Jerome Cunningham to 53-Man Roster; Owa Odighizuwa to Short-Term IR

 Posted by
Nov 052015
 

Eli Manning Rings[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

JEROME CUNNINGHAM TO 53-MAN ROSTER…
The New York Giants have signed tight end Jerome Cunningham to the 53-man roster from the team’s Practice Squad. Tight end Larry Donnell suffered a neck injury in last Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints and has not practiced this week.

Cunningham spent the first five weeks of the 2015 on the 53-man roster, but only played in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. He was waived and signed to the Practice Squad in October.

OWAMAGBE ODIGHIZUWA TO SHORT-TERM IR…
The New York Giants have placed rookie defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa on the Reserve/Designated-for-Return List (short-term IR) due to his hamstring injury. The earliest Odighizuwa can return to the 53-man is the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 3rd. Odighizuwa missed the first three games of the season due to a foot injury, was on the active roster for four games, but missed Saints game with the hamstring injury.

“Disappointed in the fact that we didn’t get to consistently work with him,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “The missed time definitely affects the young player, without a doubt, especially in that position. He needs more work…He’ll be with us, he’ll be right here, he’ll be in the meeting rooms, he’ll be on the field with the trainers trying to get himself to the position where he eventually can go again. But being around it is the thing that’s important right now.”

GIANTS SIGN CB DAX SWANSON TO THE PRACTICE SQUAD…
The New York Giants have signed cornerback Dax Swanson to the Practice Squad. Swanson was originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2013 NFL Draft. Since then he has spent time on the Practice Squads of the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Swanson is an instinctive, average-sized corner with good overall athleticism.

NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Larry Donnell (neck), LB Jon Beason (ankle/knee), LB J.T. Thomas (ankle), and CB Leon McFadden (groin) did not practice on Thursday.

“Started running today, even if it was just a light jog picking up some speed,” said Cruz. “The calf feels good and it’s all about how it feels running and going full speed because I haven’t tested it in that regard yet. But as of right now, it feels good, there’s no adverse pain, there’s nothing after today. Everything feels great…The MRI’s are clean, the MRI’s look good.”

As for his potential return to the playing field, Cruz said, “If I had to pick a time, and after the bye (Week 11) obviously looks like a promising date, but obviously the doctors haven’t told me that, no one said that to me. We’re just, like I said, taking it one day at a time…I don’t want to come back unless I’m 100 percent.”

RB Orleans Darkwa (back), WR Rueben Randle (hamstring), RG Geoff Schwartz (ankle), LB Uani ‘Unga (neck), CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral), and S Craig Dahl (neck) practiced on a limited basis.

“Prince worked well (on Wednesday),” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin before Thursday’s practice. “The idea, of course, is to get him going and get him in position where he’s maneuvering as a defensive back will maneuver so when he does get the green light he can go.”

OT Will Beatty (pectoral – PUP) and DE Jason Pierre-Paul (hand – roster exemption) continued to work on an undisclosed basis.

“(Beatty is) getting a lot of work in, really on both sides, whether it’s our offense or the look team and making some progress there, making some progress in individuals,” said Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo. “Good to see him out there moving around a little bit and we’ll see what happens this week.”

“(Pierre-Paul) practiced well (on Wednesday),” said Coughlin before Thursday’s practice. “This will be nice to have two days in a row. He got a lot of work on both sides, he played at end for the defensive unit and he also played some scout team. So we’re looking forward to extending that today.”

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:

The audio of Thursday’s ESPN Radio interview with WR Odell Beckham is available at ESPN.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, up-tempo “walk-thru” practice on Saturday that is not open to the media. The Giants play the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday.

Giants Sign Will Tye to Roster, Cut Kenrick Ellis; JPP to Report Soon?

 Posted by
Oct 032015
 
Daniel Fells, New York Giants (September 13, 2015)

Daniel Fells – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

GIANTS SIGN WILL TYE TO ROSTER, CUT KENRICK ELLIS…
The New York Giants have signed tight end Will Tye to the 53-man roster from the team’s Practice Squad. To make room for Tye, the Giants terminated the contract of defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis. The reason for the moves is that the Giants will be without tight ends Daniel Fells (ankle) and Jerome Cunningham (knee) on Sunday in the game against the Buffalo Bills. Neither made the trip to Buffalo. Larry Donnell is the only other tight end on the 53-man roster.

