Coach Tom Coughlin
The unfortunate news today is about David Diehl. The doctor felt like he really needed to have his thumb corrected so that he could go further. He's been in a lot of pain. He's a tough guy and you'd never even know it until the doctor kind of jumped in. He'll get this fixed and he'll be back.
Q: A six week time table… That's everything?
A: That's what they said, so I would think that's probably inclusive.
Q: What did you like about Cordle to put him in instead of moving Boothe back and Brewer in at guard?
A: Cordle played very well the other night and we thought that was the best move for now and we do have that option. But for now the option that we took is this one. We're really excited about the way Cordle played the other night. Hopefully he'll keep that going.
Q: How concerning is it to possibly have two relatively inexperienced players on the line now that Cordle is coming in?
A: It's time to go figure it out. That's for sure. We have two games to play and hopefully they can have a lot of things occur on the field that we can take care of and not … while doing it right instead of causing problems for other areas.
Q: You probably want them to experience a lot of things.
A: And they will. They will. They won't have a problem with that.
Q: How do things change for the team now that camp is over and you move into a new phase?
A: You know what? We will move into a program, which by and large is a 4 or 5 pm exit. But next week following this game, our very first day back will be a long day and of course we have so much to do. But the few days that are left to practice, the only thing that really we will miss will be looking at the tape at night and making the corrections. Everything else will be basically the same.
Q: Was it good to see Terrell Thomas make an interception?
A: Yeah. Really, it was good. He looked good yesterday too moving around out there and really moved well today also. So I'm looking forward to seeing him in the practice tape on that.
Q: Will he be ready for Saturday?
A: He's going to go. He'll play.
Q: Any updates on Barden or Louis Murphy?
A: I'd think maybe one of those two guys would be able to go today, but it didn't happen.
Q: How about Damontre Moore?
A: The same kind of thing. They say he's making progress, but they're not putting him out there.
Q: Jerrel Jernigan practiced today. Do you find yourself in a constant wait for him?
A: We've always looked forward to having Jerrel based on the things that we saw when he was in college and the way that he handled things in the wild cat, the whole bit. He threw the ball. Yeah, there's been some frustration with that. This is definitely a setback with the hamstring issue because, quite frankly, he's had some very good days at practice. Hopefully, he's had enough where he'll play well in the game on the weekend and come through it strong and give us some more options.
Q: Is Corey Webster's soreness in any particular part of his body?
A: He's had a slight MCL, but he's got a groin too. I would think he's getting close.
Safety Antrel Rolle
Q: …for a guy who at this point last week was walking around in a boot?
A: Like I said, I grind hard all throughout the day. Whether it's icing my ankle and ... Getting that extra work in with the trainers here and whether it's getting in the extra work on my own, in my downtime. It's a constant grind. It's not something easy to overcome, but nothing … comes easy.
Q: Do you know when you're going to return to the practice field?
A: I'm going to return to the practice field whenever I'm ready. Whenever I can go out there and feel like I'm not favoring it. Right now we're ahead of schedule and things are going good.
Q: Is today a possibility…?
A: You'll see when I see. I don't know. Whenever I'm out there, you'll know when I'm out there. I make a lot of noise.
Q: Did you give Victor some stuff about his boot? Did you tell him your theory on boots?
A: What theory, that boots are for whimps? Nah man. I want him to be in that boot. We need to make sure we take care of Victor. I think we all know what he means to this team so if he has to walk around in a boot for a month, so be it. Maybe I'll put a boot on with him to just show him that I'm with him.
Q: You've always been a guy who wanted to get out there and practice whenever you can, but I'm sure in the back of your mind you know it might be smarter to stay off the field and rest. Do you fight yourself a little bit to remind yourself that you're not really needed until the opener?
A: That's the toughest part. I sit down with my coaches and, obviously, we all know what the smart thing is to do. Like you said, I like being out there with my guys and if I can go, I'd like to go. I'm just going to talk with the coach and see what he wants me to do. If he wants me to push through, then I'll push through it. If he wants me to chill out and relax, I'll just chill out and relax.
