nygreporter on National TV During Giants Game, See Photo

August 30, 2011

NEW YORK – This is going to be a fun article about something that doesn’t happen every day. Last night during the Giants vs. Jets game, I, @nygreporter (our twitter name) got on national TV during a LIVE football game. We were one of the lucky few who got aired because the Giants held a new program where if you added #GiantsGame to your tweet, you had a shot at making it on TV. If I cannot attend the Giants game, I will usually watch it at home and talk to fellow Giants fans on twitter about what is happening and give updates to those who cannot watch the game. The game was being broadcast locally on Channel 4 NBC New York but also on the NFL Network which expands across the entire United States. I will leave a screen shot below that was taken by a fellow Giants fan with the twitter handle @MrSoprano whom I cannot thank enough. I owe you big time for taking the time to do that for us buddy, you rock!

It was early in the 4th quarter when my tweet aired, just as the Jets were driving the ball deep into Giants territory. I was trying to rally the Giants fans to not give up hope and remember that it was still a close game (Jets were leading 7-3) with plenty of time on the clock (12:52 remaining in the game). The game had been a defensive battle up until this point and I could sense the tide changing and thought I would send put a positive message to spark the fans back to life. All of a sudden, I started getting tweets from fellow Giants fans and nygreporter readers saying they just saw me on TV. Needless to say I was very excited and very disappointed that I had missed it because I turned my back to reply to a Giants fan question. That is when @MrSoprano sent me the screen shot below and said Congrats, you were just on national TV. I even got an email directly from a little bird in the organization (thank you) telling me about it.

I’m sure most of you probably think this isn’t a very big deal and that is fine with me. You have to understand that we are just a small family friendly Giants website with no budget and we have been blessed to have a great deal of fortune bestowed upon us. We have been featured on the NFL Network (twice now), NBC New York, SNY Network, USA Today, Fox Sports, Giants.com (the old website), CBSSports.com, The Mike Francesa Show, Eisens Insight podcast (official Giants podcast) and dozens of other sports websites and shows across the country. We have also been fortunate enough to interview former Giants WR Steve Smith and RB Rodney Hampton. I cannot thank those in the Giants organization enough for the help they have given me and I still hold out hope to get a job with them someday soon. I will never waiver from our family friendly format and and I will continue to give you “on point” team analysis consistently. Thank you to our readers as well because without you, there is no nygreporter.

RD – nygreporter.com

Please visit www.hampscamp.com and donate/contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids!

2 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Hamps Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Site News, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

2011 Preseason Game 3: Giants vs. Jets, Game Notes

August 29, 2011

NEW YORK – The battle for New York is always a fun game to watch. This matchup has really heated up in recent years with the resurgence of the Jets over the past three or four seasons. They have become a good team but cannot seem to keep their mouths shut. It is this reason which has added some spice to a rivalry between two teams in the same city but not in the same conference or division. The Jets made the bigger plays tonight when it counted and won the game 17-3. Even though they won this game, the Giants will always be the big brother to the Jets. Everyone in the Tri-state area knows this, including the Jets fan living in denial. So after a crazy weekend where Hurricane Irene pushed back the start of the game, these two sons of New York went on the field and battled.

The first quarter was really slow. Both defenses were playing very well which caused the low scoring first half to end with a 7-3 Jets lead. QB Eli Manning had two interceptions before halftime which was surprising. He hasn’t seemed himself throughout the preseason so far. The Jets really couldn’t do anything against a tough Giants defense the entire first half. The Jets got a lucky return for a bunch of yards and a TD on a short field. Other then that, they really didn’t do much and the first half stats prove it. The Giants special teams had their worst game of the preseason so far and that is really saying something. I hate to say this but I think the Giants might have the worst special teams in the NFL. Another blocked FG and a couple of dropped balls by the rookie Jernigan are only a few of the things that went wrong. This group is the Giants achilles heel without question. The second half of the game was all Jets and the Giants could not score a TD to save their lives. They had a few opportunities to get the ball into the endzone but fell short each time. Brandon Jacobs getting thrown out of the game for fighting did not help. Especially just before a crucial drive from the Jets 1 yard line. The second half was no fun to watch at all and some fans were extremely vocal about their disappointment in the Giants performance. The Giants defense had no sacks or interceptions against the Jets tonight as well.

