Head Coach John Harbaugh

JOHN HARBAUGH: So we lost a great fan today. Hamish Fenton, 14-year-old boy who has been around the last few years. The players have gotten to know him really well. He's become a great friend of the whole program, the whole Giants Nation.

Was at practice just two weeks ago. He passed away. Our thoughts and our prayers are with his family.

He's in God's hands now. I'm sure he'll be cheering hard for the Giants from above. May God rest his soul.

All right. With that, let's go Knicks.

Q. Are you going to go?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We'll see. I think I might like to. You got to get tickets. It's a tough ticket. It's exciting, watching the way they play, it's fun because I think it's instructive. You get an opportunity just to see how a team can come together. The team to me is executing at the highest level, operating together on the same page with everything they do, playing with a lot of confidence because they understand exactly where everybody is going to be at all times. It's a coach's dream when you watch a team play the way they're playing. It's a fun team to watch. It's going to be a great series. Let's go get a win.

Q. What has it been like to see the response from the city?

JOHN HARBAUGH: It's been exciting because obviously you envision that. Kind of get a little selfish, you want to see that for the Giants. That's what you want to see. It would be something that we're working for. We'd like to get there, too. That would be our goal.

What questions do you have?

Q. What went into the decision to sign Odell and the three receivers?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I'd say just principally doing everything you can to be the best you can be, give yourself the chance to be the best team you can be. Those were three guys that were out there, we've been monitoring, talking about those three for a while.

Probably was a catalyst when we lost Gunner. Didn't have to be a 'one for one'. We had to make a few moves in the specialists department. Those are guys we could bring back if it worked out the way we want it to, as long as they don't get claimed by somebody else.

Try to be aggressive and give ourselves as many opportunities as we possibly can to have the strongest roster we can. We'll see what happens.

They'll be competing for roles. They'll be competing for their opportunity, just like everybody else. Let's see how it goes.

They've looked good out here. Working hard. Obviously they're veteran players who are highly decorated players in the league. It's just a matter of what can they do now. We'll find out.

Q. John, you said it had to be right to bring Odell in here. What made it right?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think the biggest thing is him being in really, really good shape. We talked about this, he would tell you this. You can't be just okay. You're Odell Beckham. You've got to come out here and you have to be performing at a high level in workout, you've got to be performing at a high level in practice. You got to be a guy capable that we can see would have a chance to make a difference in NFL games. You have to be that kind of player.

Who knows better what kind of player that is than Odell Beckham. I put JuJu in that same category. They're different, but the same veteran mindset.

He understood that. So get to work. We're going to find out over the course of the next week and training camp if that's going to be something he's going to be able to do for the team. If he can, great. If he can't, then that's okay, too. But he'll have taken his shot.

Q. You talked about it being Odell 2.0. Is this a different person or player from the one you had in Baltimore?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I do think he's healthier right now. Seems like he's healthier than he was then. That was a few years back. He was dealing with a lot of knee issues back then. Seems to be good.

That's another thing. He has to show that he can stay healthy and practice day after day, those kind of things.

Q. How would you describe the mindset of accepting the difference in circumstance relative to making the team when you are dealing with players who have had such gravitas in the earlier part of their career?

JOHN HARBAUGH: Great question. Has to be now. That's all good. It's nice to know that a player's been in those situations, he knows how to deal with it, mindset. He's been there before.

You have to go make the plays. He's going to have to go out there and play at that level and do all the things we're asking all the receivers to do in our offense. So does JuJu, so does Braxton, so are all the guys. You got to help us now. The time is now.

Q. The other two guys were not Giants before. Odell is coming back to where he started. There's expectations for him. I'm sure your expectations are high. Maybe not superstar high. Was there any thought maybe this is just not right to bring him back here?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I wouldn't say you don't consider it. For me, and I think for the organization, you consider it. There's a lot of people in the building that have been here for a long time. Of course, I asked a lot of questions. Joe (Schoen) wasn't here then. So he's asking questions.

Really it just boils down to whatever we can do to make our team, to give our team the best chance to be the best team it can be is all that really matters. All that other stuff is part of the conversation.

If Odell, or JuJu, or Braxton, or any other player that we can bring in here is going to make us better and proves it, then we want them. Try to be the best team we can be.

