Interview with AMANI, 2/09/05

How is your hamstring coming along?

Amani: It’s coming along but it still isn’t 100%. I think the lump on the back of my leg may have diminished in size somewhat but it’s still noticeable. I’m still doing everything I can think of to heal it.


Did you go to the Super Bowl?

Amani: No, we didn’t go. I didn’t want to go and don’t think I will want to go to any Super Bowls unless we’re in it.


Tell me about your trip to help the tsunami victims. It sounds like you’ll be doing hands-on work.

Amani: It is going to be hands-on. We don’t want to walk around and shake hands; we want to do useful work. We’re going to be loading and unloading planes and that kind of thing. This will be a hands-on involvement in the effort. We’re going with the World Food Program. We’ll probably be traveling around on the planes delivering foodstuffs, also. But I’m not actually sure exactly what we will be doing and I don’t think the Program is absolutely sure yet what we’ll do. Basically, it will be whatever needs doing when we get there. I’m looking forward to getting out there and trying to be some help. We expect to be there for about ten days.


Will your wife be able to use her medical training there?

Amani: That’s not the sort of thing she is going over there to do. Basically, she’ll be doing the same sort of work I’ll be doing.


Are you going on to Australia for a vacation after you leave there?

Amani: I don’t know if we’ll get to Australia. I hope we will but we are going to head to India after we finish working. We’re going to backpack around but don’t yet have any concrete plans about where we will go. We’re going to play it by ear. We’ve never done any backpacking and have never been to India before. This will be our first experience with both.


When do you need to be back for the off-season strength and conditioning program?

Amani: March 21st. I expect we will come home shortly before then but don’t really know yet. We don’t have our return tickets yet because we want to be flexible.

Interview with Amani, 1/10/05:

You haven’t missed many games to injury. Was it difficult to sit and watch your team play?

Amani: It was really hard because I knew that even if it was only a little bit better, I could have gone out there and done something. But the last couple of weeks of the season I was limping around. It really just kept getting worse. I was worried about being injured the last game of the season and then having to start over two months from now. I probably should have stopped playing five or six weeks ago.


Even though it’s only a week, has some rest helped your hamstring?

Amani: Yes, it has but there’s still a big lump back there. It still needs a lot of improvement so I haven’t tried to run or do anything that would aggravate it. I’d like to get it healthy as soon as possible.


In the last few games you played, you didn’t get many balls thrown to you in the first half. Was that to spare the hamstring?

Amani: I don’t know why that was but I think it just worked out that way.


Do you think the team needed a win to go into the off-season feeling good about the future?

Amani: Well, I know it helped a lot. I mean everybody seemed to be a lot more upbeat on the way out after the win. If we had lost the last one, it would have been hard to go into the off-season feeling good.


How do you view the season overall?

Amani: As one of disappointment. Overall, I thought we had a good chance but all of a sudden, we just didn’t get it done. We made some changes. I just think we had a lot of lost opportunities and still we ended up just two games away from going into the playoffs.


Did you watch Michigan in the Rose Bowl?

Amani: Yeah, I watched it. I was disappointed that they didn’t win it but they played well I thought.


What are your plans for the off-season?

Amani: We plan to do a little bit of traveling. We want to go to Australia and will also go to New Zealand.

One of the local newspapers quoted you extensively today regarding free agents and how desirable the Giants will seem to them. Some have interpreted your comments to mean that you would like to be traded. Was that your intent?

Amani: No, of course not. I think I got sandbagged on that one. I understood the question to involve the fact that we were losing and would that make the team less desirable to free agents. I was not saying anything negative about our coach or anything like that. What I said was this: ‘We’re losing and from somebody else’s perspective, this might make the Giants an unattractive place.’ Then, I was asked about the rules, which we do have, but I have no problem with them. I’ve been abiding by the rules and it hasn’t hurt me any. That whole interview had nothing to do with me or how I feel. I think Coach Coughlin does a lot of good things that’s helping our team. I just think that with all the injuries we have things are getting blown out of proportion right now. I’ve had a tough season because of the injury but that has nothing to do with the coach or our team.

I certainly want to remain with the Giants. I think we have a good nucleus; a good team, good coaches and I want to be around when this thing gets turned around. What I want to make clear is that what I said had nothing to do with me. I was just trying to look at the situation objectively from the standpoint of an outsider. It was not a first person perspective.


Two articles have quoted an anonymous player as saying that the team won’t play hard for Coach Coughlin. The team I saw on the field Sunday was scratching and clawing for a win. Do you believe the team has quit?

Amani: Yeah, I know about that and I want to make it clear that I was not the anonymous person who made those remarks. I want everybody to know that but I’m afraid since I was quoted in today’s newspaper, I’ll be linked to that, too. That wasn’t me. But those comments, that’s the kind of stuff you always hear during a losing season. Maybe some teams would actually give in and not play hard but that’s not our team. We’re playing hard and trying to get a win. We ‘re trying to win for our teammates. We don’t see the coach as someone in our way; we see him as someone who’s trying to get us motivated and help us get some wins.


As a professional, would you ever permit your feelings about any coach to enter into how you play?

Amani: No, of course not. The idea is ridiculous. All of us have dreamed about playing in the NFL since we were little kids. We dream about playing in the NFL and doing big things. The coach doesn’t really enter into that. These are things we want to do because it’s our dream, it’s why we play.

Selfishly, everyone wants to do well to support their family and because that’s our dream. It would be ridiculous for someone to say they aren’t going to play hard because the coach is mean to me. It just doesn’t make any sense.


There are rumors circulating that you are playing with a partially torn hamstring.

Amani: I can’t comment about injuries but I can say that the hamstring isn’t healthy. I’m nowhere near 100%. In Sunday’s game, you saw me trying to run a post and I never got to full speed. It’s a minute-to-minute thing. Some plays it feels decent and other plays it feels terrible. I’m doing the best I can to try and help the team and try to give the team our best shot. My focus is still there; I’m still fresh mentally but my body’s not as healthy as I’d like it to be in order to be competitive.


You were limping badly coming off the field after one play. What do you do to try to lessen the effect of the injury?

Amani: Oh, I’ve tried everything. The last ten weeks I’ve been playing with this thing, I’ve tried ice, acupuncture, ultrasound, massage, everything. Everything you could possibly do to a hamstring, I’ve been doing it. I tried everything I could think of because it really has limited me this season. It pulls badly when I try to accelerate. If you look at film, you’ll see that leg drags when I try to run. The first couple of weeks it wasn’t bad and the Atlanta game wasn’t too bad. It really got bad during the Arizona game. It is really difficult when you try to cut. When I run straight ahead, I’m decent but when I’m cutting that’s when it really pulls. You have to bend your knees and get down to cut and I did it cutting. Look at the leg kick in the back and one leg is kicking normally and the other isn’t. I suppose the only thing that will allow it to heal is rest after the season ends.


Did you know Reggie White?

Amani: No, I didn’t know Reggie but it was a shock. It’s a real tragedy that he died so young.

Interview with Amani, 12/21/04:

Even though Saturday’s game was a loss, how encouraging was it that the offense played well and was able to put up 30 points?

Amani: It was definitely encouraging. It’s something we wish we could have done earlier in the season but we’re still in the playoff hunt so it might be just in the nick of time.


There should have been a pass interference call on the play where you got tripped. Even Coach Coughlin commented on it, saying that there was contact. How critical was that non-call in the loss?

Amani: It was the game. I mean, it really was the game. I know that the referees don’t like to have the game come down to one of their calls but that’s just how the game ended up.


