Giants' Fewell knows how Cowboys' Garrett feels

If anybody knows what Jason Garrett is experiencing this week, it's Perry Fewell. A year ago, he was the hot coordinator tapped to replace a fired head coach on a disappointing team. Fewell took over from Dick Jauron as the Bills' interim coach.

"I used to think the head coach didn't do very much, just stand around and yell at his assistants," Fewell said Thursday. "When I got the job, I found out he does a lot more than I thought."

Fewell said the biggest challenge is in time management. All of a sudden, a coordinator is not only in charge of his unit but of all three areas of the team. That requires much more interaction with all of the players, plus many more media obligations.

Fewell said he had no difficulty continuing as defensive play-caller after being promoted last year, and he doesn't expect Garrett to stumble while running Dallas' offense. Still, Fewell said there was one challenge he has little doubt Garrett is facing this week: "A lot of sleepless nights."

Giants 'D': Keep Fewell

Garrett is a candidate to become full-time head coach of the Cowboys, but Fewell might be, too. The Giants' defensive coordinator will be on many short lists this offseason, and his name was bounced around as a possibility in Dallas during Sunday night's Cowboys-Packers game.

"I don't even want to hear that right now," safety Antrel Rolle said.

"Nah, can't have him," Justin Tuck said. "We're going to keep Perry for a little while."

The Giants lost popular and successful defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in 2009 when he became Rams coach. The only way the Giants might be able to stop Fewell from moving on could be sabotage.

"We understand that's the business we're in," Tuck said, "but if anybody asks me if Perry will be a good head coach, I'm going to say no."

Giant steps

RB Brandon Jacobs practiced after missing Wednesday with a stomach illness . . . T Will Beatty (foot) was limited in practice for the second straight day.