New York Giants notes: Eli says Cowboys made him do it

A few notes for a Friday.

Eli Manning admitted Thursday that, yes, he did sign the wall in the Dallas Cowboys' locker room after the New York Giants Week 2 victory. But, Eli told reporters he didn't do it maliciously. He said he was asked to.

"It’s a pretty common thing. I was asked to sign it," Manning said Thursday in confirming the authenticity of the signature. "It wasn’t like I just went there and signed it. I didn’t have a pen on me or anything."

Of course, below the score and the date, it reads, "First win in the new stadium," in what appears to be different handwriting than the signature. But that's certified Manning scribble as well.

"It was all me," Manning said.

Lots of speculation that Osi Umenyiora's snaps will be limited to passing situations only from here on out. Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post said that this week on NFL Total Access. I reached out to a few people on this, and there is nothing solid to say Osi will definitely only play in passing situations. When you consider, though, that Denver ran at Osi 31 times and he came up with zero tackles you would have to think you will see Mathias Kiwanuka and Chris Canty at end more often. Ernie Palladino discusses this possibility.

Need a reason to feel optimistic despite the Giants losing five of six and sitting at 6-5, on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today? Try this, from the NFL public relations department.

Since the current 12-team playoff system was instituted in 1990, 13 teams have reached the postseason despite having a losing record after 11 games.  This includes the current streak in which a sub-.500 team has reached the playoffs for five consecutive seasons.  And in four of those five seasons the team has advanced to the Divisional playoffs.

As I said yesterday in my chat with Blogging the Boys, the math has to give you hope even if the way the Giants have played does not. And so does history.

ESPN's Matt Mosley is wondering if head coach Tom Coughlin has lost his magic touch. 

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(E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com)