http://www.sportsnipe.com New York Giants, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2933444/brandon-jacobs-shows-displeasure-over-issue-backup-status.html Running back Brandon Jacobs had a contentious exchange with reporters over losing his starting job to Ahmad Bradshaw. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932695/2009-draft-hey-jerry-there-are-no-mulligans-in-nfl.html More photos » Henny Ray Abrams - AP Browse more photos » In baseball, going 1-for-9 consistently (a .111 average) will bring a quick end to your big-league aspirations. In basketball, shoot 1-for-9 from the field and you probably can't compete with a high school team. In football, go 1-for-9 in the draft very often and your team probably ends up like the Detroit Lions or St. Louis Rams. Meaning, it doesn't win very often. Unfortunately, it seems Giants GM Jerry Reese might just have done that in the 2009 NFL Draft. If you have been reading BBV for a while, you know I am a huge Reese booster. Right now, though, it's tough to defend the 2009 draft class. After 2009 fourth-round pick Andre Brown was waived and claimed by the Denver Broncos, Ernie Palladino summarized the situation this way: Nine picks, one star, three gone entirely, one on the practice squad for a second year, one bust in the making, one still waiting for a chance on the playing field, and two role players. Not a great 2009 scorecard. I know you guys probably can't read Ernie's piece since it requires a subscription, but he is right on target here. No. 1 pick Hakeem Nicks is a star in the making. No. 2 picks Will Beatty and Clint Sintim are disappointing thus far. The Giants tried to hand Beatty the left tackle job this summer, and he could not take it. He might still develop, but not a good sign that he could not win a job. Sintim, according to Ernie "has bust written all over him." He just doesn't seem, at this point, to show the instincts for what the Giants are asking him to do. It's fair to wonder if he ever will, or if those who thought he would hve fit better in a 3-4 were correct. No. 3 picks Ramses Barden and Travis Beckum have each barely been able to get on the field. The guess here is that neither one ever becomes a central figure in the Giants offense. No, 4 pick Brown is gone. No. 5 pick Rhett Bomar might as well be. Pretty obvious that he will never, at least by choice, play a meaningful down for the Giants. Nos. 6 & 7 picks DeAndre Wright and Stoney Woodson did not make it out of camp a year ago.  You know, I take a mulligan every so often when I play golf. Unfortunately, you get no mulligans in the NFL. Mistakes in the draft, especially in the top half of the draft, can haunt teams for a long time. I am not writing Beatty, Sintim, Barden and Beckum off as busts at this point, but they need to step up and justify Reese's faith. The Giants will suffer if they don't. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932694/new-york-giants-notes-jay-alford-oakland-raider.html Former New York Giants defensive tackle Jay Alford, released last week, has signed with the Oakland Raiders. With deposed Giants defensive line coach Mike Waufle in Oakland now we should have seen this one coming. Oakland or St. Louis, where Steve Spagnuolo is head coach, were the likely landing spots for Alford. I wish the guy well. Too bad, but there just wasn't room for him here with the Giants. Now that he is definitely part of the starting unit, you can expect veteran linebacker Keith Bulluck to be much more vocal. "I've been myself to the best of my ability but I've definitely been a little quieter . . . maybe a lot quieter," Bulluck said. "It's just a matter of getting comfortable. You're not just gonna come in somewhere and just start doing the things I do up top. You got to kind of learn the lay of the land. "But it's about that time. I think I'm comfortable and the more football I play and the more involved I get, I'm coming out of my shell slowly but surely." Season Previews This is the time when everyone is writing season previews. Here are a few that I found around the Inter-Google. The Dallas Star-Telegram previews the NFC East Here is an NFC preview from the Charlotte Observer A preview of the Carolina Panthers, Sunday's opponent, from SBNation.com ESPN has five things to watch for with the 2010 Giants The New York Post says the Giants are playoff-bound New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932693/jim-kelly-talks-super-bowl-xxv-eli-manning-more.html I was given the opportunity Wednesday to speak with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, who was in the midst of a media blitz on behalf of 'The Depend Campaign for Prostate Cancer.' We talked about that work, which Kelly has been part of for a couple of years now, and some other series issues surrounding Kelly's Hunter's Hope Foundation. I could not, however, resist forcing the former Buffalo Bills quarterback to relive Super Bowl XXV, the famous 'wide right' game won by the Giants over Kelly's Bills, 20-19. Kelly grew up in Pennsylvania longing to one day quarterback a team to a Super Bowl title. As he led his team down the field in the final moments toward what would be a Super Bowl-deciding field-goal attempt by Scott Norwood, Kelly thought it was the perfect script. "Everything I dreamed about as a little boy happened in that game," Kelly said. "I led the team down the field in the last two minutes with a chance to win the game." Then, as we all know, Norwood's kick sailed wide right, Everson Walls' hands went in the air and the Giants were Super Bowl champions. Kelly was left with a Super Bowl defeat, the first of four straight for him and the Bills. "We all had confidence in Scott," Kelly said. "When the ball went wide it hurt, of course. If it didn't hurt, you shouldn't be playing." I had to also ask Kelly about the Giants' Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Eli Manning. Specifically, I asked him why he thought some fans in New York, and some in the media everywhere, are still unwilling to acknowledge that Eli is among the league's best quarterbacks. Kelly said he would put Eli in the league's second tier of quarterbacks, the group directly behind Eli's brother Peyton, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. "You look at a quarterback with the system that he's in, you look how they operate and what they do with the offense," Kelly said. "If you're trying to compare him to a Drew Brees or his brother Peyton it's unfair because their systems are totally different. I think you put Eli in more of a wide-open offense, not so much a run-oriented system I think you'd see his numbers definitely go up. "You are only as good as the people around you and the system you have and I think Eli does well with what he's getting." Charity Work Kelly, of course, was not made available to me to reminisce about Super Bowl XXV or defend Eli. He was made available to promote early screening for prostate cancer. Find out more at dependca.com. Kelly and his wife former their 'Hunter's Hope Foundation' in 2005 after their son, Hunter, died from Krabbe Disease. Kelly's mission since that time has been to increase awareness around the country, and get states to test for more newborn diseases. Kelly said when his son, Hunter,  was born New York only tested newborns for 11 diseases. Some states tested for 40 or more, while others tested for less than 10. Currently, Kelly said New York now tests newborns for more than 50 diseases. He looks forward to the day when testing is standardized everywhere in the U.S. "We're trying to make sure that all states are up to par with the amount of diseases they test for," Kelly said. " "As long as they continue to do that [set standards state-by-state] thousands and thousands of babies will continue to die and thousands more will become permanently disabled just because they were born in the wrong state," Kelly said. Kelly's wife, Jill, has written a book entitled 'Without A Word: How A Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything.' Order a copy if you want to know more about the Kelly's story. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932692/nfl-season-tickets-decline-for-3rd-straight-associated-press.html Globe and MailNFL season tickets decline for 3rd straight seasonThe Associated Press"I believe our average ticket price is up slightly, and that is the consequence in all likelihood of opening of new stadiums," he said. The New York Giants ...Buffalo Bills face weak secondary ticket sales, possible 0-16 seasonTicket Newsall 288 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932691/new-york-gianst-safety-kenny-phillips-returns-to-starting-spot-bleacher-report.html New York Daily NewsNew York Gianst Safety Kenny Phillips Returns To Starting SpotBleacher ReportWhen the New York Giants walked out onto the practice field this morning, Coach Tom Coughlin told Kenny Phillips to work with the first team. ...Kenny Phillips on track to start openerESPNAfter missing most of last season, Phillips is back in Giants starting lineupThe Canadian PressSafety Kenny Phillips says he's been 'penciled in' as a starter for New York ...New York Daily NewsSB Nation New York (blog)all 45 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932690/few-very-brief-notes-before-chat.html A few quick notes from Tom Coughlin’s pre-practice press conference while you’re awaiting my first Live Chat of the regular season: • CB Aaron Ross (foot) will take part in... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932689/phillips-replaces-grant-in-starting-lineup.html When Tom Coughlin was asked earlier today if he was still easing Kenny Phillips back into a full-time role, the Giants coach said ?The easing part, I think, is over.?... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932688/vote-giants-jets-game-by-in-2010.html How do you think the Jets and Giants will do this year? Here?s a chance to find out if Jets fans are as confident as their head coach. And if Giants fans think they can come back from last year?s season that started 5-0, ended 8-8 and according... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932687/giants-jacobs-storms-off-from-reporters.html Giants running back Brandon Jacobs stormed off from an interview session with reporters after being questioned about his role. Jacobs has been demoted to the No. 2 back behind Ahmad Bradshaw. He refused to answer questions about comments he made last week that he was unhappy with his role. After... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932686/nfl-season-ticket-sales-decline-again-canadian-press.html NEW YORK, N.Y. - Third down has a new meaning in the NFL this season. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932685/giants-backup-running-back-jacobs-storms-off-canadian-press.html EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs stormed off from an interview session with reporters after being questioned about his role. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2932684/coughlin-needs-playoff-run.html The Giants' locker room was bracing for big changes after the way their miserable 2009 ended. Big Blue wasn't even competitive in its final two games. Their owner was furious. Management could've torn apart everything and nobody would've blinked. Yet... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2927296/linebacker-keith-bulluck-may-start-on-weak-side-for-giants-darius-reynaud-new-york-daily-news.html New York Daily NewsLinebacker Keith Bulluck may start on weak side for Giants; Darius Reynaud ...New York Daily NewsKeith Bulluck expects to start the season as an outside linebacker for the New York Giants. How do you think the Giants will fare in 2010 ...Return specialist Darius Reynaud settling in with GiantsThe Star-Ledger - NJ.comNew Giant had a 'gut feeling' about NYThe Times of Trenton - NJ.comall 3 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2927295/2010-nfl-preview-new-york-giants-positionbyposition-analysis-daily-news.html The Star-Ledger - NJ.com2010 NFL Preview: New York Giants position-by-position analysisNew York Daily NewsSteve Smith headlines a receiving corp that should prove to be a strength for the Giants. How do you think the Giants will fare in 2010? ...New York Giants' Notes: Is Jacobs Really 'Happy'?Big Blue View (blog)Giants: 5 things to watch for 2010ESPNNFL Preview 2010: Heat's on Tom Coughlin to avoid repeat of New York Giants ...New York Daily Newsall 14 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2927051/bulluck-key-to-big-blues-d.html What in the world is Keith Bulluck thinking? As a veteran he is supposed to realize the best way to get noticed is to come into a new situation with mouth open and humility shut, to remind everyone what he's done, boast what he'll do. Signed to start... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925138/first-impressions-giants.html By David Cassilo Before we get started, most of the readers are probably wondering who I am, and what I'm doing on Tom's blog. This is my first week as an intern with Newsday. I'm a student at Villanova where I'm sports editor for our student paper, The Villanovan. Today I was helping Tom keep tabs on the Giants at minicamp. On to today's thoughts... This is the first I've seen of the Giants since last year, and the first thing you notice about the team is that this group of guys is hungry. They believe they were the best team in football last season, and they want to prove it in 2009. Everyone from Tom Coughlin to Antonio Pierce feels like the season ended too soon last year, and they all use the same word to describe it: disappointment. This is perhaps the most motivated Giants team I can remember. ? I don't want to use too much hyperbole in this post, but this may be the best Giants defense in over a decade. It seems like there is a playmaker at every position. When the first team was out there, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora started at defensive end. However, what was most interesting was that Chris Canty was playing defensive tackle. Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield and Rocky Bernard were not practicing today, but I'm not sure if that means that Canty starting at defensive tackle is only a temporary move. Jay Alford was the other starting defensive tackle. What makes that front four particularly intimidating is that it is almost impossible to tell where the rush is coming from. In many drills, the Giants would rush Umenyiora and Canty while dropping Tuck back into coverage. At times towards the end of last season, the pass rush suffered for the Giants. With all of the new additions coupled with Umenyiora coming back from injury, I don't think wearing down will be an issue in 2009. ? Returning to Canty for a second, most Giants fans probably don't realize yet just how big and disruptive Canty may be. He is listed at 6'7" and weighs 304 pounds, yet he moves very well for his size. His size should draw attention away from the other defensive ends and allow more pressure. ? Although losing Derrick Ward will hurt the offense, Ahmad Bradshaw looks ready to pick up the slack. After watching Brandon Jacobs pummel his way through the defense in 11-on-11's, Bradshaw gets lost behind the line of scrimmage but emerges ten yards down field. He is a shiftier runner than Ward, and I think that will help make up for his departure. Danny Ware and rookie Andre Brown also both showed good speed and had a few long runs. ? Tom covered Sinorce Moss' big day, so I'll just give my overall opinion of the wide receivers. All had their moments today. Mario Manningham had a nice sideline catch, Hakeem Nicks made a fingertip catch over the middle and Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon were running crisp routes. Ramses Barden showed flashes at time, and if he can ever progress enough, the Giants have something special on their hands. At 6'6" he even makes the 6'0" Nicks look tiny. A lot can still be determined, but I think there will be a lot of rotation among the receivers come Week One. The Giants may not have a true number one WR right now, but they do have a handful of guys that all excel in different areas and give unique looks to a defense. Using the versatility the Giants have at wideout may be their best option this season. ? In a brief note so fans don't get too confused once the preseason games begin, Mathias Kiwanuka has changed his number from 97 to 94. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925137/defense-shines-in-afternoon-practice.html The first of the two-a-days just ended, and just by eye-balling the workout it was clear that the defense had the upper hand. You can click below to read the chart of the 11-on-11 plays. A few notes before we get there. Aaron Ross joined Corey Webster on the sidelines, meaning neither of the two starting CBs were able to practice this afternoon. Terrell Thomas and Kevin Dockery took their places with the first group. Chase Blackburn stood off to the side. David Tyree and Taye Biddle were also out of the action. And you already know that Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins won't be doing anything during this minicamp. How'd Sinorice Moss look this afternoon following his blockbuster morning session? Pretty good. He made a nice catch on a crossing pattern with Dockery trailing in coverage and caught a short screen pass to the left. In a 2:00 drill that ended the practice he made a nice diving catch on a "third down" pass from David Carr, good enough for a first down to keep the drive going. A few tense moments when he looked shaken up on the play, but a few minutes later he was jogging across the field and didn't show much damage. Anyone -- like me -- who had already written a main for tomorrow's paper on Moss was holding their breath! (UPDATE: Just told it was a strained hamstring for Moss. Not certain if he'll be limited the rest of the minicamp.) Add a new punt returner to the mix as Shaun Bodiford was working with the group. The team was focusing on punt coverage, however, so it's impossible to tell if he's really a candidate for the job (or any job at this point really). Jeff Feagles handled the punting this afternoon rather than the machine. The team also worked on kickoff returns. The returners in order (with the upback in parenthesis) were: Bradshaw (Ware), Dockery (A.Brown), Moss (Manningham), Bradshaw (Ware). Lawrence Tynes was 3-for-4 on field goals. He connected from 20, 30 and 33 yards but missed one wide left from 28. It was a low snap, but it looked like Feagles got the ball down in time. No access to players after practice so we'll try to remember to ask about it tomorrow. In 7-on-7s, Nicks made a sweet grab, turning his body just right and using those great hands to snag a deep pass from Andre Woodson. The pass was deep down the right sideline with Dockery in coverage. When he came back to the line of scrimmage, O.C. Kevin Gilbride pointed at Nicks and said "Good job!" Earlier in the set, Dockery did a nice job of breaking up a pass for Moss on the right sideline. That was a 5-8 corner battling through a 5-8 receiver. Not a lot of height in that fight. Bryan Kehl went for an INT rather than break up on a pass from Woodson to Barden and it cost him as Barden made the catch. Derek Hagan made a nice grab reaching behind him for a throw from Rhett Bomar. And Ramses Barden showed some nice hands catching a quick slant from Bomar. OK, here are your 11-on-11s. Maybe a few more notes as I think of them throughout the night. Otherwise, see you tomorrow. First practice is at 9:20. It'll be the last workout at the unnamed complex. Tomorrow afternoon they unveil the corporate sponsor of the training complex. Can't wait! 11-on-11s (QB in parenthesis) FIRST SERIES 1. Jacobs run right (Manning) 2TE set, Tuck tackle 2. Bradhsaw run right (Manning) nice seal block by Hedgecock 3. PA pass to Boss (Manning) Tuck and Alford would have had a sack 4. PA pass to Smith (Manning) Tuck and Canty chased Manning with pressure 5. Inc. pass (Carr) under pressure from Kiwanuka, thrown away 6. Ware run left (Carr), bounced out for extra yardage 7. Pass to Hagan (Carr) roll left, pressure from Tollefson 8. Inc. pass for D.Johnson (Carr) tried to make a diving catch but lead too much; Wilkinson in good coverage 9. Patrick run right (Woodson) Kelvin Smith tackle 10. Inc. pass for Barden (Woodson) dropped bwhile trying to stay inbounds, but ball was too far outside 11. Brown run left (Bomar) nice cutback to middle, Ingram tackle 12. QB scramble (Bomar) Maurice Evans pressure, missed pickup by Wright SECOND SERIES 1. Pass to Hixon (Manning) quick slant 2. Jacobs run right (Manning) Umenyiora stop 3. Bradshaw run right (Manning) Tuck stop 4. Pass to Manningham (Manning) long down left sideline, Stoney Woodson had good coverage but didn't get hands up 5. Hixon end-around (Manning) Tollefson and Wilkinson sniff it out 6. Pass to Moss (Carr) cross with Dockery in coverage 7. Inc. pass for D.Johnson (Carr) Tollefson pressure 8. Pass to Barden (Carr) quick screen, Stoney Woodson stop 9. Patrick run middle (Carr) 10. Pass to D.Johnson (Carr) hit from behind by Phillips 11. Botched snap (Woodson) Koets at center 12. Pass to Moss (woodson) screen left 13. Patrick run right (Woodson) showed good outside speed 14. Inc. pass for Barden (Woodson) low throw but catchable 15. Inc pass for Manningham (Bomar) dropped 16. Inc. pass for Manningham (Bomar) overthrown 17. Patrick run middle (Bomar) 18. Pass to Rucker (Bomar) screen THIRD SERIES 2 MINUTE DRILL 1. QB scramble (Carr) 2. Inc. pass for D.Johnson (Carr) almost a nice 1-handed catch, Wilkinson in coverage 3. Pass to Moss (Carr) scrambling left and throw on run, the play Moss was dinged on, first down 4. Pass to Hagan (Carr) first down 5. Inc. pass for Ware (Carr) 6. Pass to Hagan (Carr) open down the middle New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925136/plaxico-in-past-but-loss-to-eagles-isnt.html Some of the talk at the first minicamp of 2009 naturally centered around the way the 2008 season ended. ?We are coming off a huge disappointment, quite frankly, on the part of everybody,? Tom Coughlin said. Coughlin also spoke about ?having the opportunity to get into a situation where we can do something about the bad taste we have in our mouth from last year.? Of all the senses, taste seems to have been the most disrupted by that home playoff loss to the Eagles that ended what was on the verge of being a great season for the Giants. ?We have a very bitter, bad, disgusting taste,? RB Brandon Jacobs said. ?It hurts more than anything.? Coughlin was asked if he ever thinks about how far the Giants could have gone last year had Plaxico Burress remained on the roster (and without a bullet hole in his leg). "That train pulled out of the station," he said. "I'm thinking about this group of guys that is here right now." He's not alone. Burress was in court on Monday, but very few of the Giants admitted to noticing. Even LB Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress the night of the shooting incident, said he paid no attention to the legal proceedings. ?We?re focusing on this team,? C Shaun O?Hara said. ?Personally we wish him the best, but he really has no relevance to us right now.? New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925135/all-in-days-work.html Here are the stories produced by Team Newsday from the first day of minicamp: Giants' Moss wants to finally prove doubters wrong Last season's disappointing end Duo might end Giants' Pro Bowl drought at safety With head cases gone, Giants are more focused Also, if you are interested in what Tim Hasselbeck had to say about former teammate Plaxico Burress, you can check that out here. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925134/tick-tock.html I walked into the media room here and saw a new sign on the wall. In big letters it reads: TIMEX Performance Center. Yes, the Giants' new training facility has a new name and a corporate sponsor. There were some reports about it last night and there'll be an official announcement this afternoon. But if the sign's on the wall, well, who am I to argue? Interestingly enough, there are no clocks here in the media room. (UPDATE: I've been assured that will change before long!) I'm told at least one player noted the new partnership and was grateful to have a time-keeping company team up with the Giants because "all of the clocks in this building are five minutes fast." Nicknames anyone? A few early candidates off the top of my head: The Ticker The Time Machine Big Ben The Watch Tower Help me out here! New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925133/moss-out-for-rest-minicamp.html Sinorice Moss will not return to the field this week. He's been sidelined by a hamstring strain that he suffered late in Tuesday's afternoon practice while sliding after a pass near the sideline. "He's not going to make it back for this camp," Tom Coughlin just said a minute ago. "Unfortuntaely it's going to keep him out. He was getting a lot of snaps and he was doing something with them." It's unclear if Moss will be well enough for the start of training camp in August. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925132/lots-injuries-in-day-2-giants-minicamp.html Sorry for the delay. We were held up attending the press conference for the naming of the training facility -- the Timex Performance Center -- right after locker room access. I'll feed you some info on that later, but first let's go back to the morning practice. At one point there were 14 players in the rehab area all receiving various forms of treatment and stretching. The names that were new to the area: Kevin Dockery and Andre Brown (although it looked like Brown was back in action later in the workout). Returning to action was Aaron Ross, who said he stayed out of Tuesday afternoon's session with an injury to the top of his foot. "Want to be precautious," he said. Barry Cofield looked good doing some running and some cutting on his surgically-repaired knee. He later said he sometimes forgets which knee he had the surgery on until he looks down at the scar. He said he'll be ready for the start of training camp and he's being held out of the minicamp mostly so that no one accidentally rolls over onto his leg and causes damage to it. He said people tend to lump the surgery he had with the one Fred Robbins had -- Robbins said his was a microfracture -- because they were done on the same day. But while Cofield's was a little more advanced that a routine three-week-recovery scope, it was certainly less that what Robbins had. Cofield