The road to success in the NFL begins each year with the hard work and wide-open possibilities of training camp. As teams around the league gear up for the 2015 campaign, NFL Media reporters will be checking in from all 32 camps around the league. For our next stop, Kimberly Jones visits the New York Giants.
Where is NFL Media?
The New York Giants usually can be found at their training facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey. But for most of this week, they're in Cincinnati as they practice with the Bengals before the teams' preseason game Friday night. The squads are working on the practice fields outside Paul Brown Stadium.
Observations
1) Receiver Victor Cruz participated in individual drills but spent team drills on the sideline. He's coming back from a torn patellar tendon suffered last October, and the Giants are being cautious. "It's tough, but you have to understand the bigger picture," Cruz said. "Coach doesn't want anything crazy to happen, and you have to understand that."
2) In Tuesday's full-pads practice, intensity was high, but there was no fighting, and few players were tackled to the ground. The one-on-one receiver/defensive back drills featuring Odell Beckham Jr. vs the Bengals' Adam Jones were entertaining. Jones was not pleased with an official who flagged him, instead of Beckham, on one play.
3) Perhaps the best sign for Eli Manning was the offensive line's ability to block the Bengals effectively. The Giants hadn't game-planned for Cincinnati's personnel or schemes, and Manning thought the line responded well in no-huddle and with fast tempo.
New additions
Landon Collins, S: The rookie remains likely to start. The Giants used at least five safety combinations Tuesday, with Collins and Jeromy Miles working most often with the starters.
Ereck Flowers, LT: Flowers, a first-round pick, got his first look at an NFL opponent. He has impressed with his toughness. Manning's approach to get Flowers ready? "I think you just throw everything at him," Manning said.
Shane Vereen, RB: The former Patriot could line up anywhere in coordinator Ben McAdoo's offense. At practice, Manning routinely finds Vereen on checkdowns, which comes as no surprise. But there will be plenty of plays designed to get the ball in Vereen's hands.
Overheard
"I'm just happy to get my feet back under me, be back out here working hard. Missed the heat, missed the battles. I just want to get out there and get my nose bloody a little bit, and get back in the swing of things."
-- Jon Beason, middle linebacker, who played in just four games last season while dealing with foot issues.
Extra points
» Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense remains a work in progress. Beason liked what he saw vs. Cincy: "We were very dominant, I think, just in terms of executing and doing jobs and being where we're supposed to be." Keeping Beason healthy is vital. He's taken starter's reps and looked sharp so far.
» Jason Pierre-Paul remains absent, and no one seems to know when he will show up. Teammates and members of the organization still voice concern first about JPP's mental and physical well-being. But coach Tom Coughlin would like JPP to report. Soon.
Follow Kimberly Jones on Twitter @KimJonesSports.