Tye is a rookie free agent who the Giants signed after the rookie mini-camp. Ellis, an unrestricted free agent signed by the Giants from the Jets, has now been cut twice by the Giants. He was also cut in early September and then re-signed to the roster on September 22.

In addition to Fells and Cunningham, the other players who did not travel to Buffalo are wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf), defensive end Robert Ayers (hamstring), and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee).

REPORT – JASON PIERRE-PAUL TO REPORT TO GIANTS SOON…
According to BleacherReport.com, maimed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is expected to report to the New York Giants within the next two weeks, either before or after the team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 11th. Pierre-Paul supposedly believes he is ready to play football. BleacherReport.com raises the issue that Pierre-Paul still may not pass the team’s physical and that a potential impasse over his health status could lead to a dispute. Pierre-Paul is looking to be paid for the remainder of the season and ultimately become an unrestricted free agent in 2016.

ARTICLES…

Injury Setbacks for Victor Cruz, Robert Ayers, Markus Kuhn

 Posted by
Oct 012015
 


[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

INJURY REPORT – VICTOR CRUZ RULED OUT…
WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Daniel Fells (ankle), TE Jerome Cunningham (knee), LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), DE Robert Ayers (hamstring), and DT Markus Kuhn (knee) did not practice on Thursday.

Cruz, who suffered an injury setback at practice on Wednesday, has now officially been ruled out of the game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. There is also no timetable on his return to the practice field.

“Victor tried it yesterday and it did not feel right to him, so he did not practice, just a little bit in very beginning,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Obviously, we’re all disappointed in that…we really don’t have a lot of choice, which means that get him back in rehab, get him back to work and see when he can on the field…It is what it is. He tried it and didn’t make it. He will not be able to play this week…He went for an MRI. Yes, it is the same calf…I know he’s disappointed.”

Fells also did not practice for the second day in a row. “He’s not going to practice today, but I think he’s going to make it (for the game),” said Coughlin.

Ayers aggravated his hamstring injury in practice on Wednesday. “Ayers had a little problem about three-quarters of the way through (practice on Wednesday), so we’ll see about him,” said Coughlin.

Kuhn also sat out after practicing on Wednesday.

LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) practiced on a limited basis. “Flowers is gimpy, but he’ll be out there (at practice),” said Coughlin. “We’ll see where he is. If it’s possible and we get to the point where we feel confident that he can do it, then he plays (this weekend).”

RB Orleans Darkwa (knee), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (foot), and CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion) fully practiced.

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:

The audio of Beckham’s interview with ESPN Radio is also available at ESPN.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 before boarding the plane to Buffalo. The Giants play the Bills on Sunday afternoon.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Out, Ereck Flowers Doubtful

 Posted by
Sep 232015
 
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, New York Giants (August 14, 2015)

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

INJURY REPORT…
In addition to LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), the New York Giants have ruled the following players out of the game against the Washington Redskins on Thursday night:

  • WR Victor Cruz (calf)
  • TE Jerome Cunningham (knee)
  • DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (foot)
  • DT Markus Kuhn (knee)
  • CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion)

LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) is doubtful for the game while DE Robert Ayers (hamstring) is questionable.

TE Daniel Fells (foot), RG Geoff Schwartz (illness), DE/DT Cullen Jenkins (hamstring), DT Jay Bromley (knee), and LB Jon Beason (knee) are probable.

ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The 0-2 New York Giants will face the 1-1 Washington Redskins on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

Atlanta Falcons 24 – New York Giants 20

 Posted by
Sep 202015
 
Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning, New York Giants (September 20, 2015)

Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

ATLANTA FALCONS 24 – NEW YORK GIANTS 20…
The New York Giants squandered another 10-point fourth-quarter lead and fell to the Atlanta Falcons 24-20 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Giants fell to 0-2. It’s the first time in team history that the Giants have started three seasons in a row 0-2. It is also the first time in NFL history that a team has lost its first two games after leading by 10 points or more in the fourth quarter. The Giants have lost their last four home openers.

Each team moved the football to start the game but was forced to punt. The Falcons then went up 7-0 after a 13-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter. The Giants responded with a 10-play, 45-yard drive early in the second quarter that resulted in a 38-yard field goal by Josh Brown. Falcons 7 – Giants 3.

The Falcons immediately followed that field goal drive with one of their own as Atlanta went 56 yards in 11 plays to set up a 42-yard effort. The Giants quickly tied the game on a short slant pass from quarterback Eli Manning to wide out Odell Beckham who turned on the burners en route to a 67-yard touchdown play. The game was tied 10-10.

Neither team was able to move the football for the rest of the half until the Giants last possession before intermission. The Giants drove the ball 30 yards in six plays to set up a 44-yard field goal that gave New York the lead at halftime 13-10.

The Giants received the opening kickoff of the second half and moved the ball 69 yards in nine plays to go up 20-10. The big play on the drive was a 37-yard pass to running back Shane Vereen on 3rd-and-5. Three plays later, Manning hit tight end Larry Donnell for a 10-yard score on 3rd-and-4.

Eli Manning, New York Giants (September 20, 2015)

Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

The Giants defense forced a three-and-out and the Giants offense then let a golden opportunity to put the Falcons away slip through their fingers. After a 35-yard run by running back Andre Williams and a 12-yard run by Vereen on 3rd-and-7, the Giants were able to drive deep into Atlanta territory. But on 3rd-and-2 from the 8-yard line, Manning was sacked and fumbled the ball away to the Falcons. Instead of being up 27-10 or 23-10, the score remained 20-10. Worse for New York, after this mistake with less than five minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Giants offense basically shut down for the remainder of the game.

The Falcons immediately took advantage by driving 91 yards in 12 plays to cut the Giants lead to 20-17 with under 13 minutes to play. The 10-yard touchdown pass to wideout Leonard Hankerson came on 3rd-and-9. The Giants did reach the Falcons 38-yard line on the ensuing drive but running back Rashad Jennings’ 3rd-and-2 run was stuffed for a loss and the Giants punted.

The Giants defense held after giving up a couple of first downs and the Giants received the ball back with 4:24 to play. But New York could not pick up one first down and was forced to punt. Worse, on this series, the Giants were called for delay of game after an Atlanta timeout.

The Falcons then quickly drove 70 yards in seven plays for the game-winning touchdown with 1:14 left to play. The Giants had a glimmer of hope after a 30-yard defensive pass interference penalty against Beckham gave them the ball at midfield with 1:02 to play. But the game ended after four straight Manning incompletions, including two drops by tight end Larry Donnell and wide receiver Preston Parker.

Offensively, the Giants accrued 19 first downs and 388 total net yards (97 rushing, 291 passing). The Giants were 10-of-17 (59 percent) on 3rd down conversions. Manning finished 27-of-40 for 292 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. But his fumble on the goal line was very costly. Beckham caught seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown while Vereen caught eight passes for 76 yards. Williams was the leading rusher with six rushes for 43 yards. Jennings was limited to 12 yards on nine carries.

Defensively, the Giants allowed 25 first downs and 402 total net yards (56 rushing, 346 passing). The Falcons were 11-of-17 (65 percent) on 3rd down conversions. New York did not force a turnover. Defensive end Robert Ayers and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins each had sacks and the Giants were credited with eight quarterback hits.

Video highlights/lowlights are available at Giants.com.

INJURY REPORT…
Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie suffered a burner early in the game, later returned, but then suffered a concussion that ended his game. Left tackle Ereck Flowers re-injured his ankle and did not return. “(Rodgers-Cromartie) has to go through the protocol,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Flowers, I hope it’s not going to be a continuous thing that bothers him all year long.”

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

POST-GAME NOTES…
Inactive for the Giants were WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Daniel Fells (foot), LB Jon Beason (knee), DT Markus Kuhn (knee), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (foot), S Cooper Taylor, and OT Bobby Hart.

QB Eli Manning increased his career passing yards total to 40,240, which moved him one yard in front of Johnny Unitas (40,239) and into 14th place on the NFL’s career list. Manning is the 15th player in history to pass for at least 40,000 yards.

WR Odell Beckham increased his career reception total to 103, which is an NFL record for the first 16 games (a full season) in a career. Beckham set the mark in only 14 games.  It was the fifth time in his last six games dating back to last season that Beckham totaled at least 130 receiving yards.

ARTICLES….

4-Year, $84 Million Extension for Eli Manning; Thursday Injury Report

 Posted by
Sep 102015
 


[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

4-YEAR, $84 MILLION EXTENSION FOR ELI MANNING…
According to NFL.com, the New York Giants and quarterback Eli Manning are in the process of finalizing a 4-year, $84 million contract extension. ESPN is reporting that the contract will include $65 million in guaranteed money.

While NFL.com is reporting that the deal could be signed as early as Friday, ESPN says while the Giants and Manning are in agreement on money, the two sides remain hung up on specific contract language that they hope to resolve by this weekend. NFL.com says Manning wants a no-trade clause in the contract.

Manning is currently entering the final year of the 6-year, $97.5 million contract extension he signed in August 2009. He was set to count $19.75 million (including $17 million in salary, $2.25 million prorated signing bonus, and $500,000 workout bonus) against the team’s 2015 salary cap. ESPN says Manning will still make $17.5 million in the final year of his current contract, which would bring his five-year total to $101.5 million.

Manning’s $21 million average in new money on the four-year extension would rank him fourth among quarterbacks in the NFL, behind Aaron Rodgers ($22 million), Russell Wilson ($21.9 million), and Ben Roethlisberger ($21.85 million).

INJURY REPORT…
Not practicing on Thursday due to injuries were WR Victor Cruz (calf), LT Will Beatty (pectoral – on PUP), DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa (sore right foot), and LB Jon Beason (knee).

Head Coach Tom Coughlin said there was no update on Cruz, but he would not rule Cruz out of Sunday’s game against Dallas despite the fact that Cruz has not practiced in a few weeks. It would appear very unlikely that Cruz will play against the Cowboys.

Beason did not practice on Wednesday after returning to practice on Tuesday.

“It’s a little sore, so the smartest thing to do is to take a day off and see how it feels tomorrow,” said Beason.  “I don’t want to miss Dallas, Sunday Night Football, the opener, so for me personally, it means everything.”

“(Beason) was sore today and the medical people decided to hold him,” said Coughlin. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

“(Odighizuwa) has a sore foot, and the trainers thought it was best that he get treatment and hold him out today,” Coughlin said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

DE/DT Cullen Jenkins (hamstring) and LB Jonathan Casillas (neck) fully practiced.

LOUIS NIX PASSES HIS PHYSICAL…
Defensive tackle Louis Nix is now officially a New York Giant. The Giants claimed Nix off of waivers from the Houston Texans on Sunday, but he failed his physical with the Giants on Tuesday and was waived. Apparently he passed a second physical on Wednesday and has been officially added to the 53-man roster.

Nix was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Texans. He has been plagued with injuries, having knee surgery in 2013 at Notre Dame, knee surgery in Summer 2014 with the Texans, and then a wrist issue that landed him on Injured Reserve in September 2014 with the Texans. He never played in a regular-season game with Houston. Nix is a strong, mammoth nose tackle-type lineman who can take on the double-team and hold the point-of-attack when healthy. Although Nix is a good athlete for his size, he is more of a run defender than pass rusher. Nix’s professionalism and work ethic were questioned in Houston.

WR MYLES WHITE ADDED TO PRACTICE SQUAD…
The New York Giants have signed wide receiver Myles White to the Practice Squad. White was waived by the Green Bay Packers from their 53-man roster when the team signed wide receiver James Jones, who had been with the Giants this summer. To make room for White, the Giants terminated the Practice Squad contract of linebacker Cole Farrand.

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.

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

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available at BigBlueInteractive.com and 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.

“Saturday changes,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Saturday becomes a full-speed drill for a minimum amount of time. But it does put them in the mode where they’ve gone full speed the day before they play.”

The team will also travel to Dallas on Saturday.

Giants Express an Interest in Safety Stevie Brown

 Posted by
Aug 292015
 
Prince Amukamara and Stevie Brown, New York Giants (September 8, 2014)

Prince Amukamara and Stevie Brown – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

Giants Express an Interest in Safety Stevie Brown: According to multiple press reports, the New York Giants have expressed an interest in safety Stevie Brown, who was released by the Houston Texans on Friday. 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.

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.

Article on RT Bobby Hart: Bobby Hart rookie check-in: Giants OT analyzes his game, compares Jameis Winston to Eli Manning by Jordan Raanan for NJ.com

Article on DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa: Rookie Owa Odighizuwa aspires to be the Giants’ next great pass rusher by James Kratch for NJ.com

Article on CB Jayron Hosley: Jayron Hosley knows it’s now or never to prove himself with Giants by Ebenezer Samuel of The New York Daily News

Article on S Brandon Meriweather: New Giants safety Brandon Meriweather insists aggressive play isn’t dirty by Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News

August 27, 2015 New York Giants Training Camp Report

 Posted by
Aug 272015
 
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (August 14, 2015)

Tom Coughlin – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

AUGUST 27, 2015 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants concluded their summer training camp on Thursday with a “recovery cycle” day of yoga, massage, contrast bath (hot and cold tubs), self-massage stuck rollers/bands, functional movement screen exercises, and air compression boots. With preferences based on seniority, players were able to choose from two of these six 15-minute recovery activities.

