As I patrolled the practice fields at the University of Albany during the Giants’ afternoon practice on Monday, with my field pass in hand, I noticed how fast-paced and efficient coach Tom Coughlin’s squad was. Every few minutes, a horn would blow, and the players would run to their next station without hesitating. When they scrimmaged, the subs ran in and out without any standing around. Coach Coughlin jogged back and forth from the offensive fields to the defensive fields, looking at his watch repeatedly to make sure everything is exactly on the perfect tick of the clock.

Some great highlights of the day included Ahmad Bradshaw zipping through the defense like number 21 used to. Sinorice Moss was in on nearly every single play, while several others shifted in and out. Plaxico Burress did some stretching with Mario Manningham and David Tyree, while walking around with a helmet in his hand, watching the offense play the defense toward the end of the practice.

The quarterbacks didn’t look so hot at all. High passes out of reach, low passes that bounced to the ground, and overthrows all seemed to be occuring left and right during the practice. In the passing drill where all the quarterbacks aim and fire to a color-coded hole in a net, Eli Manning was beat out by Anthony Wright. Wright began to pick on him, causing Manning to laugh and say, “Aw, come on. That’s the first time you’ve beat me all camp.”

As I left the practice field with the players, fans on the outside area of the fence were screaming for player autographs like I have never seen. One area was so rowdy that when Manning finished signing for them and began to walk away, they broke the fence and fell over as they tried to follow him. Eli didn’t even try to pick up the fence, he just signed a football and threw it back into the pile.

For more information and photos from my visit to Giants camp on Monday, visit MattTracy.com