Monthly Archives: August 2008
The Giants cut 20 players and placed 3 on injured reserve to get their roster down to 53. In addition to the cuts, the Giants added kicker John Carney to replace Josh Huston who they also released. Huston missed an extra point on Thursday and missed two field goals in previous preseason games.
Here are the 20 the Giants released.
K Josh Huston
QB Andre Woodson
FB Robert Douglas
WR Marcus Monk
WR Brandon London
TE Eric Butler
TE Jerome Collins
OL Kurt Quarterman
OL Na’Shan Goddard
OL Andrew Bain
DE Wallace Gilberry
DE Alex Morrow
DT Jeremy Clark
DT Ogemdi Nwagbuo
LB Tank Daniels
LB James Terry
CB Geoffrey Pope
S Stuart Schweigert
OL Cliff Louis
CB Darren Barnett
T Guy Whimper (foot) was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Also placed on IR was QB Anthony Wright (back) and OC Digger Bujnoch (sprained knee).
The Giants opening day roster come courtesy of Mike Garafolo at The Star Ledger.
QB (2): Eli Manning, David Carr
RB (6): Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward, Danny Ware, Reuben Droughns, Madison Hedgecock
WR (6): Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss
TE (3): Kevin Boss, Michael Matthews, Darcy Johnson
OL (9): David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie, Guy Whimper, Adam Koets, Kevin Boothe, Grey Ruegamer
DE (4): Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Dave Tollefson, Renaldo Wynn
DT (4): Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, Jay Alford, Rodney Leisle
LB (7): Antonio Pierce, Danny Clark, Gerris Wilkinson, Chase Blackburn, Bryan Kehl, Zak DeOssie, Jonathan Goff
CB (6): Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, Kevin Dockery, R.W. McQuarters, Sam Madison, Terrell Thomas
S (4): James Butler, Michael Johnson, Kenny Phillips, Sammy Knight
K (2): Lawrence Tynes, John Carney
P (1): Jeff Feagles
College is often called “the best years of your life.” It is a time for education. But the mixture of youth, co-ed dorms, and alcohol can overwhelm even the most disciplined party-goers. During my sophomore year of college I attended a mandatory symposium on the dangers of Alcohol. They passed out a survey called “Is AA for you?” According to the survey everyone I knew, including myself, was not only an alcoholic, but we were borderline insane.
To question number six on the survey “have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?” My friend Fran answered, “does eating three blocks of swiss cheese while wearing a traffic cone on your head, completely naked, count?
To question number two, “do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking– stop telling you what to do? My friend EB responded “you mean like the demons in my head, or are they talking about actual people?
Finally, to question number 9 “do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want, even though you keep getting drunk when you don’t mean to?” My friend Q responded, “how does that work? Is that like the time I accidentally played seven games of beer pong and made out with the cleaning lady?” No doubt we enjoyed college life a bit too much.
As we grow older the drinking is no longer an issue (unless the Mets give up another 7 run lead), but other addictions have arisen. For my friends and I, the main culprit is sports. I thought I should take the time to right up a similar survey for those of you out there who feel overwhelmed. Here is a survey called “I might just be addicted to my team.” If you answer yes to any of these questions you may have a problem.
The names of the teams on the marquee tonight are impressive but the names on the back of the jerseys on the field are less likely to be.
The Giants will have their starters in for essentially one series tonight, careful to avoid risking another potential injury like the one Osi Umenyiora incurred last week.
Some players however will be playing for an expanded role when the regular season begins. Others, like Mathias Kiwanuka will be working on adjusting to a new position.
Coach Tom Coughlin tells Tom Rock at Newsday what he approach to this evening’s match up against the Patriots will be.
“What you would like to do is have a chance to play a lot of young guys and let them play and put them in situations and let them fend for themselves. But obviously when the game is over you want them all standing tall and ready to go the next week, too.”
Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone praised the Jets for selling 27,000 upper-deck season tickets without having to pay for a one-time personal seat license fee and blasted the Giants for not doing so as well.
The Associated Press reports that Chiappone is trying to ban the sale of seat licenses at all sports facilities in New Jersey.
“What the Jets are doing is different than the Giants,” he said. “They are leaving 27,000 seats PSL-free. A large portion of the stadium fan base will be able to buy seats without having to purchase a PSL.”
Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said the team had no comment.
The Giants plan to sell seat licenses for $1,000 to those in the upper deck and as much as $20,000 for those with field-level seats. The Jets are selling PSLs for between $4,000 and $25,000 for lower level seats at the stadium the Jets and Giants will share, scheduled to open in 2010.
