If you're the Giants, you have to feel good right about now. If you're a Giants fan, you can't help but have a sense of calm going into Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
The Giants are playing about as good as they have all season right now. They couldn't have picked a better time to peak if they tried. If you're a Cowboy or a fan, you can't be feeling too good. The team has played very erratic and Jessica Simpson will be in the whole known as Texas Stadium rooting for her man.
But you have to think that Tony Romo's feeling good about the game since he's been on vacation in Mexico the last few days. Somehow I don't think Parcells would be ok with that if he were still the coach.
The keys for the Giants will be for the defense to play well and contain Tony Romo with the pass rush. He's at his most dangerous when he can step up and out of the pocket to throw downfield. The Giants need to contain him and collapse the pocket so he has nowhere to go. If they can do that, and the defensive backs neutralize T.O., it could be a good day afternoon in Texas.
On the other side of the ball, Eli needs to be efficient and take care of the ball. Short completions are ok. The running game also has to produce. Don't be afraid to change gears with Ahmad Bradshaw. The kid is a good change of pace from Brandon Jacobs and can ignite the offense.
The game should be a good one. You have to think it's the marquee matchup of the weekend. I would expect a low scoring affair. Maybe 20-16.
That's why they play the games.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Saturday morning thoughts.........
Rick DiPietro is facing a potential 2 game suspension for wearing pads that weren't approved by the league. Come on DP, you're better than that. That's just stupid.
According to a lot of NFL reporters, Tiki Barber has quickly become public enemy #1 in the Giants locker room.
Henrik Lundqvist is about to get a monster contract contract from the Rangers. Let's hope he uses some of that money to buy his confidence back.
Roger Clemens is going to be on 60 minutes tomorrow. I'm not sure what to make of this. I think he did steroids but he's making a lot of noise to defend himself. When he said "I never took any illegal substances", is that an admission that he took some substances that were not yet banned? Steroids didn't get banned till 2003 and McNamee said he first injected Clemens in 1997 or 1998. Interesting.
The Mets are still in the Johan Santana running but the Twins still want Reyes. If that's the case, then the Mets really aren't in the running at all because they won't trade Reyes (at least that's what they say).
Bill Parcells is already shaking things up in Miami. If the Giants part ways with Tom Coughlin, how long do you think it will be before Coughlin goes running to Bill? Parcells would let Coughlin be his normal ornery self. The probability is that the Giants will extend Cougjhlin's contract again. Good move, he's earned.
If I can steal Mike and Mike's "Just Shut Up Award" again this week, I would give it to Isiah Thomas. He needs to just shut up and stay away from the media. At this point, I think Dolan has to be thinking that since Isiah created this mess, he's going to make him suffer through it as long as he can. But since isiah has said he won't resign, we could be here for a while.
I still consider myself a big Mets fan and usually by Christmas I start looking forward to spring training but so far, I have no interest. Maybe the Mets have forgotten about the collapse, but I haven't and it still tastes really bad.
Still no interest in any college football bowl games. I had to think about who was even playing for the national championship. Still don't know what day it is though.
I loved the outdoor hockey game and it seems like i'm not alone. The NHL should make that a New Years Day tradition. But don't go over board with it. Part of the attraction is the novelty of it and if you make it too common, it will lose its effect. Once a year is enough but you have to get more popular teams involved. Next year, Rangers vs Maple Leafs in the stadium the Toronto Argonauts play in. You get two of the biggest hotbeds involved and it will really show the fans something.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
According to a lot of NFL reporters, Tiki Barber has quickly become public enemy #1 in the Giants locker room.
Henrik Lundqvist is about to get a monster contract contract from the Rangers. Let's hope he uses some of that money to buy his confidence back.
Roger Clemens is going to be on 60 minutes tomorrow. I'm not sure what to make of this. I think he did steroids but he's making a lot of noise to defend himself. When he said "I never took any illegal substances", is that an admission that he took some substances that were not yet banned? Steroids didn't get banned till 2003 and McNamee said he first injected Clemens in 1997 or 1998. Interesting.
The Mets are still in the Johan Santana running but the Twins still want Reyes. If that's the case, then the Mets really aren't in the running at all because they won't trade Reyes (at least that's what they say).
Bill Parcells is already shaking things up in Miami. If the Giants part ways with Tom Coughlin, how long do you think it will be before Coughlin goes running to Bill? Parcells would let Coughlin be his normal ornery self. The probability is that the Giants will extend Cougjhlin's contract again. Good move, he's earned.