The Giants are a team that has no cheerleaders for a reason, they want to focus solely on football. So, it was strange to see Snoopy out on the field standing next to a Snoopy trophy which was the prize for the winner tonight. My how times have changed. Snoopy of course is the mascot for MetLife, who recently purchased the naming rights to Giants stadium for the next twenty years. I’m sure it is all in good fun but they may need to get a better trophy next year. These are grown men sacrificing their bodies on the football field and not cartoons out there. The Giants will play the New England Patriots next for their final preseason game on Thursday at 7:30 PM EST and will need to cut down to the final 53 man roster by Saturday. Hold on tight Giants fans, the regular season is right around the corner.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

QB Eli Manning – Easy Eli just doesn’t look like himself this year. I’m not sure why. He finished the game with 200 yards 0 TD’s 2 INT’s and was also sacked twice.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks played much more in this game tonight then he has so far in the preseason. He had a good game and finished with 5 receptions for 71 yards.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw is simply the spark plug for the entire Giants offense. He had another good game and finished with 34 yards.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was his usual force to be reckoned with before leaving the game with a burner. He is said to be fine.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Brandon provided a spark for the offense but also got himself kicked out of the game for fighting. He finished with 51 yards.

S Kenny Phillips – Phillips had a very nice game and it was good to see him around the ball so much tonight.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had a nice game and finished with 36 yards. I expect a breakout season from him in 2011.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – I think I am more excited about seeing JPP play in the real games then any other player. This guy is exciting to watch and had a good game.

QB David Carr – Carr played a lot less tonight since the starters stayed in the game longer. He finished with 36 yards 0 TD’s 0 INT’s for the night.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi was having a very nice game before leaving with a minor groin injury.

S Tyler Sash – The rookie led the entire defense in tackles and is earning his spot on the roster this preseason.

CB Aaron Ross – Ross did a pretty good job tonight and will need to stay healthy in order to really help the team out in 2011.

WR Jerrel Jernigan – This kid had a long night and I really felt bad for him. Nothing seemed to go right for him as a returner. Keep your head up!

K Rhys Lloyd – Lloyd made one 34 yard FG and had another 42 yard FG attempt blocked. He is a kickoff specialist and should be used as such.

P Matt Dodge – Dodge is still having an up and down season but he seems better then last year for sure.

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi is still on the mend from recent surgery and did not play in this game.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes did not play in this game as he is still on the mend from an injury suffered in the first preseason game against the Panthers.

What did you think about the New York Giants performance against the Jets?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support The Wounded Warrior Project by Clicking Here, You Are Not Forgotten!!

9 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, Wounded Warrior Project | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

Hurricane Irene Postpones Giants vs. Jets Game…Again!

August 27, 2011

NEW YORK – The storm of the century in the northeast has finally effected NFL football. After the Giants vs. Jets game was re-scheduled to start five hours earlier today at 2:00 PM from 7:00 PM, the game has now been postponed until Monday night at 7:00 PM EST. Hurricane Irene is a monster, there is no question about that. Anyone who saw the satellite images from NASA knows we are dealing with a very angry mother nature. The rain has already started to fall in the New York area and people all across the east coast have been advised to evacuate, some of the towns have even ordered mandatory evacuations. Head Coach Tom Coughlin expressed concern about the storm for the Giants staff, coaches and players yesterday at a ceremony in Bryant Park commemorating the renaming of Giants stadium to the MetLife stadium.

