December

Dec. 4, 2008   

Giants might not be able to win without Pierce

The Giants have planned for life without WR Plaxico Burress. But they hope they won’t have to deal with one without MLB Antonio Pierce. There are conflicting reports about Pierce’s involvement in the Burress shooting, and he has been meeting with law authorities and NFL Security to determine exactly what role he played in the incident. It appears he was the driver of Burress and another player (believed to be Ahmad Bradshaw) to the club that night and perhaps that he was the one who delivered Burress to the hospital. What is not known is whether Pierce knew about the weapon or attempted to aid Burress in concealing it. If the Giants were to lose Pierce to a disciplinary suspension, the defense would take a serious hit. He’s in charge of moving the players around before the snap, making all the calls and is considered the team’s leader on that side of the ball. Pierce’s backup, Chase Blackburn, isn’t considered nearly the player Pierce is.

November

Nov. 27, 2008   

Phillips, Thomas stepping up for Giants

The Giants hit big on their rookies in 2007 during the Super Bowl season. They now are starting to reap the benefits of their ’08 crop. Although this class hasn’t had nearly the impact that the prior season’s did in Year One, rookie DBs Kenny Phillips and Terrell Thomas have been the standouts of what appears to be a class with depth and promise. Phillips has stepped into a larger role and had a big play in the Week 12 win over the Cardinals, knocking loose a potential TD from WR Larry Fitzgerald. Thomas, who has moved into the nickel-back role, came up with an interception that was the result of good coaching and a tip from LB Antonio Pierce, who alerted Thomas to jump into a spot based on the formation and a play the Cardinals had run previously in the game. The Giants’ other rookies — most notably WR Mario Manningham and LBs Bryan Kehl and Jonathan Goff — are victims of the Giants’ great depth, but the team likes what it has seen from each.

Nov. 21, 2008   

Coughlin’s message centers on trying to keep Giants focused amid success

What Giants head coach Tom Coughlin says to the media on a daily basis often gets construed as coaching rhetoric, and what he says to his team behind closed doors very well might have the same effect. But Coughlin has a purpose to his methods. He knows that with success through the first part of the season comes higher expectations, in and out of the team facility. And although there have been no signs of the Giants getting out-of-control egos, Coughlin wants to make sure that things stay that way. We hear his message to his team has been along that vein, challenging them each week with new things and trying to keep them centered on the task at hand. Although the regular season is well past its midpoint, the season as measured from Week One to the Super Bowl is barely past the halfway mark, and with lots of football left Coughlin hopes his team will not have peaked too early once the playoffs arrive.

Nov. 14, 2008   

Defensive changes display Giants’ terrific depth

The Giants were absolutely giddy about first-round S Kenny Phillips this summer, and yet the team didn’t need to start him until Week 10 when James Butler was hurt against the Eagles. LB Chase Blackburn had toiled for most of the season (and his career) as a backup and special teamer until he played a terrific game against the Eagles, including a game-saving tackle on RB Brian Westbrook on fourth down. Now, both are starting and might not give up their spots. Phillips has played very well as a subpackage safety and third option, and the Giants knew it was only a matter of time before he broke into the starting lineup. He has great ball skills and range and is the most athletic safety the team has had in years. Blackburn is an overachiever and has benefited from hard work and film study to take the starting WLB position that has been a bit of a revolving door with Gerris Wilkerson, who is injured, and Bryan Kehl, who made some plays but also some rookie mistakes.

Nov. 7, 2008   

Webster earning respect as shutdown corner for Giants

Corey Webster

With all due respect for the play of the defensive line, the leadership of MLB Antonio Pierce and the schemes of coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, you can’t mention the success of the Giants’ defense without talking about CB Corey Webster, who had two big interceptions against the Cowboys in Week Nine.

The transformation from being an inconsistent player to a borderline excellent one began before last season’s playoffs. Webster recorded one of the biggest interceptions in Giants history with his overtime pick of Brett Favre in January, but Webster’s strong play had begun before that — and it has carried over into this season.

Webster, whose final year of his contract will be voided, making him a free agent after this season, stands to cash in as one of the top available corners. He could be one of the few players the Giants attempt to re-sign before the end of this season.

