Toomer comes up big again for Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. — New York Giants players refer to Amani Toomer during their locker room banter as G. O.A. T.

Anyone needling Toomer might use the moniker to suggest he is an “ old goat” because he turned 31 in September and is marking a decade with the Giants, who drafted him in the second round in 1996.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey insists, though, that the reference is a term of endearment.

“ He’s the greatest of all time in Giants receiving,” Shockey says. “ He’s an exceptional player, and it’s a pleasure to playwith him.”

Toomer ranks as the franchise’s career leader in receiving yards ( 7,321) and catches ( 488). At the same time, he’s been rankled by his diminished role since Tom Coughlin became head coach before last season.

The Giants signed Plaxico Burress as a free agent during the offseason. The idea was that he would emerge as Manning’s primary target, which is what happened. If Burress is blanketed, Shockey is breaking free. The tight end was recently rewarded with a ve- year contract extension.

As for Toomer, his streak of 98 consecutive games with at least one catch abruptly ended in the season opener against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. Just as he was probably wondering if he would ever again be a signi cant part of the game plan, opportunity knocked Sunday.

He had a team-leading eight catches for 62 yards, including a 2yard grab with ve seconds left that capped a 15- play, 83- yard drive and helped rally the Giants to a 2423 win against the Denver Broncos.

New York will take a 4- 2 record into an early NFC East test Sunday against the visiting Washington Redskins. And Toomer feels a whole lot better about life with the only pro team he has known.

“ It was hard,” he said about his relative lack of involvement before this, “ but it’s hard to be upsetwhen you’re winning.

“ You just wait for the K ow of the offense, and now that I’ve made some plays, and we’ve both made plays together, I think that’s how the whole team wanted to use us both together, with Shockey and Tiki ( Barber) aswell.”