08/24 — This week, as it is every year at this time, a faction of reporters and fans wants the Jets-Giants game to be about regional rivalry, conference honor, brother vs. brother.

And all the Jets and Giants players parry every thrust, insisting with great sincerity that the game is merely the third preseason game out of four and one more chance to prepare for the regular season.

But there is a subset of players in this game, about to be renewed for the 39th straight summer on Saturday night, for whom the game has just a scoch more meaning because they grew up in the New York metro area rooting for one team or the other or both.

Wayne Chrebet was always great about recalling memories of going to these games as a youth in Garfield, just up Route 21 from the Meadowlands. Current Jets who have talked about their football formative years in these parts are D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Chris Baker and Darian Barnes.

And the game will also be big for Blake Costanzo, the linebacker from Lafayette and Ramapo High in Franklin Lakes, N.J.

"I was a Jets fan growing up," Costanzo said after one of the last training camp practices this week. "My uncle had season tickets. I watched both teams, but I was always a Jets fan. That's why it's an honor to come out here every day, getting the opportunity to play out here and show what I have."

Costanzo is scrambling this week for tickets for about 15 family members and friends who want to come to this Jets road game. And he's got lots of friends who have access to Giants season tickets who will also be in the stands.

They'll be watching No. 47 in green, plus all the other Jets and Giants, fighting for playing time, depth chart position and NFL jobs. Costanzo should be looking to hit guys in blue jerseys on defense in the second half and on special teams perhaps sooner.

Some might be discouraged, knowing there are a lot of people in their way to an opening-day roster spot. And Costanzo could also be excused for being a zombie, since he has just tacked five weeks of training camp and orientation onto 10 weeks of NFL Europa.

"Physically, I feel fine," he said. "Of course, everyone's tired with practices and stuff. But fatigue? Not really. I was in football shape to begin with.

"I feel the same, man. It's just a blessing to be out here, still competing with all these guys. It's going to be great to just go out there again to play another game and show the coaches what I've got and how I can help the team in any way. So I'm just excited to go out there and see if we can beat the Giants."

That to me is what this game is all about. Beat the Giants, a little because they're the Giants but a lot because they're next. Take as much joy as you can out of training camp, the sacrifice, the group effort. Win a job. Get ready for the season.

Next stop: Jets-Giants.