Head coach John Harbaugh has introduced a new tradition to the New York Giants' training camp: special patches worn on the left side of the players' jerseys to honor earned accolades or milestones. This practice originated with Harbaugh in 2008 during his first year as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
"They are kind of an honoring of the military award medal type things," Harbaugh said Thursday after practice. "Then there’s other things you’ll see as we go, once we get the games going," he added, noting that Pro Bowl selections and "different kinds of game awards" will eventually be represented on the patches.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas was observed wearing two distinct logos on his white rectangular patch. One sword design references his single playoff appearance with the Giants, while a graphic depicting a muscular arm holding a Giants hammer and a red star signifies his participation in the spring workout program.
During practice, quarterback Jaxson Dart completed his first 10 passes in team periods on Wednesday, a day when the offense reportedly dominated. However, the second practice saw more challenging completions and increased defensive pressure.
Safety Jevón Holland expressed his enjoyment of the natural surroundings at The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. "It’s fun. I like being near trees and whatnot. Trees are my friend. I love it. So, I’m enjoying the atmosphere," Holland stated. Despite appreciating the environment, Holland admitted to being skeptical about venturing out after dark, citing local lore. "I heard about the Appalachian Mountains, Skinwalkers," he said. "I’m a bit of a conspiracy theorist. I asked the bus driver. I was like, ‘You heard about Skinwalkers?’ He was like, ‘I just let it go in one ear and out the other.’ So, that’s all I needed to know — not to go out at night."