Joe Horn Says Giants Used Him to Motivate Young WRs on Roster

On Monday, I admitted that I might've been off on the whole "the Giants will be fine without Plax" story line. New York has dropped two in a row and suddenly look very ordinary. And much of that has to do with there being no big-play threat on the field now that Plaxico Burress has been suspended for the rest of the year.

Evidently, I gave Domenik Hixon a little too much credit. And so did head coach Tom Coughlin. Which explains why the team put 36-year-old Joe Horn through the paces earlier this week. The Giants decided not to sign him -- perhaps because he's 36 years old -- and Horn took the news about how you might expect: he accused the organization of using of him.

[Horn] believes the Giants never had any intention of signing him, that they just brought him in to create some sort of "spark" among the young receivers they already have.

"I was told to pack my clothes because I may be staying," Horn told The Monty Show on Sporting News Radio earlier today. ... "However, before I could step in the locker room I had an itinerary with my flight back to Atlanta. The opportunity was there. I appreciate the organization and Coach Coughlin for giving me the opportunity.

But honestly I kind of felt like I was brought into give those young guys a spark to say, 'Hey, I know you've got a job, but you can be replaced.' So I think it kind of boosted and gave those young guys a spark to let them know that Joe Horn was there and their playing time could be taken if they don't get their act together."

Seems like a long way to go to encourage the young whippersnappers on the roster to give it their all, so on and so forth. Horn told the aforementioned Monty that he "had a great workout," although the New York Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano writes that although Horn didn't drop any passes, he "just can't run like he used to." You know, because he's 36.

Horn went on to say that he was "shocked" that the Giants didn't sign him, which says as much about New York's current crop of pass catchers as it does about Horn. (Not really) good news: there's still time to re-trade for Jeremy Shockey. Sean Payton would certainly listen to any offers.