ESPN

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's popularity rating was probably already low with Giants fans for picking the Jets against the Giants in 2011.

But while talking to students at Samsel Upper Elementary School in Parlin, N.J., Christie revealed he's a Dallas Cowboys fan.

Christie was asked what teams he roots for and he mentioned the Knicks, Mets and Rangers.

"Now the last answer is one of the things that gets all of my political advisers nervous," Christie said. "My favorite football team is not the New York Giants."

That caused a loud stir in the assembly.

"It is not the New York Jets ... and it is not the Philadelphia Eagles," Christie continued. "Get ready now. My favorite football team are the Dallas Cowboys ... which by the way is not the smartest thing for the Governor of New Jersey to want to be is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys."

The answer drew loud boos as the candid Christie could only shake his head in amusement.

This is not the first time Christie has sided with a rival of the Giants. Before the Giants and Jets played each other in 2011 in a pivotal Christmas Eve game, Christie predicted the Jets would win. The Giants went on to a 29-14 victory on their way to a Super Bowl run.

Christie explained that his father was a Giants fan but he grew up a fan of the Cowboys and Roger Staubach.

"The Giants and the Jets pretty much stunk when I was a kid," Christie said. "And my father was a Giants fan and I used to remember watching him when I was eight, nine-years-old. Every Sunday, he would watch the Giants and yell at the TV set. I used to think to myself, why would I want to root for a team that makes you angry? So I decided not to and the Cowboys were really good back then."

With the Giants off until training camp, we're taking a look at what the coaches are saying about how their positions looked this offseason in OTAs.

Today, we look at Jerald Ingram's thoughts on his running backs:

Wilson growing: David Wilson and Andre Brown will compete in next month's camp to start at running back. Wilson is on track to be the starter, but the running backs are slated to share carries.

Ingram likes what he has seen from Wilson.

"He's in a position to compete to be the guy," Ingram said when asked if Wilson can be the lead back. "He has the talent, has the speed, has a few plays from a year ago underneath his belt. Everything we gauge is kind of like in college with spring ball, but once we put the pads on, we'll see who is physical, who's determined to make plays out there."

"I think he's grown," Ingram added. "He has a fairly good understanding of the offense right now. He's definitely in position to be the guy, but I think just like what we've done in the past here, we're going to be a rotation-type team, and what certain backs do best, we'll play."

Ingram says Wilson has improved with his pass protection, but the running backs coach wants to see how he does in camp in full pads. He also wants to see Wilson become more of a presence with his teammates to help replace the void left by Ahmad Bradshaw.

"There are some goals that he has to accomplish for us," Ingram said. "He's definitely on a better track than he was a year ago in understanding our protections and doing those kinds of things. I think we'll take advantage of his natural ability as much as we can."

"We've got a tradition of great running backs here that have established themselves as leaders on this team," Ingram added. "And that's where he’s got to be. He's got to be a guy that Eli [Manning] can trust in every situation possible, and we'll go from there. But right now I think he's on track."

A complete back: Brown has recovered from his broken leg suffered last season and has waited a long time for an opportunity to show what he can do on a full-time basis.

Even if Wilson starts, Brown should see his share of snaps, including goal-line touches.

"He's motivated," Ingram said. "He's been waiting a lifetime around here for that. We brought him in here because he can catch the ball, he can run, he can do a lot of things and be a complete running back here. And he's definitely a true every-down kind of guy because he's got size, speed and quickness."

Thunder and Lightning reborn: Ingram hopes that Wilson and Brown can become the type of tandem the Giants once had in the backfield.

"We like to think that we have the size and quickness with these two guys to be a thunder and lightning-type situation," Ingram said. "And I think we will utilize that this year. How many carries they get will be based on who we play and our objective and our situation."

Tell us what you think of Ingram's assessment and how you think Wilson and Brown should be used.

Now that the Giants are off until training camp, we're taking a look at what the coaches are saying about how their positions looked this offseason in OTAs.

Today, we start with what coach Mike Pope thinks about the tight ends.

The JPP of tight ends: The tight end people are most curious about is Adrien Robinson, the "JPP of tight ends." Robinson has been a project, but Pope likes what he has seen this offseason.

"Adrien Robinson appears to have gone into the land of the believers," Pope said recently. "And yes he has been making some good progress. He is doing a lot of the assignment things correctly. Now we have to get him to adjust to the way the defense is playing on each particular play and to make the best decisions based on how the defense is playing. But he is running well and he has his weight down some.

