New York Giants Notes: Who Really Knows Anymore?

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, talks between NFL owners and players nearly "blew up yesterday." Yahoo! Sports, meanwhile, paints a more optimistic picture, with players expressing optimism regarding the "progress" that has been made.

So, I guess the point is, who really knows anymore?

Source: NFL talks 'almost blew up' Tuesday | ESPN.com

To say this is going to be done in two weeks, one source said, "is borderline insane."

With that, it seems quite plausible that the lockout will drag into July, effectively extinguishing the optimstim of the past few days. Additionally, much of Schefter's story centers around the role the lawyers on both sides are currently playing. In the winter, concerns persisted that the lawyers were controlling the process. But after they were removed from Tuesday's talks — NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith reportedly told his lawyers to "stand down" — that clearly wasn't the case.

With lawyers removed from the direct negotiations, the process was said to be getting back on track and to be in a good spot. The scenario Tuesday is an example of how tenuous the talks can be and how quickly they can be derailed.

"I know that we've been talking pretty extensively over the last few weeks," said New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, one of 10 players whose names are on an antitrust lawsuit against the league. "It seems like things are moving in the right direction, which is very positive. It's what we always hoped for as players because obviously we're getting to crunch time here."

Here's the more optimistic report. This one, obviously, focuses more on the players and their perception of the progress that has been made this week.

"I think everyone kind of has that feeling, that this thing's starting to end," said Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth, the team's player representative. "I feel like that's the attitude that everybody has, and you can see everybody preparing that way."

One year later, Hixon ready to return | NYDailyNews.com

"Every year is an opportunity," he said. "You never know what will happen. And the thing is, with my injury going down last year, all of a sudden doors open for other people. You never know what will happen. You just prepare yourself as best you can and when you have an opportunity, take advantage of it."

Here's some good news all Giants fans can agree on. Precisely one year ago yesterday, receiver/returner Domenik Hixon tore his right ACL on the Giants' first day of practice on the new FieldTurf at New Meadowlands Stadium. Hixon endured a "very long year" as he watched his team fail to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

But now, Hixon is back in action, catching passes from quarterback Eli Manning at Bergen Catholic High School and eagerly working toward regaining his old spot on the depth chart. Hixon told Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News that his knee feels great, and even like it's back to normal again.

"You know, I actually kind of felt that probably around a month (after the surgery)," Hixon said after the final day of the team's "camp" last week. "So it was really about getting my spring back, conditioning, endurance and everything else. It's feeling better and better."

Vacchiano also touches a bit more on Plaxico Burress, so be sure to give his Blue Screen blog a read if you haven't already.

Super Bowl Hero: Gay Marriage Will Lead to 'Anarchy' | FoxNews.com

We've given you some updates on Giants-related involvement in the same-sex marriage issue currently developing in New York over the past few days, with Michael Strahan and Steve Tisch joining forces with New York Marriage Equality. Mike Farley also presented the opposing views of former Giant David Tyree in yesterday's notebook, and now the Super Bowl XLII hero has elaborated on his stance.

"This will be the beginning of our country sliding toward ... it's a strong word, but anarchy."

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