The New York QB Killers Are No.1 In The NFC!

It was sloppy at times for both teams, but the New York Football Giants ended up at the winning end of another Giants vs Cowboys classic on Monday night 41-35.

The final score was 41-35 but by no means was the game that close. The game was easily over with in the 3rd quarter. New York buried Dallas, figuratively AND literally.

Giants killed the Cowboy's season, and like 4 other quarterbacks this season, almost killed Tony Romo! In the second quarter, Giants' linebacker Michael Boley blasted Romo on a blitz that landed him on his left shoulder breaking his collarbone. Teams are going to start hiding their starting QBs when playing the Giants if they keep killing them every week.

With this win over Dallas, New York now has sole possession of the number one spot in the NFC East, and are showing no signs of slowing the momentum. The Giants, as of right now, look to be the best team in the NFC, and maybe the entire NFL.

New York has a their bye next week, then after that, Seattle is on the menu. Someone please pray for Matt Hasselbeck.

BIG BLUE WORLD ORDER, BABY!

Always An Elite Team, Now They're Acting Like It!

Without taking last season into account, was there really any doubt about how good these 2010 Giants could be? OK, maybe a little. But think about it, we beat, and beat-up a Panthers team in week 1, got beat in week 2 by the Colts, who's arguably been the best team in the NFL the last 8 or so years, BEAT OURSELVES in week 3 to a Titans' team that we absolutely should've beat, then rolled on to dominate, offensively and defensivley, our next 3 opponents, the Bears, Texans, & Lions. And If you ask me, the Giants that played weeks 1, most of 3, 4, 5, & 6 are the "real" Giants. Its no accident how good this team has played the majority of this young 2010 season, and it's definately no accident how good the defense is playing.

Sunday's game against the Lions was actually a bit tougher than the 2 game prior. No surprise to me though, I knew the Lions were no push-overs and that the Giants had to prepare for them like they would for any other good team. That's why im extra proud of my New York Giants because according to how their play looked, prepare seems to be exactly what they did. Last season's team most likely would've looked over Detroit and started thinking about Monday night's Cowboys game.

Speaking of the Cowboys, we have them next on the schedule in Dallas, and just like with the Lions, im a little nervous about them. Their 1-4 schedule doesn't make feel any better about playing them. The thing that does make me feel good is having confidence that my Giants will play next Monday night, with the same dominance that they've played with the last 3 weeks.

All In All, Vintage NYG Football!

Over 130 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, no Bears' touchdowns allowd, only 59 Bears rushing yards allowd, 10 sacks including a record 9 in the first half, two dead Bears QBs, and a 17-3 win, NOW THATS VINTAGE NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL!

The New York Giants' defense played Sunday night the way we Giants fans expect them to play, and maybe a little more. It literally seemed that every time Jay Cutler, or Todd Collins, or whoever that 3rd string QB was (the only remaining living one), went back to pass, a Giants defender was detroying him for a sack. I mean, these were not normal sacks. Everytime one of those Bears QBs got hit, I swear you could see a number 53, 52, 58, 70, 0r 56 on the jersey of the Giants defender standing over their body. It was "80's New York Defense" bad for Chicago!
As a die hard Giants fan, I just want to say, I enjoyed every damn second of it!

The only bad, but totally fixable, spot about Sunday night was the play of Eli Manning, and bradshaw's fumble. Im not going to spend much time on Eli. He just seemed to be kind of off, underthrowing, and overthrowing receivers. Im confident though, that Eli will be in practice this week correcting whatever minor problems he had. Ahmad Bradshaw on the other hand, I swear, for all the good plays he has, he has an absolute shitty one! Its so fucking hard to enjoy his good runs because the entire time he's running, im screaming, "HOLD THE BALL, HOLD THE BALL...DON'T FUMBLE!" The guy is starting to remind me of a young Tiki Barber. Coaches really need work with him about securing the ball the ENTIRE duration of the play.

Other than those two, I think minor problems, the Giants played a great game Sunday night that I think should be a positive sign of good things to come in this early '10 season!

Also, congratulations to the players selected for The Ring Honor! You deserve it!

Tim Mara

Wellington Mara

Jack Mara

Bob Tisch.

George Young

Steve Owen

Jim Lee Howell

Bill Parcells.

Mel Hein

Ken Strong

Tuffy Leemans

Emlen Tunnell

Frank Gifford

Rosie Brown

Sam Huff

Andy Robustelli

Y.A. Tittle

Harry Carson

Lawrence Taylor

Al Bozis

Charlie Conerly

Dick Lynch

Joe Morrison

Pete Gogolak

George Martin

Phil Simms

Michael Strahan

Jessie Armstead

Amani Toomer

Tiki Barber



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/giants/2010/10/lords-of-the-ring.html#ixzz11PUNxzcG

What Could've Been. What SHOULD'VE Been

30 points! 30 points, AND the win, is what New York should've had Sunday vs Tennessee. The 10 points we actually scored, 2 would be touchdowns that never happened because of an interception that Eli threw deep in the redzone and a fumble by Bradshaw that also occured in the redzone after a great New York Giants drive, and 2 fairly easy missed FGs. Add it up, thats 30 points!

But don't get me wrong, im not upset. The game was actually encouraging, to me at least. Offensively, New York had a total of 471 yards, 364 of which passing. And Defensively, for the most part, the defense was able to keep the league's best RB, Chris Johnson, bottled up for the majority of the game. If only the Giants could've put those 20 points on the board that were negated by stupid turnovers and mental errors, I have no doubt that New York would've won a game that would'nt have even been close.

But, reality is that those turnovers, missed FGs, and countless stupid penalties DID happen, and as a result, my Giants were beat by a team that they are clearly better than. But its early, Skins and Cowgirls are both 1-2 as we are, and we still got plenty of time to correct the mental retardation that was shown Sunday. If the Giants come out Sunday night and play the same way they played against the Titans, but without the stupid mental errors, I have confidence they will beat the Bears easily and everything will be right back on track. It would at least be a positive point to build from.

It's Early, Get It Together!

"Peyton's one the greatest to play this game. He makes almost every defense he plays look bad. We're just having a bad night"

These are all the things I told myself after Sunday night, and for the love of God I hope i'm right!

Even if it was just a case of Peyton being great, for the life of me there's one thing i cant figure out...what the hell's up with our D ends? We supposed to have two "great" defensive ends, but unless we're playing a terrible team, they NEVER FUCKING SHOW UP!

There's Osi, who at one time was considered one of the best ends in the game, and there's Justin Tuck, who I see more on stupid-ass TV commercials than I do in highlight replays on Sundays! You would think that the other lineman would at least get pressure due to these two getting doubled, but of course thats never the case.

I'm not going to spend too much time on this, because the more I type, the more angry I get, and I start to forget why we lost Sunday Night, "Peyton's one the greatest to play this game. He makes almost every defense he plays look bad. We were just having a bad night".

C'mon G-Men, its still early, get this thing together like us real fans know you can!

NFL Opening Sunday: Payback! That Is All.

41-9! That was the score last Dec 27th when the Carolina Panthers beat the Giants in the last football game in old Giants Stadium. As embarrassing as that game was, it really didnt mean much as far as playoffs for either team. Fast forward to Sunday, opening day 2010 season, and its a whole different story, and the game meant a whole lot more.

The New York Giants destroyed the Panthers in the 1st ever regular season NFL game in The New Meadowlands Stadium, and almost killed QB Matt Moore in the process! Overall the Giants looked really good on both sides of the ball. Besides the punting situation, I really didn't see any weaknesses in the team.

Compared to last season, the defense seemed to be 2000% improved. The D looked really good against the run, and with the arrivals of Deon Grant, Antrell Rolle, and the return of Kenny Phillips, the defensive backfield looked to be filled with 2010 all-pros! The only thing that was kind of annoying was the 1st 3 quarters when the D line failed to get any kind of pressure on the QB. But in the 4th quarter, the line got their motors going, and not only pressured Matt Moore, but also knocked him out of game. Needless to say, rookie Jimmy Clausen just about got himself killed as well. He did nothing.

