Giants Place Mario Manningham, Trindon Holliday on IR
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham isn't going to get a second chance with the New York Giants, and neither is backup quarterback Curtis Painter.
The Giants on Saturday placed Manningham on injured reserve along with fellow receiver Trindon Holliday, and released Painter in reducing their roster to the NFL's 53-man limit.
Three other members of last year's team _ fullback John Conner, running back Michael Cox and receiver Julian Talley _ were among the 22 roster moves.
Manningham's legacy with the Giants will be his spectacular, late fourth-quarter sideline catch to ignite the Giants' win over the Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl.
He was re-signed after playing for San Francisco, but he had offseason knee surgery followed by a poor training camp. He injured a calf in the preseason finale against New England on Thursday, sealing his fate.
A former Bronco, Holliday was signed by the Giants in the offseason with the hope that he might star in the return game. He injured a hamstring early in training camp and did not play in a game.
The release of Painter means Ryan Nassib will be Eli Manning's backup.
``Ryan Nassib made big strides,'' coach Tom Coughlin said of the second-year player who threw for 588 yards and five touchdowns as New York went 5-0 in the preseason. ``I think that his third and fourth preseason games were outstanding.''
New York, which went 7-9 last year in missing the playoffs for the second straight season, also terminated the contracts of veteran tight end Kellen Davis and defensive end Israel Idonije.
Davis was a member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks last season. Idonije, an 11-year veteran, played for the Detroit Lions last season.
Also released were defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, defensive end Jordan Stanton; linebackers Dan Fox and Terrell Manning, cornerbacks Bennett Jackson and Chandler Fenner, safety Thomas Gordon, running back Kendall Gaskins, guard Jamaal Johnson-Webb, offensive tackles Adam Gress and Mark Asper. Offensive tackle Rogers Gaines was waived injured.
The Giants also received roster exemptions for guard Eric Herman and cornerback Jayron Hosley, who are suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy and substance-abuse policy, respectively.
Jackson, a sixth-round pick, was the only selection in the recent draft not to make the team.
``Even on a day like this where I have to let people go, when I see what the game means to certain players and when I see that, then I think there's hope, to be honest with you. I do,'' Coughlin said. ``Not just hope here, hope for everybody in this world because we're not going through the motions. They love it. They love what they're doing, they love the game.''
The Giants also announced Saturday that middle linebacker Jon Beason passed his physical and is ready to practice. He has been on the physically unable to perform list after breaking a foot in June at minicamp.
``You need that kind of dynamic leadership,'' Coughlin said. ``The guy loves the game, he loves to play it. He'll have the biggest smile on his face come Monday when he trots out there.''
Guard Geoff Schwartz, who signed a $16.8 million contract in the offseason, is on the active roster, but he will be sidelined for a while with a dislocated toe.
The final roster included a couple of players who overcame long odds to make the team, at least for now.
The biggest surprises were receivers Corey Washington and Preston Parker.
An undrafted rookie, Washington was released by Arizona in late May and made the final roster after catching four touchdown passes in the preseason. Parker made the team after being out of the NFL for a year.
``Preston's been around a little bit,'' Coughlin said. ``Preston also has the punt return/kickoff return ability. Right now that's very critical for us, because Odell Beckham was going to be the punt returner.''
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