The Giants picks look as follows:

1st Round (pick #31): S Kenny Phillips, Miami

2nd Round (pick #63): CB Terrell Thomas, USC

3rd Round (pick #95): WR Mario Manninngham, Michigan - a big-play kind of guy for Michigan. Caught 27 TD’s in his career, 20 of which went for 20 yards or more. Should be an excellent down-the-field force for the Giants in a couple of years.

4th Round (pick #123): LB Bryan Kuel, BYU - the Giants traded their third 6th-round pick to move up and get Kuel. A bit older since he’s coming from BYU (Mormon faith requires a service project for a year or two, which Kuel did in ‘03 and ‘04). He’s a great cover linebacker, and a smart one too. A quick, agile, hard-working guy.

5th Round (pick #165): LB Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt - a strong in-the-box backer who is accomplished academically as well. Has great upper-body strength and works well up in the box.

6th Round (pick #198): QB Andre Woodson, Kentucky - finished second in school history in many categories, 2nd only to Giants backup Jared Lorenzen. Has great instincts and can throw very well in a small window. However, he has a hitch in his delivery, and this needs to be corrected, or else it will lengthen his delivery enough for NFL corners to get a jump on the telegraphed throw. The Giants’ front office really want a QB for the future that was developed in their own system.

6th Round (pick #199): DE Robert Henderson, Southern Mississippi - not much info on this guy here, but it can’t hurt to have too many DE’s, as the Giants know from experience. Especially with Kiwanuka moving to LB possibly.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the draft. I’m just very very baffled still by the Dan Conner passing. I still haven’t figured it out, and neither have many experts. If anyone has any opinions, please feel free to email us or comment here, or leave us a phone message and we’ll put it in our draft recap cast.

The Giants picked Safety Kenny Phillips from Miami, filling a huge need in their defense. This is a great pick with number 31.

However…the controversy is the 2nd round pick. The Giants took the injury prone CB Terrell Thomas while LB Dan Connor was still available. This, in my opinion, is absolutely absurd, and I know at least Kevin, and possibly many more Giants fans are on board with me on this one. The Giants NEED a linebacker, a premier linebacker fell into the Giants’ lap, and they dropped the ball. If someone would like to explain this one to the NYGiantscast staff, please jump in because I am absolutely stunned right now.

Hey guys,

We’ve got another new episode up, once again with Editor of Giants Insider Magazine Ken Palmer who we’re very grateful to have on.  In the interview, we talk about the possible destinations of Jeremy Shockey, some D-line drama, and the Giants needs for the upcoming draft.  Enjoy!

FINALLY! Hope you guys enjoy, sorry we went so long in between episodes.

Jeremy Shockey is getting more and more frustrated with the Giants.  He hasn’t formally requested a trade, but did say he’d welcome one.

Ralph Vacchiano reports

Shockey was out of the Giants’ Super Bowl run with a broken leg, and Kevin Boss filled in nicely for him.  However, Eli Manning has made it clear that Shockey is an integral part of the team and would be overjoyed to have him back.  The New Orleans Saints made an offer to the Giants last month for Shockey.  Saints head coach Sean Payton is familiar with Shockey from his days as the Giants offensive coordinator.   Giants GM Jerry Reese said, “Anything can happen in personnel.  But right now, Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and we’re looking forward for him to be back on the field for us this fall.”

In the end, I think (and certainly hope) Shockey will be a Giant at the beginning of the season.  But right now, it’s too early to be sure.

The New York Giants’ Super Bowl rings, made by Tiffany & Co., have been unveiled.  The players had much input in this, and rightly so.  Here is a picture of the ring as seen from the top:

The rings are covered in diamonds and white gold, and feature the franchise’s 3 Super Bowl wins.  On one side, it reads “Eleven Straight on the Road,” signifying the 11 straight road victories the Giants won over the course of the season.  The “ny” logo is front and center on the ring in front of the trophies, covered in diamonds.

Michael Strahan said that he is happy with the ring, especially with its size.  He said he wanted a “10-table ring,” the phrase he uses to describe a ring large enough that people 10 tables away in a restaurant will notice it.

An interesting side note: Tiffany & Co. is based in New York City and also makes the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy for the NFL each year.  “Super Bowl XLII has special significance” said Michael J Kowalski, chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co.  “Not only was it one of the greatest games ever played, it was won by our hometown team, the New York Giants, whom we now salute with a commemorative ring and our thanks for a performance on the field that no Giants fan, or football fan anywhere, will ever forget.”

The Giants signed guard Rich Seubert to a 3-year contract extension that would potentially keep him in a Giants uniform until 2012.  Seubert stated that he would like to finish his career in New York, something that is a rare occurence with any team now-a-days.  He has had a roller coaster career with the Giants, that was going well until he broke 3 bones in his leg in 2003.  He didn’t play any significant time until 2006, when he played in 14 games, including 3 starts.  Last season, Seubert anchored the offensive line, starting all 20 games.

Derrick Ward tried free agency, and decided he couldn’t go anywhere else.  Running back Derrick Ward signed a 1-year, $1.1 million contract, with incentives that could add another $1 million.  After the signing, Ward said, “The Giants gave me my start. It feels good to come back to hopefully have a good year this year and be a part of the Super Bowl champion Giants. Hopefully, I’ll be able to finish my career here.”

Ward, at the moment, would appear to be the No. 3 back behind Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw at the start of next season.  However, Reuben Droughns is also scheduled to make $1 million next year, so the two may battle it out.

The Giants have made a splash recently, signing a few players that play positions they obviously lack in.  New York signed quarterback David Carr and linebacker Danny Clark.  Carr signed a 1-year, $1 million deal.  Clark’s deal is for two years.

Carr: David Carr was the 1st pick of the 2002 NFL draft for the Texans.  He has been the unfortunate recipient of porous offensive lines, and was sacked a record 76 times in his 2004 with the Texans.  Carr will back up Eli Manning.

Clark: Danny Clark was drafted by Coughlin in 2000 during his days in Jacksonville.  Clark is expected to compete this year with Gerris Wilkinson for the starting weakside linebacker position, barring any competition from draft picks.

The Giants are in talks with quarterback David Carr.  Carr would serve as Eli Manning’s backup, giving the Giants 2 1st round picks as their 1 and 2 quarterbacks.  Carr’s offensive coordinator during his days in Houston is now Giants quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer.