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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Linebacker Jonathan Casillas of the New York Giants wants everyone to know that he is not planning to retire in-season to pursue a MMA career, nor is he thinking about a career switch any time soon. Casillas was responding to an online report posted on the champions.co website in which author Amy Kaplan wrote that Casillas was "very close" to signing with Hispanic MMA promotion company Combate Americas.
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"No, no," Casillas said with a chuckle when asked if the report was true, adding that he wasn't planning to get inside a cage any time soon.
Casillas said he's a big MMA fan -- Jon Jones is his favorite MMA fighter -- and had the chance to attend an event by the division Tuesday night. He was photographed with his hands taped similar to a MMA fighter as he posed with some of the principles of Combate Americas.
But right now his interest in the sport as a spectator is about as far as things will go.
Casillas did admit that he incorporates boxing into his training regimen, but other than that, he's nowhere near close to being ready to switch to a MMA career even if he wanted to.
"This is different," he said of MMA. "We're talking about people that fight to make their money. My hat goes off to those who do that to make a living because we're talking about real fighting here with light gloves.
"Anything is possible to do in the ring, other than biting. I wouldn't think that I would be able to transfer over there and have success right away like it's an easy thing to do. It's not."
What about down the line when his football career is over.
"I don't know," he said. "I know people who when they're done playing football, they have to find something to keep their competitive juices going. I'm not saying no now, but maybe after I retire, I might just be out there hitting the bags and going to all these ju-jitsu classes."
--On Monday, head coach Ben McAdoo praised cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's will to go out and play through a painful groin injury as "gutsy" and one that McAdoo appreciated.
With Rodgers-Cromartie having aggravated that injury Sunday night -- he estimated he was only at about 40 percent full strength by the end of the game-the veteran cornerback is doing everything he can to fight through his ailment.
"It's very tough; you want to be 100 percent, especially in this league with these quarterbacks and receivers, and just the game planning and understanding your opponent," he said.
"It's definitely hard not to be 100, but you have the competitor in you and you see your guys out there fighting and it's hard to just sit out a ball game and not be in it."
Rodgers-Cromartie, who Wednesday estimated himself to be at about 75 percent full strength, was limited in Wednesday's practice. He is hoping that with continued treatment and with his practice reps being managed, he'll be able to get closer to 100 percent by Sunday.
"Sunday is a couple days away, so you never know," he said. "It's been tough, but you gotta fight through it. I know it's a couple days in between the next game, so you just have to heal up and get right."
--During the offseason, when the Giants were looking to upgrade their cornerback depth, one of the first unrestricted free agents they contacted was Coty Sensabaugh.
Ultimately, Sensabaugh signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams, worth a potential $19 million if he reached certain incentives. Meanwhile, Janoris Jenkins, who had been with the Rams, moved on to the Giants.
Fast forward to the present. Sensabaugh was cut by the Rams only four games into his new contact. After a whirlwind weekend, he is now with the Giants along with Jenkins.
That the Giants moved so early in the week to add him to the roster would suggest that cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Eli Apple, both suffering from groin strains) aren't going to be ready to play.
The Giants hope that Sensabaugh, who can play both on the outside and in the slot, can quickly pick up the playbook in time for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Sensabaugh didn't go into detail as to why the Rams cut him, but he did admit that the move came as a bit of a surprise.
"The week leading up to it, me and my agent were discussing that it could be a possibility," he said. "It was my first time ever being cut, so it's a new experience. Everything happens for a reason."
NOTES: S Darian Thompson, who remains in a walking boot as a result of a sprained foot sustained in the preseason, will visit a doctor next Tuesday to get an update on how far he's come in his healing. Thompson has been inactive since Week 3 after aggravating his preseason injury, and is unlikely to be back on the field until after the bye at the soonest. ... S Nat Berhe remains in the league's concussion protocol. Berhe was injured in the Week 4 loss to Washington, and appears to be on his way toward missing his third straight game. ... TE Larry Donnell (concussion) was limited in Wednesday's practice. Donnell is still in the league's concussion protocol, but has entered the part where he can participate in non-contact drills. ... DE Jason Pierre-Paul (groin) was not present for Wednesday's practice. Pierre-Paul is being held back as a precaution, according to a source and should be OK to play Sunday. If he can't Kerry Wynn would presumably get the start. ... CB Eli Apple (groin/hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Apple is a longshot to play Sunday. ... RB Rashad Jennings (thumb) was limited in Wednesday's practice. Jennings has missed three games because of what has been reported to be a sprained left thumb. Head coach Ben McAdoo said Jennings is closer to being able to play than he was last week, while Jennings said that he's been able to apply the necessary points of pressure on the ball, including with his thumb, something he wasn't able to do the first couple of weeks of the injury. ... DE Olivier Vernon (wrist) was limited in Wednesday's practice. Vernon has been dealing with a wrist issue since Week 2, but is not expected to miss the game this week. Last week, the Giants finally reduced his snap count a bit, something that they hope to do in certain spots moving forward. ... LB Devon Kennard (concussion) did not practice Wednesday, but was out on the field with a trainer. Kennard developed concussion symptoms after Sunday's game, which landed him in the concussion protocol, but head coach Ben McAdoo said Kennard would likely move to the next stage of the protocol for Thursday's practice. Kennard's status for Sunday is unclear. If he can't go, Mark Herzlich will presumably get the start at strong-side linebacker. ... T Marshall Newhouse (calf) remains unable to practice and is not expected to play Sunday. ... WR/KR/PR Dwayne Harris said that he doesn't anticipate that his sprained big toe will hold him back this weekend. Harris was listed as limited in Wednesday's practice. ... G Justin Pugh will start his 50th career game Sunday. Pugh is the Giants' 2013 first-round draft pick. ... WR Odell Beckham Jr. needs two 100-yard receiving games (16) to surpass Homer Jones (17) for third most 100-yard receiving games in Giants history
