nygreporter.com and shop.giants.com forge Merchandising Partnership

March 11, 2011

NEW YORK – We have finally locked down a partnership with Shop.Giants.com. That means you can now find official New York Giants merchandise on our website. This is something that I have wanted to do for a while and think our readers will appreciate the convenience of going straight to the official New York Giants team store if they decide they want to buy something. If you want to learn how you can do this for your own website, using your own favorite team, I suggest you check out an affiliate program and learn how to Find a sponsor for your web site. Get paid for your great content.  You get a percentage for using team ads. You will need to get approved and once you do, just become a partner with a merchant, such as shop.giants.com. As you can see, there are no minefields of advertising to maneuver around on nygreporter and we intend to keep it way. However, we do want the fans to have access to Giants products.

You all know that too many advertisements can ruin a good website. Pop ups and the loud ones are avoided like the plague. That is why I will not let ads ruin our website. You will only be able to purchase New York Giants merchandise on this website. Of course, NFL gear for the NFL Draft, NFL Pro Bowl and the Super Bowls to be included too. But you will never find the clutter we have all come to loathe. You can be sure your getting official Giants gear when visiting us here. I mean, think of the possibilities, you have Eli Manning jerseys and  Steve Smith jerseys and you have a host of other Giants jerseys you can choose from as well. You can always get a team hat if you need a gift for a sports fan. You never see anyone get mad over getting a hat. Other items that nobody ever gets mad at receiving are team T-shirts, just make sure you know the right size.

It’s nice to know that you can always just go straight to specific catalog areas if you feel like browsing too. After all, it can get pretty cold in East Rutherford during the winter at New Meadowlands stadium and people will need to dress warm while they wait for the game to start, tailgate gear might be just the thing you’re looking for. I am proud to have Giants products available on my site, I know our readers are people who represent their team to the fullest. All of this talk about “stuff” has me wondering what your most prized Giants possession is? Mine revolve around meeting a player usually but what are yours? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

What is your most prized New York Giants possession? My favorite is a helmet that Michael Strahan personally signed for me.

RD – nygreporter.com

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org


Steve Smith Interview 3/6/11, nygreporter Edition 0001

March 6, 2011

NEW YORK – Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, do we have a special treat for you today on our one year anniversary. Happy Anniversary! As the marquee reads above this article, we have New York Giants WR Steve Smith in the house. Steve was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule and answer a few of our questions and yes fans, this is the real Steve Smith (he has since added this story to his facebook wall). In fact, Steve Smith will forever go down in history as the first interview ever for nygreporter.com. We are thankful to Steve (and his agent) and very thankful for all of the good things happening to us lately.

Steve Smith comes from an elite college football program at USC. I forgot to mention that I was at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 6th, 2003 and saw USC beat BYU 35-18, Smith was on the USC roster at the time and so was Terrell Thomas. They went on to win the Rose Bowl that season and both eventually made it to the NFL. Not surprisingly, the two former/current teammates are two of the best players on the team. Clearly products from an elite program under the tutelage of solid coaches.

Smith has done quite a bit in his short career with Big Blue. This includes getting himself out of the shadow of another NFL player in Carolina who shares the same name. He is breaking Giants WR records and he’s been to the Pro Bowl. Smith has become QB Eli Manning’s favorite target when the team needs a big play and he never complains when asked to sacrifice for the team. He has a Super Bowl ring and has established himself as a top tier NFL wide receiver. He is also a fan favorite for his laid back and cool style which compliments his skills on the field. No.12 jerseys (Steve Smith Jerseys and Collectibles) be seen all over the tri-state area and you have to sit back and wonder what Smith could possibly do in 2011, that will have fans rooting for him even more? Will he break another record or get back to the pro bowl in Hawaii? We will all have to wait and see but one thing is for sure, Steve Smith is going to play hard and be a huge asset for the New York Giants. Please join us, as Steve shares his thoughts on the G-Men and his NFL career right now.