"The quarterback is starting to find him," Pope continued. "He is hard to miss –- he is the tallest tree in the forest out there. So he is a good target. But we are more than mildly pleased with the progress that he has made from an assignment standpoint."

Bear at FB: With Henry Hynoski recovering from surgery, Bear Pascoe has filled in at fullback. So Robinson could get more opportunities to play with and behind Brandon Myers.

"When we can put Bear in (at fullback) with one of these other guys, now we can do a lot more things as far as open formations," Pope said. "A little more difficult for the defense to predict where they can’t just key on one of those guys and say the ball is going there. So that helps us."

Vertical threat: Pope is eager to see what Myers will do in training camp. He believes the former Raiders tight end could be an option in the vertical game. Myers, who had 79 receptions for 806 yards and four touchdowns last season, was signed to replace Martellus Bennett.

"I think at the Raiders he was more of an intermediate receiver," Pope said. "And now our passing game does allow the tight end to get more vertically down the field -– flag routes, double seam routes, post routes. And he appears to have the skills to get those balls. He has a little bit of a jet that can accelerate and go get a ball that is a little deeper. You may not think he is going to reach it, but he has that little bit. So we are very interested to see him in pads."

A new Ballard: Pope is also eager to see what Chase Clement, a 6-foot-5 rookie from LSU, can do in camp.

"When I first looked at him, I had visions of Jake Ballard," Pope said. "Just because he was a good blocker on the goal line. They seldom ever threw him the ball. But when the ball was snapped, he had kind of that tough-guy mentality -– old school."

"He is not going to be an all-world receiver way down the field," Pope added. "But as far as being explosive and flexible, and he has pretty good football savvy. There was a little concern about a back injury. We got that looked at and there doesn’t appear to be a problem."

How do you feel about the Giants' tight ends and what Pope had to say?

Victor Cruz was in the Giants' building and he already has signed his first-round restricted free-agent tender worth $2.879 million, a source confirmed.

So now what? Cruz told ESPN's Josina Anderson earlier Friday morning that he still "will continue talks for a long-term deal before camp starts."

What it means: Did Cruz blink? The Giants had the option of reducing Cruz's tender to $630,000 on Monday. It was hard to envision this happening, though, knowing that the Giants could only add tension to negotiations by taking that route. Still, Cruz isn't taking any chances by signing his extension

Cruz gives himself some financial security while he continues to try to negotiate a more lucrative long-term deal. So if he were to get injured while working out or in training camp, he has some security.

But Cruz sacrifices some of the little leverage he had by signing the tender. If he opts to hold out of training camp now, Cruz can be fined -- $30,000 for each day missed -- because he is now under contract.

A good-faith gesture: This move by Cruz can also be one positive step toward reaching a bigger deal. In the past, the Giants have used their franchise tags on players such as Brandon Jacobs and Steve Weatherford as a step toward working out a longer deal.

While Cruz wasn't franchised, signing his RFA tender could just be the next step toward the bigger pay day. At least, surely, that is what Cruz is hoping for.

Cruz was never going to go anywhere else. His options were limited because it was either keep moving forward without any financial security while trying to work out a long-term deal, or sign the tender now and keep talking.

Cruz opted for the latter. Considering the good working history between Cruz's agent, Tom Condon, and the Giants, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Giants and Cruz eventually strike a deal later this summer that will make both sides happy sometime. If not, Cruz will play this season on his RFA tender and then become an unrestricted free agent next season.

Keep in mind that the Giants will likely budge only so much in negotiations, because they also have Hakeem Nicks entering the final year of his deal. The Giants want to keep both of their star receivers at the right price. And, more often than not, they usually stick to whatever number they have in mind for players (just ask Osi Umenyiora). If both receivers are unrestricted free agents next offseason, the Giants can use their franchise tag on one of them.

We'll see how it all plays out. For now, Cruz has signed his tender after months of staying away from team functions. It might not be the contract he wants. But at least he's signed before camp while both sides continue to negotiate.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Giants had the NFL's leading kick returner in 2012. But he may not be their primary kick returner in 2013.

David Wilson still wants to return kicks. In fact, he said earlier this week that it's his favorite part of playing football. But Wilson is the leading candidate to be the Giants' No. 1 running back in 2013 -- meaning head coach Tom Coughlin may elect to reduce his role on special teams, to protect him from injury and conserve his energy.

Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn knows he may be losing his biggest weapon, at least some of the time.

"He's done it very well, but we'll have to see how it all comes down with where he is on the depth chart and what he's doing on offense," Quinn said Thursday, following the Giants' final official workout of the spring.

Wilson amassed 1,533 kickoff return yards last season as a rookie -- almost 300 more than the Titans' Darius Reynaud, who was second in the league. He also had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 14 against the Saints.

"I don't think it's too much to do both, but I'm not making all the decisions," Quinn added. "I think it all depends on the game. There’s other guys that have done both, whether it was as a punt returner and a starter or a kickoff returner and a starter. It’s just how it all plays out."

Quinn mentioned wide receivers Rueben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan as two other candidates for kick-return duties. Randle was the Giants' primary punt returner in 2012, handling 15 of their 20 returns. But the Giants had just 144 punt-return yards on the season, placing them dead-last in the NFL.

Cornerback Aaron Ross rejoined the Giants this offseason, and Quinn said Ross -- who handled some punts for the Giants in 2010 and '11 -- is a viable candidate at punt returner as well.

"We need to create more field position for our offense with our punt return unit and it's something that we've lagged [behind in] the last couple of years," Quinn said. "When Domenik [Hixon] was doing it earlier in '08 and '09 we were more productive, but we've got to get more production out of that punt return unit. That was a big focus for us all the way across the board [this spring] with the scheme and the technique and also the returner."

Steve Weatherford is firmly entrenched as the Giants' punter in 2013 -- he finished 19th in the NFL last season, with a net average of 39.4 yards.

But there will be a change at place kicker. Lawrence Tynes was let go, and the Giants have brought in two potential replacements -- Josh Brown and David Buehler.

"They're competing right now. They've both shown some good things," Quinn said. "We're looking for consistency out of that position. Lawrence was consistent and did a nice job, so we're looking for that and how well they kick off after that is a big factor."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Giants defense is aiming to make a major comeback in 2013. And cornerback Prince Amukamara plans to be a big part of it.

"I really want to be the No. 1 corner on this team, and I feel like right now Corey [Webster] is, and my goal is to always just try to beat him out," Amukamara said Thursday, after the team's last official practice before training camp in late July. "And I think as soon as I establish myself as the No. 1 corner [on the team], then hopefully just become the No. 1 corner in the whole league."

That last part is certainly a lofty goal. But Amukamara -- the team's first-round draft pick, 19th overall, in 2011 -- did enter the NFL with great expectations. And he feels very good after going through a full offseason program for the first time since joining the Giants, thanks to the lockout in 2011 and injuries in 2012.

"This was huge, getting those reps that I didn't get last year," Amukamara said. "I'm an athlete where I have to actually be in it to learn, rather than read and write it out."

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has been impressed by Amukamara's performance over the past few weeks. "His skill set is much improved," Fewell said Thursday. "I see a nice confidence in him right now."

If Amukamara can finally emerge as the shutdown corner the Giants had hoped he would be, that would make a big difference, after a very disappointing year in 2012.

The Giants offense didn't live up to expectations. But the defense was much worse -- ranked 31st in the league (out of 32), giving up an average of 383.4 yards per game.

Fewell is also hoping for a bounce-back year from Webster, who had a subpar season in 2012, giving up big plays in several games. But Fewell was hesitant to read too much into what he saw during OTAs and minicamp, when the players aren't even in pads.

"I do know that he’s coming back with a purpose," Fewell said of Webster. "So it will be fun to see him come back in the fall."

Webster said Thursday that the defense paid more attention to detail during its offseason work this year, and has tried to improve upon its communication.

"We had a lot of errors all across the field [last year] -- everywhere, coaches, players, the whole strategy," Webster said. "We're correcting those mistakes, those communication errors, those misplays. We eliminate them now, and not go into the season trying to eliminate them."

Fewell said he took a new approach when installing the defense this spring.

"We went about it in a different way -- we tried to do it more efficiently and more effectively," Fewell said. "How we communicated -- we tried to do that more efficiently and more effectively. And just getting some input from them -- about what we did well and what we didn't do well, so that we’re all speaking the same language and doing the same thing."

Will it work? We'll find out, starting with training camp, which commences July 26. Fewell will be on the hot seat if his unit doesn't show improvement. And he knows it.