INJURY REPORT…
The injury that right tackle Marshall Newhouse suffered to his right ankle on Wednesday is apparently not serious. “He is fine. He just got stepped on,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “That is a surface scratch. Someone stepped on his leg when he was on the ground and it was down relatively low and it scared him because of where the step occurred.”

Safety Nat Berhe, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since May, re-aggravated the injury in practice on Tuesday. “He re-injured his calf, that is all I can tell you,” said Coughlin. “Whatever the mechanism, whatever goes on, he had one day of practice, felt really good, came out here and had the same occurrence that happened the last time – occurred this time, so he is re-injured.”

Center Weston Richburg has been bothered by tendinitis in his left knee. “He actually feels pretty good today,” said Coughlin. “We should’ve called a practice for today. We’re going to keep working with him and seeing what the doctors and those people tell me. I don’t have anything new for you right now.” Coughlin would not indicate if Richburg would play on Saturday against the New York Jets.

“A little bit of swelling,” said Richburg. “That was the issue. The swelling can kind of take away from some muscle function. So trying to get that swelling down, get that figured out.”

Linebacker Mark Herzlich is still recovering from a concussion he suffered in the second preseason game. “He was coming along well and just didn’t feel real good yesterday,” said Coughlin. “(He’s) not (doing) as well as I would like.”

Coughlin said receiver Victor Cruz (calf) and linebacker Jon Beason (knee) would not play against the Jets. But he did say safety Landon Collins (knee) and cornerback Jayron Hosley (concussion) would play.

Left tackle Will Beatty (PUP – pectoral), defensive end George Selvie (knee), cornerback Chykie Brown (knee), and cornerback Chandler Fenner (hamstring) will miss the game.

According to NJ.com, wide receiver Rueben Randle (knee tendinitis) should play against the Jets. But NJ.com says offensive lineman Brandon Mosley (back) has not practiced all week.

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

A little different week for us. This is what I call the GPS week. We’re following that to a ‘T.’ We’ve had two hard practices, followed by basically meetings, walk-throughs and a recovery cycle. So all three – special teams, defense and offense – had good, long meetings, they had walk-throughs and we finished that up with a recovery cycle. The recovery cycle has basically six elements and, by seniority, they can choose two. It is two fifteen-minute periods and we are currently right toward the end of the second cycle, so it is a unique kind of a day and I am interested in the feedback that I get from our leadership council and also from the assistant coaches as we go through the day and, of course, the proof will come later as to how we perform.

Q: What are those elements? What kind of things are they?

A: Yoga, massage. There are some fancy names for things we do with rollers and sticks and so on and so forth — cold tub, but it is basically just the recovery cycle muscular so on and so forth along with yoga and some of the other things we employed.

Q: Is this something you may implement during the season?

A: We are going to see. I will see what it looks like and again tomorrow is another day of this experimentation, so we are going to go through with that and we’ll see how we like it at the end of the week.

Q: Do you consider this the end of a certain segment? The last day of training camp, such as it is.

A: We just keep going. Nothing ended, everything keeps right on going. It is much different, as you know and as you have recognized in other years, and I think at this point in time the players who are able to have a home in this area, they have checked out of the hotel, the other guys will stay in the hotel and we just keep going.

Q: You talked about wanting to see more urgency in practice in the beginning of the week. Did you see that over the course of the week?

A: Yesterday, I saw a little bit more and I would like to continue to see more.

Q: Marshall Newhouse looked like he [got injured]?

A: He is fine. He just got stepped on.

Q: [What about] Nat Berhe?

A: Berhe re-injured his calf.

Q: Is it kind of back to square one with him?

A: He re-injured his calf, that is all I can tell you. Whatever the mechanism, whatever goes on, he had one day of practice, felt really good, came out here and had the same occurrence that happened the last time — occurred this time, so he is re-injured.

Q: You have all these new tools, you have the GPS and all this stuff. Can it prevent these things from happening or can it decrease the probability of these things happening?

A: Not in the case of a guy that has not been practicing. It can tell you — it can monitor the players under certain types of practices to tell you what their workload should be and if they approach that, you can back them down, but in the case of someone like Nat, he wasn’t even practicing, so there was no workload level other than the fact that he was doing a very, very limited amount of work the day before.

Q: How bad is Marshall Newhouse?

A: That is a surface scratch. Someone stepped on his leg when he was on the ground and it was down relatively low and it scared him because of where the step occurred.

Q: He should be able to play?

A: I think so.

Q: Just to be clear, this GPS day, recovery cycle day, that would be in place of a practice if you implemented this during the regular season?

A: That would be in the place of a practice. What you would do is you would load up according to the GPS system the first two days of the week. In other words, you cover a lot of territory. I don’t know if you noticed, but yesterday’s practice was quite long and could’ve actually been another five minutes. So you’re getting a lot of things done on an overload kind of a day and then you’re having an unloaded cycle and then the week’s not over yet.

Q: You don’t seem like a ‘less practice is better’ kind of guy?

A: Let’s not go there.

Q: Do you personally spend any time with the data? Do you find it interesting?

A: I have people that give me the feedback. It’s interesting, there’s no doubt about it.

Q: What about it has jumped out to you personally?

A: To be honest with you, they can tell you by virtue of the information the potential for a guy to have a soft tissue injury. When that happens, you back the guy down, and that’s the whole purpose. The whole purpose is to recognize someone who is headed for a strain, if you will, and try to do something about it.

Q: Have there been instances when you’ve gotten the information during a practice?

A: We’ve gotten the information that’s said to back off a guy, yes.

Q: Is Jayron Hosley okay?

A: Hosley practiced yesterday and he’s got the greenlight to go.

Q: You said he was doing some things before…

A: Yeah, he was. We’d like to see him do some more things. There’s a bunch of them we’d like to see some more things.

Q: After you see what happened with Nat Berhe, do you have to handle Victor Cruz any differently with his calf issue?

A: It’s the same basic area but two totally different injuries. We’ll do whatever we can if there are similarities. I’m sure the medical people follow that practice but each case is different. They’re not exactly the same.

Q: Victor is not going to play, correct?

A: He’s not going to play, no.

Q: With Weston Richburg, where do you stand with him?

A: He actually feels pretty good today. We should’ve called a practice for today. We’re going to keep working with him and seeing what the doctors and those people tell me. I don’t have anything new for you right now.

Q: Is it possible he plays then on Saturday?

A: Anything’s possible. It might rain. You never know.

Q: You just said Cruz is out, though. Is Richburg likely to be out as well?

A: I’m not answering that question. How much more—what can I do? I answered the Cruz question, that’s it.

Q: You said after a couple of days with the medical staff you may have a better idea on Jon Beason. Do you have that?

A: I don’t have any more for you. He won’t play this week.

Q: Will Landon Collins play?

A: Yes.

Q: How’s Mark Herzlich doing? Is he still…

A: He was coming along well and just didn’t feel real good yesterday. Not as well as I would like.

Q: So when that happens, it’s back to square one with the concussion thing?

A: Protocol has to be accomplished; otherwise, no.

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

RELATED ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The New York Giants training camp practices for this summer are now over. The team will conduct a walk-thru practice on Friday in advance of Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets.

August 26, 2015 New York Giants Training Camp Report

 Posted by
Aug 262015
 
Preston Parker, New York Giants (August 14, 2015)

Preston Parker – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

AUGUST 26, 2015 NEW YORK GIANTS TRAINING CAMP REPORT…
The New York Giants held their second-to-last training camp practice on Wednesday at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The full training camp schedule is available at Giants.com.

INJURY REPORT…
Wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf), center Weston Richburg (knee), left tackle Will Beatty (PUP – pectoral), defensive end George Selvie (knee), linebacker Jon Beason (knee), linebacker Mark Herzlich (concussion), cornerback Chykie Brown (knee), cornerback Chandler Fenner (hamstring), and safety Nat Berhe (calf) did not practice.

The bad news on Berhe is he re-aggravated his calf injury during practice on Tuesday.

Cornerback Jayron Hosley (concussion) returned to practice.

Right tackle Marshall Newhouse left practice early after injuring his left ankle. The Giants said another player stepped on Newhouse’s ankle.

