Time to move on

Giants ready to forget about January playoff disaster

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Training camp couldn't arrive soon enough for the New York Giants.

Seven months after their seemingly unbelievable first-round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants on Thursday walked into camp at the University at Albany with a feeling that this is going to be a special season.

"We're not overconfident, we're just confident," running back Tiki Barber said. "We're looking at a goal, setting a goal and trying to reach it.

"We're not a swagger and talk team, but we walk with a swagger," Barber added. "We look at the characters on this team and the personalities and determination you see with the way people play and that gives us confidence."

The Giants (10-7) have a lot going for them. They won their final four regular-season games to make the playoffs as a wild-card team and they grabbed a stunning 38-14 lead against the Niners in San Francisco before giving it all away in a tainted 39-38 loss.

New York botched the snap on a last-second field goal attempt, but the officials also made an error on the play that prevented the Giants from getting a second chance at a game-winning kick.

"That's a hurtful one and it still lingers," safety Shaun Williams said minutes before walking into the first meeting of the season.

However, the hurt is tempered by the possibilities the Giants see.

In winning its last four games, New York averaged almost 30 points despite missing a couple of players.

The special teams problems that contributed mightily to the loss to San Francisco were rectified through free agency, and the lack of depth on the defensive line was addressed in the draft.

"We are all excited to be here. I am," quarterback Kerry Collins said. "I think we feel we can have a good team. We are all excited about the possibility this season can bring."

Head coach Jim Fassel doesn't seem to mind being made one of the preseason favorites.

"This team is going to keep its nose to the grindstone and I am not going to let them back out either," said Fassel, who helped turn things around late last season by taking over the play calling.

Collins, who bounced back from an off year in 2001, said this also isn't a young team that is full of itself. It has veteran leadership with Collins, Barber and defensive linemen Michael Strahan and Keith Hamilton.

"We know what it takes," Collins said. "It takes hard work. There are going to be ups and downs and we have to continue to get better."

One positive to start this season is that tight end Jeremy Shockey doesn't have to play catch-up in his second season.

A Pro Bowl player as a rookie with 74 catches, Shockey showed up with his blond hair trimmed. It's cooler that way.

"It's always good to start off on the right foot," said Shockey, who seemingly is also over toe problems that slowed him. "It's good to see everyone and get back to work. The vacation is over."

It was an attitude shared by a veteran like Strahan. The NFL's single-season sack record holder is still looking for his first NFL title.

"When you get a little older you do have desire to come out here," the 31-year-old Strahan said. "You realize every year is important. Every year you have to be at your best because they go by real fast, and before you know it you are on the outside looking in."

 

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