Q. You mentioned Odell, he's in really good shape. What did you see from him on the field? Any plays or catches that stood out?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I saw the same practice you saw. There were two or three catches he made out there that were good. Tried to make the one on the sideline. He was tightly covered. Didn't quite come up with it.

JuJu was good today again. Good yesterday.

Braxton was good both days.

It wasn't just those guys. I know that's who we are talking about, but all the guys have been practicing at a high level, a fast level. We're throwing a lot at them, tons of offense and defense at them. Trying to give them a big, broad overview of what is potentially going to come down the road schematically in the season. That's kind of what we're focused on right now.

Q. Jaxson kind of had a relationship with Odell. How much was he sort of pushing you maybe, chirping in your ear?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I wouldn't say much. Really almost not at all. I knew he was for it. I think Jaxson, probably like any quarterback: Bring me as many good receivers as you can. But it wasn't much.

Q. If I could go back to Jason Sanders for a second. Was that strictly a performance-based release or... Still an injury thing?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We'll see what happens. I think he'll probably get picked up pretty quickly. This is one of those environments, it's windy out here, it always has been. It's a tough environment to kick in. His style might not be a perfect fit for here really right now.

It gives us an opportunity to give these other guys a few more reps. I think Jason, he's still on our radar, but we'll see what happens.

Q. Signing Odell, JuJu and Braxton, does that say anything about Malik's recovery?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, I'd say it's separate from that. Nothing to do with that. There's room enough for Malik and whoever the next four or five receivers are. There's room enough for all those guys.

Q. You've had three Achilles injuries in three weeks. Does that force you to reassess or change anything?

JOHN HARBAUGH: We have looked at it. We haven't changed anything. We've added things. It's definitely a great point.

I mean, one thing I've learned, we have Dr. (Scott) Rodeo, who is one of the foremost tendon experts in the whole world. Really you look for answers, and there are none. You can't predict tendons hardly at all, let alone Achilles, which are the worst. You just don't know.

There's no common dominators with any of the three guys, there's no common denominators with loads or anything else. There is a common denominator with the movement pattern when they tore it. Kind of a reset, stepping back reset deal that happened. We try to caution our guys against that.

What we did, we went to technology and we went to testing. Tested all our guys this week. Turn over every stone, all hands on deck. We're bringing in four new pieces of equipment between strength training equipment and also testing equipment, body movement equipment to try to make sure we can do everything for our players and make it's as individualized as we can.

That's what you do, you try to tackle it with everything you've got.

Q. You haven't put Roy Robertson-Harris on IR. Is that because you're holding out hope he can come back or is it procedural?

JOHN HARBAUGH: No, there's a chance Roy could get back actually. With Roy's situation, time frame-wise, there's a chance he could get back late in the season. We're going to try to hold off on that if we can.

Q. Anything you saw in Odell's workout on Monday that you didn't see in April?

JOHN HARBAUGH: That's a great question. Yeah, I'd say he's further along. He looked good back then, but he looked better now. He's been working really hard in Arizona doing a good job. He looked better.

Q. Darius Alexander okay? We didn't see him out here. You're short at that position.

JOHN HARBAUGH: Right, he's sick. He came up sick.

Q. What have you seen over the course of your career when it comes to re-acclimating after a gap year as far as being able to come back or if there's some rejuvenation because you have less tread on the tire?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I think he would tell you that. I think he feels like he's strong and healthy with a year off, so...

Braxton the same way. He was out last year, too. He feels really healthy as well.

Q. You mentioned Odell was tightly covered on the one he didn't come up with. You also coach offense, defense and special teams. Did you like the person that was tightly covering him?

JOHN HARBAUGH: I did. I appreciated that. The offensive guys accuse me of favoring the defense. The defensive guys accuse me of favoring the offense. Special teams, they know I'm on their side at all times (smiling).

Thanks a lot.

Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Q. How did it feel out there for you?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: It feels great. I had a lot of time off, taking a step away from the game was what was best for me. At a time in my life where you love something so much that it kind of became detrimental, it became bad for me.

Being able to take that time off, be with my son, be with family, re-prioritize what was important to me, knowing that I still love this game so much. Felt great being out there, being back in the building, on this field. Looking at this stadium. It's a pretty surreal feeling.

I know I've got a lot of work to do. I know (head coach John) Harbs (Harbaugh) and I have talked about it. I came here to earn anything. Everything in my life, nothing was given to me. I came here to earn it, work hard every day, and be the best I can for the team.

