com.

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants practice on Thursday and hold physical recovery cycles on Friday in advance of Sunday’s away game against the New Orleans Saints.

What a humbling experience this has been for me! I'd like to take the time out to thank God FIRST for giving me a second opportunity to play football. I'd also like to thank the Giants organization for believing in me to play for them again and to be alongside my brothers during the 2015 Season. Also, want to thank my Fiancé, Son, Family , Friends, Eugene Parker, Danny Martoe, Realitivity sports, Dr. Owens, Dr. Askari, Dr. Potparic, Debbie (hand therapist), Mike Alessi, Impact sports facility and staff, Coach John Blake, Pastor O'brien,Fans and everyone who was keeping me in their prayers and believed in me! God is good all the time! Have faith , patience and prayer with you always! Let's go Big Blue! #90PowerCircle #ImBack

A photo posted by Jason Pierre-Paul (@iamjasonpierrepaul) on

Philadelphia Eagles 27 – New York Giants 7

 Posted by
Oct 202015
 
Eli Manning, New York Giants (October 19, 2015)

Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 27 – NEW YORK GIANTS 7…
The New York Giants’ woes against the Philadelphia Eagles continued on Monday night at Lincoln Financial Field as the Giants were dominated by the Eagles 27-7. With the loss, the Giants fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the NFC East.

Odell Beckham, New York Giants (October 19, 2015)

Odell Beckham – © USA TODAY Sports Images

The game started out well for the Giants and then went downhill after that. New York received the ball to start the game and drove 80 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the contest. Quarterback Eli Manning finished the possession with a 13-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Odell Beckham.

The Eagles went three-and-out and the Giants had a chance to put Philadelphia in a bigger hole by driving from their own 37-yard line to the Eagles’ 23-yard line. But on 1st-and-10, Manning’s pass to tight end Larry Donnell was ripped away from Donnell for an interception at the Eagles’ 22-yard line. Then the Giants had a chance to force another three-and-out, but defensive end Damontre Moore was flagged with roughing-the-passer after a 3-yard completion on 3rd-and-10 should have resulted in a punt. Given a reprieve, the Eagles would go on to tie the game on this possession by driving 78 yards in seven plays, culminating with a 32-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Bradford to wide receiver Riley Cooper.

New York moved the ball once again on their third drive, reaching the Eagles’ 41-yard line, but the Giants could not pick up a first down on three successive tries after facing a 2nd-and-1. On 4th-and-1, running back Rashad Jennings lost two yards and the Eagles took over on downs.

The Giants’ defense held and the Eagles punted. However, Philadelphia went up 14-7 when Manning’s pass intended for wide receiver Dwayne Harris was intercepted by cornerback Nolan Carroll and returned 17 yards for a touchdown.

The Giants’ fifth possession ended at the Eagles’ 38-yard line when Jennings fumbled the ball away after catching a pass. Thus, after the fast start to begin the game, the Giants next four drives ended with three turnovers and a turnover on downs. The Giants had come into the game with only three turnovers on the season. Manning, who started the game 10-of-10 for 87 yards was just 14-of-28 for 102 yards the rest of the game. Manning was not helped by very shaky pass protection that gave up three sacks and multiple hits and pass pressure.

The Giants’ defense kept the team in the game for a while. The Giants got the ball right back after Jennings’ fumble when cornerback Jayron Hosley picked off Bradford at the Giants’ 25-yard line and returned the ball 17 yards. But the Giants went three-and-out after Manning was sacked on 3rd-and-7. The Eagles and Giants then each exchanged punts twice. With 1:12 left before intermission, Philadelphia drove 47 yards in eight plays to set up a successful 37-yard field goal. At the half, the Eagles led 17-7.

The Eagles received the ball to start the third quarter and drove to the New York 31-yard line. But on 3rd-and-8, linebacker Uani ‘Unga forced wide receiver Jordan Matthews to fumble which Moore recovered. The Giants picked up one first down, but Manning was sacked again on 3rd-and-10 and the Giants punted.

The Eagles then took a commanding lead by driving 85 yards in 11 plays with running back DeMarco Murray scoring from 12 yards out. This possession was kept alive when defensive tackle/fullback Nikita Whitlock ran into the punter on 4th-and-2 from the Eagles’ 23-yard line.

Landon Collins, New York Giants (October 19, 2015)

Landon Collins – © USA TODAY Sports Images

The Giants went three-and-out on their next three possessions. New York only had one first down in the second half until late in the game. Bradford threw two more interceptions on Philadelphia’s next two possessions, one by safety Brandon Meriweather and the other by safety Landon Collins. The Eagles did manage one last scoring drive in the fourth quarter, kicking a 39-yard field goal after a 10-play, 40-yard possession. But the game was all but over at that point.

Offensively, the Giants were held to 18 first downs and just 247 total net yards (81 yards rushing, 166 yards passing). The team turned the football over three times (two interceptions, one fumble), was 4-of-13 (31 percent) on third down and 0-for-1 on fourth down. Manning was 24-of-38 for 189 yards. Beckham caught seven passes for 63 yards and a touchdown but was shut out in the second half. Jennings carried the ball 13 times for 63 yards while Andre Williams and Shane Vereen rushed nine times for a total of six yards. Manning was sacked times times and officially hit seven other times.

Defensively, the Giants allowed 24 first downs and 425 total net yards (155 yards rushing, 270 yards passing). The Eagles were 6-of-16 (38 percent) on third down. The Giants did force four turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble). The Giants only managed one sack (by Moore) and three quarterback hits.

Video lowlights are available at Giants.com.

INJURY REPORT…
Linebacker Jonathan Casillas left the game in the 4th quarter with a neck injury and did not return. Safety Brandon Meriweather also sprained his knee in the 2nd quarter but he returned.

POST-GAME REACTIONS…
Video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Tom Coughlin and the following players are available at Giants.com:

  • Head Coach Tom Coughlin (Video)
  • Quarterback Eli Manning (Video)
  • Running Back Rashad Jennings (Video)
  • Wide Receiver Odell Beckham (Video)
  • Tight End Larry Donnell (Video)
  • Defensive Tackle Cullen Jenkins (Video)

POST-GAME NOTES…
Inactive for the Giants were WR Victor Cruz (calf), DE Robert Ayers (hamstring), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral), CB Trumaine McBride (groin/illness), DT Louis Nix, and OT Bobby Hart.

