Starting WRs Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle have yet to get their preseasons going. Cruz has no receptions through three games and Randle has just one. Top pick Odell Beckham Jr. has not appeared in a game as of yet due to a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, former Giant WR Hakeem Nicks, who the team chose not pursue in free agance this past March, is having a fine preseason. looking a lot like his old self. He sliced through the Giants last Saturday with five catches for 53 yards.

The Giants chose not to pursue Nicks when he became a free agent this past March. His injury history and friction with management ultimately led to a parting of the ways. But that doesn't mean he hasn't left a legacy.

Former WR mate Victor Cruz was asked this week how it would feel to see Nicks on the opposing sidelines.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports free agent Hakeem Nicks is open to playing on a one-year contract to prove his 2012 and 2013 seasons were "aberrations."Nicks is also open to re-signing with the Giants. If he can't return to New York, Nicks wants to go to a team with a proven quarterback. Mortensen also adds that Nicks' past foot and knee injuries have been cleared and deemed 100 percent by Drs. Robert Anderson and James Andrews, respectively. Each doctor wrote a letter of recommendation for Nicks, and copies were sent to all 32 teams. Nicks has been linked to the Ravens and Patriots since the season ended.

https://twitter.com/TomRock_Newsday/status/442419258316697600

According to Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger, Nicks' chances of wearing Giant Blue in 2014 in 2014 are "close to zero"...

Nicks, 26, is coming off perhaps the worst season of his career. He didn?t record a touchdown catch and didn?t play in the Giants? biggest game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants rarely use the franchise tag and will probably not exercise it again this year again. Since the rule was implemented in 1993, the Giants have only used it three times: Jumbo Elliott (1993), Brandon Jacobs (2009) and Steve Weatherford (2012).

This season, the team has only one viable candidate: UFA WR Hakeem Nicks, who if franchised, will cost the club approximately $11.6 million for the 2014 season. After that, if no long term contract deal is struck, Nicks will become an unrestricted free agent again in 2015.

Rapoport reported through his Twitter account (@RapSheet) that "Multiple sources tell me Hakeem Nicks was fined repeatedly for being late to meetings & missing treatment. He battled thru several injuries"...and..."Nicks is not the only player to be late & miss treatment. He?s not a bad guy. But in a contract year, this frustrated #Giants."

I've been saying this all year. Nicks is nowhere near what he was several years ago. Injuries have had a lot to do with slowing him down, but his work ethic and attitude have held him back as well. ?It's a shame, but it looks like he's played his way out of here.

Nicks plans on sitting down with his agent and the Giants next week to discuss his future and said that, ?it?s not about the money.? In 14 games this season, Nicks has had 54 receptions on 98 targets for 846 yards. Eli Manning has thrown zero touchdowns and six interceptions while targeting Nicks this season.

Unless the "hometown discount" is a lot closer to the veteran minimum and/or an incentive-laden deal, I can't see the Giants giving Nicks a whole lot of money. ?He has not been close to the Hakeem Nicks we grew to know and love and it's hard to imagine he'll ever get back to being that.

In Week 17, the Giants (6-9) close out their season at home against the Washington Redskins (3-12).

It?s a pretty much meaningless game, but at least the Giants would like to end the season on a high note.

Gilbride said the Chargers? defense does a terrific job of disguising its formations.

?More than anything, they?re a pressure-oriented team that would like to do anything they can to keep you off balance,? he said.??They probably have as wide an array of blitz packages of anybody that we?ve faced.?I think they?re getting some players back that were injured that will help them.?

Two touchdowns in the second quarter and a touchdown and field goal in the fourth quarter made up for two inept looking quarters: the first and third.

Big Blue went three and out on both of its first quarter drives, while the third quarter featured two punts and Eli Manning?s 18th interception of the season.

WR Hakeem Nicks was limited at practice yesterday, but expects to be on the field this Sunday in Washington.

"I feel good. I feel real good. We?ll leave it at that," Nicks told reporters. "I practiced all week, I think I showed them enough this week in practice, so I think everything will be good to go."

Head coach Tom Coughlin was asked about Nicks in his presser this afternoon:

[sny-box]How close was Hakeem Nicks to playing on Sunday and did he fight you guys to play?A: No. Not really.

When asked last Thursday if the abdomen strain was something that would keep him out Sunday, Nicks was confident he would be on the field.

"It's Dallas, man," he said.

But that doesn?t mean that the offense can take a back seat and simply rely on the defense to get stops. The defense has been great in the Giants? three-game winning streak, but now it?s time for the offense to do its share.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride met the media on Thursday to discuss the state of his offense. Of course, he was very pleased with Andre Brown?s performance against the Raiders.