Note: This conference took place prior to Michael Strahan‘s announcement that he would remain retired and not be returning to the Giants.
Coach Tom Coughlin began with a statement regarding Osi Umenyiora:
Regarding the surgical procedure on Osi Umenyiora, the doctors were very pleased. The surgery went well. The knee looked good. The prognosis is very, very optimistic for a full recovery. That is my quote.
Do you know how long that might be?
What did I tell you the other day? What did I say the other day?
My memory is ….
You don’t have a very good one, I know. I received information and notes from some of your colleagues indicating that I should have called you a little bit different name than I did yesterday.
Is Osi Umenyiora going to go on IR?
That has not been determined just yet.
Is that because there is a possibility that he could be back sooner?
That is just because we haven’t talked about it yet. We haven’t had the doctor and Jerry Reese and ownership together. And we will.
If there is a chance that he could return in January, would that…?
That would be something that the doctor would have to have a great deal of input on because there wouldn’t be sense in going that long and then not having him fully ready to go.
Did you receive any long distance phone calls (from Michael Strahan)?
I did not. I do know that contact has been made. Jerry Reese and Michael did talk, but as of my being out here there has been no information.
How is it having Plaxico Burress back out there?
We haven’t had much work together in the past few months, so it’s good to have everybody in their positions and getting good work. He’s looked good the past couple of days so we just have to continue to grow and he knows what he’s doing out there. He knows the offense has to get our timing back and we’ll be good to go.
The lack of time together won’t be an issue?
We just have to make the best of this week and next week and I think our timing will be fine. He knows what he’s doing, I can read his body, so it’s just a matter of making sure our timing is fine, but I think we can get that back together in a week.
Would you embrace the return of Michael Strahan?
You always have to see what’s going to happen. I think from a leadership [aspect] and those things, he’s always good, but we have to see if he wants to come back and play and I think that will be the deciding factor.
Will there be any emotions going into the preseason game against the Patriots?
I don’t think so. Everybody here is a professional. We know what this game is about, it’s preseason, and we’re going to go out there and the starting group will probably get one series. We’ll go out there, try to play well, put some points on the board, and we’re just trying to fine tune for the opener.
Would you expect to have any reminiscing with the Patriots before the game?
Sure, I’m sure you’ll talk to some guys and say hi, but I never do a whole lot of chit chatting before a game. Everybody will be on a normal schedule and treat this like the last preseason game.
Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce believes recently retired, possibly soon to be un-retired Giants DE Michael Strahan has put football behind him. Ralph Vacchiano reports on his blog for the New York Daily News.
“The guy retired after 15 years in the league, on top and he moved on in his career already,” Pierce said. “He’s planning for his future. It ain’t like Brett Favre. These are two different scenarios. Brett Favre didn’t even try to find another job. He was out there throwing to high school kids. Strahan hasn’t. He’s been doing his Fox thing.”
Pierce said the last time he saw Strahan, “He looked like a broadcaster” with his slimmed down physique and wasn’t sure he could get back into football shape.
“Yeah, he’s turned it off,” Pierce said. “That’s tough. I have never done it personally, but watching guys (try to turn it back on), it’s been a struggle for them.
“But Michael Strahan’s a different breed. He’s a Hall of Famer, he’s a guy who obviously didn’t come to training camp and didn’t do nothing last year either and put up a Pro Bowl season. If there is somebody that can do it, he can probably do it, but I don’t know if it’s in his best interests.
Vacchiano also reports that theres a problem with Strahan when it comes to locker space. He used to occupy two lockers in the corner of the Giants locker room, his main locker is now used by DT Fred Robbins, the other by WR Brandon London, he isn’t about to return it.
“I’m not moving,” London said today. “You can tell him that.”
Here are a few quick notes on news dropping this morning.
- Court ruled in Michael Strahan‘s favor at his divorce proceeding this morning. He was due to owe close to $15 million. Last year, Jean Strahan was awarded $15.3 million, in addition to child support. Michael Strahan has paid more than half of that award. As a result of the ruling, he does not have to pay his ex-wife an extra $6 million. Part of that payment was to be for a disability insurance policy which, the court said, is not necessary since Strahan has retired. If he returns, it is unclear if he would have to pay up.
- Final cuts are due today. It is speculated that the Giants may IR Jonathan Goff along with Osi Umenyiora as their final moves.
- Tom Rock said in his chat today that GM Jerry Reese and Strahan’s agent spoke again this morning.
- Giants are unlikely to pursue a DE via trade, and likely to stay put with internal options.
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