By now the rousing halftime speech by Justin Tuck is the stuff of legend, as the Giants Sunday rallied from a 17-6 deficit for a 24-20 victory over the Jaguars.
As inspiring as Tuck was, it could be viewed as concerning that the Giants in such a key game needed such a stirring wakeup call.
“We hope that we don’t need a speech to get us going,” linebacker Michael Boley said yesterday. “Hopefully we keep things on the right track and not need someone to step up and say something just to get us going.”
Osi Umenyiora also spoke up during an emotional halftime period, but coach Tom Coughlin did not see this as anything out of the norm.
“Well, we’ve had that really on numerous occasions,” Coughlin said. “I’m not sure why it’s being so heavily publicized now. It was a good thing, yes.”
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Don’t expect any reinforcements any time soon. None of the five injured offensive starters is expected to be healthy enough to make a return just yet. Receivers Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith remain out. Nicks is at least two weeks away from coming back because of a lower leg issue that required a surgical procedure. Smith hasn’t played in three straight games because of a partially-torn pectoral muscle and he’s targeting the Dec. 12 game in Minnesota for his return.
On the offensive line, Coughlin offered no updates on center Shaun O’Hara (foot) or LG/LT David Diehl (hamstring). Diehl last week raised some hopes by doing some individual work on the side but he appears to be at least another week away.
Shawn Andrews, the fill-in left tackle, played well in three starts, but was hospitalized last week with a recurrence of the back problems that cost him nearly two years of his NFL career with the Eagles.
“I don’t have any more information about that,” Coughlin said. “One day he felt good, the next day he didn’t. So until there’s some real concrete evidence that he can [play] and he is pain-free, there won’t be much to say.”
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The Giants came out of the Jaguars game fairly healthy. Special teamer Brian Jackson broke his left hand in the game and was able to finish the game wearing a splint. DE Dave Tollefson had what Coughlin described as “a little burner.” CB Aaron Ross had difficulties in the game because of what Coughlin said was “discomfort as a result of some of the intestinal issues he had been having so we will continue to hopefully clear that up.” Ross went for tests to determine the extent of the problem.