New York
Giants

Giants Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:24 EST

Members of the Giants have made the rounds this offseason; they have received their championship rings, and next month, they are scheduled to visit the White House.

Behind the scenes, the defending Super Bowl champions have begun working on the defense of their title.

"All those things are wonderful experiences," said head coach Tom Coughlin of the parties, rings, VIP treatments, and visibility he and his players have enjoyed because of their winning pro football's biggest title. "(Offensive lineman) David Diehl mentioned closure. It's probably not quite closure, but it's time to move on. You can sense it and you can feel it."

That's what the Giants have been doing as of May 23, when the team kicked off the first of nine organized team activities (OTAs) at their headquarters in East Rutherford, N.J.

The defense of their title won't be easy. For starters, there have been questions about who will replace key contributors to their championship team, such as receiver Mario Manningham, running back Brandon Jacobs, and defensive end Dave Tollefson, just to name a few.

While these questions won't be answered for some time yet, Coughlin believes that the OTAs will lay the groundwork for individual candidates to stake their claim into earning roster spots.

"All of these workouts are important for everybody to get back into a football mentality," he said. "The development is real important -- just to learn the new language is really critical to be able to come and execute. All this stuff is very, very important, obviously, to the development of our team."

Another question facing the Giants is their motivation after reaching the sport's pinnacle. Coughlin and his players didn't seem too concerned about motivation being an issue.

"I think we must raise the bar for our own performance, whether it is in the meetings, on the practice field, (or) on the game field," Coughlin said.

"I'd like to see everyone come in here -- the young players, the new players -- (and) understand the New York Giants championship culture, which is over the door to the locker room, and try to raise the level of how we do everything so that it is championship level."

Thus far, the players in the locker room seem to have the right mindset regarding defense of their title.

"It doesn't matter how many we win, we're always going to want another one," said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, one of the veteran leaders on the team. "I think we're in a good spot. Yeah, we enjoyed the championship. We have the rings and they look nice, but we're ready to move on."

--Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during an OTA practice Thursday (May 24) morning.

He will undergo surgery Thursday and have a screw placed in the bone. He is expected to be sidelined about 12 weeks.

--Just minutes into the team's first OTA of the year, cornerback Brian Witherspoon, who had been trying to come back from a torn ACL suffered last year, reinjured the same knee during individual drills and had to be carted off. Head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed the worst after the practice, saying, "I'm afraid it was an ACL again."

Witherspoon was waived/injured Thursday, and replaced on the roster by cornerback Dante Hughes.

Also suffering an injury was cornerback Antwaun Molden, who grabbed the back of his left leg after defending a pass. Molden, who was believed to have strained his hamstring and had to be carted off the field, later tweeted that he was OK.

--Head coach Tom Coughlin, who recently hosted his 17th annual Jay Fund Golf Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla., might be the NFL's oldest head coach, but he's perhaps one of the league's most energetic.

Coughlin, who spent eight years as head coach of the Jaguars, will turn 66 in August, said that he has no thoughts about retiring right now.

"I'm not mentally, not physically, ready (to retire)," Coughlin told the Florida Times Union following the golf outing which raised more than $450,000 for children stricken with cancer and their families.

"I feel I have good energy. I'm excited every day. The competitiveness, the nature of the business, is something that I'm still excited about," he added. "I appreciate the backing I've received from (Giants) ownership and the way the players have responded to our program."

Coughlin and the Giants are expected to finalize details on a multi-year contract that should, essentially, allow him to retire as a Giant. However, the Giants' head coach is a realist when it comes to contracts.

"I look at it on a yearly basis. In our business, no matter how many years they give you on the contract, it's a one-year deal anyway."

--Cornerback Terrell Thomas took part in his first OTA practice since tearing his ACL last August in a preseason game. While he didn't take part in the team part of the practice, the work he did do left him feeling encouraged as far as his healing knee is concerned.

"I'm in no rush," he said of his offseason schedule. "I've been saying it from day one. I'm in no rush. I'm ahead of schedule and I'm going to do what I can and going to keep pushing it but I'm not going to rush it at all. (By) training camp, I'll be a full go, without a doubt. The way my knee's feeling right now, I should be able to do everything by then."

--Head coach Tom Coughlin was one of five civilian participants to take part in the U.S. Army's Twilight Tattoo and Award Ceremony, which bestows the Outstanding Civilian Service Award to civilians that have made a positive impact on the United States Army.

"I'm very humbled in receiving this honor," Coughlin said. "It's an honor to be in that company and to realize the historical significance ... and what this represents in terms of our support for the military, our men and women who serve our country."

The award, which was bestowed upon Coughlin by Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the Army's Chief of Staff and a known Giants fan, was given to Coughlin who was recognized for, among other things, participating in a UFO tour in 2009, hosting members of the military at practices and games, and for having arranged a visit with the 2007 Super Bowl team to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The citation of Coughlin's award, noted that the coach's "consistent, outward public support of the U.S. Army and the military in general have had far reaching positive impacts on the health and morale of our service members at home and deployed overseas."

The award was presented to Coughlin, who earlier in the day led his team through the first of its OTAs, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It starts right now." -- Quarterback Eli Manning in declaring the official start of the Giants' defense of its championship title during the start of the team's OTAs.

It's been quite a while since the Giants have had a fullback that did more than just plow the way for others.

Current Giants fullback Henry Hynoski is hoping to break that trend.

