LATE PRACTICE ARRIVAL GETS GREEN BENCHED
By Paul Schwartz
October 23, 2004 | 4:00am
GIANT NOTES
Earlier in the week, Giants linebacker Barrett Green said he was not as excited as he should be for tomorrow's game against Detroit, which was odd, considering Green spent the last four years playing for the Lions and should have been revved up to face his former team.
Now we know why he wasn't mentally right. It appears coach Tom Coughlin will yank Green from the starting lineup and replace him with Nick Greisen because Green arrived very late to work last Wednesday.
This was not one of those "not early enough" scenarios that took place in training camp when players failed to abide by "Coughlin time" and arrive five minutes early. Green was supposed to arrive at Giants Stadium at 7 a.m. but did not show up until after 9 a.m.
Green will no doubt be fined, but is expected to play in the game. Green, a free-agent acquisition this season, ran afoul of Coughlin in the summer when he was fined for not arriving early enough to a meeting. Apparently, there have been other incidents as well. Coughlin this week said Green has not played up to his expectations.
There have been no dynamic, game-changing plays out of the Giants' special teams thus far this season, but there also have not been negative, back-breaking plays against Big Blue like those that hurt them a year ago. David Tyree, one of the team's top special-teams players, says the interest Coughlin has shown in that department has led to better results.
"Discipline is the major difference, guys are wary, we also have our head coach looking over our shoulder when it comes to special teams," Tyree said. "Everybody's wary what their responsibilities are supposed to be."
One priority tomorrow against the Lions is breaking loose rookie Mark Jones, who looks as if he has the goods to be a quality punt-return threat, but is averaging just 6.5 yards.
"We have to get him those opportunities, we have to get these returns set up," Tyree said. "That's the thing we've been lacking on specials, we've been consistent but we haven't had the big play."
As far as dealing with Eddie Drummond, one of the league's best return men, Tyree said: "He's good, but the way the NFL is these days everybody has a great returner."
The last time the Giants faced the Lions was Nov. 19, 2000. The Giants lost 31-21. Three days later, Jim Fassel made his now-famous playoff guarantee and the Giants didn't lose again until Super Bowl XXXV . . . DT Fred Robbins (shoulder) did not practice for the entire week and is unlikely to play, giving William Joseph his first career start.
WOMACK PROVIDES SPARK