I think both teams have made a very wise decision to postpone the game. I’m not sure how many of our readers have ever experienced a hurricane and the after effects but I can assure you that it is very unpleasant situation to find yourself in. Try to imagine not having electricity, running water or gas for a week. I survived a hurricane down in South Florida in 2005 called Hurricane Wilma and although it wasn’t as devastating as Hurricane Katrina, it was bad enough that they retired the name. I have seen things you would not believe in the aftermath. Imagine there being no running water, no air conditioning, no microwave, no refrigeration, no gas stations, no stove, no house lights, no shower, no computer, no video games, no TV, no phones, no street lights and no toilet bowl. These are just some of the things I remember but there are more. How would you make a cup of coffee? How would you cook food? How would you stay clean? How would you see at night? These are all things you have to prepare for and think about. It is better to have supplies and not need them, then to need them and not have them.

We can only hope that Hurricane Irene calms down and slows down before arriving in the New York area. I also pray for any of the other towns along the coast that it has already effected. Fans must also consider the fact that the Giants vs. Jets game could be cancelled for good at some point. If the hurricane does hit full force, the probability of the game being played anytime soon goes to zero. The storm is expected to hit us sometime tomorrow afternoon. I urge all of my readers to prepare now with the last few hours you have before this storm hits. There is no shame in preparing for the worst and looking out for your family or friends. Keep the kids calm and prepare to entertain them in the stone age with books and crayons because all of the electricity could be gone. Also be sure to check your local town government website right now, for tips on what you should do if things get bad. Be prepared, be safe and God bless!

Do you think Hurricane Irene will force the NFL to cancel the Giants vs. Jets game entirely?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please visit www.hampscamp.com and donate/contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids!

4 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Hamps Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG BREAKING NEWS, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Update, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Roger Goodell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

Would Mathias Kiwanuka Make a Solid Middle Linebacker?

August 26, 2011

NEW YORK – Let me start by saying that I do not like Mathias Kiwanuka playing linebacker. I think the guy has been vocal about his preference to play his natural defensive end position and I agree with him. Because the Giants are so deep at the defensive end position, the goal has switched to getting as much talent on the field as possible. Even if that means having a defensive end running around in space and trying to catch a wide receiver from behind. I hope that Kiwi does not get injured trying to make plays back there with speed instead of strength. Of course, Kiwi will not complain about his new role and will continue to be a team player. Now let me also say that Kiwi is a very good athlete and I’m not questioning his ability to play football at any position. What I’m discussing here is preference in the midst of an overcrowded DE position.

So if they are going to make Kiwi a linebacker, why not try him in the middle linebacker role? The man is certainly smart enough to handle the duties and should be fine with leading the defense since he is a veteran now. If Perry Fewell wants to experiment with Kiwi, I say go all in and drop him right in the middle of the action. Let the faster LB’s cover the wings and let him focus on the run. There would be the added responsibility of reading and reacting to the offense and what the opposing quarterback does with audibles but I think Kiwi is smart enough to handle it. He may not want all of that added responsibility but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t handle it. Jonathan Goff and Phillip Dillard are the two main guys we have now and Kiwi couldn’t be any worse then them. Honestly, I think that Goff has done a pretty good job in the middle but I would like to see him making more plays and being more vocal. Antonio Pierce was never in the background and it just seems like Goff is never in any news.

The now famous “Nascar defense” that DC Perry Fewell has used since coming to New York has been outstanding. Whenever I see those guys lined up in that formation, I get very excited because I do not know which one of them will break free and make the play. Using four defensive ends lined up against the offensive line is a nightmare for offensive coordinators. There is simply too much speed and power to contend with. Kiwanuka will absolutely continue to be a part of that scheme along with Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora. If he does get a shot at MLB, can you imagine those long arms of Kiwi batting down quarterback passes over the middle? That is simply frightening to think about protecting against. Maybe it’s time for some bigger changes and bigger experiments. Maybe Kiwi should be used for both his mind and his athleticism on the field. Maybe it is time for Kiwi to become the leader that fans have been recognizing in him for years now.

Do you think Mathias Kiwanuka would make a good middle linebacker for the Giants?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support The Wounded Warrior Project by Clicking Here, You Are Not Forgotten!!

