The Giants will have a quick walk-thru this morning before heading across the river for the annual Kickoff Luncheon to benefit the John V. Mara Memorial Cancer Research Fund of St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan.

With the deadline for cuts cuts looming large (Saturday 4pm), and the final preseason game only a day away, the Giants will not have much time to sort out their opening day roster.

This is the second short week the team has had this preseason. With many key decisions still in the balance, the coaches will be pressed to make cuts with less than the norm when it comes to data.

Tom Coughlin would only say that some jobs were still open, the starters would play the first quarter and QBs Andre Woodson and Rhett Bomar would get significant playing time.

With OLB Michael Boley facing suspension for Week One,  the Giants can float DL Jay Alford until Week Two of the season.  The medical staff believes Alford’s knee may not need surgery and can be rehabilitated with stabilization methods.  If he doesn’t improve by then, a decision will be made on his season at that time.

Osi Umenyiora took a severe ribbing over his AWOL episode.  All is well now that the Pro Bowl DE has returned to his senses.

“If I would have known it was going to be all this,” Umenyiora said, “I would have done something real bad.”

DT Fred Robbins was activated today from the physically unable to perform list today (PUP) and participated in individual drills. 

“Anything we get from him will be good,” said coach Coughlin.

Missing practice today were Steve Smith (knee swelling) Hakeem Nicks (Hamstring) Corey Webster (hip flexor) Chris Canty, Kevin Boothe (pectoral) and David Carr (triceps but not serious)

Shaun O’ Hara, who has missed the last two days of practice, should return tomorrow.

Justin T uck got some reps on the inside of the line today, with DE’s Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka playing on the outside.

WR Domenik Hixon made a beautiful diving catch from Eli Manning, spanning 40 yards. CB Aaron Ross disputed the catch, saying it hit the ground.

Here’s a quick rundown on what went on during afternoon practice today up in Albany.

Injuries: G Rich Seubert and DE Osi Umenyiora both sat out with injuries. Osi has a knee injury and Seubert has been out for a few days now. Both Justin Tuck and DT Barry Cofield practiced.

-S Kenny Phillips continues his very strong training camp, picking off QB Rhett Bomar. He also helped on a nice goal line stand of Brandon Jacobs, along with DT Jay Alford and LB Antonio Pierce.

- New acquisition saftey C.C. Brown intercepted a pass from David Carr

- WR Mario Manningham had the “play of the day” according to SNY’s and the Star-Ledger’s Mike Garafolo catching a ball over CB DeAndre Wright on a sideline route.

Head coach Tom Coughlin fielded questions from reporters after morning practice today. Here’s a quick look at some of the more interesting ones:

Coach Tom Coughlin

Q: Is Eli’s deal done?

A: I don’t know. As far as I know, it’s not, but I’m not sure.

Everybody’s making a fuss over Eli’s new contract…and it’s not even complete.

Coach Tom Coughlin

Q: Anyone really stand out today?

A: I’d have to say that the defense played well this morning. I think the quickness of our front was obvious and you saw some strong penetrating moves on the part of three or four different guys. To look at it from the other side of the ball, I’m really disappointed that when we put the pads on – and it’s time to put the pads on – but you don’t expect people to come clean like they do when there’s no pads on and all they do is turn their shoulders. You’ve got a blocking surface, you’ve got shoulder pads, and I didn’t expect to have a couple guys to come clean this morning, but it’ll pick up. It’s always that way early. The defense has been playing well and the offense has got to get in tune with it and catch up.

Q: It looks like [Jay] Alford has gotten off to a good start…

A: Yeah, he’s been a guy who has been very quick and very noticeable. He’s been off sides (too). He’s very athletic, very quick, very mobile, chases from behind and makes plays.

Q: Were you working on anything specific with him in the off season?

A: No, but he smells the coffee. He knows he’s got a heck of a chance. He’s been around. He’s been in multiple roles and he’s done them both very well. I think that now he’s played the game, he and Osi are good friends who work a lot together, and that’s helped Jay [Alford] along.

Coach Tom Coughlin

Q: How’s [Rich] Seubert doing?

A: He’s a little stronger today. He did individual. Hopefully he’ll be ready by the weekend.

Coach Tom Coughlin

Q: For the last couple of years here at camp you guys have always seemed to have a receiver step up and make himself known. Is Ramses Barden that guy this year?

A: He’s a drafted guy – a high drafted guy – and we have high expectations for him. He obviously makes his presence felt. He’s going to get better and he’s not the only one. There are a lot of guys who are fighting for that recognition.

