Toomer Still a Force for Giants

Toomer Still a Force for Giants

f you were to aptly name Giants wideout Amani Toomer in the vein of an old action movie, Chuck Norris' 1979 thriller “A Force of One' would seem quite appropriate.

For with Michael Strahan contemplating retirement and Tiki Barber having already embraced it, the twelve-year veteran rates as the only remaining player from the team's 2001's Super Bowl contending squad. And, coming off a injury ravaged 2006 season that figured largely in the team's first-playoff round and out finish, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Toomer seems as intent as ever on returning both himself and the Giants back to their one-time elite status.

“ Going to the Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl, that is what I want” says Toomer, who needs just 26 catches to replace Barber as the team's all-time leading receiver. “I still haven't achieved my goals.”

Certainly, if the Giants are to come anywhere near the plateaus they've set for themselves in this all but make-or-break season, quarterback Eli Manning realizes Toomer will need to be completely healed from the career-threatening back injury of a year ago.

“We definitely need him to have a big season,” says Manning. “He's a guy we have faith is going to get open, run the right route, fight for the ball, be competitive and be in the right situation.”

Still coach Tom Coughlin has given every signal he plans to usher his star receiver back into the fold slowly. Toomer played nary a snap in the team's 24-21 preseason-opening loss to Carolina.

“Coming back from the injury that I came back from, there will always be doubts,” confesses Toomer, who estimates he's about 90 percent recovered. “But as long as I don't have any doubts, it really doesn't matter.” 

Only to Manning, Coughlin and the Giants. And for each of them, that's a good thing.

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