The Giants' boss, Tom Coughlin, was willing to talk about the Super Bowl, as one of his team leaders, Tiki Barber, did to my esteemed colleague Bob (Cold Pizza) Glauber just a few days ago. Not surprising that Barber would -- he wants a ring to cap a stellar career. Big surprise that Coughlin would, even as he couched in his usual cloudy terms -- that for his team to even say the words "Super Bowl," they have to come in tomorrow ready to work every day from Friday on as if they belonged in the Super Bowl.
And, if they should lean back for a minute, the Giants can think back to Jan. 5 -- "the 17th game," as Coughlin put it yesterday. That 23-0 shameful shutout by the Panthers in Giants Stadium is gone but not forgotten. "I don't want to forget it," Coughlin said yesterday. "I want to rub a little salt in that wound."
Which brings us to my boss, whose orders were clear: Don't get hurt playing softball. Simple enough. So what do I do in the third inning of the media-coaches softball game today? Slide into third wearing shorts. So now I've got a bandage the size of downtown Albany on my leg and we still got smoked, 18-9. I did score a run after the slide though.
Highlight of the game (there were too many lowlights to mention) was receivers coach Mike Sullivan coming in, then jumping to make an awkward catch on a line drive to left field. Not the sort of technique you'd want from a receivers coach, but he did make the catch.
Coughlin mentioned that a few players will be limited when the first practice starts at 8:40 Friday morning -- safety Will Demps, still recovering from knee surgery; Tim Carter (no shock there), who has patella tendonitis; and LaVar Arrington, who missed two of the five mini-camp workouts in June with Achilles' tendonitis. Arrington's presence and joy for the game (and being free from the Redskins) are hot topics; if he can only go once a day from the outset, I'm betting his infectious joy will be somewhat diminished.
We'll check back in web-wise tomorrow, when the players arrive at their dorms. Anybody got any bacitracin?
Comments (3)
Glad you are back in business and look for to your insights from ALB...
Arthur,
Love Big Blue and expect Bigger Blue this year. I don't want to believe these rumors of Shockey complaining already about the tight ship run by Coughlin. JS has been quoted as saying "he's an ass sometimes". JS look in the friggin' mirror. With all your potential just go to work. Mark Bavaro he's not, but he's a damn good TE that needs to focus. Hey Arthur, BB is so wrong, we love to listen and see the players wives.
Fig
What's the new tattoo Shockey is sporting?