Giant Mandatory MiniCamp Musings
By author
Good morning to you all on this most glorious Wednesday! NBA fans will be treated to the game of all games, as Game 7 will be played between the Celtics and Lakers in LA on Thursday evening, nice, I enjoy a little bit of big game drama, but with the Celtics lack of effort and competitiveness in Game 6, you have to wonder i they have any shot to take the crown on the road, possibly without the help of Kendrick Perkins. Still, Game 7 is Game 7 and we’ll be watching.
Mandatory minicamps have begun, though apparently Big Albert Haynesworth has chosen to not join his teammates for minicamp and has officially requested a trade from the Redskins, one year after signing a plus $100 million dollar deal (he just recently received a $20 million dollar bonus, essentially, in March). While Jerry Reese made a push to sign big Al last off season (reports indicated the Giants offered a deal in the $80 million dollar range), Giants fans should be glad big Al took Dan Snyder’s money instead. Could the Giants have renewed interest here? Ummm, let’s hope not as Haynesworth has proven to be a “me” guy who plays for the money and plays hard when he wants to, not exactly a good fit for Tom Coughlin and the rest of this team.
In mandatory minicamp news, Osi is running with the 2nd team defense, behind Kiwi, though to be fair, Perry Fewell is rotating guys in and out. Nice to see Osi man up a bit and realize he has to earn his position here. Osi said it best, “…the best players need to play…” Now it’s on Osi to show that he is worthy of the starting gig opposite Justin Tuck and that he is better suited to start than Kiwanuka. Got to love a little competition (I know Tom Coughlin does). Jonathan Goff continues to get reps with the 1st team defense, and rookie Philip Dillard is slowly but surely pushing his way in for reps as well.
And, of course, we had our first fight of the camp, predictably, Rich Seubert was involved as he and JPP got tangled up at the bottom of a pile and had to be separated, welcome to New York JPP. Nice to see the guys eager to show themselves and from all reports, the effort, focus, and energy is there, all of which were missing as the Giants finished out the 2009 season miserably.
On the injury update front, welcome back Andre Brown, the Giants 4th Round pick in 2009 who spent all year on I.R. after tearing his achilles heel. Brown is working on fielding punts and working his way in to the running back scene. We hope Brown can show why many thought he was a steal last year, though the injury history worries us a bit. Also nice to hear that Kenny Philips is running, cutting, back-pedaling and stretching without pain and most importantly, without swelling in his surgically repaired knee. The Giants are going to inch him along ever so slowly, but so far so good. In a scary moment towards the end of practice yesterday, Domenik Hixon caught his foot in the turf and crumbled in pain, which is never good. We are waiting for an update here, though Hixon has said he thinks he will be okay. MCL sprains and tweeks we can deal with (Jay Alford sprained his mcl but should be okay in a few weeks), we just don’t want tears, hyper-extensions, bone bruises, and meniscus issues.
Stay Blue!