Die Hard Sports Fan

Tom Coughlin talks to ESPN about the lack of respect for the Giants.

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If you want see what the media is saying about our boys in blue while they are at Training Camp up in Albany then take a look below:

Newsday

• Tom Rock of Newsday stated that Kevin Boss is making the most of taking Jeremy Shockey’s place. Boss caught just about every pass that came his way during the first week of training camp, and he’s working on his blocking.
• The first fight of training camp took place yesterday. It was between Rich Seubert and Danny Clark, but he said that it, “was more a dance while holding on to each other’s face mask than a brawl.”
• MIA from practice: S Kenny Phillips did not participate in either practice with a sore hamstring, Plaxico Burress (ankle), Amani Toomer (leg), and Mario Manningham (quadricep).
• Players worth Noting: WR Domenik Hixon had another outstanding practice in the morning, though it came at the expense of CB Corey Webster, who covered Hixon most of the session … Undrafted rookie S Nehemiah Warrick had a second straight practice with an interception in the morning, playing with the second unit in place of Phillips.

New York Daily News

• Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News says Sinorice Moss is as disappointed as anyone by the way his first two NFL seasons have gone. He suffered a few injuries, but he’s not ready to give up on himself yet. And neither are the Giants.

New York Post

• According Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, “Tom Coughlin gave permission for [Dave] Tollefson to go home to be with his wife, Megan, for the birth of the couple’s first child, a son they plan on naming Tucker. Megan is due on Aug. 15, but will be induced to accommodate Dave’s football schedule. A day or two later, Tollefson will return to camp and hopes to continue his development at defensive end.

The Star-Ledger

• Dave Tollefson cherishes each moment he is on the field.
• Mike Garafolo compiled some notes about Giants training camp.
• Tom Coughlin is still going to be kind and gentle in 2008.
• Mike Garafolo assembled an in-depth 8/1 evening practice report worth checking out.

Sports Illustrated

• Ben Reiter, a writer at Sports Illustrated, recently provided a Giants camp rundown at SI.com. In Reiters “Three Observations”, he writes this of the secondary:
  • I spent several moments observing what I assumed to be the Giants’ linebacking corps huddled up next to the practice field — until I realized the group was actually the team’s secondary. These guys are monsters (only cornerback Sam Madison is under 6 feet), but the most physically impressive of them all is safety Kenny Phillips, the team’s first-round pick out of Miami.

The good news is that everything mentioned about Big Blue is positive. That’s not the norm so enjoy it while it lasts. As mentioned above, Dave Tollefson’s wife is expected to give birth on August 15 so we wish them a healthy child.

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The Giants were blessed with the presence of Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson in 2007. Gadson was with Big Blue throughout the season, during the Playoffs, and during the Super Bowl. He was also named the Honorary Co-Captain in the NFC Championship game.

Up in Albany, Lieutenant General Ray Odierno visited the G-MEN and delivered a special message to them today. Odierno is a lifelong Giants fan from Rockaway, NJ and more importantly he was recently named to succeed General David Patraeus as the commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq. Odierno, who previously served as Petraeus’ deputy in the war, will be promoted to full general and return in September to Iraq, where he recently completed a 30-month tour. Below is Ordierno’s message…

The only other thing that I would say to you is that I kind of thought a lot about this team, being a big Giants fan. I’m very proud of what you all accomplished last year. About 18 months ago, when I took over as commander in Iraq, nobody gave us a chance to do well. There are still a lot of non-believers out there who don’t believe that we’ve done a good job over there, and my guess is that there are still a lot of non-believers about this team. They don’t think that you’re worthy of what you’ve accomplished and I would just tell you to stick together, work your (butt) off, and shove it up their (butt). What makes this group so special is that you’re a team first, you care about each other first, and if you do that, you will always be successful. So, good luck to you, God bless you, it has been an honor to be out here with you today.

Tom Coughlin was asked by the media to comment on General Ray Ordierno’s message…

Basically, team first; we do it for each other. He used the analogy of the soldiers for when our guys are struggling out here and think it is hot. It is 120 degrees in Iraq and they are wearing a hundred pounds worth of gear. They are out there for four and five hours at a time. I’m sure that analogy struck home with the guys. You are talking about the end of that long first week of camp. So the legs are a little heavy and weary. But the troops are staying out there and hanging in there. We make small gains every day, and in football we need everybody to be on the same page. We still have some mental errors that are going on that have got to be corrected. That will come around.

