I was chatting with Giants second-round draft choice Steve Smith of USC this afternoon when we somehow started talking about how much he loved playing chess. Let’s refer to the following feature as The Two-Minute Drill because it’s too late in the afternoon to think of anything creative:

HM: When did you start playing chess?

SS: My dad [Steve Sr.] taught me how to play when I was a kid.

HM: Can you use any of those skills on the field?

SS: Yeah. It’s probably where I get a lot of my patience.

HM: Do any of your new teammates play?

SS: No, I just played with some of my frat brothers. But I think Sinorice Moss might be a candidate. He sort of likes those mellow games.

HM: Do you ever let your hair down and play Uno?

SS: Actually, I love that game. I’ve played it a lot on dates.

HM: So things got pretty crazy at USC?

SS: [Laughing] Yeah, it was wild.

HM: Do you have a special chess set?

SS: No, I’ve got a normal board right now, but I’m getting a nice one once I get my house. I’m hoping to find one in a furniture store.

HM: Were you aware that Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips plays a lot of chess?

SS: No, but I’d like to take him on.

HM: Who wins between you and Coughlin?

SS: I think I’d win because he’d get a little hot-headed when I took my time making a move.

HM: Would you like to withdraw that last statement?

SS: I’ll stay with it.