Tom Coughlin met extensively with reporters after the final leg of the Giants’ three-day mini-camp this morning.

The veterans are going home, the rookies will stay on another week.  The next time the full team reconvenes will be for training camp in Albany on August 1st.

Some highlights from Coach Coughlin’s outdoor presser…

What is the one thing that you are most unsure about your team as you head into the summer?

I don’t know – so much has been made of getting Kenny Phillips back, I think, at full speed. And I’m very confident – he is, also, that he will be back. We look forward to that part of it. It is always a challenge integrating these young guys into the program and solving some of the issues that we had last year. Obviously always staying healthy and that type of thing.

Hixon had become such a potent kick returner or punt returner. Do you have any early thoughts on where you go from here to replace to him?

No, we have a lot of guys working in those capacities. People are just going to have to – this is an opportunity for someone to step up and be recognized in that role, certainly, and all of the special teams roles. Domenik was always very much involved in our receiving corps, as well. There were many days you guys watched that he looked to be the best receiver on the field. But this is an opportunity for someone. And we challenge the guys to be able to take advantage of that.

I know the minicamp is only three days but is there a particular rookie that may have stuck out a little bit more than others with his progress?

No, I think they have all competed and from time to time we have certainly spotted them. Jason (Pierre-Paul) stood out, (Joseph) Linval stood out. Chad (Jones) has had a pretty good – and I think right at the end of the OTA’s he was starting to emerge and doing things very well on special teams and in the secondary. (Phillip) Dillard from time to time has been a guy that has kind of jumped out at us. Mitch has done some good things. He gained attention that way. So I think pretty much they have hung in there well. They have taken advantage of the number of snaps that they have gotten for the most part. They have stayed out here. And it has been a real good experience for them.

Your end of camp speech on being safe. Did you have to remind them about the Mathias Kiwanuka thing? Did you bring that up at all?

No, I did not bring that up. That is a little bit too personal. What you talk about here is when you make a choice make sure it is in the best interest of you and your family. And always make sure that whatever you decide to do, don’t do anything that you wouldn’t be proud of if it was on the front page.

Through the OTA’s and now minicamp, how do you see the defense? Do you think they are starting to gel?

They seem to be a group that had some fun working together. There are some personalities back there – (Antrel) Rolle and (Deon) Grant are gregarious kind of guys and that has been a real plus. And I think, hopefully, there is some confidence growing at the linebacker spot. And certainly you can see that there is some depth emerging in the front. So I think they are anxious to prove what they can do.

You think Perry Fewell was a good hire then?

I think so, no doubt. I’m convinced of that.

Jeff Feagles continued to work with the rookie punters, Jy Bond and Matt Dodge. Both can absolutely pound the ball, but finesse is another story.  So is consistency.

The backup quarterback competition is on.  Jim Sorgi is the veteran, but Riley Skinner has been throwing well and is giving Rhett Bomar a run for his money. Skinner can put some mustard on the ball.

TE Kevin Boss was on the field but did not participate. He is on schedule for training camp, though.  RB Ahmad Bradshaw is still ambling around, but he also should be ready go by camp.

RB Andre Brown is moving pretty well in drills. He seems to have no restrictions.  More on him tomorrow….

Gartrell Johnson is also making a bid for the roster.  He was the only Giants RB who did not catch the injury bug last season.

Maybe it’s me, but TE Bear Pascoe has a good pair of hands.  He seems to catch almost everything thrown his way.

Domenik Hixon’s injury makes Sinorice Moss a keeper again.  He’s been returning punts with Aaron Ross and WR Mario Manningham.

Moss was only kept because he was a restricted free agent and the Giants did not want to simply cut him and lose whatever compensation was attached to him (tendered at $1.176M with a third-round pick).

Now, he’s back in the driver’s seat as a returner and a receiver.  Funny how things work out….

Amani Toomer was at TIMEX this morning to promote his participation in this year’s New York Marathon.

Toomer said that going from the Giants to the Chiefs was “like going from the varsity to the JV…”

LeBron James aside, it’s become the biggest story in New York sports. Darrelle Revis wants to be the highest paid cornerback in the league, which means the Jets’ star is seeking more than $15 million a year. So far, the Jets have balked at such demands. On Monday, on the first day of the Jets’ mini-camp, Revis sat out a few plays, eventually admitting that he was staging a protest over the stalled negotiations.