The article contains comments made by various players if you would like to check it out at Giants.com. Since General Ray Ordierno is going to Iraq at the end of September for 30 months, he will not be around the whole year to inspire our boys in blue.

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Rotoworld.com released a statement made by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, “The league has determined that Ahmad Bradshaw is not in violation of the personal conduct policy. He will not be suspended.”  The NFL investigated the situation and concluded the crime pre-dated his NFL career.  That’s the good news, and there is some bad news also.  Bradshaw must serve another 30 days when the 2008 season is over.  That’s new news to some like the Giants organization.  According to Ralph Vacchiano over at The Blue Screen, “Tom Coughlin said he wasn’t aware of that, and other team officials have indicated the same thing.”

As a Giants fan, it’s a good thing that he doesn’t have to serve his sentence until the season is over.  However, I believe that these athletes shouldn’t get special treatment in the judicial system.  If atheletes get special treatment then the common man should get special treatment also.  Why should a judge have to work around the NBA schedule when Kobe Bryant rapes a woman?  How come the judge doesn’t revolove around the work schedule of a man who rapes a woman in Central Park?  I’m just saying…

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Ralph Vacchiano of The Blue Screen is keeping us up-to-date with all of the Giants’ post-Super Bowl books…

• Giant: The Road to the Super Bowl by Plaxico Burress (with Jason Cole) - It is available in stores now. Also, Burress will be at Book Revue in Huntington, NY for a book signing on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. if you live nearby and want to stop by.
• Eli Manning: The Making of a Quarterback - It won’t be available for another few weeks, but you can pre-order it.
• More Than Just The Catch by David Tyree (with Kim Daniels) - Due out this fall.
• A Team to Believe In: Our Journey to the Super Bowl Championship by Tom Coughlin (with Brian Curtis) - Due out this fall.
• Inside the Helmet: Hard Knocks, Pulling Together and Triumph as a Sunday Afternoon Warrior by Michael Strahan (with Jay Glazer) - Was released in 2007 and is being re-released with new sub titles and additional chapters.
• The GM: A Football Life, a Final Season, and a Last Laugh by Tom Callahan (written with Ernie Accorsi’s help) - Was released in 2007 and is being re-released with new sub titles and additional chapters.

That’s quite a list. Hopefully all of the writing has no effect on my boys when the season comes around. Definitely check out some of those books, and feel free to let us know how they are.

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Giants.com just revealed that the New York Giants were nominated for six ESPYs in this year’s sixteenth annual ESPN awards show.  The Giants nominations came in for:

• Best Upset - Giants-Patriots
• Best Team
• Best Game - Super Bowl XLII
• Best Play -David Tyree’s Catch
• Best Coach-Manager - Tom Coughlin
• Best NFL Player - Eli Manning

I agree with the Best Upset, Best Team, Best Game, and Best Play.  I’m a little confused about the Best Coach and the Best NFL Player.  It seems strange that the Best Coach would be a coach that pulled off the Best Upset, right?  Same thing with Eli.  ESPN also contradicts themselves about the Giants being the Best Team because they put them 6th in their Power Rankings.  Go figure.  If Coughlin is the best coach then why did Tiki retire?

The 2008 ESPYs co-presented by HUMMER and Under Armour, hosted by Justin Timberlake, will be televised Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.  For the fifth consecutive year, fans will determine the winners in 37 categories (excluding special awards) by voting online at www.espys.tv and, for the first time, via mobile phone at www.espn.mobi. This process will run between July 1 and July 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

For a full list of nominations, go to www.espnmediazone.com or www.espys.tv.

Be sure to go and vote for the Giants in all of their categories at www.espys.tv.

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A lot of people were concerned that the Giants did not give Chris Snee a contract extension yet.  Especially since he’s the son-in-law of Coach Coughlin.  Well, today NFL.com reported that the Giants reached agreement on a six-year extension with the guard that ties him to the team through 2014.  The financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal will make him one of the five highest paid guards in the game.

Congrats to Chris.  Since Coughlin got a four-year extension and Snee got a six-year extension, they will remain in blue for at least four more years together and off-the-field…well forever.  I love this move by Jerry Reese because Chris is a very solid guard who comes to play week-in and week-out.  He acts like a professional.  In this offseason of drama, we finally get to hear some good news out of the Meadowlands, and it happens to come to a player that says absolutely nothing about his contract.

