But you’d have to think the Giants were happy with the way the man wearing no. 88 played for them.
That man was Hakeem Nicks, who was tied for first among rookie receivers with Minnesota’s Percy Harvin with 790 receiving yards and tied for second in the league (also with Harvin) among rookies with six touchdowns (behind Indianapolis’s Austin Collie, who had seven).
Nicks, who caught 47 balls and had a 16.8 yards-per-catch average, was in Thibodaux last week as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy.
He also took some time to work with Giants quarterback Eli Manning in preparation for training camp and the 2010 season, which could be even more of a breakout year for the former first-round pick (29th overall) out of North Carolina.
Nicks (6-foot, 215 pounds) was the fifth receiver taken in the 2009 draft and put together a stellar preseason in which he caught nine balls for 272 yards and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard grab.
He missed two games early in the season before finishing as one of the top rookies in the league. Nicks showed his big-play ability in the regular season with catches of 68, 62, 58, 54 and 45 yards.
It was reported he had toe surgery in the offseason and was battling a wrist injury.
“I had ups and downs in my first year in the NFL, but it was a great experience,” Nicks, a Charlotte, N.C., native, said. “It was a great learning season for me. I have a year under my belt now, and I am just looking forward to this season.”
With Nicks, third-year receiver Mario Manningham and fourth-year man Steve Smith, Nicks said the young trio is there for Manning when he looks to them.
“As a group of receivers, we just want to make plays and be accountable for ourselves,” Nicks said. “We want to be there for Eli when he needs us. we want to get the timing down with him and make sure we are at the top of our game to be the best we can be.”
Nicks also spoke highly of former Assumption High star and current Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who rushed for 835 yards and five touchdowns last season.
“B.J. is my homie. B.J.’s real cool,” Nicks said. “He loves his hometown. he has been working hard to get right this season, and he’s looking forward to the season just like everyone else.”
Nicks said giving back to the sport he loves is important to him.
“It’s been great to get down here and be a part of this (Manning Passing Academy) tradition,” Nicks said. “I am all for football camps and helping kids out. I just wanted to come out here, enjoy myself and have a good time with the kids, and work with Eli a little bit.”
<a href="http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100715/ARTICLES/100719635/1032?Title=Nicks-shines-in-rookie-year-with-Giantstag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100715/ARTICLES/100719635/1032?Title=Nicks-shines-in-rookie-year-with-GiantsThu, 15 Jul 2010 15:37:42 GMT 00:00″>Nicks shines in rookie year with Giants
