GIANT NOTES
Tom Coughlin knows who’s starting where for the Giants Sunday when they face the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. But he’s not saying.
Three spots remain open, at middle linebacker, left guard and free safety. What appears certain is that Kevin Lewis will start at middle linebacker with Nick Greisen’s left ankle remaining an issue.
“It’s not 100 percent yet, still got some ways to come,” Greisen said. “I can practice and I’m gonna play on Sunday.”
But he likely won’t start. Although he hasn’t been told, Greisen said, “I kind of get an inclination” that Lewis will get the call. Lewis started in last week’s preseason finale against the Ravens while Greisen, although extremely active despite a sprained left ankle, didn’t help himself physically in that game.
“I was feeling pretty good and then I got like 40 snaps in the game and the next thing I knew it was back to stage one again with the ankle,” Greisen said.
As for left guard, the battle is between Wayne Lucier and Jason Whittle, who was acquired from the Buccaneers in a trade last Tuesday. Whittle might get the job eventually, but has a great deal of learning to make up in a short period of time.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m starting the game against Philly,” said Lucier, who started one game last year as a rookie. “I haven’t heard anything different at this point. It could change, if it does I’ll deal with it.”
Officially, Allen is listed as questionable, as are TE Jeremy Shockey (hamstring) and WR Jamaar Taylor (hamstring). Shockey is the only one of the three who practiced yesterday.
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Coughlin said CB Will Allen, who has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, was not cleared to practice yesterday but may be today.
He’d better be, as Coughlin said, “I’d like to see him work a normal Thursday, for consideration [to play] he needs to practice, put it that way.”
Allen didn’t seem to think that would be a problem.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m ready to go,” said Allen, who indicated he felt ready yesterday. “They want to work me out some more. We’ll know soon enough. I wouldn’t put myself out there if I wasn’t ready. There’s no way I would do that. That’s what I feel, in order for me to play I got to get out there and practice, not practicing and going out there and practicing is not the way to go. I think I can.”
If Allen can’t play, Terry Cousin will probably start.
Philly coach Andy Reid received a four-year contract extension that keeps him tied to the Eagles through the 2010 season.
“I’m not much on talking about myself but it’s a great complement,” Reid said.