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As we mentioned on Friday, the next 40 days are going to be quiet in Giants World because that’s when they report to training camp.  I’m happy that there were not more articles about Burress or Shockey in the past couple of days.

We always like to take the time to encourage you guys to send us in pictures so we can display them.  We want pictures of crazy Giants fans at the stadium, tailgating, at a house party, etc.  Just make sure that you guys are wearing Giants gear.  Also send us pictures of your pets in Giants gear and if you got a Giants tattoo.

Giants.com:

MetLife: First Cornerstone Partner in New Stadium - “MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET) has reached an agreement in principle to be the first major marketing partner of the new Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey, future home of the New York Giants and New York Jets. As a Cornerstone Partner, MetLife will have the exclusive naming rights to brand one of the four main entrances to the new stadium as well as one of the four main scoreboards inside the stadium. MetLife will also become the official life insurance company of the Giants and Jets.”

Pressure Factor - Pat Kirwan discussed how Mathias Kiwanuka has to step up and make it easier for the defense to keep pressure on the Quarterback since Strahan retired.  Kirwan wrote, “While the expectation has been that Kiwanuka would be ready to take over for Strahan as the strong side end, he is able to do much more than just rush the passer. His invaluable experience at linebacker combined with the aggressive schemes of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could allow Kiwanuka to have a bigger impact than most realize.”

Hard Decisions Ahead - Michael Eisen pointed out that…

The NFL has mandated that camp rosters must be limited to 80 players, which will force most coaches to limit how hard and how long they work in camp. Back in the 1960s and 70s, many teams routinely started camp with more than 100 players on their roster. In recent years, teams were able to use NFL Europe roster exemptions, which added approximately six players to each roster for the duration of camp. But NFL Europe was disbanded after the 2007 season and the NFL is holding firm to the 80-man limit.

Due to this, Tom Coughlin said, “It is a big difference. You will have to (change your planning).”

Fans Take - A Giants fan expresses his feelings about the improbable 2007 season.

Access Blue: Strahan Tribute Part 1 (Video) - Part 1 of Giants Access Blue Tribute to Michael Strahan.

Access Blue: Strahan Tribute Part 2 (Video) - Part 2 of Giants Access Blue Tribute to Strahan.

Access Blue: Strahan Tribute Part 3 (Video) - Part 3 of Giants Access Blue Tribute to Strahan.

Access Blue: Strahan Tribute Part 4 (Video) - Part 4 of Giants Access Blue Tribute to Strahan.

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So the Giants have concluded their final day of Mini Camp.  The next 40 days or so are going to be much quieter since not much will be going on until they go up to Albany for training camp.  I’m sure we’ll continue to hear about Burress and Shockey until it’s resolved.  For now, Justin Tuck is expected to replace Strahan at left defensive end rather than moving Mathias Kiwanuka back up to the D-Line.

NFL.com is running a video called ‘Top 10 comebacks’.  Big Blue made the list twice, once on the winning end and once on the losing end.

• No. 9: Giants 17-point comeback over the Eagles in 2006.
• No. 3: 49ers 24-point comeback over the Giants on Wild Card Weekend in 2002.  This game just broke my heart.  I was up at Mohegan Sun watching the game in one of the bars, and I had to drive back to Long Island so depressed.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes that Michael Strahan may come back if the Jints call him and say that they need him back when the season is about to begin.

Giants.com:

Born to lead - Michael Eisen expects Antonio Pierce to take a bigger role as a leader for this team now that Strahan retired.  Pierce said,

I don’t feel that respect amongst the league. Talking to other guys throughout the league a lot of them said, ‘You guys played a hell of a game.’ A hell of a game - so the other 16 games in the regular season and the three playoff games really didn’t do anything for us. You hear that amongst players. We played a good game at the right time. Your quarterback got hot at the right time, your defense started playing ball at the right time. All those things are being said and heard, and that is fine and dandy. We have to do it again and the only thing we are shooting for is to win our division and get to the playoffs.

We are the underdogs again. We are not even picked to win our division, so there is nothing that has changed. The only thing that we have is the title of having the Super Bowl championship, of being the most recent Super Bowl champion. We are still the underdogs, and I think going into it we will probably be underdogs even at home again.

