Eli Manning (Charles Wenzelberg)
A GIANT PROBLEM? Eli Manning, practicing with the Giants at OTAs yesterday, says he had “no reason” to think receiver Hakeem Nicks (inset) would be absent. (N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg; Joseph E. Amaturo)
No player around the Giants wants to disappoint Eli Manning, but that is what Hakeem Nicks did Wednesday by being a surprise no-show at the team’s first organized team activity practice session.
“I had no reason to think he wouldn’t be here, I’ll say that,’’ Manning said.
No player around the Giants wants to disappoint coach Tom Coughlin, but that’s what Nicks did by not making a session the wide receiver was expected to attend, though he wasn’t scheduled to be doing much of anything as he continues to take it slow on his repaired left knee.
“I don’t know,’’ Coughlin said following practice when asked about Nicks’ whereabouts. “He should be here.’’
Asked if he was expecting Nicks to attend, Coughlin, clearly annoyed, quickly shot back, “Yeah, sure I did. I expect everybody here. We’re trying to get our team better.’’
Nicks is entering the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie in 2009 and his salary this season is $2.7 million. A Yahoo.com report Wednesday night stated Nicks’ absence is tied to his dissatisfaction with not having a new deal. If that’s the case, Nicks and Victor Cruz have something in common.
Everyone knew Cruz would not be on the scene as his lingering contract negotiations continue to chug along, but the absence of the other starting receiver caused some ripples.
Nicks was at a charity event Tuesday night at the Waldorf Astoria, where he was honored as a Hometown Hero at the United Way of New York City’s Gridiron Gala. Nicks has been attending the offseason workout program and was expected to be a limited participant in the OTAs — which are voluntary but usually very well-attended — after undergoing what he last month called “a little minor procedure’’ on his left knee following the season. Nicks said recently he is feeling better than he did all last season.
Manning, at least publicly, usually brushes off attendance questions and instead focuses on who is on the field for him to throw to. Often he insists veterans such as Nicks and Cruz can quickly get back into the swing of things once they return. In this case, though, Manning undeniably stressed the importance of his teammates on offense working together at Timex Performance Center.
“You’ve still got to work on your timing,’’ Manning said. “You’ve still got to work on the basics. Everybody needs it. I need the basics. I mean, how many times have I thrown a hitch in my life or a curl route? I’ve still got to do it. I’ve still got to get those things and work ’em. But it is good to have other guys in there running routes and getting your timing down with other guys. That’s how you look at it, but you’d still like to have all your guys out there.
“We all need to work. We all need to practice. We all need to improve on things.’’
With Cruz and Nicks away, Jerrel Jernigan and Rueben Randle ran with the first-team offense.
Nicks broke a bone in his right foot during an OTA workout on May 24 last year, an injury that short-circuited his entire summer and led to the left knee problem that essentially ruined his 2012 season. Manning knows a return to complete health is vital for Nicks, but also knows the magic they have produced in games doesn’t happen without heavy repetition.
“You want to make sure guys are healthy at the start of the year, that’s always the No. 1 thing, but you got to get some work also,’’ Manning said.
Unless Cruz gets his contract resolved in the coming days, he will miss many of the OTAs. Justin Tuck agreed that until Cruz signs there is uncertainty hanging over the Giants.
“I have no doubt he’ll be here when he needs to be here and when everything settles,’’ Tuck said. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. The ideal thing is to have him here sooner than later. I’m not worried about him. I’m not. We’ve got a lot of things to worry about, but I don’t think Victor Cruz is one of them.’’