Giants’ defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora were clear about where they stand.

“Pay the man,” Tuck told ESPN New York yesterday following day one of mini-camp. “I’ll tell you the truth, some people don’t deserve what they’re asking for, but he does.”

Umenyiora agreed.

“I do know he’s probably the best cornerback in the league and this NFL, if he wasn’t performing, they’d cast him aside like he was nothing,” Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. “So he’s outperformed his contract. Whatever they need to do they need to do, but they need to come to terms with that man. He’s a good young player he seems to be a good young man.”

Osi Opens Camp with Second Team

Speaking of Umenyiora, the defensive end opened mini-camp Tuesday with the second team. Umenyiora was okay with that yesterday, but as expected he says he’d like to get his starting job back.

“If I truly was not the best player, then I’d be cool with it,” Umenyiora said in a report by Daily News beat writer Ralph Vacchiano. “But if I feel like I am the best player – and everybody in this league knows the type of player I am – the minute in my mind I’m playing the way I’m capable of playing and I’m not on the field, then of course it’s going to be a problem.”

Umenyiora missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury and his struggles last year led to him losing his starting spot on defense. He did get some work in with the first team yesterday, but Umenyiora made it clear that he eventually wants to be with the first team for good.

“I feel like I’m still one of the best defensive ends in the league in my head,” Umenyiora said. “That’s pretty much all that counts. If I really decided to start thinking about (having to win the job), it’s not going to be good for this team at all.”

Domenik Hixon will have his knee examined after tweaking it on the new playing surface in the stadium this afternoon…

Quotes

Antrel Rolle on being a Giant and being a catalyst on defense…..

“First and foremost I’m just trying to be a teammate……..As for the energy part, I’ve been the same way since I stepped on the field when I was six years old.”

The mentality of the new secondary is…….“Break on the ball, create turnovers, communicate…”

Osi Umenyiora…on mini camp

“It is my 8th year, but at the end of the day I still feel I have a bunch of things I need to work on…I don’t think I’ve hit my peak, I don’t think I’m nowhere close I’m supposed to be…I’m really a practice guy I like to work on my game. The more reps I get the better I’m going to be….”

Eli Manning on the defense…..

“I don’t want to give away all of our secrets.  It’s a different style. Different looks. Different blitzes, lots of energy and enthusiasm….”

Tom Coughlin Post Practice Interview: Highlights

Q: How did the group look?

A: They did all right. One side does okay that means the other side didn’t. And the other side does okay and that means the original side didn’t. So it is back and forth. But there is good enthusiasm. They know what this is. It signifies the end of the offseason. And they want to get it together going into the time off. So they know exactly what they are doing and they have worked hard. And it has been a good offseason for us. So let’s hope we finish strong.

Q: How do things look back there in the secondary with Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant?

A: They are doing a nice job. You have a couple of guys that are veterans; played in an awful lot of big games, been around the league, understand the game. And fortunately both of those guys – they love to play. They bubble, they talk. I think it is going to help.

Q: What has impressed you the most about Rolle?

A: What I just said. He loves to play, he is bubbly, and he is energetic. He is an athlete. He likes to do all of those kinds of things. When practice is over he is liable to show you that he can throw the ball 70 yards. He does all kind of stuff like that. He is a nice addition. He has good energy and an aggressive personality.

Q: Has he lobbied you to run the wildcat?

A: Since day one, yes.

Q: What about Clint Sintim? We didn’t see much from his first year.

A: Our expectations are very high for Clint. We are all pulling for him that this will be a big year for him.

Q: Again, we didn’t see much from him last year.

A: We drafted him and we thought very, very highly of him. We still do. He had his rookie year. A rookie year is a rookie year. It is different – everyone has a kind of a different experience. So I think that after that he understands that. He is much more serious about what he is doing right now.

Q: Do you see the same ………..

A: What I have seen all winter.

Q: A guy with not a lot of playing time last year – he is working with the first team. I know that isn’t a big deal but is that because there is nobody else?

A: No, no. Again, as I said, the expectations are high.