I know what they are saying, but I don’t worry about that. I am going to go about my business the same way I did last year. When Strahan wasn’t here for the whole OTAs, mini-camp, and training camp it was already starting to go that way last year. He came back and he picked up right where he left off. Obviously, he is not going to be here this year. But I am just going to do what I normally do, go about my business the same way. Obviously, I am going to be a little more vocal and I am going to have to be the guy to get after the guys a little bit more if need be.

I know AP loves to use the ‘underdog’ and the ‘us against the world’ mentality to prove everybody wrong.  I think that the media is retarded for saying that the Road Warriors are not the team to beat, but maybe it will benefit the team in a positive way this year just like it did last year.  Also, AP was the biggest leader on the team last season anyway.  Not just on the field, but he represented the team off the field as well (i.e., his weekly spot on WFAN).  He did a great job doing it also.  He does need to increase his role as a leader now that Strahan is gone.  It is funny how a guy like Pierce can become a leader because he was an undrafted free agent signed by the Redskins.  The Giants got him and he’s already been one of the leaders of the defense.  There are others guys who have been around much longer, but where are they? 

Mini Camp Report Day Three (Video) - John Schmeelk and Michael Eisen discussed day three of this week’s Mini Camp.

Fierce Pierce Report (Video) - John Schmeelk had a Q&A Session with Antonio Pierce.

6.13 DC Steve Spagnuolo (Video) - The media asked Steve Spagnuolo about moving forward without Strahan.

OC Kevin Gilbride (Video) - The media asked Kevin Gilbride about Shockey and Burress not being out there on the field.

WR Amani Toomer (Video) - The media asked Amani Toomer if he thinks it makes a difference that he was the only one out there for Eli Manning to throw to.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin (Video) - The media asked Tom Coughlin about this week’s Mini Camp.

QB Eli Manning (Video) - The media asked Eli Manning about this week’s Mini Camp.

RB Brandon Jacobs (Video) - The media asked Brandon Jacobs if they have a different attitude this year since they won the Super Bowl.

CB Sam Madison (Video) - The media asked Sam Madison what he thinks about Plaxico’s contract dispute.

WR Sinorice Moss (Video) - The media asked Sinorice Moss what we should expect from him this year.

New York Daily News:

O’Hara: Media misinterpreted me - Shaun O’Hara had this to say to the media.

I thought it was quite humorous that all these intellectuals with pens and recorders could totally miss the point that was made yesterday I was frustrated with the media. I never once criticized anybody or any teammates. So you guys missed the point on that one. I was asked a general question about players in general. It had no relevance whatsoever to anybody. (It was) a general question about players wanting more money and new contracts. I’m always going to side with the players when they want more money. You have to handle your business. But what I said was that in my opinion that there was a right way to do things. I’m not talking about those guys (Shockey and Burress). I never was talking about those guys. I was speaking in general terms, my belief about the way I would handle it.

Ralph Vacchiano stated that O’Hara, ” has been a consummate professional with the media ever since he joined the Giants. He has earned our trust and the benefit of the doubt, so I’ll believe him that his intent was not to specifically attack two teammates. Only he knows for sure and I’m not going to try to interpret what was in his head.”  With that said, Vacchiano included the transript of the interview and O’Hara did respond to the question specifically about Burress.  I don’t think O’Hara should back down from what he said.  He is the captain because he says the right things about the team.

The Star-Ledger:

Coughlin: Shockey an ‘issue’ - Mike Garafolo pointed out that Coughlin said that, “There is an issue.” when asked about Shockey’s mental state after practice, “but it’s not something that would prevent him from working.”

Final minicamp practice report - Mike Garafolo lets us know who impressed him on the final day of Mini Camp.

Rosenhaus cryptic about 80, 17 - Mike Garafolo provided the transcript from Drew Rosenhaus.  As usual, Rosenhaus didn’t have much to say about his clients.

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Pat Kirwan of NFL.com wrote an article about how the Giants will effectively pressure the Quarterback without Strahan.  His conclusion is the depth the Giants have at the position, and he is confident that Umenyiora, Tuck, Kiwanuka, and Wynn will wreak havoc on opposing QBs.  I definitely recommend that you check it out.

Giants.com:

Chance to improve - Michael Eisen says TE’s Kevin Boss and Darcy Johnson are getting valuable snaps at Mini Camp.

Moving Forward - Using a bunch of quotes, Michael Eisen realizes that theme is that the Giants are looking ahead to 2008.

Transcript: Player Quotes - Here is the funniest one posed to J-Load:

Your face looks slimmer?

