Hakeem Nicks (Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)
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A year ago, the Giants in a variety of vehicles drove up to the University at Albany for training camp, but they might as well have been floating on air rather than pushing the speed limit on the New York State Thruway. After all, they were proud owners of shiny new championship rings as a result of winning Super Bowl XLVI and wholly confident they could make a strong run at a repeat title.
A year later, the Giants aren’t going anywhere, as the upstate training site they called home since 1996 has been replaced by their own Timex Performance Center facility. They report to camp on Friday for physicals and conditioning testing, with their first training camp practice set for Saturday. They arrive having earned no new baubles after a colossal flop down the stretch of the 2012 season left them at 9-7 and on the outside looking in come playoff time.
There’s not a whole lot of buzz surrounding these Giants — no exciting new marquee additions, no sense from outside that they are much-improved or on the cusp of shedding last year’s inconsistency. Gone are key Super Bowl cogs such as Osi Umenyiora, Ahmad Bradshaw, Kenny Phillips, Lawrence Tynes, Chris Canty and Michael Boley. There is no talk of rebuilding around the Giants — that never is a consideration as long as Eli Manning is in his prime — but there is more of a sense of uncertainty than previous summers.
“I wouldn’t necessarily see it as a transition, I see it as being a part of business. This is the NFL, this is how it works,’’ safety Antrel Rolle said. “You’re not gonna keep the same guys every year. I think we have a great core, group we have here, lot of veteran leaders and rookies eager to learn.
“There’s a lot of new faces but there’s a lot of old faces as well. With each year there always come more changes.’’
This camp figures to be fascinating for what it reveals. The Giants have many health-related questions facing several significant players. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul experienced a 10-sack drop last season from his breakout 2011 eruption, at least in part explainable by a lower back issue that prompted offseason surgery. Pierre-Paul probably won’t get on the field much or at all in camp as he fights to beat the clock and return for the Sept. 8 season opener at Dallas.
Hakeem Nicks underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in February then stayed away from the organized team activity practices, making sure he wasn’t rushing himself back. It will be interesting to see what speed Nicks is operating at when camp begins, as the Giants need their top receiver to return to form after a pedestrian 2012 season dealing with foot and knee problems. The other starting receiver, Victor Cruz, is healthy but is coming off an emotional spring and summer navigating through prolonged (and ultimately profitable) contract negotiations and no practices with his team, perhaps making him rusty and more prone to pulled or sore muscles.
Two starting offensive linemen, Chris Snee (hip) and David Baas (elbow) likely will be limited at the start of camp after undergoing surgeries following the season. Starting fullback Henry Hynoski injured his left knee in the first OTA practice and, following surgery, has a long road ahead to be ready for the first game. Terrell Thomas has missed back-to-back seasons with two ACL surgeries and is hoping to show that his right knee can withstand the pounding it takes to be an NFL cornerback, or, if need be, safety.
Sorting through all these health issues will be the central theme to this camp, as there are not many position battles to titillate anyone. All three starting linebacker spots are up for grabs, with Jacquian Williams, Keith Rivers and Mark Herzlich expected to get pushed by Spencer Paysinger, Aaron Curry and Dan Connor. The anticipation is first-round pick Justin Pugh will start sooner rather than later at right tackle but he first must prove he is ready to unseat veteran David Diehl. If not, perhaps Diehl challenges steady Kevin Boothe at left guard. Last year’s top pick, David Wilson, and Andre Brown will compete for the starting running back job but both will play, so it is just a matter of how they’re listed and who leads off.
Other camp stories of intrigue include former Eagle Cullen Jenkins getting a career second-wind at defensive tackle, Brandon Myers looking to show that his breakthrough 2012 season with the Raiders was not a fluke and whether rookie quarterback Ryan Nassib can make popular David Carr expendable as Manning’s backup.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com