4 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, Wounded Warrior Project | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

Giants Roster Shakeup Continues as Regular Season Nears

August 25, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants have come a long way since Monday night. The only problem is they have headed in the wrong direction. I’m one of the most positive Giants fans you will ever come across and even I’m concerned now. Giving a pep talk doesn’t really mean anything when we are discussing the talent on the roster. That speaks for itself and it always confuses me when people talk about staying positive when the team loses star players due to injury. Positivity has nothing to do with on field production. I’m a positive guy but the reality is that the team needs to get some talent on the field and quickly because we are about two weeks away from the start of the regular season.

The Giants have lost CB Terrell Thomas, CB Bruce Johnson, CB Brian Witherspoon and DT Marvin Austin for the entire 2011 season. Johnson and Witherspoon were cut because of their injuries. Rookie CB Prince Amukamara will also be out for 6-8 more weeks due to a fractured foot. Over the past week, the team has also cut CB Woodny Turenne, S Cary Harris, WR Sam Giguere and LB Kenny Ingram. Has anyone else noticed the large amount of defensive players that have either been cut or landed on the season ending IR list? Of course you have. That is why I am concerned and a pep talk just won’t cut it for me at this time. The one player currently on the roster that I would like to see get some playing time is CB Brian Jackson. I have been the only writer I’ve seen so far talking about Jackson (6’0″ 212 pounds) and calling for him to get a shot. He is a quality player and wonderful human being and someone you want on your team. I hope he gets a chance to win over the coaches and fans this year.

The Giants have addressed the massive loss of talent by signing three players over the past week. The new signings include CB Brian Williams, S Derrick Martin and DT Jimmy Kennedy. The Giants also re-signed S Deon Grant, which could end up being one of the most important signings this offseason. The backfield still has a lot of talented guys back there but depth is the real issue. I doubt if GM Jerry Reese is done bringing in players. He is using a pragmatic approach to dealing with these injuries and quite frankly, I don’t think there is a better way to handle it. I also agree that a few of the younger players will need to step up this year and contribute to the team. They may be thrown into the fire but how they react to that will decide their future with New York. It doesn’t seem fair to these players but hey, life isn’t always fair.

On a sad note, the Giants have officially sold the naming rights to Giants stadium. Fans will now have to tolerate it being called the MetLife stadium for the next 20 years. Of course, the true blue fans (like me) will forever call it Giants stadium.

How would you solve the recent issues facing the New York Giants?

RD – nygreporter

Please visit www.hampscamp.com and donate/contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids!

12 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Injuries, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Giants Transactions, Hamps Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

2011 Preseason Game 2: Giants vs. Bears, Game Notes

August 23, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants faced the Chicago Bears on Monday night in the Meadowlands and played one heck of a game. The Giants won 41-13 but did not come out of the game without some bad news, some really bad news. By now, most fans have already read my previous article and know that Big Blue lost star CB Terrell Thomas for the year with a torn ACL on a freak play where DE Jason Pierre-Paul’s leg swung around and hit Thomas in the leg. There could not be any worse news then learning that you lost your No.1 CB for the year. I was surprised because Thomas walked off the field under his own strength and seemed ok. I truly wish him a speedy recovery and I’m sure that the rest of Giants Nation does as well.

The game started out slow in the first quarter but picked up steam from that point on. Going into the second quarter the game was tied up 3-3 and it seemed like fans would be in for a sleeper. But that changed rather quickly once the team started rolling. RB Brandon Jacobs was the spark the team needed to get going and after he scored his touchdown, the Giants never looked back for the rest of the game. The score was 20-6 by halftime and the Giants defense would allow only seven more points for the rest of the game. I’m not sure if this game represented the fact that the G-men have shaken off the rust or that the Bears are just an awful team but hey, a win is a win. This is only a preseason game, so I try not to get too excited but seeing some of those rookies perform so well has me pumped up. Rookie RB Da’Rel Scott gets my game ball. That kid can run like the wind and had the best play of the night when he ran the ball 97 yards for a TD late in the 4th quarter. I hope we get to see more of him real soon.

