Giants Training Camp: Offensive Line On Everyone's Mind

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin was, predictably, asked lots of questions about Rich Seubert and the state of the offensive line during his Friday afternoon meeting with reporters.

During his daily meeting with reporters at New York Giants Training Camp, Coughlin was asked if Seubert's broken hand is something a lineman can play through.

"That is one of the biggest fallacies in the world. There was a time when I thought the same thing that you did, ‘Oh yeah, broken hand, you just tape it up, put a cast on and you go play with it,' but they don't do that today," Coughlin said. "If the metacarpal twists, they have to do surgery and put a pin in it and then you could be out for six weeks. They have to be very careful with that. If they go light early, if they just allow that thing to heal a little bit for a couple weeks to the point where they don't think that's the risk and they put a cast on it, then the guy can usually play."

Seubert will be examined today, after which the Giants will know more about when he might be available again.

With Seubert and Shaun O'Hara out Guy Whimper worked some at left and right guard, Mitch Petrus worked some at left guard and there were times Friday when Will Beatty played left tackle and David Diehl moved inside.

"You're going to see Diehl inside and Beatty at tackle. Then you're going to see Diehl outside and Whimper and Mitch (Petrus), so you're going to get some different combinations," Coughlin said.

Ideally,this would be a great time for Beatty to step up and grab a job. He needs to eliminate the assignment errors that got him yanked off the field Thursday night, however.

Coughlin had some nice things to say about veteran wide receiver Derek Hagan, who I wrote about earlier this week.

You know what, he's a tough guy. He's had things that have been problems for him but he finds a way to fight his way through it because he knows he has to," Coughlin said. "There's a certain thing about motivation but not just that, but about a guy that knows it. He knows it, he stays out there when other guys are done and fights like heck and he'll end up with a job. He made some nice plays today."

The Giants signed rookie free agent wide receiver Nyan Boateng of California and waived receiver/kick returner Adam Jennings. That leaves Aaron Ross and Sinorice Moss as the primary punt return men right now. Boateng, 6-1 and 207 pounds, attended the Giants' rookie mini-camp in May on a tryout basis. He began his collegiate career at the University of Florida, before transferring to California. His career totals include 46 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season, he caught 13 passes for 191 yards and two scores.