The Day at Camp
Perhaps no one player has generated more discussion and debate amongst the fans than Eli Manning, who depending on what report you read, is either sharp or inconsistent. Take for instance this morning’s practice, when Manning overthrew a couple of receivers on the deeper patterns but who looked sharp on the short and intermediate stuff.

What isn’t really talked about though is that while to the casual observer Manning has looked up and down, the Giants have a slightly different perspective of how their franchise quarterback has been performing.

“His pass percentage is very high for the entire camp,” said head coach Tom Coughlin when asked today about Manning’s performance thus far. “Yesterday was an exceptional afternoon I think and I thought this morning was good.  So I’m encouraged by these last couple of practices for sure. 

“The arm is feeling a little stronger,” Manning said of his sharpness these past two practices. “I just came out fresh and they came out a little better them normal, so I overthrew a few by a short distance. As long as we're hitting the reads and getting them to the right spots, that's the important thing.”

Earlier in the camp, Manning had made a comment about throwing the ball to a specific area and that sometimes the receiver might not be where he’s supposed to be when the ball is released. Since the Giants have had the quarterbacks working on a lot of timing patterns, this could be one reason why Manning sometimes doesn’t look sharp. The more he works with his receivers though, the better he’ll get.

Which brings up a concern of ours, and that is the absence of wide out Plaxico Burress, who has been sidelined for 12 days with a bum ankle. Burress didn’t’ sound too concerned today about the lost time, saying that he was trying to be smart about it.

“I've never really sprained an ankle,” Burress said. “This is really the first time I've done that and it's strong, I'm running straight ahead. I just have a little soreness that won't go away. I just want to get rid of it all before I go back out there, because I don't want to have any setbacks. There is no need for me to get out there if I'm playing with pain trying to get through training camp. That doesn't make any sense.”

But what remains to be seen is whether Burress and Manning will be able to get on the same page with their timing when it does count.

Who’s Hot

Fred Robbins. Since returning from a calf strain, Robbins has looked frisky against the one’s, scratching and clawing his way into the backfield and trying to presue the quarterback. He managed to beat the normally steady Chris Snee in the morning practice for a “sack” and has looked athletic on stunts.

Michael Johnson. The rookie safety has begun making some noise in camp, showing good anticipation and aggressiveness sin breaking up passes. Johnson is taking full advantage of his promotion to the two’s following the demotion of Craig Dahl, who of course had a tough outing against Crolina.  

Tommy Davis. There most likely won’t be room for him on the final 53-man roster, but Davis has been an intriguing player of late in that he has managed on more than a handful of occasions to beat his man. He doesn’t stop moving his feet and he has a pretty interesting swim move he employs to get around blockers. Davis hads had most of his success against Guy Whimper.

Who's Not
CB Sam Madison. It's been a tough camp for the veteran, who appears to have lost a step or two. In the evening practice, he had a clear shot at an interception of an Eli Manning pass intended for Michael Jennings, but the ball went right through his hands.

Quote-worthy

At first you kind of freak out and think, ‘What's going on?’ But it's fine; it really wasn't anything major.” – gritty backup QB Jared Lorenzen on his ankle injury suffered in yesterday’s practice.

Medical Watch
Missing from the morning practice WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), DEs Osi Umenyiora (hip) and Justin Tuck (foot), TE Kevin Boss (shoulder contusion), K Lawrence Tynes (calf atrain), S Michael Stone (hip flexor), LB Barry Robertson (knee), CB Travonti Johnson (quad), LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee), and WR Marco Thomas (groin).

Tight end Darcy Johnson suffered a sprain to his right knee, which head coach Tom Coughlin said was probably a MCL. Johnson was to be evaluated further by the Giants team doctors and the team

Umenyiora and Tuck were back for the evening practice. However, add Gerrick McPhearson and S Craig Dahl to the list of players sidelined in the morning practice.

Up Next

The Giants have a single session at 2:40 p.m.

See Also

• Head Coach Tom Coughlin's Media Session Transcript
• Player Perspective: WR Sinorice Moss

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Additional reporting by Ed Cash.