I cannot think of a better way to say thank you to our readers, then by having Steve Smith do this interview. So, here he is (you get the Apollo Creed intro Steve) the Super Bowl Champion, Giants Record Holdin’, All American First Teamer, Ice Cold Pro Bowl Player, Number 12 Wearin’, Ten Table Ring Havin’, silent assassin Wide Receiver who catches everything in sight, Mr. Steve “One Two” Smith. (you can use the “One Two” nickname Steve)

The nygreporter Steve Smith Interview

RD/Q1: Hello Steve, welcome to nygreporter.com and thank you for doing this interview. With the 2011 NFL Draft coming up next month, my mind always wanders to the rookies and what they have to go through during the transition process. When you first arrived in the NFL after playing football at USC, what were your personal expectations during that rookie season?

Steve Smith: My expectations were to come in and make an impact. Just like I did at USC. Unfortunately, injuries set me back for most of the year but once I got healthy towards the end of the season, I showed what I could do.

RD/Q2: Winning a Super Bowl ring in your rookie season is crazy and something very few NFL players can own. What is your favorite memory from that entire life experience?

Steve Smith: Yeah, it was crazy. It was an unbelievable experience and I enjoyed the whole ride, from beating the Cowboys on the road to beating the Packers and Brett Favre and of course beating the Patriots. I remember it all like it was yesterday and it makes me hungry to get back and win another ASAP.

RD/Q3: By now, the fans have all seen what the Giants XLII Championship ring looks like, it is magnificent. Other then Michael Strahan (with all do respect of course), what player from the 2007 team shows off their ten table bling the most? Is it Sam Madison lol?

Steve Smith: You know what, that’s a good question. I feel like most guys keep it in a safe place, as I do and don’t show it off too much. It’s something we all treasure and don’t want to lose.

RD/Q4: The amount of recent injuries endured by the G-Men has been staggering from a fans perspective. Steve, you are inside the locker room, how frustrating has it been for you personally and for the other players to have to deal with the wave of injuries the past two seasons?

Steve Smith: It has definitely been frustrating but it’s a part of the game and everybody realizes that. That’s why it is important to have good depth and good leadership.

RD/Q5: How are you feeling yourself, Steve? The team was not the same without you on the field last season and we all hope you are back to 100% soon. I would also like to point out, that I believe I was the first person to call you Steve “the silent assassin” Smith. Did you know this was one of your nicknames (do you like it?) and do you have any other interesting nicknames the fans might not know about?

Steve Smith: I am feeling great! I am working hard everyday in rehab and I’m right on schedule. I’ve never heard of that nickname (the silent assassin) and I am not as silent as you may think. Another nickname I’ve gotten from fans is “3rd and Smith” (in reference to all of my 3rd down catches) and then “Scuba Steve” is one from my college days.

RD/Q6: You have seen some drastic player moves since you were drafted by the Giants back in the day (you’re a veteran now). What are the top player acquisitions you have seen since your arrival in New York in 2007? Also, which young Giants player is on the rise in your opinion?

Steve Smith: I think bringing in veteran safety Antrel Rolle was a great move because he is a Pro Bowler at a position we needed help with. I think that one stands out the most but there are a ton of other moves that were important as well. All of which contribute to making us a very dangerous team in 2011.

RD/Q7: What are your goals for the 2011 NFL season? I have practically guaranteed that the Giants will not miss the playoffs for a third year in a row. I do not apologize for my aggression in that statement. Do you feel the same way? Do you think the Giants will return to the playoffs in 2011?

Steve Smith: There is no doubt in my mind that we will return to the playoffs in 2011 and do some damage when we get there. Our one and only goal is to win the Super Bowl, so nothing else matters. Personally, my goal for 2011 is to be 100% healthy for the entire season and help my teammates matter as well.

