Giants 18, Patriots 17: Young Players Impress As Preseason Closes

The New York Giants closed out the preseason in comeback fashion, rallying to beat the New England Patriots, 18-17, at Gillette Stadium.

Down by 14 points, Da’Rel Scott opened the fourth quarter by rumbling 65 yards on a fake punt to trim New York’s deficit to 17-10. Later in the stanza, Derrick Martin recovered a Richard Medlin fumble and scored on an 11-yard return. A successful two-point conversion put the Giants by one with 9:40 remaining.

The Giants did not play their starters at all during the game and fell behind 17-3 while their second and third units played against New England’s starters for the first quarter of the game.

Here are some quick impressions:

— You have to feel awful for Clint Sintim, who ruptured the patella tendon in his surgically repaired right knee and will be out for the season.

— Young giants linebackers Jacquian Williams, Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger and Mark Herzlich were all impressive.

— The Giants have to find roster space for Da’Rel sScott, who now has touchdown runs of 97 and 65 yards in the preseason, and Andre Brown (21 carries for a hard-earned 68 yards Thursday).

— Jerrel Jernigan, the third-round pick from Troy, muffed another punt, bobbled a second one and dropped a pass. But, he also flashed his vast potential with a 42-yard return and brilliant catch on the game-winning two-point conversion.

The Giants have to cut five players today to reach 80. Saturday, all NFL teams have to reach the 53-man roster limit.

Clint Sintim Of Giants Wrecks Knee, Will Miss 2011 NFL Season

The injury bug that has plagued the New York Giants this preseason struck again Thursday night as linebacker Clint Sintim suffered a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee and will miss the 2011 NFL season.

Sintim suffered a torn ACL in that knee near the end of last season. The Giants reportedly believe that Sintim may have also turn the ACL again.

A second-round pick in 2009, Sintim was apparently quite emotional when he spoke briefly to reporters following the game.

“I knew as soon as I hit [the ground]. I knew,” Sintim said.

Head coach Tom Coughlin said simply “It’s bad.”

Sintim has not lived up to expectations with the Giants, having not yet been able to earn a starting spot. However, he had a good preseason prior to being injured and — with an inexperienced group of reserve linebackers — could have provided the Giants some depth and experience.

Now, though, you have to wonder if his career just went up in smoke.

NFL Preseason 2011: Giants Meet Patriots In Final Tuneup

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