Q: Is that date in Dallas circled on your board?
A: No, I'm going to let it take its course. I'm going to let it come to me, but once it comes to me, I'm sure I'll be ready.
Q: When you say you're on schedule, what is it that you're doing that's unexpected at this point in time?
A: I mean it depends. I don't think I expected myself to be out here, running, doing little drills, cutting and so forth and so on. I had a preview of that yesterday and it felt alright. I can't say it felt 100 percent, but it felt alright. I'm just going to keep grinding. Keep grinding and make my way back.
Q: Maybe you're still favoring it a little bit?
A: No, that's not what I said.
Q: So you're not favoring it?
A: I said I'm going to come out when I'm not favoring it.
Q: Overall, though, you've made pretty good progress. Are you encouraged?
A: Yeah. I think I made excellent progress and we're going to continue to keep pushing. That's just the way I am. With an ankle, sometimes it's going to feel good, sometimes it's going to feel bad. It's one of those things where you're never going to be able to predict how it feels. You just have to go through the motions and let it tell you how it goes.
A: What is it about Stevie Brown always being around the ball? Does he just have a feel for it?
A: Yeah man, you definitely have to say it that way, he has a feel for it. Being in the right place at the right time. Playing his assignment, playing his technique the way it needs to be played.
Q: Anything special about playing the Jets? It used to be a heated game, a couple years ago. Is it mainly about business now?
A: I'm going to approach this just like we approach every other game. You go out there and you play the full force, effective. You play smart at the same time and understand that it is a preseason game. This is our third preseason game. This is where you're going to get most of your work. This is where you're going to get the most work you're going to get until the game time comes.
Q: Do you watch any tape on them or do you just work on your own?
A: Yeah, we definitely watch tape on them.
Q: What did you think of Geno Smith from what you saw?
A: I haven't seen too much of Geno. He only played a little bit in the first preseason game, so you haven't seen too much of him. We know he's a good, athletic quarterback. We know that he's smart, he's picking up the system extremely well and we're just looking forward to playing him.
Q: Is it strange though? Things have died down pretty good on that rivalry between the Giants and the Jets. For a while, it was a lot of back and forth between the camps.
A: I really don't know, to be honest. I really don't pay attention to it. A game, to me, is a game. It doesn't matter who you're playing. So we're just going to go out there and take care of business, focus on our assignment, our keys, our adjustments and just go out there and try to play full force. Get in as much … as you can.
Q: There's some talk about limiting the preseason to two games. As a player, do you need the third and fourth games? It seems like it depends on the status of the team, injuries …?
A: I think each player is going to see it differently. For younger guys that have something to prove, trying to make the squad and trying to put something out there, I think those guys definitely do need those games. For the older guys and for the veterans, do you need the games so much? Not so much, but they are beneficial towards us also, just to get acclimated back to the game, to get the speed of the game. To actually have that full contact force. Like I said, you can be on both sides of the fence when asked that question.
WR Jerrel Jernigan
Q: What kind of progress have you made this camp?
A: I feel pretty good. I've been banged up a little, but I think I made big progress offensively and I'm going out trying to help my team.
Q: What is your relationship with Eli like?
A: It's pretty good. We had a lot of time to work in OTAs with Victor being out and a little bit at mini-camp, so we have pretty good chemistry.
Q: Do you feel like you'll find a way to contribute on this team?
A: I hope so. I go out in every game trying to be a positive production to the team by getting catches and make other players better by getting open.
Q: Do you see this as an opportunity with Cruz going down to get some more reps with the first team?
A: Without a doubt. You never want to see anybody get hurt, especially Victor in our offense, but it's an opportunity for other guys to step up, go out there and showcase their talent and what they can do.
Q: Anything like returning kicks that you'd like to do with this team?
A: Without a doubt. I've been doing that all my career with returning kicks and punts, so that's something that I would like to do also.
Q: Do you feel good?
A: I feel all right. I'm good enough to go out there and play. We'll see come Saturday.
Q: Is it frustrating to be not 100 percent versus the Jets?