RD/Q8: The Wide Receiver group has a ton of talent. I can’t remember the last time this group was so deep with good players. How do you get along with your fellow WR’s and who is your best friend on the team?

Steve Smith: They’re my best friends. Hakeem, Mario and I are very close and hang out a lot off the field.

RD/Q9: The Giants have 21 free agents to work on this off season. That is a lot of work to do and something the team has been addressing this past week with a few signings (Ware, Hixon and Reynaud). Do you want to play your entire NFL career with Big Blue? Also, how does it feel to have the Giants all-time record for receptions (107) in a single season?

Steve Smith: Of course I want to stay in New York my entire career. Having the record feels great but it is not something I really think too much about because I am focused on the future and not the past. I’m sure I will appreciate it more when I look back after my career is over.

RD/Q10: Last question Steve, if you were trapped on a deserted island and could only take 3 people with you to help you survive, who would they be?

Steve Smith: My Mom, my brother and Eli Manning.

RD/EI: Thank you so much for the interview Steve and Giants fans look forward to seeing you return strong in 2011.

What a classy guy. What do you think fans? I think he was very generous with his answers and very firm in his beliefs. We learned a little bit about his state of mind and health status, as well as some cool facts from his college days. I am even more convinced now that Steve Smith will be ready for the 2011 season and he will be looking to make big plays for Big Blue. If you’re interested in learning more about Steve or the charities he supports, be a sport and follow/friend Steve on his facebook account http://www.facebook.com/SteveSmith and his twitter account @SteveSmithNY.

RD – nygreporter.com – 1 year anniversary 3-6-11

Here is a link to the photographs we have of WR Steve Smith at the 2010 training camp in Albany.

WR Steve Smith, No.12 – photographs

All photographs are the property of nygreporter.com.

copyright 2010-2011

The Steve Smith Interview: nygreporter Edition 0001


nygreporter Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary at Midnight!

March 5, 2011

NEW YORK – What a crazy year it has been in the world of sports. I can’t believe we have been up and running for a full year already. I was trying to get our readers an interview with a Giants player for this special occasion and got very lucky, because I have one of the best players on the team answering a few questions for us. I will publish the article tomorrow (Sunday 3-6-11) of an interview I had with a “surprise” New York Giants player (he has since been revealed as WR Steve Smith). I suggest you all come back tomorrow and see who it is that I’m talking about. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Hopefully, we will be able to get more interviews now with Giants players and coaches. I know these are exactly the types of articles Giants fans want to read with their coffee in the morning or at home at night. Some of the other writers here like Josh and Saulo, have been with the website since we first went live. Others such as Andrew joined us last year. I would like to say thank you for all of your contributions and as always guys, I look forward to reading your next articles. What a strange journey it has been to get us here today. At the stroke of midnight tonight it will be one year.

Things will continue to get interesting during the next few weeks with the upcoming NFL Draft, The CBA talks (extended another week), free agency and trades. We will be here to cover it all and give our unique perspective on the team. When Saulo takes a moment from his world travels and gets on his laptop, he usually blesses us with an informed article. We need to read more from Saulo! When Josh isn’t studying for mid-terms or finals, he also blesses our readers with well thought out stories concerning the current state of Big Blue. I am sure we will see more of Josh over the summer. Andrew has been busy lately but he also gives us a great perspective on the team through his work. Thank you once again writers for all that you do and thanks especially to all of our readers who are making nygreporter a respectable family friendly website. We have not wavered from our clean chat policy or managing a safe environment for sports fans.

If any of our readers have a website suggestion, please feel free to leave a comment below. You do not need to be a member of nygreporter (although we hope you will become a member) to leave a comment but you do have to have a wordpress account. To become an nygreporter member, make a wordpress account, then make a separate account for nygreporter.com on wordpress. You can also subscribe to our email list or RSS feed if you prefer. We are always open to hearing new ideas about projects our readers might like to share and we always encourage participation.

Here are some of the more interesting things that happened during the past year.