Do you feel you would have caught that ball?

Amani: There’s no question that I was going to catch it. I was in a really good position because I had him behind me. He was on my back and the ball was going to come right over my shoulder and I was going to catch it. He kind of ran me over and then caught the ball. It would be one thing if he tripped me and didn’t get the interception but he tripped me and got the interception. I don’t see how they could let that go.


Do you find yourself anticipating this Sunday’s game more because the offense had some success in the last game?

Amani: I think that our offense took a big step last week because Eli started to play so much better so it’s going to be exciting to see how much better he will get between last week and this week.


Have the coaches considered having you come in at safety again this season or is there concern about using you in a different position with your hamstring injury?

Amani: No, they haven’t talked about putting me in on defense again. The hamstring is something that’s really held me back a lot this year and I don’t think putting me in at safety would do me any good.


Are you doing anything special on your abbreviated Christmas?

Amani: No, we’re not really going to do anything but I do want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Interview with Amani, 12/14/04:

You’ve certainly heard about Deion Sanders’ comments this week. Do you care to comment?

Amani: No, I don’t really care to say anything more about Deion. I don’t think we need to worry about the Ravens and what they think.


In general terms, in what way does a hamstring injury limit your movements?

Amani: It is a problem when I am cutting. It definitely affects my cutting. It also affects me when I’m opening up to full speed. I can drive for about ten or fifteen yards but once I try to really open up my stride, that’s when it tightens up.


Has having the hamstring injury increased your frustration level in the last few weeks?

Amani: Yeah, because I really can’t get in there and practice the way I want to do it. You know, it’s hard because the team is struggling and you want to help as much as possible. We need to get our timing together and I think that would help us out a lot.


Teams have been blitzing extensively and bringing a lot of players. Do you expect that to continue for the rest of the season?

Amani: I think it will continue until we stop it. We have to adjust to it to make it stop.


At this point what would it take for you and the rest of the team to go into the off-season feeling optimistic about next season?

Amani: Well, I think as Eli develops, we’ll all feel more comfortable and more optimistic about next year. Also, I think we will all get more comfortable in the system, which will also help. I think the last few weeks of the season, we need to try to develop an identity as an offense and as a team really. These things will come as time goes on.


In personal terms, what would you like out of the last three games?

Amani: Just to get more familiarity with Eli and that’s about it. And personally, the circumstances this year have been tough to deal with but in the long run I think those things will make me a stronger person and a better player.


How about a few touchdowns?

Amani: Yeah, that wouldn’t hurt either.


You were talking with Jim Fassel before the last game. He said recently that he wants another head coaching job in the NFL. Is coaching something you would ever consider?

Amani: Nope. I don’t want to be a coach. No. In the future we plan on having a family and I want to be around them as they’re growing up. I don’t want to have to put in as much time as football coaches are required to do.

Interview with Amani, 12/ 09/04:

The injury report showed that you practiced today. Is the hamstring feeling better?

Amani: Yes, thank you.


How absolute do you consider the correlation between a team being relatively injury-free and advancing into the playoffs?

Amani: League wide, there’s no question. I mean, when you start the season, all the people playing are the people that the front office, the GM and coaches plan on having out on the field. When you have injuries and have to substitute people, then there are people on the field with less experience maybe or who the front office isn’t 100% sure about.


Sunday it appeared that some of the team was playing tight, pressing and trying to make something happen. Did you find that you were more tense than usual with the need to jump-start something positive?

Amani: Anytime we are in a situation like that everybody is anxious to make a big play. As quickly as things turned against us we know that they can turn again in our favor. I don’t know if it’s tight but I do know everybody is out there trying to make plays, me included.


In personal terms, is this the most frustrating season of your career?

Amani: No, my first year I caught one ball so I try to put it in perspective.


With each loss, is the frustration mounting?

Amani: Oh yeah. It’s hard to be frustrated when you’re winning because when you’re winning everyone around the team is in a good mood. We feel like we have a lot of players in our locker room that can do some things like in the first couple of games of the season when we were making big plays and putting plays on the board. We still have an opportunity to turn our season around and winning cures everything.


After 12 games and few receptions, is it difficult to keep your head in the game?

Amani: No, this is my job. I know that there are a lot of factors involved and I just have to ride out the wave and see what happens. There are four games left. There’s a lot of season left and I’m trying to be as optimistic as I can be.


Last week Jeremy Shockey said that the morale in the locker room is bad because guys are tired of losing. Is that your perception as well?

Amani: People are definitely tired of losing but I don’t know that it has really affected the morale. I think the losses are charging us up to try harder and win a game. We’re professionals and our job is to play and win games and that’s what we’re definitely going to try to do.


Now that you’re working with Eli all week, do you have a sense that the timing is beginning to come?

Amani: I think we need to improve the timing but I do see a little improvement from week to week

Interview with Amani, 11/23/04:

It was a frustrating loss, but were you encouraged by Eli’s and then the entire team’s improvement in the second half?

Amani: Yes, I was definitely encouraged by that. I thought he maintained his composure very well in the game.


How much does the ball Eli throws differ from Kurt’s ball?

Amani: I don’t know if they’re that much different. It’s really more in the reads that they’re doing. They see different things and that’s what I think is the major difference between them. You put any quarterback in and they will all see things a little differently. I think Eli had some good reads Sunday. It’s not that Kurt didn’t, it’s just that each quarterback is different.


Eli was throwing with great velocity Sunday. Does that make it difficult for receivers because they have less time to make adjustments?

Amani: I thought Eli threw well and he definitely has a strong arm. That’s a strength of his. I don’t think it’s a difficult problem for receivers to make that kind of adjustment quickly; it’s not that difficult. I played last year with one of the biggest arm quarterbacks in the league, in Kerry. He definitely has one of the biggest arms in the game and adjusting to him wasn’t a problem.


How difficult is it for receivers to have to adjust to a new quarterback partway through the season?

Amani: It’s difficult in the fact that you don’t have the timing that you’ve been accustomed to having over the last couple of years. But, you know, every year you have a different situation and you have to deal with it. This is the situation we’re in now and I think we’re heading in the right direction.


Is the Amani Toomer Foundation building any new playgrounds?

Amani: We have one that we’re working on. We haven’t figured out exactly where it’s going to be but it’s definitely in the works. We do have a tentative site picked out but now we have to raise the funds for it. Also, during the season, everything slows down a little bit and in addition we have the Arts for Youth campaign going on right now.


Will you confine your activities to the New York City area?

Amani: Well, we’re building the playgrounds in the most needy areas. We work with the Funds for Public Schools in an attempt to get things really off the ground. We’re looking at the whole Metropolitan area and are looking at Jersey City, Newark, places like that. Those places need playgrounds as much as any place in New York City does.


You and your wife had your first Thanksgiving at your home last year. Will you do that again this year?

Amani: You know, that’s a good question. I haven’t heard anything about it yet so I guess we aren’t going to. I think I did a good job carving the turkey last year; at least I don’t remember hearing any complaints. Happy Thanksgiving.

From the locker room with Amani, 11/14/04:

Sorry Amani, I know you don't feel much like talking right now.

Amani:  Yeah, we're down right now but we'll get back up on Wednesday and figure something out.  But this was disappointing.  We're giving away games.  There's never a game that you're supposed to win in the NFL but the last two weeks those were teams we had the advantage over.


In the last drive of the game, you went down.  Are you ok?

Amani:  Yes, I'm ok.  I just had the wind knocked out of me a little bit.