"I always have something to prove. I think we as a football team have something to prove."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The biggest story of the Giants' offseason program, which concluded Thursday, was the absence of wide receivers Hakeem Nicks (from voluntary OTAs) and Victor Cruz (from OTAs and this week's minicamp).

But the player offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride gushed about following the team's brief walkthrough Thursday morning was second-year wideout Rueben Randle.

"Rueben you saw emerge from a guy that showed flashes at times and always caught the ball well, but maybe didn't always run the routes as precisely, as crisply as you wanted, didn't have quite the understanding you wanted," Gilbride said. "[Over the past month] he looked like a guy that's been here for five or six years. He really benefited from the opportunity."

The team's second-round draft pick in 2012, Randle had just 19 catches for 298 yards in his rookie season. His work ethic was questioned early in the year. But with Nicks skipping OTAs for unspecified reasons, and Cruz absent while his contract negotiations continue, Randle became Eli Manning's primary target.

"His whole demeanor, his whole professionalism was outstanding," Gilbride said. "Now, is that because [Nicks and Cruz] weren't here, or because he got more reps, I don't know. But he certainly stepped into a leadership role.

"Not only did he grow, he kind of became the bell cow of the receiving corps. He was first in line and did all those things. That was not what we saw last year, not by a long shot. So to see him grow like that was a great step forward for him that will help us down the road."

Nicks returned to the practice field this week, and Cruz is expected to re-sign eventually. But you can expect to see a lot more of Randle in 2013, even with those two on board.

"Oh, he's gonna play. He's gonna play a lot," Gilbride said. "He'll play first, second down, he'll be an outside receiver for us -- whether he's at the X or the Z, he's gonna play. He's looking like he deserves to be out there for significant time."

The Giants' first-round draft pick in 2012, running back David Wilson, might be even more important to the Giants' fortunes this coming season. Wilson had just 71 carries for 358 yards in 2012, backing up veteran Ahmad Bradshaw. But Bradshaw was let go, and is now with the Indianapolis Colts. And Wilson is the leading candidate to be the Giants' primary ballcarrier.

The biggest knock on Wilson as a rookie was his pass-blocking ability. Gilbride said Wilson has made great strides as well.

"You see a guy like David Wilson, who started with no clue on who to block, much less how to block it, [get] to a pretty good understanding of what it is that he has to do," Gilbride said. "Now it's a matter of doing it, and it is a matter of getting better at it. And he's still not 100 percent, he still makes mistakes, but there's certainly been some significant growth."

Wilson also took some hits for his high esteem of himself and his unique touchdown celebration. But it sounds like he has matured some.

"His approach has been great, his attitude in terms of trying to work on that aspect of the game," Gilbride said. "He realizes in order to get the playing time that he wants to get that he's gonna have to become a pass receiver, he's gonna have to become a good pass protector, and he's gonna have to be able to do the things that maybe don't fall into the strict definition of running the football. But the good thing is, he's working his tail off."

The Giants are done working, for now -- the team is now officially off until Friday, July 26, the first day of training camp. But the players, with the exception of Nicks and Cruz, have put in a lot of work these past few weeks.

The goal is, of course, Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium, 234 days from now.

And it sounds like two second-year players, Randle and Wilson, will be key pieces to the puzzle.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Two fights broke out near the end of practice on Day 2 of the Giants' three-day minicamp.

First, offensive lineman Bryant Browning and defensive end Damontre Moore mixed it up during 11-on-11 drills. A couple minutes later, wide receiver Jeremy Horne and cornerback Charles James tangled, causing practice to be stopped again.

"Cut the [B.S.] out," coach Tom Coughlin yelled after the second scrap was broken up. "Execute the play and get credit for it."

The four players involved are in their first year with the team.

"Yeah, a little frisky, couple of the young guys," Coughlin said after practice, regarding the fights. "There's no place for that."

The Giants held their open locker room before practice, not after practice, so player reaction to the fights was unavailable.

In other news from Wednesday's practice:

• Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was in action for the second consecutive day, after skipping the Giants' voluntary OTAs the past few weeks. Nicks again ran routes in individual, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

"We knew exactly how much yardage he had, and so we bumped it up a bit today -- not too much," Coughlin said. "He got a good opportunity here again today, and we'll see, maybe a little more tomorrow."

• Fellow wideout Jerrel Jernigan, who has been getting increased reps in the absence of Nicks and Victor Cruz the past few weeks, was in uniform but watched from the sideline with a wrap around his left leg. Jernigan also had to leave a practice two weeks ago early because of a tweak to his left hamstring.

