Saturday Practice Notes & Quotes

A heavy rain cleared just in time for the Giants’ scheduled 8:40 a.m. practice to start on time, opening training camp 2007. Tom Coughlin was pleased to see that his players were champing at the bit.

“They did not want any holding back,” he said. “They did not want any setback or change of time or anything. They wanted to be out here practicing from the get-go this morning.”…

Osi Umenyiora said he is expecting to practice once a day this summer. Plaxico Burress practiced in the morning, but not the afternoon…

Both DE Justin Tuck, who instantly becomes even more valuable if Michael Strahan does retire, and CB Corey Webster were held out of the morning practice. Both practiced in the afternoon…

Coughlin mentioned that he was very pleased with the condition of WR Amani Toomer, who is returning from ACL surgery last season. Coughlin stated that Toomer finished the conditioning tests very well…

Mathias Kiwanuka, who could potentially be moved back to defensive end in Strahan’s absence, said he had no news to report just yet. “Right now I’m playing linebacker,” he said…

Antonio Pierce believes that it’s only a matter of time until Strahan returns. “My gut feeling is that, yes, he’ll be back to play,” he said.

Tom Coughlin had t-shirts printed up for the entire team bearing the slogan: “Talk is cheap; Play the Game.”…

TGI has learned that FOX-5 television will be the official station of the Giants. An official announcement is expected sometime next week.

Please check out TGI’s newest feature “Live From the Sidelines!” in the lower left column of our site for up-to-the minute news reports from Albany.