It is just a theory, but Justin Tuck believes there is some validity to his suspicion he wasn’t as physically prepared as he needed to be entering last season and he paid for it.
The Giants defensive end endured an injury-filled 2011 season, battling through neck and groin problems that forced him to miss games and a shoulder issue that required surgery after the Super Bowl. Looking back, he blames himself.
“Last year just being a lot of the uncertainty around football I might have ‘laxed’ a little bit in my regimens,’’ Tuck said yesterday inside the Giants locker room during a break in his workout. “I guarantee you that won’t be the case this year.’’
At this time a year ago, the lockout was in full swing and there were no team conditioning programs. Tuck admitted “I’m working harder this year,’’ and as far back as March 20 posted on Twitter a picture of him working out at the Giants’ facility.
By building up his strength and stamina, Tuck figures he will be better-equipped to handle the extreme physical pounding his body takes.
“They say fatigue will make a coward out of all of us and when you get fatigued you start ‘laxing’ in things like technique,’’ Tuck said. “I think part of the reason I got hurt last year was I let my guard down. I don’t see myself doing that this year.”
* General manager Jerry Reese said there has been “a little bit of talk’’ about a contract extension for defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
“I’m still open to that,’’ Reese said, but cautioned “It’s a long way to go before we play and a lot of things still for us to do.’’
Reese also said a new contract for receiver Victor Cruz is “on our plate.’’
Cruz views the drive for a new contract as motivation.
“It keeps me hungry, you want to continue to prove yourself and continue to prove to your organization that you’re someone to keep for the long haul,’’ Cruz said.
* Tight end Jake Ballard, after microfracture knee surgery to repair cartilage damage and a reconstruction of his ACL, is realistic.
“My best chance would be mid-season if at all,’’ Ballard said of playing this season.
* Cornerback Terrell Thomas, coming off ACL surgery, said “Without a doubt’’ when asked if he believed he’ll reclaim his starting job. He also promised not to do too much in OTAs or mini-camp.
“Right now I have no desire to participate, I’ll be very limited, if anything,’’ Thomas said. “I proved myself with this organization, I don’t feel I have anything to prove in OTAs.’’
* Cornerback Prince Amukamara has not yet been cleared to run following a mid-March stem-cell injection into his foot. He said his goal is to take the starting spot vacated when Aaron Ross signed with the Jaguars.
“That feeling coming off the bench, it never sat well with me,’’ Amukamara said.
* Quarterback Eli Manning will host “Saturday Night Live’’ on May 5, but refrained from naming his favorite cast member.
“It is kind of like asking, ‘Who is your favorite receiver?’ ’’ Manning said. “You can get in trouble answering those questions.
“So whoever can write the funniest script for me will probably be my favorite one afterwards.’’
* With linebacker Keith Rivers acquired in a trade with the Bengals, Michael Boley might be moving to middle linebacker, a spot he played last season in the nickel package.
“It will be an adjustment,’’ Boley said. “Not too much so, most of the stuff we do it’s been the role I played the last couple of years anyway.’’
Reese said he thinks Rivers, like Boley, “can play any of the linebacker spots.’’