Ice Cube gives Oakland Raiders sneak preview of 'Straight Outta Compton'

It's been a while since the Raiders have been relevant in the NFL, but thanks to Thursday's release of the N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton, the team will once again be in the headlines.

Or at least on people's heads.

According to tweets from a number of players, rapper and Raiders fan Ice Cube sent the team a videotaped message and an advance copy of the new movie, which they watched Wednesday night in lieu of meetings.

The Raiders had a team screening of "Straight Outta Compton", courtesy of Ice Cube, last night.

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) August 13, 2015

While they changed pop culture in the 1980's, Cube and the rest of the members of N.W.A. wore Raiders gear throughout their rise to prominence, associating the team in those days with the mean streets of L.A.

And, from the players reviews, it sounds like the film lives up to the pre-release hype.

@icecube thanks for hooking the @RAIDERS up with the early peek of "Straight outta Compton".

— Justin Tuck (@JustinTuck) August 13, 2015

Straight outta Compton 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

— Shelby Harris (@ShelbyHarris93) August 13, 2015

Man! Straight Outta Compton!! Must see!! Thanks @icecube !

— Khalil Mack (@52Mack_) August 13, 2015

Should we expect Kings hats to make a national comeback too?

Giants players 'nervous' after deadly NJ mall carjacking

There probably wasn't a New York Giants  player who hasn't seen the news on the senseless New Jersey mall shooting where a 30-year-old man lost his life during a parking lot carjacking. The still-at-large suspects took a couple's gray Range Rover after an alleged struggle right outside the upscale Short Hills mall.

After all — big contracts for big athletes usually come with big luxury cars.

The story hit home for Justin Pugh — literally. The offensive lineman realizes that could have been him or anybody with a desirable car in what is generally assumed to be a safe place, writes nj.com.

“It’s one of the nicest malls in the country. It was somebody driving the same car that I have,” Pugh said while attending The Seventh Annual Giants’ Players Toy and Book Drive at Westfield Garden State Plaza. “So it kind of makes you a little bit nervous, but you can’t live in a bubble. You have to go out and live life.

“If something happens, I’ll give him my car. I’ll give him whatever he wants. I’m not arguing whatsoever. It’s a scary thing.”

To put the tragic story behind him, Pugh and some of his Giants teammates sloshed through inclement weather on Tuesday night and tried to put smiles on the faces of children in need. 

They collected toys and signed autographs, but also had a security team to escort them throughout the mall and make sure the event ran smoothly.

For Justin Tuck, he knows there are dangers that come with a being a high-profile public figure — no matter how large and intimidating. It's all in a day in the life of a professional athlete in a big market. But he's not willing to let ignorant individuals affect the way he lives.

"For us, we just continue to give people something to smile about. It is the only way we know how to combat that type of evil," Tuck said. "That is one of the reasons we continue to do [the toy and book drive]."

And the Giants players won't let the murder stop them from helping the less fortunate during the holidays.

"You can't allow ignorant people in this world to affect how you live," Tuck said. "If you're going to live in fear, you might as well not live. Obviously what happened is horrible. You just have to continue to press on.

"We're coming out just trying to put smiles on kids' faces."

Coughlin's message for Giants: 'Shut up and play'

The recently, and conspicuously, silent Tom Coughlin finally opened his mouth between his rosy cheeks again and had a succinct message for his trash-talking Giants team: “Shut up and play.”

The Giants head coach had some choice words for his loud-mouthed team Monday — a day after its season was all but ended by the Dallas Cowboys — and after the home Giants spent a full week leading up to Sunday's game goading the visiting team.

“Talk is cheap,” a clearly annoyed Coughlin said. “Play the game. I don’t see anything that gets accomplished by the verbalization part of it. We’ve never been a team that has been one to provide bulletin-board material.”

Puffing out their chests — thanks to a four-game winning streak built on a fortunate stretch against mediocre quarterbacks — the Giants were at their brashest in months. Jason Pierre-Paul guaranteed a “bloodbath,” and Terrell Thomas promised a win, even telling the Cowboys they could put that guarantee up on their bulletin board.

All that did was rile Dallas so much that defensive tackle Jason Hatcher smeared fake blood onto his face after the game to mock JPP. And by Monday, Coughlin exploded.

