Formerly disgruntled Giants all do well

At various times before the Giants' season began, Brandon Jacobs, Deon Grant and Osi Umenyiora voiced their displeasure about being backups.

But all three played plenty and played a part in the Giants' 31-18 win Sunday.

Umenyiora did end up starting on the Giants' first defensive play and should have had a sack of the Panthers' Matt Moore, but he did end up with a sack and a forced fumble in the fourth quarter.

Jacobs rushed 12 times for 44 yards, including a 22-yard run on the first play of the second half. It seemed to spark the Giants' offense, which had looked out of sync and unable to move the ball on the ground in the first half.

And then there was Grant, who made an acrobatic interception in the end zone in the first quarter to keep the game scoreless.

None of the three was particularly thrilled about playing less than they're accustomed, but Grant summed it up: "We got a victory. That's all that really matters."

Grant reiterated the feelings he expressed last week about playing behind Kenny Phillips in the Giants' safety rotation - that it's an adjustment for a veteran starter - but said plays like his leaping, contorting grab of Moore's throw intended for Gary Barnidge are what he'll continue to try to make.

"I'm not going to go out, because I'm not starting, and be upset and disappointed and not give 110 percent," Grant said. "I'm not going to not tell the guys on the field what I see because I'm upset that I'm not starting. I'm a professional. It's just something I'm going to have to adjust to and make sure it works."

Jacobs wasn't thrilled with some of his own play. He said he could have broken that 22-yarder for a bigger gain had he seen safety Charles Godfrey sooner, and he lamented his inability to get his knees up and through a few low tackles.

But with Ahmad Bradshaw stalled at 6 yards on his nine carries in the opening half, Jacobs was able to use his downhill, physical style to loosen up the Panthers' defense on the opening drive of the second half. That led to a field goal by Lawrence Tynes that put the Giants ahead for good. Bradshaw finished with 76 yards on 20 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown.

"I got in, I got some carries, I was able to make a few blocks in pass protection. It was fine," Jacobs said. "It's a long season."

Umenyiora's unhappiness seemed to be gone once training camp began. Even after his whiff on the opening play, he was engaged and energetic, especially in run defense.

There were times when all four of the Giants' defensive ends - Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and rookie Jason Pierre-Paul - were on the field together.

"Anything I can help this team do to win," Umenyiora said. "As long as we're winning games, all that rotation stuff doesn't matter."