ALBANY — It was a surprising admission for a general manager to make. But Jerry Reese is concerned it’s a little too quiet around the Giants’ training camp these days. No one is grumbling about contracts or who the quarterback should or should not be. No coaches are calling themselves the best at what they do, and no players are telling the media how to do their jobs.
For a defending Super Bowl champion, the Giants are about as blah as it gets. And that has Reese concerned.
“It doesn’t bother me to have a little chatter going into training camp,” Reese said yesterday in his annual training-camp address. “I kind of like it when there’s a little bit of chatter and it’s rocky a little bit. That keeps everybody on edge a little bit. Actually, I’ve got a little bit of nervous energy because it’s too quiet. I’m sure something will pop up sooner or later.”
You would think Reese would be careful what he asks for and would enjoy the tranquility. But it’s easy to understand where he’s coming from. The Giants are normally at their best when their backs are against wall.
When coach Tom Coughlin’s job has been on the line or their playoff chances have been in jeopardy, the Giants normally have found a way to rally around each other and produce something positive. Last season was the most recent example. After posting a 7-7 record that included a four-game losing streak, the Giants won six straight to capture their second Super Bowl trophy in four years.
Perhaps that’s why the Giants are manufacturing reasons to feel slighted going into the 2012 season. Under the surface of Camp Tranquility is a belief — real or imagined — they’re not getting the respect they deserve. They have heard Michael Vick talk about building a dynasty in Philadelphia and they have heard the so-called experts picking the 49ers or Packers or Patriots to win it all.
“You never hear our name mentioned,” Victor Cruz said.
That’s not all.
“Obviously some of things you’ve heard around the league during the offseason among peers is the Giants were lucky last year,” defensive tackle Chris Canty said. “It’s like we just fell into the Super Bowl. I think a lot of the guys take it personal a little bit. It’s fuel to the fire.”
It’s not that the Giants want attention. As right guard Chris Snee put it, “We’re not into being labeled No. 1. We want to be the actual No. 1 when it’s all said and done.”
What they do want is respect. And whether it is contrived or not, the Giants don’t necessarily feel they’re getting it. Going out and earning that respect has become an early theme in camp.
“I think we can be strong,” Reese said. “I think we can be good again. But you can’t talk about it. You have to go out there and do it. That’s what’s important to us. To go out there and prove we’re a good football team and that we’re going to challenge. Hopefully, we’ll qualify for the tournament and once you get in the tournament anything can happen.”
When Reese suggested early last year the Giants were a playoff team, he was laughed at in some circles because of his lack of splashes during free agency. When Eli Manning said he was an elite quarterback, there were snickers from coast to coast. Add the Jets’ bombastic claims of being the best team in New York and taking over the city, and the Giants had plenty of motivation throughout 2011.
As the defending champions, the sources of motivation aren’t as obvious. Certainly, they want to repeat. But it also helps to feel slighted. It’s a familiar feeling the Giants wear well.