Justin Tuck Sits Out Friday's Practice

Justin Tuck may not be completely healthy after all.  The New York Giants defensive end sat out practice on Friday while his teammates worked out.

Tom Coughlin said Tuck was just sore and it isn't a concern.  The Giants head coach said Tuck was listed as "probable" for Sunday's NFC wild card game against the Atlanta Falcons.

It was the first time Tuck sat out a practice since Antrelle Rolle's call for "all hands on deck" three weeks ago following the Giants loss to the Washington Redskins.

Tuck quietly watched, perched on the stationary bike, while the rest of the team hit the practice field and only had a "no comment" when asked what was ailing him.

An unusually reserved answer from the defensive end.

The defensive captain has battled a laundry list of physical problems all season— including neck, groin, ankle and toe injuries.

In last Sunday's win against the Dallas Cowboys, Tuck appeared to have injured a shoulder but returned to the game and recorded a sack and recovered a fumble.

Tuck has literally put his neck-to-toe pains behind him all season and missing today's practice might just be a precaution.

The Giants are counting on the defensive line to disrupt Falcons Matt Ryan's potent offense and a healthy Tuck is a happy one.

Linebacker Mark  Herzlich sat with Tuck on the side and will not play (ankle) on Sunday.

DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), TE Jake Ballard (knee) and RB Da'Rel Scott (knee) all practiced and are expected to play Sunday.

Buffalo Bills Backup QB Uses His Head On Sideline

Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen had visions of glory swirling through his head one minute then chirping birds circling it a moment later after he was doinked in the head by an errant throw on the sidelines during Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.

After the Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was slammed to the ground by Redskins linebacker London Fletcher—in the closing seconds of the first-half—the shaken signal-caller limped to the sideline and Thigpen got ready to take over.

Thigpen wasn't paying attention when a teammate made the "Think quick" toss with all eyes and national TV audience focused on him.

The rarely-used Thigpen never got his big chance to fill in for the Harvard grad who took Fletcher's unblocked shot to the ribcage at full force.  Fitzpatrick returned to the game and led the Bills to a field goal and a 13-0 halftime lead.

You don't need an Ivy League degree to know it's a good idea to always wear your helmet— even on the sidelines.

Giants Nicks and Tuck Expect to Play on Monday Night

The New York Giants got good news on the medical conditions of DE Justin Tuck and WR Hakeem Nicks on Tuesday.  Although the pair probably won't be on the practice field this week, as the team prepares for its Monday night home opener against the St. Louis Rams,  both players remain optimistic they will be ready for the game.

Tuck (neck)says he will be ready to play on Monday and claims his injury is muscular and not disc-related.  He said he is aware that you can't be too careful with neck injuries, but said it was just responding more slowly to treatment than he first expected.

The defensive end suffered a stinger in the preseason game against the New York Jets and sat out the opening game loss to the Washington Redskins.

"Honestly, talk to me right now, I don't see how I will not play on Monday," said Tuck.  "And that's me.  Obviously, you've got to go through the process of doctors, coaches, general manager owner and going through what's most important for me and what's most important for this football team."

Neck injuries are something to be nervous about in light of Peyton Mannings' surgery and, closer to home, the cervical disc herniation which kept defensive teammate Mathias Kiwanuka out of the final 13 games last year and threatened his football  career.

Tuck could only watch Sunday as the depleted Giants defense was undressed, 28-14, by the Redskins.

"If I was given the choice, I would have played Sunday," said Tuck.  "I understand, you don't want to go out and cost yourself a year, maybe a career, just trying to be tough and trying to go out there for your football team.  Was it frustrating?  Absolutely."

Things aren't so cut and dry for Nicks.

On the positive side, doctors are almost certain his injured knee is just a bone bruise. According to the New York Daily News, they will monitor the swelling, keep him out of practice and make a decision later in the week.  If the inflammation doesn't subside, he could miss the game.  Doctors added that it seems doubtful the speedster would miss more than that.

The Giants could definitely use both players.  The Giants defense made Rex Grossman look sexy again and the offense had quarterback Eli Manning looking like well... the old Eli.

NFL Will Not Fine Players For Wearing 9/11 Tribute Gear On Anniversary

The NFL players who wear special cleats and gloves to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks this weekend will not have to shell out a fine for breaking uniform rules according to Yahoo! Sports.

Players from Redskins tight-end Chris Cooley to Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who had tweeted photos of the colorful Reebok gear, expected to pay fines for wearing the special cleated shoes and gloves in Sunday's games.

On Friday afternoon, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that the players would not be fined for wearing the tribute gear, despite breaking the league's strict uniform policy.

"We have extensive plans for Sunday to respectfully recognize the significance of the day," Aiello said.

All NFL players, coaches and sideline crews will be wearing special 9/11tribute ribbons on their apparel during the opening Sunday of the season.

The colorful equipment was spotted inside the New York Jets locker room this week and center Nick Mangold and tight end Dustin Keller said they plan to wear the cleats and gloves.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs posted on his Twitter account about the possibility of having a fine levied against him for donning the red, white and blue gear.

"So once the breast cancer game is played, players can wear pink gloves and shoes as much as they like," Briggs tweeted.  "For the anniversary of 9/11 game, why is it if I wear shoes and gloves that are the colors of our nation's flag...I will be fined by the league."

"Reebok did a great job on these gloves and shoes...looks like I'm getting fined this week.  Lol!"

All the players who chose to wear the gear in honor of the day won't have to worry about getting fined this week, but let's see what happens after all the ceremonies and tributes are done.

2011 NFL Schedule; Don't Expect 9/11 Patriotism to End Lockout

The NFL announced it's 2011 schedule last night and the first Sunday games of the season will be on September 11--ten years to the day after the 9/11 tragedies.  The NFL is already planning to honor and commemorate the dead and their survivors even if the league isn't even close to snapping a ball due to the lockout.

Optimistic fans may see a silver lining because the planned 9/11 memorial ceremonies may hasten an agreement between the NFL owners and the NFLPA due to deep rooted patriotism.  Realists know the two parties will still only be trying to line their pockets with gold.

A lot of talking heads on sports TV shows this morning brought up the fact that the NFL is adamant about paying tribute to America for that horrible day and that the stadiums will be filled up all the NFL glitz it can muster to honor those who paid the price.

On Mike & Mike, both Mikes said the NFL "highlighted" the date on it's schedule press release and claimed the owners and players would, at the least, be shamed into settling the lockout because of all the bad publicity it would generate if they didn't put their differences aside.  The public outcry alone should bring both sides to their knees.

Don't count on it.  Here in New York--one of the three terrorist attack sites--it took almost eight years to break ground to start rebuilding at Ground Zero, because of political differences, and there is a ongoing stalemate regarding compensation to injured first-responders and their families.  The Ground Zero Memorial was bound in red tape for years and that's here in New York.

It's hard to believe millionaires squabbling about their benefits, salaries and all the other issues involved in the billion-dollar negotiations would let 9/11 influence their decisions.

The NFL ceremonies will include everything we in New York have become all to familiar with over the past nine years.  There will be somber speeches and moments of silence.  Photos of lost loved ones and praises for the heroics that followed the attacks.

The biggest ceremonies will probably be reserved for the New York Jets opening game against "America's Team" the Dallas Cowboys at New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey on national TV that night. 

The NFL will probably be going all out that night.  Expect all the usual pomp and hanger-on politicians for this prime-time tribute.  The sight of former-mayor Rudy Giuliani, families of the slain and first responders will bring the fans and viewing millions to tears. 

The New York Giants game vs. the Washington Redskins at  4:15 ET in Landover, Md.--not far from one of the other terrorist hits at the Pentagon--should provide an emotional group hug, as well.

There was speculation the league would make the Giants-Jets game the season opener to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  Now, the battle for the city will take place on Christmas day.  It is only fitting that Washington gets their moment though.  It's 9/11 tragedy seems to already be a faint memory here in New York.

It's delusional to think that either the owners or players would cave in for just a minute of silence before the opening kick-off.  The world is already filled with war and natural disasters.

How many fans paid tribute to 9/11 last September?  In New York, you are lucky to get a few thousand spectators at the Memorial Day Parade--and most of them are tourists crowding the Fifth Avenue stores.  Sadly, the marching soldiers usually outnumber the supporters.

Don't be seduced by any hype from the NFL, owners or union reps.  If the lockout ends and the opening ceremonies move you.  Fine.  Just don't let the NFL or NFLPA pat itself on it's back for overcoming the labor dispute in the guise of a 9/11 commemoration.

You don't need a football game to honor the lost lives and heroes or remember the horrible events of 9/11 next September.