No disrespect to Dave Tollefson, but the Giants don’t want to see him get his second career start tonight against the Rams.
Tollefson filled in last week for Justin Tuck, who missed his first game in five years because of a stiff neck. Tollefson played well, with one sack and two tackles, but the Giants lost to the Redskins 28-14. Tuck is listed as questionable, but is expected to play.
If Tuck makes his season debut, Jason Pierre-Paul will again start at right defensive end and Tollefson will be the first (and only) end in off the bench. He’s shown himself to be more than a valuable special teams player, more than merely a backup to the talents over the years of Michael Strahan, Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.
“When I was in Dallas, they called him White Chocolate,” Giants teammate and former Cowboys defensive tackle Chris Canty said. “Everybody on the defensive line was pretty good, and then here comes this guy who’s got this long towel on . . . I’m like, ‘Who is this dude?’ And then you actually watch the film and he can play, so we called him White Chocolate.”
* If RB Steven Jackson (strained quad) cannot play, the Rams have a viable second option in Cadillac Williams, who ran for 91 yards last week against the Eagles. They also have Jerious Norwood, the former Falcons runner.
“I think both of those guys are excellent runners,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “If you look at their team, in my opinion, the running backs are the productive ones. I am not taking anything away from their wide receivers, but their running backs are the productive guys on their team in the running game and passing game.”
* Lawrence Taylor will make his first appearance in the new stadium when he joins his 1986 Super Bowl champion teammates, who will be honored with a special halftime ceremony. Taylor and the other members of the championship team will sign autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the four main stadium entrances.