In the last two games , the Giants seemed to be in control in the early part of the game and, then as it did in the Bears game, the advantage switched dramatically to the opposition.  Can you account for that in any way?

Amani:  No, there's no sense to it.  In both cases we  just needed to execute for a longer time and instead we kept making mistakes.  That's what has killed us the last two weeks.  I can't really explain why but what's happening is that we just don't close.  It's something that we're going to have to try and figure out.  We're just not finding a way to be consistent through the whole game and that's something we have to figure out.


You had several receptions today.  Is Kurt starting to look for you more?

Amani:  I don't know but he did today.  Every game is different with different opportunities presenting themselves.


The loss of the two starting defensive ends is huge.  Does this impose an extra burden on the offense to  step up?

Amani:  I think so.  Anytime you lose someone, you've got to make sure you make up for the loss in some way but we didn't do that today.


In his post game press conference, Coach Coughlin said that he was very disappointed in many aspects of the game but that he thought you and Tiki had outstanding games.

Amani:  But it didn't get the game won.


In his press conference on Friday, Coach spoke of players who were stepping up and assuming leadership roles, and included you as one of those players.  You aren't a rah, rah kind of guy.  What has he noticed?

Amani:  I think I'm just finally starting to relax and play.  I don't really know the answer but maybe it's just the way I approach the game.  I don't know that I can really tell you. 

Interview with Amani, 11/03/04:

In his press conference today, Coach Coughlin said that you were fine but a little sore, adding that he was very impressed with your eagerness to play and to put the injury aside.  He said you didn’t want to have any restrictions in the game and he was very impressed with your determination.

Amani:  Yeah?  That’s great.  It’s nice to hear.

Do you feel that one team can get into the head of another to the extent that a team such as the Vikings expects to lose?

Amani:  You know, I don’t really know.  I was thinking about that on the plane on our way home.  There isn’t a team that we haven’t beaten so maybe that’s all there is to it.   I don’t really know what it is.  They’re a really good team but for some reason we bring our best game when we go to play there.  Maybe that’s all there is to it.


What do you do to maintain your focus in very noisy venues, such as the Metrodome?

Amani:  Well, you know we practice with crowd noise and I think that really helps.  It’s kind of unnerving when you can’t hear but when you practice not being able to hear all during the week, you kind of get used to it.  The focus comes with that kind of practice and keeps it from being as much of a distraction as it would be otherwise.


When you came out of Michigan, you were a very good blocker but you’re even better now.  Since you don’t practice blocking, how do you account for your continuing improvement?

Amani:  I think it’s a matter of wanting to do it.  I really think that’s most of it.  It’s really a matter of effort rather than anything else.  A lot of receivers will initiate the block but don’t hold it very long and it’s sustaining the block that makes the difference.


You have to give the defender something else to think about. 
Are you worried about any letdown facing the Bears?

Amani:  No, I don’t think our team would let that happen.  When we looked at the athleticism of their defense and how well their special teams play, we’re aware that they’re a good team.  And it was unnerving getting beaten by Detroit.


In the past the Giants have had a lot of trouble with quarterbacks off the bench or those for whom they don’t have much film.  Is that a concern this week since Krenzel only has one start?

Amani:  I don’t think they’re watching any of his college games but they have the film from last Sunday.  I think they’re just going to play solid defense.  They are a competent group of people and I’m sure that they won’t overlook Krenzel and will play a good defensive game.

Interview with Amani 10/22/04

Were you aware that the Giants haven’t started 4-1 in eleven years?

Amani:  I wasn’t. I found out about it last week but hadn’t heard about it before then.


You were dinged in the Dallas game and told a reporter that you were injured by a cheap shot by Roy Williams. Is that correct?

Amani:  Yes, it is but of course I can’t comment on the injury.


You aren’t being shown on the injury report for this week so you’re going to play, aren’t you?

Amani:  Oh, yes, I’m fine.


How big a loss is Tim Carter to the offense?

Amani:  Anytime you lose someone like Tim, it’s going to affect the team. It’s a matter for us, the rest of the receivers, to pick up the slack. I’ve had a chance to watch Jamaar Taylor and he looks pretty good. It’s kind of hard to say with Jamaar because he hasn’t had too many opportunities to play, but for the time he has played, I think he’s doing pretty well.


All season, your catches have been critical in keeping drives alive even though they haven’t resulted in touchdowns. Against Dallas, it appeared the Giants were trying to go long more often. Are the Giants starting to look for the big plays now?

Amani:  I think so but I really can’t tell you for sure. I don’t really know. Sometimes games take on a life of their own and it all is going to depend on the game. I think we can be a big-play offense. We have a lot of big-play guys. There’s still a lot of growing we can do but we’re winning games and looking pretty good doing it. But, like I said, games take on a life of their own and this one will be different because Tim won’t be in the game.


Are you concerned about Sunday’s game given the Giants’ record coming off a bye week?

Amani:  No, not really. That’s not something you can really worry about. The past is gone. We have so many new and different players and coaches. I don’t even think of our team as the same as last year.


Do you follow the baseball playoffs?

Amani:  I watched a little bit and was disappointed to see the Yankees lose.


Are you rooting for anyone in the World Series?

Amani:  I think the World Series should just be between the Yankees and the Red Sox and that should be the end of it.

Interview with Amani, 10/05/04:

That was a good win against a solid team.

Amani: Yes, we were really excited, the whole team.  We’re being a smart team and taking advantage of our opportunities and being aggressive with the opportunities we get.  It’s early in the season though and we still have a long way to go.


Would you say you’re building momentum now?

Amani:  Anytime you win three games there’s some momentum there, no matter who you play.  That was our first victory at Lambeau Field in a long time.


Were you aware that this is the first time the Giants have won at Lambeau Field since September 19, 1971?

Amani:  No, I only learned that coming back on the plane.  I had no idea.  I knew it had been a while because I had never been up there.


It seems that the team has come a long way since last year and even since training camp.

It’s definitely different from last year.  There’s so much change around here it’s hard to even remember some of the stuff from last year because the pressure is constantly on to perform in practice.  It’s just a different feeling around here.

Even way back at training camp this year, I thought we had something good and I thought that all the positions were solid.  I didn’t know how we would come together because we didn’t show that well in training camp or pre-season.  So, it was all up in the air but I think, I always thought deep down that we had something very good.  So, we have come a long way since training camp.  I think we’re a formidable group.  We’ve a lot of guys who can really play and if you overlook one of them they can turn around and bite you in the butt.  We can be a tough team.  But we have a lot of season left and we’re not going to get too excited about what we’ve done because we still have a long way to go.


Was the passing game scaled down because of the wind?

Amani:  I don’t know for sure but I think the wind definitely had something to do with it.  I don’t remember how many times I was the primary read last Sunday.



Was it frustrating to have so few looks in the game, especially when you were open all day?

Amani:  It’s hard to be frustrated when the team is winning.  It was such a successful game with all the yards of running offense so you really can’t complain.  I was never frustrated, you know, and I thought we would just have to do whatever we can in this offense.  I have never used the word frustrated (despite what has been reported).  We still have a long way to go as a team and we’re not yet where we need to be.


It was quite a surprise to see you in at safety.  Is that just something you practiced last week?

Amani:  Yeah, that was really fun to get to play on the other side of the ball.  I’ve been in the league a long time and I haven’t played on the other side of the ball since college.  I thought when we put it in that I would just be in the last play of the game but to be in the whole last defensive series was cool.  We’ve been practicing that for a little while.

In his post game press conference, Coach Coughlin described you as having an outstanding game.