“If you look at the way he played down through the stretch and then the playoffs, he played very well,” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “Corey has exceptional hands. We have said that from Day One. Even if he, at the last second, catches a glimpse of the ball, he has those kind of hands where he can make a play on the ball, which we are seeing right now.

“I think experience and confidence and repetitions and going against the pass and having a great attitude about (us saying), ‘Hey, you give up a play, you come back the next play.’ That is what happens in this league to the corners.”

Observers say that Webster formerly would struggle with his consistency — not only game to game but sometimes play to play. He often didn’t trust his instincts and worried too much about working the team’s schemes to the smallest details.

But once he got past overthinking, Webster has been able to use his natural hands and feet to anticipate and jump routes, as well as stay with receivers. As a former receiver at LSU, Webster clearly has better hands than your average corner. And he also has the size to make plays. It was his underrated work on Patriots WR Randy Moss in the Super Bowl — including preventing a last second, 70-yard bomb to be completed — that caught some scouts’ eyes last season.

And now he has a chance to be a $10 million-per-season cornerback.

October

Oct. 30, 2008   

Giants’ red-zone questions come to forefront

Updated at 9:28 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 3

Brandon Jacobs

The Giants ran 19 plays in five different possessions inside the red zone — the Giants call it the “green zone” — against the Steelers in Week Eight before they came away with a touchdown on their sixth drive inside the 20. Of course, those five possessions netted 19 points (they got two more on a safety from a Steelers special-teams gaffe), which was enough to win in Pittsburgh, but the sequences brought to light the Giants’ puzzling red-zone problems.

Last season, the Giants were a good but not great team inside the 20-yard line, scoring 30 touchdowns in 55 possessions (54.5 percent, which tied for 12th in the league), but their 80 percent scoring rate — touchdowns and field goals — was tied for 27th in the NFL. Surprisingly, the Giants were only slightly better in the playoffs, converting nine of their 16 red-zone possessions into touchdowns (.563) and 13 into scores (.813).

They are having similar concerns this regular season, scoring 18 TDs in 36 red-zone trips (a .500 mark).

They did better in the red zone in Week Nine’s win over the Cowboys, scoring touchdowns on all five trips inside the 20.

“It was something we worked on,” QB Eli Manning said. “We really wanted to come out and not have to settle for field goals and get in the endzone and we did just that. We had some good concepts and players making good plays to get in the endzone.”

“We did have success in the green zone (against Dallas),” head coach Tom Coughlin said. “(Against Pittsburgh) we weren’t as successful there obviously, so we had that as one of our objectives going in and we responded well to that.”

So far, the inconsistency hasn’t cost them a game necessarily, though Manning threw a game-changing interception in the fourth quarter against the Browns that was very costly.

Oct. 23, 2008   

Burress causes more headaches for Giants with sideline flare-up

Updated at 9:35 a.m. EDT Monday Oct. 27

Is Giants WR Plaxico Burress becoming too hard to handle for coach Tom Coughlin? After serving a one-game suspension vs. the Seahawks for missing a team meeting for what he said was a family matter, Burress was less than contrite, telling the media the next week he would make the same decision again. In Week Seven, Burress was flagged for offensive pass interference against the 49ers and was incensed with the call, berating the official who made it, earning a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty on top of it. Returning to the sideline, Burress was met by Coughlin, who repeatedly asked, “What are you doing?” To which Burress reportedly said: “Anything I (expletive) want to do.” Burress has been fined dozens of times by the team, including $45,000 for the 49ers game incidents, and he was benched for the first quarter on Sunday for missing a treatment session for his injured neck.

Oct. 16, 2008   

Clark making nice impression on Giants’ defense

It was hard to take many positives from the Giants’ 35-14 loss to the Browns on Monday night, but the Giants continue to feel good about the play of SLB Danny Clark. He doesn’t get much credit because he often comes off the field in nickel and dime situations, which results in reps and fewer tackle attempts, but he has been a solid tackler and a big part of a strong run defense, Monday’s loss aside. “This defense is aggressive, and that fits into my style of play,” Clark told PFW. “We use an aggressive pressure package, and I have always been a fan of that.” And as much as the Giants are regarded as a pressure team, Clark says the Giants’ No. 1 mantra is to stop the run on first and second downs so that they create passing situations and then can go after the QB. Clark admits he gets frustrated coming off the field and feels more comfortable playing the weak side, where he’s more freed up, but he said he’ll “give a little glory” in order to get a chance to start on a strong defense.