Q. For a non-contact practice, you took a couple of pops. It was the first time you've taken some of those in a while. How did that feel?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: They hit harder than my son. My son will beat me up (smiling). I think people don't want to get beat by me. They're going to make sure that they do what they can (laughs).

It feels good. It's football. It's definitely been a minute, but it feels good. It's fun. I've been needing it. I've been missing it. I'm happy to be here.

Q. You used the word 'surreal' to be back here. When does it go from surreal to reality for you that you have this opportunity?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Pretty quick. I think it was surreal being here. You take a couple hits, you're like, 'All right, now I'm here.' I definitely feel like I'm living in the present, not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future too much, just enjoy the moment. You're prepared for it. Make the most of the opportunity.

Like I said, I can't think of a single thing in my life that was given to me. Everything was earned. I really wouldn't want it any other way.

Q. Do you know what you are as a player right now?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: A veteran (laughter). It's definitely been some time. Got a lot of measurements and numbers. I look at all the numbers, I'm still just as fast, faster. It's just about being back in football – it's different than just training, you know?

Like I said, it just felt good to be out there, be around bodies, hit the ground, play football. It's what I've done all my life.

I just feel like I was watching the last bit of the (former professional tennis player) Rafael Nadal doc(umentary). He was talking about how he pushed it to the limit. I think for me, my whole life, for better or worse, is pushing it to the limit. Just the way that I had to walk away, it was just unsettling in my soul, in my spirit. It's not who I am. I've never surrendered or quit or felt like I've given up on myself or anything. It just wasn't sitting with me well.

I had to do this. This is for myself; this is for my son. I want to lead by example. I want him to be able to see who I am, not who I was. Just know that we never give up in our house. You go after what you believe in. You believe in yourself. At the end of the day, God is going to take care of the rest.

Q. How are you contextualizing being in the circumstance of having to earn it? When you think about all of the way you came into the league, the glitz, what you've been through on and off the field, you look at things through a God lens. Why are you in a circumstance of having to earn it, so to speak?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Well, when I came here as a rookie and I kept pulling my hamstring, I remember there might have been a few people in this circle who were not very sure about who I would be. A couple words thrown around here and there. We'll forget about it (smiling).

It's just how I am. Coming out of high school, I was the four star, I was the underdog. I went to LSU. I wasn't the top receiver. I ended up starting my freshman year. I get to the league; I wasn't the first receiver drafted. I always had to earn it; I always had to prove it. It's just been who I am.

It has always been about proving it to myself. There's always a little bit of you want to prove it to everybody else. Deep down inside to me, it was about proving to me, believing in me, believing in what God had given me and my abilities. I like it this way. I feel like it's going to elevate me, it's going to bring me up to have to earn it.

Coach (Harbaugh) and I talked about that. I think that was one of his fears. He was like, 'I love you so much, I've got so much respect for you. I don't want to bring you here and have to cut you,' or whatever.

I'm like, Listen, I'm going out on my sword either way it goes. If that's what you've got to do, you see I'm not best or fit, then by all means I'm good with it, I can live with it. I can't live with sitting at home not doing it, you know? I just couldn't do it.

Like I said, it's not who I am, so... I'm just here to enjoy the moment, work hard, we'll see what happens.

Q. What is it about Harbaugh that you respect?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I kind of got a little call when they were looking at coaches. I won't say any names. I mentioned him specifically. I was in Baltimore. This is a man of God. This is a leader of men. Truly from a football aspect, in those meetings how attentive he was. Those little things that come up in a game that sometimes you often take for granted, he's very much on it. He leads in a very good way. He just was one of my favorite coaches that I ever had.

I spoke very highly about him when they asked me who should be here. I believe they got just the right man for the job. Someone who can actually change the culture or at least start it in the right direction.

Q. Who asked you?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: You know, somebody (laughing).

Q. Harbaugh said from a knee standpoint he thinks you're healthier than Baltimore. He said on Monday you looked healthier than April. What have you been doing to keep up?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I'm feeling good. I've just been working at home, just to be honest with you. I've been at Exos back in Arizona, getting after it.

Baltimore for me, it was tough. It was right after the surgery, and then kind of playing the whole year knowing you needed to do a little something, but you don't have the time. It was just difficult.

