The 2010 season was the New York Giants' 86th in the National Football League (NFL) and their first season playing home games at New Meadowlands Stadium. This was the Giants' seventh season under head coach Tom Coughlin. The Giants were looking to improve on their 8–8 finish in 2009 and to return to the playoffs after missing the postseason. Although New York was able to improve on their record and finish 10–6, the team was eliminated from postseason contention on the regular season's final day. The Giants dedicated their 2010 season to the memory of Bob Sheppard, the team's public address announcer from 1956 to 2005, who died on July 11, 2010.
Offseason
Transactions With the upcoming uncapped season in the NFL, several Giants players who expected to become unrestricted free agents will be restricted free agents. The first move of the team in the offseason was to renew some of the contracts of players who were on the practice squad. Also in the beginning of the offseason the team signed three new players: defensive back Courtney Brown, fullback Jerome Johnson and kicker Sam Swank. Swank will provide competition for Lawrence Tynes, the regular kicker of the team. On January 19 the team added tight end Carson Butler who was signed after being dismissed by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Giants continued to add players when on February 8 the team was awarded offensive tackle Herb Taylor via waivers. They released starting inside linebacker and defensive team captain Antonio Pierce on February 11. The team began to offer tenders to their restricted free agents in late February when all of them with the exception of cornerback Kevin Dockery and tight end Darcy Johnson were offered them. On March 5 the Giants made the biggest free agency acquisition of the year so far with the signing of safety Antrel Rolle to a five-year, 37 million dollar contract making him one of the highest paid safeties in NFL history. Following the signing of Rolle the team waived safeties Aaron Rouse and Londen Fryar. In early March the Giants lost their backup quarterback David Carr to the San Francisco 49ers and veteran defensive tackle Fred Robbins to the St. Louis Rams.
On March 9 the team signed quarterback Jim Sorgi to a one-year deal. Sorgi was the backup for Eli Manning's brother, Peyton, in Indianapolis since 2004 and was released in early March. On March 18 the Giants signed Australian punter Jy Bond. On March 22 the team lost another two players to the St. Louis Rams: tight end Darcy Johnson and cornerback Kevin Dockery signed with the team. On April 1, punter Jeff Feagles signed a one-year deal with the Giants making this his 7th season with the Giants and his 23rd season in the NFL. On the same day the Giants signed free-agent safety Deon Grant and because of it they withdrew the tender they offer to restricted free-agent C.C. Brown. On April 30, punter Jeff Feagles retired from the NFL as one of the greatest punters ever only after a month after renewing his contract. After the Rookie Minicamp, on early May, the Giants signed undrafted linebacker Micah Johnson to fill the 80-men roster for the offseason. On May 7 the team released undrafted quarterback Dominic Randolph and signed Riley Skinner to the spot as the fourth quarterback on the roster. On June 11 the team signed their first rookie, the safety Chad Jones, drafted in the third round of the Draft. To open space in the roster the team released the kicker Sam Swank.
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag Date signed/released 2010 team S Vince Anderson Released June 21, 2010 P Jy Bond Released June 21, 2010 Hartford Colonials (UFL) OG/OT Kevin Boothe RFA April 1, 2010 New York Giants TE Carson Butler Released June 21, 2010 New England Patriots S C. C. Brown RFA May 10, 2010 Detroit Lions DT Anthony Bryant Released April 12, 2010 Washington Redskins LB Lee Campbell Released June 21, 2010 QB David Carr UFA March 7, 2010 San Francisco 49ers TE Scott Chandler ERFA March 16, 2010 New York Giants LB Danny Clark UFA May 11, 2010 Houston Texans DT Barry Cofield RFA May 14, 2010 New York Giants CB Kevin Dockery RFA March 22, 2010 St. Louis Rams P Jeff Feagles UFA April 1, 2010 New York Giants CB Londen Fryar Released WR Derek Hagan RFA May 10, 2010 New York Giants WR Domenik Hixon RFA April 16, 2010 New York Giants CB D. J. Johnson ERFA April 16, 2010 New York Giants TE Darcy Johnson RFA March 22, 2010 St. Louis Rams LB Micah Johnson Released June 21, 2010 WR Sinorice Moss RFA April 14, 2010 New York Giants LB Antonio Pierce Released February 11, 2010 retired DT Fred Robbins UFA March 8, 2010 St. Louis Rams S Aaron Rouse Released March 6, 2010 Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) K Sam Swank Released DE Dave Tollefson RFA March 24, 2010 New York Giants RB DJ Ware ERFA March 15, 2010 New York Giants OT Guy Whimper RFA April 12, 2010 New York Giants LB Gerris Wilkinson RFA April 28, 2010 New York GiantsRFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
2010 NFL draft
After finishing the 2009 season with an 8–8 record, the Giants hold the 15th selection in the 2010 NFL draft. The team wasn't awarded with any compensatory pick for the past offseason. In the first round of the Draft, after seeing his top targets being picked by other teams, the Giants selected DE Jason Pierre-Paul with the 15th pick of the round, adding depth to the position. In the second day of the Draft the Giants bolstered even more his defensive line by drafting defensive tackle Linval Joseph with the 46th pick in the second round. Then in the third round, with the pick 76 the Giants drafted safety Chad Jones. In the third and final day of the Draft the team drafted four players. In the fourth round the Giants drafted linebacker Phillip Dillard, supplying the biggest need in the team after the departure of Antonio Pierce. In the fifth round the Giants drafted offensive guard Mitch Petrus, their only offensive player of the whole process. In the sixth round the Giants drafted Adrian Tracy, a versatile player who can play either as defensive end and linebacker. In the final round the team picked punter Matt Dodge after some reports saying that veteran punter Jeff Feagles is in the verge of retiring himself.
