INDIANAPOLIS -- After practicing the first two days of the New York Giants' work week at Super Bowl XLVI, running back Ahmad Bradshaw was held out of Friday's practice because his injured right foot "was a little sore," coach Tom Coughlin said.
"But he's OK," Coughlin added after the Giants' 70-minute afternoon practice at the University of Indianapolis' practice bubble. "He'll be ready. He'll be listed as probable. In fact, I don't believe we'll have anyone listed as questionable for the game."
Running backs Brandon Jacobs and D.J. Ware took the repetitions against the Giants' scout team, simulating the Patriots, during Friday's padless drills; the players wore shorts and helmets. Bradshaw was present, and dressed, but did nothing besides stretch. Coughlin didn't seem concerned about Bradshaw's absence because, as he said, "He got in two good days of work prior to this. He's prepared."
The Giants, as Coughlin said, listed six players as probable. Aside from Bradshaw, defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee) and special-teamer/safety Tyler Sash (foot) were limited in practice, while wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot) practiced fully. All but Bradshaw and Sash appeared to be running and working without limitations Friday for the third straight day on the UIndy campus seven miles south of downtown Indianapolis.
Sash, a sixth-round draft pick from Iowa last April, had his foot stepped on midway through practice and left the field to have the foot wrapped. He told the club's vice president of communications Pat Hanlon after practice: "I'm OK."
Coughlin was at his detailed best this week in practice. The Giants were told Lucas Oil Stadium would have an on-field temperature of 68 to 70 degrees Sunday at the 6:29 p.m. kickoff, so Coughlin directed the temperature in the bubble be set at 70 each day. "We were able to get a good sweat going, working in conditions like they'll have Sunday,'' the veteran coach said. "Of course, we didn't have 60,000 people watching." To that end, for the third straight day, the Giants had crowd noise piped into the facility.
Giants players and family members, who arrived Thursday, will be on their own Friday night with a midnight curfew. Curfew will also be enforced Saturday night at the club's downtown Indianapolis hotel at 11. The Giants will have a jog-through situational practice Saturday morning, and players will be off during the afternoon. As is the usual custom for a road game, Coughlin will have 75 minutes of night meetings and then evening chapel service and a team snack before curfew Saturday.
The Giants' full management team was on hand to watch Friday's workout. Club president and CEO John Mara, who has been present all week, was joined by chairman and executive vice president Steve Tisch and treasurer Jonathan Tisch, and multiple family members of the ownership group were on hand. Also Friday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Greg Gadson, a 2008 Iraq War double-amputee and consistent presence around the team since he gave the team an inspirational speech in 2008, was on the sidelines. Several players, including defensive end Justin Tuck, spent time speaking with Gadson Friday.
