ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Giants defensive end Justin Tuck doesn't buy a comment from Packers linebacker Clay Matthews that Green Bay lost its playoff game and New York didn't beat them en route to winning the Super Bowl.
Thank you for giving us the game, Clay,'' Tuck said with a touch of sarcasm Wednesday.I appreciate it a lot.''
Tuck didn't want to say whether the Packers played their best in the 37-20 loss that led New York to the NFC title game, but he said the Giants won the game and the Packers didn't hand them anything.
When they fumbled the ball, I think it was us that stripped it out,'' Tuck said.When we sacked them, I think it was us who beat their O-linemen and got to (quarterback Aaron) Rodgers. So, I don't think they just ole'd everything and gave us the game.
``I think they were trying to win.''
While the Giants (No. 3 in the AP Pro32) struggled at times during a 9-7 regular season, Tuck said they played their best when it counted.
It is football, it is a funny game,'' Tuck said.Talk is cheap. Play the game. We will see Green Bay again this year so we will see who lays down that week.''
David Carr is getting a kick out of being the forgotten backup quarterback on New York's two NFL teams, adding that he and Eli Manning are just fine not getting the attention that Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow have attracted.
Yeah, it's kind of funny how a guy with two Super Bowl rings and two Super Bowl MVPs (Manning) is the third- or fourth-most popular quarterback,'' Carr said Wednesday.Eli and I just brush it off, you know how he is, but we kind of like it that way. We relish the underdog role. We go out in the morning and do our work. We show up and study like we're first-year guys and we go about our business the same way. We try to get our guys better and then see what happens in the game.
``We don't really get caught up in all the other stuff.''
Carr has found it amazing how much coverage the Jets' quarterback situation is getting, while the Super Bowl champions roll on, relatively distraction-less. The 12-year veteran knows the pressure will mount, though, when the Giants start defending their title.
We're going to get everyone's best effort. From Jacksonville all the way to the last regular-season game, we're going to give everyone a shot,'' Carr said.I was here the first time that they were defending, and it was the same way. We played great that year. I thought we were one of the best teams in football. It just didn't work out for us the next year, but we'll get everyone's best shot. There's no doubt that there's a bull's-eye on our chest.''
Running backs coach Jerald Ingram wants to see how first-round draft pick David Wilson performs in the preseason opener against the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Friday before making any bold proclamations on him. Wilson has shown flashes during training camp at the University at Albany, but Ingram knows there is a distinct difference between practices and games.
First and foremost, Ingram wants to see Wilson protect the quarterback in passing situation, and hold onto the ball when he carries it.
It's an exciting thing right now,'' Ingram said.There are some things that I'm very impressed with. There are some things that I'm not. Just because We'll decide when he's ready. And his teammates will decide when he's ready.
``It's a learning curve process for all rookie running backs. There's been more busts than greats. So let's find a way to make him great. We're going to find what he does do well and accentuate that and see what he does. We know that he runs with great speed. Let's see it.''
The preseason opener will also give coach Tom Coughlin a chance to see where his tight end situation stands. Starter Jake Ballard is no longer with the team and Travis Beckum started training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
That leaves Bear Pascoe as the only tight end who has experience with the Giants offense, and veteran free agent Martellus Bennett, who is still learning the system, to carry the load.
First-year pros Larry Donnell and Christian Hopkins, rookie Adrien Robinson and third-year pro Ryan Burvis are also in the mix.
All these guys are going to play in the game, they're all going to get a chance to play and we'll just see how they do,'' tight end coach Mike Pope said.I say to them we don't cut anybody, you cut yourself. If you play well you stay, if you don't you don't. That's just the way it goes.''
EXTRA POINTS: Coughlin believes a dozen players won't play on Friday. The four players on the PUP list - DT Chris Canty, LB Clint Sintim, WR Hakeem Nicks and Beckum - as well as CB Terrell Thomas, OT Will Beatty, LB Jacquian Williams, RB Da'Rel Scott, LB Jake Muasau, DE Justin Trattou, LB Michael Boley, and DT Rocky Bernard. ... Coughlin says his starters will get 15-18 plays, the second team will get 20-25, and the rest of the team will finish from there. ... Nicks felt good after running routes for the first time since breaking his foot in OTAs. ... Bernard missed practice Wednesday with a swollen knee. ... Coughlin said moving David Diehl back to left tackle is an option if Beatty's back problems don't improve.
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