I kind of wasn't playing as much. There (were) a lot of things that were going on. But I feel good now. Like I said, I'm fast, I'm moving well. It's now just about the repetition. Building up your football endurance, back to the football IQ, knowing spatial awareness, knowing where people are at. Things that will come back. Like everything else, it takes a little time.

Q. What would be the best-case scenario with the Giants? What do you want to see happen here?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I think play well, win a Super Bowl. That's the best case. That's what you want to do. I used to be in here looking at these banners. All I ever wanted to do for this place was win. Everybody knows, you can write it up however you want, I never wanted to leave here. I just came from a school where if we lost on Saturday, season was over. I hate losing. I hate it, I hate it. All I ever wanted to do was win. That's all I want to do now.

Just like everybody else is practicing right now. Everybody wants to win a Super Bowl. You're not coming in to have a good season and then get to your offseason. We all want to win that Super Bowl. That's the goal. Knowing it takes a lot to do that. I've been there before. I'm just trying to be whatever I can for this team and be the best version of myself.

Q. What is your connection with (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart)? What do you see from him as a quarterback?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: He's very good. I watched him last year. He likes to have fun. He enjoys the game of football. That's something great to see from a young quarterback.

He's got an arm on him. Obviously, he's got a lot of swag. The only connection we really have is LSU used to beat the hell out of Ole Miss. That's about it.

Q. How much does it mean to you that (President and Chief Executive Officer) John Mara and the Giants wanted you back? How much does that relationship mean to you in the context of returning?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: It means a lot. We had been in touch over the years. Seeing him, now seeing the kids and they are growing up. I remember them when they were all in kids' jerseys. Just being able to be here and see Mr. Mara, like I said, I want to win it. But I want to do it bad for this family.

This family brought me in; they gave me my first opportunity. Something I'll forever be grateful for. So many amazing memories. My life was here, I never thought I'd be anywhere else. To even have the opportunity to put a jersey and a helmet back on – I actually left one of my helmets here, it had dust on it. It was good to see.

But yeah, I want to do it for that family, for this building, for Giants Nation. This is my squad.

Like I said, it's just going to come with everyday work, being the best me I can be.

Q. What kind of resource do you think you can be for (wide receiver) Malik Nabers, who has been like you were - great on the field, going through an injury like you have, and has had some moments in his career where he's questioned coaching or questioned play calling, things that you went through early in your career?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I think I can be a great asset for him. Even when I wasn't here, I was hitting him up. I'm like, 'Yo,' – no offense – 'I know how they are. I know how they are going to turn. Just telling you.'

He comes from that school. We come from the same place. We want to win that bad. Now, there's a way to do everything. I think just with everybody else, like everybody learns from their own ways and mistakes.

My son is going to have all the game in the world, right? But he's still going to grow up, as an adult he's going to make his own mistakes. I'm going to be there to pick him up, maybe give some advice for the next time that he can carry.

At the end of the day, he's a grown man; he's going to make his own decisions. I think when you go through an injury like that, for a minute it hardens you, but it also gives you a lot of experience, it gives you a lot of knowledge, you get to learn a lot about yourself.

I think through this process, which has been a tough process, but I think he's going to come out on the other end better. I can't wait to see him back on the field.

Obviously, we know what kind of player he is. Just however I can help him, anybody else, trust me, I know all the things to do, and I know the things not to do.

Q. You're 33, which I think is young. In football terms, it's not that young. You had some serious injuries to your leg. How much do you view this as your last chance to keep this going?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: Again, like I was saying, I was watching the Rafael doc. Just seeing all the things he's gone through. Just for me, some people just have that heart. I got up, tear my knee. I get up again. I get up, I'm going to get up off that ground. You said 33 like it's dog years (smiling).

I'm still moving at 20-21 miles an hour. I'm still finding ways to get open. It's not going to be the 195-pound 2014 number one receiver who knows the ball is coming to him every single time. I (could) kind of cheat with a lot of things.

It will be very attentive to detail, very locked in, knowing this is your opportunity. It's just a different game. But I'm still ready, you know? 33 – it's a great age.

Q. Do you feel like it's your last chance?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I look at it like this. God has given me one more opportunity to play. Whatever I do with that is that. I'm not saying this is my only year and I'm not saying that I've got five more for you. I'm just looking at it like this is my opportunity now. We'll see where it goes from there.