DANIEL FELLS UPDATE…
According to NFL.com, tight end Daniel Fells, who has been hospitalized for almost three weeks with a life-threatening MRSA infection (staph), has improved and he could be released from the hospital this week. Fells has now undergone seven surgeries with at least two more scheduled. Fells did have an infected bone removed from his foot, but it is believed that his foot will not have to be amputated. NFL.com is reporting that at one point the infection spread to his lungs, and NJ.com is reporting that the infection spread to his thigh. ESPN says that the additional surgeries are to further clean out the infected area and include plastic surgery on the areas of the foot damaged by the infection. It is believed Fells career is over due to permanent damage to the foot. “Long road ahead for him,” a source told The New York Post. “If you saw a picture of his foot, you wouldn’t believe it.”

ARTICLES…

New York Giants 30 – San Francisco 49ers 27

 Posted by
Oct 122015
 
Larry Donnell, New York Giants (October 11, 2015)

Larry Donnell – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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NEW YORK GIANTS 30 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ers 27…
The New York Giants rallied late in the fourth quarter to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 30-27 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night. The victory improved New York’s overall record to 3-2 and first place in the NFC East.

All looked lost when the 49ers drove 80 yards to score the go-ahead touchdown with just 1:45 left in the game. At this point, San Fransisco led 27-23. But quarterback Eli Manning orchestrated an 8-play, 82-yard drive that culminated with a dramatic, game-winning 12-yard touchdown throw to tight end Larry Donnell with 21 second to play.

The 49ers received the football to start the game and moved 55 yards in eight plays to set up a successful 43-yard field goal. The Giants tied the game on their first possession by traveling 76 yards in nine plays to set up a 22-yard field goal as the drive stalled inside the 10-yard line. Manning found wide receiver Odell Beckham for a 49-yard gain on this initial possession.

Shane Vereen, New York Giants (October 11, 2015)

Shane Vereen – © USA TODAY Sports Images

After forcing San Francisco to punt on their second possession, the Giants put together a 14-play, 81-yard drive that resulted in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Manning to running back Shane Vereen on 3rd-and-goal. The big play on the drive was a 31-yard pass to Beckham on 3rd-and-7. Giants 10 – 49ers 3.

After another San Fransisco punt, the Giants moved the ball 43 yards in 10 plays to set up place kicker Josh Brown’s second successful field goal, this one from 41 yards out. Giants 13 – 49ers 3. However, the 49ers cut into that lead by driving 76 yards in 11 plays and kicking a 22-yard field goal late in the first half.

The Giants blew an opportunity for more points before intermission as New York drove 66 yards in less than a minute to reach the 49er 14-yard line. But Manning was picked off in the end zone on an ill-advised pass with five seconds to play. At the half, the Giants led 13-6.

The Giants received the ball to start the second half but punted after picking up one first down. The 49ers then tied the game on their initial possession of the second half by driving 88 yards in 10 plays. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick found wideout Anquan Boldin for a 3-yard score. Giants 13 – 49ers 13.

After the Giants and 49ers exchanged punts, New York drove the ball 61 yards in seven plays near the end of the third quarter and Manning found Beckham for a 17-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Giants 20 – 49ers 13. However, the Giants defense could not hold the advantage as San Fransisco responded with another long touchdown drive, this time 80 yards in 11 plays with Kaepernick hitting tight end Garrett Celek for a 5-yard score on 3rd-and-goal.

The Giants responded with a long scoring drive of their own, marching 74 yards in 14 plays. However, the Giants had to settle for another short field goal, this time from 24 yards out as the Giants went ahead 23-20 with 4:29 to play.

New York’s defense fell apart again, as the 49ers scored their third long touchdown drive of the second half. In just seven plays, San Fransisco went 80 yards with running back Carlos Hyde scoring from two yards out to put the 49ers up 27-23 with 1:45 to play.

Then came the dramatic game-winning drive. Manning scrambled for 11 yards and then threw to Vereen for 11 and 16 yards. Disaster almost struck on 1st-and-10 from the 49er 44-yard line when Manning’s deep pass initially appeared to be intercepted, but replay overruled the pick as the ball hit the ground. Two plays later, on 3rd-and-10, Manning hit Vereen for a 24-yard gain. After an 8-yard pass interference penalty was called on the 49ers against Beckham, Manning found Donnell for the game winner from 12 yards out with 21 seconds to play.

Offensively, the Giants accrued 30 first downs and 525 total yards (84 rushing, 441 passing). The team was 9-of-14 (64 percent) on third down, but only 3-of-6 (50 percent) in red zone opportunities. Manning finished the game 41-of-54 for 441 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. His leading receivers were Vereen (8 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown), Beckham (7 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown), wide receiver Dwayne Harris (6 catches for 72 yards), and Donnell (6 catches for 35 yards and a touchdown). Running back Rashad Jennings carried the ball 11 times for 46 yards and Vereen five times for 24 yards.

Defensively, the Giants allowed 22 first downs and 380 total yards (124 rushing, 256 passing). The 49ers were 8-of-14 (57 percent) on third down and 3-of-4 (75 percent) in the red zone. Defensive end Damontre Moore had both of New York’s sacks, but the Giants rarely pressured Kaepernick. The Giants did not force a turnover.

Video highlights/lowlights are available at Giants.com. A video of the locker room celebration is also available.

INJURY REPORT…
WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), WR Rueben Randle (hamstring), LG Justin Pugh (ankle), LB Jon Beason (concussion), CB Trumaine McBride (possible aggravation of groin injury) all left the game with injuries. Beckham returned to the game.

“Sure, I was (reluctant to put Beckham back in the game),” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “We were trying to win a game. He wanted to go. The medical people said let him go. I let him go. We’ll see what he is like tomorrow.”

POST-GAME REACTIONS…
Transcripts and video clips of post-game media sessions with Head Coach Tom Coughlin and the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

POST-GAME NOTES…
Inactive for the Giants were WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Jerome Cunningham (knee), DE Robert Ayers (hamstring), DE George Selvie (calf), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), LB Jonathan Casillas (calf), and OT Bobby Hart.

The Giants broke a three-game losing streak on Sunday Night Football and improved their Sunday night record to 20-26-1, including 10-12 at home.

QB Eli Manning’s 41 completions and 54 pass attempts were career highs. Manning’s 41 completions were a franchise record. His 441 yards were the third-highest total of his career. Manning completed a career-high 15 consecutive passes over three series spanning the third and fourth quarters.

The victory was the 102nd of Manning’s career (94 regular season, eight postseason). That is a franchise record. Manning had been tied with Phil Simms (95 regular season, six postseason).

This was the 27th time that Manning has rallied the Giants from a fourth-quarter deficit or tie to win a regular-season game. He’s also done it five times in the postseason, including two Super Bowls. It was Manning’s first game-winning drive since October 5, 2014 vs. Atlanta.

DANIEL FELLS MRSA UPDATE…
According to an NFL.com report on Sunday, tight end Daniel Fells’ health situation had become far more serious. Fells, who has been hospitalized with a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) staph infection since last weekend, was moved to the Intensive Care Unit on Friday. He has undergone five surgeries to treat the infection with additional surgeries planned. There is a chance that Fells’ foot may need to be amputated.

However, NJ.com is reporting that Fells has responded better this weekend to a new antibiotic and FOXSports is reporting is reporting that his fever has dipped.

“We dedicated the game to Daniel Fells and his family, and thank God we were able to give him the game ball,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin after the Giants’ 30-27 victory over the 49ers. “Fells has had two very good days in a row…His MRI came back without any issues. Thank God and hopefully he will just continue in that direction and have this cleared up so he can go home and see his kids.”

ARTICLES…

Giants Promote Myles White to 53-Man Roster; MRSA Update

 Posted by
Oct 072015
 


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GIANTS PROMOTE MYLES WHITE TO 53-MAN ROSTER…
The New York Giants have signed wide receiver Myles White from the team’s Practice Squad to the 53-man roster. White fills the vacancy created when tight end Daniel Fells was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve with a MRSA staph infection.

The Giants signed White to the Practice Squad after he was waived by the Green Bay Packers in September 2015. White was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Packers after the 2013 NFL Draft. White played in seven games as a rookie, catching nine passes for 66 yards. He spent the 2014 season on Green Bay’s Practice Squad. White led the Packers with 16 receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the 2015 preseason. He is an average-sized receiver with good speed.

“A young guy who knows the system very well,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin of White. “Can play in the slot, play on the outside. He’s been used with our first group in the last couple of weeks, we’ve only had four receivers that can participate. So we get a guy who is sharp, who’s had a good preseason, who knows the system well, can adapt to all the positions, knows the signals when we’re in the no-huddle. And I think we kind of just keep going with a multiple position guy.”

The Giants also re-signed wide receiver Julian Talley to the Practice Squad and added tight end Dominique Jones to the Practice Squad.

Julian Talley, New York Giants (August 14, 2015)

Julian Talley – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Talley had been released from the team’s Practice Squad on September 30. Talley was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Giants after the 2012 NFL Draft. Talley spent most of the 2013 and 2014 seasons on the team’s Practice Squad, although he did play in two games each season. He does not yet have an NFL catch. Talley is a tall, thin receiver with good overall athletic ability. He lacks ideal speed, but is smooth and fluid with good hands. Talley has gotten better each year.

Jones is a well-traveled journeyman who has spent time with the Sacramento Mountain Lions (2011), Reading Express (2012), Indianapolis Colts (2012 and 2013), Miami Dolphins (2012), Kansas City Chiefs (2013), Buffalo Bills (2014), Denver Broncos (2014–2015), and Baltimore Ravens (2015). He has played in 13 NFL regular-season games with three starts, accruing just three catches for 42 yards. Jones has good size (6’3”, 270 pounds).

WORKOUT TUESDAY…
As normal, the New York Giants held workouts for a number of unsigned players on Tuesday. Those who worked out for the team included quarterback Cody Fajardo; tight ends Adrien Robinson, Cameron Clear, Dominique Jones, and Brian Leonhardt; and defensive end/tight end Jake Bequette. Jones was signed to the Practice Squad.

MRSA UPDATE…
At the request of both the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the Giants held a team meeting on Wednesday to address player concerns about the MRSA staph infection that has ended tight end Daniel Fells’ season. The Giants had their team facilities professionally scrubbed to contain any possible spread to other players and team officials.

“We had (Senior Vice President of Medical Services) Ronnie Barnes, we had team doctors, we had the person in charge of our facility in here to talk about the way the cleaning process is normally underway, and what we have done in addition to that, as well,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “So the players asked a couple of questions, very good questions…We still do not know the reason for the infection or where it came from…I think most of the questions got answered this morning. The guys seemed to be able to go right back to work.

“We know how serious it is, and we are taking every precaution and doing everything we possibly can. They are very, very thorough in what they’ve done in terms of cleaning. The basic health priorities were gone over again this morning – washing of the hands, calling attention to any type of cut or anything, anything that looks like what they call a spider bite or anything of a boil nature. Anything where the skin is turning red, those types of things. With Daniel, it was a different story, there was no surface injury that anybody knows of. It was an acute joint problem along with a temperature.”

INJURY REPORT…
WR Victor Cruz (calf), LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), DE Robert Ayers (hamstring), DE George Selvie (calf), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), CB Jayron Hosley (concussion), and CB Trumaine McBride (groin) did not practice on Wednesday.

“It’s day to day,” said Kennard. “I’ve probably iced it 100 times since our last game, and I’m just trying to get it right and doing whatever the trainers tell me, and hopefully I’ll be back soon.”

TE Jerome Cunningham (knee) was limited to individual drills.

LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) and DT Markus Kuhn (knee) fully practiced.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Tom Coughlin provided the following update on TE Daniel Fells (staph infection), who was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve on Monday: “They’re thinking Thursday he’ll be able to get out (of the hospital). I talked to him on the phone, he sounds good on the phone. He’s very disappointed, obviously, but we all wish him well. He understands, as well as we do, he has a wife and family, he’s got to get better, period.”

HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
The transcript of Tom Coughlin’s press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
The following transcripts and video of player media sessions on Wednesday are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

The audio of Tuesday’s WFAN Radio interview with LB Jon Beason is available at CBS New York’s website.

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants practice on Thursday and hold physical recovery cycles on Friday in advance of Sunday’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Giants Cut Preston Parker, Re-Sign Kenrick Ellis; Injury Report

 Posted by
Sep 222015
 


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GIANTS CUT PRESTON PARKER, RE-SIGN KENRICK ELLIS…
The New York Giants have terminated the contract of wide receiver Preston Parker, who has struggled in the first two games of the regular season with dropped passes. To fill his roster spot, the Giants re-signed defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis, who the team released on September 6th.

The Giants originally signed Ellis as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Jets in March 2015. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Jets. In four seasons with the Jets, Ellis played in 47 games with five starts. He accrued 53 tackles and only one sack during that time.

Parker joined the team in January 2014 and became the team’s primary slot receiver last season when Victor Cruz was lost for the season. Parker played in all 16 games with seven starts. He finished 2014 with 36 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Parker had five catches for 43 yards this year but he also dropped five passes.

“Preston Parker, for the majority of time he was here, was a very tough, physical football player who made plays when called upon,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “That hasn’t been the case necessarily this year. We thank him for his service.”

INJURY REPORT…
Not practicing on Tuesday due to injuries were WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Jerome Cunningham (knee), LT Ereck Flowers (ankle), LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (foot), DT Markus Kuhn (knee), and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion).