In Week 11, the Giants (3-6) host the Green Bay Packers (5-4), who lost last week to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Sunday?s game will be the 52nd regular season game between these two teams, and the Packers hold the lead with a 27-22-2 all-time mark.

It was no secret that 2013 was going to be a pivotal season for Giants' WR Hakeem Nicks. He was entering the final year of his rookie deal coming off a lost season in which he battled multiple leg and foot ailments. He needed to rebound in big way by staying healthy and finding the end zone often.

His counterpart in the receiving corps, Victor Cruz, was given a six-year, $45.879 deal before the season and the former first-round pick was dead-set on cashing in with a big season of his own.

Eli is on pace for 4,334 passing yards, which would be the second-most in a single season in team history (Manning, 4,933 in 2011). It would also mark Manning?s fourth career 4,000-yard season. There have been five such seasons in franchise history and Manning owns three of them.

Cruz (1,354) and Nicks (1,042) are on pace to each record 1,000 yards in the same season for the second time (2011). Cruz and Nicks are the only duo in club annals to accomplish the feat. Cruz has 47 catches for 677 yards and four touchdowns. He is attempting to register his third consecutive season with at least 80 catches, 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. Cruz owns the only two such seasons in franchise history.

"Unfortunately, I don't see it happening," Diehl said. "I would love to see it. He is like a brother to me. He lived with me when he first got drafted by the Giants because we have the same agent. So I knew him coming out of college. But for the sheer fact that we just paid Victor Cruz, there is a lot of money to be had and Hakeem Nicks is a No. 1 receiver and someone is going to pay him that money."

Your browser does not support iframes.

Victor Cruz had finally signed his contract; Hakeem Nicks appeared to be healthy; and Rueben Randle was ready to build on a few good games from last year.

However, through eight games, the receiving corps ? except for Cruz ? has been very inconsistent.

In Week 8, the Giants (1-6) head to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (3-4) in an NFC East divisional showdown.

The Eagles earned a 36-21 victory over the Giants in Week 5 at MetLife Stadium. The Giants still lead the all-time regular season series, 81-74-2.

But let?s be brutally honest: It was anything but pretty.

The Giants missed plenty of opportunities on offense in their 23-7 win Monday night over the Minnesota Vikings. This really could have been a 44-7 game, but again, for the struggling Giants, a win?s a win.

GEICO SportsNite has reaction from Hakeem Nicks, who discusses the recent trade rumors and how his focus remains with the Giants.

http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=31140827&topic_id=6479520&tcid=vpp_copy_31140827&v=3

Keep Nicks for the remainder of the season and takes their chances in free agency, or trade him and never look back.

Most fans would choose to keep Nicks, but that would prove costly and prevent them from spending that money to improve in the many other areas they need help in.

The rumors are circulating that the Giants will seek to deal Nicks before the trading deadline at the end of the month.

From SNYGiants insider Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News:

Last week vs the Carolina Panthers, WR Hakeem Nicks was only targeted once in the passing game by QB Eli Manning. ?When reporters broached the subject, Nicks responded by saying "I can't throw the ball to myself."

Well, yesterday in Kansas City, Nicks was targeted nine times and only came away with three receptions for 33 yards and no TDs. To his credit, he made a nice one-handed grab that was nullified by a penalty and on several others, he was well-covered or the play was well-defended. Then, there were the ones he did not reel in. Reporters asked Nicks if his finger, which was dislocated last week, played a part in that...

Week three has just passed and the New York Giants still do not have a win under their belt. They have lost their first three games and are slowly pushing themselves from a possible playoff run. Of all the players who expressed their frustration to the media after the game, Hakeem Nicks? words resonated above all.

From Charles Chandler of The Star-Ledger, Nicks chose his words carefully about the last game at his hometown. "It?s part of the game," he said. "You?ve got to control what you can control. I can?t throw it to myself."

Not much can be said about the offensive production of the Giants on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. The scoreboard spoke for itself yesterday, embarrassed and off to their first 0-3 start since 1996; the Giants were routed by the Panthers by a final score 38-0.

The offense was non-existent throughout the entire game and more importantly, the offensive line left Eli Manning out to dry, as the Carolina defense was able to take Manning down seven times. LT Will Beatty was beat numerous times on the line, and gave up two sacks to Panthers DE Greg Hardy in the first two series.

The Giants head to Carolina to take on the Panthers Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in what is shaping up to be a must-win game for Big Blue.

The Giants are 4-3 in seven regular season meetings against Carolina. Last season, the G-Men pounded the Panthers 36-7 in Carolina and will be looking for a similar effort this weekend.

The Giants turned the ball over six times en route to an extremely frustrating 36-31 loss Sunday night to the Cowboys. Dallas scored 17 points off Giants? turnovers.

For the offense in the preseason, the two main questions involved running back David Wilson adapting to a starting role and the offensive line trying to work through a multitude of injuries.

