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New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin was obviously happy to have wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who skipped voluntary OTAs, on the practice field Tuesday for the first day of mandatory mini-camp. The venerable Giants coach was very guarded in his comments about Nicks, however.
Here is part of Coughlin's exchange with reporters following practice:
Q: Did you have a discussion with Hakeem today?
A: I did. We talked. We’ll talk again.
Q: Did you clear the air?
A: That’s between he and I.
Q: It’s nice to have him back right?
A: Absolutely.
Q: He did admit that he should have reached out to you. Did he express that to you?
A: That’s between he and I.
Coughlin was slightly more expansive in saying that Nicks is clearly behind his teammates.
"He’s definitely not in tune with where we are. We’ve had nine OTAs and we’ve thrown a lot at him. He’s just had one meeting," Coughlin said. "He got some work in today and that was good."
As for the other wide receiver who isn't at mini-camp, Victor Cruz, Coughlin seemed frustrated by the ongoing contract talks between Cruz and the Giants.
"I’ve been optimistic since day one and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere, has it? I just continue to be that way," Coughlin said. "The clock is running. The calendar dates are going by. This is something that at least we could have benefitted by, if nothing else, this mini-camp. But you have to realize that there is no contract at this time. So without a contract, he’s not going to be here"