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Giants Cancel Remaining OTAs Due to Poor Air Quality

The team will next hit the field next week for their mandatory minicamp.

Patricia Traina

Giants Cancel Remaining OTAs Due to Poor Air Quality
Giants Cancel Remaining OTAs Due to Poor Air Quality /
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The New York Giants canceled their remaining two OTA practices that were to be held Thursday and Friday at their East Rutherford headquarters because of the poor air quality in the area resulting from the Canadian wildfires.

The team had originally planned to work inside its field house, which is climate controlled. However, after further assessing the situation, there was enough concern about the haze and smoke seeping into the field house, which would create hazardous conditions for athletes going through high aerobic activities.

"We just felt it was the right thing to do," head coach Brian Daboll said during an unplanned media session. "We'll let this settle out and come back next week [for minicamp]."

The Air Quality Index in East Rutherford was at 198 at the time the decision was made to cancel the practice, an index that is considered"unhealthy," An AQI of 200 is considered "very unhealthy."

The Giants made their three coordinators available to the media before canceling the practice. However, as the players had already been dismissed, any scheduled player availability was canceled as the veterans had already completed their day while the rookies remained for meetings. 

“I’m going to listen to the people with a bunch of initials next to their degree," Daboll said of the decision to cancel practices, noting that there were no plans to make up any of the planned work lost due to the cancelations.

The Giants wrap up their off-season program next week with a two-day, on-field minicamp Tuesday and Wednesday. Then on Thursday, Daboll said there are plans for an organizational event rather than a third day of practice before the team is sent on its way for the break before the start of training camp on July 27. 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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