New York Giants Offseason Program Begins: The Giants’ “voluntary” offseason strength training and conditioning program began yesterday.
“It is a fun day, it’s something you look forward to,” said QB Eli Manning. “The last couple of weeks (I was) kind of itching to get back and see all the coaches and your teammates and getting back to work and getting ready for this upcoming season. We have a lot of work to do and we’re excited about getting back to it and seeing how we can improve. Some guys you’ve seen over the last couple of months. Some guys you’ve talked to. And then there are other guys you haven’t seen or talked to as often. It’s good to see everybody and see what everybody’s been doing and how their little break’s been. You see the energy and enthusiasm in all the players.”
“They tell us to take a month off and after that slowly get back into it and get your fitness and your weightlifting work in, so when you come in here you’re ready to go and you’re not starting from scratch,” Manning said. “You have a little momentum to build on. That’s good. You can see guys have been working and they’re ready to get going.”
“I think guys understand after the season we that had – which was a disappointment – that we have to work that much harder in order to make this season a success,” DT Chris Canty said. “It’s definitely exciting, seeing all the guys again, getting everybody back in the building and getting everybody working toward our common goal this year, which is winning a championship…It’s reflective of how many guys we have here on the first day. There are guys that have been here for a couple of months now. Guys understand what’s at stake and how hard we have to work.”
“It’s like the first day of school again,” TE Kevin Boss said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen a lot of guys. I’m excited to see everyone…It’s nice to get back with everyone and get back in the weight room together and try to make up for the disappointing season. I think we’re all excited to get back to work. We’re all frustrated with the way the season ended up and it’s going to be a good offseason. I think guys are excited to work hard.”
New York Giants Will Open New Stadium: The Giants won a coin flip to determine if the Giants or Jets would open the new stadium in the Meadowlands this season. The secret coin toss was held Friday at NFL offices by NFL Commission Roger Goodell. However, representatives from neither team were allowed to attend.
The Giants will open the regular season at home on Sunday, September 12. The Jets will host their first home game the following evening on Monday, September 13. As a consolation, it was also announced that the Jets would host the first preseason game in the new stadium.
The NFL schedule will be released in early April.
“We look forward to playing the first regular season game ever in the new stadium,” said Giants’ Vice President of Communications Pat Hanlon. “We have a great new home, and it’s right next door to Giants Stadium, a building that housed our three Super Bowl championship teams. We look forward to building the same legacy for our new stadium, and it starts on September 12.”
Article on CB Aaron Ross: Aaron Ross Ready For Upcoming Season With New York Giants After Coming Off Three Separate Injuries by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News
Article on Safety Kenny Phillips: Kenny Phillips Not Worried About New York Giants Signing Safety Antrel Rolle by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News
Quotes: Safety Antrel Rolle on why he signed with the New York Giants: “When I went to New York, I got the same feeling I got when I was being recruited out of high school to the University of Miami. It’s just a feeling of feeling like this is where you belong. It’s just a feeling of comfort and feeling like that’s where you need to be. I think I made a pretty good decision when I attended the University of Miami and I’m just following my gut instinct and I became a New York Giant. So I think it’s going to work out for the best. I’m pretty sure it will.”
Rolle on what Head Coach Tom Coughlin said to him: “Coughlin pretty much sat me down and told me eye to eye that he wants me to be that guy, to be that leader that he knows I can be. Lead by example, and pretty much bring that intensity, bring that attitude and that swagger to the defensive backfield. Just be myself. He told me to bring my ‘A’ game every day, and just to be a leader. That’s something that I am already. There wasn’t anything he was asking that can’t be delivered on my behalf.”
CB Aaron Ross on safety Antrel Rolle: “That was a great addition for us. Antrel, he’s a Pro Bowler. He’s a great player. All the way since he was in college in Miami he was one of my favorite players when he was at corner. Now he’s at safety. He did a tremendous job when he was with the Cardinals. So…Welcome!”
QB Eli Manning on QB Jim Sorgi: “I know Jim. We’ve been around each other a few times over the past few years. I’ve never worked with him, but Peyton speaks highly of him. I’m excited about having him here. He knows football and he’s been in the league for a number of years. I’m excited about working with him and seeing how we can improve. Jim’s a smart guy and a guy who studies and prepares and does everything he has to do, not only to get himself ready, but he helped get Peyton ready, also. He watched film and offered his ideas, so I’m looking forward to working with him to see what we can do to help out the team.”
Sorgi on being with the Giants: “It’s different, seeing some of the faces and not knowing the names – and not knowing the exact way things go and how things are done here. I caught on pretty quickly. I talked to Eli a few times and I saw him today for about 10 minutes. We’re going to get this thing rolling quickly, as soon as possible, and try to get on the same page and build a cohesive unit so we can get this thing rolling.”