FanHouse Joshhuston

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Who would have thought a year ago that the perception of Eli Manning would have changed so drastically? That's what happens when you win a Super Bowl. But can you really expect Manning to be as precise as he was during that improbable championship run? Either the light finally went on for Manning, or he simply found a zone. Or a combination of the two. Last year was a step forward, for sure, but I expect Eli Manning v.2008 to resemble something in between the lows and highs of the two Eli Mannings circa 2007. Still, that's good enough to win games. What isn't good enough to win games is David Carr, the team's new backup, so Manning better stay upright for all 16. Heat Index: 7

Running back: The Giants found out exactly how critical depth at running back is, and they also found out that they luckily have it. Great contributions came from Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Derrick Ward, and Reuben Droughns. Danny Ware will likely take Droughns' place this year, but the team is still set in the backfield. Jacobs' combination of speed and power is pretty unstoppable, and while punishing backs don't typically have long shelf lives, Jacobs is in his prime now if he stays healthy this year. Heat Index: 8

Hey everyone! Olindo Mare's 3-of-7 start? His two missed field goals Sunday against Carolina? All water under the bridge, because Mare is taking full responsibility!

"There are no excuses," Mare said. "I was brought here to make field goals, and I did half of that (on Sunday). Obviously, I'm disappointed. I felt I could make the 20-yarder (blocked by Julius Peppers). Until I see it (on film), I don't know. But if I hit it low, then I don't have any excuses. It's obviously my fault."

Whew, well that's a relief. I was still deciding whether to place the blame for those botched kicks on Mare of Drew Brees. Glad the decision has been made for me. Unfortunately, Mare's terrible kicking has been a large part of the team's 0-4 start. So unless he's got a time machine that I don't know about, accepting all the blame in the world won't do any good.

But bringing in a new kicker would at least stop the bleeding. The team has scheduled tryouts with a few, including, as predicted, Mike Vanderjagt. Others include Billy Cundiff, maybe Martin Gramatica and Josh Huston, and a host of other unnamed kickers. Not the most inspiring crew of names, but I'm not sure it can get any worse than Mare circa 2007. But, hey, accountability!

After another poor performance on Sunday night in which he missed a 32-yard field goal and an extra point, Lawrence Tynes may be on his way out of New York. According to Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger, the Giants have both Josh Huston and Billy Cundiff in for workouts today.

Huston, who was with the Giants during training camp, was one of the teams' final cuts. He battled Tynes until the very end, and many fans felt he had actually won the job. Instead, head coach Tom Coughlin opted to go with the veteran in what he claimed was a "very close" competition.

Meanwhile, Cundiff has bounced around from team to team after leaving Dallas following the 2005 season. He played with the Saints last year, primarily as a kickoff specialist, before finding himself with the Falcons this offseason. His stay in Atlanta didn't last very long, as the team cut him in favor of Matt Prater, who has since been released.

I don't really think any of these kickers are long term options, but they also can't be worse than Tynes. If you're a Giants fan, you can not possibly feel comfortable with him coming in to kick an extra point, let alone a potential game-winning field goal. Change is necessary.

You will not find one Giants 53-man roster projection without Will Demps' name on it, but they would all be wrong. In a rather shocking decision by Coach Tom Coughlin, the New York Giants have decided to part ways with the six-year veteran safety.

12:01 p.m. S Will Demps has been cut, his agent, Tony Agnone, has confirmed. Agnone said the team will give Demps an injury settlement for his dislocated elbow.

Demps struggled in his first season with New York, but many attributed that to the continued recovery of a serious knee injury. Unfortunately, he never really got it going in training camp and was eventually demoted to the second team before going down with a dislocated elbow in week two of the preseason.

Other Notable Cuts: Kick Josh Huston, quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, cornerback E.J. Underwood, cornerback Gerrick McPhearson and defensive tackle Jonas Seawright.

Update: The original report was partially incorrect. The Giants placed Demps on IR, but are soon expected to reach an injury settlement with him, essentially setting him free.

It's no secret that the New York Giants are in need of a kicker, and it just so happens that the Green Bay Packers may have a solution for them.

Shortly before the Giants 20-12 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday -- a game in which Lawrence Tynes and Josh Huston missed a combined three field goals -- the Packers phoned Giants G.M. Jerry Reese and offered one of their two kickers in exchange for a low draft pick.

