Give Michael Boley this: All these weeks on the physically-unable-to-perform list didn’t dull his sense of humor.
When asked yesterday if his goal was to be ready for the Giants’ second game, he quipped, “My goal is to be ready for Game 1.”
Funny guy. Boley was suspended for the opener for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. For Boley and the Giants, that literally was insult after injury.
The Giants signed Boley to a five-year, $25 million deal on Feb. 28. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on June 24 for a torn labrum in his hip. The recovery time of 8-10 weeks put him on a time frame to be ready for the Sept. 13 opener against the Redskins.
But on July 7, the NFL announced a one-game suspension of Boley, reportedly stemming from a domestic battery charge in May of 2008. He was arrested after his wife claimed he became physical with her during a dispute.
“It’s one thing to learn it on paper, learn it as you’re looking [at it], but once you actually go through it there are some things that you might not have seen well while on the sideline,” said Boley when asked to assess his understanding of the Giants. “It’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment when I get back.”
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WR David Tyree, who made one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history and helped the Giants upset the Patriots two years ago, sounded yesterday like a man resigned to the probability his days in New York are over.
“This journey has had its bumps along the way but nonetheless, it’s the journey that matters,” said Tyree, 29, who’s been battling knee, groin and hamstring problems. “That’s what brings so much excitement. I know I am not done. You know, wherever I am playing that’s where I will prosper.”
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LB Antonio Pierce (foot) returned to practice, doing some individual work and getting some snaps.
T David Diehl (patella tendinitis) was held out of practice, and coach Tom Coughlin said he’s not scheduled to practice today or play in the last preseason game.
S Kenny Phillips (knee) still has swelling and did not practice. DE Chris Canty (hamstring) did not practice as did RB Danny Ware (ribs). Coughlin said Ware was feeling better.
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There was a scary moment late in practice when star RB Brandon Jacobs and reserve OL Guy Whimper got tangled up and collapsed in a heap. Jacobs got up after a few minutes. Whimper (hip flexor) left and did not return.
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Seventh-round draft choice S Stoney Woodson was waived along with WR Taye Biddle and OL Terrance Pennington.