Despite a slow start, Manning and the Giants' offense looked great! Eli completed 20 of 30 passes for 263 yards and 3 TDs. He also threw 3 picks, but none were his fault AT ALL! They were all results of players letting the ball deflect off their hands and not catching them. Hakeem Nicks, who was the recipient of all 3 TD catches, caught 4 balls for 75 yards, and Mario Manningham had 4 grabs for 85 yards.

So overall, The Giants had a good, dominating game. They got payback against the Panthers in a game that will surely matter, and the defense actually looked like a defense.

So i'd say today was a good day for the Giants, and us fans.

If our G-men can stay healthy and play the rest of the season like they played on Sunday Night...lets just say our future can look mighty "Super"!

INTRODUCING, MR. CRUZ

I just would not have felt right if I didn't pay some kind of tribute to what undrafted rookie free agent from Umass, Victor Cruz did Monday night in the preseason win against the Jets. Preseason or not, that was one of the most exciting performances I've seen in a while.

My guy did, in a little over 1 quarter, what veteran WRs dream of doing in entire games! And the fact that he did it in the first ever football game in THE NEW GIANTS STADIUM, against the now hated more than ever Jets, made it that more special!

Please enjoy more about Victor Cruz's performance in this post by Mark Viera of The New York Times...

By MARK VIERA

With three touchdown receptions Monday in a 31-16 preseason win over the Jets, the Giants rookie Victor Cruz introduced himself to New York. He did so more formally moments after the game.

“Hi, everybody,” Cruz said to a room full of reporters.

Although Cruz’s breakout performance was overshadowed by the image of a bloodied Eli Manning stumbling off the field in the second quarter, it was hard to ignore what he showed in the first preseason game at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Cruz highlighted his six-catch, 145-yard night with three touchdowns to assert himself on a national stage after weeks of proving to his teammates — and some celebrities watching on television — that he can play in the N.F.L.

Indeed, LeBron James took the time to post on his Twitter feed about Cruz.

“Victor Cruz going nuts on the Jets tonight on #MNF,” James wrote.

“Undrafted rookie from UMass. He’s gonna have a job this year for sure.”

Told that James had noticed his play, Cruz said: “Did he really? Wow, that’s crazy.”

Cruz is a newcomer from the University of Massachusetts, a Football Championship Subdivision program, and a native of Paterson, N.J. He has positioned himself well to make the roster.

“Justice has been served,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “Young man Victor Cruz really has had an outstanding camp. He works his tail off every day. He’s made a lot of plays this past week.”

Coughlin added, “He was truly outstanding tonight.”

In the third quarter, Cruz provided a highlight moment. Cruz made a remarkable one-handed grab while fighting off a Jets defensive back, taking it for a 64-yard touchdown from quarterback Jim Sorgi. Cruz added two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, a 34-yard catch from Sorgi and then a 5-yard reception from Rhett Bomar.

“You never go into a game thinking you’re going to have three touchdowns,” Cruz said. “But I just want to work hard, and have worked hard all camp. I just wanted to come in and show what I could do on the main stage.”

Mission accomplished.

New York City will be "Super-er"

And the big news is...The New Meadowlands will be home to Super Bowl 48! The biggest non-news is, "It's going to be cold". "It's going to be cold"? are these sports reporters and media retards seriou?! Whats been good and natural for the teams every other game of the season should be good and natural for the game that decides the NFL champion! Thats my "regular fan" opinion anyways.

New York has played host to just about every other event imaginable. If you ask me, it makes perfect sense that it will host the biggest, and best sports event in the world (sorry world cup. soccer sucks)! So its going to be a little chilly. Who gives a shit?! The only people that care are those rich corporate dicks. The REAL fans, like the one poorly but passionately writing this post, dont really give a shit. To be honest, I think it's gonna be awesome.

Congrats to New York City on being awarded Super Bowl 48...on second thought, congrats to Super Bowl 48 on being awarded New York City and the home of MY Giants! Can't wait!

LAWRENCE TAYLOR, QUITE POSSIBLY THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME. FALL IN LOVE WITH "L.T." ALL OVER AGAIN

In the news once again for allged negative off-field behavior, is 1 of the greatest football players of ALL TIME, & my childhood hero, Lawrence Taylor.
But, unlike every other news outlet, sports reporter, and so-called New York Giants fan/blogger, i'm going to talk about what made L.T. famous to begin with. I'm going to talk about his Hall Of Fame career, how he detroyed QB's, winning Super Bowls, and how his play literally changed the NFL forever.

Lawrence Taylor, an All-America at North Carolina, was the first-round draft pick of the New York Giants and the second player selected overall in the 1981 NFL Draft. The 6-3, 237-pound linebacker set the tone for his pro career with an outstanding rookie season during which he recorded a career-high 133 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 8 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

A dominant force on defense, Taylor was named first-team All-Pro in each of his first nine seasons. His ability to dominate a game with his attack style changed the outside linebacker position from a read-and-react posture to an aggressive mode. Understand this, L.T. invented the one-back offense! Joe Gibbs started using a one-back offense to have an extra lineman on the line to try to help block Lawrence Taylor. Joe Gibbs - "If you got a back blocking Lawrence Taylor, you lose". L.T. also invented the outward angle stance of offensive tackles. Tackles started standing like that to hopefully have a pre-snap advantage in blocking Taylor.

An intense player, he had the speed to run past offensive linemen and the strength to out-muscle them. Starting in Taylor’s first season, the Giants began a 10-season streak in which they made the playoffs six times and won two Super Bowls.

Although Taylor’s accomplishments are many, he recorded his finest statistical season in 1986 when he was named the NFL’s MVP, becoming the first defensive player to do so since 1971. That season, Taylor recorded a career high 20.5 sacks, 105 total tackles, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.

In a 1988 game against the New Orleans Saints, suffering with a torn pectoral muscle in his shoulder, Taylor demonstrated his remarkable strength and determination. Wearing a harness to keep his shoulder in place, he managed to record seven tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. The Giants won 13-12.

Taylor recorded 132.5 quarterback sacks (not including 9.5 sacks he recorded in 1981, since the sack didn’t become an official NFL statistic until 1982), 1,088 tackles, 33 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions during his career. He was selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls and won 2 Super Bowls, SBXXI, & SBXXV and in 1994 was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1999, Lawrence Julius Taylor was selected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame on his first ballot.

WATCH THESE SHORT VIDEOS AND FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH NOT ONLY THE GREATEST DEFENSIVE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL FUCKING TIME, BUT ARGUABLY THE BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME!

BID SIGNED BY THE GIANTS AND JETS FOR A NJ SUPERBOWL

Courtesy of: fanfeedr.com


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) — New Jersey’s bid to host the 2014 Super Bowl is signed, sealed and about to be delivered.

The owners of the New York Jets and New York Giants on Wednesday signed the official bid that will be sent to all 32 NFL owners. The owners will vote May 25 on whether East Rutherford, Miami or Tampa will be the host.

The theme of the new Meadowlands Stadium’s bid is “Make Some History.” If the stadium gets the game, it would be the first Super Bowl to be held in a cold-weather locale.

In December, the NFL told the Giants and Jets they could bid on the Super Bowl despite a requirement that host stadiums have a minimum temperature of 50 degrees or roofs.



Read more: http://www.fanfeedr.com/nfl/2010/05/12/giants-jets-sign-bid-to-bring-super-bowl-to-nj#ixzz0njg2GXF1

"New York Giants' Offense is Lurking in the Shadows, Ready To Explode"

by Jeff Shull,fanfeedr.com

The New York Giants, the NFL, and any media outlet spent the entire 2010 offseason talking about how terrible the Giants' defense was in 2009. Justifiably so, considering they suffered a ton of injuries leading to eight losses in 11 games.

What they haven't talked about, however, is the possibility of a top three offense emerging in 2010 and almost certainly one ranked in the top 10.

Before you practically rip the wheel off your mouse as you scroll down to comment, read my points and then form an opinion.

Eli Manning is coming off the best year in his career, where the running game was the worst it has been since he took over the team. This is the same person who supposedly did not possess the ability to take over an offense due to his awful decision making and inconsistent play.

A "game-manager."