Oct. 9, 2008   

Giants’ Manning playing better than ever

Updated at 9:38 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 13

Observers of QB Eli Manning through his sometimes-tumultuous career often used the words “comfortable,” “confident” and “consistent” as reasons why he hadn’t succeeded. But following a Super Bowl run and a 4-0 start to this season heading into their Week Six Monday-nighter, those same reasons are the positive traits that Manning has shown that have turned his career around almost completely. He seldom has looked rushed or panicked, rarely has displayed timidity in big situations or shown signs of the rough patches for which he previously had been known during. A team source says Manning has grown into his body and matured greatly the past year and now has become very cognizant of not making bad plays. He has come to realize that with a strong defense, a rock of an offensive line, a deep RB group and good receivers, he doesn’t have to force plays and can take very few chances.

Oct. 3, 2008   

Linebacker could be position in motion for Giants

Updated at 9:26 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 6

No changes are in immediate store for a Giants defense that, other than its two turnovers forced, has been excellent. But there might be a few subtle moves afoot on the LB depth chart going forward. MLB Antonio Pierce is the rock in the middle of the defense, is off to another fine start and isn’t going anywhere. WLB Gerris Wilkinson, however, has been nearly invisible and is continuing to split series with rookie Bryan Kehl, who has shown up more on tape and could replace him eventually. Fellow rookie Jonathan Goff, who was sidelined for much of the summer with a broken transverse process in his back, now appears to be the top backup at strong-side linebacker behind starter Danny Clark and also has taken practice snaps in the middle behind Pierce. That means that Zak DeOssie might only be a special-teamer, where his biggest value is as a long-snapper.

September

Sept. 26, 2008   

Giants suspend Burress as a result of elementary mistake

The Giants made it clear why they suspended WR Plaxico Burress for one game (but two paychecks, counting the bye week). He missed the Monday film and weight-room sessions after the overtime win over the Bengals and couldn’t be reached. The coaching staff requires players to phone in when personal matters arise — that was the excuse given for Burress’ absence — but he wasn’t reached until director of player development Charles Way got in touch with him late that night. Burress was suspended for one quarter against the Chargers in 2005, and team sources say Burress has problems with responsibility and authority. Although the staff isn’t completely fed up with Burress at this point, it is frustrated that he has not conformed to team rules that have been in place for years. He most likely would not have been suspended had this been his first offense or had he made a call to let the Giants know where he was.

Sept. 18, 2008   

Giants' O-line is in rhythm so far but not there yet, says Coughlin

Updated at 9:27 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 22

The Giants’ O-line was praised as perhaps the best unit — maybe not the five best individual talents, but the most cohesive group — heading into the season by NFL people. Through the first three weeks, that sentiment hasn’t changed much. Eli Manning has been sacked only four times in 111 pass plays, and the running game has produced a scalding 5.4 yards per carry. ORG Chris Snee finally might be recognized for his ability this season, and ORT Kareem McKenzie is off to a great start. Still, head coach Tom Coughlin sees room for more cohesion. “I think a team can have a rhythm and I think the team — when all 11 (players) are meshing at the same time — can be productive and can appear to be in rhythm. I don’t know that we are always … that everybody is in total sync on every play. … I wouldn’t say we are there. But we are making an attempt to do that.”

Sept. 12, 2008   

Kehl could become rookie starter for Giants

Updated at 8:45 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 15

The Giants knew that rookie FS Kenny Phillips was going to be a big part of the defense this season, and although he’s not starting yet that soon should change. But another rookie appears to be in line for a starting spot at some point — WLB Bryan Kehl. In the opener, Kehl and starter Gerris Wilkinson alternated some series, and it was Kehl who looked more impressive. In Week Two, Kehl totaled three tackles compared to Wilkinson’s one. Wilkinson is not on a short leash, per se, but we hear he needs to improve to keep his starting spot and keep Kehl off the field more. Some of the defensive players, namely MLB Antonio Pierce, prefer to have one true starter, though, and this rotation might not last very long if Kehl continues to impress.

