Before the first practice of training camp, team president John Mara, coach Pat Shurmur and players spoke to the media. This is what you need to know from the pressers:
1. Saquon Barkley just keeps on impressing. For quite some time now, fans and draft analysts were giving high praise to running back Saquon Barkley. Now his teammates and coaches are getting in on the praise as well, especially outside linebacker Kareem Martin.
"Drafted number two, he could've come in cocky, but he came in humble and worked. I think that gained him the respect from all the players in the locker room," Martin said. "Just with him, the way he came in and the way he carries himself, he made a great impression."
Martin also talked about the difficulty covering him.
"Oh, he's tough. I mean he could do everything," he said. "The biggest thing with him is you just have to trust your technique and just stay true and don't bend."
2. Connor Barwin dons Giants blue for first time After taking a detour with the LA Rams, former Eagle and NFC East rival Connor Barwin signed with the Giants this week. He's quickly learned to like the color blue. "It was a little weird yesterday, but it's already over," Barwin said. "We had a walk-through today, we are practicing, we are focused on football, so it's all about football."
Going into his 10th year, Barwin watched his former team hoist a Lombardi Trophy this past season, which might give him a little more motivation to get there.
"You are going for a Super Bowl ring," he said. "I like to think I was going for it as hard as I am now, but now I'm in my 10th year, so that's all I'm thinking about. I want to be a good team and I want to contribute to this organization, but ultimately you want to win a championship."
3. Nate Solder is all in on the team-first mentality. Like his new teammate Barwin, Nate Solder also comes from a rival of the Giants. However, all of that is water under the bridge now, as the former Patriot came in and quickly became a core leader of the Giants.
"I don't think there's any one player that makes that much of an impact," the humble two-time Super Bowl champion said. "It's all about the team, so whatever's best for the team we all work together. It's all about locking arms and fighting for each other, caring for each other, and working the best you can together."
4. Sterling showing his versatility on the outside. For a Giants team that struggled last season, Sterling Shepard did everything he could to put the team in the best position possible to win. That also meant playing on the outside more often with Odell Beckham Jr. sidelined for most of the year. Coming back for his third year, Shepard continues to carry a chip on his shoulder.
"I mean I've carried that chip for a long time now," he said. "In college they said I was just a slot receiver and I proved I could play outside. I feel like I can do the same thing this year," Shepard said. "I mean, people are looking at me as mostly a slot guy – which I am – but it's 'receiver' at the end of the day and you've got to know how to get open, no matter where you are on the field."
That also doesn't mean that he won't stop playing in the slot, where he is known for making tough catches in traffic. Shepard credits this to having heart and wanting to get every ball.
"That's something you have to want to do," he said. "Not many guys like catching in traffic, and I guess I don't mind it."
5. Dave Gettleman is getting better by the day. General manager Dave Gettleman announced in early June that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. Mara talked to the media about how Gettleman is doing great.
"I don't think I've ever been around a more upbeat person in my life, particularly going through what he's going through," Mara said. "But he's a very optimistic about his recovery and about his ability to work this year, and you know, we're very excited about that. It's the best news we've had in a long time."
