**

1. Flowers to miss practice again, "should be fine" for preseason.**

Rookie first-round draft pick Ereck Flowers missed Monday's training camp practice with a hip flexor issue, and after a players' day off, the left tackle will miss Wednesday as well at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

**>> FLOWERS DISAPPOINTED TO SIT OUT**

Speaking to the media before practice, Flowers said "it's getting better" and he "should be fine" by the first preseason game next week.

2. Cincinnati trip will be an early gauge for the Giants.

On Monday, the Giants travel to Cincinnati, where they will hold two joint practices with the Bengals before their first preseason game on Friday, Aug. 14. This is the first time the Giants have scrimmaged another team in a decade, and based on some of those previous times, there should be some sparks flying.

**>> BEASON SETS "IRONMAN" GOALS FOR 2015**

"They're tough against the run and they run the ball extremely well," middle linebacker Jon Beason said about the Bengals. "They've been in the playoffs the last four years, so it's a great opportunity to get an early gauge and get some live action. Because it'll be faster, it'll be more physical."

3. Beason "better" play in first preseason game.

Just like when asked if he would be full-go before the start of training camp, middle linebacker Jon Beason had a similar response today when he answered a question about playing in the first preseason game. "I better," he said. "I don't want to get dressed for nothing." Beason was limited to four games last season before undergoing foot surgery. "I'm just happy to get my feet back under me, be back out here working hard," Beason said. "Missed the heat, missed the battles. I'm happy for 9-on-7 [drills], actually it's a blessing for 9-on-7 today. I just want to get out there and get my nose bloody a little bit, and get back in the swing of things."

4. The pads come on.

Before the Giants line up and hit players from another team, they will pop the pads against each other on Wednesday for the first time in full gear. The offensive line is looking forward to it as the unit is tries to establish a tough mentality this season.

"It's all a process," center Weston Richburg said. "That's what camp's for, to instill that toughness. Going to Cincinnati next week, we want to reinforce that attitude, kind of get everybody on the same page. That's going to be our job to keep everybody in that mindset. I think we've done a good job so far, but a long way to go."

5. "Rejuvenated" Eli never looked stronger.

Eli Manning was reunited this year with quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, who held the same position in 2010 and 2011 after coaching the Giants' wide receivers from 2004-2009. After the Giants won Super Bowl XLVI, Sullivan was hired as the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, where he served for two seasons before spending the 2014 season as a consultant. Today Sullivan spoke about the differences he's seen in Manning since their first stint together.

"I think his arm is very live," Sullivan said. "I don't think his arm's ever been stronger. He looks like he's got a lot of zip on the football."

6. Donnell "not quite there yet" with Achilles issue.

Tight ends coach Kevin M. Gilbride believes he potentially has a "pretty special" player in Larry Donnell, but the third-year pro, who had a breakout campaign in 2014, has been hampered by Achilles tendinitis that cost him spring workouts as well.

"What we need to get him to do is really get back to where he was running routes," Gilbride said. "He's not quite there yet, but he's working towards it and he's done a nice job with the workload we've given him."

7. Selvie on JPP: "When he's ready to come back, he'll be back."

Defensive end George Selvie's ties to Jason Pierre-Paul go back to their days at South Florida, where they were both drafted from in 2010. Selvie, who signed with the Giants this offseason, said he has talked to Pierre-Paul since reportedly suffering serious hand injuries in a fireworks accident over the July 4 weekend. Asked if he is confident that Pierre-Paul will be back this season, Selvie said, "You know, that's all up to him. That's out of my control. He has to feel like he's healthy again and when he's ready to come back, he'll be back."

Added Selvie: "He's going to be here, so we're just waiting for him to come back."