Several times during the first week of New York Giants Training Camp I noted that Ahmad Bradshaw would take snaps with the first unit before Brandon Jacobs. Significant? Maybe to the media, and maybe to fans. The Giants, though, say it means nothing.
"You guys are all hung up on that stuff," head coach Tom Coughlin said the other day. "They all have special skills, talents and abilities and if we can use them all, we'll get the one player in that one aspect of the game that we want, whether it's there, whether it's in the defensive line, secondary, linebacker, an offensive lineman playing tight end or whatever."
Running backs coach Jerald Ingram met with reporters for a few minutes Monday, and reiterated that same message.
"No one is really the starting running back. It's all, as we said, we‘re not going to get hung up on who's the starting running back. It's who does what when that play is called. From that standpoint, if we want an outside play, if we want to be in third down, if we want to be in two tights, or what is the defense's game plan going to be," Ingram said. "We're going to put, just like you saw the New Orleans Saints a year ago, you're going to put that guy who does what's best in that situation."
Speaking of those running backs, Jacobs held court Monday with the media for the first time since training camp began. The big back has had a little more bounce in his step the past couple of workouts, something that has been good to see.
"I feel better this year than I have felt since my third year in the league," Jacobs said. "I fee really good. I've done a couple things this off-season to prepare myself for the season and doing certain core work and hip flexibilities. Things that I need to do. I don't want to work on too much strength because I'm getting older and I don't need stength. I'm getting older and I want to keep my body durable and flexible to do this grind."
Jacobs did not want to get into discussion of why Bradshaw has been getting the first carry more often than he has throughout camp.
"I have no idea. I don't know the reason, I really don't know anything about it," Jacobs said. "I'm just out here to try and help us win. That's about it. No matter who gets the first carry or what. I'm still there and I'm not dead, so we still have a chance to win it."
Shaun O'Hara spoke briefly to the press following Monday's workout, his first time on the field since an ankle injury sidelined him last week.
"It just felt good to be out with my men," O'Hara said. "Being off to the side is not what I drove up here to do. It just felt good to be out there.
"Richie was giving me a hard time, and we all see how well that worked out for him."
[NOTE: No practice report from me later today, gang. It's my 25th wedding anniversary, so I'm spending the day with the Mrs.]