Burress does not practice at NY Giants minicamp

Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.

Well, how many of you are SHOCKED that Burress is not happy because he does not have a new contract? The minute Gibril Wilson cashed in we signalled the alarm that Plaxico (amongst others) would want more money. And then we went one step further and warned specifically about Burress because of a report from Garafolo on Jevon Walker. Here's another WR who has a bigger contract on his mind...

Bob Popa on Shockey

6) Shockey? Popa pointed to Derrick Ward’s remarks about getting hurt, how difficult it is to remain connected to the team. And Popa cleared up a little bit of the Simms-Shockey yahoo bs you have seen from the masses who want Shockey’s head. Everyone says there you see Simms on the sideline of Super Bowl XXV… Popa points out that Simms watched Q1 of XXV from the sideline, it was killing him to be there, he was not a part of the team (despite having them 10-2 at the time of his injury; Shockey was with the team thru the Redskins loss at 9-5). Simms retreated into the tunnel for Q2, and then went to the hotel to watch Q3 and Q4 on television. Popa says that every player that gets hurt feels disconnected from a playoff run- it is very painful and implied that the microscope we are putting Shockey under is not entirely fair. He says Shockey is well respected by the other players and thinks by the time training camp arrives (when he is cleared for practice and is working with his teammates) he will be a part of the team again.

Bob Popa talks about Strahan's decision to retire

Bob Popa spoke Monday evening with WFAN’s Schmoozer Steve Somers.
1) “Shocked,” and surprised that Strahan retired. Expected Michael Strahan to be back.
2) The fact that MS was 100% healthy likely came into the decision… that he was healthy in the offseason was another plus in leaving now while on top.
3) MS has apparently done well enough in other ventures, real estate etc.. to make the money issue not as significant as (the divorce angle) would have had us believe.
4) Popa referred to the (oft linked) Ralph Vacchiano blog, which said that Strahan had listed his goals, checked off the ones which were met and the ones which were not, and the(~ only) ones which were not were individual ones, so not as urgent to play anymore.
5) Somers (for the rsdodgers point): How crazy was it that the Giants players made him a team captain after holding out last summer? Popa said that the players respected the elder statesman, he works as hard as anyone and keeps things on course in the locker room when things are less steady. He certainly made that Coughlin Leadership Council work, because there is no way Coughlin can give up power like he did without someone like Strahan on the other side delivering the results and getting the players to follow the program.

Jay Alford

Jay Alford talks with Giants.com about 2007 and 2008. We take it for granted the progression of a rookie, but Alford makes candid remarks about getting in shape, hitting the wall, managing the pull between specials/defensive unit work and getting more playing time. "I got a lot stronger this offseason, I want to work on my power rushing." People do not understand that the position at interior DL is probably the second most difficult (next to QB) for a rookie to come right in and be successful. The physical demands are incredible. (That Cofield even started all 16 games as a rookie was incredible... not surprisingly we witnessed his first season tail off dramatically towards the end.) For Alford, if he can become a good lineman for the Giants he will only add to the amazing Rookie Class of 2007. Regardless of what he is able to do in his career, that sack of Tom Brady in the Super Bowl will always have a special place in our championship season.

Flash- Jerry Reese tells WFAN that Strahan is retiring

He said to Mike and the Mad Dog that Strahan's chances were 50-50 but that they just got word he is retiring. (This confirms an earlier report from Fox, who broke the story.) Also remarked when queried about Shockey that the Giants expect him to be at minicamp on Wednesday.

The media reply to Shockey

Shockey claims that he said nothing about wanting a trade. Technically that is correct. The media have been in the middle of this all offseason, and here is the reply from Vacchiano to this matter directly. I think Shockey is out of line because he had plenty of opportunities to refute allegations of requesting a trade. Serby for his part sees that this thing can end quickly if the Giants and #80 simply talk it out.

Jeremy Shockey hits New York

or: Jeremy Shockey hits New York Giants. Well, why has Shockey been letting all kinds of talk leak out through his "close friends?" If they were his friends they would not be speaking out of turn, and that is for sure. What about his friends saying he wants a trade? My patience for this guy has to be as high as anyone's because I believe he is misused and misunderstood by the offensive "minds." But my patience is wearing extremely thin with this pea brain. Last year he was pissed off at Manning for making remarks about conversations he had with him in the offseason. Now it is Giants upper management, lower management, owners, blah blah. Quit crying and show up. Tell us those weren't your friends, that you never requested a trade, and end the talk, OR admit that you were a f'g child in using intermediaries through the media and that you are sorry for any confusion. This guy's price (in a trade) just dropped.

Big Brown will likely become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years

This is a NY Giants blog. I really could care less about the other sports out there; I'd trade 162 Yankee wins for one Giant win any day. But today it will be fun to watch Big Brown make some history, win the Belmont Stakes, and become the first triple crown winner in 30 years. Of more interest to me will be the "game" of the minus show pool, whereby the parimutual betting becomes so lopsided that there are profit opportunities on betting on Big Brown and a combination of other horses to extract a profit by betting on all of them to "show." Yep, it is June, another 5 days before minicamp and another month and half before training camp in Albany, so you take what you can get for sports amusement.

David Jacobs found dead

"The kinds of people I have information about, they're the kinds of people that can put a bullet in the back of my head." Those are the words of now deceased former steroid pusher David Jacobs, found (likely) murdered yesterday in Texas. He allegedly had physical evidence on 5-6 NFL players.

OTA

Toomer at the third of six Organized Team Activities.

Kiwanuka at the NY Giants OTA

Kiwanuka at the NY Giants OTA

New Stadium at the Meadowlands

Construction cam at the Meadowlands

Question: How do you keep score in the NFL?

Giants sign Renaldo Wynn

I am sure this will shake up your first work day of June... the Giants have signed veteran DE Renaldo Wynn. This falls under the category of: you can never have enough bodies rotating on the DL. Keep in mind that the Giants did not draft a lineman this April until their last pick (#6b Robert Henderson). Wynn is a numbers pick.

Ward, Kiwanuka and Shockey

Here is a little reality check for the Shockey bashers... Ward was not in attendance at Glendale AZ for the Super Bowl. The media dissected every single move of Shockey and ignored Ward and Kiwanuka. All three have mostly similar stories. Only one is a pro bowl player who was under-utilized. Shockey admittedly behaves like a three year old child when he uses 'a friend' to vent requests for a trade. But he also gets a bad rap for the double-standard about those who want him to feel like he is a part of this championship. Ward's words clearly show how difficult that is for ANY player in that situation.

Minicamp on June 11. The Shockey sideshow continues.