Minor Strain?

According to my eyes and ears up in Albany, aka the beat guys -- Steve Smith said the exam (he didn't need an MRI) on his sore groin yesterday revealed "a minor strain." But Tom Coughlin wouldn't go that far, saying Smith still needed to see the doctor for a final evaluation. Until then, the coach refused to put any timetable on Smith's return.

As for G Rich Seubert's hand, Coughlin said there will be no surgery for now. Looks like they're going to wait and see how things progress before they either put him under the knife or get him back to work. In the meantime, Guy Whimper took Seubert's first-team snaps until he pulled up lame in a goal line drill and was replaced by rookie Mitch Petrus.

And S Kenny Phillips is slated for only limited work in his one practice Monday.

For those who actually are working, Jason Pierre-Paul had himself a very good practice, at one point showing a lightning inside move on Jacob Bender for a stop on DJ Ware that left the 316-pounder grasping at air. And backup quarterback Jim Sorgi threw his best pass of camp when he hit WR Victor Cruz, who beat Bruce Johnson, down the deep sideline in stride.

Tim Brown, the tiny receiver from Rutgers, showed good speed in the non-contact punt return drill. If nobody else steps forward, he might be a keeper simply for that job.

OL Ruben Riley, who limped off the field yesterday, was waived and replaced by OL Cliff Louis.

EP