Coughlin was happy with the tone of the first practice coming off that stinker of an exhibition loss in Chicago. “They picked it up, they competed,” he said. “It was good, competitive work. We had a couple guys on the ground but by and large it was a good day.”
There were three more interceptions during the workout, all off Eli Manning. CB Kevin Dockery had the first one play after he was beaten by WR Domenik Hixon on a long pass. CB Terrell Thomas had the last on a ball that deflected off the hands of WR Steve Smith.
But DE Mathias Kiwanuka had the best, plucking a bubble screen intended for WR Mario Manningham out of the air for what would have been a touchdown.
The three picks gave the defense 30 for the camp with one practice left.
Starting guards Chris Snee and Rich Seubert were back at work, as was CB Aaron Ross. FS Kenny Phillips (knee) started the practice but was pulled early on.
LB Antonio Pierce (foot) did not practice. He was joined on the sidelines by LB Danny Clark (chin), CB Stoney Woodson (ankle) and OL Orrin Thompson (thigh). DT Chris Canty was sent to New York for more tests on his not-getting-much-better hamstring.
TE Darcy Johnson and CB Bruce Johnson got into a little squabble over naming rights.
LB Zak DeOssie will take over the short-snapping duties with DT Jay Alford (knee) out. Coughlin said since Alford was playing so well at tackle, the coaches were thinking about relieving him of the snapping duties anyway and adding them to DeOssie’s punt-snap chores.
After this morning’s 8:30-10:30 practice, the players will embark on the Thruway 200 for their return home. Team president John Mara said a decision on whether the Giants will return to Albany next summer will be made in the next few weeks. The alternative is to hold the entire camp at the new Timex Complex, where practice will resume on Wednesday.
The Monday practice crowd of 2,440 raised the camp total to 45,610, the highest figure in the
Giants' 14 years here. The old mark of 45,040 was set in 2004.
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