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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- After missing the playoffs the past four seasons, the New York Giants have a right to be optimistic.The NFLs worst defense has been bolstered by off-season signings. The offense returns most of its players after a solid season. And there is a belief that new coach Ben McAdoo can step in for Tom Coughlin and return the Giants to their recent glory years.It was all there to see on Thursday as the Giants reported to training camp. That is until McAdoo noted that defensive tackle Damon `Snacks Harrison is going to start camp on the physically unable to perform list because of swelling in his knee.McAdoo said the injury is not serious, but it certainly put a damper on Day 1.Harrison signed a five-year, $46.25 million contract to be in the center of the line. Now he is injured, and one has to wonder whether injuries are going to get the Giants yet again.Linebacker J.T. Thomas (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jay Bromley (ankle) also are starting camp on the PUP list.McAdoo said their injuries also are not serious. Well see.If the Giants can stay healthy, their talent is deep enough with the signings of defensive end Olivier Vernon, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, linebacker Keenan Robinson and the re-signing of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, to get them to the postseason.We talked to the expectation with everybody. Our goal is still to put the fifth (Lombardi) trophy in the case, McAdoo said after meeting with the team. The other thing we addressed is that it is just words right now. We have to go out there and put the work in and earn it.While the Giants have posted consecutive 6-10 seasons, they were not that far off last year. They lost six games either late in the fourth quarter or in overtime.Guard Justin Pugh said this is the most talented team he has been on in in his four seasons with the Giants.Im very confident in this team he said. I think where we were at last year, we lost some crucial games down the stretch, and I think we should have been in last year. I think we missed some big opportunities last year to go to the playoffs, and I think that obviously that is the goal. I am very confident with the guys in this room and the locker room, that were going to be successful this year.Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr., are focal points of the offense, but the potential increases if Victor Cruz can return after missing most of the past two seasons, rookie receiver Sterling Shepard lives up to the hype, and the O-line can open some holes for running back Rashad Jennings and company.This team can be really good, Jennings said, by paper and by talent that we actually have on this team. So speaking especially from the offensive standpoint, going into Year 3, we have high expectations and this will be a disappointment if we dont complete what we are looking for.The defense is expected to make the biggest improvement. Vernon gives the Giants one of the leagues top pass rushers, and the hope is JPP will be able to do more now that his mangled right hand has had more than a year to recover from the July 4, 2015 fireworks accident.Pierre-Paul insists his hand is fine. He wont have to use a club-type glove on it this season, which might help. He added he had one offseason procedure to help heal the hand.He hedged for a second when asked about the potential of the defense.We have to see, he said. I know people have high expectations and they should. As a defensive player, you should have high expectations.Second-year safety Landon Collins said it took half a season for the unit to have confidence in coordinator Steve Spagnuolos new defense. Finishing ranked last left a chip on their shoulders.You put it behind you, you dont think about it, but you know you were 32 in the league and now youre just pushing to be top 10 in the league, Collins said. Thats our biggest thought.So is getting to the playoffs.I liked the look in their eyes. McAdoo said. They were hungry to get going. They were chomping at the bit, like I am. Its a good place to start.---NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Jordan Roland Jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Nike NBA Jerseys 2020 . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheapmlbjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Nike NFL Jerseys 2020 . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Nike MLB Jerseys . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. The Bottom 10 inspirational thought of the week:They met on the dance floor in the old high school gym, He fell like a rock, she kinda liked him. And his heart beat like thunder, as they moved cross the floor, When the music was over, she slipped out of his arms, and out the door.So close, yet so far away. So close, yet so far away. We believe in tomorrow, maybe more than today. Were so close, so close, yet so far away.