If I can steal Mike and Mike's "Just Shut Up Award" again this week, I would give it to Isiah Thomas. He needs to just shut up and stay away from the media. At this point, I think Dolan has to be thinking that since Isiah created this mess, he's going to make him suffer through it as long as he can. But since isiah has said he won't resign, we could be here for a while.
I still consider myself a big Mets fan and usually by Christmas I start looking forward to spring training but so far, I have no interest. Maybe the Mets have forgotten about the collapse, but I haven't and it still tastes really bad.
Still no interest in any college football bowl games. I had to think about who was even playing for the national championship. Still don't know what day it is though.
I loved the outdoor hockey game and it seems like i'm not alone. The NHL should make that a New Years Day tradition. But don't go over board with it. Part of the attraction is the novelty of it and if you make it too common, it will lose its effect. Once a year is enough but you have to get more popular teams involved. Next year, Rangers vs Maple Leafs in the stadium the Toronto Argonauts play in. You get two of the biggest hotbeds involved and it will really show the fans something.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
Tiki Barber
In a time when the only sports figures discussed around here were all Yankees (and now when you mention those guys it's usually not without controversy), Tiki Barber was one guy that was worth mentioning. He was a guy you had to love. From the moment he became a Giant, his attitude was great, his dedication was great and her performed. What more can you ask for? Too bad previous Giant coaches didn't have the vision to see how Tiki can impact the team when given a chance and instead the relegated him to punt returns and being a 3rd down specialist.
Then along came Tom Coughlin. He made Tiki into a top notch running back. Of course the fumbles were an issue for a while but Coughlin even corrected that. And when he did, a star was born. For a stretch of 3 seasons, Tiki was arguably the most proficient back in the NFL. He shattered Giants records and was an MVP candidate each season.
Then something went wrong. I think this is a classic case of a guy's ego growing too big. During a contract dispute, Tiki gets into a public war of words with the team captain and face of the franchise Michael Strahan. Then he starts shooting his mouth off in the press about how the coaches lost a game (see playoff loss to Carolina) for them.
After the 2006 season, in an attempt to show his real value to the team, Tiki decides to retire. But before he does, he tells the GM and ownership that if they get rid of Coughlin, he'll reconsider. Needless to say, we know they chose Coughlin and Tiki went off to NBC to discuss recipes and window treatments.
All of these events lead me to my point. The once beloved MVP of the team, is now the town jerk. In less than 1 year, he managed to get three quarters of his former teammates to hate him and a good portion of Giants fans. Just to put this in perspective, T.O. left San Francisco with more friends and fans than Tiki has in NY right now.
This amounts to one of the worst PR moves in all of sports. The intention was to retire so the team can see how valuable he was and he would go down as a NY sports legend. Instead, he let's his big mouth and huge ego get in the way. The Giants didn't help much by making the playoffs and having a running game that is just as productive without Tiki as it was with him in the lineup.
So on the eve of the playoffs, Tiki announces he will be at the game on the Bucs sideline to support his brother but he will wear a Giants hat. As a Tike Barber jersey owner, I say don't bother faking it by wearing the hat. We all know where your allegiances lie.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
Then along came Tom Coughlin. He made Tiki into a top notch running back. Of course the fumbles were an issue for a while but Coughlin even corrected that. And when he did, a star was born. For a stretch of 3 seasons, Tiki was arguably the most proficient back in the NFL. He shattered Giants records and was an MVP candidate each season.
Then something went wrong. I think this is a classic case of a guy's ego growing too big. During a contract dispute, Tiki gets into a public war of words with the team captain and face of the franchise Michael Strahan. Then he starts shooting his mouth off in the press about how the coaches lost a game (see playoff loss to Carolina) for them.
After the 2006 season, in an attempt to show his real value to the team, Tiki decides to retire. But before he does, he tells the GM and ownership that if they get rid of Coughlin, he'll reconsider. Needless to say, we know they chose Coughlin and Tiki went off to NBC to discuss recipes and window treatments.
All of these events lead me to my point. The once beloved MVP of the team, is now the town jerk. In less than 1 year, he managed to get three quarters of his former teammates to hate him and a good portion of Giants fans. Just to put this in perspective, T.O. left San Francisco with more friends and fans than Tiki has in NY right now.
This amounts to one of the worst PR moves in all of sports. The intention was to retire so the team can see how valuable he was and he would go down as a NY sports legend. Instead, he let's his big mouth and huge ego get in the way. The Giants didn't help much by making the playoffs and having a running game that is just as productive without Tiki as it was with him in the lineup.
So on the eve of the playoffs, Tiki announces he will be at the game on the Bucs sideline to support his brother but he will wear a Giants hat. As a Tike Barber jersey owner, I say don't bother faking it by wearing the hat. We all know where your allegiances lie.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The Greatest Game Ever Played?
Last week I insisted that it would be a horrible decision if Coughlin played his starters more than a quarter to 2. But that was before I realized they actually had a chance to win the game. After watching the Giants play the Patriots (and holding my breath for a good portion of the game) I realzed the Giants actually had a chance to win.
Not only did they have a chance to win, but this could have been one of the greatest football games ever played. I think you would be hard pressed to find a non- playoff game that was played better and was more entertaining than this one. In fact, most playoff games aren't this good.
That makes me want to make a list some of the best games of the past 20 years:
1993 AFC Wild Card: The Buffalo Bills come back against the Houston Oilers. Need I say more?
2004 Divisional Playoff: Jets vs Pittsburgh. Doug Brien misses 2 field goals that would win game and Pittsburgh wins in OT.
Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams barely hold on to beat the Titans in SB. Another one for the archives.
2002 AFC Divisional Playoff: The "Tuck Game". Gotta love football in the snow.
Super Bowl XXV: Giants vs Buffalo Bills. Scott Norwood hits it wide right. This is the Grand Daddy of them all. The best football game ever.
The point to be made here is that the Giants/Patriots game was one for the ages and it wasn't a playoff game. In fact, other than the Patriots making a run at an undefeated season, it had no bearing other than the historial elements. Usually games need to have to be on a playoff stage to generate enough of a sense to be considered a classic but this game was different. Essentially, it had nothing on the line for either team because if the Patriots lose in the playoffs, they will not make it through the season undefeated and everything they did in the regular season will become a mere footnote in football history. And we all know the Giants had nothing to play for other than bragging rights if they were to be the only team to beat the almighty Patriots.
As much as I swore that Coughlin would be an idiot if he played his starters a lot in this game, I have to admit in getting caught up in the excitement. And how could you not? Having a 12 point lead on the Patriots in the 3rd quarter would get anyone going.
Despite the lose, if the Giants play this good against the Bucs, they will win easily. Maybe Coughlin was looking to gain some momentum and confidence going into the playoffs. If that's the case, he picked a bad team to try to do that against considering how good the Patriots are. But hey, it worked out and maybe, just maybe they will meet again this season. If this lose accomplishes one thing, it would be that Giants fans see that the Super Bowl might not be the pipe dream we thought it once was.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
Not only did they have a chance to win, but this could have been one of the greatest football games ever played. I think you would be hard pressed to find a non- playoff game that was played better and was more entertaining than this one. In fact, most playoff games aren't this good.
That makes me want to make a list some of the best games of the past 20 years:
1993 AFC Wild Card: The Buffalo Bills come back against the Houston Oilers. Need I say more?
2004 Divisional Playoff: Jets vs Pittsburgh. Doug Brien misses 2 field goals that would win game and Pittsburgh wins in OT.
Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams barely hold on to beat the Titans in SB. Another one for the archives.
2002 AFC Divisional Playoff: The "Tuck Game". Gotta love football in the snow.
Super Bowl XXV: Giants vs Buffalo Bills. Scott Norwood hits it wide right. This is the Grand Daddy of them all. The best football game ever.
The point to be made here is that the Giants/Patriots game was one for the ages and it wasn't a playoff game. In fact, other than the Patriots making a run at an undefeated season, it had no bearing other than the historial elements. Usually games need to have to be on a playoff stage to generate enough of a sense to be considered a classic but this game was different. Essentially, it had nothing on the line for either team because if the Patriots lose in the playoffs, they will not make it through the season undefeated and everything they did in the regular season will become a mere footnote in football history. And we all know the Giants had nothing to play for other than bragging rights if they were to be the only team to beat the almighty Patriots.
As much as I swore that Coughlin would be an idiot if he played his starters a lot in this game, I have to admit in getting caught up in the excitement. And how could you not? Having a 12 point lead on the Patriots in the 3rd quarter would get anyone going.
Despite the lose, if the Giants play this good against the Bucs, they will win easily. Maybe Coughlin was looking to gain some momentum and confidence going into the playoffs. If that's the case, he picked a bad team to try to do that against considering how good the Patriots are. But hey, it worked out and maybe, just maybe they will meet again this season. If this lose accomplishes one thing, it would be that Giants fans see that the Super Bowl might not be the pipe dream we thought it once was.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
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