Giants first-round pick Pierre-Paul hurts back

It's usually not news when a player tweaks his back during a rookie minicamp. Unless, of course, that player is the first-round draft pick. In that case, everyone knows about it.

So it was when Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants' top selection, was on the ground being tended to during Saturday morning's practice. Trainers applied a medicated pad to his lower right back and he appeared to be in discomfort for most of the workout. Tom Coughlin said it was a conditioning issue, but Pierre-Paul said it's not uncommon for him to be in pain.

"It always does the same thing around this time [of year]," he said. "I don't know the reason. Getting back into football, once you're out of it for a long time. That's what it does."

Pierre-Paul did not miss any reps during the practice and participated in the afternoon session, but he was clearly not at 100 percent. "I wish he was running around like perhaps I had the thought that he would be," Coughlin said.

Pierre-Paul insisted that the problem is not from a lack of training, and said the "pinch" usually clears up a week or so after he's spending time getting into a three-point stance.

Cotrone gets a look

Anthony Cotrone, a Holy Trinity product from Valley Stream who tore his ACL as a rookie with the Jaguars in 2008, is participating as a tryout. For the fullback, it's the first time he's been on a football field since his injury and long rehabilitation.

Giant steps

S Chad Jones, the third-round pick, came into camp at 224 pounds but the Giants would like to see him at 218 when he reports back in a few weeks . . . The Giants held their afternoon practice indoors to get away from the distraction of the "Bamboozle" concert festival in the Meadowlands parking lot.