Sept. 5, 2008   

Giants' front four handles itself well in first real test

None of the Giants’ brass will try to say that losing Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora makes the D-line a better unit than the one that led the team to a Super Bowl victory, or that Mathias Kiwanuka switching back to end will go off without a hitch. With the loss of last year’s starting ends, expect to see less tinkering with ends playing inside on passing downs, which was common in 2007. But in the season-opening win over the Redskins Thursday night, DE Justin Tuck and Kiwanuka played well, getting consistent pressure despite only one sack, and Renaldo Wynn and Jerome McDougle rotated in and played well. There’s also Dave Tollefson, who was inactive Week One but could work into the rotation. Head coach Tom Coughlin appeared satisfied with his D-line’s work, saying, “We have to obviously be concerned a little bit with Kiwi here at the end and what exactly that is going to be like, but we did do what we set out to do. I am sure we will improve from here.”

August

Aug. 29, 2008   

Giants will replace Umenyiora with who is on hand

Updated Sunday, Aug. 31, 7:15 p.m. ET

Coaches say they never like to change two positions to fix one, but that’s exactly the approach the Giants are forced to take following season-ending surgery on DE Osi Umenyiora. Regardless of whether Michael Strahan was going to accept the Giants’ invitation to return (he didn’t), the coaches thought it best to move Mathias Kiwanuka — a college defensive end but the starting strong-side linebacker up until the preseason game against the Jets — back to a three-point stance. So Kiwanuka will go back to right end, where he played as a rookie, and Justin Tuck will be the primary left end. Dave Tollefson, who has had a nice summer, and Renaldo Wynn are the top backups. Also factoring into the equation is ex-Eagles DE Jerome McDougle, whom the team signed Aug. 31 after he was cut by Philadelphia the day before. The interesting side effect will be to see what happens at linebacker, where Danny Clark and Gerris Wilkinson — who were locked in a battle for the WLB job before — now are the starting strong- and weak-side linebackers, respectively, although rookie Bryan Kehl has come on strong.

Aug. 22, 2008   

Giants hopeful receivers will stay in lineup, but numbers crunch exists

The Giants got great news on Wednesday when WRs Amani Toomer, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham — the would-be second, third and fourth receivers — returned to practice after injuries kept them off the field for various times. The bright side was that Sinorice Moss made a strong statement for a roster spot after a few seasons of dormancy, and unheralded guys such as Domenik Hixon and Brandon London also played very well. Assuming there are no serious injuries and Plaxico Burress (ankle) returns as expected before the opener, it leaves the Giants in a bind as to who to keep. And don’t forget that Super Bowl hero and special-teams ace David Tyree (knee) hopes to return soon, as well. Burress, Toomer, Smith and Manningham are locks. Hixon, the primary kickoff returner who also caught two TD passes the other night, appears solid. If the Giants keep six receivers, it could come down to perhaps keeping Tyree on the PUP list and choosing between Moss and London. Given that Moss is a former second-rounder, you’d have to think that London would be the odd man out.

Aug. 14, 2008   

Safety becoming a little more clear for Giants

James Butler

Based on the outstanding performance of first-rounder Kenny Phillips to this point, he is the odds-on favorite to win the starting free safety spot, despite a pretty nice camp by second-year man Michael Johnson. At strong safety, James Butler, who started 12 games a season ago, has worked with the first team for most of camp and appears to be the lead candidate there. Butler relied a lot on Gibril Wilson, who left for the Raiders, last season and now has a greater responsibility if he lines up next to Phillips, a rookie, in the starting lineup. Butler told PFW this week that in order to improve on his performance last season, he needed to improve his reads and better learn to preserve his body for the rigors of a full season. “I wasn’t healthy for most of the year,” he said. “So staying healthy is a big factor for me. And there were times where I was in a position to make plays but I needed to get [to the ball] faster. It comes down to going through my reads faster, getting back in coverage and reading the quarterback a little bit quicker.” On Phillips, Butler said the rookie has “shown a lot of flashes. He’s going to be a good safety in the league. He definitely has a lot of range, he’s a smart guy, and he’s humble.”

