David

Diehl

Diehl finished out last season at left tackle, but William Beatty returns there and the Giants have open competitions at left guard and right tackle. Diehl can play any of those spots. “Competition only makes me better and makes me have a stronger mindset,” Diehl said. “Do you think I’m going to let somebody come in and take my job from me, take away my chance to provide for my daughter? Over my dead body will I let that happen.”

Beatty was facing long odds of returning this season after undergoing surgery last Thursday. It’s a big blow to a Giants line that made a struggling Saints pass rush look good on Monday evening, and again failed to get any push in the run game. For now, David Diehl will serve as Eli Manning’s blindside protector. Beatty is signed cheaply through 2012, but the Giants may look for an upgrade in the draft. He was incredibly inconsistent in 10 starts.

Diehl played with the hand broken for two months, but didn’t miss a start and never even appeared on the Giants’ weekly injury reports. He was the Giants’ left tackle from late November on, kicking outside from left guard after William Beatty’s eye injury. The Newark Star-Ledger speculates that Diehl will play right tackle in 2011, replacing free agent Kareem McKenzie.

Diehl never appeared on the injury report, but the broken hand almost certainly affected his leverage in pass protection. Of those who pointed out that he was often overmatched on Eli Manning’s blindside, Diehl said, “Let them say what they want to say, but I have two Super Bowl rings to show of what I’m capable of doing.”

It’s a major concern for Eli Manning because Diehl was struggling to pass protect at left guard. He’ll now be Manning’s blind-side tackle. The Giants should be able to overcome Diehl against a struggling Saints pass rush, but there’s little doubt that New Orleans DC Gregg Williams will test Diehl relentlessly with blitzes. Beatty is potentially out for the year with a detached retina. He underwent eye surgery on Wednesday.

Per WNBC TV’s Shimon Prokupecz, Diehl was arrested on 35th Avenue in Queens and held at the 114th precinct. Diehl reportedly refused a breathalyzer, necessitating his arrest. His BAC level was 0.18 on a blood test, and he’ll appear in front of a Queens judge on Monday morning. The 31-year-old has no history of off-the-field problems. If found guilty, he could still face a short suspension.

The NFL is reportedly pushing for harsher punishment for DUI arrests, but most first-time offenders are subject only to a fine under the league’s current substance-abuse policy. If Diehl were to draw a one-game ban, it would be just the fifth game he’s missed since 2003.

Per the criminal complaint, Diehl was spotted at 8:20PM Sunday attending to an accident involving his 2011 BMW. Diehl’s car had damage on the front-right side, and officers observed “a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and (Diehl) to be unsteady on his feet.” A breathalyzer revealed Diehl’s BAC content to be 0.182 -- over twice the legal limit. His next court date is July 26, which is also the first day of Giants training camp.

Diehl has spoken face to face with commissioner Roger Goodell since the incident, and the first-time offender won’t draw league discipline, aside from perhaps a fine. After struggling on Eli Manning’s blind side filling in for William Beatty last season, the 32-year-old Diehl has moved to right tackle for 2012.

Asked to shed light on Bradshaw’s nebulous injury, Coughlin offered only a one-word response: “neck.” We are not expecting him to play after missing Tuesday’s practice. Andre Brown is a good bet to lead the backfield in touches versus the Panthers.