No, this is just sunburn, but I am getting there, I am getting there.  It is always working, you know how it is.

What does looking slimmer have to do with sunburn?

Transcript: WR Amani Toomer - Yesterday, Amani Toomer fields questions about mini camp.  This one is hysterical because Toomer doesn’t seem comfortable answering the first five questions so the media asked what he had for lunch.

Why are all the players upset about all the Shockey questions?

Why are the players getting upset?  Because it is really not the players, it is just between the people who it is between, it is not between us.  We would love to have him back if we could, if everything works out, but it is really out of our control, that is why.

Have you shown him the love?

Yeah, I guess it was good to see him.  I don’t know [what you are asking?]

Is he in a bad mood?

Is he in a bad mood?  I wouldn’t say a bad mood.  Honestly, I have no idea about the whole situation.

What has Plaxico shown you over the years while he is healthy?

I think last year says pretty much everything.  He had a great year last year and he did a lot for our team.  I don’t know what else you want me to say.

What is he like as a teammate?

He does a lot for us on the field.  I don’t know what else to say.  He does a lot for us.

How was lunch today?

Actually it was good, the salmon was pretty good and you can’t complain about that.

Transcript: C Shaun O’Hara - Yesterday, Shaun O’Hara fields questions about mini camp.  Here’s a good one because I’m still waiting for the Giants to have a dynasty era.  Is it now?

What comes along with winning that first title?  Is there more of a desire to get to a second one?

Absolutely.  You do it once and people can call it a fluke, but if you do it twice they start to really respect you and understand your talent.  You have to win three for them to start using the ‘D’ word, dynasty, but I think that we all understand the requirements and the responsibility that comes with being defending champs.

Trancript: RB Brandon Jacobs - Yesterday, Brandon Jacobs fields questions about mini camp.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin (Video) - Tom Coughlin answers questions from the media about today’s practice.

TE Kevin Boss (Video) - Kevin Boss answers questions from the media about Jeremy Shockey.

QB Jared Lorenzen (Video) - Jared Lorenzen answers questions about mini camp.  It’s always good to hear from the ‘Hefty Lefty’.  You only hear from him and see him prior to the season.

DE Osi Umenyiora (Video) - Osi Umenyiora answers questions from the media about moving forward without Michael Strahan.

TE Darcy Johnson (Video) - Darcy Johnson answers questions from the media about how much weight he gained and how he plans on contributing to the team.

Mini Camp Report (Video) - Yesterday, John Schmeelk and Michael Eisen provided the Mini Camp Report.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin (Video) - Yesterday, Coughlin answers questions from the media about practice.

QB Eli Manning (Video) - Yesterday, Eli Manning answers questions from the media about how they intend on improving in 2008.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka (Video) - Yesterday, Mathias Kiwanuka answers questions from the media about moving forward without Strahan.

DE Osi Umenyiora (Video) - Yesterday, Umenyiora answers questions from the media about his contract.

New York Daily News:

Osi Umenyiora not happy with contract, won’t throw mini-tantrum - Ohm Youngmisuk wrote this about Osi, “Umenyiora could have added to the Giant headache but the affable Pro Bowler said he is going to take the opposite route and practice while talking to Giants brass. “I will be in camp,” Umenyiora said. “I’m not going to hold out. My situation is a little different.”"  This is exactly what Plaxico should be doing.

The Star-Ledger:

Afternoon practice report

O’Hara comments on Plax situation - Shaun O’Hara had this to say about Burress’ situation,

There’s a right way to do things. I’ve always felt that, as a player, you go out there, you put your best foot forward and as long as you’re giving 100 percent effort every time, you’ll be taken care of.

I think it’s a disservice to all the other guys that are out there working hard, practicing and doing their jobs. To focus on the negative is … sometimes we expect that, but there are a lot of guys out there doing good things every day. We have a lot of young guys that are getting a lot of good reps in. I think that should be the focus.

I think we proved it last year that the team-first concept overcomes everything. Whether players like it or not, this team is going to move forward. There certainly will be another center playing in my position when I’m done and that goes for every position along the line, so you’re either with us or you’re against us. I think the players are doing a good job of focusing on their daily tasks and their jobs and as long a we all continue to do that, this team will succeed.

Morning practice (and 80/17) report

Giants trainers have a busy day - Mike Garafolo provided an injury status for various players.

Practice must go on - Mike Garafolo tells us the highlights of yesterday’s practice.

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