No quarterback in the NFL wants to be associated with that phrase, so Eli erased any notion of it the only way he knew how—showing his improvement on the field.

Eli had career bests in yards (4021), touchdowns (27), completion percentage (62.3), and QB rating (93.1). Amazingly enough, his QB rating wasn't even in the top 10 last year, but it was still a very impressive mark.

It appears the Giants' coaching staff is content with turning over the reigns of the offense to Eli, and he has responded beautifully.

No quarterback is worth anything without a host of receivers to spread the ball to, and Eli's targets are not to be taken lightly.

Steve Smith had arguably one of the greatest seasons by a Giant wide receiver in 2009. He took Amani Toomer's single season receptions record and laughed at it, surpassing his total by 26 receptions.

His combination of speed, precise route running, and hands like vacuums make him one of the best possession receivers in the league

Hakeem Nicks took the starting job away from Mario Manningham, but that is mainly because Manningham works much better in the slot, and Nicks is more of a deep threat.

Nicks should be able to open up the offense to the same degree that Plaxico Burress did when he was on the team, forcing defenses to double cover him and making it easy on the run game.

As good as the weapons for Eli were last year, there are still two who did not get an opportunity to shine in the actual games.

2009 third round pick Ramses Barden had an outstanding training camp last year, but obviously did not do enough to convince Tom Coughlin he was ready for the real deal. If he has another training camp like 2009 in 2010, be ready for him to step in and be a deadly red zone target for Eli.

The same can be said for Travis Beckum, who also did not get much of an opportunity because his blocking needed work. If the Giants can find a way to package him into the offense, we could be looking at a pass attack that rivals any other team's in the league.

That leads me to the rushing attack.

The Giants had been a perennial powerhouse when it came to running the football, but 2009 saw a changing of the guard.

Brandon Jacobs seemed content to protect his body ($$) and Ahmad Bradshaw was basically playing with one foot. Danny Ware was supposed to fill the void left by Derrick Ward, and even Andre Brown was expected to get some carries.

It seems like injuries hurt all four from the training camp roster, especially Ware and Brown, but if the Giants want to be champions, they had better stop using the injury excuse.

If Jacobs and company can come back and be the type of runners they are capable of being, then the Giants will sit atop the NFC once again.

Somehow I just don't see that happening for Jacobs. Bradshaw looks like he has more of the heart and determination to be the starter, which is fine with me. Maybe a demotion to goal line back is what Jacobs needs to get his act together.

The running attack hinges on other factors as well.

The offensive line began to look not so dominant last year as well, even though they did not suffer that many injuries to use as an excuse.

Kareem McKenzie could be looking at his last year in the NFL if he doesn't show improvement or stay off the injury report. Will Beatty is waiting to take over one of the tackle spots, and it will probably happen sooner rather than later.

The evolution of the NFL is such that you can now win a championship with a dominant passing attack and a complimentary running game (See 2006 Colts and 2009 Saints), instead of vice versa, which is the way it had been in the past (See 2000 Baltimore Ravens).

If the pieces come together, this is what we could be looking at for Big Blue in 2010.

And With The 15th Pick, The Giants Select...

With their 15th pick in the 1st round, the New York Giants selected Jason Pierre-Paul. JPP is a 6'6 265 lb DE out of South Florida with only one season of Division I experience.

In that 1 season with South Florida, Pierre-Paul 42 tackles (26 solo), 6 sacks, 1 int, & 1 TD. Not bad for 1 season, I guess.

Besides the bio and stats that I just looked up after my Giants drafted him, I really dont know much else about Jason Pierre-Paul. What I do know though, is that he's now a part of the New York Giants family, so I welcome him with the best wishes that he'll contribute well and make my Giants a better team.

Congrats, JPP! Giants4Life!!!

"New York Giants' 2010 NFL Schedule Analysis: Comments and Predictions"

COURTESY OF: fanfeedr.com, by: Jeff Hall

The schedulers were kind to the New York Giants this year, but that can be expected after a .500 season. The draw for the NFC East in which divisions they will have to play is the NFC North and the AFC South.

You could look at this in one of two ways. You could say that playing the AFC South is tough because Houston and Tennessee can show up and be dominant teams, or they can lay flat and be an easy win. The same goes for the Bears and Packers, you never know what you're gonna get.

Chalk up a W against the Lions and Jaguars, they aren't ready to make a turn around yet.

The Colts and Vikings are still better than the Giants, but who knows how the new additions to the Giants will affect the team? The Giants are capable of pulling off the wins in both of those games, but only time will tell.

Interesting side note—this marks the fourth year in a row the Giants will have played the Vikings, and they are 0-3 in the last three.

Apparently the NFL still loves to showcase Big Blue, as they are slotted for four prime time games: three Sunday Night Football games and one Monday Night Football extravaganza with Dallas

The Giants play exactly half of their games against teams with winning records from 2009. This is comforting considering nine of their last eleven last year were against teams with winning records at the time they played them, which led to their 3-8 finish.

Once again the Giants were given a brutal second half of the schedule, but with the NFL trying to clump the division games in the final three weeks of the season, that was expected.

The final eight games are Dallas, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Washington, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Washington. The coaching staff better be prepared to avoid another second half collapse—with Bill Cowher's rumored interest in the team, consider Tom Coughlin's job officially at stake in 2010.

With all that said, let's take a look at the schedule game by game (division games will be combined) and predict the outcomes.



Division Games

Dallas Cowboys (Week 7 and 10) - With one of these games being on Monday Night Football, you know this rivalry will be magnified ten fold. Both teams are looking to improve from last year, after the Giants faltered from their 5-0 start and the Cowboys were embarrassed in their only road playoff game last year by the Vikings.

The Giants are a huge match-up problem for the Cowboys defense. Their slow defensive backfield could not keep up with the Giants speedy receivers in either game, and Eli Manning tore them to shreds. In the opening of the new Texas Stadium, the two young guns Mario Manningham and Steve Smith put on a clinic, each hauling in 10 catches for over 130 yards.

Not much has changed besides the Giants' defense getting better, so another season sweep of the Cowboys isn't all that far fetched. I won't take out my big guns just yet, however, because the Cowboys' offense is still very explosive.

Prediction - 1 wins, 1 loss


Philadelphia Eagles (Week 11 and 15) - The Eagles just traded away their franchise quarterback and one of the better defensive backs in the division in Sheldon Brown, so to say these games could be easy may be arrogant, but it's also true.

Oh, and they don't have the biggest Giants killer of the last decade either in Brian Westbrook.

The Giants were embarrassed by the Eagles in the first meeting and came up just short in the second. Revenge will be on their minds.

Prediction - 2 wins

Washington Redskins (Week 13 and 17) - The Redskins are seemingly doing everything possible to turn their fortunes around. They put all of their eggs into Albert Haynesworth's basket, only to turn in a 4-12 season in '09.

Enter Mike Shanahan, Donovan McNabb, Larry Johnson, Willie Parker, and now Adam Carriker. Daniel Snyder is bringing in tons of big names, and now it is being reported that McNabb wants to bring in Terrell Owens to make another run at the Super Bowl.

Talk about making a splash.

The Redskins always have a good defense, but now they have the offense to back it up. So long as their wide receivers improve, they could be a top 10 offense next year under McNabb and Shanahan's zone running scheme.

I'm tempted to be very scared and predict two losses, but the Giants have been very successful against the 'Skins under Eli, so a split sounds about right.

Prediction - 1 win, 1 loss



AFC South Games

@ Indianapolis Colts (Week 2) - Not much to say here other than Kenny Philips and Antrell Rolle better be able to get the Giants defense back to where it was two years ago. If they don't the only way the Giants can pull this off is in a shootout or if the pass rush can disrupt Peyton Manning's rhythm.

The Manning bowl is sure to be epic, but I always got to give the edge to big brother, especially since the game is at their home stadium.

Prediction - loss

Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 12) - Again there is not much to say here. The Jags are a solid team but lack any offensive prowess to move the ball and their defense is atrocious.

If they draft Tim Tebow to appease the fan base they should just up and move from Jacksonville and move to a city who cares about more than just drafting Gators.

