L.T. Rips Team, Loses Temper

This was one of the most bizarre days in recent Giants history.

It began when Lawrence Taylor showed up at practice to give the 0-3 team inspiration. He stretched with the players on the field, gave pass-rushing tips and met privately with the entire team for 30 minutes.

Several players say the meeting was wild, but not like the expletive-ladened one he gave last season in Houston. That speech must have helped because the Giants ended their seven-game losing streak by beating the Oilers. This meeting, the players said, was more personal.

Taylor first gave his support to them and then ripped former Giant Harry Carson, who said he was embarrassed by how the team was playing. Taylor told them he thought Carson was a hypocrite because Carson played on some bad Giants teams.

Taylor also chastised some of the players for not being leaders. Practically no one went unscathed. Several players said Taylor got on quarterback Dave Brown for “acting like a wimp sometimes.” He looked to Herschel Walker and, according to the players, said, “What have you done since you’ve been here?” He added that Walker should give back some of his signing bonus, which was $1.8 million. Walker apparently said nothing.

Taylor even got on linebacker Michael Brooks, one of the most vocal leaders on the team, saying he needed to do more.

Several Giants players say that Taylor ripped more into the offense than the defense, pointing out that veteran players, particularly on the offensive line, need to do and say more.

Taylor was more congenial about that part of the speech with reporters. “I’m not saying it’s a lack of leaders,” said Taylor, contradicting what players said he told them in the meeting. “They have four capable captains. Sometimes you just have to remind them that they can do it.”

Taylor watched the team’s 2-1/2-hour practice and then refused to speak with about 20 reporters. This led to an expletive-filled exchange between Taylor and Ernie Palladino of the Gannett Suburban Newspapers in view of the entire team.

Palladino, who is 5-foot-5 and weighs 162 pounds, did not back down. Taylor, who is 6-4, 243 pounds, grabbed Palladino around the throat. Reporters stepped in and separated the two.

Later Taylor, who had earlier pushed the camera of a newspaper photographer, apologized and offered Palladino a jacket given to him recently by John Madden for making the 1993 “All-Madden” team. Palladino accepted the apology but declined the jacket.

Jets ailing

Starters Johnny Mitchell and Gary Jones will miss the New York Jets’ game at Atlanta on Sunday, and could be out for longer.

Mitchell, the team’s most experienced receiver, missed the last two games with a strained back muscle. An MRI exam revealed no structural damage, but the tight end will not play against the Falcons.

The injury occurred during a practice earlier this month.

Jones, signed as a free agent after playing four seasons as a backup in Pittsburgh, has torn cartilage in his left knee. The Jets are considering arthroscopic surgery for Jones, a safety who missed last weekend’s victory over Jacksonville.

Rookie Kyle Brady, the team’s No. 1 draft choice, will start at tight end.

NFL hearing delayed

Today’s scheduled hearing in federal court on the NFL’s $300 million lawsuit against the Cowboys was canceled.

The league, which is still going forward with its suit against the Cowboys over “ambush marketing deals,” said the team would not file its own lawsuit in New York federal court without advance notice.

Therefore, the NFL and the Cowboys saw no reason to go before U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin.

“The only issue scheduled to be discussed (today) concerned the status of the court’s temporary restraint barring the Cowboys from filing lawsuits of their own outside of the New York Federal Court,” the NFL said.

Woodson optimistic

Rod Woodson keeps hearing he’s out for the season. Woodson refuses to believe it.

The All-Pro cornerback, who seriously injured his right knee on Sept. 3, is so hopeful of returning this season that he’s talked coach Bill Cowher into keeping him on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ active roster.

Cowher told Woodson he would wait at least three weeks, until the injury can be further analyzed, before the Steelers make a final decision.

If the Steelers put Woodson on injured reserve, he could not be reactivated this season.