GIANT NOTES
ALBANY – For the first time in an NFL game, Rich Seubert played center Friday night in Baltimore.
“He was nervous about it,” quarterback Tim Hasselbeck said. “You can tell. When he vomited before the game, usually that’s a pretty good giveaway.”
Of course, when Seubert was lined up at guard, he regularly got sick before games. After starting at right guard in place of injured Chris Snee, Seubert moved to center – a new position for him – in the second quarter. There were no incidents on the exchange with Hasselbeck.
“You got a guy right on you, you got one hand between your legs and you got the nose guard coming down your neck,” said Seubert, who did not practice yesterday because of turf toe. “It’s a little different; you’re kind of like one-handed for a split second.”
Seubert started at guard for the Giants in 2002 and part of 2003 before a devastating injury – a shattered right leg – nearly ended his career. By expanding his role, the Giants might be able to dress only seven offensive linemen on game days, with Seubert backing up two spots. Also, Shaun O’Hara, the incumbent center, is the only member of the starting offense not signed for next season, making it even more logical that Seubert gets work at center.
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Snee returned to practice after missing a week. LB LaVar Arrington (knee) also returned, as did LB Carlos Emmons (neck burner). After missing seven games last season with a torn pectoral muscle, durability has become an issue for Emmons. “It raises the question,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “The only guy who can handle that one is Carlos.”
WR Amani Toomer showed up yesterday with soreness in his leg and hamstring and did not practice. WR David Tyree (ankle) also sat. . . . E.J. Underwood, a rookie from Pikeville who played three years at Ohio State, is working with the first-team dime defensive package. “He had a pretty good game the other night,” Coughlin said, “and he’s getting as much as we can throw at him.”
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Once again, rookie WR Sinorice Moss did not practice because of a strained quad, making it more and more unlikely he will have an immediate impact. Moss hasn’t been on the field since the second day of camp. “It’s going to be very difficult,” Coughlin said. “He’s missed so much time, He’s been watching other people execute things he could have been doing, and that’s not necessarily the way to do it.”
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The secondary came up big yesterday, with CB R.W. McQuarters getting two interceptions and CB Curtis Deloatch getting one. . . . Late in practice, DE Michael Strahan and C Grey Ruegamer got into a scuffle, with Strahan putting a choke-hold on Ruegamer.