Although David Rayner and Mason Crosby have only seen limited action in the preseason, neither kicker has yet to miss a field goal. That's a far cry from the Giants pair, whom have made only 50% of their opportunities.

"I certainly was disappointed because the nine points were the difference makers," Coughlin said of the Giants' 20-12 loss. "But hopefully we can improve upon that."

Rather than trading a low round draft pick, the Giants may test their luck by waiting until Green Bay cuts one of the two. They may also examine the free agent market once other teams are done trimming their rosters.

Things started fast and ended strong for the New York Jets tonight as they handed the Giants their second loss of the preseason. Although they hit a rough stretch after their first offensive series, back-up quarterback Kellen Clemens (6 of 8 for 122 yards and a rushing touchdown) was able to revive the team in the second half and eventually lead them to victory.

While Jets fans can be thankful for Clemens, they have to be questioning their faith in Chad Pennington after his second straight poor performance. Although he had one nice completion (79 yards) to Leon Washington on the first play of the game, it was all down hill from there. Over the next seven series, the Jets managed a total of zero yards. To Pennington's credit, the Giants first team defense was absolutely dominating the line of scrimmage and their blitzes were well disguised.

Another plus for the Jets would be the performance of undrafted rookie free agent Danny Ware, who managed 57 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Although he was playing against defensive substitutes, he showed great field awareness and some rather impressive and crisp cuts.

Murphy's Law states that "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." Unfortunately, the New York football Giants are the epitome of Murphy's Law. Take for example Sam Madison. He had a great over the shoulder interception on an overthrown Steve McNair pass and later added an impressive open field tackle that saved a first down. It was shaping up to be a great night for the veteran cornerback until he went down with a pulled hamstring -- an injury that takes 4-6 weeks to heal properly.

What's the big deal? It was only one injury, right? Wrong!

Then there was wide receiver Michael Jennings, who was getting the start due to injuries (they are everywhere!) to Plaxico Burress and Sinorice Moss. Like Madison, he was looking great early in the game before being shot down with an injury of his own. Unfortunately, his injury was of the year-ending variety -- a ruptured Achilles.

Sticking with that theme was rookie wide receiver Steve Smith. His injury is the prime example of the Giants' luck -- he suffered a concussion on a touchdown. That's right, on a touchdown.

Did it end there? Of course not! Later on, while bracing himself for a fall, Will Demps dislocated his elbow. And while the severity has not yet been announced, it is possible that surgery is required and his season is also over.

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.

- Quarterback Eli Manning had another brilliant practice with the exception of one errant pass. He has really turned it on of late and has been demonstrating the leadership that so many claim he needed to.

- Although the Giants have given defensive tackle Manuel Wright a surprise opportunity, they aren't taken any chances with him. It's been made clear by Giants brass that they have high expectation and if Manny doesn't give the effort, he will be sent packing.

- David Diehl got beat by defensive tackle Barry Cofield for a sack today. I think Diehl has now been beaten by every single Giants defensive lineman. Well, that may be a stretch, but he has not been very impressive to date.

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.

- Tight end Darcy Johnson's season is over. Although original reports were quite positive, Johnson will require surgery on his right knee and will be promptly placed on injured reserve.

- The Giants made quite a few roster moves today, including the addition of defensive tackle Manuel Wright (Buffalo). They also signed offensive linemen Dan Parrish and Myniya Smith, while releasing defensive end Deke Bake, cornerback Travonti Johnson and offensive lineman Chris Patrick.

- Not practicing were Plaxico Burress, Corey Webster, Michael Stone, Gerris Wilkinson, Charrod Taylor, Craig Dahl and Gerrick McPhearson.

Fear not, Giants Training Camp Notebook has not been discontinued, it just went on a short hiatus. In the off chance it's actually something you enjoy, prepare to get your fill.

- Rookie cornerback Aaron Ross had a decent day today and had moments that reminded the Giants why they drafted him in the first round. Unfortunately, his evening practice was cut short when he went down with a hamstring injury.

- The Giants have been searching for some trickery over the last few practices, but it hasn't worked well and if today was any indication on how it's going to be, they should just forget about it.

Eli Manning lateraled the ball to second-year wide receiver Sinorice Moss who was supposed to throw it down field to Michael Jennings. Well, things didn't work out as they were planned and Moss ended up tossing the ball back toward Manning, only to have it intercepted by defensive tackle Fred Robbins.