“‘Talk is cheap, play the game’ is my policy and I, quite frankly, was unaware of the two (guarantees) that were made and people made a big deal about,” said Coughlin, who added he would mention his disdain for trash talk in a team meeting Wednesday. “I don’t believe in that stuff. I think you play the game.

“I understand there was a little bit of it last week and I don’t believe in any of that,” he added.

Still, on Monday, there was the Giants' defensive team captain, Justin Tuck, delivering more of exactly what Coughlin doesn't believe in. A Twitter post showed Tuck's two Super Bowl rings on a pair of fingers, with a finger in the middle conveniently left bare.

“And for all the cowboy fan on my TL,” he tweeted.

But the rest of the Giants seemed humbled by the heartbreaking loss, admitting that Dallas threw them into the un-recyclable bin. 

“They got the win, they beat us twice this year, so they have the right to talk trash,” said Cullen Jenkins. “You can’t get irritated with it now, you should have done something about it during the games.”

“They won the game, they have the right to be as happy as they want to be,” added safety Antrel Rolle.

Jason Pierre-Paul on Cowboys game: 'There's going to be a lot of blood spilled out there'

The New York Giants are brimming with confidence after extending their win streak to four games Sunday — but they won't be taking things lightly when NFC East rival Dallas rolls into town.

Jason Pierre-Paul is among the Giants players who are excited to take on the Cowboys next week at MetLife Stadium and the defensive end didn't mince words when it came to describing what to expect.

When asked about their division rivals, JPP said the Giants were going to "put it on" the Cowboys. The defensive star also predicted that there will be more than just talk about bad blood.

"It’s a division game and they know that we know it’s going to be a fight,"  Pierre-Paul said. "We’re going to put it on them, I’m pretty sure the offense is going to get going and the defense is going to get going even more and the special teams are going to contribute.

"It’s going to be a fight, it’s going to be a dog fight, there’s going to be a lot of blood spilled out there."

Justin Tuck backed up his teammate's sentiments.

"I can honestly say that we don’t like each other and it shows up on the football field," said Tuck. "So I think it’s going to be another one of those drag-out type of games where you get in for four quarters and try to find a way to win it."

In many ways, this game could come to define the Giants season. And the team seems to be getting their swagger back just in time.

Pierre-Paul has been known to say “off the wall things,” as Tuck puts it. So when Pierre-Paul announced in the huddle early in the fourth quarter of a tight game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday that he was about to intercept a Scott Tolzien pass, it barely caused a shrug among his teammates.

But that’s exactly what Pierre-Paul did — and for the play of game (below).

So when JPP talks, people better watch.

Justin Tuck: Lack of sacks isn't defensive line's fault

The once-vaunted New York Giants pass rush has recorded a less than sterling five sacks in six games and, if you thrown in a lack of intimidation — few pressures, hurries or hits on quarterbacks — it deserves just as much blame for the 0-and-6 start as the stunted running game, the battered O-line or an erratic quarterback.

The numbers don't lie but, veteran defensive end Justin Tuck says you shouldn't point fingers at him or his defensive line.

"I guarantee you if you get us in a game scenario in our favor we’ll be fine," Tuck said, via the New York Daily News. "But we haven’t had the opportunity to play downhill. If you look at the sack numbers from years past, normally we’re leading by two scores in a lot of those games. You get a team where you know they have to pass the ball, they’ve got to get five out, I don’t think an O-line in this league has a chance, regardless if it’s us or anybody else. There are other issues, too. … I don’t care what you bring, if the quarterback gets the ball out of his hands, you’re not going to get there. And I think that’s the game plan against us right now."

Who is to blame for the mysterious decline of this once-fearsome pass rush? The Giants will enter Monday night’s game against the Vikings with an NFL-worst five sacks in six games. This is a team that won the Super Bowl two years ago behind a brutalizing defensive line that collected 48 sacks. Three of those players are still lining up against opponents.

"If I was the only one having a bad year numbers wise, then you could easily say 'Justin doesn’t have it anymore,' " Tuck said. "But when Kiwi (Mathias Kiwanuka) is not having a good year, when JPP is not having a good year, when Cullen (Jenkins) is not having a good year, when whoever else is not having a good year, you might want to look into it a little deeper than the numbers."

Throw in the off-season back surgery on Jason Pierre-Paul and the age of Kiwanuka and Tuck's explanations sound reasonable. But for such a drop-off in production — they sound like excuses as well.