Q. You mentioned the past, now moving forward. Do you have any regrets that you carried with you for a while about here, how things ended, what you may have done? How have you been able to come to some sort of peace with how things ended?

ODELL BECKHAM JR.: I think I took it with me in other places. Being like I know what I don't want to do. At the end of the day, like I said, I never wanted to leave here. I just wanted us to have a better team, better people, better players. I sound like a Papa John's commercial (laughs). I just wanted to be great. I care about it that much. As far as regrets, I'm kind of one of those people, for better or worse, never regret anything, because at one point in time it was exactly what you wanted. I don't hang my hat on it. I learn from it. If I regret anything, it would be not winning here and not being the guy that I know that I could have been, allowing things to get in the way of that.

Other than that, I wish that things could have went differently, but they went exactly how they were supposed to. I always trust in God, His plan. Maybe if I stayed here, something worse could have happened. I take it for what it is. Like I said, I want to make the most of the opportunity now.

Defensive Lineman DJ Reader

Q. What was the process like coming here? Obviously, you had the visit and waited till after the draft. Talk us through those couple months.

DJ READER: I think I came on a visit, liked it, obviously. Had some good conversations with the coaches, staff. Then you leave and the agent and them try to figure it out. That was really the whole thing.

I had some family stuff to take care of. Just trying to figure out what the process would be about somebody wanting me. I knew I was going to have to report a little bit later because of what I had going.

Q. Did you always think you would be here? You visited Baltimore, too.

DJ READER: Not that I always thought I was going to be here. Early in the process, you're just trying to go with who's interested.

Then I got here, you kind of realize we have some pieces here that are really, really special that you don't have at a lot of places. I think it came down to that.

The enthusiasm, just talking with the coaches, how they felt about it. Then had a lot of respect for Harbs (head coach John Harbaugh), seeing him work for some years. He's seen it all and the excitement you kind of saw on his face about it. The opportunity was kind of cool. I knew it would be a good opportunity if I ended up coming.

Q. When they spoke to you initially Dexter Lawrence was still here. Were those conversations about you and Dex together? Now you are technically his replacement.

DJ READER: (Laughs) I'm not necessarily his replacement. Yeah, I guess. I think most of the conversations were just more about adding to the room, whatever was in the room. I knew it was a possibility of going through what they were going through with Dex. So that was what it was.

It would be cool, obviously, to play with him. Got a chance to text him and talk to him. It wasn't something that played too deep into my decision. It was more so I wanted to be in a place with some good pieces.

It was kind of just explaining we hope we can get it done. If we can't, then we'll make sure it's compensated if we don't. We want to get it done. Things just didn't go that way, so it was what it was.

Q. Analytic sites say Lawrence was the most double-teamed player in the NFL. You are the second most double-teamed player. How do you handle those double teams and what kind of resource do you think you can be to the edge rushers here if you are commanding those double teams?

DJ READER: I think it's something that kind of comes with the territory, the position. You kind of just got to know it is what it is. It's smart.

Offensive scheme, I'm the guy that kind of closest to the center and the guard. So I'd probably double-team me, too. Safety down, usually to a lot of the noses sides in a lot of the defenses, so it's just kind of how it goes.

I think I've always done a good job of just kind of taking that in stride, knowing that it's important for those guys who really play pass-rush and they do this on the daily. These are the guys that are going out there and getting pressure up the middle so the quarterback can really roll to them.

I've always had good edges. I think my edges usually have good seasons when they play with me, so it's been good.

Q. You talk about the pieces in this room. What you looked at it, what specifically attracted you to this defense that you wanted to join?

DJ READER: If you kind of look out there, I know y'all were at practice, we kind of got a get-off-the-bus type of team. You look at it, there's a bunch of big, strong, fast guys running around. That's exciting when you're playing on defense.

You see the special pieces on the edge. You got three edges that are proven, can play. The guys in the middle, safeties, linebackers. It's a team you kind of want to be around.

Then on offense, it kind of speaks for itself. I won't get too deep into the offensive side of the ball. That's their thing.

On the defense, you look at the guys, you see what is in your room. A lot of teams aren't really built like that. If you can do it right and put it together, it can be special.