A: It's frustrating when you can't open up and run, but the training staff has been working with me. I feel good enough to go out there and play, so we're going to go out there and give it a go.
Q: Is it a big game for you?
A: Every game is a big game for me. Like I've been telling people; I don't pinpoint this game. Every game I go out and play is a big game for me to go out there and showcase my talents and show the coaches and people what I can do. So I just don't pinpoint this game because Victor went down as a big game for me. Every game is a big game.
Q: If he was playing, you'd feel the same way.
A: Exactly.
Q: Except there will be increased reps.
A: Of course. When a slot receiver goes down… I'm pretty much the backup slot receiver, me and Kevin Hardy. So me and him will probably split the reps out there.
Q: What do you like about the slot? It's not for everybody?
A: It's not. I like it because I'm in there with, people say 'the big boys' or they bring the nickel in, and I'm a shifty guy, so I get to work around in there and pretty much they don't know where you're going. So you've got two or three options in there and that's what I thrive on coming in and out of my breaks.
Q: You need to be on the same page with Eli a lot. If you're not seeing things the right way, it could be trouble.
A: It could be trouble, but Eli does a good job of reading the slot receiver's body and he knows where we're going to be most of the time. So he does a good job with that.
Q: You didn't do a lot of slot stuff in college.
A: That's all I played was the slot.
Q: Were you only the slot?
A: Yeah.
Q: You weren't outside at all?
A: I went outside sometimes, but I was particularly the slot.
Q: Some of the receivers don't like it because you get banged around.
A: It's not for everybody. Like everybody says, it's for like the smaller and shifty guys with the good quickness in there. So a lot of outside guys like the big guys don't like to go in there.
Q: Who is the best slot receiver you have ever seen?
A: I'm going to have to go with Wes Welker.
Q: What do you like about him?
A: He's not that fast, but he always seems to be open all of the time. He's a good route runner. He knows how to get open. He knows how to run the routes. He's a crafty guy, a veteran.
DT Mike Patterson
Q: How is this scheme for you? Philly is now going to a 3-4. Is this kind of like home for you with this scheme?
A: It is a little bit, but they have a lot of things here. It's completely different than what we ran, they have a whole different type of thing going on here, so I'm pretty excited. Especially when you learn a new defense, you can pick up new things that you can use on the field and stuff like that. I'm excited about this opportunity and to be able to be out here.
Q: How are you doing physically?
A: I feel pretty good. I feel real good, been able to run around, hopped in there in the two-minute, stuff like that, so I feel real good. I have no issues so far. So as long as I continue what I'm doing and stay positive with it, I think everything will work out well.
Q: Even though you had gotten clearance to come back, do you think there were maybe some teams that steered away or shied away because of the health issues?
A: I wouldn't doubt it, to tell you the truth. Probably, probably not, they probably didn't need another tackle over there, something like that, but I wouldn't doubt it, most definitely. Again, I had an opportunity to show people that I still could play, it's not an issue of me going out there and performing, stuff like that, as long as I keep that in mind and go out there and show teams that I can do that then everything will be good.
Q: It's kind of rare sometimes to have a veteran going into the last two preseason games playing for his spot. Do you feel that?
A: No, not at all. I know this is a whole new team for me so I've got to go out there and show them what I can do. They want to see what I'm able to do so I see that as getting more opportunities to go out there and play so they can see what I'm able to do, if I could have a spot on the roster.
Q: When you go through something like you have and overcome that, not a lot of people have ever experienced something like that. How has that changed your outlook on things?
A: I mean, it changes you a lot, most definitely. You kind of have no recognition when you go through a situation like that, what's going on, but just to see, just coming back and fighting through it, working out and getting back into the game and stuff like that, it brings a lot out of you. It's kind of like a war within a war.
Q: When you went through it, were you cognizant that something bad could be happening?
A: No, ever since day one I didn't know what was going on, everyone thought it was heat stroke and they actually did a brain scan and they found an AVM. I felt real confident that if it was something, they'd figure out what it was. Once they figured that out, I was able to find out the medicines to take to help you out with something like that. I felt pretty good, comfortable with it.
Q: What was the worst that ever happened? Did you ever come close to being in real deep trouble?
A: No, I mean, I thank God for that. All my littlest episodes I've had I've been able to bounce back from. If it was something, as the doctors told me, it was something simple that I could take care of.
Q: Do you ever pinch yourself in the morning when you come out on the field and say, "This is still pretty amazing I'm doing this?"
A: Yeah, most definitely. I love playing this game. I just like being out here competing against each other and stuff like that and making each other better. I feel very thankful and blessed that I'm able to still come out.
Q: It seems like after all you've been through, the fight to make a roster is like, in perspective, it's minimal, is it not?
A: No, every chance you get, you've got to make the most out of it. That's one thing I had learned in this game. This game won't last forever, so you've got to make it last as long as you can. I just want to go out there and continue to play. I still feel like I can play, I still go out there and perform, so I still want to play.
Q: Do you have to take a lot of medicine on a regular basis?
A: No, nothing dramatic like that.
Q: How long was it after you had gotten released that you started getting calls?
A: I would say probably within two weeks. The first team I heard from was the Detroit Lions, I went out there to visit them. After that it was kind of a dead period, then the Giants called me up and I came out here for a workout and they kind of liked what they saw and they asked me to come out to the OTAs.
Q: So it was one of those things, those two weeks it wasn't just a couple days. It was a good two-week period.
A: Yeah, it was two weeks and it almost felt like three months or something like that. You don't hear from anybody but it was just one of those things, you've just go to stay positive and not get down on yourself, lose yourself in the process, just continuing to do what you're doing, like working out and taking care of your body.
Q: You picked here knowing that there is a lot of competition at defensive tackle.
A: Yeah. It is. But again, I would say it's an opportunity to get better. There are a lot of guys that have been playing for a while. We've got one rookie and everyone's been here for at least four years plus so you can learn a lot from these guys, too. That's how I look at it, just come in and make the most out of what I can do on the field and learn from it.
Tackle Justin Pugh
RE: Impact of David Diehl on his development
A: He's helped me with all of the ins and outs of what's going on. Everything he gives me I just take it and try to run with it. I watch how he practices and how he handles himself on and off the field and he's a true professional.
Q: Does that at all surprise you? Because a veteran could say, "hey, this kid's out for my job, why help him?"
A: I just think it's his personality and the way this team is. All these guys just want to win, so whatever we're going to do to help the team win, we've got to be able to step up, play that role and execute.
Q: What was your reaction yesterday when you got the news that you were going to be lining up with the first team?
A: I was excited. It's something, you come here, I played at Syracuse, and to be able to come out here and play with the first team really has that heightened, you have to be on your Ps and Qs and make sure you're doing the right thing. Obviously, to go out there and get those reps yesterday was great for me. Now I'm just making sure I go out there and get better today.
Q: Were you surprised, shocked, did you jump up and down?
A: No, I didn't jump up and down but I was pretty excited when I heard the news. You just have to go out there and execute. I got some texts from friends and family congratulating me, as soon as I got out of meetings everyone else had already known I was in, they probably knew before I even knew. It's something that you just kind of take it and you run with it. It's a great opportunity for me to get some experience.
Q: How ready can you be? You haven't had a lot of time here and you missed a couple of weeks with the concussion. How ready can you be to step into the starting lineup?
A: I'm ready. Coach Flats has definitely made sure I'm covering all the bases and going over game film. This week, you've got to make sure you go over the extra things that the Jets bring to the table. It's exciting that I get to go out there, get to play and I know getting out there for the game will give me some valuable experience that will be something great, even coming back from that concussion.
Q: Can you talk about the mentoring you've been getting from Chris Snee?
A: Yeah, it's been great. I knew coming into this situation that I had those guys ahead of me in the room and that they've been around for a while and they know what it takes to be successful at this level. Having him out there next to me and being able to go over things, double check, it can't hurt to ask somebody at the line, to be able to run things by him, so it's been great for me and I think it's going to mean a lot for me going down the road.
