NFL training camp is important for a lot of things, not limited to providing fodder for HBO reality television shows.
For the Giants, it's been an opportunity to prove that they are the team to beat in the NFL this year.
Despite dealing with a bevy of off-field distractions — Plaxico Burress' prison sentence, Eli Manning's hefty new contract — Tom Coughlin's troops have managed to emerge from camp even more confident than they were going in.
The case of Derek Hagan is particularly interesting as the Giants prepare to trim their roster down to 53 players. He put forth a strong effort during training camp, but given the fact that New York currently hosts a handful of wideouts and not enough roster spots, he may come out on the wrong end of cuts. But as the Giants look for an ample replacement for Burress, the New York Post claims they could find the surprise they are looking for in Hagan.
The Dolphins picked up the Arizona State product in the third round of the 2006 draft, and during his first two years in Miami, he racked up 50 receptions and three touchdowns before being released. New York picked him up toward the end of the 2008 season.
He has been known to drop as many balls as he catches — a reputation that he deems unfair, especially given his unexpectedly strong performance during training camp this year.
"I don't know what his reputation was or how he did or anything other than when he showed up at the end of last year and how he's done so far," receivers coach Mike Sullivan told the Post. "We're definitely pleased with his stamina, his toughness. He hasn't missed a day, a great effort player and made some pretty good catches and really shown a versatility, which will bode well for him."
Hagan believes that, given the opportunity, he is more than equipped to prove that his reputation is something that can be forgotten with one good season in New York.
"It's a great opportunity," Hagan told the Post. "I think I'm in the right spot, and I have the perfect opportunity to show everybody what I can do."
He's still a bit of a long shot to make the roster, but asserting his dominance as the Giants take on the Bears on Saturday certainly won't hurt his case.
