New York Giants

1. WR Wes Welker feels it worst, but he wasn’t the only one. He will be kept awake at night by a fourth quarter drop that would had been a first down inside the 20. On the next play, WR Deion Branch let a pass hit the ground as he crossed deep over the middle. On the Patriots final drive, Branch dropped another pass over the deep middle. It appeared the ball was deflected, but the ball did pass through his hands. Lastly was TE Aaron Hernandez on a probable 10-yard gain on the final drive, but he heard the footsteps of the approaching linebacker.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Super Bowl XLVI"

I’ve been avoiding the internet like a plague all day, albeit a plague that I would desperately like to get a piece of. Writing about a super bowl that has already occurred but of which I don’t know the outcome is a bit like apologizing a couple minutes before unfurling a massive fart.

Continue reading "Previewing (Or Reviewing?) the Super Bowl"

November 6, 2011. With just 1:36 left to play, QB Eli Manning drove the New York Giants offense 80 yards in just 1:21 for a 24-20 come from behind win over the Patriots in New England.

Fast forward 13 weeks and these two teams will meet again, this time with the stakes much higher. This is the second time these two teams will play for the Lombardi Trophy, just four years after the Giants pulled off arguably the greatest upset in Super Bowl history by defeating the 18-0 Patriots, 17-14.

Continue reading "A Lot Has Changed Since the Regular Season Game"

I took a while to think about it. After careful internal debate, I reached the conclusion that I did not want DT Albert Haynesworth on the team:

“…the day Haynesworth is no longer on the Patriots can’t come soon enough for me.”

Continue reading "Revisting "Taking a Pass on Haynesworth""

Déjà vu sucks. New York Giants QB Eli Manning won his first regular season game over the Patriots. It’s his second straight win over New England and he won both games with last-second game-winning drives.

Continue reading "Pick Six: Week Nine"

It was a solid return to action for running back Kevin Faulk. Just activated off the physically unable to perform list, Faulk was his same old versatile self after recovering from ACL surgery last year.

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 9"

Only Arizona has more return touchdowns. Philadelphia, San Diego, and the New York Giants scored more offensive touchdowns than the Pats. New England is the highest scoring team, not offense. 

Continue reading "Best In the League?"

Maybe it started as an inside joke. A title to mock San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith that takes the name of a successful trilogy and puts an insulting twist on it. Maybe it was said among the owners and GMs and it was overheard by a player. But like many inside jokes, they don’t stay inside for long. 

Continue reading "Hours Before Kickoff: Week 7"

eadline (It’s rumored Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch is available, but he comes with baggage; New York Giants’ Brandon Jacobs allegedly asked for a trade), snagging a ball carrier in the amateur draft seems likely. 

Continue reading "Back of the Future"

And when they traveled to New Meadowlands Stadium, the New York Giants gained 41 yards on just five carries when the first teams were on the field for the first two series. 

It was the beginning of a 160-yard steamrolling at a five yard clip for the Giants. 

Continue reading "A Running Concern"

Louis, and the New York Giants. And that means absolutely nothing. It’s not a revenge game against the Saints. Beating the Giants won’t change the result of Super Bowl XLII. All we’ll get is some good looks at the rookies and guys cleared to play after rehabbing from injury. I’ll be looking particularly at OLB Shawn Crable, WR Brandon Tate, and ILB Tyrone McKenzie. 

Continue reading "Steps Behind"

Davis does have a pick-six, though. As do New York Giants’ Bruce Johnson and Indianapolis’ Jacob Lacey. Advantage: Even 

Safety – Pat Chung was the Patriots’ first pick in ’09. He’s earning more playing time and doing well with those opportunities, with one interception and a sack. But he is way behind Buffalo’s Jarius Byrd with seven interceptions. Chicago’s Al Afalava matches Chung in sacks and nearly doubles Pat’s 17 tackles with 31. Advantage: Rookies 

Continue reading "Rookies vs. Rookies"

e Hakeem Nicks, shined when the spotlight turned his way and was selected in the first round by the New York Giants. 