Q: From the defensive standpoint, what have you seen in the OTA’s and what do you hope to see in this mini camp?

A: We are getting people to work together who haven’t worked together. The two safeties we have talked about – Aaron Ross back on the field, and now a bunch of young guys working them in. Taking the rookies and getting them integrated into what we are doing – using a lot of different combinations of personnel. So making progress with our system implemented by a new coordinator, Perry Fewell. And the response to the guys has been good.

Q: RE: Andre Brown

A: He is getting there. He does have, occasionally, a little bit of a setback. But he has worked his way through a lot of it.

Mini camp has begun on this beautiful day in the NY Metro area.  The Giants hit the filed around 10am and had several surprises including a Jeff Feagles sighting (?)  DT Jay Alford was not working. He has an MCL sprain from last Tuesday’s OTA, but will be ready for camp in August.

SNYs’ Mike Garafolo is on site today at Giants’ mini camp……here are some of his observations from the morning session……they are from his Twitter feed, so scroll to the bottom and read up…

Coughlin says Alford tweaked his MCL the other day when he tripped. Feels good about Phillips though – no swelling.

Practice over. Last 10 mins or so the view was blocked. Sorry.

DT Linval Joseph has been around the ball + QB often this morning.

Hixon with the end around option to throw. Held onto it. Nobody open. Better keep that one stashed deep in the bag of tricks.

Sorgi’s best ball of the morning: a deep flag for Bear Pascoe over Chad Jones.

We have a Gerris Wilkinson sighting. Good job by him to chase down + blow up a screen for Bradshaw.

Corey Webster with a pick six (@grazdanny loves that term). My view of the play was blocked though.

My (at least temporary) replacement for @JennyVrentas (the non-tweeting Mike Fensom) likes what he sees from Gartrell Johnson today.

Ross then let Barden deep on long post. Looked like he should’ve had deep middle help frpom S Chad Jones though. Good ball by Eli.

Ross having a rough day. Just juked out of his shoes on a mini post-corner by Nicks.

Terrific covg by Terrell Thomas on a back-shoulder fade from Eli to Manningham. Snapped head around + located ball quickly.

Barden juked badly by WR Victor Cruz in punt covg drills. Hagan meanwhile looks polished after performing well as a gunner last yr.

Special guest instructor working with punters: Jeff Feagles.

Bomar forced to reset his feet bc of rush. Tried to plant + throw the in cut but that threw off timing. LB Micah Johnson w PD.

Nicks wouldve had a deep ball from Bomar if Michael Greco hadn’t grabbed him as he ran by.

Nice PD by Bruce Johnson on a fade for Nicks. Good recovery too because he was beat off the line.

Great route on pump + go by Moss. Sha’reff Rashad baited to come up. Bad read by him…and bad throw by Sorgi over Moss.

Barden blocking Ross out in front of a Nicks reverse. That doesn’t seem a fair matchup for Ross. Nicks working fully btw.

Hixon broke off Aaron Ross on a comeback. Ross spun the wrong way.

Michael Boley working with first team in walkthru. He had a hammy issue last week.

Phillips running + turning on the side. So far no cuts.

Pierre-Paul getting retaped or something. DeOssie walking off to locker room. (Almost time for actual football description.)

Kevin Boss still on crutches. Kevin Boothe arm in a sling. Both in bike area. Phillips, btw, is just standing on sideline.

Oh and Danny Ware. Apparently he went first and then again just now.

Sinorice Moss, Andre Brown + Domenik Hixon fielding kickoffs – in that order. Brown would be interesting to see in live game.

Phillips stretching with the team. Don’t think that means he’ll be practicing though. Again he was expected to be out til camp.

Taking attendance at minicamp. All the big guns seem to be here. So far only Jay Alford on the bike. No Kenny Phillips visual yet.

I will be there tomorrow personally to give my take on the things.

Here’s a summary and some thoughts:

Middle Linebacker: Considered to be the most watched competition in camp as Jonathan Goff, Phillip Dillard, Gerris Wilkinson, and Chase Blackburn try to convince coaches that they have what it takes to replace Antonio Pierce. Goff is said to be the early leader.

