The sight yesterday of cornerback Sam Madison on the practice field for the Giants came as a surprise, considering he was expected to be out at least another week after pulling a hamstring on Aug. 19 in a preseason game in Baltimore.
Madison since Friday “has been pushing it pretty hard” and he was able to hang in for practically the entire two-hour session. “He did pretty much a full turn,” Tom Coughlin said. “We’ll have to see how he is (today).”
There is reason to proceed with caution with the 33-year old Madison. Last season, he strained a hamstring and, after missing two games, returned too early, re-injured the leg and was forced out of the next two games. The Giants know pushing Madison into action Sunday night against the Cowboys could be too-much, too-soon, but aren’t going to hold Madison back if he proves he’s healthy.
“If I play, I’m pretty much going to be 100 percent,” Madison said. “I don’t want to have the letdown I did last year, I thought I was 100 percent, I wasn’t, and then I missed a few more games. Hopefully, I can play. If not, I think the other guys will do a great job.”
If Madison can’t play, Corey Webster will start along with R.W. McQuarters at cornerback.
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DE Michael Strahan for the second day took part in practice. “We threw a lot more at him in the classroom and a lot more things to work with as we advance in the week,” Coughlin said. The decision to activate Strahan – all signs indicate that will happen – probably won’t come until Saturday.
RB Brandon Jacobs, set to make his first career start, was defending Tiki Barber‘s recent harsh comments when he decided to change the focus to the field. “Off of that subject, I think we’re going to go to Dallas this Sunday and whip their [butts],” he said. Asked if that was a quote, Jacobs immediately backed off. “I just think we’re going to go play well,” he quickly added. “I’m going to say that. We’re going to go in and play well and hope we come out with a victory.”
WR Amani Toomer is psyched that Eli Manning stood up for himself by shooting back when Barber made fun of his “comical” leadership skills. “I think it was something he needed to do,” Toomer said. “He’s not going to sit back there and let people take pot shots at him from behind a typewriter or microphone.”
Toomer could be a key player this weekend, as the Cowboys are expected to go with career backup Jacques Reeves as a starting cornerback in place of injured Terence Newman (plantar fascia tear, right heel). Reeves, a seventh-round pick, has started one game in four years. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Reeves told reporters in Dallas when asked if the Giants will target him.