As for Tate, he was placed on the active/non-football injury list, putting his return up in the air as he rehabs from his injury. 

Continue reading "Waiting on Tate"

He was able to play on 7 pennant winning teams, 5 with Chicago and 2 with the New York Giants. He had exceptional speed and was an above average center fielder and leadoff hitter. Gore hit from the left side but threw right handed.  In one game  he recorded 5 assists, in another game in 1881 he set a record with 7 stolen bases, and in another game in 1885 he had 5 extra base hits with 2 doubles and 3 triples. Gore also had the uncanny ability to work a count for walks, leading his league 3 times for that statistic including a 100 walk season in 1886. George Gore finished his baseball career with over 700 bases on balls. According to the rankings of Bill James, Gore is the 40th best centerfielder of all time.

Continue reading ""

This is just not the Celtics' year. Last night's game 7 looked like a game 4 in a 3-0 series. The Celtics came out without their energy, all out of sync. Clearly, they missed KG. Ray Allen, who we needed to step up, finally did, but he was the only one who showed up to play. Meanwhile, Orlando 21-13 from three point land, was just too much to handle and every shot they took led to me biting my nails off and praying for a comeback that never came. This game was a tough one for Boston to handle; we were losing all game and never made the run that they usually can.

Continue reading "The Celtics Lose Game 7 and Boston ..."

In the world of journalism, it's the greatest compliment when an article you wrote inspires others to express their own opinion on the same subject.

Back in February, I wrote an article asking the question should teams draft tight ends in the first round. It was a relevant question because Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew could be the only TE selected within the first 32 picks.

Continue reading "Great Minds Think Alike"

When I was a sophomore in high school playing on the JV basketball team, we went into our Christmas break undefeated and feeling pretty good about ourselves. Over the break we were scheduled to play one game against a team from the division below us. We practiced a few times, nothing too serious, and went into the game feeling good. But the week and a half layoff killed us and we lost by four, our only loss of the season.

Continue reading "Picks for the NFL weekend"

When I heard that LB Jerod Mayo received 49 of 50 votes for Defensive Player of the Year, I asked two questions: 1. Who got the one vote, then later, 2. Who the hell voted for Keith Rivers?

I won't argue Rivers won't be a good player down the road. In limited playing time, he had 37 tackles with an interception. But to compare a player that only played seven games versus someone who started 16 is illogical. Even if Rivers' number were projected to 16 games he's far behind Mayo's production. Sorry Rivers that you got your jaw broke by Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward, but that's football.

Continue reading "Stray Votes"

Would the New York Giants be in position to defend their title with David Carr in place of Eli Manning? Hell no!

Would the Indianapolis Colts had extended their streak of consecutive 10-win seasons led by Jim Sorgi with Peyton Manning giving him tips from the sideline? Absolutely not.

Continue reading "Hats Off"

(The Plaxico Burress Story.)

 The New York Football Giants went 11-1 today in a convincing win against the Washington Redskins. The Giants won the division showdown without star receiver Plaxico Burress as he was home recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the thigh.

Continue reading "Anatomy of a Disappointment"

e have four of them, all of which are favored to win by more than a field goal.   

The New York Giants are at -3.5 over the Washington Redskins.  The Baltimore Ravens are at -7 at the Cincinnati Bengals.  The Miami Dolphins are -7.5 to St. Louis, and the Indianapolis Colts are -5 at the Cleveland Browns. 

Continue reading "NFL Week 13 Musings"

So, where can you turn if you want to watch a great football team?

How about the New York Giants? They are favored by a full touchdown to beat the Baltimore Ravens in New York. So, maybe the game won’t be all that close. Maybe we all know who will win, but maybe we should watch in hopes of seeing a great team play ball. The biggest problem I have with this idea is Eli Manning.

Continue reading "Planning A Long Nap On Sunday"

It’s been a weird year, especially for sports. The Boston Celtics finally picked themselves up from the bootstraps to win a championship. Neither the Red Sox nor the Yankees amounted to anything more than a bunch of overpaid whiners. They are even tearing down Yankee Stadium.  

