New York Giants Official Website

August 20, 2009

ALBANY - For Corey Webster, the worst part of missing practice is what happens later in the meeting room.

"It's hard to watch film, because you're not on any of the film," Webster said today. "You have two practices a day and you're not on any of the film, so it's hard to sit down there and focus and concentrate.  I just do a good job of picking a guy that's playing my position, either (Kevin) Dockery or T2 (Terrell Thomas) and try and go over everything they did wrong, so I won't make those mistakes when I go on the field. Just standing out there during practice, your back starts to hurt, you're just sitting there watching. It's hard not being able to practice when everyone is out there practicing and moving toward our goal."

Webster's stint as a spectator has mercifully ended. He returned to the University at Albany practice field yesterday after missing most of the first two weeks of training camp and the first preseason game with a hip flexor injury. Today, he made his presence felt by intercepting a David Carr pass.

Webster doesn't know if he will play Saturday night in Chicago, but he's happy to participate in practice.

"It feels great to be out there, just getting back into the flow of things," he said. "I think we got off too a pretty good start at camp. I got the hip flexor sore, so I had to sit out. But I think we did a good job of staying in tune with everything going on. We helped out with all the individual reps, we take mental reps when the players are out there, when the twos (second team) and threes are taking reps. So I don't think we got too far out of it. But it's good to be back on the field with your teammates."

If everyone stays healthy, the Giants will have a skilled and deep platoon of corners. Webster, Ross, Thomas and Dockery are all proven playmakers.

"All of us have started here from time to time," Webster said. "It's beautiful when you have that luxury to have different guys who can go out on the field, when some teams don't have two corners who can play that position. I'm excited about it. We try to make each other better as a group and the competition out there on the field only helps."

But it has been a rough summer for the Giants' starting corners. In addition to Webster, Aaron Ross has been sidelined since early in camp with a hamstring injury. He returned yesterday on a limited basis, but did little in the afternoon and is not as far along as Webster.

This was already going to be a year of transition at cornerback. Not so much on game day; Webster started every game last season and Ross missed only the season finale in Minnesota. But on the practice field and in the meeting room, Webster and Ross have assumed a greater leadership role. Veterans Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters, who mentored the young cornerbacks for three years, are no longer with the team. Webster and Ross have become the leaders of the cornerback pack, which includes rookies DeAndre Wright, Stoney Woodson and Bruce Johnson.

Webster and Ross would have preferred to lead by example. They've instead helped any way possible without being on the field. At practice, they stand with the defensive backs and point out coverage tips, technique flaws and insight into the defense. They also get water and Gatorade for their teammates when necessary.

"Just like we did when Sam and R-Dub were here, they do a great job of listening to us and we're doing a great job of leading," Webster said. "We're not going to tell them anything to hurt them and I think they understand that. We're not a whole lot older than them, so sometimes it takes a little bit more convincing to get them to do it. It was easy for Sam and (McQuarters) to come here, because they had 20 years in the league between them. It's easy for you to listen to those guys, because their resume speaks for itself.

"Taking what we learned from them and passing it along to our new guys has been great. They listen to everything, they go out and correct whatever you point out to them. Whatever question they have for you they try and respond and do it the next play and I think they have all been doing a great job this whole camp. Stoney has been making a lot of plays, Bruce has been making a lot of plays and getting his hands on the ball, and the same is true of DeAndre.  A lot of guys making a lot of plays, they're close to the receiver, they're not that far off. There might be something small, but it's easy for you to correct when they almost got it."

Webster doesn't know how or if the coaches plan to use him in Chicago. But he is eager to get on the field and start sharpening his skills for the regular season.

"I want to play everyday," Webster said. "I don't like to lose reps or miss reps, I want to get all the reps that everyone else is getting. I think it makes me that much better when it's time for the season to kick off. I want to test by skills against (the Bears') number ones and their best players. It's hard not to do that and then try to flip the switch and go up against those guys in the first game of the season. I like to get my reps and I don't like to miss them.

"I just want to make my own plays," he said. "It's always good being out there making your own plays and getting into a groove. I think it's a groove thing. When we first got to camp everyone was just starting, then we got that groove. I thought we were jelling well together that first week of camp, but then got a couple injuries and when those people are not out there you have to readjust who you're talking to, who you're communicating with. So I think we did a fantastic job of adjusting with that. I think it's time to get back on the field and move forward with the season."

*In his first public comments since arriving here, defensive tackle Rocky Bernard said missing the first 18 days of training camp will not hinder his readiness for the start of the regular season.

"I don't feel like I'm too far behind," Bernard said. "The main thing is getting in football shape. You can run and ride the elliptical, but there's nothing like putting the pads on and playing. That's probably the main thing."

Bernard failed his physical and was placed on the non-football injury list with a hamstring issue when camp opened. He said he hurt his hamstring training on his own after the end of the team's offseason program.

"(I) just had a little slight strain," he said.

Bernard was signed by the Giants on Feb. 28 after playing his first seven seasons in Seattle. He has 29 career sacks, second among active Giants to Osi Umenyiora's 41.5. Bernard and Chris Canty were added to a defensive line that is touted as one of the NFL's finest. But Canty also has a hamstring injury, and both were forced to watch Monday's preseason opening victory over Carolina.

"I wanted to be out there," Bernard said. "The guys that were playing were pretty impressive, but you can always get better. That was the main emphasis coming in after watching the tape. It will be fun playing with these guys.

"You definitely want to get out there and get some live action, because once the season starts it picks up a lot. The intensity is 10 times greater than it is in the preseason."

*Lawrence Tynes kicked field goals of 30, 35, 38 and 42 yards and has made 29 of 34 attempts in this camp. He made one of two attempts vs. the Panthers...Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden and Mario Manningham all had nice catches in practice...Antonio Pierce (foot), Kenny Phillips (knee), Ross (hamstring), Chris Snee (knee) and Canty (hamstring) missed practice.

*The Giants organization and players were emotionally moved today by the news that Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and agreed to a two-year prison term for accidentally shooting himself at a Manhattan nightclub last November. It was just 18½ months ago that Burress caught the winning touchdown pass for the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

"(I'm) still very saddened by the whole thing," Coach Tom Coughlin said. "Just an absolute shame."

"Our concern at this time is worrying about him, his family," quarterback Eli Manning said. "You know, he's a friend of mine, a great teammate...just saddened by the news, wish the best for him, his family, and you know, try to support him anyway you can.

"It's just sad. You know, I'm disappointed and just feel bad for how this worked out, and the circumstances that he has been put through, and his family. So no one wanted this to happen and it's just a shame that it did."

*Today was Youth Day at UAlbany. After practice, several players spoke to hundreds of youngsters who sat in the stands in the school's football stadium. Manning talked to them about the importance of physical fitness, Justin Tuck discussed his love of reading, Chase Blackburn concentrated on the importance of education, and Bryan Kehl spoke about community service.

*The Giants will hold a light jog-through tomorrow morning and fly to Chicago in the evening for Saturday night's game in Chicago. They will practice here on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning before breaking camp.

*The attendance was 2,865 (590 in the morning and 2,275 for the later workout. That brings the camp total to 42,390, the third-highest in the Giants' 14 years here. The record of 45,040 was set 2004. Last year's attendance was 44,505.

*A limited number of tickets remain for the Giants-Jets preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 29. Fans can purchase the tickets at Ticketmaster.com or at the Izod Arena. Tickets purchased at the Izod Arena are cash only. There are no phone reservations.