Prediction - win

@ Houston Texans (Week 5) - Retribution has finally presented itself Giants fans. The last time the Giants played the Texans it was their inaugural season and I attended the game decked out in my Jason Sehorn Jersey.

Even though the Giants made the playoffs that year, the Giants lost and I have had to hear about it ever since. It better not happen again because I'm getting my tickets ASAP (I live in Houston, for those of you who do not know, which is probably everybody).

The Texans are coming off of their first winning season since the expansion franchise came into the league in 2002, and many are projecting they will finally provide a serious threat to Peyton Manning and the Colts.

If their defense can come around and catch up to the offensive production, they are a very scary team. However, losing Dunta Robinson does not bode well for their already terrible secondary. Expect an old fashioned shootout here.

Prediction - win

Tennessee Titans (Week 3) - The Titans played very well under Vince Young after an 0-6 start and managed to end the season a respectable 8-8. It remains to be seen whether or not VY will hold his own for an entire season.

Considering the fact that the Titans have almost no passing game to speak of and the Giants are solid at stopping the run, they should be able to contain Chris Johnson enough to pull out a win at Giant Stadium.

Prediction - win



NFC North Games

@ Minnesota Vikings (Week 14) - Remember when I said the Giants have lost the last three against the Vikings? Well I didn't tell you that two of those were at Giants Stadium in the Winter, and the other was a meaningless game two years ago when the Giants played David Carr for more than half of the game.

This time it will be in the heart of the season at Minnesota in the dome. If Brett Favre comes back give this game to the Vikes, other wise I don't trust Tavaris Jackson at all.

The consensus is that Brett will return and the Vikings will make another run at the Super Bowl. I want to assume the Giants' defense will get better with the addition of Antrel Rolle, but I can't.

Prediction - loss

Chicago Bears (Weak 4) - The Bears are apparently trying to get on the level of the Vikings and Packers by bringing in Julius Peppers, but this team had way more problems than just defense.

Jay Cutler looked as bad as every quarterback since Jim McMahon when he put on the Bears uniform. The only difference is he could throw the ball harder than the rest of them.

The only factor that would change this from a win to a loss is if Urlacher comes back and brings the defense back to the form we are used to, but seeing as how they don't have an elite defensive line anymore, I don't see that happening.

Prediction - win

@ Green Bay Packers (Week 16) - This game could very well have Wild Card implications. The Packers are a couple players away from getting their defense where they want it to be, and a solid draft could make them a dangerous team.

They have a very potent offense and several studly wide receivers, it could be a matchup problem for the Giants' questionable secondary.

This game is hard to predict considering both teams have similar strengths and it will probably be a shootout, but I'll give the edge to Green Bay since it is at Lambeau Field.

Prediction - loss

Detroit Lions (Week 6) - The Lions could very well make the playoffs in the near future, but in 2010 they are probably headed for another dreadful season, especially playing in a tough division.

This could be a trap game before the Monday Night Football matchup with Dallas the next week, but the Giants haven't fallen into that under coach Coughlin.

Prediction - win



Positional Conference Games (3rd place from NFC South and West in 2009)

@ Seattle Seahawks (Week 9) - The Seahawks have two first round picks and are entering a season with a new coach ready to prove his worth in the NFL. The first go-around for Pete Carroll was unsuccessful, but with the right pieces around him he could win the very winnable NFC West.

Seattle always plays tough at home so I have a hard time predicting a win against them, but I can't help but remember the 44-6 victory from 2008. That could actually provide motivation for the 'Hawks, but I just don't trust Pete Carroll, especially in his first year.

Prediction - win

Carolina Panthers (Week 1) - When I saw this I immediately pictured the locker room scene prior to the game when the leaders of the team gets everyone fired up for payback against the team that embarrassed them in the final game at old Giants Stadium.

How fitting is it that the game also happens to be the regular season opener for the new Stadium. Some of the people making the schedules must be a Giants fan.

The Panthers are in rebuilding mode and are turning over the reigns of the offense to Matt Moore, who has been inconsistent since coming to the NFL. Ironically he carved up the injury-plagued defense last year, but it should be a different story this season.

Prediction - win



Well by my count that looks like an 11-5 season. It may not turn out exactly the way I predicted in terms of who beats who, but an 11-5 season would not disappoint many of us in Big Blue nation.

Time to erase the memory of the 2009 season.

Consensus "1st round draft pick is Alabama LB Rolando McClain, just don't ask Giants GM Reese"

Courtesy Of: NYDailyNews.com
By Ralph Vacchiano
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
A year ago it seemed so obvious. The Giants, after cutting Plaxico Burress, were desperate for receiving help. But Giants GM Jerry Reese insisted he wasn't, scoffing at the outside "panic."

Then he took receivers in the first and third rounds.

One year later, it seems so obvious again. The Giants, after cutting Antonio Pierce, are desperate for help at middle linebacker. But Reese is insisting that he isn't. He believes people are overreacting again.

"I think we could improve our team at every position probably; so not just linebacker," Reese insisted. "We're looking for good players who can give us depth or maybe be a starter at any position — not necessarily linebacker."

No wonder so many people are penciling in the Giants to select Alabama middle linebacker Rolando McClain.

They might do just that when they make the 15th pick of the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. But despite the glaring hole in the middle of their sagging defense, McClain might not be the no-brainer pick.

But Reese has insisted several times this offseason that middle linebacker is not as big a problem as some people thing.

"I think there are some linebackers on our team that just need to prove that they can do it," Reese said. "Just like last year, when I thought there were some receivers (on the roster). I do have some confidence in some guys on our roster that haven't played a lot. I want them to step out of the shadows and show us what they have."

Reese specifically mentioned three players who could battle for that starting job — Jonathan Goff, who started four games last season after Pierce injured his neck; Bryan Kehl, a converted outside linebacker; and Gerris Wilkinson, who played middle linebacker in college. He also has veteran Chase Blackburn, who has been the Giants' backup at that spot for the last five years.

None of them appear to have the inside track on the job, but the presence of so much competition could convince Reese to wait until the second round to draft someone at that position (perhaps Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon, Florida's Brandon Spikes or Penn State's Sean Lee). That would free him up to address another position at 15 — like running back or the offensive line.

If McClain is there, though, it could be hard for the Giants to pass him up. Despite suffering from Crohn's disease, McClain is considered a smart, NFL-ready player with terrific speed and instincts. And he could be the perfect replacement for Pierce — assuming the Giants really are looking for a replacement.

Brandon Jacobs is coming off knee surgery. Ahmad Bradshaw had surgery to fix problems in both his feet and his right ankle. Andre Brown missed his entire rookie season after tearing his Achilles. And because of all that it's impossible for Reese to know whether running back is a position of strength or weakness heading into the draft.

So it's no wonder some in the Giants organization have fallen in love with the idea of trading up for Clemson running back C.J. Spiller. Nicknamed "Lightning," — most scouts consider Spiller the most explosive offensive player in the draft.

But he's unlikely to last until Pick 15.

NEVER ENOUGH RUSH

In 2006 the Giants had Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck on their roster, so there was no way — absolutely no way — that they were going to draft a defensive end in the first round. It was the last thing they appeared to need.

Then they drafted Mathias Kiwanuka in the first round and their favorite phrase — "You can never have enough pass rushers" — was born.

Could they do it again, even though there are already questions about whether Tuck, Umenyiora and Kiwanuka are going to be able to happily coexist? They seem intrigued by South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Tom Coughlin even made a rare personal appearance at his Pro Day and they brought him in for a pre-draft visit.

"Even if we have depth at a position," Reese said, "if (the player) is the best guy up there, it is going to be hard for us to pass him up."

THIRD-DAY STORIES

Despite spending $121 million on defensive players in the last 14 months, the Giants still need lots of help. They will likely draft a defensive tackle, probably on Day 3 during Rounds 3 through 7. There'll be some late-round defensive backs, too, given the questionable health of safety Kenny Phillips (knee) and cornerback Aaron Ross (hamstring).

They will also have to keep their eye on offensive linemen since center Shaun O'Hara will soon turn 33 and guard Rich Seubert just turned 31.

