A year ago, Hakeem Nicks was coming off what turned out to be his biggest game of the season. He caught 10 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown in a victory over the Buccaneers and was very much looking forward to what came next: A return to his hometown of Charlotte, N.C. to face the Panthers.
Nicks purchased about 20 tickets for family and friends. Nicks, though, tweaked his left knee against the Buccaneers and missed the next three games.
A year later, Nicks isn’t going to miss anything. Once again, he has purchased about 20 tickets for family and some of his former coaches.
“Oh yeah, they’re going to see me this time,’’ he said Wednesday.
Nicks said he wants to play well in front of family and friends, but it’s not the most important thing.
“Definitely. I want to have a big game every game but first things first, I want to get a ‘W,’ ” he said. “As long as we’re leaving there with a ‘W’ it’s going to be all smiles.’’
Nicks came out of the loss to the Broncos with a dislocated left middle finger ,but he said he will tape it up and it is fine.
Two prominent players, Antrel Rolle and Justin Tuck, on Tuesday said the Giants are lacking in emotion on the field and that has hurt the product in their 0-2 start to the season.
Coach Tom Coughlin does not necessarily agree.
Asked during Wednesday’s press conference if he would like to see more emotion, Coughlin quickly shot back “I’d like to see better play. I think there will be plenty of emotion. … We’ve got to get our football right.’’
Coughlin was asked if rookie DE Damontre Moore, who has yet to get a chance on defense, might enliven the pass rush.
“That’s a novel thought,” he said. “Let’s make sure the kid is really ready to go and then let’s see what we can do about that.’’ Moore, bothered by a sore shoulder, practiced fully on Wednesday for the first time.
After two games, the Giants are healthy. Just two players appear on their injury report to start the work week: OL David Diehl (thumb) did not practice and TE Adrien Robinson (foot) was limited. Everyone else was full-go.
John Coughlin, the younger brother of Tom Coughlin, died unexpectedly Monday night at the age of 63 at Hackensack University Medical Center. The funeral is Tuesday in the Coughlin’s hometown of Waterloo. Tom Coughlin will coach the game on Sunday in Charlotte and upon his return will attend the funeral.
“Our family is thankful for the expressions of sympathy and prayers for our brother John’s passing,’’ the Giants coach said in a statement released by the team. “We all appreciate them. John was a friend to all. He loved life, and he will be greatly missed. He left us way too soon.”
John Coughlin was born in Waterloo and had resided in New Jersey for the past 20 years. He was a horse trainer owning and operating Coughlin’s Stables in East Rutherford.
He is survived by his companion, Suzanne Malloy of Hackensack, N.J., five sisters, one brother and several nieces and nephews.