Center Baas suffering from migraines

The Giants initially said center David Baas was scratched from last Sunday's game because of a headache, but the situation is going beyond a few Excedrin.

Baas missed practice again Wednesday and continued to have tests to determine why a neck injury he's been playing with for most of the season now is causing migraines.

"It's much more serious than a headache," Tom Coughlin said. "[Intense headaches] was the thing he brought to the medical people Sunday. There's a lot more to it than that. I really don't have any information other than that."

Neither did Baas, although his concern was clear. "I really want to play football," he said, "but my health is very important to me."

If Baas can't play Sunday against Dallas, the Giants likely will have Kevin Boothe at center again and Mitch Petrus at left guard. Petrus had to start last week and knows Dallas could be gunning for him.

"It could be like 'Let's just see what this guy has, because if he can't stop it, we're going to keep bringing it,' " Petrus said. "If I pick it up and stop it, they'll try another area, but if I don't, it's going to be a long day. I'm up for the challenge, though.''

Phillips hopeful

The thinking was that Kenny Phillips might be able to return for the game against the Cowboys -- the one on Jan. 1. But he was surprisingly active on the sideline Wednesday, even running on his sprained MCL, and he's thinking he might be able to play this week.

"No one has told me I couldn't [play Sunday], no one said I would," he said. "Just day-to-day. Right now I have a positive attitude I'll be playing."

Giant steps

The Giants put T Stacy Andrews (pulmonary embolisms) on IR and signed former Colts T Tony Ugoh . . . Nine Giants didn't practice, including RBs Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) and Brandon Jacobs (hamstring), LB Michael Boley (hamstring) and DE Dave Tollefson (knee). Mario Manningham (knee) practiced for the first time in two weeks but was limited.