The Giants Get Ready for Some Stormy Weather EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - As the Giants began practice Wednesday for the N.F.C. championship game this weekend, they did so with a virtually full complement of players. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was the only player not working in early drills and linebacker Mark Herzlich - who has been out with an ankle injury - returned to the field for the first time since Nov. 28. Bradshaw's absence was expected; he has been bothered by a foot injury for weeks and the team has fallen into a maintenance routine where Bradshaw starts slowly during the practice week and ramps up to full participation closer to the game. He is expected to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Bradshaw, as well as the other back Brandon Jacobs, could figure prominently into the Giants" plans, particularly if the Bay Area weather forecast continues to call for wet weather. Predictions are for San Francisco to be soaked with rain beginning on Thursday and continuing through the weekend. Since the 49ers play on a natural grass field at old, dilapidated Candlestick Park, sloppy conditions would almost surely put both teams" running games at a premium. In the Giants" road loss to the 49ers in November, neither team ran with much success: The Giants finished with 94 yards rushing while San Francisco - which lost the starter Frank Gore to an early injury - totaled just 77.