Defensive Ends: Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka. This should be fun. Umenyiora said a while back that he would rather retire than not start, then thought he’d be traded, and now wants his old job back. He impressed during OTAs. Kiwanuka is entering the final year of his contract so you know he wants to start. And then there’s first-round pick Jason Pierre-Paul. Whoever winds up starting will line up opposite Justin Tuck.

Perry Fewell: The Giants’ new defensive coordinator is in the spotlight, and it will stay that way for a long time. Big Blue’s defensive struggles last season have been well-chronicled. Over the next three days, Fewell has to teach his system, get his players to learn his many schemes, and evaluate talent. He’s got pieces on defense. Now he has to put it all together and make it work.

Running Backs: Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were hurt last year and both underwent offseason surgeries. The Giants are counting on Jacobs to return to form. If he does, this offense will be very good.

Safeties: I wrote about this yesterday. Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant are major upgrades. Kenny Phillips is still recovering from knee surgery. Rookie Chad Jones will also get a shot.

It all gets started today. Should be a fun three days.

We’d like to hear your impressions of the new stadium.  Drop us a line, send in your stories and pictures to us!

Just like the Giants, GFB is giving the fans the floor today.  Enjoy!

Thx JF

For those attending this afternoon’s open practice at the new stadium….

Parking lots open at noon – stadium will open at 1pm. Practice begins at 2:50pm.

Parking and seating are on a first come, first serve basis, but you will need a ticket to get in.  Go to Giants.com for more info.

The Giants’ three-day mandatory mini camp begins tomorrow. If you’re heading out to the New Meadowlands Stadium Tuesday for what will be an open practice, or if you simply plan to stay home and let GFB deliver you your Giants’ fix, here are three important storylines heading into the week:

Where there’s “Fewell” there’s fire: We start here because of how abysmal the defense was a year ago. As a result, Bill Sheridan is out and Fewell is in. The early reviews are great, from players and coaches. Safeties coach David Merritt summed it up best:

“He’s getting after guys in a positive, constructive way,” Merritt said about Fewell. ”I mean, it’s a beautiful thing, it’s infectious. That’s what you need and that’s what we need as an organization, especially on defense.”

With a defense that looked so lethargic, and performed so poorly, a year ago, this is exactly what you want to hear.

“Merritt” pay: Speaking of Merritt, a lot of the focus will be on his unit with the additions of Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant joining Kenny Phillips and third-round pick Chad Brown in the revamped secondary. The struggles in the Giants’ backfield reached epic proportions last year. They allowed 31 touchdown passes and opposing quarterbacks had a 95.1 rating against them. Here’s New York Post beat writer Paul Schwartz:

It all went very wrong once Phillips needed left knee surgery after the second game of the season. His replacement, free-agent pickup C.C. Brown, was a disaster. Returning starter Michael Johnson regressed badly, and Packers castoff Aaron Rouse was not the answer, as the patchwork approach became a tattered mess. Brown and Rouse are gone, and the Giants are anxious to get Phillips back on the field during summer training camp. Johnson will have to battle to make the final roster, because he likely is no better than the fourth safety if Phillips makes his comeback. Chad Brown, a third-round pick from LSU, is a lock unless he gets hurt. The plan is for Rolle and Phillips to start, Grant to serve as the No. 3 safety, with Jones waiting in the wings. Phillips hasn’t been cleared for practice yet, but Merritt already can see and sense a huge difference with Rolle and Grant lining up with the first-team.

The Giants picked up Grant, who has started 144 consecutive games, after he was cut by the Seahawks because he was due $4 million this season. Rolle signed a five year, $37 million dollar contract with Big Blue because the Cardinals didn’t want to pay him a $4 million dollar roster bonus in addition to his $8 million dollar salary. The Giants were willing to pay because of the need they had at the position. Money well spent, as this unit should be greatly improved.

Manning to Manning: Jim Sorgi, who spent six years as Peyton Manning’s backup in Indianapolis, is now vying to be Eli’s backup in New York. His competition is Rhett Bomar, but all signs seem to point to Sorgi as the favorite. Sorgi has played in 16 games, thrown six touchdowns and one interception. As Peyton’s backup, he didn’t get to play much, and that’s what the Giants are hoping for here. Eli has started 87 consecutive games.