Brown back where he started
Giants running back Andre Brown tore his Achilles tendon during 2009 training camp, but he was back on the field for the team's 2010 minicamp. (June 16, 2010) Credit: James A. Escher
Andre Brown has been on so many different teams in the last year, sometimes he forgets which playbook he's running. It happened to him the other day when he had an assignment at Giants practice but ran a play from one of his previous teams.
"In one offense, a word meant the opposite of what it means in this offense," Brown said. "I was sitting there and I like stuttered, 'Uhh . . . it's not that.' "
He can be forgiven. The former Giants fourth-round pick in 2009 missed his rookie year with a ruptured Achilles and was cut before the regular season in 2010. From there, he bounced around to the Broncos, Colts, Panthers, back to the Broncos and Redskins, who released him when the lockout was lifted.
The Giants brought him back and he's been impressive. "He's faster," Tom Coughlin said. "To me, he looks faster. I think all his issues with his legs are past and to me he looks more explosive."
Brown has a chance to make this roster as a third running back and special-teams player. "It'd be good," he said. "To come back and be with my draft class and be around the guys who brought me in here and showed me the ropes, it'd be awesome. It'd be a storybook ending."
Status qu-OsiWhile the two sides continue to bat ideas off each other -- with the Giants reportedly offering an incentive-based raise for Player of the Year-type numbers and the Osi Umenyiora camp wanting either a trade, a new deal or perhaps the final year knocked off the current contract -- they remain far apart in terms of numbers and philosophy.
The disgruntled defensive end did return to sight Monday night, riding his familiar exercise bike at the start of practice, then standing on the sideline to watch the drills. The Giants said he was in the building receiving treatment on his sore left knee Sunday evening.
Giant steps
OT James Brewer, a fourth-round pick this spring, was carted off the practice field with a lower-leg injury Several other offensive linemen including Will Beatty, Kareem McKenzie and Chris Snee were banged up in the full-contact running drills but none of them missed any reps Linebackers coach Jim Herrmann reaffirmed that Mathias Kiwanuka will be his starting strongside backer in base packages, but said on third downs he could line up anywhere The Giants changed their schedule and will practice on Wednesday and Thursday from 2-4 p.m. The practices are free and open to the public. The players are off and there is no practice today.