PRACTICE NOTES…
Some snippets from various media sources:

  • Jeromy Miles and Brandon Meriweather remained the first-team safeties.
  • Landon Collins practiced with the second-team unit at safety.
  • Wide receiver Preston Parker had another good practice, including catching a deep ball from quarterback Eli Manning. (Video)
  • Cornerback Jayron Hosley broke up a pass intended for wide receiver Geremy Davis.
  • Wide receiver Odell Beckham beat cornerback Jayron Hosley for a touchdown.
  • One defensive line formation employed Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Cullen Jenkins, Robert Ayers, and Damontre Moore.
  • For the second practice in a row, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had a pick-six interception. This time he intercepted quarterback Ryan Nassib. Defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa pressured Nassib on the play.
  • Cornerback Trevin Wade picked off quarterback Ricky Stanzi. (Video)
  • Safety Cooper Taylor blew up a screen pass.
  • After right tackle Marshall Newhouse left practice due to injury, Geoff Schwartz and Bobby Hart split snaps with the first-team offense at right tackle.
  • Tight ends Daniel Fells, Larry Donnell, and Jerome Cunningham were all active catching the ball, with Donnell also catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Manning.
  • According to Giants.com, the top players of the day were defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, tight end Daniel Fells, and wide receiver Preston Parker.

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

Q: Landon Collins didn’t really seem like he did much yesterday?

A: He did enough. They wanted to take him and work him and just see him on the side and I think he passed all the tests, so he is going to get some time today.

Q: How is Rueben Randle doing today?

A: Rueben is fighting his way through. He thought he needed just to get some more work in and so today will be a better day for him, I’m sure, too.

Q: Did you like what you saw from him yesterday?

A: He was slowly getting into it. Hopefully he will be able to start faster today.

Q: Will Weston Richburg go today?

A: No.

Q: Is that concerning?

A: Well, certainly it is concerning; it is always concerning, but he is not going to be able to go today so I don’t know what else to say to you.

Q: What is it? Tendinitis?

A: It is his knee, yeah.

Q: How important is the third game overall because the guys will play the most they will play all preseason?

A: Well, we have played our people a little bit more this preseason. The third game, obviously, is an important game, just like any of them are but as far as advancing our people, we’ll play a half. There may be some that extend and there may be some that won’t not play a full half, but by and large, we’ll plan on playing a half and a half.

Q: Do you always look forward to playing the Jets in the preseason?

A: It is always a good game. It is a game that is well approached by the media, it is a preseason game, we have our issues, we have people that we are trying to evaluate and they do, too, and I think that is where it is. That is where the game is.

Q: Does it seem any quieter without Coach [Rex] Ryan on the other side?

A: You know what, we’ve got our own issues. I don’t pay much attention to what is going on in other places.

Q: In other years you’ve often had the starters in the third game play through halftime.

A: I always say that, Paul. I’m glad you brought that up, but it doesn’t happen much. I come in at the half and if we are in pretty good shape, I say that is enough.

Q: It is a special day for Osi. Any thoughts on today?

A: I just smile when I think of — I have this picture in my mind and it will always be there and I smile every time I think of it. It is that picture on the wall where 72 (Umenyiora), 92 (Strahan) and 91 (Tuck) are walking away from Brady who is laying on the ground in Super Bowl 42 and I just have that picture and every time I think of that, I think of Osi and I think of Strahan and I think of Tuck and I just smile. It will always be there.

Q: In your head, is he always aligned with that group?

A: Oh, absolutely. Early on, it was Strahan and Osi, and then, of course, when a young Justin Tuck comes along, but that way in which stories of how Strahan broke in and then how Osi was put to test, too, by the…that is a rare room, the defensive line room, now; you have to understand that. I will always have that smile and that thought of Osi, number one, and on this special day of his and, of course, those that surrounded him.

Q: That second Super Bowl run, when you think of him coming back, can you overstate the contribution that he made back there?

A: No, you can’t because of the way in which, like you say, he fought his way through some things. He had some injuries and he fought his way through those things and the way he played down the stretch in that situation and then through the playoffs was outstanding.

Q: What was he like to coach?

A: He was fun. He was a good guy. The one thing that probably went below the surface [was] what a job he did preparing. He studied those left tackles and he knew them—he knew the guy he was going against inside and out and that was really, I thought, the key to his success, that and the fact that he was very fast [and] very confident. When he stepped on the field, the guys around him knew that he was a very confident player, he was a master at his craft and that gave them great confidence, as well.

