INDIANAPOLIS — New York running back Ahmad Bradshaw and defensive end Osi Umenyiora continue to nurse a sore foot and ankle/knee injuries but both are expected to play Sunday in Super Bowl XLVI against New England.
Both were limited during Thursday’s practice on the University of Indianapolis campus. The rest of the New York Giants’ walking wounded — cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring), wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), and linebacker Jacquian Williams (foot) — all took part in the workout.
“We did fine,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after the practice session. “The energy level, the enthusiasm, the excitement is all there, as it should be, as it was yesterday. They’re really excited to practice for the game. I think they’ve done very well. This was a good day of preparation.’’
Bradshaw, who shares playing time at running back with Brandon Jacobs, tripped during one running play during the initial stages of the practice, but was able to finish the day without any issues.
“It looked like he tripped over the fullback’s foot,’’ Coughlin said later. “But he’s fine.’’
Eli sharp— Quarterback Eli Manning continues to have the hot hand. Manning’s passing has led the Giants to the doorstep of a second Super Bowl title. He looked good in Thursday’s practice.
In the final two first-unit offensive possessions, Manning completed 10 of 11 throws.The second possession was a two-minute drill.
No hotel switch— The Giants announced that they will not switch hotels Saturday night to a more secluded area. That’s not surprising. New York did the same thing in their last Super Bowl appearance four years ago.
Coughlin said he’s satisfied that the team’s current hotel, despite it’s location downtown, will be fine and allow players to get enough rest before the game.
The 0.6 percenter— After being fined $20,000 by the NFL for missing Wednesday’s media availability at the team’s hotel, Umenyiora lost 0.6 percent of his annual salary.
“It cost me a lot of money, I am sorry about that,” he said. “At the end of the day, I don’t really know what I could have discussed with you guys between Tuesday’s media day and Wednesday morning. It’s not like we had a practice or anything like that. I understand why they did it and I’m OK with it.”
Umenyiora said that he wasn’t surprised at the size of the fine.
“No, it makes sense. It makes sense because the NFL is a business, you understand,” he said. “Players are the product, and the fans are the customers. The only way that we can reach them is through you guys, the media, so we have to be responsible and speak to the people.
“If it was like a $1,000 fine or something like that, most of the people they will laugh at it. They wouldn’t even come downstairs and talk, but you make the fine substantial enough. it is going to make people want to show up.”
Still, it is $20,000 out of his pocket.
“Yeah, absolutely it is a big hit,” Umenyiora said. “I feed a lot of people. I am responsible for a lot of people. That money could have went to a really, really good cause. It is stupid to have to incur that type of fine for missing something as simple as this, but at the end of the day, I didn’t know it was mandatory.”
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