Good morning fellow Giants fans. It's already hot and sticky in much of the country, and that usually means that the smell of football is in the air. And since it's Hump Day, let's look at our calendar--yes, 13 weeks until the start of the NFL season, or roughly three months. Training camps begin late next month, and this week we are in OTA #14 or something like that. I think I told you guys a while back that there is no off-season anymore, and that really is true, minus the actual games part of the equation. Let's see what news is floating around the Giants this morning....
Antrel Rolle says NY Giants are equipped for another title run with Osi Umenyiora in the fold - NY Daily News
Antrel Rolle said Osi Umenyiora has been "smiling like a kid in a candy shop" since he restructured his contract and made peace with the Giants. And he’s not the only one. With Umenyiora back in the fold and seemingly happy, the defending Super Bowl champs are "stacked," Rolle said, and primed for another championship run. They have what Rolle "truly" thinks is the best defensive line in football, and with Umenyiora back maybe one of the best overall defenses, too.
New York Giants 2012 Schedule Analysis | AthlonSports.com
In the NFL, heavy is the head that wears the crown normally. Starting the year with two mid-week games in three weeks will likely keep the Giants from getting into any sort of normal rythmn until Week 4. Having said that, the defending Super Bowl champions start with a pretty easy slate. The first playoff team the G-Men will face will be an NFC title game rematch with the 49ers in Week 6. Even though the Cowboys and Eagles will be brutal NFC East tests, the Giants won’t face a team with a winning record from last year until that Week 6 game with San Francisco. A 4-1 start is almost all but certain.
Yep, very important that we get off to a good start again.
Poll: NFC East is the country's favorite division - NFL.com
There's never a shortage of plotlines and intrigue with those four teams, so perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise the NFC East is the league's most popular division, according to the latest offering from ESPN Sports Polls.
Former NFL player organizes camps for youths - Houston Chronicle
Rodney Hampton spent his childhood playing sports in Houston. Since retiring from the NFL in 1997, the former New York Giants running back and Super Bowl XXV champion has been creating opportunities for a new generation of Houston kids to benefit from athletics. Hampton's nonprofit organization, Hamp's Camp, offers after-school camps throughout the city, and this summer it will offer youth camps in several area communities, including Katy.
Derrick Ward Will Not Be Re-Signed By Houston Texans, He Tweets - SBNation.com
It wasn't long ago that Derrick Ward was a fairly productive player for the New York Giants or, at the very least, exceeding low expectations. It seems the veteran running back will now be looking for work, however, as the Houston Texans have apparently decided they won't be re-signing him.
Harris: Injury risk clouds Wallace’s status | TribLIVE
What if Wallace injures himself like Nicks did during voluntary workouts? Will the Steelers still sign him to a new deal? Will they insist he rehabilitate his injury first?
Harrell: Playoff loss motivating Rodgers - JSOnline
Aaron Rodgers doesn't say much about Green Bay's playoff loss to the New York Giants these days. That Sunday, a lights-out season, came to screeching halt. For Rodgers. For the Packers. So, no, the 37-20 defeat is not a topic of conversation around team facilities. Yet whenever a clip from that game does pop up in the quarterback room, back-up Graham Harrell sees the signs. "He starts to get worked up," Harrell said. "He starts mumbling under his breath whenever he sees stuff about how close we were. At times, he says, ‘God, we played so bad.’ It just eats at him."
Rob Gronkowski Feels Ankle Injury Is 'Getting Better Every Single Week' - New England Patriots - NESN.com
Back in February, the Patriots' Super Bowl chances hinged squarely on the right ankle of tight end Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately for the Patriots, that ankle didn't hold up quite as well as they had hoped in the 21-17 loss to the New York Giants.
The Giants sure broke a lot of hearts in their Super Bowl run a few months ago, and it sure feels good to be on the winning side, doesn't it?