Undrafted free agents
Following the 2010 NFL Draft the New York Giants signed with twelve undrafted free agents. They were: WR Duke Calhoun (Memphis) DT Nate Collins (Virginia) DE Ayanga Okpokowuruk (Duke) C Jim Cordle (Ohio State) TE Jake Ballard (Ohio State) S Michael Greco (Central Florida) WR Victor Cruz (Massachusetts) OT Dennis Landolt (Penn State) QB Dominic Randolph (Holy Cross) WR Tim Brown (Rutgers) LB Lee Campbell (Minnesota) CB Seth Williams (Richmond)
Roster
Staff
Staff changes On January 4, 2010, the Giants fired first-year defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan after the Giants defense slipped as the team dropped 8 of their last 11 games and allowed 40 points on five occasions. On January 14 the team signed Perry Fewell, former interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills. On January 6, 2010, the Giants fired defensive line coach Mike Waufle, after a disappointing season by the Giants defensive line. On January 27 the team hired Robert Nunn to the position. Nunn was working as co-defensive line coach at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On January 29, 2010 the Giants quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer retired from the NFL to become the new head coach of the Hartford Colonials in the UFL. On February 12 the team moved wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan to quarterbacks coach. On February 12, 2010 the Giants moved wide receivers coach Mike Sullivan to quarterbacks coach. With this the team promoted offensive quality control coach Sean Ryan to the position. On February 22, 2010 the Giants hired Kevin Gilbride, Jr. to offensive quality control coach.
Staff 2010 New York Giants staff Front office President/CEO – John Mara Chairman/executive vice president – Steve Tisch Senior vice president/general manager – Jerry Reese Vice president of player evaluation – Chris Mara Assistant general manager – Kevin Abrams Director of pro personnel – David Gettleman Director of college scouting – Marc Ross Assistant director of pro personnel – Ken Sternfeld
Head coaches Head coach – Tom Coughlin
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Kevin Gilbride Quarterbacks – Mike Sullivan Running backs – Jerald Ingram Wide receivers – Sean Ryan Tight ends – Mike Pope Offensive line – Pat Flaherty Offensive line – Jack Bicknell, Jr. Offensive quality control – Kevin Gilbride, Jr. Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Perry Fewell Defensive line – Robert Nunn Linebackers – Jim Herrmann Secondary/cornerbacks – Peter Giunta Secondary/safeties – David Merritt Defensive quality control – Al Holcomb Pass rush consultant – Joe Kim
Special team coaches Special teams coordinator – Tom Quinn Assistant special teams – Thomas McGaughey
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jerry Palmieri Assistant strength and conditioning – Markus Paul
Schedule
Preseason The Giants preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010. The exact dates and times of the remaining preseason games were announced on April 20, together with the regular season schedule.
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 August 16 8:00 p.m. EDT at New York Jets W 31–16 1–0 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 2 August 21 7:00 pm. EDT Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–24 1–1 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 3 August 28 7:30 pm. EDT at Baltimore Ravens L 10–24 1–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 September 2 7:00 pm. EDT New England Patriots W 20–17 2–2 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap
Regular season
The Giants' 2010 schedule was announced on April 20, 2010.
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 September 12 1:00 p.m. EDT Carolina Panthers W 31–18 1–0 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 2 September 19 8:20 pm. EDT at Indianapolis Colts L 14–38 1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 September 26 1:00 pm. EDT Tennessee Titans L 10–29 1–2 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 4 October 3 8:20 pm. EDT Chicago Bears W 17–3 2–2 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 5 October 10 1:00 pm. EDT at Houston Texans W 34–10 3–2 Reliant Stadium Recap 6 October 17 1:00 pm. EDT Detroit Lions W 28–20 4–2 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 7 October 25 8:30 pm. EDT at Dallas Cowboys W 41–35 5–2 Cowboys Stadium Recap 8 Bye 9 November 7 4:05 pm. EST at Seattle Seahawks W 41–7 6–2 Qwest Field Recap 10 November 14 4:15 pm. EST Dallas Cowboys L 20–33 6–3 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 11 November 21 8:30 pm. EST at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–27 6–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 12 November 28 1:00 pm. EST Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–20 7–4 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 13 December 5 1:00 pm. EST Washington Redskins W 31–7 8–4 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 14 December 13** 7:20 pm. EST** at Minnesota Vikings W 21–3 9–4 Ford Field** Recap 15 December 19 1:00 pm. EST Philadelphia Eagles L 31–38 9–5 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 16 December 26 4:15 pm. EST at Green Bay Packers L 17–45 9–6 Lambeau Field Recap 17 January 2 4:15 pm. EST at Washington Redskins W 17–14 10–6 FedExField Recap
COLOR KEY & NOTES:
Bold indicates division games. Indicates that the game time was rescheduled from December 12 to December 13 and moved to Ford Field in Detroit due to inclement weather and the roof collapse of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers