Derrick Ward News

December in the NFL does not necessarily offer clues to January. Under Andy Reid, the Eagles ' goal has always been to get better as the regular season goes on, ideally peaking as the playoffs approach.

Dressed in every-day jeans with a simple gray fleece pullover, Eli Manning walked to the podium and started answering questions about the New York Giants' NFC semifinal against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With the second round of the NFL playoffs upon us, there are multiple aspirants to become last season's Giants, the team from nowhere that swept through the postseason to an improbable Super Bowl title.

It wouldn't be the NFC playoffs without some NFC East drama. That's where the media attention will be directed as the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants prepare for Round 3 against the Philadelphia ...

MINNEAPOLIS ? One thing about these Giants : They usually play exciting games, even when those games mean nothing to them in the scope of the upcoming playoffs.

In a locker room that has been full of smiling players lately, perhaps there's been no wider grin than the one that's constantly on Derrick Ward's face -- and for good reasons.

Raiders managing general partner Al Davis interviewed New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride on Saturday, according to an NFL Network report.

The media loves a great story, and when it comes to the New York sports scene in 2008, one story outshined all the rest.

When Mathias Kiwanuka and Derrick Ward think about the upcoming playoffs, the stress is on the first syllable: play.

Kevin Boss hasn't wasted any time making Giants fans forget Jeremy Shockey. Thrust into a starting role when the Super Bowl champions traded the disgruntled tight end to New Orleans on the eve of training camp, ...

OK, enough of this nonsense about tiebreakers and division records. It's time for business.

Amani Toomer was clearly uncomfortable answering questions about being an unrestricted free agent after 13 seasons with the New York Giants.

Derrick Ward has always set high standards for himself, but even he admitted yesterday he never would have imagined this.

Carr hits the ground running: Since there was no point risking an injury to Eli Manning, the Giants put backup quarterback David Carr in charge of the offense after halftime.

They feature splashy nicknames. Smash and Dash. The newly unveiled Double Trouble.

Award. This is Warda TMs first nomination this season, so by getting fans to vote for him at NFL.com/FedEx until 11 a.m. on Friday, they have a chance to give him his first win of the season and for the Giants ...

Cliff Louis was in the lobby of an East Rutherford hotel on a recent Sunday night, settling into his spot at the end of a semicircular couch in front of a big-screen television.

And apparently, he's also the softest. As in, the most emotional. After Derrick Ward picked up 5 yards on the second play of the third quarter, giving him exactly 1,000 yards on the season and making him and ...

New York Giants running Derrick Ward is the NFC offensive player of the week after gaining 215 yards on 15 carries in their 34-28 overtime win over Carolina.

Cornerback Aaron Ross is going to miss Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings due to a concussion, and the New York Giants have listed at least four other starters as 50-50 at best for what is a meaningless regular-season finale for the Super Bowl champions.

Tight end Kevin Boss (concussion-ankle) was listed as doubtful on the injury report and halfback Brandon Jacobs (knee), offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie (back), and defensive tackle Barry Cofield (knee) were questionable.

Ross, Boss, Jacobs and Cofield did not practice on Friday, while Cofield was limited in his participation.