Well, let's dispense with the pleasantries. First-round draft pick Prince Amukamara broke his left foot Saturday night and will be lost to the New York Giants for several weeks. Amukamara was the final first-round pick to sign, and was participating in just his second practice.
The injury he suffered, a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot, will require surgery. Will Beatty had the same injury a season ago and was out of action for seven weeks.
To say the least, this has been a rough start to the season for the Giants. The Osi Umenyiora mess, losing Bruce Johnson and Amukamara and watching the Eagles make a bunch of splashy moves. It has to get better. Doesn't it?
The way this season has started will certainly challenge coach Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese. The ship isn't sinking, but it is under attack.
Mathias Kiwanuka has played some linebacker for the Giants in the past, and has done so grudgingly. Coming back from the herniated disc he suffered last year that nearly ended his career, Kiwanuka seems happy to be back. And more willing than ever to play linebacker.
"There will be a little bit of everything involved [in his role on defense]. I think being out here, being able to play as a linebacker and then being able to rush as the defensive end is probably the best fit for me, because then I learn the entire defense and I can be used in a number of different ways," Kiwanuka said. "At the end of the day, this was the best fit, the best chance, the best opportunity I have to get back to the Super Bowl."
Coach Tom Coughlin admitted Saturday that he is looking for someone in the group of receivers behind Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham to emerge.
"We're going to work that out. Domenik has been the third. We unfortunately have to slow him down on occasion, say every other day, to get him stronger and healthier and feeling faster coming off of his surgery," Coughlin said. "There's a lot of room for a lot of people if they could just improve and come along. Barden, get out there for crying out loud. So there's plenty of opportunities."
Defensive end Dave Tollefson returned to the Giants in a jovial mood, saying he had "ended my holdout."Tollefson sounded pleased that the Giants wanted him back.
"I've always signed one year deals here and it's kind of like you're waiting, I want to get to free agency, I want to get to free agency and then you test the market. You know I've been buried on the depth chart here. You've got two All Pros in front of me, two first round picks also. Like I said, is the grass always greener? I kind of found out maybe it isn't," Tollefson said.
Tight end Ben Patrick also left the team, apparently deciding he no longer wants to play football. Patrick was just signed earlier this week. He has been placed on the reserve/retired list. I hate to even ask what else can happen. So, I won't.