Q. What is your relationship with (defensive lineman) Shelby (Harris)? Just from being in the league?

DJ READER: Just from being in the league. A lot of respect for him. A lot of mutual friends. Nothing crazy. I'm excited to get a chance to really talk to him, be around him. A lot of mutual friends. Heard really, really good things about him. I've always respected his game and him as a man.

Offensive Lineman Jermaine Eluemunor

When you were in high school in New Jersey, were you an (wide receiver) Odell Beckham fan?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Was he in the league '07 or '08?

You weren't in high school in '07 or '08.

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: No, I moved here in '08. When did he get in the league?

2014.

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah I wasn't in high school, I was in JUCO. I mean, I wasn't really paying attention to the NFL when I was in JUCO. I wanted to get here but I wasn't locked in like that.

It's cool to be able to play with a guy like that.

We know you've changed a lot since you were in Baltimore. What is it like having (head coach John) Harbaugh? Is he still the exact same?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: The same. The exact same. I feel like I'm back in Baltimore. The workouts, the intensity, just the attention to detail. The way we get things done in the field, the reasons behind them. Also, the small things. And also just I'd say the things that you do in practice that really matter that is the difference between winning and losing in the league.

I feel like we obviously could have done a better job of in the last couple years. I think that this year everyone's bought in, making sure we cover every base that we can to make sure we go out there this fall and win games.

(Defensive lineman) DJ (Reader) just said what he noticed is this is kind of a get-off-the-bus kind of team, guys are big and strong. You've been here. Do you get a sense this team is bigger and stronger now?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I'll tell you me personally, I am. This has definitely been the best offseason of my career from a workout standpoint. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my career. Strength-wise, the strongest I was playing football was in college. Like, I'm stronger than that now. Hitting weights that I haven't touched in a long time in the league. Also just being out here, you see the difference in body shape, guys and everyone came into the offseason with a goal in mind and really determined to change this thing around and really win. You see that by the way guys work out, by the way they practice. I think it's been a really productive offseason.

What should the goal be for this offensive line? Four of the five guys are back plus a first-round pick. What should the goal be?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I mean, I think everyone wants to be the best. I don't see why not. Last season I think from an O-line standpoint, I think that we were one of the best pass-blocking units in the NFL, I also think we were one of the best run blocking units in the NFL, that's why we were in the top five categories when it comes to rushing. I don't see why this can't be one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

Me, AT (tackle Andrew Thomas), (guard Jon) Runyan, (center John Michael) Schmitz, then (offensive lineman) Sisi (Mauigoa) is coming along really well, too. He's an athletic freak. I think they're going to do a lot of good things this season. I mean, everyone wants to be the best. If you don't want to be the best, I think that's the wrong mindset to have.

What have you seen from Sisi?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I think Sisi, he just wants to learn. He asks a bunch of questions. He'll watch film, he'll ask me a question about this, or a set and he'll ask for my opinion and be talking to Runyan, be talking to Schmitz but he's also a really confident guy. Also, a really hard worker and doesn't take BS from anyone.

A lot of the times when me and (outside linebacker Brian) Burns are going at it and he's sliding out to him, he's not afraid to get in Burns face or get in (outside linebacker) Abdul's (Carter) face. And let them know that when we put in pads on and like if it was a game, he would be waiting for him right there, waiting for him to spin back inside so he can smack him. It's like that young-guy energy that you kind of feed off.

Sisi is a really hard-working guy. He's a physical guy. I think the sky's the limit for him. It's been a lot of fun.

You've done the inside-outside guard-tackle. What is your advice to him on moving inside?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Work hard. Obviously, it's not the easiest. But when your able to focus on one position and don't have to worry about multiple positions, that makes life a lot easier.

Sisi knows he's the right guard, he's going to be the right guard. He has really just dove head first into that and embraced that. I think from practice one to practice nine, you've truly seen a difference in the way he has taken his sets, his run block. Then it's the little technique things that we all have to work on, but I think he's made a lot of progress this spring, and it will only help him in the summer and fall.

(Quarterback) Jaxson (Dart), do you notice anything different about his leadership coming back from his first season?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: More intent, I would say. He knows we'll go as far as he can take us. He's really doing everything he can to be better. I think that goes the same with everyone on the team. Me, Burns, Tibbs (outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux), Motor (running back Devin Singletary), Skatt (running back Cam Skattebo), (tight end) Isaiah Likely. Basically everyone. I can't name everyone.