Q: The young group you have now has mentioned that group and how high they have set the bar. Do you see that as a good thing for these guys now to try and aim for that?

A: Most definitely, that is a good thing. It is always important to have something to look at to establish where you have to get to, to have that kind of success, and I think those guys represent that.

Q: Do you see that kind of talent in the room here?

A: Well, that is what we are shooting for. Guys are going to emerge and they are going to have to and these young guys are going to have to come and emerge. Guys like Owa, who people don’t know a whole heck of a lot about because he played on the other side of the country, and so on. He is a guy that is a talented young guy that can learn from watching these guys and knowing full well the success that that group had.

Q: Can I bring you back to this week’s game. What is going to mark the first half for the offense to be a success for you? What do you need to see?

A: It is continued improvement for me. The timing of the passing game is not there yet, and it’s got to happen. I thought our protection did a nice job early on. We’ll be tested this week, the Jets have an outstanding pressure package—they also have an outstanding front, a big front, so we are going to be tested with regards to that, too. That brings up the idea of some kind of consistency with your run game. We have got to have that. We had it at times the other night; we need it more often but we are going up against a very good front, so those would be the ways, you mentioned offense, where we would be looking to see us make progress.

Q: Victor Cruz said yesterday he sees defenses gunning for Odell Beckham. What does Odell have to work through with that?

A: I wouldn’t use those words. Obviously there is a difference between — people are always going to recognize someone who has the type of season that he had and they are going to do things to defend that. As far as gunning for him — you know the continuous of making plays [and] earning the respect of the opponents by doing it over time, proving as a rookie you made these plays and now the continuation of that, and I think that is what the rest of the league will see out of Odell this year.

Q: You saw the last play. The one down the right side where Odell kind of bumped him and gave the guy a little forearm. What did you say to him about that?

A: Well, we talk about those things and that remains pretty much between he and I. He is not going to be that way, I don’t believe so. You’ve got to stay away from those personal battles — that is a general statement for anybody in football, whether you are a lineman; a lot of times you want to attach those thoughts to linemen who get involved personal battles rather than see the whole picture and play for the purpose for the rest of the team. Odell he is going to improve on that.

Q: You had Steve Weatherford placekicking yesterday. Is Josh Brown okay?

A: We were working on our second and third kickers, is it okay to do that?

Q: Anything new with Cruz since yesterday?

A: No.

Q: So he won’t practice again today?

A: No, he won’t.

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

RELATED ARTICLES…

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The last training camp practice for the Giants this summer is on Thursday, but the practice is not open to the public.

New York Giants Claim DT Jimmy Staten Off of Waivers

 Posted by
Aug 182015
 
Jimmy Staten, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (October 20, 2012)

Jimmy Staten (#90) – © USA TODAY Sports Images

[contentblock id=1 img=html.png]

Giants Claim DT Jimmy Staten Off of Waivers; Release DT Carlif Taylor: According to multiple press sources, the New York Giants have claimed defensive tackle Jimmy Staten off of waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. To make room for Staten, the Giants waived rookie free agent defensive tackle Carlif Taylor.

Staten was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Seahawks. He spent his rookie season on Seattle’s Practice Squad. Staten has decent size (6’3”, 311 pounds) with good strength. He is a better run defender than pass rusher. Staten is a raw, developmental type, but he is hard worker.

Injury Update on DE George Selvie and S Mykkele Thompson: According to NJ.com, the knee injury suffered by defensive end George Selvie in practice on Monday is thought to be a relatively minor knee strain.

Meanwhile, safety Mykkele Thompson, who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles’ tendon injury in the preseason game last Friday, tweeted he underwent successful surgery. Recovery from Achilles’ ruptures can be tricky and it remains to be seen if the injury is career-threatening.

Articles on Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo:

Articles on QB Eli Manning:

Article on RB Andre Williams: How Giants’ Andre Williams is fixing his biggest weakness by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Article on TE Larry Donnell: Giants’ Larry Donnell: Game vs. Cincinnati Bengals was ‘best I’ve felt blocking since I’ve been here’ by James Kratch for NJ.com

Articles on New York Giants Defensive Ends:

Articles on S Brandon Meriweather:

Article on the 2015 New York Giants: Latest Giants 53-man roster prediction doesn’t include James Jones, Adrien Robinson by Jordan Raanan for NJ.com

 Older Entries  Newer Entries