The good news is that Cruz was spotted running agility drills on the practice sidelines for the first time since mid-August.

“Felt good,” said Cruz. “Felt good to be on the grass a little bit, get out there and run around a little bit, so it felt good…Obviously the short week leaves you a little handicapped (to be able to play on Thursday), if you will. But we’ll see. We’ll see how it continues to progress, how I feel in the morning, and we’ll go from there.”

“I’m closer (to returning),” said Cruz. “There’s no pain in there anymore, so it’s just a matter of getting the confidence back to running on it and cutting on it, things like that. And then we’ll go from there…Hopefully I can be out there shortly, help this team win.”

DE Robert Ayers (hamstring) and DT Jay Bromley (knee) practiced on a limited basis.

TE Daniel Fells (foot), RG Geoff Schwartz (illness), DE/DT Cullen Jenkins (hamstring), and LB Jon Beason (knee) fully practiced.

“I feel pretty good, I feel fresh,” said Beason.

HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
The transcript of Tom Coughlin’s press conference on Tuesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available at Giants.com.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
The following transcripts and video of player media sessions on Tuesday are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no media availability to the Giants on Wednesday as the team prepares for Thursday night’s home game against the Washington Redskins.

Getting back right. #90PC

A video posted by Jason Pierre-Paul (@iamjasonpierrepaul) on

NFL Admits Officials Botched Two Calls in Dallas Game

 Posted by
Sep 172015
 
Eli Manning, New York Giants (September 13, 2015)

Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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NFL ADMITS OFFICIALS BOTCHED TWO CALLS IN DALLAS GAME …
The NFL has acknowledged that officials made two game-altering mistakes during the New York Giants 27-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday night. The first was a bogus pass interference call on cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromarties on a 3rd-and-4 incomplete pass that directly led to a Cowboys touchdown in the third quarter. Worse, the officials did not call an obvious holding penalty by a Dallas defensive back against tight end Daniel Fells on the now infamous 3rd-and-goal incomplete pass by quarterback Eli Manning with 1:43 to play. If that flag had been thrown, the Giants could have simply knelt on the ball and run out the clock, winning 26-20.

INJURY REPORT…
Not practicing on Thursday due to injuries were WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Daniel Fells (foot), LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (foot), and DT Markus Kuhn (knee).

“(Cruz has been) working and he’s doing more and more,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “But they’re not even at the stage where they’re really going to bring him out and turn him loose—let him run for a while—before they make a decision on whether he can practice. So that’s all forthcoming.”

Coughlin said Odighizuwa tried to practice on Wednesday and could not go again on Thursday. “He gets going a little bit, then he gets sore and he has to come out,” said Coughlin.

LB Jon Beason (knee) returned to practice and practiced on a limited basis.

LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) and LB Uani’ Unga (knee) fully practiced.

PHOTOS OF JASON PIERRE-PAUL’S HAND…
The New York Daily News has published exclusive photographs of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul’s right hand that he damaged in a July 4th fireworks accident.

https://twitter.com/UDWJPP/status/644494473221828608

TOM COUGHLIN AND THE COORDINATORS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
Instead of practicing, the Giants will hold a “recovery day” on Friday. The players will select two of six recovery stations, based on seniority. Their choices are massage, yoga, FMS (Functional Movement Screen) exercises designed for the individual, air compression boots, contrast bath (between a hot and cold tub), and self-massage with stick rollers and elastic bands.

The Giants will also have a 45-minute, full-speed practice on Saturday that is not open to the media.

Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning Discuss Loss to Cowboys

 Posted by
Sep 142015
 


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HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
Tom Coughlin addressed the media by conference call on Monday afternoon:

Alright, good afternoon. It certainly doesn’t feel any better this morning than it did last night. It’s remorse for opportunity lost, obviously. And again, I feel very badly for our team. I thought they played hard, gave good effort. Certainly the football wasn’t by any means perfect. In many, many categories, we were deficient compared to what Dallas accomplished. However, we were plus-three. Our defense did score one touchdown, and really put us on the one-yard line. You might as well say scored two touchdowns, and did an outstanding job of taking the ball away from a very good Dallas team. And putting us in a position where we had an opportunity to win the game.

I stand by what I said last night. The responsibility for the management of time and the play calling decisions etc. etc. are mine. Therefore the responsibility goes to me and nobody else. And all the other jibber-jabber, whatever is going on out there, simply comes down to the fact that we were within striking distance of being 10 points up. And that’s all I ever wanted—was to get back to the 10 point lead. Dallas has had success driving the ball late in the game against us for a couple years, and scoring late touchdowns to defeat us. By going up 10, that would not have been an issue. When on third and 13 we went to the air and made a first down, that obviously made me ever more the aggressor, in terms of we were thinking about being able to score and to go up 10. And then the clock under two minutes, whether it took a minute or whatever it took there for them to score. If they were, in fact, going to, we would still have the lead and there wouldn’t be any time left on the clock or they would have no timeouts.

So it was very disappointing. The thing I do regret the most for the evening really is that at 5:08, we had a 13 play, 79 yard drive and we came away with field goal rather than a touchdown. That was very disappointing to me. The third and one play, which I again take responsibility for—it should have been a run, it wasn’t. The throwing the ball away created the stoppage of the clock. The clock had been stopped many times along the way for penalties, for refusal to accept penalties, all of those things that take place within the last two minutes. So the clock hadn’t really been running. There were timeouts taken that were given back to the defensive team. The explanation to me this morning is that the referee has the right within whether he thinks it’s a sequential operational play or not, to give the timeout back to the team that has taken the timeout. Even though in the situation we talked about, we did have the personal foul.

So, all these things having been said, as I mentioned, the other thing that was most disappointing was the last two drives that Dallas had. They really didn’t—we didn’t give them much opposition. They had a six-play, 76 yard drive and later a six-play, 72 yard drive. Their final play left seven seconds on the clock. So, most-disappointing for us, and again, I really thought that we played hard, that we gave good effort, that we were physical. Both sides played hard and we were in position to win the game and didn’t win it. I’m very, very disappointed and upset about that. Our players feel very badly today, but we’ll bounce back.

Q: There was a report out there that Rashad Jennings was instructed not to score on the first three plays inside the five-yard line. Was that something that was instructed from the sidelines?

A: No. No, that was not instructed from the sidelines. In talking with Eli today, I think that he was confused by the number of timeouts that were remaining. His intention was with one timeout, that we would milk the clock the best we would. However, they had two timeouts left. So, that’s all I’m going to say about that.

Q: Was there any consideration on going for it on fourth down on the next play?