Aug. 1, 2008   

Boss steps forward as Giants put Shockey era behind them

It has been a week since the team dealt TE Jeremy Shockey, and the talk around Giants camp has been that head coach Tom Coughlin helped push the deal along by letting it be known to team officials that Shockey didn’t fit into the team’s plans because his flamboyant style conflicted with Coughlin's coaching approach. And with the Giants winning the Super Bowl — without Shockey on the field — Coughlin’s power with the team is at an all-time high. But the focus has turned to the new starter, Kevin Boss, and all reports on him thus far have been outstanding. He reportedly looks to be in fantastic shape, weighing around 265 pounds, and he has been one of the highlights of camp in terms of catching the ball. The Giants are deep at receiver, but with a number of injuries there, it has allowed Boss to take a prominent role in the passing game during practice and enhance his rapport with QB Eli Manning.

July

July 16, 2008   

Giants will take close look at other quarterbacks behind Manning

Eli Manning’s job as starting quarterback is secure following the Giants’ Super Bowl win. But what about the other QB spots? Following the release of Jared Lorenzen, the team has four QBs on the roster: The other three are David Carr, who arrived from Carolina via Houston; Anthony Wright, last year’s backup down the stretch; and Andre’ Woodson, this year’s sixth-round pick. Carr gained a reputation as a 9-to-5 guy who perhaps didn’t put in as much work as he needed to, and he struggled in his one season with the Panthers. But he rejoins Giants QB coach Chris Palmer, who coached Carr during his first NFL season in Houston, and could win the job with his overall experience. Wright has done little wrong since joining the Giants, and he has limited starting experience in the league, but the Giants might want to upgrade. Woodson, it would appear, will be the third quarterback. Though some felt he would be drafted higher than the sixth round, his mechanics need tightening, and he must adapt to a different style of offense than what he ran at Kentucky.

July 11, 2008   

Will he or won’t he hold out? Giants’ Burress sends mixed messages

Giants WR Plaxico Burress recently told the New York Post that there is “no doubt” he and agent Drew Rosenhaus will win their quest to earn a new contract or an extension and report to training camp on time. Two days later, Burress undercut his statement — or at least cast doubt — by saying he didn’t know how things would end up. But we hear that both sides remain fairly optimistic that things will work out. It could come down to the 11th hour, and if Burress were to miss the first day or two of camp, it would not be the end of the world. The bottom line is that it is very likely he’ll have new money before the start of August. The Giants’ front office people are just getting back into the office after taking the very common early July vacation time that most executives around the league take. And in the next two weeks, they are expected to get back to business on getting their receiver into camp on time, likely armed with a new deal.

June

June 25, 2008   

Shockey situation embodies Giants’ Super Bowl hangover

Jeremy Shockey

With a month to go before training camp, the Giants already have faced plenty of turmoil this offseason — future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan retired and RB Ahmad Bradshaw is spending his summer vacation in jail — and there is more to come. Team sources are confident that the contract demands of WR Plaxico Burress could be alleviated before camp, but RB Brandon Jacobs wants more money (he’s in the last year of his deal) and there is the ongoing saga with TE Jeremy Shockey. Reports have spiked again that other teams are asking about Shockey's availability, and although we hear the team would like to get its star tight end healthy and into camp, the rift between player and team isn’t narrowing. Shockey is upset with what he perceives to be a lack of respect from the Giants in the form of misinformation about his situation, although the team has claimed it never spread those words. Shockey and GM Jerry Reese also had an argument behind closed doors, and there are some who believe that Shockey might have gone past the point where he can be a benefit to the team. That said, it’s likely that nothing will happen in terms of a trade before the Giants report to Albany.

June 13, 2008   

Burress sits out Giants' practices in hope for new deal, hopeful he'll get one

Missing practice was common practice last season for WR Plaxico Burress as he labored through the season on a badly sprained ankle. But missing practice — mandatory minicamp — this offseason has raised quite a few more eyebrows. With three years remaining on a six-year, $25 million deal, Burress is not participating in the Giants’ sessions and says he hopes to have a new contract worked out before training camp. Otherwise? “Me and my agent are trying to get this deal done for the future so I can remain a New York Giant, and we’re just not happy with the way things are going right now. That’s basically the main reason why I’m not out there. … I personally don’t like the way that it’s going,” he told the media last week. But he came back later to suggest that he's confident that something will get done before training camp, leaving hope that he'll report on time and be happy with his situation. Burress might have taken the attention away from lightning-rod TE Jeremy Shockey, who appears to be at odds with the team as well, but Burress hasn’t done so in a positive manner, in the world champs’ eyes.

