The first practice of the 2010 season is in the books and it was a light one focused on fundamentals. Here’s some highlights from practice and Coach Tom Coughlin’s press conference.

FEWELL EFFECT: New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell had the defense play a game of “Hot Potato.” Each unit broke into groups and played the game until there was a winner. Then the winner of each group competed in a final competition.

Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka ended up losing to safety Sha’reff Rashad after he threw the ball too high for Rashad to catch.

The defensive backs celebrated wildly while the defensive line laughed and roared. The entire defense seemed to be enjoying the light moment. Not a bad way for Fewell to kick off the 2010 campaign trying to build the defense into one cohesive unit and improve chemistry.

Fewell then rotated the defense through stations to work on different fundamentals.

And in another sign of the defense having fun, the unit broke out of one huddle screaming, “I love me some Blue!”

SPECIAL TEAMS: The team’s first punt return reps were done with Aaron Ross, Mario Manningham, Antrel Rolle, Sinorice Moss and Adam Jennings all returning punts.

The Giants are conducting a camp-long audition to find a replacement for Domenik Hixon, who is out for the year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first practice at the New Meadowlands Stadium last month.

Punter Matt Dodge also made his camp debut and got off to a rocky start when he booted a few short punts during one punting session that saw little air on a number of punts. The rookie settled down later in the drill and booted a few high and long punts.

STARTING SIGNS: Jonathan Goff was the middle linebacker with the first team, lining up alongside outside linebackers Michael Boley and Clint Sintim. Newly-acquired MLB Keith Bulluck worked with the second team as he learns Fewell’s defense while taking it slow coming off ACL surgery seven months ago.

On the defensive line, DE Justin Tuck, DT Barry Cofield, DT Chris Canty and Kiwanuka started. DE Osi Umenyiora rotated in for Kiwanuka to play with the first team.

NO HAYNESWORTHS: Coughlin was pleased with the first day of practice, praising his team and singling out his big linemen for all passing the team’s morning conditioning drills.

The players were required to run the width of the field and back within 20 seconds in groups. After five times, the team got a three-minute break before going another five times.

“We have an entire team, no one is overweight, and all the big guys made it,” Coughlin said. “I can’t remember being on a team where all the big guys made it.”

Coughlin praised T Kareem McKenzie, Canty and G Chris Snee for looking good during the running drills.

The only negative was RB Gartrell Johnson, who struggled through the last couple of conditioning drills and brought up the rear while Coughlin watched.

“Rigor mortis set in,” Coughlin joked when asked about Johnson’s being sick or injured.

Coughlin also said that RB Ahmad Bradshaw and Bulluck both sat out the conditioning drills as precaution but that Bradshaw looked fine during practice. He also said it likely won’t take Bulluck long to get a grasp on the defense.

PLAY OF THE DAY: WR Derek Hagan made a streaking deep catch over Rolle down the right sideline from Eli Manning.