ARLINGTON, Texas — A year ago, Dan Connor was gearing up to ruin the Giants’ big night. A year later, he is attempting to do quite the opposite.
Connor was a reserve linebacker with the Cowboys on Sept. 5, 2012, as they marched into MetLife Stadium and spoiled the festive atmosphere for the Super Bowl-champion Giants. The home and season opener turned into a dud, as Connors’ Cowboys won, 24-17.
“It gives you a lot of momentum going into the season, but it’s not a make or break thing,” said Connor, now the Giants’ starting middle linebacker heading into Sunday night’s game against his former team at AT&T Stadium. “But it’s obviously a big one. Down in Dallas it was all we talked about during training camp, it was our focus in the offseason, that opener. [Coach] Jason Garrett made it clear that this is a big one, the opener is a big one and we’ve got to get it.’’
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The temperature in the Dallas area on Sunday is expected to be 99 degrees during the day and 91 at kickoff. Whether the roof is open or closed is determined 90 minutes before the game.
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Rookie Giants DE Damontre Moore is from Dallas and played at Texas A&M, meaning this is a homecoming for him. Moore said he’s got 21 family and friends attending the game. That’s a ton of support but Moore might not play. He made it into only one preseason game because of a bruised shoulder and is listed as questionable. … It looks as if journeyman George Selvie will start for the Cowboys, with Anthony Spencer (knee) out of commission. Selvie was with the Giants in the spring during a three-day mini-camp but was not signed. Selvie was a teammate of Jason Pierre-Paul’s at South Florida and, at the time, actually more heralded. … Kyle Bosworth, one of the last cuts of the Giants after believing he had made the team, is listed as the Cowboys backup middle linebacker behind starter Sean Lee.
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S Antrel Rolle jokingly said he’s started to call CB Terrell Thomas “Little ‘Trel’’ because Thomas, like Rolle, is very versatile. Thomas, returning after missing back-to-back seasons with two torn ACLs, said he doesn’t like the nickname.
“I need to nip that in the bud right now,’’ Thomas said. “He can kill that, he can kiss my you know what and take that right where it came from. I’m no little ’Trel. T2, Terrell Thomas, Deuce, whatever you want to call me, but I’m no Little ’Trel. I think he’s just excited because he doesn’t have to play nickel anymore, he can just go back to playing safety and I think he’s just happy for me. All the hard work I put in. I think he’s been one of my biggest supporters.’’
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As expected, Pierre-Paul (back) and FB Henry Hynoski (knee) made the trip and their activation will be game-time decisions. The only players not traveling were C David Baas (knee), OL David Diehl (thumb) and TE Adrien Robinson (foot).