May

May 30, 2008   

Linebacker stands as unknown for Giants

Although many wonder what the final product will look like in the secondary once the season begins, linebacker might stand as one of the Giants’ most unsettled positions. First, there’s the potential retirement of DE Michael Strahan, which could force Mathias Kiwanuka — who is penciled in as the starting strong-side linebacker — back to the defensive line. That could mean second-year LB Zak DeOssie, who played special teams almost exclusively as a rookie, suddenly is thrust into the starting lineup. Then there’s a battle on the weak side, where veteran Danny Clark figures to duke it out with Gerris Wilkinson, who has flashed some athletic ability but might not be a three-down player. If there is a guy on the spot, it is MLB Antonio Pierce, who might have to compensate for what is happening on either side of him.

May 21, 2008   

Manningham defensive about weaknesses but confident he’ll contribute

The questions that surrounded WR Mario Manningham prior to the draft might have been the primary reasons his draft stock fell before the Giants took him in the third round, whereas at one point he was considered by some to be a Round One possibility. Yet Manningham feels like the negative attention created by his poor Wonderlic scores (believed to be as low as a six out of 50 the first time he took it), a questionable work ethic and the positive marijuana tests that he admitted to are all things that now can be turned into a positive. “It’s motivation,” he told PFW recently. “I have forgotten about all of that, but I haven’t forgotten what people have said, you know? I’ve got enough on my shoulders. I have a lot to prove.” Still, when asked what he thought he most needed to improve on to crack a crowded WR situation in New York, Manningham turned defensive. “What do you think I need to improve on?” he asked rhetorically. “Everyone has their own opinion. (My goal is to) come in and contribute. Period. That’s it. To come in and make my team better than it was. I can do that.”

May 14, 2008   

Gilbride tells Shockey he wants him, but status remains unclear

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride became the latest Giants official to reiterate that Jeremy Shockey remains the team's starting tight end — as things stand now. No one has guaranteed that Shockey will remain with the team when the games start this fall, but Gilbride went as far as calling Shockey to tell him he wants his tight end this season. “It is so nebulous right now,” Gilbride said Saturday. “You just have no idea what is going to happen. Right now he is on our team, and we are planning on him being there. He will be one of the guys that we look to feature and one of the guys that we will look to depend on, and hopefully he will be here in good spirits and ready to do the things that we know he is capable of doing. But who knows? It is certainly beyond my hands.”

May 9, 2008   

Giants redo Diehl, but nothing imminent with Snee

One of the surprising items in the wake of the new contract the team signed with OLT Dave Diehl is that nothing appears to be going on with OG Chris Snee. Team officials have praised the work of Snee, who has both professional and familial ties (he’s Tom Coughlin’s son-in-law) to the Giants, and though he hasn’t made a Pro Bowl or achieved a similar accomplishment, many feel he has played close to that level. However, following Diehl’s new contract, there appears to be no new dialogue between the team and Snee’s camp about a deal for him, despite the fact he’s heading into his free-agent season. Right now, the Giants are only $3.5 million under the salary cap, and that money will be used in the short term to help sign draft picks. That figure also could change, based on veteran cuts or the possible retirement of DE Michael Strahan.

April

April 25, 2008   

Giants fail to trade Shockey after all

Updated as of 8:00 a.m. EDT Monday, April 28

The Giants held firm and refused to trade TE Jeremy Shockey, despite talks with the Saints going right up until New Orleans used the 40th overall pick, which was a key consideration in any potential deal. GM Jerry Reese downplayed the Shockey trade talk all through the process, saying various forms of “Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end.” And Reese continued to echo that sentiment afterwards. Team sources say that a deal anywhere else before the season remains unlikely. The Giants have a good but not great TE situation with youngsters Kevin Boss and Michael Matthews but would need to gain help, likely from a veteran, at the position if Shockey were dealt.

