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- Odell: LeBron could have made "The Catch."**
NBA superstar LeBron James yesterday was in the area in advance of the Cleveland Cavaliers' game tonight against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. So the two-time champion and four-time league MVP, who was among the countless people on social media to admire Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch two weeks ago against Dallas, invited the rookie out to dinner to talk shop.
"He talked about the play and wanted to see how big my hand was," said Beckham, who added that it was about the same size as LeBron's. "For that to be my favorite athlete and to be able to sit down as civilized people and have dinner and conversation, it was nice." Beckham was then asked today if James could have made the play, to which he responded, "Yeah, oh yeah. It is LeBron. He can do it all."
2. Jennings sat out practice again.
Running back Rashad Jennings missed his second straight practice on Thursday because of an ankle injury, leaving his status in doubt for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans.
Three other players were also unable to participate today: OT James Brewer (concussion), LB Mark Herzlich (concussion) and LB Jacquian Williams (concussion/shoulder). Meanwhile, DT Cullen Jenkins (calf), LB Jameel McClain (knee), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (back/shoulder) and WR Preston Parker (knee) were limited. OT Justin Pugh was a full participant again after missing the last two games with a quadriceps injury.
3. Darkwa could become the No. 2 running back on Sunday.
If Jennings cannot play this week, Orleans Darkwa, whom the Giants signed off the Miami Dolphins' practice squad on Nov. 12, would be the second running back behind Andre Williams, coach Tom Coughlin confirmed today. Darkwa has played in three games on special teams so far with the Giants but has not seen time on offense yet.
"No, but he's done a nice job. He's been good on special teams," Coughlin said. "He's impressed everybody with how fast he's picked things up."
4. Giants prepare for trash-talking QB Zach Mettenberger.
Throwback Thursday to when Titans QB Zach Mettenberger and Odell Beckham Jr. were teammates at LSU, presented by Taco Bell
The Titans rookie quarterback has close ties with a few members of the Giants, including Beckham, who was his offensive teammate at LSU, and defensive end Damontre Moore, who played against him in college at Texas A&M.
"He is as tough as they come," Beckham said. "He is going to sit back there and take all those hits. He is going to step into it and he is going to make the throws. I loved having him as a quarterback, being a guy who is out there talking and things like that. He is going to be a great one."
And his play is as tough as his vocabulary.
"Oh yeah… He is a trash-talker, for sure," Beckham added. "That is part of the game though. Everybody talks trash. Everybody has their own variation of it. It is just different when you are hearing it coming from your quarterback like that."
5. Time has come for Moore.
With fellow defensive ends Robert Ayers and Mathias Kiwanuka landing on injured reserve this week, Moore is staring at his biggest opportunity yet in terms of playing time on defense.
"Man, it's an opportunity," Moore said. "Any time an opportunity presented itself in the past, I've taken advantage of it. I've been waiting for it a long time. I'm just waiting to step up. I've been preparing a lot and then I had a lot of great veteran leadership that was in front of me within these past two years. I got to learn from Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Jason Pierre-Paul, so I feel like it's my time and I'm ready to take advantage of it."
6. "Old age sucks."
Not even special teams coordinator Tom Quinn could come away healthy last Sunday before the Giants had to place five more players on injured reserve this week, bringing the total for the season to 20. Quinn tore his calf muscle during the Giants' Week 13 game in Jacksonville.
"I made a quick movement on a sudden change to get some guys off the bench onto the field, and then my calf tore," he said. "Old age sucks."
7. The Giants are working through possible offensive line combinations.
After losing Geoff Schwartz and Adam Snyder for the season, the Giants expect to have back Justin Pugh, who practiced at right tackle today, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said.
"Offensive line, we are working through that right now," McAdoo said. "Working through some different combinations, seeing who is healthy, and getting guys experience moving around and competing at some different spots."
