Until Wednesday, one Giants player had been curiously absent from the media availability sessions.
It normally would have gone unnoticed, but since Jets backup QB Tim Tebow has garnered about as much press as the Olympics, the Giants' backup QB David Carr’s whereabouts were suddenly a topic of conversation.
“I feel like I should have prepared a statement,” Carr said as he approached the podium.
Carr wasn’t standing in front of the media on Wednesday to talk about himself. Rather, reporters wanted his take on the media circus at the Jets training camp in Cortland, which is something, he admits, he and starting quarterback Eli Manning have laughed about.
After all, Manning and Carr are both former top picks. The former is coming off his second Super Bowl victory and the latter is considered one of the more valuable backups in the NFL for the way he’s mastered offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride’s complicated scheme.
“Me and Eli just kind of brush it off,” Carr said. “You guys know how he is. We kind of like it that way.”
Carr didn’t throw a pass for the Giants last year and in his two previous seasons with New York, 2008 and 2009, he barely saw the field. He’s been playing behind someone who has started every Giants' game since Nov. 21, 2004.
But even though Carr practices with the second-team offense and refrains from running shirtless through the rain, he’s still worth some media attention. In addition to studying opposing defenses with Manning, Carr also serves as a mentor for some of the younger players on offense.
“Kind of the fun part of the position I’m in now,” the 11-year veteran said. “I kind of see these young guys come in, the young receivers and linemen and tight ends and I kind of take it upon myself to kind of teach more. It helps me in things that I will forget, the small details I let slip some times. I find myself coaching them up and trying to (use) the knowledge of being in 207 games.”
No matter how long Carr has been in this league, there are always new wrinkles popping up all the time.
For instance, Carr and Manning tried out the new standardized communication system on Tuesday, and apparently it’s a major step up from what they’ve used in the past.
“It wasn’t the extreme highs and lows where you can’t hear and then you lose hearing," Carr said. "It seemed better. It still weighs about 10 pounds so you kind of get a strong neck.”
It’s hard to say exactly how much Carr will play in the Giants’ first preseason game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Friday. Coughlin usually keeps the starters to about a quarter or less in the first exhibition, which means Carr should see extended time in the second and third quarters.
“Let’s play the starters 15 to 18 maybe,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “Play the seconds about 20 to 25 and let the thirds play anywhere from the end of the third on, maybe the top of the fourth.”
Giants already fighting injury bug: Coughlin said 11 players will not participate in Friday’s game against the Jaguars, and that group consists of the PUP players— DT Chris Canty (knee), LB Clint Sintim (knee), WR Hakeem Nicks (foot) and TE Travis Beckum (knee)—as well as LB Jacquian Williams (hip), DE Justin Trattou (ankle), LB Jake Muasau (hamstring), LT Will Beatty (back), LB Michael Boley (hamstring), RB Da’Rel Scott (thigh) and CB Terrell Thomas (knee) ... Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard missed his first training camp practice on Wednesday because of knee swelling, Coughlin said, and he will be questionable on Friday.
Blindsided: Since Beatty will miss Friday’s game, the Giants will likely use veteran Sean Locklear at left tackle, although James Brewer-- who had been primarily used at right tackle--did take some snaps on the blindside Wednesday.
Coughlin also wouldn’t rule out RT David Diehl playing on the left side.
Rookies Matt McCants and Brandon Mosley as well as Joel Reinders could also see action at left tackle.
Does David Wilson dance too much?: Rookie RB David Wilson has plenty of speed, but it’s hard for him to use it when he’s shifting around in the backfield.
According to running backs coach Jerald Ingram, Wilson needs to find a seam and then get north-south in a hurry.
“David is an extremely likable guy and David loves to show,” Ingram said. “So a lot of things out there he’s doing, he’s playing around, showing, you know he’s been able to get away with things in college, so you’ve got to hone in that ‘Hey, these habits that you’ve done in the past for show, you can’t do that in the NFL.’”
Ingram did say there are some things he’s very impressed with, but before he anoints Wilson as the next great Giants back, he needs to see the rookie play in a real game first.
For all Giants news and notes follow Alex Raskin on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNYG or @alexraskinnyc.