Hynoski, entering his second year, has been spending the offseason working to improve his strength, which should help him become more effective in his lead blocking.

"This offseason I really put an emphasis on building up my upper body," he said, adding that he also reduced his body fat while still maintaining his weight of 266. "You can always work on speed, but the big thing with me especially with my mid-season injury last year was developing my upper body, and that's what I did."

In addition to his strength, he's been working on polishing his technique. For instance, one thing Hynoski said he noticed when watching himself on film was that he was taking a false-step at the snap, which delayed his arrival at where he was supposed to be by a split second.

In fixing that flaw, he believes his timing will be much improved.

In addition to continuing his lead blocking, Hynoski, who last season showed promise as a receiver out of the backfield with 12 receptions for 83 yards (6.9 average), is hoping to have even more opportunities to get the ball in his hands.

"I think eventually -- maybe not right now -- (the coaches) are going to look to expand my personnel packages and utilize me in different ways, especially in the passing game," he said.

If Hynoski can establish himself to be a threat out of the backfield, he will become just another weapon in quarterback Eli Manning's already loaded arsenal.

MEDICAL WATCH

--WR Dan DePalma is recovering from previously undisclosed surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. DePalma is not expected to participate in the team's spring football drills and is hoping to be ready for the start of training camp.

--CB Brian Witherspoon (knee) reinjured the same ACL for which he had surgery last season and could miss the 2012 campaign.

--RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) was a surprise participant in the team's opening OTA. Bradshaw, who underwent an offseason procedure to help expedite the healing of a cracked bone in one of his feet, had initially hinted that he might sit out the spring practices so he could be 100 percent for training camp.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: P Steve Weatherford (tendered at $2.654 million; signed long-term contract March 16).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--OL Stacy Andrews, who finished the year on injured reserve due to a blood clots found in his lungs, has been making progress. The Giants appear to have interest in re-signing him, but they will continue to monitor his health and, if he clears his medical hurdles, he could be back with the team later in the spring.

--DT Rocky Bernard is not expected to be back with the team, as New York added Shaun Rogers to their defensive tackle mix to provide veteran depth.

--CB Will Blackmon, whose primary contribution was as the punt returner, is unlikely to be re-signed with the return of receiver Domenik Hixon.

--WR Michael Clayton, who finished the season on injured reserve, is not expected to be re-signed as the Giants are looking to get younger in their wide receiver corps.

--S Deon Grant is not likely to be re-signed as the Giants are hoping to see more progress from second-year man Tyler Sash.

--DT Jimmy Kennedy is not expected to receive a contract offer. Kennedy rarely saw the field following his reinstatement from a league-imposed four-week suspension, and with the anticipated return of second-year man Marvin Austin, the Giants will look to infuse youth at the third defensive tackle spot.

--S Derrick Martin, whose primary role was on special teams, is not expected to be re-signed by the Giants.

--RT Kareem McKenzie is not expected to be re-signed, as with the return of Will Beatty from an eye injury, the Giants may look to move David Diehl to right tackle.

--OL Tony Ugoh, who was signed following the loss of tackle Will Beatty, could be in the team's plans later this spring if they don't re-sign Stacy Andrews. Ugoh would provide veteran depth at tackle, most likely at a reasonable rate.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--RB David Wilson (1/32): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--WR Rueben Randle (2/63): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--CB Jayron Hosley (3/94): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--TE Adrien Robinson (4/127): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--T Brandon Mosley (4/131): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--T Matt McCants (6/201): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--DT Markus Kuhn (7/239): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--TE Jake Ballard: Potential ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.

--LB Chase Blackburn: UFA; $825,000/1 yr.

--QB David Carr: UFA; $990,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB.

--CB Michael Coe: UFA; $600,000/1 yr.

--WR Domenik Hixon: Potential UFA; $615,000/1yr.

--CB Bruce Johnson: Potential RFA; $540,000/ 1 yr.

--TE Bear Pascoe: ERFA; $615,000/1 yr.

--CB Terrell Thomas: Potential UFA; $28.4M/4 yrs, $1M SB/$6M RB '13.

--CB Justin Tryon: UFA; $700,000/1 yr.

--P Steve Weatherford: FFA; $12.75M/5 yrs, $3.25M guaranteed.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--TE Martellus Bennett: UFA Cowboys; $1.8M/1 yr, $675,000SB/$100,000 RB.

--S Stevie Brown: Not tendered as ERFA by Colts; $540,000/1 yr.

--S Chris Horton: FA; $650,000/1 yr.

--OT Sean Locklear: UFA Redskins; $825,000/1 yr.

--CB Antwaun Molden: UFA Patriots; $700,000/1 yr.

--LB Keith Rivers (trade Bengals).

--DT Shaun Rogers: UFA Saints; $925,000/1 yr.

PLAYERS LOST

--S Chad Jones (released).

--LB Jonathan Goff: UFA Redskins; terms unknown.

--RB Brandon Jacobs (released).

--WR Mario Manningham: UFA 49ers; $7.375M/2 yrs, $2M SB/$4.45M guaranteed.

--CB Aaron Ross: UFA Jaguars; $15.3M/3 yrs, $1M SB.

--WR Devin Thomas: UFA Bears; $700,000/1 yr.

--DE Dave Tollefson: UFA Raiders; $2.5M/2 yrs, $1.25M guaranteed.