Chris Canty to Justin Tuck: Punch opponents not teammates

Justin Tuck recently vowed that he would punch any teammate who turns on Tom Coughlin or causes any locker-room trouble because of the Giants’ 0-4 start. But former Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty thinks Tuck should worry about punching somebody else, first.

"Justin needs to worry about punching opposing offenses in the mouth," Canty, the new Ravens defensive tackle, said on NFL Network on Wednesday night. 'The way you show that you have your coach’s back is by going out there on that football field and performing."

"I’m sure Tuck is defending his coach. Tom Coughlin is an excellent coach, he’s a great man, so obviously as a player, you want to have his back. But you’ve got to show that on the field. That’s got to be taken care of on the field."

Canty also weighed in on Antrel Rolle’s comments that some in the Giants locker room don’t believe the team can rebound from its 0-4 start.

"There are guys in that locker room that probably lack the confidence that they can win football games," Canty said. "But as we know confidence comes from demonstrated performance. They just have to go out there and win a football game to show themselves that they can overcome the adversity in that game and be successful as a team."

Justin Tuck threatens to 'punch in the mouth' anyone who turns on Coughlin

The second-guessing may have started in the New York Giants locker room — a disheartening indication that the team's season could be slowly slipping away and the first sign of discord under Tom Coughlin's reign since the Tiki Barber years.

“Right now, we are as low as you can get,” defensive end Justin Tuck said after a lifeless  31-7 loss to the Chiefs Sunday.

The Giants’ first 0-4 start in a non-strike year since 1979 is not entirely Coughlin’s fault. He was given an aging roster with little depth by general manager Jerry Reese and the Giants have endured a debilitating number of injuries. Reese is as much to blame as Coughlin —maybe more.

And, outside of Victor Cruz publicly questioning Coughlin's fourth-down call against the Chiefs, the team has not turned on Coughlin outright — yet.

One Giant who says speaking up against Coughlin is akin to fighting words is Tuck

“If anyone turns on our coach, I would be the first one to punch him in the mouth,” Justin Tuck told the N.Y. Daily News. “And put that in print. It better not happen, I know that.”

The play in question was a third-and-17 from the Giants 14. Eli Manning connected with Cruz for what initially was ruled a first down. Andy Reid challenged the spot and after the review the officials placed the ball at the 30-and-a-half yard line. Cruz needed to get to the 31. Coughlin made the right decision punting down by just three deep in his own end. Imagine the second-guessing if he had gone for it and missed and the Chiefs quickly traveled the short field for a touchdown.

Tuck admitted on the sideline, “Every defensive player wanted him to go for it. That is why we probably will never be coaches. That would have been a stupid move. Even if you get it, it would still be a stupid move.”

Cruz, who had scored on a 69-yard TD pass from Manning in the second quarter, claims he wasn't second-guessing Coughlin's call — only saying he wanted to stay on the field.

“I thought we should have gone for it on that fourth down,” Cruz said. “It’s coach’s call at the end of the day.”

From their own 30 down three?

“If it was me? Yes. Because we had the momentum,” Cruz said. “I felt it was a yard, not even a yard, half a yard, we’ve got to take a risk at some point and make something happen.”

If the Giants lose against the Eagles Sunday, some thing is bound to happen.

Victor Cruz caught in middle of nightclub raid

Victor Cruz had his dance card shortened the other night after cops raided a Manhattan night club where the New York Giants receiver was celebrating with friends after signing a new tender with the team last week.

Cruz was reportedly in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to The New York Post, when the NYPD came down on the Meatpacking hot spot Stash, located below Snap sports bar on West 14th Street at 1:30 Friday morning.

“Victor was at a table surrounded by a group of friends and some girls,” a witness told Page Six of The Post. “He was ordering Champagne for everyone, partying, having a good time, but then the police came in and stopped the party.” We’re told police were “ID-ing everyone, shining flashlights all over the place. It was a very uncomfortable situation,” continues our spy. “Cruz had to sit idly by and seemed very awkward and nervous.” 

Bar owner Matthew Isaacs confirms Cruz was there but tells us the police raid was just a routine inspection that happens about every six months.

 “It’s a shame because it was a really good party, but they had to turn out the lights, which makes people file out to other places in the neighborhood,” the witness said.