Three players the Giants could select with the 15th pick in the first round of the draft:

MLB Rolando McClain, Alabama
Height: 6-3, Weight: 254

KEY NUMBERS: Ran a 4.52 in the 40 at his Pro Day. … Had 14 1/2 tackles for loss and four sacks as a junior.

BIG CONCERN: Played in a 3-4 defense in college and must transition to 4-3. … Has Crohn's Disease, an intestinal disorder he manages with medication, but he admits can be painful and sometimes sap his strength.

WHY HIM? Since cutting Antonio Pierce, the Giants are in desperate need of a middle linebacker and he's the best of the bunch. Has good football instincts and comes from an NFL-type coach (Nick Saban).

RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
Height: 5-11, Weight: 196

KEY NUMBERS: Ran a 4.27 in the 40 at the combine, but showed incredible burst with a combine record 2.31 in the first 20 yards. Had 1,715 yards and 21 TDs rushing and receiving last year.

BIG CONCERN: His smallish frame makes some wonder how much of an NFL pounding he can take.

WHY HIM? He's the most dynamic offensive player in the draft and has many NFL offensive coaches drooling over the many ways to use him. The Giants have big injury issues at RB and could use his explosiveness out of the backfield.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
Height: 6-5, Weight: 266

KEY NUMBERS: 13. That's the number of standing backflips he does in a viral Internet video, proving what a sensational athlete he is. He had 6 1/2 sacks in his only season in Division I.

BIG CONCERN: No experience. Before his one season at South Florida he had one season at junior college and another at a community college. Has a huge upside, but is very raw.

WHY HIM? The Giants' motto is "You can never have enough pass rushers." Pierre-Paul has declared himself the best pass rusher in the draft, and many scouts believe that (eventually) he could be right.

''Giants' Phillips Confident He'll Be Ready...''

Courtesy of: The New York Post,By PAUL SCHWARTZ
As he insists he's "ahead of schedule'' on his long rehabilitation from serious knee surgery, safety Kenny Phillips watched as the Giants on the first day of free agency signed Antrel Rolle and later added veteran Deon Grant.

Both are safeties, which certainly could be viewed as concern by the Giants that Phillips will be just fine for the 2010 season.

Phillips doesn’t see it that way.

"I understand it's a business and the way our secondary performed last year it’s only right you do something,'' Phillips today told The Post. "I don’t think they're panicking by bringing in all these guys, I don't think I should panic. I know when I get to 100 percent it's going to be competitive and I don't mind competing.''

Phillips spoke moments after completing a shoot for Reebok's 2010 Sideline Apparel Campaign and he sounded ready to roll.

"If I had a game tomorrow I'd be able to play,'' he exclaimed.

Of course, there is no game tomorrow and it's a good thing, as Phillips certainly wouldn’t be ready to play. But his enthusiasm means he's healing. Two weeks ago, he was cleared to begin running, so far only straight ahead, and said his left knee is holding up just fine. He played in two games last season before needing surgery to deal with a condition known as patellofemoral arthritis. There were doomsayer reports that his career could be threatened by this but Phillips says doctors and trainers have assured him that he'll be as good as new.

"I've been feeling great ever since the surgery so there's no worries on my end,'' he said.

The Giants want to insert Phillips and Rolle in as the starting safeties and sit back and see the University of Miami products dominate. Rolle after signing immediately proclaimed he and Phillips to be "the best in the league, hands down'' when it came to ranking the top safety tandems. Rolle called he and Phillips "a dynamic duo.''

Phillips isn’t using such colorful language but he is confident.

"The feeling is mutual,'' Phillips said. "He's a great player. Most teams only have one guy, one guy who can go get it like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, we put two guys back there who can do pretty much the same thing, they both cover, both go get the ball, both ball hawks, when you have that you're saying something about your secondary.''

As for the addition of Grant, Phillips believes it made sense.

"I don’t know much about him, I know he's an older guy, the probably brought him in for leadership, just show us the ropes,'' Phillips said. "You can learn from players like that, he's been in the league nine years. I look forward to playing with him.''

Phillips is participating in the off-season workout program and says he's certain he will take part in the mid-June veteran mini-camp in some way.

"I'm not sure to what percent I'll be doing things,'' he said. "The main goal is training camp. We're not rushing it, the season's still a long way away, we're taking real slow.''

"OSI SPEAKS, NO COMMENT"

Courtesy of: fanfeedr.com

DE Osi Umenyiora met the media by his locker Thursday and offered many “No comments” about his situation with the Giants and whether he has been satisfied by the team he will be a starter in 2010. Obviously things are not totally resolved in his mind. He did, however, drop a few nuggets.

Like as to why he won’t comment on his situation.
“I will say this, for the most part I can’t sit over here and give you the ‘robotical,’ mundane answer,” he told reporters..“If you ask me a question I’m going to say exactly how I feel and I think saying how I feel is really a foolish thing. Saying how I feel it is really a foolish thing to say how I feel, it’s gotten me into a lot of trouble with the team, it’s gotten me in a lot of trouble with the fans, and I think it’s setting a bad example for my teammates. I think it’s not the right thing to do.

“Instead of giving you guys the pre-programmed, ‘robotical’ answers or coming out and saying things about the way I feel, I think it’s best to say nothing at all. That’s the best way about going about things at this time.”

As to whether he might become a distraction in the locker room:

“I’ll never be a problem here. I just can’t see myself doing that,” he said..” I have too much respect for the organization and I love my teammates. They deserve better than that, they deserve better than me coming out and speaking out like that. I think it’s best for me to move on.

“I love this team and I love my teammates, and I’d rather be nowhere else. I come ov er here and Jay [Alford], Brandon [Jacobs], Corey [Webster], these are my guys, these are my friends and I love them. The strength coach Jerry [Palmieri], I love to work out with him, so I think being here is good.”

About his comments around Super Bowl time on retiring rather than becoming a part-time player:

“I say a lot of things, man,” he said. “I remember a couple of years ago I told my ex-girlfriend I was a virgin while I was holding my son. So I don’t know.”

On whether he has been guaranteed a starting job:
“I’m not even guaranteed my next breath,” he said. “I can’t sit over here and be guaranteed anything. Obviously I’ve had a conversation with Jerry [Reese] and a conversation with coach Coughlin, and the things we talked about are going to stay between me and Jerry and me and coach Couighlin.”

On new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell:
“He’s a really cool guy, very energetic,” he said. “I think the scheme he’s trying to run best suits the players we have over here. So I’m looking forward to that. I think it’s a good scheme for me.”

“I went back and watched the 2009 Buffalo defense and how their defensive ends played. They get a little wider and come up the field. That’s what they do, and I think that’s what I’ll be able to excel at.”

Posted by Vinny DiTrani on 03/25 at 09:36 AM

GIANTS FORCED TO PLAY COIN-TOSS WITH LITTLE SISTER?!

Coin toss? really?! Thats the best the NFL could come up with to decide which team, the 3 time Super Bowl champion New York Giants or the mediocre at best, New York Jets, who's 1 and only Super Bowl win came 41 years ago, would play the home opener at the new Meadowlands Stadium?! Seriously?! And what makes it worse is the the Jets actually thought they deserved it more than the Giants!

Histories compared, the Jets don't deserve to be in the same continent as New York's REAL football team! Giants easily have more NFL titles, Super Bowls, historical signifigance, hall of famers, legendary players, wins, playoff appearances, hometown fans, worldwide fans, and up until the end of the '09 season, their own stadium named after them (Giants Stadium)! Jets should feel privileged and blessed to have been able to even lay eyes on Giants Stadium, let alone play in it! The Giants franchise felt sorry for it's litte slutty-ass sister (being brother is too good for the jets) and let the whore move in off the hoe track.

If you ask me, compared to the New York Giants, the Jets are just barely good enough to play their home games at the local Jersey high school field, or better yet a ihop parking lot...I bet Rex Ryans would LOVE that, even after the surgery!

Jets staff and fans (if you're from NY, how could you choose jets over the Giants?!) the actually believed you deserved the home opener, do the sports world a favor and KILL YOURSELF

SLOW!

"ROLLE SIGNING OPENS AS MANY QUESTIONS AS ANSWERS"

posted by John Fennelly...

