Giants S Phillips Ready To Go Monday, WR Smith Hurt

August 7, 2010

The New York Giants continue to be peppered with some bad luck in the injury department. As a fan, there is nothing more frustrating to me then injuries. It is easy for us to say that from the sidelines but trust me, it frustrates the players even more. I don’t mind the team losing a fair fight but when you have 6 or 7 or 8 starters injured or on the IR list, it takes the true test away from the game.

In a week where we saw WR Hakeem Nicks hyperextend his leg and need two MRI’s in New York City (turned out to be fine), we now have the news of WR Steve Smith going down with a groin injury at yesterdays afternoon practice. They say it is nothing serious but I’m sure they will rest there star receiver for a day or two. The recent news begs the question, what would Tom Coughlin do if both WR Steve Smith and WR Hakeem Nicks were lost for 6 weeks? Also, what would you do? To me, you would have to go with WR Mario Manningham, WR Ramses Barden and WR Sinorice Moss.

We must also mention that OL Rich Seubert may need to have surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand and has been listed as out indefinitely. It is becoming more obvious that OL William Beatty is going to take over the left tackle position, meaning that OL David Diehl will move to the guard position (his natural position). In this scenario, OL Rich Seubert would find himself in a backup role. Personally, I think he will thrive after getting some additional time off this year. I know his ego won’t like to  hear that but the man has earned his place on the team and he will come back stronger and refreshed.

Let’s not forget that DE Osi Umenyiora will need hip surgery at some point and might not make it through the season. We have C Shaun O’Hara with a nagging ankle injury that has made him miss most of training camp thus far. Both of these men are important pieces to the puzzle. OL Adam Koets and OL Jim Cordle, are the number two and three centers respectively behind O’Hara.

The best news we have had thus far is the return of S Kenny Phillips to practice on Monday. The Giants have been extremely cautious with Phillips during his rehab process. Now after all of the hard work and effort, Phillips will finally be dressed and on the field for practice. Phillips was projected to be a S Ed Reed clone when he came out of college. He has shown flashes of brilliance in the few games that fans have been able to watch Kenny. If Phillips is fully healthy and starts opposite S Antrel Rolle for the 2010 season, this could be one of the greatest “turn arounds” by a skill position in NFL history. Key areas to watch are obviously the INT, tackles, passes defended, defensive TD and sack department for the safety position.

– In other sports news, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grimm, Floyd Little, John Randle, Dick LeBeau and Rickey Jackson will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton this weekend.

– The 2010 NFL Hall of Fame game, Cowboys vs. Bengals will be played this Sunday 8/8/10 at 8PM EST.

RD – nygreporter.com

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