GIANT NOTES

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place, but it very nearly struck the Giants twice in different places.

At training camp in Albany this summer, a bolt exploded not more than 50 yards from the Giants’ cafeteria during lunch. With 13:05 remaining in the third quarter of yesterday’s 21-16 victory over the Cardinals, a menacing bolt of lightning near Giants Stadium led to a 23-minute delay, which is extremely rare in the NFL.

Earlier, rain and the arrival of a thunderstorm made things a mess, but when a second lightning bolt landed too close for comfort, the decision was made. Good thing. The bolt arrived just after Kerry Collins completed a short pass to Tiki Barber and the jolt caused center Dusty Zeigler to leap into the air.

“I stopped the game when the strike came over the stadium,” referee Bill Carollo said.

The last time a game was interrupted at Giants Stadium was Sept. 8, 1996 during a Jets-Colts game. The most recent lightning delay in the league was Oct. 4, 1998 at Arrowhead Stadium during a Chiefs-Seahawks game.

Players sprinted for the tunnel when the lightning touched down. “I had to go,” Jessie Armstead said. “I love football, but I want to be there to play for another day. At first I heard it was like ‘It’s no big deal.’ The last time it hit, it caused me to realize to get off the field. At first I started trotting, then I realized I need to start running.”

There were no heros on either side. “I don’t like it, not at all man,” said Lomas Brown, a 16-year veteran. “Believe me, I was one of the first or second ones off the field. I heard it strikes tall objects and I’m kind of tall. I don’t want to take any chances.”

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WRs Ike Hilliard and rookie Ron Dixon did not get off on the right foot this season. Both missed Saturday’s 10:30 a.m. walk-though practice and never informed the Giants of their whereabouts. Jim Fassel said the players over-slept and he decided to fine both players the maximum he could in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, believed to be $5,000.

“At one time I thought about not starting them,” Fassel said. “They know I am not happy with them at all. But I didn’t feel it was going to serve any purpose not to start someone and then you get them in the second series. You either bench them completely or you fine them and go about your business.”

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CB Emmanuel McDaniel had two interceptions – the first of his career – and also recovered a fumble when Tiki Barber dropped a punt … Giants wore their white uniforms at home for the first time since Sept. 20, 1987 against the Cowboys

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The Cardinals, ravaged by injuries in the preseason, couldn’t get through one play without incident. Starting LT L.J. Shelton went down with a right knee injury on the very first play and did not return …

Bizarre end to the first half. Giants got the ball on their own 15 with 32 seconds left and Fassel told Kerry Collins to take a knee. One problem: Cardinals had all three time outs left, and used them all. Collins took a knee a second time and the Giants then had to run a play and were forced to punt with 15 seconds left. “I made a mistake, I miscalculated,” Fassel said. After realizing the Giants could not run out the clock, Fassel said he tried to alert offensive coordinator Sean Payton to run a play on second down but couldn’t get to him in time.

… RB Joe Montgomery, who was supposed to battle Ron Dayne for the starting halfback spot, was not activated for the opener … As promised, both Dayne and Tiki Barber were announced with the offensive starters. Barber, though, got the official start.