Giants news: Coughlin explains Friday's "mental day"

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here are some Giants headlines for your Saturday morning reading pleasure.

Coughlin explains short practice

The Giants held an extremely benign practice Friday, a walk-thru that lasted less than an hour. Head coach tom Coughlin explained why.

"The purpose is we went two hard [practices] in a row and we have a hard one tomorrow, so this would be the natural down curve and we thought this was the time to go with a mental day, a learning day, rather than anything physical so we can get something done tomorrow," Coughlin said.

The Giants will likely be in full pads when they practice Saturday afternoon at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Told he was hurting his reputation as an old-school tough coach, Coughlin said he was adopting "a new, changed scientific approach."

Giants won't rush Jameel McClain

Linebacker Jameel McClain suffered a stinger during practice on Wednesday. Coughlin said the Giants won't rush the veteran, who has a history of spinal injuries.

"He has had some issues in the past and they are trying to rule out a bunch of things," Coughlin said. "I’m not going to rush a guy back in, forget that stuff. It is just like a head [injury], we aren’t going to rush anyone back in who has an injury like that."

Are Richburg, Flowers back?

Center Weston Richburg and left tackle Ereck Flowers took part in Friday's walk-thru. Will Richburg (knee tendinitis) and Flowers take reps in Saturday's padded practice?

"I hope so," Coughlin said. "They are not going to get the full green light. They are going to be restricted, but I’m thinking they will be out there."

More headlines

ESPN Insider Mike Sando makes the case that the success or failure of Eli Manning is tied to the quality of the team's defense.

Rookie safety Mykkele Thompson says "the attention to detail" has been the thing that has surprised him the most thus far.

Defensive end Damontre Moore talks about dealing with asthma.

Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz are on a "pitch count." NJ.com looks at exactly what that means.

There is still value in purchasing the 2015 New York Giants Almanac.