True Blue

Kickers coming in

Evcen though Lawrence Tynes was 3-for-3 on his field goals Sunday against Oakland, the Giants reportedly have a "slew" of kickers coming in for tryouts early this week, according to a source. Tom Coughlin reportedly remains upset with Tynes for missing three easy field goals this year and knows with the schedule getting tougher, every three-pointer will count.

We're moving

The "True Blue" blog is picking up and moving to a new address: 

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/trueblue/

Please update your bookm arks or favorite places with the new address.

See you there!

Vinny DiTrani

The "True Blue" blog is picking up and moving to a new address: http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/trueblue/ Please update your bookmarks or favorite places with the new address. See you there! Vinny DiTrani

Now it gets tough

Eli Manning led a 44-7 drubbing of a hapless Oakland team Sunday to push the Giants record to 5-0 against teams which have combined for six wins. It concluded a stretch of three games against clubs which have totaled one win.

    Foes will get a lot a lot tougher the rest of the way, starting next week in New Orleans against a Saints team that has four wins on its own.

    “You always want to play against teams like that, you really do,” said defensive end Justin Tuck, referring to the Saints, not the Raiders. “It will be a real test to where we  are as a team, especially us as a defense.”

    It is difficult to judge your worth against a team as terrible as Oakland, which allowed the Giants to score on their first four possessions Sunday to make Manning’s day short and sweet. The quarterback whose availability was in question all week because of a plantar fascia injury had as many touchdowns (two) as incompletions in his 10 pass attempts as the Giants built a 28-0 lead in the first 17 1/2 minutes.

    “Our mentality on Wednesday was that Eli was not going to play,” center Shaun O’Hara said of the quarterback, who did not practice until Friday. “That’s what you have to do and that’s the way to be about it. Then if he does play it’s a bonus.”

    Manning did not get the official OK until before the game although it became more and more apparent during the week he probably would play. He wound up with a perfect passing rating of 158.3, completing 8 of 10 for 173 yards with touchdowns to Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks.

    “He wanted to play, he wanted to play all week,” said coach Tom Coughlin. “He has done a great job with the power of the will over these things a couple of times.”

    Coughlin watched Manning warm up and saw no reason to hold him out. But when it got to be 28-0 he told backup David Carr to put on his helmet. Even Oakland scoring a TD to make it 28-7 did not change Coughlin’s mind.

    “We were just happy to get him in, have him play well, and get him out,” Coughlin said.

 

31-7 at the half

David Carr replaced Eli Manning with 2:19 left in the first half and the Giants up, 28-7. Manning was 8-of-10 for 173 yards and two TDs as the Giants built a 28-0 lead. The only Raiders touchdown came after Sinorice Moss muffed a punt at the Giants 15 and was helped by a specious interference call against CC Brown and a quick whistle that wiped out a fumble which Brown returned 90-something yards for a would-be TD.

The Giants added a 25-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal with :02 left after Justin Tuck forced a JaMarcus Russell fumble and Osi Umenyiora recovered at the Raiders 28.

Manning threw TD pass of 30 yards to Mario Manningham and 9 yards to Hakeem Nicks, the second one coming after Terrell Thomas forced a Russell fumble which Tuck recovered at the Raiders 13. It is unlikely Manning will return unless Oakland masses a miraculous comeback oin the second half.

Oakland got its initial first down with 7 minutes left in the second quarter.

Giants take lead

Eli Manning drive the Giants 77 yards in 14 plays to a 1-yard TD run by Ahmad Bradshaw, the fifth straight game in which the Giants scored on their first possession. Manning was 4-for-5 for 36 yards on the drive. He's back out for the Giants second possession.

On the first play he hooked up with steve Smith on a 43-yard reception to the Raiders 36. Bradshaw took it in from there on two carries, including a 19-yard TD run as the Giants took a 14-0 lead with 3:15 left in the first quarter.

Eli starts

The suspense is oer _ the Giants won the toss and the starting QB for the 83rd straight time is Eli manning.

Eli update

The Giants have refused to announce their starting QB but have said the only change in their starting lineup _ so far _ is Darcy Johnson at TE for the injured Kevin Boss.

They must be waiting to see if Eli makes it through the pregame warmup without incident before making it official.

The inactives are WR Ramses Barden, RB Danny Ware, CB Aaron Ross, LB Michael Boley, LB Bryan Kehl, Ol Adam Koets, Boss and DT Chris Canty.

Out for Oakland are RB Darren McFadden, FB Oren O'Neil, OT Cornell Greeb, G Robert Gallery, WR Chza Schilens, WR Javon Walker and WR Mick Miller, Charlie Frye is the third QB.

Eli appears

Eli Manning showed up on the Giants Stadium playing surface at 11:01 a.m., stopped to talk to former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, the man who traded for him, and then proceeded onto the field. He did some running and agility drills, stopped to talk to Oakland QB JaMarcus Russell, and then began throwing.

So far no reason to think he's not playing, although it would not be surprising if the Giants get off to a lead we also see David Carr in this game.

No Bomar, Yes Eli

Apparently the Giants are not planning to sign QB Rhett Bomar off their practice squad by the 4 p.m. deadline today, further indicating Eli Manning will be good to go Sunday against Oakland.

Manning participated in the Saturday AM walk-through, yet another indication he will play.

The Giants would have added Bomar to their 53-man roster to back up David Carr if there was any doubts at all Manning could play.

Eli looks good to go

Eli Manning split the snaps with David Carr in Friday's practice and all indications are, barring a setback, he'll be ready to go Sunday against the Raiders.

Manning was not available for comment after the workout.

"He did fine," said coach Tom Coughlin, who has listed Manning as questionable for Sunday. The word is, however, the Giants are expecting him to be ready.

Coughlin said he "absolutely" was encouraged by what he saw in practice but that it "most likely" will remain a game-day decision on whether Manning plays.

He added while he is not more optimistic today than he was yesterday when Manning did not practice for a second straight day, he's been pretty much in the same frame of mind all week: Hopeful.

"He'll get some treatment when he goes inside here and he has his own unit at home that he treats himself at home with and when he comes in in the morning we'll see where he is," Coughlin said. "If he's where I think he'll be, made some progress over night, he'll come out and go through the jog-through.

"We evaluate him everyday and if he gets to the point where the medical people think he can play and not be subject to injury, chances are he will play."

While Manning will have a say in the decision, Coughlin said, "He's certainly not going to go against the medical people. He wants to play in the worst way. [The medical people] keep saying they will continuously evaluate where he is."

No decision has been made, Coughlin said, on whether to activate Rhett Bomar as a third quarterback. The Giants have until 4 p.m. Saturday to do so, and if they don 't, you can be pretty sure Manning will play against the Raiders

The rest of the injury list: LB Michael Boley (knee), LB Bryan Kehl (finger), DT Chris Canty (calf) and CB Aaron Ross are out; TE Kevin Boss (ankle) is doubtful; RB Danny Ware (elbow)ias questionable' and and WR Domenik Hixon (knee) and RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle/foot) are probable.

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