Fans can expect GM Jerry Reese to bring in a veteran CB sometime this week. I would not be surprised at all if he does so as early as today. With limited time left before the regular season starts, the team will need to bring the new guy up to speed in a very short period of time. The Giants have become very thin at CB and will need to remedy that as quickly as possible.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

QB Eli Manning – Manning still looked very shaky out there and finished 8/16 for 78 yards 0 TD 0 INT.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw was his usual elusive tough self and finished with 15 yards on 5 carries during his short playing time.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks did not do much in this game and played very little. However, I expect big things from him once the regular season starts.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck had 3 tackles in his limited playing time. He will be ready to rock and roll once September comes around.

RB Da’Rel Scott – This rookie is fast. Scott introduced himself to the football world with a 97-yard TD run late in the 4th quarter. He had only 1 carry but made the most of it. Did I mention how fast he is?

CB Terrell Thomas – The team lost CB Thomas for the year with a torn ACL in the 2nd quarter. This is devastating news. Get well soon T2.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs was flashing some old school ball running last night and had a good game. He finished with 48 yards on 6 carries and 1 TD.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP was disruptive at times but NFL teams know about the secret now and will look to stop JPP at all costs. Good luck.

LB Mark Herzlich – The rookie LB got his first NFL INT last night and was a force on special teams. The more I see, the more I like this kid.

WR Victor Cruz – Cruz had a very nice game and led all WR’s with 40 yards on 3 receptions. He is another WR making a case to be the 3rd wideout.

P Matt Dodge – Dodge wasn’t awful last night and seemed to play with a chip on his shoulder as he was punting bombs.

LB Jonathan Goff – Goff had the lone sack of the night for Big Blue and had a good game with limited playing time.

TE Daniel Coats – New Giants TE Coats made a nice play late in the game and finished with 17 yards and 1 TD.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes did not play in the game and is on the mend from getting banged up in last weeks game against the Panthers.

RB Danny Ware – Ware scored the only TD in the 3rd quarter but needs to work on holding onto the ball.

K Rhys Lloyd – Lloyd had a solid game for a guy who doesn’t kick FG’s. He went 2/2 on FG attempts and 5/5 on extra point attempts.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had a nice game and finished with 39 yards on 4 receptions. He should have a great 2011 season.

QB David Carr – Carr had an outstanding welcome home party and finished the night by going 9/11 for 84 yards and 2 TD’s. I’m glad he is back with the team.

WR Domenik Hixon – Hixon has been making a case for himself to be the third WR in my opinion. He finished with 13 yards and 1 TD.

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi did not play in the game as he recovers from recent surgery. I’m glad the team will have him on the roster in 2011.

WR Devin Thomas – Devin did a really nice job returning kickoffs. It was nice to see somebody on special teams step up and play with pride.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Bears on Monday night?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support The Wounded Warrior Project by Clicking Here, You Are Not Forgotten!!

5 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, Monday Night Football, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, Wounded Warrior Project | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

Giants Lose Star CB Terrell Thomas For the Season

August 22, 2011

NEW YORK – It is every NFL coaches worst nightmare scenario. Playing in a preseason game and losing a star player for the year to injury. The New York Giants have lost starting CB Terrell Thomas for the year on a bizarre play in which Jason Pierre-Paul’s leg whipped around and hit Thomas in the leg. Yes, it is the dreaded torn ACL injury that all fans know too well. I really feel bad for the guy because we all know how hard he worked during the offseason to better himself. Justin Tuck was on television being interviewed during the game and was asked what he thought about the loss of Thomas, Tuck simply said “it’s devastating”. That might be an understatement. With the Giants looking very thin at the CB position even before this horrible news, they now need to get to work on bringing in adequate backup players. The Giants lost CB Bruce Johnson for the year due to injury and also rookie CB Prince Amukamara for a couple of months with a fractured foot.

