Train-a Thought

Giants QB Coach Chris Palmer Retires

The Giants have lost a key member of their offensive coaching staff as today the team announced that quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer, a 20-year NFL coaching veteran who spent his last three seasons with the Giants, is retiring.

Giants Name Robert Nunn as New Defensive Line Coach

The Giants have named Robert Nunn as their new defensive line coach.

The Search is Over: Perry Fewell Accepts Giants' Defensive Coordinator Job

It took almost two weeks, but the Giants finally got their man.

Confirmed: Giants Name Perry Fewell New Defensive Coordinator

The Giants have confirmed that Perry Fewell, formerly the interim head coach with Buffalo, has accepted the team's offer to become their new defensive coordinator. Story coming shortly.

D-line Coach Mike Waufle Dismissed; 3 Street Free Agents Signed

I'm working on a longer blog entry which I'll have later tonight, but wanted to quick fire off a note to report that the Giants dismissed defensive line coach Mike Waufle today.

Giants Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan Dismissed

A visibly angry Giants CEO John Mara today said that he’d ultimately let head coach Tom Coughlin make the decision as to what to do with his assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. But Mara also made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t happy with the status quo.

As it turns out, he won’t have to worry about Sheridan anymore as today Coughlin dismissed his 50-year old rookie coordinator from the team.

Jacobs, Ross Placed on Injured Reserve

The season is officially over for RB Brandon Jacobs and CB Aaron Ross, as both were placed on injured reserve today by the Giants.

DT Chris Canty Injures Knee

The hits just keep on coming for Giants DT Chris Canty – and not in a good way.

Giants DE Osi Umenyiora Vents His Frustration

Giants DE Osi Umenyiora hasn’t exactly been a willing participant when it comes to talking to the media of late. But when he does choose to talk, he generally has something of interest to say, and today he took the time to elaborate on the post game comments he made following the Giants’ horrendous loss to Carolina on Sunday.

Jacobs Out of Sunday's Game with Knee Injury

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs will miss the team’s regular season finale against Minnesota with a knee injury, head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed.

O'Hara Named to Pro Bowl as a Backup

7:23 PM -- Updated with starters at relevant positions. Updated copy is italicized.

 For those of you who were worried that the Giants would be shut out of the Pro Bowl, you can take a deep breath as they will have at least one player representing them at this year's contest.

TE Darcy Johnson Placed on IR

TE Darcy Johnson has been placed on seasoon-ending injured reserve with a right shoulder injury.

Webster, McKenzie Out of Monday's Game

No surprise here, as CB Corey Webster and RT  Kareem McKezie have both been declared out for Monday night's game against Washington. Both players didn't practice this week due to knee injuries, and neither boarded the team train bound for Washington earlier today.

Ross Reinjures Hamstring; Questionable for Monday Night

Just when it looked as though the Giants had finally found themselves the defensive combination to go with for the rest of the season, they’re once again looking at revamping their starting lineup for what would be the tenth time this season thanks to injuries.

Winds of Change: Is a Defensive Lineup Shakeup Looming?

The Giants, desperate to find a spark on their defense, might be looking to shake things up even more than anticipated.

Earlier this week, there was a report from the NFL Network that DE Osi Umenyiora might be reduced to passing downs  in favor of DE Mathias Kiwanuka. That report was further fueled by reports of Kiwanuka working with the first team defense on Friday, though it should be noted that the Giants in recent weeks have been experimenting with a defensive line combination in which Kiwanuka has lined up at RDE in place of Umenyiora and Chris Canty at defensive tackle in place of Fred Robbins. 

Head coach Tom Coughlin dismissed the notion of Umenyiora being reduced strictly to passing downs, but he also didn't give the former Pro Bowl defensive end a ringing endorsement regarding keeping his starting job. 

“We’ll have to see on that. We’ll play everybody, we’ll get everybody involved," Coughlin said. "We’re trying to do the best we can in maneuvering our personnel according to our team. We preach team defense, so we’re going to try to get other guys involved as much as we can and see if we can’t solve some issues.”

Coughlin was also asked if Umenyiora has been struggling to regain his Pro Bowl form since having his knee surgery last year. “I think Osi would tell you ‘no’ if in fact he is having any problems. But if you have been in the game, you know that a majority of the time that becomes an issue and can, in fact, be something that the player has to fight his way through, although he never complains about it.”

* RB Ahmad Bradshaw did some work on a limited basis, so all signs are pointing to him being ready for Sunday’s game. Coughlin said he remains encouraged by the progress made by Bradshaw and will list him as questionable on the team’s injury report. Bradshaw said that his ankle “feels ten times better” than it did ten days ago when he first injured it.

S Michael Johnson (groin), who is listed as questionable, will probably be a long shot for Sunday as he missed his third day of practice. If Johnson can’t go, the logical choice for a replacement would be C.C. Brown.

TE Travis Beckum was added to the injury report after tweaking his groin during Friday’s practice. He’s listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

LB Michael Boley, WR Derek Hagan (hamstring) and QB Eli Manning (foot) are listed as probable for Sunday.

* Coughlin said that the team was still having discussions regarding filling their open roster spot that was vacated when LB Antonio Pierce was placed on injured reserve Monday. “Do we need to? I don’t know that we need to. It depends on whether or not the individual’s status might be.”

I am assuming the ‘individual’ Coughlin was referring to is either Michael Johnson or Ahmad Bradshaw.