New York Giants News and Notes: Friday Mashup Edition

Good morning fellow Giants fans. It's Friday, and seriously, where did the week just go? The Giants received their Super Bowl rings on Wednesday night, but otherwise it was a relatively quiet news week. But that doesn't mean it's all quiet, so let's have a look at what's bouncing around the Web.....

Tom Coughlin's extension coming soon, says Giants owner - NFL.com
The New York Giants and head coach Tom Coughlin are expected to hammer out a contract extension "sooner rather than later," team president and co-owner John Mara told the New York Daily News as the franchise received its Super Bowl rings Wednesday. Mara confirmed to the newspaper the sides are working on the extension, which Mara had previously predicted would be completed by at least mid-May.

The Shutdown Corner Interview: New York Giants DL Justin Tuck | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
It's been a busy week for New York Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck. On Thursday, he picked up the second Super Bowl ring of his career -- and the night before, he was in New York City at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, for a screening of the movie, "Battleship" to benefit the Wounded Warrior project. The WWP is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, and Tuck was there in conjunction with SUBWAY restaurants. The movie, directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights), stars Col. Greg Gadson, a member of the WWP, who lost both his legs in Iraq in 2007, and who has been an inspirational force for the Giants ever since.

Osi Umenyiora apologizes to women - NFC East Blog - ESPN
New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, on Twitter early Thursday morning, apologized to women who may have been offended by his Sunday tweet wishing a "Happy Mother's Day" to Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy

Seriously, what are we going to do if Osi signs elsewhere this coming season? These notebooks will be shorter, I can tell you that.

NFL rookies signing contracts rapidly under new salary system - The Insider - The Washington Post
Under the new system, the sport’s traditional timetable for signing rookies has changed dramatically. Gone are the days when agents for draft picks and teams’ front office executives would put off serious contract talks until July, then negotiate frantically to complete sometimes-elaborate deals in the hope of getting rookies to training camps on time. This year, many teams are signing their rookies in time for May minicamps. "That’s one of the true advantages right there," New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said at a news conference during his team’s rookie minicamp last weekend.

Big difference between this time of year in 2012 as opposed to last year, huh? It sure was gloomy in NFL terms last May.

Giants co-owner Jon Tisch also scores as an auctioneer - NYPOST.com
Loews Hotels chairman and New York Giants co-owner Jonathan Tisch could take up a new job as an auctioneer, if he had any spare time. Tisch raised $100,000 in just seven minutes as auctioneer for Lighthouse International, which fights vision loss, at the charity’s A Posh Affair gala Tuesday.

NY Giants return to School No. 1 - NorthJersey.com
Two New York Giants football players made their second appearance at Little Falls School No. 1 for the "Play 60 Challenge" kick off. From left N.Y. Giants player Domenik Hixon, gym teacher Joseph Schmidt, Little Falls School No. 1 Principal Mr. Ligus, gym teacher Pam Porter and Giants player Ramses Barden pose, while Hixon and Barden play hoops with students as part of the 'Play 60 Challenge' Domenik Hixon and Ramses Barden paid a visit to the school as part of the challenge. Victor Cruz had attended with Hixon in the fall and promised that some players would be back in the spring to kick off the challenge. The challenge began in 2006 and is sponsored by the National Football League (NFL) and the American Heart Association (AHA). "Play 60 Challenge" is a school based program and awareness campaign designed to promote physical fitness.

Two sides to NFL's concussion controversy evident at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel - ESPN New York
Commissioner Roger Goodell has placed an emphasis on player safety and has raised the awareness of the concussion issue -- positive steps. This will help the current and future players, but what about the 55-year-old retirees wondering if what they didn't know then will kill them now? This brings us to Harry Carson. He's in the ballroom, not far from Walker. Actually, he's one of the honorees at the gala. Carson, 58, diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome in 1990, is a crusader for retired players.

Belichick No. 1 on Forbes' list of highest-paid coaches in sports - NFL - Sporting News
Tom Coughlin, whose New York Giants are the reigning Super Bowl champions, just missed the top 10 at an estimated $5.25 million. Giants brass is expected to give Coughlin a contract extension, and possibly a raise, after he led the team to a second NFL title in four years.

Football: NFL Sports News at wtvd
New York Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor has put his Super Bowl XXV ring up for auction. According to the bid page for the ring at SCP Auctions, Taylor's ring received 18 bids, with the highest bid at $74,022 as of 5 p.m. ET Thursday. The auction will end Saturday, with the estimated value of the ring between $75,000 and $100,000, according to the news release.

New York Giants 2013 Super Bowl XLVII Odds - News - Stories - Pregame.com
Offshore odds makers are not expecting a repeat performance from the reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants in 2013, at least according to the latest New York Giants 2013 Super Bowl XLVII Odds. Tom Coughlin’s crew, a championship afterthought headed into December of last year, is presently listed at +1500 moneyline odds (ranks eight of 32 teams) to retain the Lombardi Trophy. The Giants are not even favored to win the NFC East as that distinction belongs to last season’s biggest disappointment, the Philadelphia Eagles (+120).

I guess that should surprise no one here. And it will give us a nice, big chip on our shoulder in 2012, to go along with the shiny ring on our finger.

NFL pedigree to Rider recruits
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are attempting to find the next Weston Dressler without recruiting someone of his description. Dressler made a seamless transition from the college ranks to the CFL in 2008, earning rookie-of-the-year laurels after catching 56 passes for 1,123 yards - an average of 20.1 yards per reception.

Why is this newsworthy? Look at the photo for the article...Sinorice Moss is attempting to make the team.