Giants Move Mathias Kiwanuka Back to Defensive End: With the injury to DE Osi Umenyiora, the Giants have officially decided to move Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end. The Giants had moved the former collegiate defensive end to linebacker in 2007 and planned to keep him there in 2008 until the injury to Umenyiora.
“I talked with (Kiwanuka) yesterday and he was more than ready to do whatever we wanted him to do that was in the best interest of the team,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
“I am confident that I can get the job done and this is something I have been preparing for my entire life basically,” said Kiwanuka. “It is just that is what I have been doing for ten years. So take that and add two years playing linebacker, it is a big difference, but I am ready for it.”
“It is something that he, all of us, really wanted, but obviously we didn’t want these circumstances for (Kiwanuka) to get back in (the defensive lineman) room,” said DE/DT Justin Tuck. “It is a good thing for him; it is a good thing for this team. He is definitely a D-lineman at heart, and hopefully he can just come back in and not miss a beat.”
It appears that Danny Clark will start at strongside linebacker in place of Kiwanuka and Gerris Wilkinson will start at weakside linebacker. “(Clark and Wilkinson) have always flipped and played on both sides,” said Coughlin. “Clark will have opportunities to play at SAM, as will Wilkinson. (Bryan) Kehl has flipped around as well. But today Clark will work more at the SAM.”
“I did understand the complex deal with Kiwi and when Stray didn’t come back and that he may move out to end,” Clark said. “So I did understand that SAM may be an option, but I focused on the WIL linebacker. But I understand this is a business and I’m going to embrace it with open arms…I just go out there and bang with tight ends. I’m on the line more often and it’s less productive than weak side linebacker, because you have to fly around making plays on the ball and you’re more a D-lineman at SAM linebacker. But we have an opportunity to get off the ball and make some plays as well.”
Giants Reach Out to Strahan: Various press sources are reporting that the Giants have reached out to recently retired DE Michael Strahan to see if he would be interested to returning to the Giants for one more season.
The Daily News is reporting that General Manager Jerry Reese called Strahan’s agent yesterday. “They reached out and they talked to us about the possibility of Strahan returning,” said Strahan’s agent. “It’s something he’s thinking about.”
Strahan’s agent also told The Daily News that Strahan was not considering a return before the injury to DE Osi Umenyiora. However, Strahan’s agent said that Strahan “feels the ship isn’t even out of the harbor and they’re already taking on the cannons. He feels like maybe he should jump back in there.”
The Star-Ledger also talked to Strahan’s agent. “Have I talked to the Giants? Yes. Are we negotiating? No. Are they interested? Yes,” said Strahan’s agent. “If it wasn’t for the fans and Giants’ organization, he wouldn’t even think about coming back because after going out on top, winning the Super Bowl and all that, it’s hard to think about doing that again.”
Strahan’s agent told The New York Post, “Jerry (Reese) said, ‘Hey, you think Michael would have some interest? Obviously there’s not any Pro Bowl defensive ends out there except him. I’m sure there’s a part of him that wants to play. Do I think it’s a big part? No.”
1050 ESPN reported yesterday that several members of the Giants’ organization had contacted Strahan to ask about a comeback. Strahan supposedly said he was intrigued with the thought and did not close the door on the possibility.
Newsday is reporting that a team source confirmed that the Giants have reached out to Strahan.
According to The Daily News, the Giants offered Strahan a deal worth $6.5 million with incentives before he retired. There is speculation that Strahan would want at least $8 million to return and possibly more to even consider coming out of retirement. “Does he have a number in his head? I doubt it,” Strahan’s agent told The New York Post. “Do I think he’d eventually come to one? Yeah.”
“(Strahan is) on an island somewhere sipping pina coladas,” said DE/DT Justin Tuck. “I doubt football is the first thing on his mind today.”
At least publicly, Head Coach Tom Coughlin is denying involvement in any attempt to bring back Strahan. “There hasn’t been any discussion that I have been involved in there,” said Coughlin. “We are going to explore every option that is available. And the last time that I talked with Michael he had accepted his new challenge and was very happy about that. And I have not spoken with him at all since the (Browns’ preseason) game.”
Injury Update – Plax Practices: Aside from DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) and S Craig Dahl (knee), also not practicing yesterday were LB Antonio Pierce (back), LB Danny Clark (groin), LB Jonathan Goff (back), CB Terrell Thomas (hamstring), WR David Tyree (knee), and PK Lawrence Tynes (knee).
The good news was that WR Plaxico Burress (knee) practiced fully for the first time all year.
“I decided to pull the old car out of the garage and see how I felt today – get some of the dust off of it,” Burress said. “I felt pretty good. I’m feeling a lot better – a hundred percent. I didn’t have any limitations going either way, right or left. I jumped up and made a few catches. I’m just trying to get back to my old self – getting off the line full speed and being able to accelerate when the ball is in the air. I’m trying to get all the kinks out of the armor.”
“I forgot how tough it is to run routes when you’re a little bit winded in the two-minute drill, even though I didn’t go but a few plays,” said Burress. “It’s just good to get out there and run around again. I’m happy I can go out there and run without any pain. I’m basically trying to get into the best playing shape that I can and get my cardio up. I hope I feel pretty good tomorrow.”
As for Clark, he said his groin injury is not a big issue. “My health is not an issue at all,” said Clark. “I’ll be out there every snap this season fighting along the way. We’re just being very cautious and I understand being in year nine but the most important thing is to be ready September 4th.”
QB Anthony Wright (back) returned to practice.
Giants Waive Three Players: The Giants have waived WR D.J. Hall and S Miguel Scott. The team also waived/injured Craig Dahl, who tore the ACL in one of his knees in the game against the Jets on Saturday. Dahl had torn the the ACL in his other knee in December. The Giants waived him in February but re-signed him in late July.
Notes: The Giants need to make two more roster moves by 4PM today in order to reach the 75-player roster limit.
DE Osi Umenyiora is scheduled to undergo knee surgery today.