ALBANY, N.Y. - Giants coach Tom Coughlin has a plan. He assured his quarterbacks of that Wednesday when he jointly told Kurt Warner and Eli Manning that Warner would start Friday's preseason game against the Jets.
So, what's the plan?
"He didn't say," Warner said.
"I don't know what coach Coughlin's plan is," said Manning. "I know he has one."
All that is certain is that Coughlin has not deviated from his intention entering preseason to alternate starts "unless I definitively made a decision" about an opening-day starter.
Thanks largely to Manning's impressive rookie training camp, that has not yet happened, and Coughlin offered no timetable for when it might. He would not speculate about next week's preseason finale against the Ravens or the regular-season opener against the Eagles.
Unlike the first two preseason games, Warner and Manning both will play with the starting offense.
CARDINALS: Former Bears defensive end Joe Tafoya, a seventh-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2001, was one of three players claimed off waivers. The others are wide receiver Derek McCoy and linebacker Justin Smith, both cut this week by St. Louis.
FALCONS: Quarterback Michael Vick doesn't think his sore right hamstring will prevent him from playing Saturday night against Cincinnati. He practiced for the second straight day after missing Monday's workout because of tightness in his hamstring.
FORTY-NINERS: All-Pro linebacker Julian Peterson ended his holdout and signed a one-year contract. Peterson, designated the team's franchise player, missed the first 28 days of training camp because of contract issues. He signed a $6.073-million offer for this season. That represents the average of the NFL's five highest-paid players at his position.
PACKERS: Unable to develop a pass-rusher opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Green Bay signed former Giants defensive end Kenny Holmes, who participated in practice after arriving about an hour into the workout. Coach Mike Sherman said he hopes to have the 6-foot-4, 260-pound veteran play 10-12 snaps in third-down situations Friday night at Jacksonville.
RAMS: Cornerback Travis Fisher had surgery on his broken right arm but coach Mike Martz would not speculate how long the third-year pro may be sidelined. Fisher was hurt in Monday night's loss at Kansas City.
SEAHAWKS: Backup quarterback Trent Dilfer will make his preseason debut Friday night against San Diego, playing most of the second half. The former Buccaneer sat out Seattle's first two preseason games with back spasms. In other news, outside linebacker Chad Brown underwent successful surgery on his broken left leg. He is expected to miss the first four games of the regular season.
VIKINGS: The NFL rejected defensive end Kenny Mixon's appeal of a two-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Mixon, who hasn't missed a start since signing with the Vikings two seasons ago, will be eligible to return to the active roster Sept. 21.
