TRAINING CAMP NOTES
*The Giants ran a "fire" call during their field goal drill today. That means the play breaks down and holder Steve Weatherford must do something smart and/or creative with the ball. For the first time in that situation, he threw it to tackle David Diehl, who wrapped his big gloved hands around the ball.
"I heard that there might be a fire call and usually Weatherford likes to be the glory boy and want it himself," Diehl said. "He said he was going to throw it and I said, 'You better throw it to me.' It was fun. I've never scored a touchdown in my life. It's fun doing it in practice. I don't know if it'll ever come up in the game or not. Everybody, after I did it, said I should celebrate. I said you got to act like you been there before.
"It's always fun catching the football and showing off your athleticism. People think that O-Linemen aren't athletes. It's nice to show off that we are and that we can catch."
Diehl, who is entering his 10th NFL season, hasn't touched a ball in a game since he was a high school tight end.
"I actually blocked a punt in the end zone and my best friend landed on it underneath me," he said. "So instead of celebrating, I was actually punching him in the kidneys because that was my ball. I've never scored a touchdown. Never."
Don't expect him to get a chance in the regular season. The Giants haven't attempted a fake field goal since Oct. 8, 1989, when Jeff Hostetler threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Carl Banks in Philadelphia.
*Blackburn was one of several linebackers to miss practice, which prompted Tom Coughlin to cut plays, which knocked about 30 minutes of the team's scheduled practice time. Also sidelined were Michael Boley (hamstring), Jacquian Williams (hip) and Jake Muasau (hamstring), plus Clint Sintim, who is on the PUP list while he rehabs his knee.
"We really don't have many linebackers practicing," Coughlin said. "We didn't cut any periods. We cut some plays out of some periods."
*Tackles Will Beatty and James Brewer did not practice because of back injuries. Defensive end Justin Trattou remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Defensive tackle Martin Parker returned to the field after missing yesterday's practice with a sore back.
*Safety Kenny Phillips intercepted an underthrown Eli Manning pass for Martellus Bennett…Jayron Hosley quickly read a screen pass and was all over Bennett as soon as he caught ball, prompting defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to run onto the field yelling, "attaboy Hosley." …Mathias Kiwanuka batted down a short Manning pass thrown to Cruz.
- Today's attendance was 3080.
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