The Day at Camp
The Giants unveiled a few more gadget plays today, done in style at that.

The first was when Eli Manning threw the ball backwards to wide receiver Sinorice Moss, who was circling behind Manning on an end-around. Moss then threw a pass in the direction of the quarterback, who had drifted out to the flat. But defensive tackle Fred Robbins, intercepted the ball for the touchdown. Later it was learned that Michael Jennings and NOT Manning was the intended target.

Another gadget came on a kickoff return when the ball came down to a returner (DeCori Birmingham we think, who dashed parallel across the field to hand it off to Ahmad Bradshaw. The speedy Bradshaw managed to dash upfield for about 15 yards as the defenders all were fooled into thinking Birmingham was going to bring it out.

Then in an unual play (not so much a gadget play), the Giants starting offense was on the field. With the ball inside the offense's 10 yard line, Manning was instructed to take the snap, turn completely around and throw the ball out of the end zone. Manning, who earlier in camp was teased by his teammates for throwing a duck, heaved the ball upt to the team's assistant video director Carmen Pizzano, who was taping practice. But as Manning's luck would have it, the pass missed Pizzano and the tower and fell into the crowd.

Who’s Hot
Mathias Kiwanuka. We thought the "rookie" linebacker did a nice job in both practices covering the tight ends, rushing the passer and making plays. He's still learning, but he's really coming along faster than we thought he might.

Who's Not
Guy Whimper. Taking some snaps with the ones, Whimper continued playing the role of a matador as he allowed Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Pierce to whip by him to force Eli Manning to throw prematurely. The coaches keep saying they see improvement in Whimper, but it must be in a technique or something as he's had trouble handing pass rushers when with the one's and two's.

Will Demps. We thought the second-string safety struggled this morning, as he was always a step or two behind a receiver or headed in the wrong direction. Demps got an earful from an assistant coach when he screwed up a goal line drill. 

Quote-worthy
"Of course, you're going to have a special relationship with the guy who puts his hands between your legs every week."

— Center Shaun O'Hara, when asked to describe his relationship with QB Eli Manning.

Medical Watch
Those missing the morning practice included wide receivers Plaxico Burress (sprained right ankle), linebacker Chase Blackburn (thigh) and cornerback Kevin Dockery (concussion). Dockery was out on the field after being forced to stay inside with post-concussion symptons. Amani Toomer, Justin Tuck and Corey Webster, all coming off surgeries, are on one-a-day schedules and will work this evening.

Up Next
The Giants are off on Sunday. They return to the practice field on Monday with two practices, 8:40 and 6:10.

See Also

• Head Coach Tom Coughlin's Media Session Transcript
• Letters to the Editor
• Editor Pat Traina’s full camp report
• Player Perspective: Cornerback E.J. Underwood
• Full Length Training Camp Issue

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