New York Giants' news and notes: Tuesday talking points

Good morning, New York Giants' fans! Here is your Tuesday morning notebook, beginning with a few quotes from Monday's transcripts.

Perry Fewell: [Full transcript]

Q: Are players just making crazy mistakes or trying to do too much?
A: Yes. It's a game of inches and it's a game of steps. Within those inches and steps, we didn't do what we should've been doing and they capitalized on our mistakes. You're exactly right on your analogy there. The thing that's frustrating for the players is they don't know why they didn't do what they were supposed to.

Q: Can you be a good defense?
A: Oh yeah, we definitely can be a good defense. All the makings are there. We're not consistent. We've shown at times that we can be a good defense, but we're not a consistent defense. That's what we're striving for, to be a consistent defense. I think that if we can obviously pull together, which we will, and be more consistent with what we do, that we can finish strong.

Eli Manning: [Full transcript]

Q: Is there any panic around here?
A: No, I don't think so. We're still in a good position. If you said after 10 games, we'd be winning our division, you take that every time. So that's where we stand and we've been through stretches before where we haven't been playing our best, but we've been able to bounce out of them and we've got time to rest up this week, get back healthy, get refreshed and come back. We got a six-game season. It's all going to come down to what happens in those six games. We're in control of our own destiny. We have a tough schedule. We have good teams to play, but it should be exciting and we're looking forward to that opportunity.

Kevin Gilbride: [Full transcript]

Q: People are saying that Eli Manning is in a slump. It's not one guy's fault, is it?
A: No, and I think I mentioned it last week, he's always going to get a lot of the credit, maybe more than he deserves when things are going well, and he's always going to get more of the blame when things are not going well. He had some decisions yesterday that he would like to have back, and I think that's probably indicative of us pressing to get back to where we were. Certainly, if we give him the time and the protection, I have no doubt in my mind that he'll put the ball where it needs to go, accurately, correctly and give guys a chance. It comes down to protection. It comes down to the guys doing a better job getting open, getting separation. Believe me, it's a collective process out there. We're all in need of doing better.

Around the Inter-Google

Nicks moves in 'the right direction' Sunday - Giants Blog - ESPN New York
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Hakeem Nicks is looking forward to having a week off to heal. It's going to be very beneficial, Nicks told ESPNNewYork.com

Dallas Cowboys' win in Philadelphia, manageable schedule ignite playoff hope - ESPN Dallas
Cowboys' win in Philadelphia, manageable schedule ignite playoff hope.

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Pope finds defenses account for Bennett - Giants Blog - ESPN New York
Giants tight end coach Mike Pope tallied 35 pass routes for Martellus Bennett in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, and said Bennett was hit coming off the line on 19 of those routes. It's a sign the athletic tight end has become a player opposing defenses account for.

"He's not getting the free releases that he was getting earlier in the year, and getting through that five yards is a challenge for anyone that is any good," Pope said. "Anyone who they think can (hurt them) they are trying to batter him at the line of scrimmage and that wasn't case so much earlier in the year before he established himself as a threat."