- QB Eli Manning perhaps showed the skeptics why he shouldn’t have got such a lucrative contract, throwing several iffy passes in the onset of this morning’s practice.

- Rook TE Travis Beckum heard his name called for the first time in training camp hauling in two grabs.

- DE Osi Umenyiora, G Rich Seubert, and DT Barry Cofield all sat out of morning practice

- Kenny Phillips continues to impress, making a nice tackle on Brandon Jacobs.

- The second string O-line group is not doing too great  in protecting QB David Carr. DT’s Jay Alford and Chris Canty broke through several times.

- CB Terrell Thomas continues his bid for significant PT with another solid practice.

Ralph Vacchiano has more on his “The Blue Screen” blog.

Ed Valentine of Big Blue View posted an interview with Butch Davis about rookie WR Hakeem Nicks.

Davis, who coached Nicks in UNC said that he thinks Nicks is going to be a very successful WR in the NFL for years to come.

“He’s a competitor. He’s got a lot of physical gifts and talents. He’s got outstanding hands. He’s a tireless worker. He’ll go out and do everything that the Giants coaching staff is going to ask him to do,” said Davis.

Firstly, and most importantly, DE Justin Tuck did participate in afternoon practices…so dismiss any possible lingering injury on the foot.

Lawrence Tynes went 8-8 in his field goal attempts. (good to see him off to a good start after missing last season with an injury)

DT Jay Alford had another good practice in the afternoon, and continues his strong start to training camp

Eli Manning seems to have worked on his hard count, for he was getting players to jump offsides all afternoon.

LB Bryan Kehl (in for the injured Boley) had his second interception in as many days off an Eli Manning pass.

Andre’ Woodson had another shaky practice this afternoon, but rookiee QB Rhett Bomar isn’t doing anything spectacular either.

From blogNYG .com beat reporter David Sanchirico

(Albany, NY- Sunday, Aug. 02, 2009)—Giants head coach Tom Coughlin encountered a heavy rain storm on Friday during his drive to Albany. From Kingston to Catskill, visibility was limited and rain was heavy.

Coughlin was entering the wetlands of Albany, New York, where rain has been a frequent occurrence during the summer months.

The Giants moved in to Freedom Quad—where the players will reside during the course of training camp—on the University of Albany campus during an overcast Sunday morning.

Scheduled to take part in a conditioning test outdoors, the team was forced inside due to a light rain and unfavorable field conditions. Players took part in a warm-up routine during a brief workout inside the campus’ basketball arena.

The day concluded with the team’s first meeting at 2:30 p.m.

But the rain did not dampen Coughlin’s attitude; he’s ready to see his team get on the field and work towards rebounding from last year’s NFC Divisional Playoff loss to Philadelphia.

“Our players are disappointed in the way things finished last year,” Coughlin said in a press conference on Sunday. “They’re eager to start back on the field again. We know that it’s a long grind and we have to take full advantage of every opportunity we have.”

For the players, the start of training camp helps get their minds off of a recent off-field distraction.

With the news that linebacker Antonio Pierce could be facing criminal charges, the team has had to, once again, field questions on serious matters that don’t involve the football field.

But according to Coughlin, the team, including Pierce, is focusing its collective mindset towards the football field.

“(Pierce) has been very serious about the way in which he’s tried to go about getting this manner cleared,” he said. “It’s a new year, we’re anxious to get started. We have a team that’s has been very mature in the way in which they’ve handled situations like this… We are going to focus on this upcoming season and hope for the best of this.”

Training camp practices start on Monday at 8:35 p.m.

News & Notes

Coughlin announced that three players were placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Newcomers Michael Boley (hip) and Rocky Bernard (hamstring), along with Fred Robbins (knee), will start training camp on PUP. The three players can return at any time.

Boley and Robbins, who are recovering from surgeries, were expected to be placed on PUP.

Bernard, the former Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle, who signed a four-year deal with the Giants, was expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

According to Coughlin, Bernard was affected by both hamstring and shoulder injuries during minicamp in June. Bernard’s shoulder has healed, but his hamstring is still bothersome.

Once healthy, all three players will be able to start training, but no timetables were released.

Though Robbins and Bernard are out, another defensive tackle will return to the field.

Barry Cofield, who had offseason knee surgery, is good to go and expects to start practice tomorrow. Cofield, who totaled 43 tackles and three sacks in 15 games last season, was held out of minicamp workouts in June.

Coughlin did not specify whether Cofield would be limited to one practice session per day.

For more, log on to www.blogNYG.com