Julius Peppers went to Chicago yesterday and came away $91 million richer. Karlos Dansby, who was supposed to be courted by a slew of teams, was only offered a contract by the Miami Dolphins. He took it.

And Antrel Rolle, a safety coming off of a Pro Bowl year, was made the richest at his position by the New York Giants.

So much for the bidding wars. We now know the strategies of the majority of NFL teams. They are choosing to be cautious. The Bears and Giants were desperate for players at those positions. The Dolphins turned out ot be the only destination Dansby wanted to land.

The rest of the league is taking a powder. There were some other moves. Detroit made some moves, but they need to make so many moves that whatever they do seem inconsequential. The Bears also signed Chester Taylor, who will finally become a featured back at the age of 30.

Atlanta made a solid move by inking Houston’s talented CB, Dunta Robinson. The Cardinals continued to reshape their roster by shipping WR Anquan Boldin to Baltimore for draft choices.

Perhaps the exodus of major players in Arizona helped Rolle’s decision to take the Giants’ money a bit easier. It was thought that Rolle’s agent may try to take a Giant offer and leverage it vs others, drawing out the process, but that never materialized.

Rolle fills a gaping hole in the Giants’ secondary. Unfortunately, it’s at free safety – the position where Kenny Phillips has been penciled in. What will the Giants do? Or is there something we don’t know about Phillips’ future?

The Giants and Kenny Phillips have both assured the public that Phillips’ knee rehab is on schedule, yet they went out yesterday and paid Antrel Rolle $37 million dollars to play Phillips’ position. For a team that claimed they were going to double-count their chips before every move, this quick strike to secure a free safety seems dubious.

The Giants’ made Kenny Phillips their first round selection in 2008 because he had the same attributes as another University of Miami safety- the late Sean Taylor. Rolle is also a former Hurricane. In fact, when Taylor left for the NFL in 2004, Rolle took his slot in Miami and became a consensus All-American.

The signing of Rolle certainly helps the Giants at safety. But is he Phillips’ new partner or his replacement?

Let’s hope it’s the former. Does this also mean that they are not expecting Kenny Phillips to fulfill his promise? Will they take Taylor Mays or Earl Thomas if either player falls to them in the draft? We shall see….

On a side note, the Dolphins released former Giant safety Gibril Wilson yesterday. I wonder if the Giants would consider bringing him back…? Are the Giants still looking for inside LB help? And if so, who might be on their radar now that Dansby and Gary Brackett are no longer possibilities?

The Eagles released LB Will Witherspoon yesterday. He’s still got some mojo left. He may be worth a look. Then there are the RFAs. Kirk Morrison of Oakland and Cleveland’s D’Qwell Jackson have been mentioned.

The opinion of this writer, that is if the Giants want a real MLB, they send an offer sheet to Houston’s DeMeco Ryans. Only 25, Ryans is the league’s next big superstar at the position. He was recently tendered at the highest level (a 1st and 3rd round pick) by the Texans and is going to be offered a long term deal.

Take a shot, Jerry Reese. You have our permission. As Clint Eastwood said in The Outlaw Josey Wales….Are you goin to pull those pistols or just stand there whistlin’ dixie…?

"GIANTS READY TO ROLLE INTO FREE AGENCY"

...posted by John Fennelly...

courtesy of fellow blogger Craig Santucci……

Stud safety Antrel Rolle is coming New Jersey today and I doubt it’s because he’S trying out for the new season of the Jersey Shore.

It has been reported by the NY Giants beat reporter Mike Garafolo and his band of connected sources that The Chicago Bears have dropped out of the running for the Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl Safety Antrel Rolle.

For a few days now all signs were pointing to the Windy City as the lead candidate to secure Mr. Rolle; however, it seems that Big Blue has become the flavor of the day.

Rolle was Arizona’s first-round pick, out of the University of Miami in 2005. For the first three years in the NFL Rolle was utilized as a corner back but had most of his success after being moved to safety in 2008 by Coach Whisenhunt .

The 6 foot, 208 pounds safety made his first Pro Bowl this past season in 2009.

The Dolphins have been mentioned as another team that would like to make a push for Rolle; however, the Cardinals have not been completely ruled out bringing the star safety back.

"GIANTS' SHOPPING LISTS"

By Ralph Vacchiano

The Giants may not dive into the free-agent pool wallet-first when the clock strikes midnight, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be doing some shopping. They certainly have holes to fill, and they can’t fill them all from within or in the draft.

Here’s what I think, and in some cases have been told, are their biggest areas of need and positions they may look at on the free-agent market. I’ve also included the names of some specific players that I’ve either heard they like, heard they will pursue, or think they ought to consider going after.

Just don’t expect this to be the frenzy it was last year. As I told you earlier, I think their plan will be - - for the most part - - to sit back and wait out the initial craziness so the market can sort itself out. (Of course, by the time it does, many of your favorite names will be gone).

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

How big a need is it?: Huge. Perhaps you heard that the Giants cut Antonio Pierce leaving a gaping hole in the center of their defense. Chase Blackburn is considered a backup and Jonathan Goff didn’t do much to earn the starting job down the stretch. So yeah, it’s a pretty big need.

The grand prize: Karlos Dansby, the soon-to-be former Arizona Cardinal. But the guess around the league is he’ll command $30 million in guaranteed money and that the Dolphins are backing up the truck of cash. And forget Gary Brackett, too. He and the Colts are desperately trying to work things out.

More likely targets: I still think the Giants are most likely to fill this hole through the first round of the draft, but that won’t prevent them from sniffing around and maybe bringing in a veteran to help groom the rookie. The problem is the new free agency rules have taken the sizzle out of this crop. There is Detroit’s Larry Foote, formerly of the Steelers, who will be 30 in June and could fill the stop-game need. A more intriguing option might be Kirk Morrison, a restricted free agent whom the Raiders only tendered at the third-round level. He’s a little younger, played well for a bad team, and the compensation price has to put him in play for a lot of interested teams.

SAFETY

How big a need is it?: Pretty big, considering how poorly the safeties played last year. They will get Kenny Phillips back - - hopefully - - but no one knows how healthy he’ll be after knee surgery. Even GM Jerry Reese conceded last week that “I don’t think you can put all your eggs in Kenny’s basket right now because that’s a tough injury to come back from.” By the way, Reese also called out Michael Johnson for his poor play after Phillips got hurt. And no one is dancing over the play of Aaron Rouse or C.C. Brown.

The grand prize: When the Cards cut Antrell Rolle that immediately made him one of the best free agents on the market. He’s 27, had four interceptions last year, and I know there are some in the Giants organization that love him. From what I’ve heard, the Giants put in a call to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. But will they really be willing to pay a safety $8 million per year, which supposedly is what Rolle wants? I don’t see it. They’ve always valued pass rushers above all else and gotten by with average safeties. And that’s a lot of cash. Besides, there are already reports that he’s ticketed for Chicago where the Bears really want him bad.

More likely targets Boy, if I were the Giants I’d make a call to Darren Sharper just to see what his price is. He’s 34, so teams have to be careful with him, but he sure can transform a defense. Just ask Eli Manning, who he has tormented in the past. But more likely expect them to bring in a veteran to add depth, maybe a guy like ex-Eagle Sean Jones. And don’t rule out a run at restricted free agent George Wilson. The Bills tendered him at the second-round level, so that’s probably unlikely, but new Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell probably would like to bring in at least one of his old guys.

RUNNING BACK

How big a need is it?: Depends on how you look at it. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are a pretty good 1-2 punch when healthy. But does anyone think they’ll ever be fully healthy at the same time? Plus, the Giants believe they were missing an element to their running game last year after they lost Derrick Ward - - both receiving out of the backfield and his outside running. They seem to think they need help here.

The grand prize: Well, it would’ve been Darren Sproles, who had been told earlier this week by the Chargers that he wasn’t going to be tendered, which would have made him an unrestricted free agent. But the Chargers changed their minds and tendered him at the highest level - - the first and third round level - - effectively taking him out of play.