A: Was I thinking about that? If we had run the ball, I might’ve. But not in that circumstance, no. What I really didn’t want have to have happen is to—they have an outstanding kicking game, an outstanding kicker capable of 50 plus yards. I did not want to give them the opportunity to tie the game with a field goal. So my mind was in tune to put some points on the board, although as I had explained I think in great depth, my intent was to be up 10.

Q: Going back a second, when you talk about he was confused about the timeouts, were you talking about Rashad or Eli?

A: No, it was Eli.

Q: At the two minute warning, you guys had the third down. If you get a first down there, is the plan at that point to sort of run the clock down and not get in the end zone? Had that been discussed by you guys at any point?

A: Well the thing that is always discussed is we want to get them out of timeouts and then be in a position where we can kneel. That’s wasn’t the case.

Q: On that final drive—the Cowboys game-winning drive, it looked like you were in base defense for most of that drive. Is that correct and if so, what was the thinking behind that?

A: No, we weren’t in base defense, we were in nickel. Trying to match their personnel.

Q: How do you think Uani [Unga] did there? First start, playing middle linebacker.

A: You know what, he played hard, he was aggressive, he made a lot of tackles. He certainly got himself out of position a couple of times. But for a guy put in that position, I thought he responded very well.

Q: Do you have any updates on Jon Beason or Victor Cruz or any of the other injuries?

A: No I don’t. I wish I did, but I don’t.

Q: How about Ereck Flowers? He looked like he hurt his ankle.

A: They’re doing the usual number of MRI’s etc. etc. I don’t have any information in front of me about that. He did injure the ankle early on and he gutted it out and finished the game. But today is a different day.

Q: How’d you think he did playing-wise?

A: He was limited to a certain extent because of the injury, but I thought he battled away, and that’s what we always counted on—that he would battle. And he did.

Q: Was there any point in that final drive by Dallas where you thought about maybe, “I’ll call a timeout and make sure my defense is on the same page.”

A: Just one time, but they stood over the ball long enough for us to settle in. There was one time when the ball was approaching the red zone, that it looked like there was some confusion, but then the ball was not snapped right away and people were in position. And it ended up being an incomplete pass. That’s always a consideration.

Q: Eli is obviously a guy that’s always in control, and the confusion over timeouts is a little out of character for him. When something like that happens, is it easy to dismiss or do you have to change any of the process of communication late in the game because of that?

A: It’s never happened before. I completely trust Eli, I always have. He’s extremely into the game, he’s aware of all the circumstances. As he comes over to the sideline, he relates what he sees and so on and so forth, from his position. To be honest with you, nothing like that has ever happened. His mind was in the right place here, he just didn’t have all the facts right, and unfortunately we didn’t get it corrected.

Q: There was a timeout before that third down play. Is it normal for you not to communicate directly with the quarterback?

A: Well, those are 30-second timeouts. The coordinators on the headset are with the quarterback at the time as well.

Q: He came over to the sideline?

A: He came over to the sideline, I think, prior to those plays. He may have come over to the sideline right there, too.

Q: Do you regret not telling him, “Hey, we got to make sure not to throw the ball away at that point?”

A: Do I regret? If I had a minute and a half, I could have gone down through the litany. But again, it was a third-down call, we were trying to score. That was the whole idea. We were trying to score with the play that was called. Again, hindsight is 20-20. I think Eli would agree this morning that if in fact he was pressured and didn’t have an opportunity, that he would go down and let the clock run. So, that would be my position on that.

Q: You didn’t know that Rashad at the time was not trying to score, though. Is that something that you found out later and when did you find that out?

A: Well, I don’t know if that’s exactly the case. I do know that it came up after the game, which I hadn’t heard that before.

Q: How is your team today? I know it was a crazy trip back and obviously a brutal loss. You always say Monday is rough, but is this one especially rough?

A: Well they were tired. There was not much sleep, nobody got any sleep. The guys were tired, and they were sad, they were disappointed. They were relating to the sequence, as it is, following a game—your Monday, but they were doing it without any sleep. It was a different kind of day, let’s put it that way. And again as I said, we talked about yesterday’s game and about going forward and how I urged them to get to bed early tonight and again tomorrow night. Because sometimes it’s a couple of days before it really hits you. And then come to work Wednesday morning excited about looking forward not backward.

Q: What did you think about your two top picks and how they played in their first NFL game? Flowers and Landon Collins.

A: Well I thought that they both played hard, and they both handled the situation very well. To be starting and playing in a game in the NFC East division, in Dallas, in their first regular season game—I thought they handled it very well.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and audio of Monday’s media sessions with the following players:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players are off Tuesday before returning to practice on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s home game against the Atlanta Falcons.

September 9, 2015 New York Giants News and Injury Report

 Posted by
Sep 092015
 


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TOM COUGHLIN COMMENTS ON JASON PIERRE-PAUL…
Head Coach Tom Coughlin addressed the situation with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul on Wednesday. Pierre-Paul remains an unsigned Franchise player due to the serious hand injuries he suffered from a July 4th fireworks accident.

“As you know, JPP was here for a couple of days,” said Coughlin. “Went through all the medical. Was in an outstanding frame of mind. Was not ready to play, returned to South Florida. Optimistic about going forward and feeling better, and continuing to work towards being able to come back. So we’ll monitor that, and I don’t have anything further to add.

“He’s worked pretty hard. We actually saw a tape that showed him working. He’s done a lot of conditioning type work. So I don’t think there’s anything to worry about there. Obviously, it’d be great if he was all healed and ready to go, but he’s not.”

ANOTHER REPORT SAYS GIANTS AND ELI MANNING NEARING DEAL…
Supporting NJ.com’s earlier report that the New York Giants and Eli Manning are nearing a new contract, NFL.com is reporting that there is “significant progress on a long-term extension” and that there is “confidence it gets done before Sunday.” Manning is entering the final year of the 6-year contract he signed in August 2009.

MORE PRACTICE SQUAD SIGNINGS…
The Giants have signed quarterback G.J. Kinne and linebacker Gerald Rivers to the Practice Squad. These moves complete the team’s 10-man squad.

Kinne was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New York Jets after the 2012 NFL Draft. Since then, he has spent time with the Jets (2012), UFL – Omaha Nighthawks (2012), AFL – Antonio Talons (2013), and Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15). After spending two years on Philadelphia’s Practice Squad in 2013-14, the Eagles converted him from quarterback to wide receiver and running back. Kinne lacks ideal size for a quarterback but he is a very good athlete with a decent arm. Tough, hard working, and competitive. While the Giants list him as a quarterback, he did line up at safety at practice on Wednesday.