But everyone is truly trying to take it up a notch. Like I said, just turn it around here. No one wants to go 4-13, 3-14 again. That sucks. You have to do more to make sure that doesn't happen again. You can truly see that in the determination of everyone and the way we practice. It's been really cool.

You're a guy that has had no problem with engaging with fans, being on social media. You're willing to engage and talk to people. Is there something about this team right now over the last couple months that is built differently to be able to withstand the noise or some of the things that have gone on here? It's been an active offseason for you guys.

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I'd say it's New York. It's unlike any other team you can be on. Obviously, I've been on a couple. The media part of it wasn't truly that big of a focal point, I'd say that.

Being in New York, the smallest things can blow up. As a team, we understand that. But guys also know, we have a goal. We know what we're aiming for. With Harbs, he likes to get his point across. He focuses on the entire picture and really making sure that guys lock in on where the important things, what aren't the important things. Like caring about what people says on social media, it's doesn't really matter. People are going to have their opinions. I know that people have their opinions about me. It doesn't really faze me. I could care less.

But at the same time, too, social media can be a great tool if you make it that. You can kind of use it to your advantage. I think that we have a lot of smart guys on this team, a lot of guys that really care.

Like I said, everyone knows what it's going to take to win games this year. The whole social media thing doesn't really matter if I'm being completely honest with you. Maybe in past years, guys have cared more about that. I truly believe everyone in this building wants to win and will do everything it takes to do that.

Harbs talked about empowering you guys to kind of take ownership of situations such as last week, he wants you guys to see how to handle it. How does he empower you guys to just make those decisions as players? Do you appreciate a coach letting you figure that out to be better leaders going forward?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I would say that Harbs has been around a lot of great players, (former Ravens linebacker) Ray Lewis, (former Ravens safety) Ed Reed, (former Ravens linebacker) Terrell Suggs, (former Ravens offensive lineman) Marshal Yanda, those Baltimore guys. A lot of teams were player-driven, employee-led and obviously the coach, he's the guy that coaches them but a lot of those successful teams in Baltimore and I was around some of those guys, they took it upon themselves to make sure things get handled the right way, to make sure that everyone's on the same page.

I think we have that here with all the guys that we have in place to make sure things get hashed out the right way and also to make sure that everyone knows what the end goal is and what we truly want to accomplish and make sure things aren't just swept under the rug. If someone has something to say, then we acknowledge it, talk about it and you just move on.

I think that is a quality of this team this year. Everyone is going to think differently, have different opinions, believe different things but at the end of the day we are all teammates, we all love each other.

Like I keep saying, everyone wants to be here and everyone wants to win. I think winning is all that matters, if I'm being honest with you. Everyone knows that. That's what we're going to do.

You were with Carmen (Bricillo) for a while. What's (offensive line coach Mike) Bloomgren been like? What are your first impressions of working with him?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, my first different O-line coach in like what? Six seasons? It's definitely been different. I think Bloom and Carm are two great O-line coaches. Obviously, Carm helped me to get where I am right now. Bloom's thing is you've been here and you've gotten here but how can you take that next step. It's been really cool just picking Bloom's brain, being out here just seeing little things I can get better at.

Like I said, I feel like I've had one of best, if not the best, offseason of my career. Bloom and (assistant offensive line coach) Grant (Newsome) are helping me with the little technique things that will make a big difference come Sundays.

What is the next step for you? It took you a long time to establish being the player you are. Youi talk about next steps. What are they for you?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: To be the best. I mean, when I first thought I wanted to play football, it never was about money, fame, notoriety. It was really just about being the best. I play it to be the best.

Obviously, I'm very grateful for things I've accomplished and things I've earned so far. That's never been a motivation. Obviously looking after my family is something that I take pride in. I want to be the best. AT wants to be the best.

It's cool because we have this picture up in the O-line room now of all the old pros that have played with the Giants. I just kind of envision my name being up there. That's my goal. I don't see why not. I feel I was one of the best right tackles in the league last year. You watch my tape, you can't deny that. How do I take the next step? Doing the small things better like being a better run blocker, truly dominating my guy in pass protection, keeping the quarterback clean. Just going out there with an intent to just really dominate and move people from Point A to Point B. It's something we're really trying to install in everyone on the offensive line this year. Truly being a dominant run blocking team because that will make things easier in the pass game.