April 18, 2008   

Giants might take a look at O-tackle if right guy is there

Coming off a Super Bowl title, the Giants can approach the draft as a chance to reload. There are no glaring needs, though defense is the more spotty side of the ball following the departure of two starters, S Gibril Wilson and WLB Kawika Mitchell. But we hear that the Giants — who typically are super-secretive this time of year — might be very interested in adding an offensive tackle, possibly with their first-round pick (No. 31 overall). GM Jerry Reese hinted recently that OLT Dave Diehl might be better-suited to play inside. The Giants are known to be a little unpredictable on Draft Day, especially with their first-round picks. Take last year, when they drafted CB Aaron Ross, who had never visited with the team and was shocked himself to be picked by the Giants. And two years ago, no one pictured Mathias Kiwanuka being the choice for the DE-rich team when Ernie Accorsi, Reese's predecessor, was calling the shots. The Giants were well-represented at the Boston College pro day and are said to be enamored with OT Gosder Cherilus, but there’s a good chance he will be off the board when they select at No. 31.

April 2, 2008   

Umenyiora wants to redo deal but Giants don't have to panic

All of a sudden, the calm and quiet of the Giants’ post-Super Bowl euphoria has hit a bit of a snag. Among the players who did not report to the start of the Giants’ offseason workouts (which are voluntary) was DE Osi Umenyiora, who is coming off a terrific season and perhaps believes he is a bit underpaid. In fact, sources say that Umenyiora might not be seen for quite a while — perhaps after the rest of his teammates report for training camp. Although GM Jerry Reese said from the league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., that he’s not concerned about a potential holdout, the word through the grapevine is that Umenyiora believes the six-year, $41 million deal he signed a little more than two years ago no longer fits his pay scale. He reportedly is looking for a big raise. Typically, very few teams are willing to redo deals with more than two years left on a contract, much less three. And the Giants might be in a strong enough position where they can hold off Umenyiora’s demands for at least this year. DE Michael Strahan has yet to make a decision about coming back, but many people believe he will return, and OLB Mathias Kiwanuka is reportedly ahead of schedule on his rehab of the broken leg that cost him most of last season. He could return to playing defensive end to take Umenyiora’s spot, as could Super Bowl hero Justin Tuck. The Giants are potentially loaded at defensive end.

March

March 28, 2008   

Giants will address safety at some point

Safety has been an annual position of concern for the Giants for many years. Lo, the team hasn’t had a Pro Bowler at the position since Terry Kinard, in 1988. Sure, Gibril Wilson played well and earned quite a contract from the Raiders this offseason, but the Giants were not even in the same financial ballpark in terms of matching those numbers. So, the spot will require further help, even with the addition of veteran Sammy Knight. The Giants consider their safety positions nearly interchangeable, but both could use some athleticism. Knight and James Butler, the de facto starters for now, both lack range and might not hold up for 16 games if the Giants run a lot of two-deep coverages. One intriguing possibility: CB R.W. McQuarters, who played well down the stretch, could move to safety if a top prospect isn’t found in the draft. It is not considered a strong year at all for the safety position, outside the top few players available.

March 19, 2008   

Ware could find place on Giants

The most interesting news around the Giants lately was the rumor that the Falcons asked for fourth-string RB Danny Ware as part of a trade package that might have netted CB DeAngelo Hall. The Giants, obviously, passed and are watching as Hall apparently is getting traded to Oakland, along with a new contract. Though the Giants likely were not going to give Hall the deal he wanted, the intriguing subplot is that Ware is in the team’s plans for now. With Derrick Ward re-signing, joining playoff stalwarts Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, Reuben Droughns likely will get axed. But Ware either could stick as a fourth back because the team thinks highly of him, or he could be trade bait for a team that finds itself thin at running back in training camp, a la the Ryan Grant deal last year. The Giants hypothetically could point to the Grant trade and ask for more than the sixth-round pick they received for him in any future deal involving Ware.

March 14, 2008   

Carr is choice to back up Manning; rookie may join them

Two No. 1 overall picks at quarterback? The Giants indeed have that situation after signing David Carr Wednesday to become Eli Manning’s backup. The team said that it hoped to improve the depth at quarterback, and it had thought a deal could be worked out early in free agency with Todd Collins, but he quickly re-signed with the Redskins. Carr struggled in Carolina last season, but a team source says the Giants feel Carr’s struggles had a lot to do with the Panthers’ porous offensive line. Don’t be surprised, either, if the team drafts a quarterback this year, though not with a high pick. Anthony Wright is likely gone, and Jared Lorenzen is probably past the point of developing, so there could be a spot on the roster for a developmental guy with a high upside. He just won’t be the third No. 1 pick at the position.