Amani: Really? That’s great! You know Coach Coughlin isn’t going to blow any smoke at you. He’ll tell it to you straight. I respect that about him, and when he says I had a pretty good game, that makes me feel really good.


Your 47 yard and 38 yard receptions set up two touchdowns even though you didn’t get to score them. Is that satisfying to you?

Amani: I don’t know, I guess I’m just the set-up man. I’m the point guard.


Last week, some of the offense expressed frustration with their receptions. Were you also frustrated with your role?

Amani: I wouldn’t use the term frustrated. I would say I was just impatient waiting for the offense to start doing more. We did all this stuff in training camp and now we’re starting to pull it out and make plays downfield and that’s what I was expecting. It’s finally coming around for us. Last week was the start when we got the win.


What caused it all to happen?

Amani: It always goes back to the offensive line. Those guys who were said to be the worst line in the NFL are looking pretty good now. Up front, I think we executed really well. We gave Kurt time to make the plays. The O-line is making a lot of people eat crow and I take my hat off to those guys.


Is the offense more effective because Kurt is more comfortable?

Amani: Definitely, Kurt is getting more comfortable. He came into this situation and he didn’t know the plays and he didn’t really know what the situation was going to be. It could have been a tense situation but I think the coaches handled it well. Kurt understands the situation and is real about it. We’re still in the growing process. I don’t think we’re anywhere near where we will be. At first we didn’t know who would be the quarterback, and Kurt came in and took everything in stride. That really helped. When you turned on ESPN, you heard about the quarterback controversy. I don’t think the Giants ever got that much attention. This is a leap forward for us. Our team is getting used to the schedule and getting used to our coach and it’s a good feeling to win. We put up 27 points but we could have put up more. But I’ll take it.


Everyone was involved in the offense today. How much does that help?

Amani: It helps a lot. It puts the defense in kind of a bind when they don’t know where the ball is going. They don’t know who to double and who to really key on. When you have that kind of situation, our jobs are easier. Kurt’s not stuck with one guy; there are several guys he can go to.


Michael Strahan had a pretty good game today, too.

Amani: What can you say about Michael Strahan that hasn’t already been said? He won the league MVP; he leads the league in sacks. Today he had two sacks and two fumble recoveries. He’s a great player.


The team seems to be steadily improving.

Amani: Yeah, that’s what we’re trying to build. We’re trying not to take any steps backward. Right now we know that our team isn’t the team that we want to have at the end of the year. We know that the only thing that will ensure we’re competitive at the end of the year is to continue to progress and continue to work hard.
 

Interview with Amani, 9/23/04:

Do you feel a great weight has been lifted off you and the team?

Amani:  Oh,absolutely.  We really needed this win.  After the first game of the season, I wondered what kind of season we were going to have.  So, we really needed this win, especially since it was the home opener.


Coaches talk about the psychology of winning and losing and say that it feeds on itself.  Do you subscribe to that belief?

Amani:  Absolutely!  For example, back in 2002 when we were winning, we were very confidant and felt we could go on winning indefinitely.  Momentum is a very fragile and mysterious thing.  When you’re winning it’s great but, of course, it goes both ways and you never really know what causes it or when you might lose it.


What do you feel was the key to this win?

Amani:  The key to this win was the play of the defense.  Any time you get seven turnovers, you really should win the game.  They were pretty amazing.


In the last two minutes of the second quarter, Warner threw a pass that was caught by Hilliard.  You were in the same area of the field.  How did that happen?

Amani:  Yeah, I remember that.  One of us didn’t run the right route and we both ended up in virtually the same place.  That was a mistake.  We have a new offense and this kind of mistake happens initially but we’re working those things out.  I doubt you’ll see that kind of thing happen again.


The point of emphasis this season stresses no contact downfield.  It seemed Fred Smoot interfered with you and wasn’t called.  Is that actually still being emphasized?

Amani:  Oh, no, that’s gone out the window.  That’s done.  When I looked at film this week, I saw interference downfield that wasn’t called.  That’s the way these things usually go.

Interview with Amani, 9/16/04:

Despite the loss, did you see some positives from the Eagles’ game that the team can build on?

Amani:  Well, I think Tiki had a great game! A great game!  The way he ran really helped us out.  Also, I think our offensive line helped us out and played well.  And I think they will continue to improve.


If the Giants get behind in their home opener on Sunday, are you expecting a lot of boos from the fans?

Amani:  I think they have every right to show their displeasure and let us know that they’re unhappy with our performance.  They cheer for us when we’re playing well and I hope we’ll give them something to cheer about.


You owned cornerback Champ Bailey.  Are you going to miss him now that you won’t play him twice a year?

Amani:   Will I miss him?  No, I think he’s going on to bigger and better things and I’m glad for him. That worked out well for him.  I’m happy for him but now I have to work on Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot.


Have you ever played Smoot or Springs?

Amani:  No, it has always been Bailey though I played Shawn Springs two years ago when we played Seattle but that’s all.


Are you any more tense or anxious before a game if you are unfamiliar with the cornerbacks?

Amani:  No, not really.  I mean I always go into a game with the feeling that they have to stop me as opposed to me worrying about them.


Coach Coughlin has stressed that he wants to see the game played with intensity and passion.  Because of those statements, do you feel you have to change your on the field demeanor?

Amani:  No, I feel like we’re all different players.  We all act differently.  You look at Shockey and he wears his emotion on his sleeve.  Some other guys don’t and that’s just how they’re wired.  You can’t say one is better than the other because both are successful but I think I do play the game with passion and intensity.


You built two new playgrounds at PS 75 in the Bronx and PS 169 in Brooklyn through the Amani Toomer Foundation’s Toomer Urban Recreation Fund (TURF). How did the opening go?

Amani:  It went very well and they opened on schedule.  We had a lot of support and it was really was good.  The kids looked really happy and couldn’t wait to play on the equipment; they just couldn’t wait to play on it.  They were pretty anxious to use it and it all was worth doing, I thought.


Do you have any personal appearances this week?

Amani:  No, I have a radio program, I think on Sept 20th, but nothing else.

Tiki is sporting a pair of fancy new shoes that he says you gave him. How did that come about?

Amani: Oh yeah, there are two guys that Yola and I knew from college and they started their own shoe company. Recently the Amani Toomer Foundation gave away, to everyone who was on the panel, (for Studio 81) a pair of DTNYs and Tiki really liked them. Everybody has liked them; I like them. I actually am on my second pair of the shoes. They’re good shoes. Look out for them.


Given the nature of pre-season games, do you think the outcome of the games accurately reflects where the team is at that time?

Amani: I think it can be a good indicator; I think it could be. I mean, we have to play the game to win and I think there’s a lot of learning that can be done off the tapes. That will let us know where we are in terms of how ready we are to play a real game. The first quarter or first half, when the first team is in there, however much we do play, we’ll get a good indication of where we stand.


What differences do you see between Camp Fassel and Camp Coughlin?

Amani: Mostly it’s in the intensity. Just the fact that we compete at a higher level and practice moves at a quicker pace. Everybody’s a little uncomfortable. It’s not like you can just sit back and go through the motions. No cruising, cruising is over! We’re on the field a lot less time but, when we’re on the field, they’re getting their money’s worth out of us.


A point of emphasis this year is to allow no contact downfield. The refs are enforcing it now but do you think it will last into the regular season?

Amani: I hope it does. When I first came into the league that was how they called it. There was no contact but I guess over the last few years, they got kind of lax on that rule. Maybe the Competition Committee felt it wasn’t that important but now the league numbers for passing and scoring are down so much, I think last year was the lowest since 1993. So, I think they want to bring those numbers back up because that’s what brings excitement to the game.


Do you think they will also call offensive pass interference as strictly?

Amani: I don’t know. I’ve seen the flow go both ways. Sometimes they call it more on offense and sometimes they call more defense so I just don’t know. It seems that they want the defensive contact to be called more now. I don’t know if I got called last year for offensive pass interference but I got called a lot one year.


You’re wearing diamond studs this year. Is this a new look for you?

Amani: Yeah. I just wanted to look a little different. I have had my ears pierced but just decided I wanted to put them in again.

Has T.U.R.F. been incorporated into the Amani Toomer Foundation?

Amani: Let me explain. T.U.R.F.(Toomer's Urban Recreation Fund) is the first initiative of my foundation. (Amani Toomer Foundation) The Foundation really is about after school programs, getting kids something constructive to do between the hours of say 3 P.M. and 6 P.M. when their parents get home from work. We want to keep them active and busy in positive ways. You learn a lot of social skills in playground activities so we feel that's an important part of their development.  With T. U.R.F. we're going to try to build as many playgrounds as we can in the New York City area. We have two planned that should be ready by September 13th, the opening day of school. Due to the success of T.U.R.F. we have the funds together to build those two playgrounds. One is in Rockaway, Queens and one is in Brooklyn. Those are the communities in the City that don't traditionally get a lot of money-it doesn't reach the outer boroughs. We're trying to target areas where there is no place for kids to play with supervision. We have jungle gyms and swing sets and all kinds of things for the kids. There are benches for the adults to sit and watch over them.


You just launched a new project, Studio 81, didn't you?

Amani: Studio 81 is an idea that the event planner for our Foundation came up with. The idea is to get die-hard Giants' fans to come out and listen to a conversation between former and present Giants. You really get an insight on how the game has changed in the last couple of years.

For our first event we had L.T., Harry Carson, O.J.Anderson, myself, Shockey, Tiki, Jesse Palmer, Strahan and Eli Manning, so we had a good mix. This is something that's never been done before with three different generations just talking football. There was a good dialogue between Strahan and L.T. that was priceless and they actually played together for one year. I learned a lot there by just listening to L.T.

There were about 175 people and it was fun for everyone involved. We've gotten a lot of great feedback. Fans were able to ask as many questions as they wanted, and there was no media there, so it was really an honest exchange.

Jay Glazier,who works for FOX, was the mediator and he kept things going. Jay wouldn't let anyone hold anything back. He gives everything he's got.

Since everyone involved was very enthusiastic about it, we'll try to do it again, maybe with some different panelists next time. We really feel we're giving the Giants' fans something different from the usual black tie event.

It was a great night and we raised quite a bit of money for the Foundation. Every bit of money, after we paid for the space and various things we needed to buy, goes directly to the Foundation. We want to get this money out into the parks.

In the future we plan to try to make it more accessible to the average fan...

nterview with Amani, 8/07/04, Training Camp, Albany, NY., joint Giants-Jets practice:

You've only been here one week. Are you satisfied with the progress?

Amani: I don't know because we don't know that this really means. We don't know how it's going to translate. The test is going to be against Kansas City, our first pre-season game. We'll see where we stand and how good our team is then.


Can you compare Manning and Warner?

Amani: I think they're both doing well. It's not my decision.


After last year, how good do you think the offense can be?

Amani: I think we can be really successful. I mean we have a lot of good players like we did last year but we need to find a way to put it all together on the field. We'll see. I think we have all the ingredients but we figured out last year that ingredients aren't what makes the team win. It's how well we play together.

How long does it take for a good rhythm to develop between you and the quarterback?

Amani: That's a tough question because you never really know. You only know when the game is going on and things are going really smoothly. Then, you can think you have a rhythm and you come on tough times and you don't have it.


Do you think you're there yet with Warner and Manning?

Amani: I think we're getting there but were not there yet. There are a lot of little things we have to work on-different routes and going against different defenses. Once we have that, then I think we'll be there.


Are you looking forward to having the Jets come in tomorrow?

Amani: I think we're all excited by going up against someone different. It's a little closer to a real game and I think all the guys are looking forward to it. It's not only that we've been playing against the same guys for a week but we had three mini-camps and the quarterback camp. It's been a long time since we've seen somebody new so it will be a welcome change. We did this once before with the Patriots, the year they won the Super Bowl.


What do you think of the emphasis on no holding downfield?

Amani: It just depends on how they call it. If you're running down the field and they're jockeying for position, it's a situation where if they call it, it could be a big advantage. If they don't call it, it won't have much impact on the game. You know what they say, "Offense is what makes people buy tickets." That's what the NFL wants. Now, they are going to be enforcing the rule which is good for us. It's easy to call it in practice and even in the pre-season but when the games start, we'll see how it will be called. Not only that, but when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter, will they keep calling it? I don't know. I do know the referees are doing the best they can . They are probably the most consistent of any referees. With baseball and basketball referees, you don't know what they're calling half the time.


Do you think they will also be watching the wideouts more carefully to see if they push off?

Amani: I think most of what the wideouts do is in reaction to what the defensive backs do. They're the bad guys.

Read About Amani's trip to help the Tsunami victims
J. Ethan Medley, NY Giants

Giants' Warner and Toomer Arrive in Indonesia
Day 2 - Warner and Toomer Visit Indonesia
Day 3 - Warner and Toomer Visit Indonesia
Day 4 - Warner and Toomer Visit Indonesia
Toomer Arrives in Sri Lanka, Warner Returns
Day 6 - Chiefs Richardson Joins Toomer in Sri Lanka
U.S. FOOTBALL STARS KICK OFF CAMPAIGN IN SRI LANKA TO HELP TSUNAMI SURVIVORS
Day 9 - Heading Home
EIGHT DAYS

NFL Players to Assist Tsunami Relief with WFP, 2/2/2005

Washington, DC - Two of the NFL's leading football players, New York Giants' quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Amani Toomer, are traveling to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia this month to help the United Nations World Food Program in their work to feed hungry families there.

The World Food Program (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and feeds average of 90 million people each year across the globe. In Indonesia and Sri Lanka, two of countries hardest hit by the tsunami, WFP is feeding more than one million people.

“We are thrilled to have the help of the National Football League, the NFL Players Association, and these two great players in raising awareness about the critical work we do in Asia, as well as the rest of the world,” said Judith Lewis, WFP’s Director for US Relations. “Both Kurt and Amani will be lending their physical support to the people affected by the tsunami, but they will also be drawing attention to the needs of so many vulnerable families in other parts of the world.”

Both Warner and Toomer and their wives Brenda and Yola, respectively, will arrive in Indonesia on February 11 and will immediately depart for Banda Aceh, where they will visit some of the most devastated areas. While living in tents, they will help load C-130 aircraft and distribute food to families. The players will work on the front-lines alongside WFP staff, known worldwide for their excellent emergency response capacity.

The Toomers will also travel to Sri Lanka on February 16 to help pitch in with reconstruction work on that island nation. Currently, WFP is helping feed more than 850,000 people in Sri Lanka, with a large logistics network spread throughout the country.

Lewis noted that the Warners and Toomers would take back their experience on the ground in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and help draw attention to the millions of hungry people, particularly children, who go to bed hungry in other parts of the world, including Africa and Latin America.

Today, more than 800 million people are undernourished, including more than 300 million children.

NFL players have been active with the WFP throughout the tsunami crisis. The Indianapolis Colts donated $50,000 and a further $60,000 was raised by fans at a game between the Colts and the Denver Broncos on January 9. Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb volunteered their time to record a commercial for WFP, which aired during the NFL playoff games in January. The commercial was shown during five playoff games, with the airtime, valued at millions of dollars, donated by the NFL.

Both players are available for interviews prior to their departure on February 9. Both Toomer and Warner are available in New York City. Contact Jordan Dey at 202-653-0010.

Visit our website: www.wfp.org.

They Come to Mobile Senior Bowl 2005
by Gail Bahr

They all come here.  All the finest pass through Mobile.

They come, representing the best their school has to offer this year; at times the best their school has ever offered.

They come, to be weighed, measured and categorized.  They stand around in drafty rooms, clad only in under shorts, feeling vaguely foolish, while men with serious miens talk about them in undertones. 

They come, to answer questions like, “Who would you rather be, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?”

But most of all, they come to lay it all out on the field.  All the hopes of years, all the dreams, all the anxieties meet here in Mobile.  This week, this game is THE BIG GAME, but even larger than the game will be the practices. Draft status is enhanced or damaged beyond repair here at Mobile.  For every player there are a half dozen scouts and coaches, all scrutinizing the smallest detail of each player’s game.  How they stretch will be examined and analyzed; how they move in drills will be discussed; the most minute details will be argued even before practice begins.

Michigan has sent 48 young men, all swallowing hard, all with damp hands, to the Senior Bowl and the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster includes for the year 1996, “Amani Toomer, WR.”

Amani, too, passed through Mobile enroute to the New York Giants.  He, too, arrived with a suitcase full of dreams.  Dreams that Amani says went back to his childhood.  Dreams that began as vague notions of doing great and wonderful things.  In time the child’s dream gave way to a young man’s aspirations.  At De La Salle and later at Michigan the dreams grew and took shape as the NFL became first a likelihood, then a probability, and eventually a fact.

So, Amani had to come here, too.  He came to show that he belonged in the top echelon of college receivers.  He came to place his dreams in the hands of the men who would weigh and scrutinize and evaluate him. 

He came, confident in his ability, confident he could demonstrate that he belonged in the NFL, not as a hanger-on but as an important element to a team’s success.  And his confidence, his hard work over the years paid off. 

He practiced and played well at Mobile. 

He practiced and played very well at Mobile. 

Well enough to secure his selection as the 34th pick in the 1996 draft by the New York Giants.  From there he went on to break all the Giants’ franchise records for a wide receiver.

But it all began here, in Mobile.  Here, where the dreams became reality.

Except from Inside Football, 1/1/05:

We've heard varying reports about how badly he's (Amani)really hurt, with some claiming he actually has a slightly torn hamstring. From all indications, kudos must be given to Toomer for trying to play through what's obviously a very limiting ailment.

Another Slow Day in the Newsroom by Gail Bahr

What to do? Let’s speculate. Does Shockey still have a bad foot? Is Ike too old and beaten-up? Has Amani lost a step?

But film review reveals that Shockey cuts and pivots freely, something not usually possible with a bad foot. Look at tapes from five years ago and Ike looks the same. Never exceptionally fast, he was and is crafty with the same spin move away from defenders.

Amani?

Get serious.

Toomer, the Giants franchise wide receiver, is one of the most disciplined and best-conditioned players in the NFL. At age 30, he has years to play if he chooses. If you doubt that, consider Jerry Rice.

It’s true that Shockey, Ike and Amani have had some drops recently. Has anyone considered why? Or is leaping to conclusions easier?

After playing for years (two in Shockey’s case) with Kerry Collins who delivered a rocket, they had to adjust to the softer, slower ball thrown by Kurt Warner. Now it’s Eli’s turn and he is delivering a hard, quickly thrown ball.

Three different deliveries in less than a season.

Timing between a quarterback and receiver isn’t a notion; it’s a reality. And timing takes time. It does stretch the credulity to think that in Eli’s first game, Amani, Ike and Shockey all lost it.

Though each will say he should have caught the dropped balls, Eli Manning indicated during the game that he was responsible for the miscues. It doesn’t much matter who is right and who is wrong. All that is history and a history that all involved will move beyond in the next weeks.

What does matter is that the receivers are now getting reps with Eli during the week and these gaffes should begin to resolve.

Giants’ fans applauded Manning as he left the field after losing his first game. They appreciated the fact that he hung in there and improved as the game went on and that there was hope for further improvement.

Hope for years and years of improvement.

It does seem that the players who have been getting the job done for years should be extended the same courtesy.

But if speculation is what’s needed, here’s speculation.

The lame, old and slow will become young, fleet and sure-handed as they, with Eli, grow together.

Amani RECEIVES the AMERIQUEST NEIGHBORHOOD MVP AWARD, 11/15/2004:

Ameriquest and the NFL are proud to present Amani Toomer of the New York Giants as the fifth weekly recipient of the Neighborhood MVP Award. Click here for MORE!

COACH TOM COUGHLIN, Nov 3, 2004

Q:  How is Toomer?

A:  He is going to be fine.  He is a little sore, but I was very impressed with his eagerness to play and participate and to put the injury aside.  He didn’t want to have any restrictions in the game.  He just wanted to go play the game.  I was very impressed by that and his determination, if you will, to not be held out of a game because of an injury.  


Q:  With his type of injury, is that a delicate balance that a coach has to deal with because the player wants to play?  Theoretically, a receiver makes his living with his legs.  Is that a delicate line you walk in that situation?  

A:  It is, except the player has to have a real strong feeling for his ability to play.  It’s not just, ‘yeah, I would like to play, but I can’t walk.’  It is not one of those deals.  In the case of Amani, his was strained, it was not pulled, it was strained.  We felt good about his progress.  He never lost strength, which was an indicator right away.  He was sore.  The soreness diminished as the week went on.  He strengthened, he improved.  And so therefore, when he was tested, not only did he have the will to play, but he proved it.  He demonstrated at pregame and the medical people agreed with his summation that he could play.  And he even could play, they felt, if he was to play a play and then take three or four off and then play again; he could play under those circumstances as well.  


Q:  Basically what you are saying is that the player has to be truthful with you because we saw in Moss that if he was not ready to go, he could aggravate it even further and lose more time?
 
A:  Absolutely.  Not only that, as I explained to Amani late in the week last week, it is not only a decision about that one individual, it is actually two players that you lose because you have to put somebody down.  


Q:  Would you put into words how important Amani is to the offense?  

A:  Well, we need everybody.  Amani’s contributions are quite obvious.  He is an experienced veteran, fast receiver who wants the football.  He has done an excellent job blocking, as has Ike Hillard.  Their minds are in the right place.  They really are determined, and when he comes into the huddle it is a real positive thing.  It is also important for the development of the younger guys – for Taylor to watch those veteran players and how they perform and how they practice and that type of thing.

Michael Eisen interview with Tom Coughlin, 10/29/04

Neither Hilliard nor Toomer has complained about not scoring. They seem just as happy to make a big block down field. Are they good team players and are they helping out in other ways? Coughlin: "Yes. We have had outstanding run blocking by our wide receivers. They take good pride in it. They have done an outstanding job and they're reinforced for it. I have been very pleased with that aspect of our game. Both of those guys have made critical blocks at critical times. And to be honest with you, if you really want to take a look at it, it's Amani Toomer that springs those go-screens, too. It is not just the running game; he is the key block on both Ike's go-screens and Tiki's."

Tom Coughlin: News Conference October 29, 2004

Q:  What can you tell us about Amani?

A:  He did some today, he took individual and took a few snaps in practice…obviously he’s not able to flat out just turn around and sprint, but it’s pretty good progress…he does have good strength as I said before…so it’s day-to-day.

More...

Amani's New Stat

Amani has now moved into eighth place among active players with 89 games
with at least one reception. His streak of 89 games is a Giants franchise
record.

Excerpt from Inside Football

WR Amani Toomer: Toomer only had two catches for 50 yards. Detroit is not
that strong in the secondary and injuries have made them even weaker. But
they still respected him as for much of the afternoon, Dre' Bly followed him
wherever he was on the field. The one that hurt most occurred with the
Giants trying to drive late in the game.

Faced with a third and four nearing the two minute warning, Toomer ran a
streak route down the right sideline. He had two steps on Bly, but the ball
was slightly over thrown and fell just beyond his outstretched hands.

Athens Revisited by Gail Bahr

The concept of athlete as icon is nothing new. It dates back at least to the Ancient Greeks, with winners of the Olympiad ennobled to mythic proportions.

More than 2000 years later, those athletes from long ago have become part of our language and mythology. What child hasn’t thrilled to the story of Phidippides, the world’s first marathoner, who ran 26 miles to Athens to herald the Greek victory over the Persians on the Plain of Thermopile?

In modern times, children as well as adults still see their sports’ heroes as role models and seek to emulate their behavior both on and off the field of play. However, some of these “role models” have proven themselves to be unworthy of our esteem. And, unfortunately, these few malefactors are the ones who receive most of the media coverage and attention.

But there are athletes worthy of our admiration. Usually doing their work quietly, they seek credit for their team rather than focusing it on themselves.

Amani Toomer is such an example.

He is one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL.

But less well known and ultimately more important he is a man of compassion, actively involved in community affairs. He created The Amani Toomer Foundation to provide opportunities for underprivileged children to participate in organized team and individual sports.

As Amani expressed it, “My main interest is helping out kids. They're at an age where they can go the right way or the wrong way. I try to get them on the right path through athletics or anything else that gets kids off the streets."

Toomer’s good works have not gone entirely unnoticed. Both for his excellence on the field as well as his dedication to helping others, in 2003 Amani was awarded the Giants Walter Payton Man of the Year award. In the same year, he was selected as the Giants Man of the Year for his ongoing and extensive efforts to better lives in the New York community.

In 2002 Toomer was feted at a ceremony and banquet at the Sheraton New York Hotel. Amani was awarded one of the inaugural Hometown Heroes Awards, presented by the United Way Of New York City, for his charitable endeavors.

Amani Toomer doesn’t disappoint.

On the field.

Or off the field.

Excerpt from Inside Football, 10/11/04:

WR Amani Toomer: Toomer caught a deep in route on the Giants first possession of the game faced with a third and 15.  This was a big play helped by Tim Carter, who cleared out defenders deep down field.  Toomer made a quick out move before bursting over the middle.  Late in the third quarter he ran a 15-yard out pattern in front of cornerback Jacques Reeves.  This is the route we saw so often last year from Toomer -- he runs 17 yards downfield before bursting to the sideline.  The key to his move to the sideline is he angles his way back to the line of scrimmage.  As the game progressed it was Warner and Toomer continuing to hook up and they successfully challenged the rookie…

Let's focus on one play which sealed the victory.  The Giants got the ball back from the Cowboys with over five minutes to play in the game. They decided to play it very aggressively throwing the ball on first and second down.  The result was two incomplete passes.  This took very little time off the clock and resulted in the Giants faced with a key third and 10.

The Giants lined up Barber wide to the right with Amani Toomer to his inside. They ran the wide receiver screen with Barber catching the pass as he was coming back to Kurt Warner.  As Barber caught the pass, Toomer laid a perfect block on Roy Williams, who was covering Barber, and the defender assigned to block him, essentially took two defenders out of the play and left open real estate for Barber to break it open.

Excerpt from Inside Football:

WR Amani Toomer: Not as much from a statistical prospective for Toomer but he made the most of his chances. Actually he would have had a much bigger game statistically if Warner found him on a number of occasions when he was open down the field, but he did not.

Amani caught a pass in his 87th consecutive game

Excerpt from E-Giants, by Dave Klein:

"Toomer’s five catches added up to 126 yards, and a few of the receptions were downright acts of poetry -- as were some of the pin-point passes thrown by Warner. "I think our offense is finally building an identity," Toomer said. "We are offensively aggressive. You can’t load up on our running game or our passing game because we are balanced. Kurt is really putting the ball in places where we can catch it. I am really happy in the way he can buy a little extra time and get the ball out." 

Excerpt from Inside Football:

WR Amani Toomer: Toomer had two early catches on the Giants second drive of the game. On the first, he ran a 15-yard in route and got underneath the safety. On the second, he found himself in the left slot, a position he seldom plays. This time the personnel move had an immediate impact, as Toomer took advantage of the mismatch and made in the grab on a flag route. The reason for this blatant mismatch is because the slot receiver often lines up across from the "nickel back". The flag pattern is where the receiver heads straight up the field, then bursts to the corner of the end zone. Late in the third quarter, Toomer ran down the left sideline, past the cornerback and the safety, and made the diving grab. 

Excerpt from BBI:

Amani Toomer finally got in sync with Warner and had a big day (5 catches for 126 yards). Toomer caught 63 yards of that in two plays on the Giants’ first scoring drive of the game. Toomer’s best catch was his over-the-shoulder grab of Warner’s 38-yard pass on the Giants’ second touchdown drive of the game.

Stats from the Cleveland Game (9/26/2004):

Amani caught five passes for 126 yards, the 20th regular season 100-yard game of his career, extending his own team record. It was the first 100-yard game by a Giants receiver since Toomer had 110 yards against Buffalo on 11/30/03. The Giants are 11-9 in games in which Amani has 100 yards or more.

His five catches increased his career total to 433 and enabled Amani to pass Tiki Barber for the franchise's career lead.

His 47 yard reception was the longest of the season and he has caught a pass
in 86 consecutive games.

Giants-Redskins game: Excerpt from Inside Football: 

WR Amani Toomer: When the Giants needed to move the chains in the second half and couldn’t do so on the ground, they looked to Toomer, who faced two very good corners in Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs.

Toomer did a nice job of separating from the defenders on a number of occasions, despite tight coverage.

Guard Barry Stokes and rookie running back Chris Douglas were placed on injured reserve.

Wide Receivers (6): Amani Toomer, Ike Hilliard, Tim Carter, Jamaar Taylor, David Tyree, Willie Ponder.
Quarterback (3): Kurt Warner, Eli Manning, Jesse Palmer.
Running Backs (2): Tiki Barber, Ron Dayne
Fullback (1): Jim Finn
Tight Ends (3): Jeremy Shockey, Visanthe Shiancoe, Marcellus Rivers.
Offensive Linemen (9): Luke Petitgout, Shaun O'Hara, David Diehl, Chris
Snee, Wayne Lucier, Ian Allen, Jason Whittle, Brandon Winey, Greg Walker.
Defensive Linemen: (8): Michael Strahan, Keith Washington, Norman Hand, Fred
Robbins, Osi Umenyiora, William Joseph, Lance Legree, Mario Monds.
Linebackers (6): Carlos Emmons, Barrett Green, Nick Greisen, Kevin Lewis, Wes Mallard, Reggie Torbor.
Defensive Backs (10): Will Allen, William Peterson, Shaun Williams, Omar Stoutmire, Brent Alexander, Terry Cousin, Frank Walker, Jack Brewer, Gibril Wilson, Curtis Deloatch.
Specialists: (4) Jeff Feagles, Todd France, Ryan Kuehl, Avion Black.

New York Giants
38th Annual Kickoff Luncheon

On September 1, 2004 the New York Giants held their 38th annual Kickoff Luncheon at the Sheraton New York Hotel. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit The John V. Mara Cancer Research Unit of St. Vincent Catholic Medical centers, St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan and the John V. Mara CYO Camp. Six players were honored for their endeavors in the 2003 season. Michael Strahan was honored as team MVP, Amani Toomer was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Will Allen was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year, David Tyree was named Special Teams Player of the Year, and Osi Umenyiora and David Diehl were honored as Rookies of the Year.

Amani on Eli Manning's first start in the preseason:

Playing against a defense of this caliber is a good thing for him. I think he handled it really well. In the beginning they were trying to bring a lot of pressure. And after they figured out that he could handle the pressure, they stopped, and they started changing up their coverages a little bit. So I think he proved to the other team that he's a real quarterback. He's a bona fide guy.

New York Giants’ fans on Amani:

As a player I think Amani’s awesome.  He’s been around and doing the job for a long time.  I love the way he plays the game.  He comes every week to play.  He should go to the Pro Bowl.  He deserves it; he’s been shafted.  As a person, from what I read on his web site, he’s doing wonderful things in New York for the kids.  I thought about going to Studio 81, but then I saw the price and it was out of my range.  I go down for the games and I would have loved to go down to Studio 81 with all my friends.    Danny, Section 111

Amani’s a great player, very hard working and he’s very friendly.  I think his chances of going to the Pro Bowl this year are better than any other year.  The last couple of years he has really earned it and this year I think he has a really good chance of going.   Dan J.

Amani’s definitely awesome.  If the ball is up there, he can get it, no matter what.  I think he should have been in the Pro Bowl the last two years.     Rudy W.S.

Amani’s a real good player and he definitely will make it to the Pro Bowl.  Shane S.

Amani’s a good player, a good receiver, the best receiver on the Giants and he’s Pro Bowl material.  I hope he makes it this year.    Brian Z

I think Amani’s a fabulous player, the best wide receiver on the Giants.  It’s 100% that he will get to the Pro Bowl by the time he retires and I think he has a pretty good chance this year.  David R, 16 yrs old

I think he’s a great receiver and somebody we need for the NYG.  He’s one of the best receivers in the league     Pete C

I think he’s great catching and one of the best receivers the Giants have ever had.  He’s a receiver they can always go to.  Name unknown, 14 years old

Amani’s great!   George G, age 7

Amani’s really good.  He will go to the Pro Bowl someday.  Frankie O., age 7

Amani is a very good receiver and he probably will go to the Pro Bowl.  Shaun S, age 10

I think Amani’s a great player.  I go to a lot of Giants’ games and he catches the ball that I want to see him catch.  He helps the Giants win the game.  In my eyes he is a great player and should be in the Pro Bowl someday.  Chris  Q, age 12

He’s great!  I think he has a chance of going to the Pro Bowl someday.  Jack C, age 11

I think Amani’s one of the best receivers in the NFL.  He plays hard and he catches the ball when he’s supposed to.  He’s a guy you can’t lose. He should, I hope, get to the Pro Bowl.  John H.

Amani talks about training camp

What is a typical day at Camp Coughlin like for you?

Amani:  I get up around 7AM, eat breakfast about 7:15 AM, get taped and go out and catch balls for about 10 minutes.  Practice begins at 8:40AM and goes to 10:40AM.  Then I go in the cold tub, stretch, ice and go eat lunch.  After lunch, there’s the media time.
In the afternoon, after we meet with the media, we go to a special teams’ meeting at 2:30 PM and at 3:20 PM we’re back on the field for practice until 5:20 PM.  After that I go back to the cold tub and stretch again.
We have a special teams’ meeting at 7 PM and an offense/defense meeting from 7:30-9:30 PM.  Then we go to sleep.  We have to be in the room by 11PM.
And that’s our day.

Do you get any days off?

Amani:  Sunday we have the morning off.  We have to go to brunch and then there’s a meeting at 3 PM.

Is this camp significantly different from Coach Fassel’s camp?

Amani:  Coach Fassel used to give us Wednesday nights off.  After practice, from about 5 PM to11 PM we would be off.  We don’t have that anymore.  We’ve been going every day although we did get the evening off after the Jets scrimmage till 11 PM.  But, other than that, we haven’t had a night off.

Amani on learning of Mr Tisch's inoperable brain cancer

I hope he feels better and I hope that everything works out for him. I really just hope he gets better soon.

A Discipline Within a Discipline
by Gail Bahr

 NFL players must be disciplined, focused, detail oriented and, of course, determined to succeed.  But most of the good players have these traits, leaving unanswered the question as to what separates the good from the great.

Amani Toomer is considered one of the top wide receivers in the NFL and certainly he embodies the traits of discipline, focus, attention to detail and desire to succeed.

Yet perhaps one needs to look further for an explanation of how he separated himself from the pack.

Amani became involved in Kung Fu during his second season in the NFL and has often said that absolute focus is required in this discipline.  It requires that Amani focus on the movements involved and attend to the smallest details of each motion.  The proper positioning and use of the hands is critical to success in Kung Fu.

Even with his football background, Amani said that he had to build up his strength even more for some of the movements, such as the Horse Stance, which he was required to hold for five minutes without faltering.

If you ask Amani, he will credit Kung Fu with improvement in all facets of his play as a wide receiver.

Former Giants' quarterback, Kerry Collins, often remarked that Amani has blindingly quick hands and is able to locate balls and make catches that are amazing.   Others on the team have noted that he has outstanding body control, something not often seen in a wide receiver as tall as Amani.

Again, Amani points out that body control and precise use of hands are essential in Kung Fu.

It appears that Amani learned the lessons of Kung Fu well because he earned and was awarded his black belt early in 2003.

Perhaps the discipline of Kung Fu, within the broader discipline of football, is what enabled Amani to separate himself from the merely good wide receivers and to take his place among the elite.

Perhaps not. 

But it makes one wonder, doesn't it?

Training Camp 2004

It's July and training camp opens in just a few weeks.

As Giants' fans know, our off-season involved a myriad of changes, from coaches to players.  Even the off-season strength and conditioning program was changed and I have found the changes exciting.  It was fun to go in each morning and work out.

I believe, as does everyone associated with the Giants, that the changes are more than cosmetic and will return us to contention. Fans have asked me if I think we can be competitive after such wholesale change and my answer is absolutely, I do.  We've had the off-season to work together as well as the mini-camps.  With a whole training camp in front of us I don't see any reason why we can't incorporate the new offensive and defensive philosophy and be ready to play good, exciting Giants' football by the time training camp is over.

Last year it was thought we might be Super Bowl contenders and we came up very short.  This year many are writing us off and I believe we will surprise again, this time in a more positive way.

So, if you are near Albany, I hope you will spend a day or two at training camp.  The facilities for fans are excellent.  Many of the bleachers are under big shade trees and fans can get autographs by standing at “autograph alley” after practices. I enjoy getting the chance to talk with fans for a few minutes so I hope you'll show up and support our efforts.  You're the reason we‘ll be there.

Amani

State University at Albany

July 30-August 25

From Washington Avenue enter the campus at University Drive and head south 3/4 of  a mile to Dutch Quad parking lot (public) and one mile to Recreation & Convocation parking lot (Giants/VIP).

Practice schedule:
 (subject to change)

2004 NFL Draft