If the Philadelphia Eagles won the offseason, their NFC East-rival New York Giants have lost it. Here are five setbacks the Giants have suffered:
5. Offensive line shuffle » With limited cap space, the Giants decided to cut two of their veteran blockers — three-time Pro Bowl center Shaun O’Hara and guard Rich Seubert. The move puts a lot of pressure on their new starting left tackle, 26-year-old Will Beatty.
4. Not a good reception » Giants fans weren’t too happy that free agent wide receiver Steve Smith decided to join the Eagles. But Smith wasn’t the only pass catcher to go. Tight end Kevin Boss signed with the Raiders. They combined for 83 catches and 1,060 yards last season despite Smith missing seven games.
3. Rookie watch » Cornerback Prince Amukamara dropped to the Giants with the 19th pick in the NFL Draft. Then, he broke a bone in his foot in the second practice of camp. He’ll miss at least another month. How quickly the rookie returns is even more important since …
2. Another Giant injury » Cornerback Terrell Thomas, New York’s leading tackler last season, tore his ACL on Monday night and will miss the entire regular season. He becomes the latest in a long list of notable Giants players — Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Kenny Phillips and Osi Umenyiora — to suffer a serious knee injury the last few years.
1. Eagles additions » While the Giants were limited as to what they could do in the offseason, they had to watch the defending division-champion Eagles add Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jason Babin and Smith.
– Jeffrey Tomik
