On Sunday the Eagles removed the franchise tag from Corey Simon, who had refused to sign a one-year offer and did not report to training camp. The Giants were interested enough in his services to contact his agent yesterday, though it was unclear if they were a likely landing spot for him. "We haven't ruled out anybody," Simon said when contacted by The Star-Ledger last evening. "Right now we're just trying to figure out what's best for me. All I know is that the Giants are one of the teams that has spoken to my agent." Simon's agent, Roosevelt Barnes, did not return two messages left at his office. Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi declined comment when asked if the team was interested in Simon, saying only that "contact doesn't mean everything." The Giants, though, could use help at defensive tackle. Kendrick Clancy, signed as a free agent in March after five seasons with the Steelers, has been solid so far this preseason. But next to him is William Joseph, a former first-round pick who has been inconsistent in his first two NFL seasons. Fred Robbins, who started 15 games for the Giants last year, has slowly inched his way up the depth chart since working strictly with the third team early in camp. Damane Duckett and Kenderick Allen have also had impressive practices and moments. But the 28-year-old Simon, who was named to the Pro Bowl after recording 40 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks in 2003, would provide the Giants with a proven player capable of being a steady disruption in the middle of the defense. "I'm sure there will be thoughts about any player of that caliber that is in a position where he is a free agent," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after yesterday's practice. "(But) at this time I don't have any thoughts about that." The Giants might not be able to afford Simon, whose contract demands prevented the Eagles from trading him to the Ravens and Bengals. Both teams are reportedly among those currently interested in Simon. The 49ers, Bills and Packers are three other possibilities.

Eli Manning will not play in the New York Giants upcoming preseason match versus the New England Patriots this Thursday night and while the Giants are planning on Manning being ready for the Sept. 11 season opener, Manning?s sprained right elbow many not permit it. "The medical department is completely in charge of the rehab," Giants coach Tim Coughlin said. "What he is doing is he's now into the strengthening exercises, he's doing some soft toss, so he's going through the motion of throwing the ball. He's feeling good. They're very optimistic and they feel like he's on schedule."

As part of enhanced security implemented by commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NFL fans will be subject to pat-downs in 2005. "This new requirement is not a result of any specific threat information," Tagliabue said. "It is in recognition of the significant additional security that pat-downs offer, as well as the favorable experience that our clubs and fans have had using pat-downs as part of a comprehensive stadium security plan."

Vinny Testaverde is unsigned and available as a backup quarterback, but the Giants have shown no interest, according to Mike Azzarelli, Testaverde's agent. The Giants could use another backup, as Eli Manning is entering just his second season.

The New York Giants breathed a collective sigh of relief on Monday morning after team orthopedist Dr. Russell Warren diagnosed the injury to quarterback Eli Manning's right elbow as a sprain. Manning, in his first full season as the starter, will not play in Friday's preseason game against the New York Jets, and coach Tom Coughlin termed his status "week to week." "He has a sprain and a bruise to the inside of his elbow," Coughlin said, in relaying the results of Warren's examination. "It feels about the same as it did the other night and yesterday," Manning said Monday. "Just some soreness in there, but it's mostly in the muscle so that's a good sign. I'm going to take it week to week and see how it feels."

Acknowledging that the team is "very concerned" about the sprained elbow suffered by Eli Manning on Saturday night, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Sunday that the starting quarterback will require further tests to settle on a definitive opinion about the extent of the injury. Manning awakened Sunday with soreness and pain in the elbow, which was injured in the second quarter of Saturday's preseason game, when the New York quarterback was hit by Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers as he was about to throw a pass. Manning underwent an MRI on Sunday and, while Coughlin described the injury as a "sprain," he allowed that a full analysis will not be available until Monday, when team physician Dr. Russell Warren examines the elbow. "I'm very concerned," said Coughlin, who spoke to team trainer Ronnie Barnes, but not Manning, about the injury. "Any time you have a quarterback who has soreness in his elbow, there is concern about the injury. It's not like he just woke up and was out there throwing, and you were getting reports that there was nothing to it."

After tearing his pectoral muscle on Nov. 7, 2004, Michael Strahan's recovery has gone very well and the Giants' best defensive player should be at full-strength for the Giants season opener in September. "To be back out there, to just play and not feel any ill-effects of an injury, it gives me a great feeling," Strahan said yesterday, two days after his six-play cameo in Saturday's 17-14 loss to the Browns. "It felt different than practice. Getting out here to practice, that was one step. Now this was the next step. The regular season will be the biggest one."

The New York Giants' first preseason game is at Cleveland this weekend, but after last Saturday's brawl with the New York Jets they may be looking ahead to the teams' preseason game on Aug. 26 at Giants Stadium to settle some grievances. "There's going to be a lot of animosity, you can count on that," Giants linebacker Barrett Green said Monday. "In the preseason game, there's no question about the rules, there's no question about hitting people. They're going to get hit, hard." Saturday's joint practice with the Jets turned into a free-for-all when three Jets jumped Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey on the second play of a 9-on-7 drill pitting the Giants' offense against the Jets' defense. Later, Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson had a heated argument on the field over some hard hits made by Jets defenders.

Plaxico Burress didn't miss a single workout after hyperextending his knee during his first training camp practice with the Giants. According to the New York Post, however, another injury will definitely keep the receiver out. The Post reported Thursday that Burress strained a hip flexor on Tuesday night and was unable to work Wednesday. "It will be more than day-to-day, it will be a couple of days whether we can get a feel for if there's any improvement there," coach Tom Coughlin told the Post. Burress told the Post that although his hip feels sore because of too much running, he's not concerned. "The training staff is holding me out, I don't want to go out and do something stupid," he told the Post. "It's nothing real serious to worry about. I didn't pull it or tear it, it just feels uncomfortable."