March 7, 2008   

Strahan won’t handcuff team with decision, but will he return?

First, Brett Favre. Then Warren Sapp. Heck, even Sean Landetta hung up his cleats this week. Might Michael Strahan be the next big-name player to call it a career? Both team and player have been silent the past few days on the matter, and frankly the Giants aren’t pressing Strahan one way or another. Not that they don’t want him back — it’s just that no matter what happens, the Giants should be in good shape. Linebacker remains an area of need, and with Kawika Mitchell going to Buffalo, that need is compounded. But Mathias Kiwanuka has the flexibility to play down as an end if Strahan retires or up as a linebacker on the strong side, where he was starting to develop before getting hurt last season.

February

Feb. 29, 2008   

Strahan says he'll let Giants know his plans before draft

DE Michael Strahan, who famously flirted with retirement during training camp last summer, is said to be mulling the same possibility now that the Giants have won the Super Bowl. Reports have come out that he will let the team know what he’s doing by mid-April, before the NFL draft. Though Strahan will say that the decision has nothing to do with money, it’s always a factor. Strahan is due $4 million next season and could ask for a raise. But with Osi Umenyiora and Plaxico Burress — who are a little higher on the priority list — also expected to ask for more coin, Strahan might have to settle for playing at that number or calling it a career. Team sources have taken stock of the situation and expect him ultimately to return next season, likely sitting out part of training camp again in a predetermined arrangement with head coach Tom Coughlin.

Feb. 22, 2008   

Giants eschew franchise tag on Wilson, leaving door open

The Giants decided that the franchise tag was too expensive to place on free-agent S Gibril Wilson. But with the Cowboys placing the tag on Ken Hamlin, Wilson’s price and demand could go up comparatively. The rival Eagles are said to be hot on Wilson’s trail, and the fact that he fit in well with the Giants’ defense — which is very similar to what the Eagles run — would make him an even better fit. The 2008 franchise guarantee for safeties is $4.396 million for a one-year deal; the transition figure isn’t much different at $3.893 million. Wilson made $1.3 million this past season and is due for a raise, but the Giants clearly believe he’s not worth paying in the $4 million range. If they can’t re-sign Wilson, they likely would have to go outside the roster to find his replacement. Michael Johnson and James Butler had their moments last season, but both are strong safety types, and the club is said to want to improve on Butler.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Reese says Shockey will be a Giant in 2008

You can put to bed the rumors about Jeremy Shockey playing for another team next season. GM Jerry Reese not only confirmed, amid rampant trade rumors involving the injured tight end, that Shockey would be on the Giants’ roster next season, Reese also told Newsday succinctly that Shockey “is our starting tight end.” The rumors made little sense from a financial standpoint anyway, considering that Shockey is slated to earn $2.2 million next season along with a $2.4 million reporting bonus. Cutting him after June 1 would cost the Giants a salary-cap hit of approximately $3.5 million. He signed a five-year, $26 million extension in 2005 that appears quite reasonable when stacked next to the deals given to elite tight ends such as Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Todd Heap and Alge Crumpler since then. All of those players either got more guaranteed money, a longer contract or more total dollars than Shockey in their contracts. In addition to not being concerned about Shockey’s behavior or attitude (or his injury, although Shockey is not close to being healthy yet), the team also was not ready to hand over the starting reins to replacement Kevin Boss, who performed admirably down the stretch but has work to do as an unpolished player.

Feb. 6, 2008   

Giants should remain in good shape even with potential losses

Even if Michael Strahan decides to retire now that he has a Super Bowl title, the Giants’ defense should be in phenomenal shape. The team has only two regular starters bound for free agency — S Gibril Wilson and LB Kawika Mitchell — and both could be re-signed. Plus, with ­Mathias Kiwanuka expected to rejoin the team in full health next season, there’s no drop-off from the pass rush. Kiwanuka will line up at a number of spots, but he’s expected to be more of an end — whether or not Strahan retires. The biggest potential loss, of course, is coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, should he be wooed and subsequently offered the Redskins’ head-coaching position. And head coach Tom Coughlin, just as he did to find Spagnuolo, might have to go outside the organization to find a replacement, unless he thinks LB coach Bill Sheridan could continue what Spagnuolo began.