Here are a couple of New York Giants' notes on a Wednesday morning.
- Giants' fullback Madison Hedgecock was released by this week's opponent, the St. Louis Rams, last season. Landing with the Giants turned out to be the best thing that has ever happened to Hedgecock's career.
Following is a snippet of a very nice piece on Hedgecock in Inside Football."I was really upset with how they cut me," said Hedgecock, who in the week before the Super Bowl made no attempt to hide his feelings over just how upset he was during an interview with a St. Louis radio station. "But I can’t keep beating them up. What’s done is done. I had a good time there."
However, he’s also quick to admit that he’s had an even better time since joining the Giants, where he not only stepped into an offense that in 2007 finished fourth in the league in rushing yards (2,148) and was tied for third overall in average yards gained per carry (with Denver and Jacksonville), but he also contributed to one of the greatest Super Bowl victories ever: a 17-14 decision over the heavily favored — and formerly perfect —New England Patriots.
It’s funny how fate tends to work itself out in the NFL. In 2005, the year Hedgecock entered the NFL Draft, the Giants had their eye on the 6-3, 266-pound prospect out of the University of North Carolina. That year, however, New York only had four draft picks, having had to pay off their debt to San Diego for the Eli Manning trade.
Although drafting a power fullback was a luxury the Giants knew they couldn’t afford that year, they were hoping to sign Hedgecock as a rookie free agent after the draft. "When he came out [of college], we knew he was a very good fullback," said Jerald Ingram, the Giants’ running back coach. "He was a guy we would have liked [on our team]."
- Ahmad Bradshaw had a tough time hiding his disappointment earlier this week when asked about getting no carries in the season-opener against Washington.
"They understand that throughout the course of a game, there may not be as many opportunities," Tom Coughlin said of the depth at running back. "But the other night, we were rushing the ball pretty well and so the opportunity [to play Bradshaw] didn't present itself.
The second-year back and leading rusher in Super Bowl XLII said he is aware of how things work, even if his demeanor expressed some disappointment.
"I guess it's just understood," he said of the way plays are divided. "They did a great job of running the ball, why change it? When the running game's going, why stop it?"
Coughlin, who said after Thursday's game that he didn't get the rotation worked out the way he wanted it, said he likes the makeup of the position and insisted that Bradshaw's time will come.
"It's a good thing," he said of the depth. "And just as we saw last year, you will see that the opportunity will be there."
- Those of you who live for 'Cheerleader Thursday' are going to want to be sure you check in Thursday. I have a little something special for you. Sorry, ladies! It's one of those days you will just have to close your eyes.