More likely targets There’s already a report that the Giants are among the many teams in the mix for Chester Taylor. However, with Sproles off the market Taylor is suddenly the belle of a very unattractive ball. There are age and injury issues with most of the players available. This is a spot you can definitely fill beyond the first round of the draft. And don’t forget they’re also counting on a healthy Andre Brown.

DEFENSIVE END

How big a need is it?: Not a very big one at all if Osi Umenyiora is happy. But it’s a huge one if he plans to talk his way out of town. I don’t think he will, but there has been a lot of chatter about the Giants looking at DEs. Nothing concrete, just chatter.

The grand prize: Forget Julius Peppers. That was a bogus rumor from the start. No way the Giants are throwing $100 million at him or anyone.

More likely targets: One big rumor is that the Giants will go after Aaron Kampman, who most scouts agree is much better as a 4-3 end than the 3-4 linebacker he tried to play last year. He’s coming off an ACL injury, though, and he also appears to have the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles. Beyond the top it’s another unimpressive crop. If they sign anyone of note, that would almost certainly main they’ve given up on calming down Umenyiora.

"ELI MANNING IS THE KING OF CLUTCH, HERE'S THE PROOF!"

Column by Nicholas Higgins

One graphic that sometimes pops up late in NFL games is "number of game-winning drives," which is implied to be a metric of clutch quarterback ability. However, this figure is meaningless out of context, and raises a number of questions. How many opportunities did the quarterback have to lead a game-winning drive? If the quarterback leads his team on a drive to take the lead with one minute left, and then his defense subsequently surrenders a touchdown, shouldn’t he still get credit for that drive? What if the quarterback leads the team on a long drive to the 5-yard line, only for the kicker to miss the game-winning, chip-shot field goal as time expires?

The purpose of the Adjusted Comeback Efficiency (ACE) Rating is to provide a comprehensive figure for measuring a quarterback’s performance in potential game-winning or game-tying situations. First, the methodology of the ACE rating will be briefly explained. This is followed by an analysis of the results. At the end, the methodology calculations are shown in greater detail for those that are interested.

Basic Methodology
The ACE rating compares a quarterback's outcome in a given situation to the expected or average outcome in that situation. Adjustments were made for four factors: starting field position, time remaining in game, deficit (how many points behind), and outcome (no score, field goal attempt, touchdown). For example:

Quarterback A: after an interception return, he starts at his opponent's 5-yard line down by one point with two minutes to go

Quarterback B: after a kickoff, he starts at his own 20-yard line down by 8 points with 30 seconds to go

Quarterback A has a much easier scenario than Quarterback B. Therefore, the ACE rating gives more credit to Quarterback B for a successful comeback than Quarterback A, and penalizes Quarterback B less than Quarterback A for failure. A touchdown is worth more credit than a field goal in most situations (one exception: overtime). If the offense attempts a field goal, it is irrelevant for the ACE rating whether the kicker makes it or misses it. Instead, the quarterback gets credit based on the average success rate for that distance of field goal, such that a short field goal attempt receives more credit than a long field goal attempt.

There are some more adjustments, but the concept is simple: The ACE rating calculates how efficient a quarterback is in potential comeback situations, taking into account the level of difficulty of the situation.

Quarterback Rankings
This list includes all quarterbacks with at least 30 qualifying drives from 1998 to 2009 (including playoffs). For some quarterbacks, this means that this data set only captures part of their career (e.g. Dan Marino at No. 43 from the last two years of his career, 1998-99). At the bottom, I have listed some noteworthy young quarterbacks that have not yet reached the drive threshold, although caution should be exercised with such thin data. For each player, we also provide the NFL's QB rating for comparison purposes.

Rank QB ACE Drives CBs CB% QBR QBR Rank Rank Diff
1 E.Manning 1.55 66 28 42.4% 79.2 32 31

2 B.Roethlisberger 1.44 78 34 43.6% 91.7 8 6

3 P.Manning 1.40 145 62 42.8% 95.2 4 1

4 P.Rivers 1.36 51 22 43.1% 95.8 2 -2

5 A.Rodgers 1.33 32 13 40.6% 97.2 1 -4

6 M.Schaub 1.33 38 14 36.8% 91.3 9 3
7 J.Cutler 1.32 55 21 38.2% 83.8 20 13
8 T.Green 1.31 105 37 35.2% 86.0 16 8
9 T.Romo 1.31 45 15 33.3% 95.6 3 -6
10 D.Brees 1.31 88 36 40.9% 91.9 7 -3
11 C.Palmer 1.30 76 27 35.5% 87.9 12 1
12 J.Plummer 1.27 108 39 36.1% 74.7 49 37
13 J.Delhomme 1.25 90 32 35.6% 82.1 27 14
14 T.Brady 1.24 85 38 44.7% 93.3 6 -8
15 R.Gannon 1.21 83 27 32.5% 89.8 11 -4
16 D.Culpepper 1.19 85 25 29.4% 87.8 13 -3
17 J.Garcia 1.17 107 35 32.7% 87.5 14 -3
18 A.Brooks 1.12 81 29 35.8% 78.5 36 18
19 V.Testaverde 1.10 70 23 32.9% 78.6 35 16
20 M.Hasselbeck 1.09 101 33 32.7% 83.3 23 3
Rank QB ACE Drives CBs CB% QBR QBR Rank Rank Diff
21 D.Flutie 1.08 66 22 33.3% 78.7 33 12
22 M.Cassel 1.07 34 11 32.4% 79.6 30 8
23 S.McNair 1.06 107 32 29.9% 83.8 20 -3
24 C.Batch 1.05 38 13 34.2% 77.9 38 14
25 D.Garrard 1.04 58 17 29.3% 84.9 19 -6
26 G.Frerotte 1.04 40 11 27.5% 74.6 50 24
27 K.Warner 1.02 95 23 24.2% 93.7 5 -22
28 J.Fiedler 1.02 52 15 28.8% 77.1 39 11
29 C.Pennington 1.01 69 18 26.1% 90.1 10 -19
30 C.Chandler 1.01 36 11 30.6% 80.6 29 -1
31 K.Collins 1.00 124 36 29% 75.7 44 13
32 D.Bledsoe 0.99 125 33 26.4% 78.7 33 1
33 M.Vick 0.97 62 17 27.4% 75.9 43 10
34 M.Bulger 0.96 77 24 31.2% 82.4 25 -9
35 T.Banks 0.96 44 11 25% 73.0 51 16
36 B.Leftwich 0.95 47 14 29.8% 79.6 30 -6
37 M.Brunell 0.94 98 27 27.6% 83.4 22 -15
38 D.Marino 0.94 32 9 28.1% 74.9 48 10
39 D.McNabb 0.94 129 38 29.5% 86.5 15 -24
40 B.Favre 0.93 187 57 30.5% 85.3 18 -22
Rank QB ACE Drives CBs CB% QBR QBR Rank Rank Diff
41 K.Orton 0.92 38 12 31.6% 76.9 40 -1
42 T.Couch 0.92 63 17 27.0% 75.1 47 5
43 B.Johnson 0.91 110 28 25.5% 81.9 28 -15
44 J.Kitna 0.88 107 26 24.3% 76.6 42 -2
45 T.Maddox 0.87 43 11 25.6% 76.7 41 -4
46 B.Griese 0.85 84 22 26.2% 82.7 24 -22
47 R.Grossman 0.84 35 9 25.7% 69.5 58 11
48 D.Carr 0.83 58 18 31.0% 75.2 46 -2
49 S.Beuerlein 0.81 52 11 21.2% 85.6 17 -32
50 J.P.Losman 0.80 34 8 23.5% 75.6 45 -5
51 D.Anderson 0.76 36 8 22.2% 69.7 56 5
52 Q.Carter 0.76 34 8 23.5% 71.7 54 2
53 E.Grbac 0.73 52 11 21.2% 78.2 37 -16
54 J.Campbell 0.72 54 12 22.2% 82.3 26 -28
55 A.Feeley 0.70 33 8 24.2% 69.6 57 2
56 J.Harbaugh 0.70 36 8 22.2% 72.2 53 -3
57 K.Boller 0.66 42 10 23.8% 70.6 55 -2
58 J.Harrington 0.60 50 11 22.0% 69.4 59 1
59 T.Dilfer 0.56 62 10 16.1% 72.8 52 -7
60 A.Smith 0.55 34 6 17.6% 69.2 60 0
Rank QB ACE Drives CBs CB% QBR QBR Rank Rank Diff
X NFL AVERAGE 1.00 5527 1617 29.3% 81.2 X X
X J.Flacco 1.31 26 10 38.5% 84.9 X X
X C.Henne 1.10 17 5 29.4% 75.2 X X
X M.Ryan 1.77 19 10 52.6% 84.3 X X
X M.Sanchez 1.04 12 3 25.0% 63.9 X X
X V.Young 1.15 29 12 41.4% 72.3 X
Note that the league average is exactly 1.00. A comeback is defined as a successful drive (tie the game or take the lead if trailing; take the lead if the game is tied). CB% is comebacks divided by drives. QBR is QB Rating, QBR Rank is their rank by QB Rating, and Rank Difference is the ACE Rating rank minus the QB Rating rank.