Rivers was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the St. Louis Rams after the 2013 NFL Draft. Since then, he has spent time with the Rams (2013), Jacksonville Jaguars (2013), Miami Dolphins (2014), and Denver Broncos (2014-15). Rivers has only played in two NFL games – both in 2013 with the Rams. He has one career tackle. A former defensive end, Rivers has a nice combination of size and athletic ability.

INJURY REPORT…
Not practicing on Wednesday due to injuries were WR Victor Cruz (calf) and LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP).

“Nothing has come across my desk to indicate that (Cruz’s status has changed),” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Obviously, if this was strictly the knee or whatever, I think he’d be out there. The calf is what set him back. It’s not the knee, it’s the calf. There’s been some communication around the league with other clubs. For whatever reason, these things are very, very hard to get over. And we’ve experienced it before, obviously (Nat) Berhe is a great example of that.”

DE/DT Cullen Jenkins (hamstring), LB Jon Beason (knee), and LB Jonathan Casillas (neck) practiced on a limited basis.

HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
Tom Coughlin addressed the media on Wednesday (video is available at Giants.com):

Good morning. Two things quickly right off the bat. As you know, JPP [Jason Pierre-Paul] was here for a couple of days. Went through all the medical. Was in an outstanding frame of mind. Was not ready to play, returned to South Florida. Optimistic about going forward and feeling better, and continuing to work towards being able to come back. So we’ll monitor that, and I don’t have anything further to add.

The second thing is the shock of the death of Tyler Sash. I haven’t seen Tyler in a couple of years. But one of the players texted me yesterday afternoon, and I didn’t see that coming, obviously. I know a lot of our players have responded. It’s very sad. Most difficult to try and understand. But nevertheless, our condolences go out to his family and his friends, and all those that cared for him. He was an outstanding teammate, now. During the time he was here, the players really enjoyed Tyler Sash. So I’m dumbfounded by this, and I’m very sad.

Having said that, the start of the 2015 season. We’re excited to go on the field this afternoon, or late-morning here, and prepare for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, having won our division a year ago, an outstanding football team. A strong team in a lot of categories. So we’ve got our work cut out for us.

Q: Have you spoken to or are you planning on speaking to the team about Tyler?

A: I did not mention that this morning. There were a couple players around yesterday. Eli was around. I spoke to him about it. He was taken aback as well.

Q: Everyone was so excited to see Jason Pierre-Paul on Monday. Do you have to worry about a dip in the morale?

A: No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I think the fact that he came in the way he did, Mr. Personality, was there and he felt good about himself, obviously, and where he’s been. He’s worked pretty hard. We actually saw a tape that showed him working. He’s done a lot of conditioning type work. So I don’t think there’s anything to worry about there. Obviously, it’d be great if he was all healed and ready to go, but he’s not.

Q: So it was his hand or his conditioning that won’t allow him to play?

A: The thing that had to be evaluated was his hand, yes.

Q: You said you have a plan for everything. How do you plan for that situation going forward?

A: Keep going, right where we are. Nothing’s changed. We’ve taken this path and we’re on it, and we’ll stay on it. Hopefully at some point in time, Jason will be ready to play, and we’ll get the green light. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll stay where we are.

Q: Did you get any sense of how close he is in terms of weeks?

A: I wouldn’t put any kind of time frame on it. It’s not going to be something that I have anything to say about anyways. It’s going to be the medical people.

Q: Has Victor Cruz’s status changed at all?

A: Nothing has come across my desk to indicate that.

Q: So he won’t be out there today?

A: [Shakes head no]

Q: You’ve been through your share of season openers as head coach here.

A: And everywhere else.

Q: Do they feel any different?

A: No, not at all. Just as excited, just as nervous, just as anxious to get started. Just as anxious to see our team on the field. So, no, nothing, no emotion. All the same.

Q: Are there specific areas or things with this team that you are particularly excited about?

A: Well, I’m excited to see how they respond, obviously, to going to Dallas and opening the season there. There’s a few guys that have been through that experience when it was a positive thing, a plus. But basically, it’s seeing our team come together, seeing us pull together now that we’re at 53, plus the 10 practice squad kids. I’m looking forward to that part of it.

Q: You added Jasper Brinkley to the roster. What kind of role do you see for him? Inside, outside, both?

A: Well, probably inside to start with. But I’m sure he’ll learn to play more than one, perhaps all three [linebacker positions].

Q: Is this at all a reflection on Jon Beason’s availability?

A: No, but we thought it was a necessity.

Q: Is Beason ready?

A: He’s going to practice today.

Q: What about Jonathan Casillas?

A: He’s going to practice. He practices today.

Q: Is he cleared to play, though? We didn’t see him the last three preseason games.

A: He practices today.

Q: Is he cleared to play in a game though?

A: He practices today. He’ll have a helmet on, and shoulder pads, those things.

Q: The last several weeks he’s practiced, but he’s been limited. You’ve kept him out of contact, so obviously there’s a concern there. Is there still a concern there?

A: I hope not, but we’ll see.

Q: Has Dallas changed much?

A: Well, in preseason you don’t see a whole lot. But the playoff games were, obviously, very good football. I don’t see any real radical change in the way that their approach is. Some of the names have changed.

Q: When did you start studying them?

A: 2014.

Q: How do you do it when they have such a big change in their backfield? How do you study that?

A: Well, there’s no doubt that they talk mostly about their offensive line, and the strength of their offensive line. I think that’s where you start. You start on their offensive line, and their defensive line. And there hasn’t been any real changes there.

Q: What’s the challenge with the safeties on the road in Dallas?

A: Communication. Communication. That’ll be a concern. We’ll have noise today. We’ll have officials today. We’ll do that for a couple days. Hopefully that will help focus in on the hand signals and the things of that nature that they have to utilize to communicate even though they’re perhaps a few yards apart.

Q: You’re aware the team hasn’t won an opener the past few years. How much does that put you behind? You come out the first week, lose that first game.

A: I don’t know. I don’t want to go there. We’re trying to win. We’re looking forward to the opener. I don’t remember a loss. We won a few, too. I don’t know, Paul. I’m not interested in that part of it right now. All I’m interested in is getting these people ready to play. I’m excited about playing, and let’s go see what we’ve got.

Q: Do you remember coming into a season with so many unanswered questions in your mind on what you have, what you are?

A: I don’t know, I don’t keep track of the count. There are some areas where we expect some people to step up and gain significant recognition in terms of the quality of their play. We look forward to working with those guys. So we have a few things, obviously, that need to be ironed out and need to be clarified. Hopefully that’s what will happen right here.

Q: For a long time, Victor was so optimistic on playing the first game. I don’t know if you’ve ruled anything out. I don’t know if that’s accurate. But has his situation unfolded the way you expected, or have there been frustrations on your part? Is this what you expected?