– Getting to do our first big time interview with New York Giants WR Steve Smith, Steve Smith Interview 3/6/11, nygreporter Edition 0001

Being a “featured” blog on Giants.com and working towards developing a partnership, Giants.com features nygreporter on their Website

The shout out we got from Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger on NJ.com for correctly picking the final score of a game. Here is a link to the story and video, Mike Garafolo Gives nygreporter a Shout Out on NJ.com

Attending the New York Giants 2010 NFL training camp at the University of Albany. Here is a link to the pics, Images

Going on the “Eisen’s Insight Live” podcast and talking Giants football with Michael Eisen and John Schmeelk. Listen for “Robert from New York” at the 16 minute mark of the show. Here is a link to the podcast, NYGReporter Calls “Eisen’s Insight LIVE” on Giants.com

Doing the LIVE updates for the 2010 NFL Draft on the Giants via nygreporter, New York Giants 2010 NFL Draft RECAP

– Calling the “Mike Francesa Show” and talking football with Mike while he was at Giants training camp in Albany. No links are available but it was a good 5 minute talk about the Giants defense.

Getting involved with multiple charities and promoting their causes on our website, American Red Cross – Wounded Warrior Project – A Walk To Believe – A Journey for 9/11

COMING SOON: We are working on a partnership that will allow nygreporter.com to sell New York Giants merchandise. We will ONLY promote New York Giants products on our website.

Feel free to leave your comments below, we would love to hear from some of our readers. Once again, thank you to the Giants community for all of your support.

RD – nygreporter.com – 1 year anniversary 3-6-11

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org


Giants Sign Ware, Hixon and Reynaud to Short Term Deals

March 3, 2011

NEW YORK – It looks like Big Blue is sending a clear message that they intend to address the special teams issue very early. The Giants signed 3 players to short term deals over the past two days. I am surprised by two of them actually. The three players signed are RB DJ Ware (2 year contract), WR Domenik Hixon (1 year contract) and RB Darius Reynaud (1 year contract). All three of these players will see most of their game time on special teams. They may be brought into the game under certain conditions or situations but they will primarily be used on special teams. The Giants also put out tenders on a handful of players including WR Steve Smith, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, TE Kevin Boss, DT Barry Colfield and DE Mathias Kiwanuka.

I was surprised that the team locked up RB DJ Ware for another two years because he hasn’t been the most productive player. But I was even more surprised when they retained RB Darius Reynaud. This only means that they will not be unprepared if the injury bug pays a visit once again. I hope that Ware and Reynaud can contribute more in 2011 and I’m sure they do too because the whole world will be watching this group. Expect some fiery competition in training camp this season.

The return game was atrocious last season and I think there will be a couple of guys on that squad looking for some payback. I expect the Giants special teams to be much more aggressive in 2011. If Tom Quinn emerges with his job intact after last season, it will be the biggest upset since Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in Japan. Punter Matt Dodge should thank his lucky stars too and do his best to maintain consistency. Coach Coughlin has no patience for inconsistency and he will be very vocal about it.

The CBA talks are not going well but they did decide to extend the deadline a bit which is a good thing. The team will need to devote all of their energy to the 2011 NFL Draft very soon. Some on the staff have already been on the job for months. It’s who they are and what they do. Now that the NFL Combine has winded down, there is nothing left but free agency and the draft to look forward to as fans. And then the quiet season returns in May and June where there isn’t much football news. I expect things to continue to happen with the Giants camp from this moment through the entire weekend. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Here is another look at the three recent signings.

1. DJ Ware, RB #28 – 6’0″ 234 pounds – signed 2 year contract

2. Domenik Hixon,WR #87 – 6’2″ 185 pounds – signed 1 year contract

3. Darius Reynaud, RB #15 – 5’9″ 201 pounds – signed 1 year contract

What are your thoughts on these recent signings by Big Blue? Are any of them a surprise to you?

