Sage Rosenfels leaves Vikings' circus behind

If nothing else, the trade that brought backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels from Minnesota to the Giants should provide him with a level of stability that he never could have had as long as he was part of the Brett Favre soap opera with the Vikings. Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson thought they were competing for the starting job a year ago and again during the past offseason only to be forced to step aside when Favre rode into town near the end of training camp both years.

Comparing the Giants' tranquility to the Vikings' situation today, Rosenfels said, "During camp, it couldn't be further from what I just went through. We had four quarterbacks, and it was day to day as far as what was going to happen. In this situation, I feel like I'm on solid ground. Coach [Tom] Coughlin knows what he's going to get out of me, and I know what I'm going to get out of him and the team. I'm much happier to be in a situation where you know exactly what's going to happen on a day to day basis."

Rosenfels said he learned plenty from working with Favre last season, and he expressed admiration for his knowledge of the game and the intricacies of pass protection and route combinations. He hopes to pass that knowledge on to Giants starter Eli Manning.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Favre's return, Rosenfels suggested it actually helped make him better. "Everyone was thinking that was probably going to happen," Rosenfels said of Favre's anticipated return. "I think Tarvaris Jackson and I both tried to prepare like he wasn't going to come back. If he was, we'd have to deal with that situation. That's what happened. I feel like my football play has improved, and mentally, I feel like I'm in the right frame of mind. I thought I had the best training camp of my 10 years."