It didn't help that Giants receiver Steve Smith dropped a pass that might have been a 90-yard touchdown had he caught it in Saturday's preseason game against the New York Jets.

"I learned that there were some inconsistencies, obviously, and we can't have that. We had some opportunities for big plays that we didn't convert. We dropped balls, so that has to improve," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said after the game.

The longer it takes for the Giants to prove they have receivers to compensate for Burress' absence, the longer his name will be mentioned no matter how badly the Giants want to move forward.

With Burress getting ready to serve a two-year prison sentence for charges related to possession of a weapon and Amani Toomer just let go by the Kansas City Chiefs, who is going to catch passes from quarterback Eli Manning?

There is not a shortage of receivers with potential: Smith, Domenik Hixon, David Tyree, Mario Manningham, Sinorice Moss, Derek Hagan and rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.

"There are a lot of guys, a lot of weapons that could do good things," Manning said. "I think it's going to be kind of by committee. I think we've got a lot of guys who can step in and play well for us and that's good when you have a big number of guys who you can move around, (and) put them in different spots. If someone is tired or someone gets a little banged up, someone else can step right in."

The concern is real. After Smith and Hixon, the Giants do not have a receiver who caught more than 12 passes in 2008.

Last season, the passing game suffered after the Giants suspended Burress for the final four regular-season games and a playoff game. Manning did not pass for more than 200 yards and threw just two touchdowns in those five games, four of which were losses.

Tyree, he of the amazing hand-pinning-football-to-helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, is in danger of not making the team. He missed last season with injuries and missed Saturday's game with a sore hamstring

"Every year I've been here, it's been the same way," he said. "I've never felt that secure. … Competition is that intense every year. I'm out there fighting just like I'm a rookie every year."

Making matters worse have been minor injuries to almost every receiver in the preseason. Smith is expected to be the No. 1 receiver but missed practice time in camp with a knee injury. Moss and Nicks (hamstring injuries), Manningham (leg) and Tyree (knee, hamstring) also sat out practices.

Nicks has displayed big-play capability — a 55-yard catch in one preseason game and two touchdowns (one for 71 yards) against the Jets Saturday but those receptions were not with the starters.

Coughlin said Nicks' performance earned him "prime consideration" when it comes to more playing time and reps with the first team.

At 6-6, 227 pounds, Barden, a star at Cal Poly in Division I-AA with 50 career touchdown receptions, draws comparisons to Burress based on size. The Giants envision Barden as the type of receiver who can go up and catch passes over defensive backs, especially in the end zone in jump-ball type situations.

The Giants also like what they see in Hagen, but until it happens in games, questions exist.

"People are looking at us the most," Smith said. "It's on us to go out there and show everybody we can make plays."

And exorcise Burress' ghost.

Enlarge By Chris Faytok, The Star-Ledger via US Presswire Wide receiver Steve Smith leads the Giants' receiving corp in a drill during a practice on Aug. 3. The Giants are looking to see which of their receivers can step up to fill the void left by Plaxico Burress' release in the offseason.