Giants add Brian Williams
New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas lies on the field as teammates Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips, Michael Coe and Aaron Ross and trainers gather around him after he was injured on a play during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears. (Aug. 22, 2011) Credit: AP
Tom Coughlin was on the practice field so he could not check his Twitter account and find out that the Giants had agreed to terms with a veteran cornerback. When he came off the field he was asked if the Giants had added anyone new.
“Brian Williams as I understand it,” he said. “That’s one.”
One? Meaning there could be others?
“There could be,” he said. “Wait until I get inside.”
That’s the position the Giants are in as they try to bolster their secondary where injuries have taken out four significant players -- Terrell Thomas, Brian Witherspoon, Bruce Johnson, Prince Amukamara -- and several other useful training camp bodies. The Giants held auditions on Wednesday for a cornerback and had four players show up including Lito Sheppard. Williams, a nine-year vet who last played for the Falcons the past two seasons, apparently won that workout.
“He’s a veteran,” Coughlin said. “He knows how to play, he’s been a good physical blitzer and we’re in need of somebody who can learn some things real quick and go from there.”
The Giants are expected to formally announce the signing later today, along with the corresponding roster move to make room for Williams … and whoever else they might sign.
Also of note from practice today: C Adam Koets had his knee scoped in an effort to get him back on the field quickly. He’d been on PUP since the start of camp recovering slowly from an ACL reconstruction that took place last season … Will Beatty did not practice with a migraine headache and was replaced by Jamon Meredith at starting left tackle … Mario Manningham was excused from practice to deal with a personal matter.