RD – nygreporter.com – 1 year anniversary 3-6-11

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org


Will Giants GM Jerry Reese Have Another Solid Draft?

February 28, 2011

NEW YORK – Everyone has an opinion. Some of the fans that make up the Giants Nation, think GM Jerry Reese does an outstanding job handling the NFL draft (you can include me in this group). Still, there are others who think he doesn’t do a very good job. I’m not sure what the fans see that bring them to that conclusion but I will respect their opinion. Some fans are just die-hard Ernie Accorsi advocates and with good reason but they have to remember that Reese was taught by Accorsi and was given his blessing to take the reigns. I would not be surprised at all if Mr. Accorsi still calls the stadium every once in a while, when he thinks a certain player might be a sleeper or steal somewhere late in the draft. There are certain guys who can never get the job out of their system.

You have to understand that Jerry Reese loves this time of the year. He salivates at the prospect of getting a superstar via the draft and letting them grow with the team. Handling the NFL Draft is work but make no mistake about it, the draft is also fun to certain front office people. The war rooms, the prospect boards and ratings, the months of research, Radio City Music Hall in New York and 3 days of madness that can only be compared to the sleepless nights of an Ibiza vacation that leaves one feeling and looking like a zombie. The guys who work on the NFL draft for Big Blue must sleep for a full 24 hours following the draft on Sunday night through Monday and into Tuesday morning.

The Giants staff have been actively observing all of the players at the NFL combine for the past week and have no doubt made their reports on prospects the team might be interested in. Who will the team bring in for the minicamp and training camp? It’s too early to tell but the fact that Head Coach Tom Coughlin is looking to boost the offensive line is a good thing. In my opinion, GM Jerry Reese will be fine and once again bring in premium talent. Some of the players drafted under the Reese regime include WR Steve Smith, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, S Kenny Phillips, CB Terrell Thomas, TE Kevin Boss, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, OL William Beatty, WR Mario Manningham and WR Hakeem Nicks just to name a few. That is not a bad group of players at all. I have full confidence in Mr. Reese and his staff and do not understand why fans would think otherwise. What do you think?

Do you expect New York Giants GM Jerry Reese to have a solid draft in April 2011?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org


New York Giants 2010 Rookies, The Slate is Officially Clean

February 27, 2011

NEW YORK – I would like to announce that nygreporter has officially cleaned the slate. We have updated the Roster section of nygreporter and we have taken off all of the (rookie) title/monikers of the 2010 draft class. Congrats on making it through your first year in the NFL. We have moved people back into the Roster who were IR as well. This was a very good class of talent. Unfortunately, some of the guys had injuries (S Chad Jones, WR Victor Cruz, LB Adrian Tracy) that prevented them from playing very much last year. Hopefully, the Giants coaching staff stayed vigilant and taught these guys the playbook while they were on the mend. I believe they have and I think fans should get ready for a couple of surprises in 2011, when it comes to breakout stars.

The Giants are a very talented team and just coming into their own. We have got to see some production from the 2nd and 3rd year players or they will risk losing their jobs. It’s that simple. The Big Blue front office will not allow the team to miss the playoffs for a third year in a row and if I’m wrong, I’ll eat my hat. The Giants No.1 overall pick DE Jason Pierre-Paul, like the bionic man will be bigger, stronger and faster this season. The guy looks like a defensive tackle (285 pounds at last count) who can run like a linebacker but it actually a DE. I expect big things from JPP in 2011. Things with DE Mathias Kiwanuka seem cautious at best and JPP would be a solid fill-in for Kiwi and a legit starter candidate in his own right. The defensive end position is stacked for years, GM Jerry Reese is not playing around with the Giants pass rush. Old school theory makes your mind explode when it comes to taking away an opposing offenses passing ability. Shades of Ernie Accorsi here.