That was one Big Blue line sweeping the bar that Cruz probably wishes had names like Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Justin Tuck: It won't be 'okey-dokey' with Jason Collins in the locker room at first

New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck supports Jason Collins’ decision to come out as a gay NBA player, but thinks things may be a little awkward in the player’s locker room for a while. The NFL star sounded like he feels there will be a period of awkwardness at the start.

"I think there’ll be an adjustment period," Tuck told The New York Daily News’ Molly Friedman at the Food Bank for New York City’s Can-Do Awards at Cipriani Wall Street. "I don’t think it’s going to be okey-dokey in the beginning. It will be uncomfortable ... guys don’t necessarily know him."

Everybody's been publicly supportive of Collins' coming out party since Monday but, realistically, having an openly gay man in a professional team's locker room is going to take some getting used to for a lot of players for whatever reasons.

It's healthy to get a viable opinion from a veteran of eight NFL seasons to prepare people for that scenario.

Victor Cruz a no show at Giants 'voluntary' offseason workout program

The New York Giants started their first day of voluntary offseason workouts in East Rutherford, N.J. and there was one noticeable absence in the mix — Victor Cruz.

There was no sign of the free-agent wide receiver near, in or around the facility, said a source.

The unnamed person requested anonymity because the team does not announce attendance for the voluntary workout program. Players were due in the building by 11:30 a.m. today for the program's start.

Before Big Blue fans start breaking their salsa CDs and suspect that Jay-Z's newest client is sending the team a Giant message, remember — it's not a holdout if it's voluntary.

There is no penalty for not showing up, but Cruz's absence likely reflects on his current unsettled contract situation. Cruz has not yet signed his $2.879 million first-round tender, nor have he and the Giants been able to reach agreement on a long-term deal.

Opposing teams have until April 19 -- this Friday -- to sign Cruz to a competing offer sheet. It's possible he could be waiting for this window to close before reporting or signing his tender, or he could have another plan in mind. Players are permitted to participate in the offseason workout program without signing their restricted free-agent tenders.

No sign of Victor Cruz at Day 1 of Giants' "voluntary" offseason workout program, source confirms. It's not a holdout if it's not mandatory.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) April 15, 2013

The fan favorite Cruz has gotten nearly unanimous support from his Giants teammates — including team leaders Eli Manning and Justin Tuck — so it seems like only a matter of time before he's back in blue.

Dwight Freeney: Playing for Giants 'would be a dream'

Free agent Dwight Freeney said he can't see himself joining an NFL team that doesn't have a chance to win and yesterday couldn't contain his enthusiasm about hooking up with the New York Giants.

After 11 seasons and 107.5 sacks with the Indianapolis Colts, the defensive end said Wednesday on SiriusXM Radio that playing for Big Blue "would be a dream" given "I grew up a Giants fan, all my life."

Freeney, recently cut loose by the Colts, is looking for a new team and the Hartford, Conn native sounds like he might be a nice replacement for Osi Umenyiora if the Giants don't bring him back. A ready-set position and winning — two things Freeney thinks the Giants can offer him the 33-year-old, seven-time Pro Bowler.

"I think the biggest thing I’m looking for is a contender, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a Super Bowl team, at least it’s a team that is contending for the Super Bowl, in the playoffs and fits the things that I do," Freeney said yesterday. "I played 11 years and I want to continue to win."

Freeney's numbers were down in 2012 — as he adjusted to a 3-4 defensive front after excelling 10 years in a 4-3 — but if he doesn't try to break the Giants' payroll, Freeny might rejuvenate Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck after their own disappointing seasons.

If Freeney can't work it out with the Giants, could their stadium mates, the Jets, be in the running for his services.

"We’ll see, obviously Rex [Ryan] is a great guy, I actually know Rex, I met him a few times," Freeney said. "Obviously playing in New York is obviously something that’s very attractive. Scheme-wise, I’m sure Rex knows how to free guys up. That would be a good fit, but a lot of teams would be a good fit. I’m an East Coast guy. It makes sense, it feels good but we’ll see the next few weeks who’s actually interested."

Like the man said, "I can't see myself going to a non-winner."

Sorry Rex.

Giants GM will reach out to Strahan to help JPP

Jason Pierre-Paul went from being one of the best pass rushers in the NFL last season to being just another body on the New York Giants seemingly overwhelmed defensive line in 2012.

