Dottino: Giants Try To Stay On Their Feet In Albany
By Paul Dottino
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Coach Tom Coughlin said the other day that he slipped on the grass and nobody noticed. Well, maybe that's because his players are having a hard time keeping their feet on the fields at Giants training camp, causing injury concerns.
Rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley slipped Thursday and had to leave practice for the second time in less than a week after Terrell Thomas slipped and injured his ACL.
Coughlin said Hosley experienced cramping, which was good news for the team considering the bad thoughts that run through their minds every time a teammate falls to the turf.
Hosley fell on Monday and suffered a lacerated knee, resulting in several stitches.
The natural grass fields at the University of Albany usually are in very good shape -- and don't appear to be much worse than the norm. In fact, the Capital Region did not have rain in the days leading into camp. However, there have been off-and-on showers since the Giants arrived -- yet Coughlin only has been forced to move part of one practice inside.
TEAM PLAYER: Free safety Antrel Rolle told the media he has no problem reprising his role as the nickel (slot) cornerback, if needed in light of Thomas' injury.
His comments came a few days after he explained how much more effective he would be this year, having NOT to play nickel corner and being allowed to roam the field in his assigned position.
After Thomas got hurt, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell indicated Rolle likely would have to accept the alternate assignment for a second straight season.
Rolle could have complained, but did not. Rather he said all of the right things, even if he's hoping one of the many corners on the roster has a stellar preseason as the nickel and allows Rolle to avoid the move.
ODDS AND ENDS: Mark Herzlich continues to shine at middle linebacker and Victor Cruz has been in midseason form. ... Ramses Barden made several catches, although he also ran out of bounds on one route - drawing the attention of Eli Manning and the coaching staff. ... David Douglas, a rookie free agent from Arizona, was the main attraction at the media session, a day after Coughlin mentioned him as a bright spot. Douglas appears to be locked in a battle with Barden, Dan DePalma, and Isaiah Stanback for the sixth and last wide receiver's slot on the final 53.
Big Blue's opener is just over a month away -- how excited are you? Let us know in the comments beow!
