Giants Morning Report: Giants were on Devin McCourty's short list

Good morning, New York Giants fans! We already opened a discussion about the biggest Giants headline of the day -- the apparently stalled contract extension talks with quarterback Eli Manning. Now, let's check in on some of the other headlines.

Devin McCourty seriously considered the Giants

New England Patriots' safety Devin McCourty admitted over the weekend that the Giants were one of the two teams he thought seriously about joining -- the Philadelphia Eagles were the other -- before returning to the Patriots in free agency. McCourty said the Giants' offer to him was roughly equal tot he five-year, $47.5 million deal he got from New England, but indicated his preference all along was to stay with the Patriots.

The question for the Giants now is what is Plan B? Clearly, Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor will get opportunities in 2015. How will the Giants supplement the position, however? That is yet to be determined.

John Mara: Expanded playoffs are coming

Giants' co-owner John Mara said Sunday at the NFL owners' meetings that expanded playoffs are "going to happen at some point. "

Mara also said that he expects one or two NFL teams in Los Angeles by the 2016 season.

In terms of rules changes, Mara seemed to believe the extra point could be changed in some fashion as soon as next season.

Veteran combine draws mixed reviews

The NFL held its first veteran combined on Sunday, giving former players a chance to prove they deserve another shot in the league. The results were not great.

Here is Peter King of MMQB on the combine:

1. There's a reason why a lot of these vets are unsigned. Even on a relatively slow track, the 40 times were plodding. Former Cowboys running back Felix Jones, who once was speedy, ran 4.79 and 4.85 times in his 40-yard dashes. Michael Sam couldn't crack a 5-flat 40. There was talk that one of the 105 ran the 40 in six seconds. You know, Rich Eisen time.

2. "There may be a few back-end-of-the-roster training-camp players," said one GM on hand, "but that's it."

About Sam, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, opined that Sam showed "he simply might not be good enough."