Andre Woodson spent all of last season on the Giants’ practice squad and all of this offseason and training camp with the Giants. He was cut on Saturday and immediately signed by the Redskins to their practice squad.
Did the Skins suddenly jump to action because they believe in Woodson as a young quarterback prospect? Hardly. The Redskins face the Giants in Sunday’s regular-season opener and Woodson has been enlisted to provide some inside information.
“You mean why is he in Washington?” Tom Coughlin asked, flashing a smile. “It’s pretty obvious why he’s there. There’s no question that’s what’s going on. We’ll see what transpires. It works both ways a little bit.”
Both ways? You mean perhaps Woodson’s knowledge of the Giants offense can backfire on the Redskins?
“Enough comments,” Coughlin said.
There’s no doubt the Giants will have to make some changes to their offensive calls and audibles.
“I’m sure we’re going to have to adapt a couple of things here and there just because he knows our terminology and everything like that,” left tackle David Diehl said.
Redskins coach Jim Zorn said Woodson was not brought in exclusively for his knowledge of the Giants.
“Initially that was not the reason to bring Andre here,” Zorn said. “He may be able to help us a little bit. He knows their stuff and he certainly knew their snap count. We are not going to put him under the microscope.”
In Coughlin’s six years with the Giants, he never has signed a player simply to pump him for info. But he’s not above that tactic.
“I have been a part of it . . . I have seen it done,” he said, laughing. “A guy doesn’t get in the door two seconds — he is in the classroom and being drilled.”
Asked what a team can get out of such attempts, Coughlin said, “You would be surprised.”
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LB Antonio Pierce was excused from practice for personal reasons . . . The only starter in danger of not being ready for the opener is CB Aaron Ross, who is slowed by a strained hamstring. Ross did not practice; he was able to run straight ahead on the sideline.
“We’re optimistic,” Coughlin said.
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S Kenny Phillips missed two of the four preseason games with knee problems but said he’s fine and wouldn’t have sat out if they were regular-season games . . . Diehl participated after sitting out the last preseason game with patellar tendinitis . . . Backup C Adam Koets (ankle) did not work.