On paper, I?d have to agree.

A quarterback with two Super Bowl M.V.P. awards. Two explosive and dynamic wide receivers. An up-and-coming talented receiver. A running back with blazing speed. Another power running back. And a tight end who led his team last year in receptions.

Two seasons later, folks, it's still a Victor Cruz-and-Hakeem Nicks game for the Giants. They need both WRs healthy and humming if they are going to make any noise in the NFC this season.

"I?m excited," said Cruz, the team's newest millionaire. "It?s been a while since I?ve played a game, so I?m excited to go out there and suit up again and line up with my guys. It?s been a while since I?ve lined up with Hakeem, both of us out there healthy. It?s going to be a good feeling."

The Giants? offense started three possessions in the first half at or inside the Colts? 12-yard line. Yet, the team managed to just settle for two field goals and have a turnover on downs.

There were a few positives offensively, but overall, a lot of work still needs to be done. It didn?t help that David Baas and Victor Cruz both went down with injuries on the opening drive ? though both X-rays (Baas? left knee and Cruz?s left foot) came back negative.

Update: Nicks should be able to re-take the field on Tuesday, doctors said.

Nicks battled foot and knee ailments throughout the majority of last season and does not want to repeat those struggles this year. An ounce of prevention...

The sun will be out today at Quest and the Giants will hopefully be back outdoors for this afternoon's training camp session.

The Giants were scheduled to practice outdoors in full pads yesterday, but teeming rain prevented that from happening. ?Instead, they were forced into the field house in just helmets and shoulder pads.

Safety Antrel Rolle recently stated that Nicks is the team?s top player at his position, and on Monday, fellow wide receiver Victor Cruz also touted the fifth year Giant as the team?s best.

?I think the No. 1 wideout is Hakeem Nicks," Cruz told NFL Network's NFL AM.?I mean, he's been here longer, he understands this offense. He's our big-play guy, he's on the outside. So I definitely think he's our No. 1 receiver, there's no doubt about it."

https://twitter.com/rvacchianonydn/status/361914240669462530

Whether or not he'll participate in 7-on-7s or 11-on-11s is still unknown. Nicks left the field yesterday with tightness in his leg and did not return.

On offense in particular ? looking past Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz of course ? a few young guns will be looked upon to shoulder the load.

And offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is confident that these young guns will come through.

Now, Cruz would have likely been here anyway had he not signed the five-year, $43 million contract extension, but a happy Victor Cruz means a productive, salsa-dancing Victor Cruz.

I wrote earlier this offseason that the Giants need Cruz in the mix for the receiving corps to reach its full potential, and that is now the case.

"As a teammate and as an organization, we are extremely relieved," Rolle said. "He is a huge part of our offense and, more importantly, he gives me my best work when I am in practice, especially when I am in the slot. We are just glad to have everything behind us. We all understand this is a lengthy process, it is a business process. And more importantly he is back with the Giants for a long time.??

Rolle admitted he had no concern that WR Hakeem Nicks could stay healthy this season. He was asked as a defensive back what the differences were in covering Nicks and Cruz:

"Just stay level headed," Cruz said. "Take my approach and don't say anything. There's nothing to say that's going to help your cause. Take it one day at a time, be patient and always keep your body ready to go."

Cruz said he'll "put some pressure" on Nicks "to come play with me for the long haul."

There, there....don't worry, our big paydays are coming...

Someday, Tom I'll figure out a way to beat you...

The answer to both questions is yes. Nicks has been working out on the side with Eli and plans to ramp it up as training camp nears.

From Ebenezer Samuel of the Daily News:

"We've hooked up twice already this week," Nicks said Thursday during his Verizon Hakeem Nicks Football Camp for youngsters in Englewood, N.J. "We're gonna do it two, three more times before camp starts."

Have you seen Hakeem today?Yeah. It should be good to have him here and see what he can do and go out there and have a good practice.

How much are you looking forward to getting on the field with him and getting reps?I'm looking forward to having these last three practices and keep working on getting better, working on our offense, improving on things and see if we can. I thought we've made some progress these last few weeks of OTAs and hopefully we can finish on a strong note and take that into training camp down the road.How much relief is there that Hakeem is here?I don't know if it's a relief. We have three days of practice and we haven't had a practice yet, so I think we just have to continue going about our business as we've been these last few months and all we can do is go out there and keep trying to get better, keep working on our offense making sure everybody is doing the right things, in the right spots and having success.

WR Hakeem Nicks is back at TPC today ready to rejoin his teammates for the Giants' mandatory three-day minicamp. The first question fired his way at his media session was the most obvious: Why weren't you here for OTAs?

"I'm not here to talk about that," he said "I'm here to talk about me being here right now. That's what I'm doing. I'm here and I'm happy to be around my teammates."