Safety Chad Jones is a question mark but he is said to be improving, fans are anxiously awaiting news on his playing status in 2011. LB Phillip Dillard looked great in training camp up close and I believe he will have a solid season. He looks like a natural leader in the MLB position and someone who is intent on winning the game. CB Brian Jackson is one of my favorites. Just a good kid looking to make some big plays and stay on the roster. Many have told me how impressed they were with his college career and I hope he can bring his game up to the next level. It looks like OL Mitch Petrus is a keeper too. DT Linval Joseph might be feeling the heat a little more then the rest of players this season because the tackle position could get thin. The coaches need Linval to perform at the highest level and contribute to the Giants defense. There is one player who didn’t have a very good rookie season and that would be P Matt Dodge. Without consistency, Coach Coughlin will explode on the sidelines all year and that means bad news for Dodge if he can’t right the ship in 2011. The fans want him to do well.

The 2011 NFL Draft is about two months away now but I am already excited about who the team will pick. You will see us talk about draft predictions and which players to watch out for, leading all the way up to draft day itself. I must mention one last ting to the rookie class of 10′. I heard it through the grapevine that you have to play one snap in year two for the rookie moniker to disappear forever, so don’t be surprised if you have to carry helmets and shoulder pads for a day or two more but after that, you’re rookies no more.

Coming Soon, be on the look out for the New York Giants rookie class of 2011 here on nygreporter.com.

RD – nygreporter.com

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org


2011 New York Giants Cornerbacks Group

February 25, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants defensive backs were solid in 2010. The acquisition of defensive coordinator Perry Fewell had a profound effect on the defense as a whole but the DB’s will ultimately benefit the most. Why do I say this? Because Perry Fewell is widely known as a DB guru and there is no mistaking the fact that he brought the Giants defense to elite status in 2010. The Big Blue D hovered in the top five of total defenses all season and made huge strides from the abominable 2009 season.

The cornerback group is extremely young, with Corey Webster holding the title of “most experienced” with 6 seasons. If you averaged it out, the average amount of game experience on the team is 4 years. When you look at it like this, it makes me think the team will try to bring in a young veteran to compliment Terrell Thomas. The one player that Giants fans are salivating over is the Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha. If the Giants can figure out how to get this star on the team, they will have the best defensive backfield in the NFL, period. The odds on this happening are highly unlikely but Fewell must be in GM Jerry Reese’s ear daily about bringing this guy on board. When you add those CB’s to the awesome Safeties on the team, it’s dynamite.

The NFL Combine has been in full swing this week and it’s a great opportunity to take a look at some of the young talent. I guarantee that Reese and Fewell are considering which cornerback the team will draft this year and have in training camp. The more you look at the CB position, the more you are concerned with depth. Not the starters but depth. I am confident that Thomas, Ross and Webster can handle the job but if if one or two of them go down, the game will change dramatically. I don’t expect all of the players listed below to be on the team in 2011 but I am rooting for all of them to do well. Once a Giant, always a Giant.

Let’s take a look at the current Giants cornerbacks as of 2-25-11.

1. Terrell Thomas, 6’0″ 199 pounds – It is absolutely incredible that Thomas has not made the pro bowl yet. I say that because of his production on the field for the team. He is a huge part of New York’s success and completely underrated in my opinion. In 2010, he led the team in both tackles (101) and INT’s (5) and I expect nothing less then another solid season from him. He is young and hungry and seems to make the big plays when the teams needs them most. He also played in all 16 games in 2010.

2. Aaron Ross, 6’0″ 197 pounds – Ross has become an anomaly to fans. He was an exciting player to watch and played with fire when he first got to town but nagging injuries and missing so much game time has got him down a bit. He only missed 2 games last season due to injury but he still didn’t look himself. He did return some punts (at his request) for the team and did a good job with that but the team needs him at CB. He was questioning his career after 2009 while enduring the grueling rehab process. Something that must be just as tough on a guy mentally as it is physically. Ross is a fan favorite and I am rooting for him to get back to form in 2011. Keep your head up Aaron, we need you man!

