T-Rock's Take on the Giants

But you can't take Albany out of the team. At least not on the practice squad. The Giants have signed former Great Dane Rashad Barksdale, a cornerback who was with the Chiefs last year and this summer and was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round in 2007 but didn't make the team. He takes the spot of Geoffrey Pope on the practice squad (as well as his No. 33 jersey). The Giants also added TE Eric Butler to the practice squad, giving them a full eight.

Here's a link to the conference call with Barksdale after he was drafted. Wonder if he wants to rephrase his first answer.

As for today's practice, the same guys were inactive, although there does seem to be progress. Tynes, for instance, was wearing his kicking socks pulled up to his knees and his kicking shoes. Hixon was working on the Jugs machine. And Jonathan Goff was doing some individual drills that included up-and-downs in which he landed flat on the ground and hopped up only to shuffle to either his right or his left. Looks like he's coming along with his back injury.

Practice was crawling with Peacocks as Ebersol, Madden, Kremer et al were checking out the boys in blue. No sign of Tiki, although his name is painted on the sides of the four trailers that have pulled into the lot to cover Thursday night's game. Players must love having to walk past that on their way to the practice field.

Just a quick housekeeping note: Practice squadder Wallace Gilberry has changed his number from 95 to 94 to accomodate newly signed DE Jerome McDougle. McDougle was on the field today but had not had his name sticthed onto the back of his jersey.

We get Coughlin after practice, as well as Gilbride, then the locker room.