New York Giants News and Notes: Opening Day Hump Day Edition

Good morning fellow Giants fans. It's hump day and it's also opening day in baseball--at least, sort of. Last week the Mariners and A's opened in Japan, and tonight's stateside opener is the Cardinals at the Marlins--a classic MLB rivalry if there ever was one, right? Regardless, opening day is always a fun and optimistic time of year for sports fans. It's also an opportunity to have a look at our Hump Day Countdown--only 22 weeks until the start of the NFL regular season opener. That's the opening day most of us reading BBV care about. Meanwhile, let's see what else is going on with the Giants....

Cowboys' Jason Witten thinks Martellus Bennett could flourish with Giants | NJ.com
Jason Witten understands with tight ends – unlike, say, wide receivers or running backs – two is often one too many. Such was the case with him and Martellus Bennett in Dallas the past few years. Now that Bennett is the Giants’ top tight end, Witten believes the former second-round pick might finally flourish.

Cruz won't hold out in 2012 | New York Daily News
Victor Cruz enjoyed a dream 2011 season, setting a Giants team record for receiving yards and winning a Super Bowl title. And he has no plans to let a contract squabble turn his next season into a nightmare. Cruz has said that he is dissatisfied with his current contract, which will pay him just $540,000 this season. But at an NFL jersey unveiling event in Brooklyn on Tuesday, he made one thing clear: That frustration will not spill onto the football field. There will be no training camp holdout, Cruz promised. The rags-to-riches story that gripped the NFL a season ago, still wants to simply "go out there and play football."

NYG Fan: No to Red Jerseys for NY Giants - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Giants fans posting on social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter couldn't help but notice one unsettling thing in that particular video. The dreaded and hated red jerseys were back. Don't panic just yet, my fellow Giants fans. Reporters such as Mike Garafolo and Ralph Vacchiano claimed that, as of Tuesday afternoon, the red jerseys were not in the plans for the upcoming preseason or regular season. According to them, it was those at Nike and not individuals in the Giants front office who came up with the idea to develop such a mockup. Both reporters did state, however, that the team will eventually be unveiling a new alternate jersey for the 2013 season.

Speaking of uniforms, check out Antrel Rolle's "ink" uniform that he displayed on Twitter.

I don't know about you guys, but those red jerseys make me want to vomit. The last time I saw them on our Giants, I remember saying that we are Big Blue, not Big Red.

NFL Draft 2012 - Giants Blog - ESPN New York
With the final pick of the draft, it is hard to predict who the Giants will select in the first round. But it’s a good bet Jerry Reese will stick to his philosophy of taking best player available early and often in the draft. Last week, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay held a conference call with reporters and I asked him to give us some best player available candidates who could be there at 32. McShay says he would take Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David at 32 if he is there. But there are some other players McShay says the Giants may have to take a long hard look at if they are available at 32. McShay says from a pure talent and physical standpoint, North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins could be a BPA candidate. Of course, the Giants and other teams could shy away from the reported baggage surrounding the cornerback.

New York Giants' Perry Fewell Returns To Lenoir-Rhyne | LRBears.com
The New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell spoke recently after a Lenoir-Rhyne spring football practice. Fewell is a 1985 graduate of L-R who was part of a Giants Team that won the Super Bowl XLVI Championship over the New England Patriots in February. Fewell was on campus as a member of the school's Board of Visitors as part of Lenoir-Rhyne's Board Of Trustees weekend.

Poll: Most Jets fans in Garden State favor adding "N.J." to team name; Giants fans support status quo - NorthJersey.com
New Jerseyans who root for the Jets are clear on a couple of things, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Monday: The Jets are a "New Jersey team that happens to have a New York name," and the team should change its name to the "New Jersey Jets." A Jets and Giants fan cheer during the opening kickoff at MetLife Stadium when the two teams played against each other last season. A new poll takes a look at the debate about whether NJ should be in the teams' names. A new poll takes a look at the debate about whether NJ should be in the teams' names. But, that sentiment isn’t shared by nearly as many Giants fans in the Garden State.

The main thing is, the Giants have "World Champion" in front of their name right now and for the 2012 regular season.

NFL.com news: Despite lack of respect, Giants have what it takes to repeat
Now, here's what Big Blue gained: The confidence that it can beat any team in the league when it's healthy, particularly on the defensive line. Thirteen guys went on IR from preseason through the regular season in 2011, which means players like tackle Will Beatty and corner Terrell Thomas are back. Tight ends Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum both went down with knee injuries in the Super Bowl (that sucks), but Jerry Reese signed Martellus Bennett to provide depth at the position. So pump the brakes on saying the Giants got worse. Fact is, New York's uneven regular season was a product of missing key guys for long spells, like Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. You can't just replace one of the best pass rushers of the past seven years or a guy who can play inside and outside at a high level. Seattle just signed Jason Jones to a guaranteed $4.5 million deal because he can do just that, and he's a '95 Escort compared to Tuck.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com says Tom Coughlin wants to coach into his 70's. I can see that.