3. Corey Webster, 6’0″ 202 pounds – Webster is the eldest statesmen as I mentioned above and the guy with the most game time experience for the CB squad. He finished 2010 second on the team with 4 INT’s and missed only one game due to injury. Coaches and fans have become accustom to seeing Webster around and I expect him to have a good season this year. He is also a fan favorite and someone the team counts on come crunch time. Perhaps he could bring in his Super Bowl ring to motivate the youngsters with that ten table shine.

4. Michael Coe, 6’0″ 184 pounds – Coe played in 4 games for Big Blue last season and was a guy they brought in for depth. His lack of playing time leaves us wondering what will happen with him in 2011. This is another guy who will have to show DC Perry Fewell consistency early and often if he wants to be on the roster. We wish him luck.

5. Brian Jackson, 6’0″ 198 pounds – Jackson is a guy fighting for a roster spot and I have to tell you that I like this kid. He is a good guy with a great head on his shoulders. The NFL is a tough business based strictly on performance but it’s tough not to root for this guy chasing his dream. He is willing to do whatever the team asks of him and I hope he makes the final cut.

6. Brian Witherspoon, 5’10” 180 pounds – Witherspoon was a pick up last year for depth on the team, plain and simple. He went to Stillman college and made the roster by the end of the year. Perhaps, Fewell can see something he likes in this guy that the fans have not seen yet. Once again, he is a Giant and I want to see him do well.

7. Bruce Johnson, 5’11” 182 pounds – Johnson was around for 3 games in 2010 and ended the season on the injured reserve list. This is a guy who might have a roster spot. He seems like he has a little bit of a playmaker in his system but it needs time to flourish. I would not be surprised if the team gave him another shot in 2011. The Giants need help at the CB position and keeping Johnson for depth seems like a smart move since he knows the playbook.

8. Joe Burnett, 5’11” 185 pounds – Burnett is on the reserve future list and will have a tough fight to make the roster. I’m not sure what to expect from this guy and fans will have to wait and see what the team decides to do. He went to Central Florida college.

9. Cary Harris, 5’11” 187 pounds – Harris is another player who is on the reserve future list. I don’t know much about him other then he went to USC. He is a guy that we don’t know much about and will have to see what happens with him.

10. Woodny Turrene, 5’11” 185 pounds – Turrene rounds out the third and final player on the reserve future list. He went to Louisville but once again, I don’t know much about him and will have to wait and see what the team decides to do with him. I hope all of these guys do well and can contribute to Big Blue this season.

What are your feelings about the current state of the cornerback group for the New York Giants?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please support the Eric LeGrand charity walk this June 4, 2011! Check it out at http://www.awalktobelieve.org


The NFL Owes Giants and Vikings Fans a MNF Game

February 11, 2011

NEW YORK – Many football fans will remember the brutal winter of 2010. This had to be one of the worst winters on record and it caused chaos for some NFL teams just trying to play football. The New York Giants were one of the most effected teams, having been stranded in airports twice during away games. The crown jewel of the 2010 NFL winter issues had to be the roof collapsing in Minnesota under the weight of tons of snow. Can you guess who was scheduled to play the Minnesota Vikings that very same evening in the Metrodome? If you said the New York Giants, you would be correct.

Not only was the game re-scheduled to a bizarre double Monday night game schedule (the game started at 7:20 PM EST) it was also moved to Detroit. Worst of all, the fans were not able to watch the game on TV because ESPN would not allow another game to air at the same time. Forget about the CBA talks, something needs to be done to address this issue so it never happens again. The NFL also owes the Giants and Vikings fans a Monday Night Football game each in compensation. The NFL is smart enough to add a clause to contracts that allow for more flexibility of airing rights due to natural disasters. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has to address this further and make amends to the fans who were looking forward to a great game and also missed the opportunity to see history as QB Brett Favre broke his Iron Man streak at 297 games. I would suggest that the NFL at least write in a clause that states, in the event of an emergency, fans can watch their teams play on the internet. This wouldn’t solve the issue but it is a start.