A: Oh, no. Obviously, if this was strictly the knee or whatever, I think he’d be out there. The calf is what set him back. It’s not the knee, it’s the calf. There’s been some communication around the league with other clubs. For whatever reason, these things are very, very hard to get over. And we’ve experienced it before, obviously [Nat] Berhe is a great example of that. But that’s what is holding him back, not the other.

Q: You’re a little thin at defensive tackle, obviously you expected Louis Nix to be here. Do you expect to add another body in there?

A: Yeah, we will. But don’t forget, we’ve worked some other people in there. [Kerry] Wynn has worked in there, for example, to give us another athlete that can certainly play in there on second and long and third down.

Q: Will Cullen Jenkins go back in there as well?

A: Cullen plays in there—in and out, in and out. He can certainly play in there.

Q: How’s he doing physically?

A: Okay. We’ll see what he does today on the field.

Q: You spent a lot of time and energy this offseason in rebuilding the offensive line. Where do you stand going into the season, and what are your expectations for that group?

A: I expect us to improve throughout the entire season. Not only for the young guy that’s in there in the new position etc… Westy [Weston Richburg] being in there at center. I think we’re going to improve and get better each time we play. We hopefully have got some things solved, and others to come. I do expect that we will have a starting point and get better from there.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
The following transcripts and video of player media Q&As are available at BigBlueInteractive.com and Giants.com:

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants practice on Thursday and hold physical recovery cycles on Friday in advance of Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Giants Sign Stevie Brown, Cut Victor Butler; Practice Report

 Posted by
Aug 312015
 


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Giants Sign Safety Stevie Brown, Cut Linebacker Victor Butler: The New York Giants have officially signed safety Stevie Brown, who was released by the Houston Texans last week. To make room for Brown, the Giants terminated the contract of linebacker Victor Butler.

Brown was with the Giants from 2012-14, although he missed the entire 2013 season with an ACL tear. An unrestricted free agent this past offseason, Brown signed a 1-year, $3 million deal with the Texans in late April.

“Pretty exciting just being able to come back here – seems like a position of need and it is a good fit (so) definitely exciting to come back,” said Brown.

Brown played in all 16 games for the Giants in 2014. He started the first three games of the season, lost his starting job for eight weeks to Quintin Demps, then regained it for the last five weeks of the season. Brown finished with 38 tackles, one sack, and one pass defense. He suffered a Lisfranc injury in the 2014 regular-season finale.

The Giants signed Victor Butler to a Reserve/Future contract in January 2015. Butler was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Since then, he has spent time with the Cowboys (2009-12), Saints (2013), Cardinals (2014), and Colts (2014). Had he made the team, Butler would have been suspended for four games for violating the League’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

August 31, 2015 New York Giants Injury Report: Not practicing due to injuries were WR Victor Cruz (calf), RT Bobby Hart (knee), LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), DE Robert Ayers (ankle), LB Jon Beason (knee), CB Josh Gordy (hip), CB Chykie Brown (knee), CB Chandler Fenner (hamstring), and S Nat Berhe (calf).

“They haven’t cleared me just yet,” said Cruz. “I think we’re just being careful, cautious with it. Especially, you don’t want to come out here, and calves are tricky. Once they feel healed and once they feel okay, you can go out here and mess it up again. So you want to make sure that it’s fully healed and fully recovered once you step back out there on the field…We’re still working with the training staff to continue to get the swelling down and continue to get myself back to 100 percent.”

“I haven’t been able to jog,” said Cruz. “Not that I haven’t been able to, but they don’t want me to right now. They just want me to sit down and let it heal, let it repair itself and things like that. I’ve just been working out – lower body one leg or whatever the case may be, upper body. Just doing all the things I can to stay in shape.”

“Nothing has been set in stone, in terms of playing that first week or not playing that first week,” said Cruz. “I’m still excited for Week 1 – that’s still the goal, that’s still the plan, in my opinion. Obviously, the training staff will advise if they see differently as the next week and a half comes along. But we’ll see. So, I’m just taking it one day at a time, and making sure that I’m ready to go.”

“I’ll be alright,” said Ayers. “Right now, just trying to manage things and keep things on the up and up and get better. I’ll be alright. As far as what happened, that’s a tricky question that’d I’d rather not try to get into. But I’ll be alright…We’re just taking it day-to-day.”

OC Weston Richburg (knee), LB Jonathan Casillas (neck), LB Mark Herzlich (concussion), and DE George Selvie (knee) returned to practice.

S Jeromy Miles left practice early with a groin injury.

August 31, 2015 New York Giants Practice Notes: Some snippets from various media sources:

  • The first-team safeties were Landon Collins and Cooper Taylor.
  • The first-team offensive line had Geoff Schwartz at right guard in place of John Jerry.
  • Tight end Jerome Cunningham caught a touchdown pass against the second-team defense.
  • The first-team defensive line was defensive end Kerry Wynn, defensive tackle Markus Kuhn, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, and defensive end Cullen Jenkins. Defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis also received first-team reps in place of Kuhn.
  • Quarterback Eli Manning overthrew open wide receivers Odell Beckham and Geremy Davis.
  • Tight end Will Tye made a one-handed reception.
  • Quarterback Eli Manning made a nice throw on the run to tight end Larry Donnell.
  • Linebacker Unai’ Unga, who saw first-team reps as the nickel linebacker, made a leaping interception of a pass from quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
  • Wide receiver Dwayne Harris scored on a touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning, and then Harris scored on an end around.

August 31, 2015 Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of media sessions with the following players are available on BigBlueInteractive.com:

Articles on the 2015 New York Giants:

Article on WR Geremy Davis: Giants rookie trying to not ‘over-think’ the camp process by Jeremy Davis for The New York Post

Article on DT Cullen Jenkins: Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins says Giants need ‘more of a killer instinct’ by James Kratch for NJ.com

August 6, 2015 New York Giants Training Camp Report

 Posted by
Aug 062015
 
Jameel McClain, New York Giants (July 31, 2015)

Jameel McClain – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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AUGUST 6, 2015 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…

The New York Giants held their sixth summer training camp practice on Thursday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The full training camp schedule is available at Giants.com.

INJURY REPORT…POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURIES FOR McCLAIN AND BERHE
Left tackle Ereck Flowers (hip flexor), right guard Geoff Schwartz (coming off of ankle surgery), center Weston Richburg (knee tendinitis), left tackle Will Beatty (PUP – recovering from pectoral surgery), linebacker Jameel McClain (neck), cornerback Prince Amukamara (groin), and safety Nat Berhe (calf) did not practice.