This will most likely leave CB Corey Webster and CB Aaron Ross as the two starters. Both of those guys are very capable of filling in but the real question becomes one about depth. The Giants are very thin at one of the most crucial positions in the game of football. Head Coach Tom Coughlin looked like he had seen a ghost when Thomas went down just before the half. Somehow T2 managed to walk off the field on his own but once the team came out of the locker room from halftime, the news broke about Thomas’ injury and his season being over. I can honestly say that I gasped at the news when I first heard it and still haven’t really digested the information yet. Thomas led the team in tackles last year and is clearly a defensive leader for the team. You simply cannot replace the production and a talent like that but the team will need to bring in someone who can fill in temporarily.

CB Michael Coe, CB Brian Jackson and CB Brian Witherspoon could be worked into games as fill ins too. But I still think the team will have to bring in a veteran CB for the depth chart to be even remotely near the talent they lost thus far. Rookie CB Prince Amukamara will return later in the season but I doubt they will throw him in the fire after returning from an injury. Things are about to get very interesting in the backfield and I fully expect to see a new face in Giants blue sometime this week.

How much will losing CB Terrell Thomas for the year hurt the New York Giants?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support The Wounded Warrior Project by Clicking Here, You Are Not Forgotten!!

3 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants Injuries, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Giants Transactions, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, Monday Night Football, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, Wounded Warrior Project | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by robdomaine

Giants Plan Begins to Take Shape, Roster Moves Continue

August 18, 2011

NEW YORK – Yesterday was a good day to be a Giants fan. The Mike Francesa Show did their annual broadcast from Giants training camp. This is one of the better shows for Giants fans because we get to hear from everyone including owner John Mara, GM Jerry Reese, Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning and a ton of other players. Although the practices are being held at the Timex Performance Center this year, Mr. Mara confirmed that the team will head to Albany next year to honor their agreement. This has been a hectic week for Big Blue and the team continues to make roster adjustments as the season nears. One of the biggest re-signings this week was S Deon Grant. Fans fell in love with Grant over his no nonsense approach to the game and veteran leadership. The Giants defensive backfield must look like a dangerous minefield to opposing offenses with all of the talent back there. I’m glad we don’t have to play against them.

I have a question for you. What do you do when your special teams have been atrocious for the past two seasons (2009, 2010) and look horrible in their first preseason game of 2011? You eliminate special teams from the game by signing a kickoff specialist that will boot the ball through the endzone and make opposing offenses start on their twenty yard line. Brilliant! Fans were scratching their heads when the G-Men signed a kicker this week, who doesn’t kick FG’s. Yes, you heard me right. K Rhys Lloyd was signed to help the Giants in the special teams department. Lloyd (5’11” 230 pounds) comes to Big Blue from the Carolina Panthers and is known for being a specialist that averages about 67 yards per kickoff. With the rule changes to kickoffs this year that state teams must kick from the 35 yard line, you can see what the team is trying to do. Replacing K Lawrence Tynes isn’t a bad idea but Lloyd has never kicked a regular season NFL FG, so it looks like he will be strictly a special teams weapon for kickoffs. It would be worth keeping Lloyd on the final 53 man roster simply because of how bad the special teams group has played. His roster spot is justified and I think he will be a welcome upgrade to the sloppy play as of late.

The Giants also cut S Cary Harris and WR Samuel Giguere this week, clearing up some roster space for other signings. The tight end position could be a real problem this season. The team might be better off just getting a blocking tight end until they are able to find one that can fit the traditional mold. The Giants did sign veteran TE Daniel Coats (6’3″ 264 pounds) last week and since he only has 30 catches in four NFL seasons, perhaps they intend to use him as that blocker I’m talking about. TE Jake Ballard and TE Travis Beckum should compete for the pass catching TE role. Another big move this week was the return of DE Osi Umenyiora to practice. The Giants need Osi on the team and I’m glad he was able to stick it out this year and honor his current contract. If Umenyiora has another season like he did last year, it will be impossible not to pay him what he is asking for. The guy deserves to be paid according to his on-field production. The Giants will play the Bears next on Monday night in the Meadowlands at 8 P.M.

Are you starting to feel more comfortable with the direction the Giants are headed in for 2011?

RD – nygreporter

Please visit www.hampscamp.com and donate/contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids!

8 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Giants Transactions, Hamps Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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Steve Smith to Eagles Will Hurt More Then You Think

August 16, 2011

NEW YORK – It has been about a week since the news broke about WR Steve Smith going to the rival Philadelphia Eagles. I didn’t write an entire article on this subject because I was still in a state of shock and denial about it for most of this time. It is time for me to give this topic a full article. Now, I know the Giants have some great young WR’s on the team and I know it is time for them to step up. But we are talking about Steve Smith here and not some run of the mill player. Smith is a Super Bowl Champion and Pro Bowl player who was QB Eli Manning’s favorite safety valve. Manning must be fuming at the reality of losing so many of his familiar faces on offense (Smith, Boss, Hedgecock, O’Hara, Seubert, Andrews). I think the game on Saturday showed that he was rattled and will need to put in a lot of work with the new guys before he can settle down.

Giants fans were absolutely disgusting in their remarks to Steve Smith after hearing the news. Some were wishing him dead or for him to get a worse injury then the one the 26 year old is already mending. I couldn’t believe some of the venom being thrown at the man who just 24 hours earlier was a fan favorite. Of course, I understand their anger about him going to a division rival and you could compare it to breaking up with a loved one and saying things that you don’t really mean. I was honestly shocked too by the news that he would accept that deal and jeopardize the New York love he had received so deeply. Apparently, there were some things that did not make it to the press about his situation and following his exodus from Big Blue, there were a ton of back and forth remarks that raised some eye brows. The Giants say they offered him a $35 million dollar deal last year and Smith’s camp says that it never happened. Someone is lying but fans will have to wonder who it is. It’s just plain ugly, either way you look at it.

I think we can all agree that WR Hakeem Nicks is the No.1 WR on the team. The one thing I am certain of is that the Giants do not have a better No.2 WR then Smith on the team. A lot of fans will say that Mario Manningham is better then Smith but I disagree. I am not saying that Manningham is a bad WR at all. In fact, Mario is one my favorite players on the team and can handle his business with the best of them. What I’m saying is that Mario hasn’t done what Smith has done yet. Is the potential there? Sure it is. But we will need to see what happens on the field before making a final assessment. Some will say that Manningham would have taken the No.2 WR spot anyway and that Smith would be the No.3 guy. OK, let’s look at that then for the sake of argument. As far as there being a better No.3 WR on the team, there isn’t. There just flat out isn’t anyone who matches up with Smiths talent that deep into the roster and if you think there is, you’re kidding yourself. Smith holds the all-time single season receptions record for the New York Giants with 107 and until another WR comes close to that kind of production, I simply cannot compare them to Smith.

Steve Smith was the first interview ever for nygreporter. I cannot ever thank him enough for doing that for me (thank you to N.S. and Smith’s agent again for helping set that up). I will forever be a fan of his for that reason (except when he plays the Giants of course) and will always consider him a first class guy off the field. You can check out the interview I did with him here: Steve Smith Interview 3/6/11, nygreporter Edition 0001

Now that you have had some time to really think about the Steve Smith departure, what are you thoughts about it?

RD – nygreporter.com

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10 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Regular Season, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants History, Giants Injuries, Giants Roster, Giants Stadium, Giants Training Camp, Giants Transactions, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, New Jersey, New Meadowlands Stadium, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Injury Report, NYG Interviews, NYG Preseason, NYG Regular Season, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn, Wounded Warrior Project | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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2011 Preseason Game 1: Giants vs. Panthers, Game Notes

August 14, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants lost to the Carolina Panthers last night 20-10 in their first preseason game. The Giants defense scored the lone touchdown within the first two minutes of the game on a interception by LB Michael Boley. That was the highlight of the game in North Carolina as far as I’m concerned. The Giants defense had four sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles in the game. Not a bad night at all except the also gave up 20 points and 342 total yards of offense. I saw some things I liked and things I didn’t like about this group but the G-men were certainly giving up a lot of big plays. DE Jason Pierre-Paul was the defensive MVP last night by getting 2 sacks during his limited playing time. LB Michael Boley could also be in that discussion for having a 56 yard INT for a TD. Panthers QB Cam Newton looked very good in his first game (8/19 – 134 yards) and I’m sure the kid will be a star at some point.

The offense did not look very good at all. There were a few big plays but the majority of the game was played sloppy and out of sync. During the first quarter, the Panthers were able to get a ton of penetration through the offensive line and knocked QB Eli Manning down more then once. It was clear to me that Eli was not relaxed at all and seemed to be playing nervous football. Manning is a guy who is known for keeping his cool and playing smart football, so it was a bit unnerving to see him rattled like that. He also cannot properly slide when he takes off running and I would advise against him ever doing that again. The offensive line only gave up 2 sacks but the pressure they allowed was evident the whole game. The offensive MVP was WR Domenik Hixon, who provided the team with a spark when they were down. The Giants could not buy a first down for most of the game (3-16 on 3rd down) and managed to get 298 yards of total offense.

The darkest news about the team comes from the special teams. I was truly convinced that this group of guys would be twice as good as they were last year. GM Jerry Reese carefully selected players and coaches that we all felt would improve the special teams play. We were all wrong. Granted, it is the first preseason game and there was a lot of rust to work off but man were they bad last night. K Lawrence Tynes missed two FG’s (55 and 37 yarders) and had one blocked going 1-4 on the night, P Matt Dodge was unsensational in his punting and the players were missing tackles and blocks all over the field. I have no idea what coach Tom Quinn is doing with this group but he needs to make changes and fast. We are less then a month away from the regular season and at this rate, the Giants might have the worst special teams in the NFL.

Let’s take a look at some of my game notes from last night.

QB Eli Manning – Easy Eli did not have a good game with his limited playing time going 4-9 for 36 yards, 0 TD’s and 0 INT’s.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP is the talk of the town after getting 2 sacks and looking extremely comfortable in a starting role.

LB Michael Boley – Boley had a nice game and of course, the only touchdown for Big Blue on a 56 yard INT in the 1st quarter.

WR Domenik Hixon – It was good to see Hixon back on the field after last seasons injury. He lead all WR’s with 86 yards and had a good game.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw had a few nice plays and finished the game with 21 yards on 5 carries.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a nice 14 yard catch but saw limited playing time. He will be a force this year.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi did not look comfortable playing LB and I wish they would cease using him in that capacity. The man is a DE.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes had a very bad game. Fans can excuse the missed 55 yard FG attempt but missing the 37 yarder is inexcusable.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Brandon had a decent game on short time with 16 yards on 3 carries.

WR Jerrel Jernigan – The rookie did not have a very good night as a returner. However, I think he can and will improve. Seeing him wear No.12 was a bit weird.

LB Mark Herzlich – Undrafted rookie and fan favorite Herzlich had a good game and seemed to be anxious to make plays. He also had a forced fumble in the game.

P Matt Dodge – Dodge has not shown me anything different from what he was doing last season. Strong leg with no accuracy.

What did you think about the Giants performance in the game last night?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please visit www.hampscamp.com and donate/contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids!

4 Comments | 2011 Fantasy Football, 2011 New York Giants, 2011 NFL Draft, 2011 NFL Preseason, 2011 NFL Training Camp, Big Blue, Chris Mara, East Rutherford, Eli Manning, G-Men, Giants, Giants Coaches, Giants Draft, Giants Front Office, Giants Roster, Giants Training Camp, Hamps Camp, Jerry Reese, John Mara, Jonathan Tisch, Justin Tuck, Kevin Gilbride, New Jersey, New York, New York Football Giants, New York Giants, NFC East, NFL, NFL Draft, NFL New York Giants, NFL Schedule, Nilay Shah, NY Giants, NYG, NYG Blog, NYG Draft, NYG Exclusive, NYG Fantasy Football, NYG Preseason, NYG Reporter, NYG Schedule, NYG Story, NYG Training Camp, NYG Website, nygreporter, Pat Hanlon, Perry Fewell, Steve Tisch, Timex Performance Center, Tom Coughlin, Tom Quinn | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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