Even after being selected to his second straight Pro-Bowl, JPP said he wasn't happy to see his production fall to 6-1/2 sacks in 2012 from 16-1/2 in a breakout season in 2011.

General manager Jerry Reese has sensed the 24-year-old defensive end's frustration at his drop in his numbers and says he plans to contact a former Giants star pass rusher for help in building the young player's confidence.

"I plan to reach out to Michael Strahan this offseason," Reese told WFAN Thursday. "To see if he can have some conversations with JPP.

"If he hears it from somebody like Michael Strahan, it will really encourage him."

Strahan recorded 141-1/2 sacks over his 15-year career —including a Brett Favre-assisted record 22-1/2 in 2001.  And the gap-toothed DE did it without the benefit of a premium defensive line for the most part.

Reese sounds convinced a motivational speech from the future Hall-of-Famer will help JPP break out of his funk.

"After Michael became a superstar defensive end, he was getting double-teamed, he was getting chipped, but he was still getting sacks," Reese said.  "So the great ones still get through there and make plays."

It's wasn't hard to see that offenses focused on Pierre-Paul this past season and the added abuse from offensive linemen wore him down. No sacks in the final seven games of the season will attest to that.

"I'm not having that fun I'm used to," he admitted about the high expectations after last year's Super Bowl went down with the Giants pass rush.

Reese hopes Strahan — who altered his own type of pass rush to fight through the double-teams — can get JPP to follow suit.

"You have to have the heart to do it," said Reese. "He [JPP] can't give up, like 'Wow, they're double-teaming me, they're triple-teaming me, they're high-lowing me.'  That's frustrating to a young player.  But to be a superstar defensive end , a pass rusher in this league, you have to beat those double-team blocks."

Strahan never shied away from the spotlight and probably thought of triple-teams as an audience.  The former Giants team leader  is probably the busiest guy in show biz right now — outside of Ryan Seacrest —  co-hosting "Live with Kelly and Michael" during the week and the "NFL on FOX" Sundays.

I'm sensing a special episode of Live.

If anyone could cheer up the despondent JPP it's Strahan's perky co-host Kelly Ripa.

Justin Tuck: 'Failed season' won't keep me from coming back to Giants

Justin Tuck knows the New York Giants are a quality football team and, as he sat at his locker Monday, assessed the team's season by saying, "Any year we're not hoisting that Lombardi [Trophy] is a failed season."

The defensive end said not being in the playoffs is like "you got punched in the stomach" but claims his sub-par season won't keep him from coming back to the Giants next year — even if there is speculation that his eight-year career with the team could be coming to an end.

"Listen, I'll be very frank and honest in saying this," the 29-year-old Tuck said.  "I plan on being here for a long time. That's pretty much all I have to say about it."



Tuck defended the drop in production (9 total sacks) over the past two seasons — as he enters his final year of his $4.5 million contract —by saying injuries have slowed him up but he still has a lot to offer.

"I'm not going to be one of these guys that stick around in the league just to get a paycheck," Tuck said. "When I can't play this game at a high level you'll know it and I'll gracefully bow out."

Does Tuck think that time has come?

"Ask me that question in six, seven years," he said. "Thats' just to let you know how much I think I still have in the tank."

Tuck blamed a "boo-boo" in his left shoulder for his minimal impact over the final two games after an injury-plagued 2011.

"My confidence in myself will never be lacking," the former All-Pro said. " Believe me, when I can't do it anymore, I'll be the first one to go up to [general manager] Jerry Reese and them guys and tell them."

Antonio Pierce has doubts about Giants' mental toughness

The New York Giants are coming off one of their worst losses in recent memory — a humiliating 34-0 beatdown by the Atlanta Falcons — and have fallen into a three-way tie looking up at the Cowboys and Redskins for first place in the NFC East.

Nevertheless, the team still insists it is at its best when their backs against the wall.  At least that's what they publicly say citing last season's playoff run and Super Bowl victory as proof.

Now former Giants linebacker and current ESPN analyst Antonio Pierce says the Giants past success had to do more with their heads than their backs.

"I really think they are a team that's mentally drained right now," Pierce said of the Giants team that will look to save its season with a must win against the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday.

"Coach [Tom] Coughlin  is preaching mental toughness, and I don't know if they can say that have that right now.  They are a team that is not as strong as in years past, as far as being mentally tough."

Pierce says Big Blue might be relying on last season's playoff run, after they reeled off a six-game win streak culminating with the victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, as some sort of blueprint for doing it again.