Running back Ryan Torain also watched from the sideline for the second straight day. Coughlin said Torain is dealing with a hamstring injury, too.

• Coughlin sounds pleased with the Giants' other four running backs: David Wilson, Andre Brown, Da'Rel Scott and rookie Ryan Cox.

"They have all worked well, given the opportunities," Coughlin said. "The young kid [Cox] continues to do some good things. Between Andre [Brown] and David [Wilson], we've had good days, I think, pretty consistently. Da'Rel Scott has had a few good days."

Wilson and Brown are expected to share the bulk of the carries come the regular season. Last year's starter, Ahmad Bradshaw, signed with the Colts on Tuesday.

• Eli Manning connected with his new tight end, Brandon Myers, three times during one 7-on-7 session in the middle of practice.

Myers had 79 catches for 806 yards for the Raiders last season, and is replacing Martellus Bennett, who had 55 catches for 626 yards for the Giants a year ago.

• In the battle of the backup QBs, David Carr made a nice deep connection with Ramses Barden during 7-on-7 drills. Barden, who re-signed with the Giants in late May, made a couple of nice plays on the day and has looked good since his return.

Rookie QB Ryan Nassib, on the other hand, threw a wobbly deep pass that was picked off by reserve safety Tyler Sash.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –- Giants defensive back Terrell Thomas says he will be ready for the start of training camp without any limitations.

How much the Giants will let him do when camp begins in late July remains to be seen. But Thomas, who missed the past two seasons because of knee injuries, believes he will surprise many.

"I am able to do everything," Thomas said. "It is more about getting comfortable and trusting myself without hesitating, without thinking and just reacting, and I am almost there. Physically I haven't swelled up in the last four months."

"I can be realistic with myself knowing that I had two ACLs in one year and it is a long journey," he added. "But I'll be back and I'm going to shock a lot of people."

Thomas says doctors have already given him clearance for training camp. But the Giants might want to proceed cautiously with Thomas, who tore his right ACL during a preseason game in August 2011, then re-injured his knee early in camp last year when he slipped during an individual drill.

Thomas, 28, also underwent knee surgery in college. He knows the odds of a successful return are against him.

"And I kind of like it that way," Thomas said. "My life hasn't been easy. I felt like God has put things in my journey to make it possible to overcome it. I have been through a lot of hardship in my journey and I accept the challenge."

If Thomas can return healthy, he could fortify a secondary that includes Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross and Jayron Hosley. If healthy, Thomas could see time as the third safety in passing situations, according to safeties coach Dave Merritt.

"I'm whatever they need me to be," Thomas said. "At this point in my career, it is all about getting healthy and contributing in any way. If that's a leadership role, a safety role, nickel, corner, kickoff, I will do whatever I need to do."

During this week's minicamp, Thomas has done work on the side as the team brings him along slowly.

"I will be ready for training camp without limitation," Thomas said. "The amount of work I do [in camp], I don't know. ... I'm already cleared for training camp. I got three months [before the season begins] to keep getting stronger and healthy and rehab."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When the Giants traded up to draft Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib in the fourth round back in April, many reporters and fans were stunned.

After all, the Giants have a star QB in his prime in Eli Manning, and a solid veteran in David Carr.

Suddenly there was competition for the backup quarterback job. And you couldn't blame Carr, who had just re-signed with the Giants in March, if he was upset.

But Carr said Wednesday he doesn't regret his decision to return to New York. "If I’m gonna go on the field, I’d rather go on the field with a Super Bowl champion than a team I’m not sure about," said Carr. "In a system I’ve spent a good part of my career in.

"This is a good situation for me."

Carr admitted that if something like this happened early in his career, he would have "freaked out." But entering his 12th season in the NFL, his perspective has changed.

"You just see things differently," Carr said. "It’s not a negative at all. I’m super happy for Ryan. I think he’s a great kid. I think that he’s gonna have a great career. And I’m gonna do everything I can to make him a good football player."

Carr, 33. has had one of the most unique careers in recent NFL history. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft in 2002 out of Fresno State, selected by the Houston Texans, an expansion team at the time.

He spent five years in Houston, but the Texans went just 24-56 during that time. And Carr took a tremendous beating -- sacked an NFL-record 76 times as a rookie, and leading the league in QB sacks in two of the next three seasons as well.