said he's running and cutting at 100 percent speed, and he looked like it on the field. Speaking of knees, Brandon Jacobs blew past the defense on teh first 11-on-11 snap. When he got to safeties coach Dave Merritt about 30 yards down the field he shouted out "Ain't got no knee issues, I can run now!" Good to hear and good to see for Giants fans. You can read about the 11-on-11 snaps below. In 7-on-7s, Andre Woodson threw a tight spiral on a long pass to Domenik Hixon over Aaron Ross that was probably the prettiest play of the session. Second-place goes to Hakeem Nicks, who beat Sha'reff Rashad deep in 11s, had to slow down for a ball that was underthrown by Rhett Bomar, and made a nice catch with Rashad closing in on him and nearly in his face. Good concentration by the rookie and, of course, nice hands. There was also a pass from David Carr to George Wrighster that was bobbled up in the air and caught by Ahmad Bradshaw, who happened to be nearby. C.C. Brown had what was, by my count, the first interception of the minicamp. He picked off a pass from Eli Manning in the end zone during red zone snaps in 11s. The pass was intended for Hixon. As far as kickoff returns today, the Giants focused on it twice. The first time the returners (and their lead blockers in parenthesis) were, in order: Bradshaw (Ware), Hixon (Manningham), Nicks (Bodiford), Ware (Bradshaw), Hixon (Manningham), Nicks (Bodiford), Bradshaw (Ware), Manningham (Bodiford). The second time there were only two kicks: Bradshaw (Ware) and Manningham (Bodiford). I guess with the defense this good the Giants don't expect to be returning many kickoffs this season. On to the 11 on 11s, then stay tuned for updates on the naming rights deal and other business matters! 11-on-11s (QB in parenthesis) FIRST SERIES 1. Jacobs run right (Manning) 2. Pass to Hixon (Manning) open over middle, QB pressure from D.Clark 3. Ware run right (Manning) T.Thomas stop 4. Jacobs run left (Manning) 5. Ware run middle (Carr) stuffed by the d-line, couldn't exactly see who 6. Pass to Hagan (Carr) QB rolling right threw long, Hagan behind DeAndre Wright and Travonti Johnson 7. Ware run right (Carr) 8. PA pass to Barden (Woodson) Kehl in coverage 9. Patrick run right (Woodson) nice stop by DeOssie 10. Pass to Bodiford (Woodson) wobbly deep pass down the left sideline over Vince Anderson 11. False star (Bomar) 12. Pass to Wrighster (Bomar) nice leaping catch on an out with Rashad in coverage SECOND SERIES 1. Jacobs run left (Manning) Pierce and M.Johnson stop 2. Pass to Matthews (Manning) short dump 3. Bradshaw run right (Manning) not certain but it looked like an unbalanced line for this play? 4. Pass to Hixon (Manning) out of 4WR set with Bradshaw in motion from backfield to wide 5. Ware run middle (Manning) 6. QB keeper (Carr) designed sprint to the right almost like an option 7. Bradshaw run (Carr) Rashad stop 8. Pass to Ware (Carr) Nice job by Ware to pick up the blitz by Rashad and then turn around for the screen pass; Orrin Thompson was chugging out in front of him 9. Ware draw middle (Carr) 10. Inc. pass for Nicks (Carr) thrown away under pressure from Boley blitz 11. Inc. pass for Nicks (Woodson) tight coverage by T.Thomas but might have been interference 12. Pass to Matthews (Woodson) wobbly pass, juggling catch with Kehl covering 13. Patrick run right (Woodson) wide outside run 14. Offsides (Bomar) 15. Pass to Patrick (Bomar) dump off 16. Ware draw middle (Bomar) nice bounce to the hole on the left side 17. PA pass for Nicks (Bomar) the one described above where Nicks beat Rashad and then held onto the underthrown ball THIRD SERIES RED ZONE 1. Jacobs run middle (Manning) Alford stop for a loss 2. Pass to Hixon (Manning) Boley tackle for a short gain 3. INT by Brown (Manning) intended for Hixon in end zone 4. Bradsaw run left (Manning) 5. Inc. pass for D.Johnson (Carr) play action, Rashad and Kenny Ingram in good coverage 6. Ware run middle (Carr) 7. Ware run right (Carr) 8. QB sack (Woodson) by Umenyiora 9. QB sack (Woodson) by Canty 10. Offsides (Bomar) 11. Ware draw middle (Bomar) New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925131/time-now-officially-on-giants-side.html On the day when the Giants announced a partnership with Timex for the naming rights of the new training facility, team president and CEO John Mara said there have been talks regarding the naming of the new $1.6 billion stadium across the parking lot. "I wouldn?t say that we?re close but we are having discussions with several companies about that,? Mara said. ?At least we?re seeing some interest out there.? The 15-year deal with Timex ? the new facility is called the Timex Performance Center ? is worth about $3 million per year according to a person familiar with the agreement. The naming rights for the stadium will cost significantly more and Mara said the pricetag on that venture has not dropped in light of the recent economic downturn. Mara also said he expects to have a naming rights deal in place when the stadium opens for NFL games in the fall of 2010. ?It?s more important to get the right deal,? he said. ?If that means waiting beyond the opening of the building, we?ll do that. But I don?t think that will be the case.? Mare also announced that sponsorship for three of the four corners of the new stadium have been finalized ? Verizon is the newest sponsor joining MetLife and Anheiser-Busch ? and he hopes to have the fourth completed this fall. The Timex deal doesn?t only include the naming of the facility. Timex will also be a gameday sponsore as stops in play at Giants games will now be announced as ?Timex Timeouts.? There will also be a Timex countdown to kickoff outside the new stadium so tailgating fans can know how long they have to find their seats inside. The Giants are looking into other ways to make money in these tough times. Timex logos will be on their practice jerseys beginning in training camp; this is the first year NFL teams are allowed to sell that space. And Mara said the team continues looking into a partnership with lotteries in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. With the new facility nearly complete ? a few cosmetic features still need to be added and the grass fields need to settle in ? Mara said the Giants could move all or part of their training camps from Albany to the complex. The Giants have only this summer remaining on their contract with the University of Albany to hold camp up there. Mara said the team has not yet had discussions, internally or with other entities, about the location of future training camps. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925130/touring-sb-nation-look-at-what-other-nfl-writers-are-talking-about.html More photos » AJ Mast - AP In an Aug. 14, 2009, photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Sage Rosenfels, right, and Tarvaris Jackson warm up before a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Rosenfels and Jackson are still unproven, one big reason why the Vikings pursued Brett Favre so hard to play for a second straight year. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Browse more photos » While we wait for kickoff of tonight's final preseason game between our New York Giants and the New England Patriots I thought we could go Touring SB Nation to see what the other fine football writers around these parts are discussing. I found lots of interesting stuff, some of which might even impact the Giants at some point. The Daily Norseman is wondering whether Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson should be Brett Favre's backup in Minnesota. Pay attention to this one, because we know the Giants are sniffing around for an experienced backup QB, and one of these guys could land with Big Blue if they are cut loose. Turf Show Times has apparently lost its sense of perspective. Sam Bradford the most important Ram ever? Didn't a guy named Kurt Warner win you a Super Bowl a few years back? Oh, and before the guy has even played a meaningful down? Give me a break! Remember all the gnashing of teeth around here when the Philadelphia Eagles hired the highly-regarded Bobby April as their special teams coach? Well, SB Nation Philly is complaining because the Eagles special teams have not been very special during the preseason. Join the club, guys. We have no sympathy. SB Nation Arizona is wondering if the Arizona Cardinals have destroyed Matt Leinart's career. SB Nation Denver looks at the top five questions facing the Broncos as they enter the season. CincyJungle plays mad scientist and tries to dissect the Bengals. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925129/preseason-game-4-patriots-giants.html Game Time: 7 p.m. EDTTelevision: WNBC (Channel 4) in New York You won't see much of the New York Giants starters tonight, but there are still some issues to be settled when it comes to the 53-man roster. Will a kickoff and punt return man emerge? How will the backup offensive line situation shake out? Will any of the young backup cornerbacks play well enough to earn a job? What will the Giants do about a backup quarterback. BY THE NUMBERS: Victor Cruz leads the Giants with 12 catches for 251 yards (a 20.9 yards per catch average) and four touchdowns ... Andre Brown has 21 carries for 95 yards (4.5 yards per carry) ... Rhett Bomar is 29-of-53 (54.7%) for 374 yards, and has an 81.8 QB rating ... The Giants have averaged 17.8 yards on kickoff returns, while opponents have averaged 26.8 yards. Tim Brown's 19.3 yards per return is the best thus far for the Giants ... Corey Webster has team highs with four passes defensed and two interceptions ... Antrel Rolle has a team-leading 15 tackles, and Gerris Wilkinson has 13 ... Justin Tuck has 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925128/giants-20-patriots-17-did-rhett-bomar-do-enough.html More photos » Tim Larsen - AP 5 days ago: New York Giants' Eli Manning (100 flips the ball to teammate Ahmad Bradshaw during the first quarter of a NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Tim Larsen) Browse more photos » Rhett Bomar tossed a 60-yard touchdown pass to Duke Calhoun late in the fourth quarter to give the New York Giants a 20-17 preseason victory over New England Thursday night. Question is, did Bomar (11-for-24, 171 yards, one touchdown, one interception) do enough to keep the Giants from going out and finding another backup quarterback? We will just have to wait and see. Back with the 'Kudos & Wet Willies' in the morning. In the meantine, chat about Bomar or anyone else you think played his way on -- or off -- the roster. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925127/kudos-amp-wet-willies-preseason-finale.html More photos » Jim McIsaac - Getty Images 5 days ago: EAST RUTHERFORD NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Thomas Clayton #35 of the New England Patriots can not hold onto a pass as he is defended by Jonathan Goff #54 of the New York Giants on September 2 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Patriots 20-17. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Browse more photos » The NFL preseason is over for the New York Giants after Thursday's 20-17 victory over the New England Patriots. The game provided one final shot for starters to fine tune, and 'bubble' players to impress Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese. It also provides one final opportunity for a preseason 'Kudos & Wet Willies'. So, here are my thoughts on who deserves praise, and who should not be very happy this morning. Kudos to ... Jonathan Goff: Played three quarters or so due to Phillip Dillard getting hurt, and played exceedingly well. Seven tackles, many right at the line of scrimmage, and an interception. He was also much, much better in pass coverage than he had been against the Baltimore Ravens. Michael Boley: Seven tackles, a deflected pass and one excellent pressure on a blitz from the outside. Amazing! Two 'kudos', two linebackers. Who'da thunk it? First Offensive Line (even Adam Koets): Sorry, Will Beatty, but the Giants offensive line will stay as it has the past few seasons. That group did an excellent job in the first two series Thursday. I even hate to say it, but Koets is looking more and more comfortable at the center spot. Shawn Andrews: The big fella is an absolute earth-mover from the left guard spot. Did you notice how many times the Giants ran behind the former Pro Bowler when they needed yards Thursday night, and the fact they succeeded when they did it? It's only a matter of time before Andrews supplants Rich Seubert in the starting lineup. Rhett Bomar: His numbers don't tell the story. Two drops by Tim Brown, one by Derek Hagan and one by Victor Cruz make his nmbers (11-for-24, 171 yards, one TD, one INT) look a lot worse than they should. He air-mailed a couple of throws, but played fairly well, getting Coughlin to say "he did some very nice things." Did he do enough nice things to earn the No. 2 job behind Eli Manning? Honestly, I think that depends on which veteran quarterbacks become available in the next couple of days. Bomar, though, has done everything he can. Eli Manning: Aside from muffing the ball on that aborted flea-flicker, Manning (7-for-9, 91 yards, one TD) was outstanding. I will even give him props for ducking and not taking another hit to the head while chasing his own fumble. He's in one piece, and I'm happy about that. D.J. Ware and Gartrell Johnson: Both players had fairly nice nights. Ware (13 carries, 60 yards) and Johnson (12 carries, 50 yards) made impressive bids to stay on the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, I think only one makes the final cut, though. Matt Dodge: Terrific night punting the ball. Not so terrific holding it, though, as he muffed a snap. The seventh-round pick from East Carolina has shown tremendous improvement in three weeks, though. Now, let's see if he can carry it into the regular season. Bryan Kehl: Might have saved his roster spot with nine tackles, including one on an impressive goal line stand from inside the one-yard line. Missed a tackle on a kickoff, though, which led to a big play for New England. Duke Calhoun: Three catches for 76 yards, including the game-winning 60-yarder, and a nice tackle on special teams. No shot at making the 53-man roster, but he is going to land on a practice squad somewhere. Lawrence Tynes: How many kickoffs did he put into the end zone Thursday night? Three? I lost count. The guy has kicked off exceptionally well all preseason, and has not missed a field goal. Ahmad Bradshaw: Four carries, 26 yards and one catch for 17. The guy almost always makes the first would-be tackler miss. There is a Pro Bowl berth waiting for this guy if he stays healthy all season. Kevin Gilbride: Busted out a reverse and a flea flicker while the first group was still in the game. Had a nice mix of run and pass going, as well. The Giants had 32 runs and 33 passes, which is exactly the type of balance they are looking for. Wet Willies to ... Tim Brown: If you have been reading, you know how badly I have wanted to see Brown makes some plays and force his way onto the 53-man roster. Well, that is not going to happen. Two drops, including one on a perfectly thrown deep ball by Bomar, a one-yard punt return, a mistake running a kickoff out from 5-6 yards deep in the end zone. One 30-yard kickoff return -- the Giants best of the preseason -- is not going to get it done. The guess here is the Giants try to pass him through waivers and get him to the practice squad. Clint Sintim: He didn't do anything really poorly last night. In fact, he really did nothing -- except become a second-teamer. This is really a 'Wet Willie' for an incredibly unproductive preseason for a guy the Giants were counting on as a playmaker. Brandon Jacobs: Not his fault he got zero carries Thursday night. But, Jacobs needs to take a lesson from Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka and shut his mouth when it comes to yapping about playing time. Sorry, dude, Ahmad Bradshaw is better. Deal with it. Derek Hagan: Love ya, Derek, and you will be terrific on special teams again. But, you can't go dropping touchdown passes if you want to get regular season action as a wide receiver. Kickoff coverage: The Giants surrendered a 57-yard return, which was mostly Kehl's fault for whiffing on a tackle when the Giants seemed to be well-positioned. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925126/coughlin-we-played-better-tonight.html Coughlin: 'We Played Better Tonight' Read the full transcript of coach Tom Coughlin's post-game press conference. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925125/nfl-roster-cuts-final-giants-53man-projection.html More photos » Jim McIsaac - Getty Images Will he or won't he? Has Rhett Bomar done enough to earn the job as the Giants' backup quarterback? It's time to find out. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Browse more photos » With NFL teams needing to get to the 53-man roster limit Saturday, here is one final projection for what I think the New York Giants roster could look like. To be honest, I feel like I'm on a little shaky ground as I do this. There are several positions in flux, at least in my mind, and the Giants could be fairly active with waiver-wire pickups over the weekend. So, let's just see how close I can get. Quarterbacks (2) -- Eli Manning, Rhett Bomar Analysis -- Opportunity knocked for Bomar this preseason, and he has taken advantage of it. With Manning sidelined for a game and Jim Sorgi landing on Injured Reserve, the second-year player from Sam Houston State has done enough to earn this job. He is a work in progress, sure, and if the right veteran falls from the tree of an NFL roster it would not be shocking for the Giants to make a move there. Remember, however, that the Giants have been trying for years to develop a young backup quarterback of their own. Bomar could be that guy. Running Backs (5) -- Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Andre Brown, Gartrell Johnson, Madison Hedgecock Analysis -- Sorry, D.J. Ware. You had a nice game Thursday night, but your time has come and gone. The key indicator for me is that Ware, who returned some kickoffs last season, has not gotten any opportunities there at all. Gartrell Johnson has been the lead blocker on kickoffs the entire preseason. Johnson ran well last night, made a nice tackle on special teams and did a good job picking up blitzers, particularly on the game-winning touchdown pass. Andre Brown has earned his opportunity, even if turf toe sidelines him for Week 1. Wide Receivers (6) -- Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz, Derek Hagan, Ramses Barden. Analysis -- I really had hopes Tim Brown would show enough to make the final roster, but it just did not happen. Barden is sixth on the list right now, and at this point it looks like he might spend a lot of Sundays inactive again. Tight Ends (3) -- Kevin Boss, Bear Pascoe, Scott Chandler Analysis -- Yes, Scott Chandler as the third tight end instead of Travis Beckum. No, I don't think the Giants are giving up on Beckum. Just a suspicion here that Beckum winds up on Injured Reserve. He has barely practiced most of the preseason, and whenever he does he seems to wind up sidelined again with some type of neck ailment. Whatever is going on with the guy, it's tough to give a roster spot to a backup who can't even get on the practice field. IR would be a logical option. I'm curious about the medical reports on Beckum over the next day or so, because this one will change if the Giants believe Beckum is healthy enough. Offensive Linemen (9) -- Starters: David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O'Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie. Reserves: Will Beatty, Mitch Petrus, Shawn Andrews, Adam Koets Analysis -- A lot of things clarified themselves about this group Thursday night. Shawn Andrews could be a beast once he learns the offense. Adam Koets is making the team. Somehow, Guy Whimper might still find a roster spot -- I just can't figure out how. Jacob Bender, a guy we have not talked about the entire preseason, may find his way to the practice squad. Defensive Line (9) -- Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dave Tollefson, Chris Canty, Barry Cofield, Linval Joseph, Rocky Bernard Analysis -- I just can't see any possible way the Giants can keep 10 defensive linemen. Which means, unfortunately, Jay Alford is the odd man out. When preseason started I would have said Rocky Bernard would lose his spot, but Bernard started Thursday night and has made some nice plays in all four of the preseason games. He has to stay. Dave Tollefson has to stay, as well, since he is a key special teams guy. Linebackers (7) -- Michael Boley, Keith Bulluck, Jonathan Goff, Clint Sintim, Gerris Wilkinson, Phillip Dillard, Chase Blackburn Analysis -- Before Thursday night, I though Bryan Kehl's roster spot was in serious jeopardy. Nine tackles later, including one on a goal-line stand from inside the one, I still think Kehl goes and Blackburn stays. It could be Wilkinson as odd man out, but we will see. Cornerbacks (4) -- Corey Webster, Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Bruce Johnson Analysis -- I fully expect the Giants to have five corners when the season opens against Carolina. I just don't expect the fifth corner to come from anyone on the current roster. Simply, D.J. Johnson, Seth Williams and Courtney Brown are not -- in my eyes -- worthy of NFL roster spots. Safeties (5) -- Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, Kenny Phillips, Michael Johnson, Sha'reef Rashad Analysis -- Obviously, we know who the big three are at safety. I had been convinced prior to Thursday that Michael Johnson's days were numbered, but he played fairly well against the Patriots. In addition, neither Sha'reef Rashad nor John Busing have really been impressive. I have Rashad on the 53-man right now, but if I was him I would be nervous. He could be the odd man out when (yes, when, not if) the Giants grab a veteran cornerback off the waiver wire. Or, for that matter, if the Giants want to keep Whimper or Alford. Specialists (3) -- Punter, Matt Dodge; Placekicker, Lawrence Tynes; Long snapper, Zak DeOssie Analysis -- The only question mark is Dodge. I think he has shown enough improvement throughout camp to earn the job. If he struggles, though, the Giants won't hesitate to replace him during the season. Other notes First, I fully expect the Giants to be active on the waiver wire. A kick returner, a cornerback, maybe a backup quarterback are all among the possibilities. Second, since the Practice Squad question always comes up, here are the basics of the Practice Squad rules from the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Practice Squads consist of up to eight players. Practice Squad players are free to sign with other teams during the season, provided they are placed on that team's 53-man roster. A player cannot serve more than two seasons on an NFL Practice Squad. To be eligible for a Practice Squad a player must a) have less than one full season of NFL experience on an active roster b) free-agent players who have been on an Active List for fewer than nine NFL games. By the way, if you were so incline you could read the entire CBA here. (E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com. Follow Big Blue View on Twitter.) New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925124/darius-reynaud-vikings-perspective.html More photos » Chris McGrath - Getty Images Darius Reynaud. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Browse more photos » You guys seem more fired up about the New York Giants' acquisition of kick return specialist Darius Reynaud from Minnesota than you do about the arrival of Sage Rosenfels as backup quarterback. I happen to agree, since you need a kick returner in every game, the Giants did not have one, and Reynaud has shown to be a good in two seasons with the Vikings. I know why the Vikings parted with Rosenfels, but I was really curious why they were willing to gave Reynaud to the Giants. So, I reached to the fine folks over at SB Nation's Vikings website, The Daily Norseman. Christopher Gates, head honcho at the Norseman, sent me the following response: "I honestly think that the Vikings tried to find a spot for Reynaud any way that they could, but he just didn't distinguish himself in the way he needed to to secure a roster spot.  In his first two years with the Vikings, he was listed as a WR, though he didn't actually have any catches during the regular season, and was shifted to running back this year when it appeared that the Vikings' WR depth chart was getting crowded."Reynaud is a pretty good return man . . .his main issue is staying healthy, and he's had a case of the fumbles more than once.  If he can stay healthy, he'll be a very good return man for the Giants.  He's missed games in both of his first two seasons with injuries, but he's very fast and has good moves in the open field.  I guess he was just the odd man out of the running back battle that was taking place in Minnesota." By the way, lots of the commenters at 'Norsemen' are not too happy about losing Reynaud. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925123/new-york-giants-news-amp-notes-preseasons-wrap.html With their 20-17 victory over the Patriots Thursday night, the Giants finished up their preseason schedule on a positive note. The next time you see the boys in blue on your tv screen, it will be for real and we'll finally start to get a real idea of what this team is all about. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't wait for next Sunday to get here (even though I'll be flying and will have to watch the game on DVR delay). ESPN.com previews the Giants, and unfortunately those of you who like a healthy dose of disrespect will be dissapointed. With the exception of John Clayton, the ESPN writers view the Giants as a talented team who, if healthy, should be competitive in the NFC East. To me, that's a pretty realistic outlook for the Giants season. As much as I hate it, the Cowboys should be the favorites, because their the ones coming off a stronger season and a playoff win and haven't done anything to make themselves look significantly worse. Hours prior to the Sage Rosenfels trade, Matt Mosley ranked Rhett Bomar as the fourth best backup QB in the NFC East. Clearly Jerry Reese agreed. I also find it funny that former Super Bowl QB Rex Grossman is ranked third. Steve Serby of the New York Post believes that Jonathan Goff looks like the answer for the Giants at middle linebacker. Yet another setback in the young career of running back Andre Brown, who might miss the season opener with a case of turf toe. Duke Calhoun is an extreme longshot to make the Giants final 53-man roster, but he tried as hard as possible to impress them on Thursday night, and is hoping he proved his value. Finally, a good article about jack-of-all-trades William Beatty by Ohm Youngmosuk. Hope everyone has a good Labor Day weekend, and enjoys their last week without actual NFL Football! New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925122/nfl-roster-cuts-who-will-be-giants-53-open-thread.html More photos » Nick Laham - Getty Images Rhett Bomar is no longer a Giant. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) Browse more photos » [UPDATE, 09/04/10 4:31 PM EDT: Jay Alford has been cut. Have to say I called this one. Tough break for a guy who looked like he was on the verge of becoming a good player before getting hurt a year ago.] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 3:40 PM EDT: Defense end Alex Hall has been released. My guess is Jerry Reese is working the phones trying to get draft picks in return for a few guys as the 6 p.m. ET deadline approaches. ] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 2:03 PM EDT: Another  roster stunner as Derek Hagan has been cut; Jerome Johnson and Nate Collins released. ] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 12:59 PM EDT: Mike Garafolo tweets that Rhett Bomar will be waived. Have not seen that anywhere else yet, but MG never gets these things wrong. Lot of things happening with this roster I would not have expected 24 hours ago.] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 12:46 PM EDT: The latest cut is offensive lineman Jacob Bender. ] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 11:33 AM EDT: Tim Brown and Gartrell Johnson waived. It is looking like Rhett Bomar will make the final cut.] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 10:42 AM EDT: Bear Pascoe and Scott Chandler both waived;  Also Tommie Hill and Dominic Randolph. Absolutely stunned by the release of Pascoe, leaving only Kevin Boss and Travis Beckum as tight ends.] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 10:23 AM EDT: John Busing,  Dennis Landolt, Jim Cordle have been cut. Busing will be a surprise to some, but I didn't have him on my final 53.] [UPDATE, 09/04/10 9:47 AM EDT: Defensive tackle Dwayne Hendricks has been waived. ] NFL teams have to set their 53-man rosters by 6 p.m. ET this evening. Who will be on the New York Giants' 53-man roster? We know Sage Rosenfels and Darius Reynaud will be after Friday night's trade with Minnesota, and Rhett Bomar most likely won't be. There are, however, lots of other questions. Can they find roster space for 10 defensive linemen? Will they bring in a kick returner off the waiver wire? A backup cornerback? Will they release a running back? A linebacker like Gerris Wilkinson or Bryan Kehl? Who will the backup offensive linemen be? Even once the rosters are set this evening, there is likely to be some shuffling for a couple of days as teams see which players hit the waiver wire. Use this as your 53-man roster Open Thread for the day. I will try to update it, but if you see news of roster cuts feel free to drop them in the comment. I may start a new thread along the way if the news warrants it, but for now the plan is to just keep the updates here. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925121/new-york-giants-notes-jacobs-really-happy.html A week ago, New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs was obviously ticked off after getting zero carries in the preseason finale against New England. Now, Jacobs tells Mike Garafolo that he is a happy camper. "I’m happy," the Giants’ leading rusher over the past three seasons said. "People get different things confused through words. That’s not the case. The case is I’m here to win football games and ride it on out with my teammates. "People get things mixed up and make big deals out of everything that’s not even really what it is." Sure, Brandon. Sure It is kind of hard to get it mixed up when you call the NFL a "cutthroat, backstabbing business." Jacobs can say he's happy. This situation bears watching, though, especially if Jacobs -- as seems likely -- loses carries to Ahmad Bradshaw this season. Center Shaun O'Hara returned to practice Monday, but admitted his ankle injury will linger throughout the season."I think we're going to have to monitor it," O'Hara said. "It's not going to be something that is miraculously going to be gone." This, unfortunately, sounds like one of those deals where O'Hara will end up practicing on a limited basis much of the season. Question is, how much will he be affected on game days. And can he make 16 games? I am not liking this at all. Speaking of injured players, coach Tom Coughlin gave the rundown on injured guys during his Monday meeting with reporters. He said he is not sure that cornerbacks Aaron Ross (foot) and Corey Webster (groin) will practice Wednesday. Ugh! I'm really not looking forward to watching a full game this weekend of Bruce Johnson starting and D.J. Johnson playing as the nickel back. If that happens, Perry Fewell had better find a way to dial up a big-time pass rush. Darius Reynaud, the Giants new kick returner, said he had a premonition before Friday's trade that he would wind up wearing a New York uniform. "I kid you not, me and my wife were talking after the Denver game on Thursday. I said I had a good feeling that I'd be going to New York. I didn't know which team, but just New York," Reynaud said. "On Friday, they called me and told me I was traded to the Giants. I was kind of surprised, but I had a good feeling. I have no clue. My wife says to this day, ‘I don't know why you were thinking about that and how this came about.' I had a good feeling." New Giants backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels prasied Reynaud's return skills. "He is very talented. My first season there last year, he was a receiver and he was more of a slot receiver. He is very strong, quick, and a very powerful player. When Percy Harvin took that role when they drafted him, they decided to shift him to tailback. They were looking for sort of a third down back this year because they lost Chester Taylor to free agency. He did a pretty good job of that," Rosenfels said. "He does a very good job with the ball in his hands. I thought as a punt returner that he was one of the better ones since I had been in the league last year. It was very surprising to me that the team let him go because we got a lot of great drive starts last year because of his punt returns. I think he did some kickoff returns also. He's one of those players who may not fit a mold for an exact position, but he's a football player and an exciting kid to watch." I am looking forward to seeing what this guy can do. I think he could end up as a difference-maker for the Giants. Speaking of Rosenfels, he had a great explanation for his approach to being a backup quarterback. "Everyone has a different seat on the bus, and sometimes you sit in the front, other times you sit in the back. When you sit in the front, you do the best job that you can," Rosenfels said. "When you sit in the back, you take that role with a lot of class. I'm going to do what's best for this team." Last word on the Rosenfels-Reynaud trade. I absolutely do not understand those of you who are critical of this trade. Is Rosenfels an All-Pro? No. He is, though, an experienced backup quarterback, and probably better able than the untried Rhett Bomar to step in and help the Giants win a couple of games if need be. Adding Reynaud, though, is something could have a huge impact on the sub-par return game. You never know for sure how things like this work out, but I think you have to applaud GM Jerry Reese for what he did. I feel a lot better about the Giants roster with those two guys than I would have without them. Other Notes Giants rookie wide receiver Duke Calhoun makes the 'cut' | NJ.comUndrafted free agent gets a new hairstyle, vows to play well on special teams. LB Chase Blackburn Returns to Work - Train-a ThoughtLB Chase Blackburn was back at practice today, as he had hoped to be last week when he last spoke to the media. WR Victor Cruz: "Time to Get to Work" - Train-a ThoughtNew Giants WR Victor Cruz ready to do whaever he has to. Read and React … but don’t overreact"Perry Fewell’s defense is made to bend, but don’t break," cornerback Terrell Thomas said. "We’re going to give up underneath throws. That wasn’t what the Giants’ defense was known for the last couple of years. And I think that’s going to be a hard adjustment for the fans and media to see. But I think the overall objective is to create more