In September, Pierce said the Giants were basically overlooked last season because they came out of nowhere.  This season they have a shiny Lombardi Trophy as a bullseye on their jerseys.

The "we can turn it on when it counts" philosophy doesn't jive with Pierce.

"My concern with the Giants is them constantly talking about what they've done in the past," said Pierce, who played on the 2007 Super Bowl championship team.  "They are looking in the rear-view mirror, thinking they can always rely on that.  Our backs re against the wall, this is the way we like it, and after [Sunday's] performance — an embarrassing, slap-in-the-face loss — I didn't see any players out there that played like everything really mattered at the time."

Pierce pinpointed the once ferocious defense as the main culprit for the Giants' shortcomings and named names.

"Opponents studied and figure out ways to block these guys and slow them up," he said.  "So, I don't see the defensive coordinator [Perry Fewell] being as creative, coming up with different designs to free them up."

The ex-Giant didn't go easy on his former teammates either.

"Honestly, [Justin] Tuck has not been Tuck for three years now.  and Osi [Umenyiora] is a situational pass-rusher.  He comes in on the third down and he makes plays.  But, for the most part as a group, they are being asked to make plays without any more creativity."

The Ravens are in the same boat as the Giants and looking to regroup after collapsing in the second half of the season.

"You come off back-to-back years without being in the playoffs and then you win a Super Bowl and things change," said Pierce.  "Every year with coach Coughlin we had a different slogan.  This year's team has to stick to that and not regurgitate what they've been able to do in the past."

Teen battling illness spurs Giants to rout over Packers

A nervous 15-year-old young man battling cancer sat in the New York Giants locker room after Friday's practice and suddenly became the biggest person in the room full of ... well ... Giants. 

After the final practice before the Giants faced the Green Bay Packers, Adam Merchant had the huge task of offering a few encouraging words to his favorite team.

Merchant, wearing a Jason Pierre-Paul jersey and Giants ski cap, was personally asked by head coach Tom Coughlin to address the Super Bowl champions after the NFL team had lost two consecutive games. 

The nervous teenager's simple message: "Go out there," he told them, " and play like the world champions you are."

The emotional words hit the team harder than a JPP quarterback sack and the Giants went on to rout the Packers, 38-10, Sunday night.

With his Burkitt's Lymphoma in remission, Merchant was able to travel to East Rutherford from Barre, Vt., thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, after the Giants had fallen into their November swoon.  

Being asked to speak to the players was a dream come true but the young man was understandably overwhelmed by the moment.  The Giants players understood.

"It can be kind of nerve-racking to come talk to your favorite team," said Eli Manning — who seemed to return to his old self and even plowed into a defensive back instead of sliding on one play.

That's a toughness Merchant can relate to.  He was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma — a rare and aggressive B-cell lymphoma that affects children — in March and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment since.

While the Giants took his message to heart, young Adam was awed by the reaction of the players after he was done talking — "They freaked out" — and could take pride in the knowledge that his words played a big part in the victory after he watched the game from the sidelines with his brother and father.

"Certain people can say that," his new pal Justin Tuck said later.  "But when you see this innocent kid say you've got to play like a champion ... I told him he needs to get into motivational speaking because he inspired us."

After the game, the experience got even better.  Merchant was invited into the locker room and was part of the celebratory team huddle.

"He could have gone anywhere in the world (with his wish)," said Osi Umenyiora.  " But he chose to come here."

Tom Coughlin calls Giants defense 'soft'

After Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said his team was "mushed" around by the Steelers offensive line after third-string running back Isaac Redman plowed through Big Blue's defense for a career- high 147 yards.

Head coach Tom Coughlin was more straightforward in his assessment of the team and used the "S" word to describe the Giants defense.

"It was soft, no question," Coughlin told the Star-Ledger on Monday.

"It was soft early," he said.  "We came back and played a little bit better and they had their breakout there at the end of the game."

Tuck didn't disagree with his coach that the defense was more pliable than a roll of Charmin.

"Not to the point where they were more physical than us," said Tuck.  "But to the point where you got a guy in the gap and Redman was just behind his guard, behind his guard, and a guy jumps out of his gap trying to get around to get Redman and he kind of like filters forward for three more, four more yards, and that's just us got to do a better job of escaping blocks and getting to the ball carrier."