The rankings largely conform to what one would expect: Philip Rivers is a great quarterback no matter the situation, and Joey Harrington is not. The notable cases are when a player’s clutch performance (ACE rating ranking) differs greatly from their overall performance (QB Rating ranking). Eli Manning stands out with the top ACE rating in spite of his below-average QB rating. Eli also has a Super Bowl ring -- in fact, the last four Super Bowls have been won by the players with the top three ACE ratings, and Peyton may make it five in a row. The relationship between ACE rating and Super Bowl success will be analyzed further later on in this column.

Jake "the Snake" Plummer has an even larger differential than Eli Manning, matching Plummer’s reputation as a clutch (but mediocre) quarterback. Another Jake (Delhomme) is a surprising player to see ranked 13th, although perhaps this helps explain how an average quarterback reached a Super Bowl in 2003 and the NFC Championship Game in 2005. Bears fans probably would not expect Jay Cutler to finish in the top 10, but should be happy to learn that their franchise quarterback has consistently had an above-average ACE rating every season (even 2009!). It is still early in their careers, but Aaron Rodgers (fifth) and Matt Schaub (sixth) have both had very promising starts.

Among active players, the quarterback with the biggest negative differential between his ACE rating and QB rating is Jason Campbell. He has an average QB rating, but his terrible ACE rating (0.72, 54th) places him in dubious company, including Quincy Carter, Elvis Grbac, and A.J. Feeley. After Campbell, the players with the largest negative differentials are two superstars with reputations for big mistakes in big moments: Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre. McNabb (0.94, 39th) and Favre (0.93, 40th) both have ACE ratings that confirm their below-average performance in clutch situations. The peak of Favre's career (1995-97) is cut off by the 1998 start date for the our data, but with by far the most comeback opportunities (187) of anyone on the list, there are no issues with data credibility for Favre (his personal credibility is a separate debate).

There is one big-name "choker" quarterback whose reputation is cleared by his ACE rating: Tony Romo. While Romo has a lower ACE rating than QB rating, his ACE rank (ninth) is quite respectable and only looks poor in comparison to his superb QB rating rank (third).

There are two other particularly interesting players whose ACE ratings are lower than their QB ratings: Kurt Warner and Tom Brady.

Warner is fifth in QB rating over the past dozen years, but 27th in ACE rating. Warner has had a very unusual career, however, with higher highs and lower lows than the typical player. He had an above-average ACE rating in all of his six best seasons (1999-2001, 2007-09), and he has been fantastic in the playoffs (2.29 ACE Rating in 11 drives, the best of all quarterbacks with at least five drives). Kurt Warner from his glory years (1999-2001) with the Rams would have the fourth-best ACE rating, which is closer to where one would expect him to rank. His career ACE Rating is killed by a stretch of games covering three years from 2002-04 when he failed on 21 consecutive potential comeback drives, the longest streak of any player between 1998 and 2009.

Brady has a very high ACE rating -- 1.24 -- but that still doesn't seem to fit his reputation as the best clutch quarterback of the past decade, and he ranks eight places lower in ACE (14th) than he does in QB rating (6th). Brady’s career ACE rating is dragged down by his uncharacteristically poor 2009 season, when he went 1-for-10 on comebacks and had the first below-average seasonal ACE rating of his career (not counting 2004, when he only had one comeback drive). If 2009 is removed, his ACE rating is 1.32, which would be eighth on the list. Brady has also been in easier comeback situations than other quarterbacks. His average degree of difficulty per drive was the easiest of any player in the top 20 of the ACE rankings. Finally, there's the Adam Vinatieri effect: Every time Vinatieri hit a clutch kick in the playoffs, Brady was measured based on what we would expect from an average field-goal kicker instead. This is how Brady can lead all quarterbacks in actual comeback percentage (45 percent) but rank just 14th in ACE.
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"IF OSI WANTS OUT, GIANTS SHOULD GO AFTER PEPPERS"

Julius Peppers and the Panthers appear headed for divorce.

Julius Peppers and Rex Ryan would be a match made in heaven. Too bad the Jets, because they made it to the AFC Championship game, won't be able to sign a marquee free agent unless they lost one first.

Because it would require players to have six years of service time -- instead of four -- to become unrestricted players in the imminent uncapped year, Peppers would be far and away the biggest fish in a small pond.

The Giants have talked about the importance of maintaining fiscal responsibility during these perilous economic/NFL times.

There is, however, one scenario that should get Giants president John Mara and co-owner Steve Tisch scurrying for their fishing rods -- if Osi Umenyiora truly wants out.

It doesn't take much to go from pretender to contender in one year in the NFL. The Giants took the first step toward restoring the pride of Big Blue by replacing overmatched defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan with the fiery Perry Fewell. That was a mere appetizer.

Peppers would complete the meal.

Imagine a younger Michael Strahan getting after Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb. Peppers, who is 30 years old, is coming off a 10 ½-sack season.

If Umenyiora, 28, decides he'd love to play for Fewell, if he doesn't demand a trade and is willing to play for $3 million, there would be no need for Peppers.

If Umenyiora thinks he can get a big-money contract elsewhere, then the Giants have to make a play for Peppers.

Remember what former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi always used to say: Only the franchise quarterback is more valuable than the dynamic pass rusher.

One problem: Peppers has expressed a preference for playing in a 3-4 defense, even if his agent, Carl Carey, predictably indicated recently that he would be open to play in any scheme.

One solution: Show him the money, before the Eagles do. Remember this about an uncapped year: Teams can freely rid themselves of dead (or aging) wood (Rocky Bernard, possibly Kareem McKenzie) without salary cap ramifications.

"If there is no salary cap, we still have a fiscal responsibility," Giants GM Jerry Reese said last month. "We will do what we can do to make the team better, but we'll have some parameters."

The Panthers used the restrictive franchise tag on Peppers a year ago and paid him an NFL-high $18.2 million. But the silence from the Panthers regarding a contract extension this offseason has been deafening to Peppers.

"They're not even talking to me, so why would I come out and say I want to be here, when the team is not even acknowledging the fact that my future with the organization is up in the air?" Peppers told The Herald of Rock Hill, S.C.

Peppers no longer wants a long-term deal to stay in Carolina.

"Last year, at the time, that was the option that I wanted most. But now it's not," he said.

The Panthers have from tomorrow through Feb. 25 to designate Peppers as their franchise player. Peppers would be then be due $20.1 million. They could still decide to trade him.

Peppers has been known to take plays off from time to time, but that's where Fewell's motivational prowess would come into play. And sometimes a change of scenery can do the trick for a player who clearly needs one.

"I'm a man of very few words; I understand very well what silence means," Peppers said in a Charlotte radio interview. "You being silent to me, I understand exactly what you're trying to say. Because of the lack of communication that they've had with us, if somebody asks me, 'Do I want to stay in Carolina and play for the Panthers next year?' It's like, OK, well, how can you say you want to be somewhere if you're not really sure if they want you. Because they're not even talking to you."

Talk to him, Giants.

"We're going to do what we need to do to improve the team," Mara vowed last month. "We're not going to leave any stone unturned."

Remember how the Giants got after Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLII? Assault on the quarterback again, compliments of Julius Peppers.

steve.serby@nypost.com