"I suppose the advantage is the ability to block out things you can't control, like the crowd," Christie said. "I don't think I have anything to prove. I just feel I still have the ability to contribute."
But France's charming story could not offset his lack of NFL experience, which the Giants determined they needed at the expense of everything else, including a kicker with a young strong leg who might routinely put kickoffs into the end zone.
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The Giants have had so little confidence in their kicking game in the last two years that they have not attempted a 50-yard field goal since 2001. Christie made 2 of 3 from 50 yards and beyond last year. He also made all 10 attempted kicks from 39 yards or less, but the Chargers were also the only team in the league that did not have a touchback in 2003, and they were last in the league in opponents' field position after kickoffs.
"That's where you have to determine as an organization: do you want to go with a guy that is very young and raw and unpredictable at times or do you want an older guy?" Christie said. "It depends on what your priorities are."
For a team that is still haunted by a series of recent kicking
debacles, the priority was obvious. Coughlin and the veteran punter
Jeff Feagles were quick to say that they hoped
Feagles said Christie "has proven over the years that he can make big kicks and more importantly, big kicks down the line when we start getting into our weather here."