Giants Mini-Camp Report

Rookies Manningham and Woodson Suffer Injuries in Camp

A couple of Giants suffered injuries at their mini-camp on Saturday, as wide out Mario Manningham and QB Andre Woodson were both hurt.  The camp being held in New Jersey is for rookies as well as free agents.  Manningham told reporters that he was hurt because he failed to run a route right.  “It ain’t nothing bad or serious,” Manningham said. “If it was serious I would not be walking.”

As for Woodson, he was hurt a short time later after pulling a quad muscle in his left leg.  The 6th round pick was scrambling during an 11-on-11 drill.  “I don’t know what happened,” Woodson said. “I’m kind of disappointed I’m not out there for my first minicamp. I just can’t wait to get back out there and do some good things.”

Phillips Prepares For First NFL Minicamp

No Word Yet From Strahan About Coming Back

It is appearing more and more like Giants all-time sack leader Michael Strahan is going to retire and call it a career instead of coming back to the Giants in 2008.  Strahan appeared on Fox & Friends Tuesday, and said he has yet to make up his mind on coming back.  On NFL Radio on Sirius today, LB Antonio Pierce said he feels that Strahan will retire, as he said he’s done all he ever set out to do, ending last season with a Super Bowl ring.

Strahan has told Giants GM Jerry Reese that he is not ready to decide about his future, but that he won’t do what he did last season, which was sit out training camp and joined the team before the first game of the season.  Strahan is now 36.  Last season he played in all 16 regular season games and every playoff game, totalling 57 tackles, 9 sacks and one forced fumble.

New Position Equals New Deal for Left Tackle Diehl

John Clayton of ESPN is reporting that Giants left tackle David Diehl has landed himself a new deal, netting him a whopping $31 million over six seasons.  The deal is provided that he stays at left tackle, as the contract has an annual escalator clause that results in extra annual pay in the range of $750,000 to $1 million, all if Diehl remains at the left tackle spot.  Clayton says that the deal was done before the draft, but that Diehl did not talk about it until now.  He will make $1 mil this year, $1.65 in 2009, $3 mil in 2010, $3.5 million in 2011, $3.825 million in 2012, and $4.1 million in 2013.  Diehl is being asked to move from left guard to left tackle.

Deal Between Saints and G-Men for Shockey Dies a Slow Death

The deal that a lot of people thought was going to done did not on draft day, as the Saints and Giants were unable to pull a deal off for tight end Jeremy Shockey.  It was a deal that was talked about a lot leading up to draft day, and many thought it was going to go down early in the draft.  The deal was supposed to include a second-round pick going to the Giants from New Orleans, but reports say that the Giants wanted more, and that’s when the deal broke down.

“There was a lot of talk but very little activity,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.  Could the deal still get done?  Probably not, considering the thing the Giants wanted were draft picks, and now that the draft is done and gone, the Giants will likely keep their tight end and go into the season with he and second-year TE Kevin Boss.  As for the Saints, they will keep the looking for tight ends, but who knows if they will find one the quality of Shockey.

Giants Select Safety Kenny Phillips With The 31st Pick

Will the Giants Move Shockey to the Siants?

One of the big questions of today’s draft is will Giants TE Jeremy Shockey be in blue at the day’s end?  I would at this point have to say - no.  Shockey is getting offered by the Giants to the Saints, who are offering a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick this year or a second-round pick and a fifth-rounder in 2009 for the loudmouth and often hurt TE.  Why would the Saints want Shockey?  Sean Peyton was with the Giants staff in Shockey’s first year, and he feels a change of scenery would do him good.

The Giants have had enough of Shockey’s mouth, attitude, and lack of production when he’s on the field.  Plus they have young and up and coming tight end Kevin Boss, who can easily lead the Giants TE position.  ESPN is reporting that the Saints only want to offer a number two pick, but that in the end, the deal will likely get done.  Shockey was hurt last season in a game vs the Redskins, and on the season had 57 catches with three TD’s.  Look for this deal to get done as the draft gets closer.

RB Jacobs Has Surgery on His Left Wrist

Ralph Vacchiano, of the New York Daily News, reports that running back Brandon Jacobs recently had surgery on his left wrist and now has a cast on his left forearm. Jacobs said the doctors “just cleaned some stuff out.” He said he will definitely be ready for the start of training camp.

Giants Meet Pats, Others In 2008 Preseason

The New York Giants’ 2008 preseason schedule is out, and they get to face a familiar opponent in Week 4 - the New England Patriots; Week 1 finds the Giants travelling to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers while Week 2 will be a nationally televised game against the Cleveland Browns at home.  Then Week 3 will bring the city rivalry between the Giants and Jets, while Week 4 pits the Super Bowl champions against the New England Patriots.