turnovers." New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925120/lets-all-remember-we-are-here.html A new season is about to dawn for the New York Giants, and for us here at Big Blue View. This place has grown, and continues to grow beyond my wildest dreams. Last month, more than a record of more than 300,000 unique visitors came here, and BBV generated more than 600,000 page views. There is a lot to love about this great growth. Along with the growth, though, there are some things I'm not thrilled about. Yes, in case you hadn't figured it out we are headed for a discussion of the Community Guidelines. And yes, this post is aimed -- mostly -- at those of you who are relatively new here. If you haven't really read the guidelines for what type of site you signed up for, DO IT NOW. If you haven't read them in a long time, DO IT AGAIN. In recent days, we have had penis size references, we have had people calling each other assholes and other names. Let me be very clear. That is NOT how we do things here, and that stuff will absolutely not be tolerated. You want to talk about that stuff and treat people that way go do it somewhere else. I don't want you here, and I certainly don't need you here. One of the things that has bugged me lately is I see less and less interaction with the site from some of the long-time members, some of the guys who have been here since the beginning and helped make this the great community it has always been. I fear that that is partially because of the disrespectful tone of some of the comments that have been sneaking their way into our discussions each day. As the guidelines say "The site is known for being a place where Giants fans can congregate without the typical name-calling and immature commentary you can find in many places on the Internet. It needs to remain that way." Let me highlight a few other things directly from the Guidelines. This site is a community of fans who love the New York Giants where we look for mature, intelligent and friendly discussion about the Giants and football in general. It is not a place where you can say whatever you to whomever you want in whatever language you want. We expect you to be mature, to be respectful of everyone and to have something to say that advances the discussion. We don't want juvenile name-calling here. There is no place for vulgarity here. You may think you are being funny, in reality that stuff is just crude and immature. As for profanity, please keep it to a minimum. We each have the right to our own opinions, and we have the right to express them in a thoughtful, intelligent manner. If you can't take people disagreeing with you, don't give an opinion in the first place. NO PERSONAL ATTACKS. No name-calling, no telling people they know nothing about football. In short, be mature, keep it clean, keep it to football respect the fact that others are allowed to disagree with you and that everyone is here because they love the Giants and want them to win. This is a place for friendly, mature discussion. If you have an overwhelming desire to prove you are smarter than the other commenters here, go start your own blog and have at it. If you're here, show some class and treat people with respect. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925119/espn-power-rankings-kind-to-new-york-giants.html ESPN Power Rankings Not Kind to the New York Giants I saw someone posted this in the comments on Ed's post about the community guidelines, and figured I'd give you all an opportunity to (politely) rip the ESPN voters a new one! Remember the rules, but also remember that John Clayton has no idea what he's talking about. New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925118/cowboys-could-help-nfls-bottom-line-super-season-fort-worth-star-telegram.html ReutersCowboys could help the NFL's bottom line with a Super seasonFort Worth Star TelegramNew York Giants: The Giants won a coin toss with the Jets to host the first regular-season game in the New Meadowlands Stadium. But if the Giants don't ...2010 NFL ATS Pick: Carolina vs. New York (Week 1)CappersPicks.com (blog)NFL Picks Week 1: Week 1 NFL Predictions Begin Thursday!Associated ContentManning Beats Brees as Colts Are Picked in Vegas to Take Title From SaintsBloombergAmerican Chronicle -Fog Horn -Back Page Lead (blog)all 99 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925117/new-york-giants-notes-jacobs-really-happy-big-blue-view-blog.html The Star-Ledger - NJ.comNew York Giants' Notes: Is Jacobs Really 'Happy'?Big Blue View (blog)Darius Reynaud, the Giants new kick returner, said he had a premonition before Friday's trade that he would wind up wearing a New York uniform. ...Giants: 5 things to watch for 2010ESPNall 12 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925115/new-york-giants-news-notes-for-sept-7-football-blog.html The Star-Ledger - NJ.comNew York Giants News and Notes For Sept 7Giants Football Blog (blog)The Giants also welcomed two new players to the roster (QB Sage Rosenfels and WR Darius Reynaud) and one to the practice squad (RB Charles Scott). ...New York Giants Monday Afternoon UpdateGiants Football Blog (blog)Shaun O'Hara: Shaun O'Hara able to practice in fullRotoworld.comall 22 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925114/your-jets-comments-in-wake-revis-deal-line-culture-rex-starledger-njcom.html CBC.caYour Jets comments: In wake of Revis deal and in line with 'Culture of Rex ...The Star-Ledger - NJ.comOne of the hazards of having a site that features news for both the New York Jets and the New York Giants is that there'll be the occasional ...Sports Line: Revis, Jets agree to terms on dealAnnapolis CapitalDarrelle Revis Agrees to New Contract with New York Jets; Will Play in Jets Vs ...Associated ContentArrival of Darrelle Revis means New York Jets must settle for nothing less ...New York Daily NewsBleacher Report -The Trentonian -Capital New Yorkall 1,866 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925113/new-york-giants-vs-carolina-panthers-91210-corys-free-nfl-pick-against-sports-chat-place.html New York Daily NewsNew York Giants Vs. Carolina Panthers 9/12/10: Cory's Free NFL Pick Against ...Sports Chat PlaceThe Giants' 2009 campaign was pretty much the opposite of Carolina's, with New York starting the year hot at 5-0 but also finishing at only 8-8. ...Sign up for our New York Giants newsletter:Bleacher ReportNew York Giants get chance for revenge vs. Panthers after December debacleNew York Daily NewsNFL Week 1 Betting Preview: Carolina Panthers vs. New York GiantsBelmont Sports News (blog)Online Sportsbook Pro (blog) -News & Observer -Panthers.comall 16 news articles » New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925112/nfl-commissioner-says-no-timetable-on-labor-deal.html EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Headed into contract talks with the players' union, NFL commissioner R... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925111/plaxico-buress-traffic-tickets-thrown-out-by-court.html usas/bcormier fasst370FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Former New York Giants star receiver Plaxico... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925110/eichenberger-qampa-giants-wr-hakeem-nicks.html Rookie Hakeem Nicks is not Plaxico Burress or Amani Toomer, and Giants coaches aren't asking him to ... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925109/giants-de-osi-umenyiora-back-after-knee-surgery.html EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Sprinting down the field after catching a screen pass, New York Giants... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925108/burress-gun-case-to-be-adjourned-until-september.html NEW YORK (AP) -- Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will have to wait a while long... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925107/burress-to-show-in-nyc-court-case-be-adjourned.html NEW YORK (AP) -- Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is scheduled to make a court a... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925106/giants-hung-up-on-deal-for-leinart.html The phone rang, the Giants answered, they talked, they hung up. And that?s about as close as Matt Leinart came to becoming the Giants backup quarterback on Wednesday. There apparently... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925105/game-night-patriots-21-at-giants-12.html 10:54 p.m. - - A few notes from the post-game locker room: • It turns out that RB Andre Brown suffered his turf-toe injury at practice last week, though he... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/2925104/on-2nd-thought-jacobs-unhappy.html Brandon Jacobs is hurt again. Only this time, the injury isn?t physical. The Giants? former No. 1 running back, who now has clearly been demoted to Ahmad Bradshaw?s backup, finally... New York Giants - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates