Bewerbungen » 01-97 victory over the Brooklyn Ne

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Mathias Kiwanuka is going back to being a defensive end for the New York Giants -- and as a starter. Kiwanuka was thrust into the role earlier this week when Jason Pierre-Paul had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. "Theres no doubt in my mind," Kiwanuka said, when asked whether he was confident he would be able to step in for the Giants most dominant player on defence. "Thats the position I came into this league playing and Im looking forward to the opportunity. Obviously wed love to have him back and Im sure hell be back ready to go at a certain point. "Were not gonna rush him back for any reason." The Giants dont expect Pierre-Paul back until late in training camp. Coach Tom Coughlin hopes to have him for Week 1, although that might be pushing it. Until JPP is ready, though, Kiwanuka isnt a bad option. Starting isnt anything new for him. The question for the former Boston College star and 2006 first-round pick has always been where he would play. He has 62 career starts -- 31 as a defensive end and 31 as a linebacker. There is no doubt Kiwanuka is a better defensive end, but the Giants have had a plethora of ends with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Pierre-Paul through the years. As a result, Kiwanuka took one for the team and used his versatility to play linebacker, so the team would have its best players on the field. When Umenyiora signed with Atlanta as a free agent in the off-season, defensive co-ordinator Perry Fewell and Coughlin decided to move the 30-year-old Kiwanuka back to end on a full-time basis. Fellow starting defensive end Justin Tuck knows Kiwanuka is looking forward to having his hand back in the dirt. "I think hes going to be kind of like a sleeper at the beginning of the year because a lot of people tend to forget that hes a pretty good defensive end," Tuck said. "Im obviously excited to have him back in that room and I know hes pretty excited about it." Defensive line coach Robert Nunn said that while the loss of Umenyiora was part of the reason for switching Kiwanuka, he also said the constant switching from linebacker to end frequently left "Kiwi" a little uncomfortable on the field. He finished last season with just 37 tackles, three sacks, nine quarterback hits and eight hurries. "Its been a long road for me. Ive been starting at multiple positions," said Kiwanuka, who missed most of the 2010 season with a neck injury. "Ive been up and down and back and forth. Moving around and changing . thats not the big deal to me. The big deal for me is going out there and making sure that I do my job correctly and when I get the opportunity, I make the best of it." With Kiwanuka in the starting lineup, the Giants are going to need some of their younger linemen to step up. Third-year pro Adrian Tracy has improved and the Giants are very high on Damontre Moore, the third-round draft pick out of Texas A&M. "We have plenty of talented guys. Lets step up and go," Coughlin said. "There are more opportunities for younger guys. We need them. There it is, you can see it. Competition is looking right at you. You dont even have to go any further than the first game. So that is the way I would look at it -- opportunity." There has to be some concern about Pierre-Paul, who wasnt as dominant as he had been in 2011 when he had 16 1/2 sacks. Opponents double-and-triple teamed him more and it cut his sack total to 6 1/2. The 24-year-old also had 87 tackles, an interception, seven passes defended, a forced fumble, 17 quarterback hits, 23 hurries and 14 tackles for losses in his so-called off season. Safety Antrel Rolle said teammates knew Pierre-Paul was playing hurt. He also wasnt surprised by the surgery, which was done after non-surgical therapy failed. "I knew he was dealing with this for quite a period of time," Rolle said. "But JPP is a fighter so he wanted to be out there with his guys and fight through pain. But its better to be smart in this game, instead of letting it linger." ---- NOTES: Coughlin still doesnt know why WR Hakeem Nicks is skipping the voluntary OTAs. The two have not talked. ... The Giants have a mandatory three-day minicamp next week. .... CB Terrell Thomas, who tore his ACL for the second straight season, is going to be used as a combination nickel back and safety this season.Vlade Divac Lakers Jersey . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/anthony-davis-lakers-jersey/ . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Lance Stephenson Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Tyson Chandler Lakers Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.MONZA, Italy -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and the Italian Automobile Club have reached an agreement to keep the Italian Grand Prix in Monza for the next three years.While the deal hasnt been officially signed yet, Ecclestone says its a matter only of small details at this point.He adds, The contract is only for three years but I hope we will be here for another 100.The deal is reportedly worth 68 million euros ($76 million), slightly less than the 25 million euros ($28 million) per year Ecclestone requested.ddddddddddddNo circuit has hosted more F1 racing than Monza, which was on the inaugural 1950 calendar and dropped off only in 1980 when Imola hosted the Italian GP. ' ' '