-- So Close, Hall & OatesHere at Bottom 10 headquarters, located in the guest room of the penthouse Brent Musburger rents to store all of his old network blazers, we do a lot of looking live, but were not usually looking live at the games to which the rest of the nation is looking live.Thusly, on Saturday we were honed in on Rutgers at Minnesota. Thats where the Scarlet Knights had trailed 21-0 in the first quarter, but stormed back with a chance to tie the game at 24-24 midway through the third quarter ... but missed the PAT. Then they had a chance to tie the game at 31-31 early in the fourth ... but failed on the two-point conversion. Then they finally took the lead 32-31 with four minutes remaining ... but surrendered a 13-play, 59-yard drive. In the middle of it all was a backbreaker third-and-1 play when the Gophers ball carrier looked stopped, but spun and spun and spun like the + button on his controller was stuck ... and he broke a 9-yard run to set up the game winning field goal with 6 seconds left to play.So close, yet so far away.Seeking some sort of writerly symmetry, I reached out to the man who wrote those lyrics. Daryl Hall was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, became famous in Philadelphia and currently resides in New York. A life lived within the gravitational pull of Rutgers. So surely he could relate, right? Mr. Hall politely requests you get off of his property, said a security officer at the gate of Daryls house, where I could hear him singing with, I think it was Michael McDonald. Mr. Hall says to tell you the rules are the same here as they were that time you jumped onto his bus outside of Dorton Arena in Raleigh in 1986. You creep him out. Go away.So close, yet so far away.With apologies to Oates and Steve Harvey, heres this weeks Bottom 10.1. FA(not I)U?(1-6)The Owls stumbled against the Fightin Byes of Open Date U. after officials called for a late clock runoff. This week its a visit from Western Kentucky, which according to the mysteriously accurate ESPN Stats & Information department FPI formula has an 86.5 percent chance of winning. In a related note, that same FPI formula gives our Bottom 10 Stats & Info department a 1.2 percent chance of understanding how the FPI formula works.2. Rice (1-6) Speaking of FPI, why are we even wasting it on games that dont matter? Because here at Bottom 10 HQ theres only one game that matters, and thats the Nov. 5 Pillow Fight of the Century, aka the Owl Bowl, when FA(not I)U visits Rice. As of right now, FFPI says Rice has the edge with a 62 percent chance of winning, but also says that the rest of us have a 100.dddddddddddd.8 percent chance of winning simply because the game is being played.3. Buffalo Bulls not Bills?(1-6) Should either of the Owls get their acts together, the MAC East stands ready to fill the breach. Or spill the bleach. The first round of the one-and-somethings MACtion bunkhouse stampede got underway last weekend when previously 13th-ranked one-win NIU housed previously eighth-ranked one-win Buffalo 44-7.4. Bowling Green (1-7) Meanwhile, previously seventh-ranked one-win Bowling Green lost to previously 12th-ranked one-win My Hammy of Ohio 40-26. Now currently fourth-ranked one-win Bowling Green will travel to currently 16th-ranked two-win NIU, but not until next week on the night after Halloween.5. Houston (6-2)How was the week in Houston? To quote Ricky Bobby, Well, lets see. I got mauled by a cougar ... Wait, I am a cougar. ... I got mauled by a Mustang, I didnt get invited to join the Big 12, and my Crystal Gayle shirt is ruined. Other than that, it was great.6. Fres-no State (1-7) Its Pitchfork Season in the Bottom 10 and the latest team to run their coach out of town is Fresno, who fired Tim DeRuyter. During Mondays Championship Drive podcast, Ivan Maisel threw out some names of potential coaching candidates, including former Fresno bench-warming QB Lane Kiffin. As soon as we were done recording the pod, I immediately wrote a letter to Santa saying I wanted to change the first item on my wish list from an Evel Knievel action figure to Lane Kiffin becoming the head coach at Fresno State.7. Kansas Nayhawks?(1-6) You can always tell its time for Halloween when cable television channels start filling up their programming calendar with horror movies. For example: Kansas at Oklahoma and Kansas at West Virginia.8. I-Ow!-A State?(1-6) A friendly warning: Assuming we all come out of the Owl Bowl with our wits still intact, we need to immediately brace ourselves for what comes the very next weekend, when Iowa State travels to Kansas for the Auntie Em Bowl.9. UMess?(1-7) Two weeks ago, UMass surrendered 690 yards to Louisiana Tech. On Saturday, South Carolina scored more than 20 points for the first time this season. The Minutemen are the best thing to happen to improving male performance since ... well ... since a joke I cant write here without being fired.10. In a Rut-gers?(2-6)The Knights host Open Date U. this weekend. Curiously, FPI gives the Fightin Byes a 42.7 percent chance of winning.Waiting list: EC-Yew (2-5), Feeling Ill-inois (2-5), Marshall (2-5), My Hammy of Ohio (2-6), State of Kent (2-6), NI-Whew (2-6), San Jose State (2-6), UL(not L)M (2-5), commenting that a team is cheating and refusing to comment on those comments. ' ' '