Tom Coughlin broke out his old favorite slogan today, saying "Talk is cheap, play the game." And he insisted that trash-talking is "not the way we choose to operate" around the Giants.



Apparently a few of his players missed the memo.



They not only fired back at the talkative Jets today, they did it in back page-worth fashion. Brandon Jacobs slapped them down for trying to make themselves think they're better than they really are, and Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks took turns taking shots at Darrelle Revis.



So yes, the Battle of New York is all fired up on both sides now. But as far as the Giants are concerned, this one game won't determine who owns the town.



"They're going to need a hell of a lot more than this game to make that happen," Jacobs said.



Jacobs, not surprisingly, fired first, taking aim at the chirpy Jets and their blustery head coach. Asked why they talk so much, Jacobs said "I think they're trying to put something in people that may not be there. Sometimes I say things like 'Man, maybe this won't happen, but I'm going to make myself believe it.' He's trying to put something in people's minds that might not really be there."



His teammates weren't nearly as blunt, but you could tell they were tired of all the noise coming out of the Jets' practice facility in Florham Park, N.J.



"It goes in one ear and out the other," said guard Chris Snee. "People tell me what's being said in the other camp. I just laugh. I don't care. We play on Saturday at 1."



Added defensive tackle Chris Canty: "Our game is played on the field. It's not played in the locker room during media time."



Obviously not everyone could resist the temptation, though -- especially the receivers who clearly didn't like the idea of playing a supporting role to Revis this week. When Hakeem Nicks was asked if he thought Revis was the best cornerback in football, he had a long, dramatic pause, looked away, and then said "He's decent."



He did later call him "great," but insisted their battle would be "even". And it will be a battle, because the Giants have no intention of avoiding Revis just because of his talent and reputation.



"Teams aren't really scared (of him) anymore," Cruz said. "He's got to earn his money this year. Teams aren't really backing down. I feel like we're going to do the same thing. We're going to go out. Until he physically stops us we're going to throw the ball on him."