Granted, the Giants were without three linebackers including Chase Blackburn — who spearheads the defense.

"We had some poor tackling, I think," observed Blackburn.  "Even the runs that were hit for 3-4 yard gains, we hit them at minus one or one yard or at the line of scrimmage and he [Redman] just continued to roll forward a little bit."

The Giants travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals on Sunday.  The Bengals have lost four straight but — as history will attest — the Giants have lost on five straight road trips to Tigerland since 1972.

The Giants run defense is ranked 19th in the NFL at 118 yards per game.

"It's so correctable and that's the frustrating thing," said Tuck.  "Most times you'd rather just get your butt whipped up front and say, 'Well, I did my best and they still beat me.'  we had some things that we could've easily corrected."

The "S" word.  Good for describing babies' behinds or Kenny G's rock but not the Giants D.

Now Justin Tuck says Steelers linemen have 'gotten away with murder'

New Jersey is still recovering from from the devastation left behind by Sandy but one sure sign that things are slowly getting back to normal is the sound of whining returning to the New York Giants locker room.

Giants players took some time off from complaining — maybe it was drowned out by the winds — after the teams' offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride was swiftly chastised by San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh three weeks ago for saying defensive tackle Justin Smith "gets away with murder."

Yesterday, Justin Tuck accused the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen of the same Class A felony.

"I hope we get some holding calls, because they have gotten away with murder," the Giants defensive end told ESPN.com on Thursday.  "They've done a very good job protecting Ben [Roethlisberger] — they don't hold on every play.  But we've seen a whole lot of it."

While the Todd Haley-schemed Steelers O-line has improved in protecting their quarterback significantly this season, the once-vaunted Giants pass rush has seen a drastic decline in sacks.  Tuck only has a total of one posted on his stat sheet through eight games this season.

"There's a reason why they call him Big Ben, but he's definitely a guy that does a great job of prolonging plays," said Tuck.  "Not necessarily with his feet — he's good that way, too — but you see guys get straight rushes, and he kind of sidesteps them and they kind of fall off of him, so we realize that's going to be a big obstacle for us, and we got to make sure we wrap up when we get to him."

Tuck and his fellow defensive linemen have had a lot of practice chasing around mobile quarterbacks this season.  Besides the hulking Roethlisberger, the Giants have met up with shifty scramblers like Cam Newton,  Tony Romo, Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III.

"It's no easy task being a Giant D-lineman this year," Tuck quipped.  "We've had some different animals out there, but you got to look at it as a great challenge for us."

Sounds like it's not as much of a case of "murder" as it is larceny — like Tuck being robbed of his sacks.

Jason Pierre-Paul: Giants defensive ends not having 'fun' this season

If Jason Pierre-Paul thought every season was going to be like his breakout campaign last year, the New York Giants defensive end is finding out not every one is always fun and games.  The operative word here being "fun."

After only four games, Pierre-Paul is unhappy with his own performance (1-1/2 sacks) and and the inefficiency of the Giants defensive ends to pressure opposing quarterbacks.  The vaunted "NASCAR" defense — Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Unmenyiora — has recorded only 3-1/2 sacks through the first quarter of the season.

"I'm not having that fun, I'm used to," said the 23-year old Pierre-Paul on Thursday.  "I've just got to go out and run around like a little kid — just be happy that you're out there and make plays.  Have that energy that I had last year."

It sounds like Are you down with JPP? just took on a whole new meaning.

"And that'll go for the other guys, too," he continued.  "You could see it in their eyes that they're not having fun with the game.  They've got to find themselves and I've got to find myself."

All three defensive studs would like to get back to last year's mirth-making performances that lead to a Super Bowl title but have been hindered this season by double-teams and key injuries to defensive unit — particularly the secondary.

Kenny Phillips joined Antrel Rolle and Corey Webster with injuries that kept all three defensive backs off the practice field this week.  Phillips was on trainer's table in the first quarter against the Eagles after spraining an MCL.  Tuck said the safety's absence in the final three quarters of last week's loss made him "gun-shy."

"I'm not having that much fun, either," added Tuck. "I pretty much suck."

The Giants (2-2) had a full week to prepare for the Cleveland Browns without Phillips.  Now, the defense's task will be to adjust.

"Sometimes you just have to whip somebody's (butt) and make a play," defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said.  "And we need to do that."