After one year with the Carolina Panthers, staring four games, Carr joined the Giants in 2008. He has served as Manning's backup for four of the past five years (spending 2010 in San Francisco). But Manning has started an NFL-best 135 consecutive games, a streak that dates back to 2004, meaning Carr's opportunities to play have been extremely limited -- he's appeared in just 11 games, and thrown 48 passes, in four years.

Now even his role as the Giants' No. 2 quarterback isn't a given. Still, Carr sounds at peace with where he is, and what he's doing.

"It sounds cliche, but I know that Christ has a plan for my life, and I’m just going out and trying to play as good a football as I can," Carr said. "God wants me to be here, and he allows me to play, and puts me in a situation. I’m gonna do what I can with the skills that he’s given me, and I’m gonna help as many people as I can."

Carr compared Nassib to his younger brother Derek, who also plays QB for Fresno State, and said Nassib has impressed him thus far. "He’s a great kid," said Carr. "Solid mechanics. But just like any guy, you’ve got a lot to learn. And I think he knows that, he understands that, and he’s working his tail off, and he’s studying hard, and he’s asking a lot of questions."

As for Carr, even if he does serve as the Giants' No. 2 QB again this season, his days in New York are clearly numbered. But he still feels he has a lot to offer NFL teams.

"Physically I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything," he said. "When you’re young, you don’t know anything, and you kinda wish you could speed along that process and meet your physical ability. When you get too old, your physical ability is not able to keep up with what you’re seeing on the field.

"Right now I feel like I’m at the peak."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Hakeem Nicks didn't just show up at the Timex Performance Center on Tuesday and speak with coach Tom Coughlin and reporters in the morning. He also participated in the first practice of the Giants' three-day minicamp in the afternoon.

Nicks didn't appear to be going full-speed, but he worked during both individual and 11-on-11 drills. For the complete story on Nicks, click here.

In other news from Tuesday's practice:

• Rueben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan had been serving as the team's starting wide receivers during OTAs in the absence of Nicks and Victor Cruz. But Louis Murphy was paired with Randle when the Giants began 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday.

Both Jernigan and Nicks eventually got snaps with the first unit as well. But Coughlin has spoken very positively about Murphy in recent weeks, and it appears the 26-year-old speedster, who played for the Carolina Panthers last season, may be climbing up the depth chart.

Coughlin sounded relatively pleased with his team as a whole following the nearly two-hour practice on Tuesday.

"We had good energy," Coughlin said. "Good energy today."

• Center David Baas and guard Chris Snee did some individual work on the side, but watched most of the action again as they recover from injuries.

Coughlin expects both players to be able to participate for a much larger extent come training camp in July.

"That's what I'm told (by the doctors), that they will be ready to go," Coughlin said. "I'm sure there'll be some limitations, but it won't be like it is here. They'll be able to work."

James Brewer continues to start at right guard, in place of Snee. On Tuesday, regular left guard Kevin Boothe slid to center, and Brandon Mosley served as the starting left guard.

• Coughlin also provided updates on a couple of other injured Giants, who were out of sight on Tuesday -- defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had back surgery last week, and fullback Henry Hynoski, who had knee surgery in late May.

"He's here. But he's in the process of getting to the point where he can do some things," Coughlin said, of Pierre-Paul. "I know probably for the first three or four weeks he's not going to be doing much."

"He's doing well. Every day he's in there," the coach said of Hynoski, adding that he hopes both will be ready for the start of the regular season in September.

• There weren't many flashy plays during Tuesday's practice. One that did stand out, however, was a swat-down by rookie defensive end Damontre Moore off a pass thrown by fellow rookie Ryan Nassib.

Moore, the team's third-round draft choice out of Texas A&M, has been impressive this spring, and the coaching staff has talked him up as well.

The Giants also attempted a rare flea-flicker during 11-on-11 drills. The pass by Curtis Painter was on the mark, but second-year man Brandon Collins, leaping up over a crowd of defenders, couldn't haul it in.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tom Coughlin is trying to remain optimistic about Victor Cruz's contract situation.

But the head coach lamented the time lost this offseason so far as Cruz continues to try to work out a new deal.

"I've been optimistic since Day One and it hasn’t gotten me anywhere has it?" Coughlin said. "So I’ll just continue to be that way. The clock’s running. Calendar dates are going by fellas."