Continue reading "All Good Soldiers"

It's better than a suspension.

NT Vince Wilfork had a reluctant visit with commish Roger Goodell about his elbow to the helmet of Denver Broncos QB Jay Cutler. While a suspension was an option, Goodell showed some leniency and just fined Wilfork, but it is a hefty fine.

Continue reading "Vince Will Fork Over the Dough"

Think back to the preseason finale when free agent CB Fernando Bryant was bulldozed by New York Giants TE Darcy Johnson for several yards before crossing the goal line. Even though Bryant start

Continue reading "Quick review"

e went under the knife.

It made for a fair explanation for why Hobbs did such a poor job covering New York Giants wide out Plaxico Burress on the game-winning touchdown. But if you're on the field, you can't make excuses. Hobbs was on the wrong end of that play. Ellis got owned.

Continue reading "Can Ellis Man?"

I know it was only a preseason game, but the Giants defense demolished the Browns.  I realize it was the Browns, a team that went 10-6 last year, but  oh by the way their ten wins came from

Continue reading "Big D in the Big Apple"

And there it was, a picture of a football attached to the helmet of New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree.

It was a reminder of the greatest Super Bowl catch I ever saw live. It was humorous exaggeration of the key play the set up the game-winning touchdown pass. It was the catch that signaled the beginning of the end for the Patriots.

Continue reading "The reveiw of XLII"

Although The New York Giants were in it from the kickoff, they were unable to obliterate the sweet smell of victory from under the noses of the hungry Pats who kept the match tight and supensfu

Continue reading "Can the Patriots Finish what They Started?"

Following the New York Giants' incredible upset victory over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, Michael Strahan jubilantly declared that they had come into that stadium and killed a dynasty. Prior to the game the team wore all black, essentially claiming that this would be a funeral for the death of the Patriots' age of dominance.

Continue reading "Is the dynasty dead? Not likely."

rress, who you may recall, caught the game winning touchdown in the superbowl this year to help the New York Giants be victorious over the New England Patriots. As you also may recall, he has been battling an ankle injury for quite some time.  In the post season he was also struggling with a sore knee.

Continue reading "Plaxico Burress: Put Your Money Where ..."

We're all familiar with an all points bulletin. This isn't as grand. This is a few points bulletin:

I want an independent investigation opened into Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay had an unfair advantage because head coach Jon Gruden coached the Raiders the year before and knew all of their plays. Anyone who's watched their Super Bowl highlight video hear jubilant defenders running to Gruden saying variations of "It was just like you told us." That's because he designed the offense Oakland ran and coached quarterback Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon on how to run the system. Gruden knew practically every strength, weakness and tendency of the Oakland offense and with the Bucs exploited the Raiders. Gruden didn't need video tape because it was all committed to memory. He's a cheater! Scandal!

Continue reading "F.P.A."

Quarterback Tom Brady doesn't throw 50 touchdowns without time in the pocket.

The truth is, the New York Giants had a one of a kind defensive line package. No one else could trot out a D-line consisted of three defensive ends (it would had been four if Mathias Kiwanuka was healthy). New England's interior line couldn't handle the quickness of Justin Tuck after shutting down slower defensive tackles. The Giants created the mismatch and it worked to perfection.

Continue reading "Draft Review"

I have never claimed to be an expert when it comes to predicting outcomes of football games, although last year I nearly predicted the exact final score of the Super Bowl while hitting on seven of my nine prop bets. (My prediction was 26-17, the final was 29-17.) For whatever reason I had a very good feel for that game. This year's Super Bowl, however, remains a mystery to me. Part of the reason I am having trouble getting a good feel for this game is that I am a bitter Jets fan and I can't stand either team. I'm finding it difficult to put my personal feelings aside and look at the game objectively. I think right now I am as close to objectivity as I am going to get, and with that being said, here is my official Super Bowl XLII prediction.

Continue reading "Super Bowl XLII Prediction"