Pierre-Paul — who many expect someday to break former Giants DE Michael Strahan's single-season sack record* ( *Brett Favre) — has to learn to block out the fans' high hopes and remember there's a Super Bowl bulls eye on each Giants player's back in every game this year.

"People have high expectations of me, so it kind of brings me down a little knowing I've got to live up to that," Pierre-Paul said.  "But I have to have fun too.  I can't just go out there thinking I'm Jason Pierre-Paul.  It doesn't work that way."

Could facing a Browns (0-4) team — spear-headed by rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden and first year running back Trent Richardson — be the cure for the Giants blues?

"We aren't living up to the way we expect to around here," said Pierre-Paul.  "We're not going to make excuses about it.  We haven't played the way we're capable of playing.  That's why I haven't had the same amount of fun."

Are you depressed with JPP, yet?

Vick warns Giants defense: 'I can switch it up'

Michael Vick may have 32-year old legs and his coaches are telling him to resist scampering down the field at the first white of a defensive lineman's eyes. But that doesn't mean the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback still can't run.

The Eagles' scrambler has a warning for anyone who thinks his best days as an athlete are behind him and he can't make a big play with his legs.

"Any time, I can switch it up," Vick told the New York Daily News on Thursday.  "I can put on them light shoes and run around still. And you never know when.  It could be this week."

Those words sound like they are directed straight at the vaunted defensive ends of the New York Giants — who take a ride down the Turnpike into Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday night.

It's curious that Vick — a quarterback who's been sacked nine times and endured 27 QB hits — would tempt fate by running with the ball.

The 10-year veteran insists he can still take a pounding.

"I take care of my body," he said.  "I'm careful what I put into it.  The hits don't hurt any more than they used to."

Vick might be in for more than a pounding from the Giants front line.  Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck will go full force at their familiar No. 7 target that is protected by an offensive line that will start backup left tackle Demetress Bell and second string center Dallas Reynolds.

The Giants can almost taste blood already.

Vick says he is hardly concerned that he is on pace to throw 32 interceptions, fumble 11 times and get sacked nearly 50 times.  This is a game that could set the tone in the NFC East early in the season.

"We have the same record as the team we're going against," he said.  "We're playing for the division."

Vick should do the math.  Ten years as a scrambling NFL quarterback is like 70 as a pocket passer.

Justin Tuck: Real referees are going to be 'rusty'

The New York Giants don't exactly expect a smooth transition going from the replacement referees to the real ones this week.

Despite the regular referees returning Thursday — after reaching an agreement between the NFLRA and the league — Giants defensive end Justin Tuck thinks the officiating on the field may still be a little tentative.

"It's still going to be an issue when the real guys come back," said Tuck.  "They are going to be rusty; they haven't had a preseason to practice their craft.  It would be like me coming to play a regular-season game, having not practiced or having a pre-season game."

The Giants are probably hoping that the real refs have, at least, been practicing on their Madden '12 as the team heads into the unwelcoming confines of Lincoln Financial Field to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's nationally-televised game.

We all know how well the last nationally-televised NFL game ended.

The Giants face their division rival in a important early season game and are thankful they will have a strong and experienced — if only a little out-of-shape — officiating crew calling the game.

"It is especially difficult with a running quarterback like [Michael] Vick; it creates problems," said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka.  "You don't know if he is running the ball.  Is he looking to pass?  Is he defenseless player?  Is he a runner?  Those kinds of plays are difficult for anybody in real time and they are not always revealed in plays."

The Giants players won't blame the rent-a-refs for affecting how they played any games but some claim that the players could help persuade how the replacement refs called some.

Tight end Martellus Bennett claims it's not only the controversial rulings like Monday night's highly-publicized Packers-Seahawks fiasco that affected the quality of play, it was the intimidation of the fill-in refs by the players and coaches throughout the game.

"Nobody really respects the replacements.  Guys get in their face and do things guys wouldn't do to regular refs they do to these guys," Bennett said.  "They go up to the replacement refs and say, 'Hey, he's holding. You need to call that.' With the regular refs, they would just go up and say, 'Did you see that holding?'

"It works a little bit, if you're persuasive — and a star.  If (Cardinals receiver) Larry Fitzgerald comes up to you and you're a replacement ref and he says, 'Hey, this guy is holding me the whole time,' it's Larry Fitzgerald.  What's a replacement ref gonna do?"