Coughlin actually licked his fingers and motioned as if he were turning calendar pages. Cruz did not show up for the first day of mandatory minicamp and doesn't have to be here since he has yet to sign his restricted free-agent tender. If Cruz doesn't sign his tender worth $2.879 million, the Giants can lower the tender to $630,000 on June 17.

But it is hard seeing the Giants going that route, which would only add tension to negotiations.

While Coughlin has one receiver back in Hakeem Nicks, he would like to have Cruz back as well.

"This is something that at least we could have benefited by if nothing else, this minicamp," Coughlin said. "But you have to realize that there is no contract at this time. Without a contract he is not going to be here."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Just a few lockers down from Hakeem Nicks, who was mobbed by the media on Tuesday morning, Mark Herzlich quietly discussed the biggest opportunity of his life.

Nicks' presence at Day 1 of the Giants' three-day mandatory minicamp is the biggest story of the day. But Herzlich could be one of the biggest, and best, stories of the summer, as he tries to secure the team's starting middle linebacker job.

The 25-year-old has already beaten cancer. Now the former Boston College star has been lining up with the first-team defense, and appears to have the inside track on starting in the middle come September.

"It’s going well. A lot of good learning," said Herzlich of OTAs the past few weeks. "It’s not as much physical stuff right now, it’s a lot of mental stuff -- reacting, playing fast. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of doing that."

As a junior at BC in 2008, Herzlich was a first-team All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. But he missed all of the following season while being treated for Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He returned to the field in 2010, but went undrafted the following spring.

The Giants signed him as a rookie free agent, and he's played in 27 games the past two seasons. He missed the final five games of his rookie year, plus the Giants' Super Bowl run, due to an ankle injury. But he's gotten four starts, and shown flashes of potential stardom.

Herzlich said his two years of NFL experience have made a huge difference in his game.

"Everything happens so fast that now, as opposed to my rookie year, I see a play and -- bam! -- after a split second I know what the play’s gonna be before it even happens," he said.

The Giants are in transition when it comes to their linebacker unit. Last year's starter in the middle, Chase Blackburn, is with the Carolina Panthers. The Giants also parted ways with Michael Boley, who started at linebacker the past four seasons.

There is plenty of competition at each spot, but Herzlich has distinguished himself in the early going, including interceptions in back-to-back practices last week.

He is also putting in lots of work off the field, with buddy Spencer Paysinger -- another undrafted free agent entering his third NFL season -- and currently serving as Boley's replacement with the first unit.

"After the first OTA, we always go and watch the films -- me and Spence were watching film, and we’re like, 'We’re gonna know this defense better than the coaches,'" Herzlich said. "So we went to Costco that day, got dry erase boards -- I was on the dry erase board all [Monday], just reviewing everything from OTAs, getting ready for minicamp. That way, when you eliminate the mental mistakes, you can play faster and more physical."

The Giants also picked up free agent Dan Conner, who started eight games for the Dallas Cowboys last season and 11 games for the Panthers the year before.

But it's Herzlich's job to lose as of now.

"This is an unbelievable opportunity, just to have the opportunity to break into the starting role," Herzlich said. "And the rest is on me -- whether I perform well enough and do well enough and study well enough to get that job."

The Indianapolis Colts and running back Ahmad Bradshaw agreed to a one-year deal Tuesday, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Bradshaw, 27, spent his first six NFL seasons with the Giants after being drafted by the team in the seventh round (No. 250 overall) out of Marshall. In 84 games, he rushed for 4,232 yards -- including 1,000-yard seasons in 2010 and 2012 -- placing him sixth on the franchise's all-time rushing list.

Click here to read the full story.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks returned to the New York Giants for the first day of mandatory minicamp.

The team's top wideout would not say why he chose not to participate in the team's voluntary OTAs the past several weeks but acknowledged that he could have handled the situation better as far as communicating with Tom Coughlin to let the coach know he wasn’t participating in OTAs. The two met on Tuesday morning and cleared the air.

Nicks said he did speak with general manager Jerry Reese earlier to let him know his point of view over the missed OTA workouts.

“I could have done a better job of reaching out [to Coughlin],” said Nicks, who chose to train in North Carolina during OTAs. “We finally got to talk [this morning] and we got things straight on that end. Coach Coughlin, that is my guy. So I think that relationship can’t go sour. I felt where he was coming from, I should’ve done a better job of reaching out to him.”

Read the rest of what Nicks had to say about returning to the Giants here.

Tell us how you feel about Nicks returning for minicamp. Relieved?