“Well, (Schwartz) obviously wasn’t doing well enough to stay out there for two days in a row,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “It looks like one of those things that’s got to be managed. We hope to get him where he can practice hard a couple days a week, but we’ll have to see how that goes.”

McClain suffered a serious spinal contusion neck injury late in 2012 that caused him to miss six games in 2013. The Ravens released him at the end of that season.

“Tests on McClain, but chances are, because of the extent of the trauma, he’s going to have to sit for a while,” said Coughlin. “I wouldn’t be able to even guess on what they will do.”

“(Berhe) had some kind of a muscle tear in the calf area,” said Coughlin. “They’re treating it…I don’t have a timeframe.”

Wide receiver Preston Parker left practice early with a hamstring or quad injury to his right leg.

PRACTICE NOTES…
The Giants were in full pads again for the second day in a row. Some snippets from various media sources:

  • With Ereck Flowers, Geoff Schwartz, and Weston Richburg out, the starting offensive line was left tackle Justin Pugh, left guard Adam Gettis, center Dallas Reynolds, right guard John Jerry, and right tackle Marshall Newhouse.
  • With Prince Amukamara out, Chykie Brown started at corner in his place.
  • Bennett Jackson started at safety again. He returned an interception from quarterback Ricky Stanzi for a defensive touchdown.
  • Defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa beat offensive tackle Emmett Cleary for a sack.
  • Running backs Shane Vereen and Andre Williams saw quite a bit of action with the first-team.
  • Quarterback Eli Manning threw his first interception of training camp when a deep pass to wide receiver Victor Cruz was intercepted by a leaping cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. In a real game, Manning may not have gotten the pass off as defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis was bearing down on Manning for a sack. (Giants.com is also saying the ball hit the ground). (Video)
  • Left tackle Justin Pugh and fullback Henry Hynoski made good blocks on a running back Shane Vereen run that picked up good yardage.
  • Defensive end Damontre Moore gave right tackle Marshall Newhouse problems with his speed off of the edge.
  • Tight end Larry Donnell had his best practice and made a leaping catch over safety Cooper Taylor.
  • Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record said his three stars of practice were tight end Larry Donnell, defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, and safety Bennett Jackson.

Kerry Wynn … meet running back. #Giants

A video posted by Jordan Raanan (@jraanan) on

HEAD COACH TOM COUGHLIN…
Tom Coughlin addressed the media after the afternoon practice (video is available at Giants.com):

Q: How’s Geoff Schwartz doing?

A: Well, he obviously wasn’t doing well enough to stay out there for two days in a row. It looks like one of those things that’s got to be managed. We hope to get him where he can practice hard a couple days a week, but we’ll have to see how that goes.

Q: Tests on Jameel McClain?

A: Tests on McClain, but chances are, because of the extent of the trauma, he’s going to have to sit for a while. I wouldn’t be able to even guess on what they will do.

Q: Because of his history with that injury?

A: Yes. I’m sure that’s part of it.

Q: Did you get results on Nat Berhe’s MRI, he said he had one earlier?

A: He had some kind of a muscle tear in the calf area. They’re treating it.

Q: When you say tear it sounds kind of serious.

A: That’s all I know. I can’t tell you anymore, I don’t know what it means either.

Q: No timeframe?

A: I don’t have a timeframe.

Q: It looked like Dallas Reynolds was working with a couple units out there.

A: Yeah, he’s come back a stronger player, no doubt. We needed him to do that. He’s gotten a lot of time on the field with our issues with [Weston] Richburg. It’s good that he did.

Q: Is he upping his stock with you guys?

A: I hope so. When we look at tape, ask me again.

Q: Where do things stand with Weston Richburg and Ereck Flowers?

A: When I hear day-to-day, I don’t know. I can’t tell you. It looked like they were doing okay, especially [Ereck] Flowers. He looks like he’s really coming on—I saw him out of the corner of my eye, saw him running. He looked like he was doing okay.

Q: Missed practices at this point in training camp for him, can you get him up to speed?

A: Very difficult. Very tough. You miss time and you really have a difficult time making it up because there’s all kinds of stuff being thrown at him. The defense has got a sophisticated disguise and pressure package. He would benefit, definitely, from being out here. So he’s had his work in the spring, there’s no doubt he’ll pick it up, but it’s not good to miss practice. That’s that we’re here for.

Q: At some point are you going to move Justin Pugh back inside so he gets those guard reps, too?

A: We’ll have to share some time there, depending on how long he [Flowers] is out.

Q: We talked about the offensive line gelling and that being important. Three guys are out already, how much does that set you back and how do you speed it up if you have to?

A: Not really. You’ve got to go on the field and do your work on the field. You certainly want them all out there together every day, but that’s not the way it is.

Q: How about Prince Amukamara, we didn’t ask you about him?

A: Same kind of deal. He’s got a little groin, but because of the position he plays, how long he’ll be, I don’t know.

Q: Are you seeing Larry Donnell looking more explosive? You see him getting back to where he was before?

A: He’s coming along. He made a really nice play. I think every day he gets a little bit more mobility and he looks like he’s moving better. That’s what we’re hoping to get at. He’s also had a couple of good blocks in there.

Q: He had a pretty good season last year, but it was overshadowed by some mistakes. How hard has he worked on eliminating those?

A: He’s obviously worked hard at it. He’s also worked hard to try and hang onto the ball.

Q: You see anything different from Marcus Kuhn? Cullen Jenkins said he sees a significant difference in him.

A: He’s a big, strong kid that is moving his feet a little bit better. We need him to make a strong contribution.

Q: You said earlier on the radio that you thought Eli’s best football was ahead of him. Can you kind of expand on what you see that would lead you to say that? 34 year olds usually don’t have–

A: I base it on his offseason, his strength, the way he threw the ball in the spring, his knowledge—his continuing knowledge of the offense. And the fact that, God willing, we’ll have some production around him.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
The following transcripts and video clips of player media Q&As are available at BigBlueInteractive.com and Giants.com:

The following Giants were also interviewed by ESPN Radio:

  • RB Andre Williams (Audio)
  • WR Victor Cruz (Audio)
  • DE Robert Ayers (Audio)
  • DT Johnathan Hankins (Audio)
  • S Landon Collins (Audio)

RELATED ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The seventh training camp practice will be held on Friday from 2:30-4:30PM but it is not open to the public. For a complete listing of training camp practices as well as a handy fan Q&A about training camp, see our Training Camp section of the website. Only four remaining training camp practices at Quest Diagnostics Training Center will be open to the public this year:

  • Sunday, August 16: 5:50 – 7:50PM
  • Wednesday, August 19: 5:50 – 7:50PM
  • Thursday, August 20: 5:50 – 7:50PM
  • Tuesday, August 25: 2:30 – 4:30PM
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