Coughlin checking tape

Posted: August 21, 2012

TOM COUGHLIN talked about the usual pros and cons after watching the video of the Giants' preseason win over the Jets, and the report on injuries to running back Ahmad Bradshaw and rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley seemed OK.

What the Giants coach had a problem with Sunday was a video of Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul throwing second-year cornerback Prince Amukamara into an ice bath at training camp at the University at Albany. It was tweeted by punter Steve Weatherford before Saturday's 26-3 win over the Jets, and it contains some inappropriate language.

The incident also could be considered either hazing - although that's odd for a second-year player - or even bullying. Some might explain it as camp bonding, but Amukamara doesn't look amused.

Neither was Coughlin.

"I'm learning about that today," Coughlin said. "I really didn't have any information about that until maybe an hour ago, an hour before this conference call. I'm going to look into it; I'm going to talk to the parties involved."

It was not clear whether Coughlin had seen the video of Pierre-Paul carrying a non-resistant Amukamara through a hallway as teammates followed, some shouting inappropriate comments. Once Pierre-Paul reaches the ice tubs he seems to fling Amukamara into the water.

The cornerback gets out of the water quickly but the look on his face suggests he is upset.

"Anything that occurs within this family or within our group should not be a part of any social media aspect," Coughlin said. "I'm going to address that strongly, and I've spent a little time on that this preseason, but I'll look into it further."

Giants players were off Sunday.

Amukamara told the Star-Ledger of Newark after the game that he was confused getting thrown into the bath since he was no longer a rookie, but he said: "I know it's all love. Yeah, no one ever likes it, especially when it's you vs. eight and no one's helping you. But it doesn't mess up our team morale or anything."

While the video attracted the most attention Sunday, the good news for the Super Bowl champions was that Bradshaw seemingly has only a bruised right hand after it hit a helmet and popped a cyst on his hand in the process.

Hosley, who made the biggest play of the game returning a second-quarter interception 77 yards for a touchdown, has a case of turf toe on his right foot. It was in a cast after the game.

Coughlin was not sure how long linebacker Mark Herzlich (hip pointer) and defensive end Adrian Tracy (minor hamstring) would be sidelined.

Noteworthy

* The Washington Redskins received a double dose of encouraging news when MRI exams showed that the injuries suffered by linebacker Brian Orakpo and safety Brandon Meriweather during Saturday night's preseason loss at Chicago were not major, according to people familiar with the test results.

The MRI results took some of the sting out of a disappointing first-half performance by the starters during a 33-31 loss to the Bears. Orakpo left the game with an injury to the area around his left shoulder and Meriweather exited after hurting his left knee.

According to agent Ben Dogra, who represents Orakpo, the MRI taken Sunday by Orakpo showed the injury to be "nothing serious at all." Dogra expressed confidence that Orakpo will be in the Redskins' lineup when the regular season begins Sept. 9 at New Orleans, adding: "He will be ready for the opener."

Meriweather's MRI revealed no serious damage to his knee. The Redskins, who are scheduled to return to the practice field Monday, did not provide an official update about either injury.

*  Titans linebacker Gerald McRath will have season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee. The 3-year veteran tried to play through the injury during training camp, but coach Mike Munchak said Sunday that McRath had decided to have the surgery.

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