--After several incidents involving missed field goals and complaints about the kicking surface at training camp from Lawrence Tynes, the Giants signed another kicker, Josh Huston, who was scheduled to do the kicking vs. Cleveland in the preseason game Aug. 18. Huston barely lost a battle with Tynes last summer for the job. Tynes says he slipped and hurt his leg Aug. 9 on the practice field. "It had rained all night and it was very slippery," he said, failing to explain why the coaches would allow him out there if the footing was so treacherous in the first place. He missed a pair of short field goals vs. Detroit in the first preseason game, but did make the 47-yarder in overtime against Green Bay last Jan. 20 to get the Giants into the Super Bowl.
--Rookie MLB Jonathan Goff (fractured transverse process) might not have to miss the season by being placed on injured reserve. It now looks as though he can be back by the start of the regular-season schedule.
Rookie WR Mario Manningham, the third-round pick, has missed most of camp with a strained quad muscle and faces the real possibility of going on the injured reserve list and thus missing the entire season.
--A pair of receivers, neither drafted, has made waves during camp. At this point it is almost impossible to consider the team releasing either Brandon London or Domenic Hixon. Both have pushed the starters hard, especially Hixon, who has played most of camp for the injury-plagued Plaxico Burress.
--The Giants were awarded OT Cliff Louis (6-8, 315) on waivers from Cleveland. The hulking Louis played at Morgan State and spent all of last season on the Browns' practice squad.
--The Giants waived rookie DE Robert Henderson (the first Jerry Reese draft pick to be so treated) as injured. "He had three torn tendons in his ankle and he wasn't going to be able to play this year," said the second-year general manager.
--It is becoming clear that plans for the Giants' running game revolve around two or three running backs and not just one. Although Brandon Jacobs (1,009 yards last year) is the starter, there will be ample carries for Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw as well. It's not quite running back by committee, but it isn't reliance on one back, either.
BATTLE OF THE WEEK: A no-brainer this time, as eyes are fixed on K Josh Huston and his attempt to unseat regular Lawrence Tynes, who has not had an impressive camp. Huston almost won the job last summer before being released. He subsequently spent five days on the Cincinnati practice squad and signed with Cleveland in the Arena League but never reported.
OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Still searching for backups on the D-line and O-line, the Giants prepared to try DT Jay Alford at end to compete with veteran free agent Renaldo Wynn and a few rookies, Wallace Gilberry and Alex Morrow. Either way, however, Alford has a job.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tie, WRs Brandon London, Domenic Hixon and Sinorice Moss, all of whom have caught everything thrown in their general direction, including several diving circus catches of balls not entirely thrown accurately.
ROOKIE REPORT: FS Kenny Phillips is zeroing in on the starting job when the season starts ... CB Terrell Thomas is making an impact and will be the first sub corner as well as the possible nickel corner ... WR Mario Manningham is still injured (strained quad) ... LB Bryan Kehl is making an impression and will make the team as a backup at both OLB positions ... LB Jonathan Goff (fractured transverse process) is healing ... QB Andre Woodson was expected to get his first action Aug. 18 against Cleveland.
INJURY REPORT: WR Amani Toomer (knee) is simply being rested ... WR Steve Smith (groin) is not considered in danger of missing much time ... WR Mario Manningham (quad) might get the I.R. treatment ... SLB Mathias Kiwanuka (groin) should be all right ... rookie MLB Jonathan Goff (transverse process) could miss the opening six weeks ... CB Sam Madison (sports hernia) hasn't practiced much the last few weeks ... CB-S R.W. McQuarters (hip flexor) is being rested.
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