FanHouse RWMcQuarters

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

The New York Giants were an afterthought in 2007, but made their way to a Super Bowl title. In 2008, the Giants found a way to earn home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, only to last one game. Their playoff loss to Philadelphia was certainly disappointing, but the fact that they earned the top seed after the drama they went through was impressive in itself. Now, it's time for the Giants to re-tool, reload, and get back to the Super Bowl.

It's a little late in the week, but we finally got some bulletin-board material. You see, because grown men who make millions of dollars to play a game can't get adequately motivated until someone questions their desire/toughness/want-to /sticktoitiveness/other well-worn football-related phrase.

So round of applause for the Cowboys' Patrick Crayton, who, according to the Dallas Morning News' David Moore, asserted that the New York players have some deep-seated psychological need to talk trash before every game with the Cowboys. Shockingly, when asked about it, the Giants had some thoughts:

"Patrick Crayton?" right tackle Kareem McKenzie asked with a quizzical look on his face. "He plays on offense? Then I wouldn't have to worry about him. ... Some people like cannon fodder. Of course, I didn't have time to read the paper today. I'm preparing for a game."

McKenzie: 1, Crayton: 0. To be fair, most of Crayton's comment were pretty benign, but then there was this:

[W]hen talking about how Owens at 85 to 90 percent can run by most of the cornerbacks in the league, Crayton suggested reporters ask New York's Sam Madison.

R.W. McQuarters' response: "I didn't believe it at first when I read it ... We don't want to get into a talking game with them. But it was disrespectful."

Rodney Harrison would be proud, McQuarters played the disrespect card. I'm not one of those people who think during-the-week trash talking actually has an outcome on the game (the Patriots and Anthony Smith might disagree), but I suspect the Giants secondary will have Crayton in mind on Sunday, particularly if he's running across the middle.

When Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants refused to lie down for the undefeated New England Patriots, they knew and understood the potential consequences. Unfortunately, those consequences landed three key starters on the sidelines.

Although the news on center Shaun O'Hara and linebacker Kawika Mitchell seems positive, it's the news regarding starting cornerback Sam Madison that has everyone worried.

According to Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger, Madison didn't suffer an abdominal strain as previously reported; he actually suffered a pulled muscle in his rib cage. It's an injury that supposedly causes tremendous pain and has kept the veteran out of practice all week.

In addition to Madison, cornerback Kevin Dockery (hip) missed practice again yesterday, leaving Aaron Ross and Corey Webster as the primary starters and R.W. McQuarters as the backup.

Should Madison and Dockery both find themselves on the sideline this weekend in Tampa Bay, the Giants will be forced to start Webster as they did in practice. And unfortunately, that's exactly what Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia wants to hear.

Giants Training Camp Notebook is a cliff notes style post aimed at giving Giants fans up-to-date news about the most recent training camp practices.

- Many people thought cornerback Kevin Dockery was going to "break out" last year, but unfortunately that never happened. However, with the new season comes a new opportunity and so far Dockery is making the most of it. He had another good practice yesterday and his constant motor is earning him a ton of respect in the locker room.

- The Giants have a huge dilemma on their hands that doesn't involve injuries. Its punt returns and who is going to field them. They tried a variety of people yesterday including Michael Jennings, Ahmad Bradshaw, R.W. McQuarters and Sinorice Moss. Rookie Aaron Ross is also a consideration.

- Brandon Jacobs leads as intensely as he plays. Yesterday during sprints, he happened to notice that fullback Robert Douglas was merely jogging and it was on from there. Jacobs lit into Douglas and you can bet that he'll never jog during sprints again.

Giants Training Camp Notebook is a cliff notes style post aimed at giving Giants fans up-to-date news about the most recent training camp practices.

- Injury problems continued to hound the Giants yesterday. In a matter of mere-moments they had to cart two, count them, two players carted off the field. The first was linebacker Gerris Wilkinson, who appeared to injury his right knee in 9-on-7 drills. The second was offensive lineman Todd Londot, who hurt his left ankle in the same drill. To make matters worse, safety Gibril Wilson also had to sit out with back spasms.

- There was some good news that came out of yesterday's practices, however. Quarterback Eli Manning looked very impressive and was making a lot of quality throws.

- Rookie wide receiver Steve Smith continues to blow people away. He had another great day of practice yesterday which included an "amazing catch" for a touchdown over Kevin Dockery.

The trademark hair that was Giants cornerback R.W. McQuarters is no more. In a move aimed at decreasing the risk of concussion, the 10-year NFL veteran chopped off his flowing Rasta locks.

To the credit of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, this decision by McQuarters came after it was announced that players must wear helmets that actually fit. While the helmet did fit McQuarters, there was a substantial amount of room between his skull and the lining of the helmet due to his hair. It's something that seems insignificant, but something that actually caused Amani Toomer some trouble early in his career when he, like McQuarters, sported dreadlocks.

"I had a big helmet and when I put it on it was OK. But then my hair would get wet," Toomer said, "and it would mat down a little bit. Then my helmet would get a little play in there and then I would get hit. I ended up with two concussions and I never had a concussion before."

It sure will be odd seeing McQuarters running around the field without the hair spewing from the back of his helmet. At the same time, the last thing the Giants can afford are injuries to their secondary. While it's never been a problem before, it's still better to be safe than sorry.