Some fans may have moved on and forgotten about this issue but not me. I was very angry when I couldn’t watch my team play a game because of advertising contracts. It is absolutely ridiculous and something that sorely needs correction. The NFL needs to recognize that the fans of today are much smarter then ever before and it looks bad when they know why things like this go down. Do the right thing and fix the problem before it happens again. There are only 16 games per regular season and fans look forward to seeing each and every one of them. I am confident the NFL will make amends and not allow this to happen again.

RD – nygreporter.com

PLEASE SUPPORT THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT!!


New York Giants 2010 Regular Season: Final Diagnosis

January 4, 2011

NEW YORK – You would think that finishing the season at 10-6 and taking 2nd place in the NFC East would be considered a fairly successful season. But not in 2010 when the Giants mishaps piled up higher then the Empire State building and the team missed the playoffs for a second year in a row. It was not fun to watch and deep in my heart, I know that the team played much worse then their 10-6 record misleading shows. You cannot win in the NFL if you turn the ball over 42 times (that is not a misprint) or put 16 players on the IR list. Big Blue was the cruel recipient of both of these issues mentioned and much more. The 2010 NFL season was sweet and sour for most Giants fans, including myself.

In a year when QB Eli Manning topped the 4,000 passing yards mark and threw 31 touchdowns (he is only the second Giants QB to throw over 30 TD’s in a season), the thing that stands out most is Manning’s 25 interceptions (plus his 7 fumbles). I have to admit it seemed like half of those INT’s came from tipped balls but Easy Eli certainly made some bad decisions more often then I have ever seen before. Brandon Jacobs (2 fumbles) and Ahmad Bradshaw (7 fumbles) didn’t help in the turnover department and had their own issues with fumbles all year. All three of these men are the strength of the New York offense and it was painful to watch them struggle so much this year. Still there is no denying they were responsible for most of the turnovers.

The one area of the team that will absolutely have the most changes is the special teams. Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn in 2010, was the equivalent to DC Bill Sheridan in 2009. The Big Blue special teams were simply atrocious and I fully expect this to be addressed sometime this week before the playoffs begin. If not, then certainly very soon because this group did not get the job done and even worse, lost some games for the Giants. Getting all facets of the team to perform well seems to be a bit like working a rubiks cube. Last year, it was the defense that was horrible. The defense was immediately addressed during the off season and climbed their way up to elite defense status in 2010. This year the special teams was horrible. Let’s see what the team does about that in the coming weeks. Hopefully, that will not mean that the defense and special teams are great next year with the offense turning out to be the horrible group.

Despite the media’s attempt to get head coach Tom Coughlin fired, owner John Mara was very vocal about expressing his admiration for Coughlin and he assured the media and fans alike, that Coughlin would return as head coach next year. I am glad that is out of the way and this nonsense about Coughlin getting fired has come to a halt. Let the man do his job in peace. On a positive note, DC Perry Fewell was the most significant coaching upgrade since Coach Spagnuolo came to town. Replacing Bill Sheridan after a horrible 2009 season was a no brainer. Something is telling me that replacing OC Kevin Gilbride is also a no brainer and a change that must be made in 2011. The offense seemed very sluggish and predictable at times this year. My overall grade for the Giants in 2010 is a B- (thought about a C+ but they did finish 10-6). Let’s take a brief look at my good, bad and ugly list from the 2010 NFL season.

The Good

1. Getting Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell was the biggest change the team made for the 2010 season and it paid off. Fewell lived up to the hype and made Big Blue an elite defense. The players and fans love this guy.

2. Signing S Antrel Rolle. This guy might talk a bit much for the conservative Coughlin but his play on the field is undeniable. He was another significant free agent pick up in 2010.

3. The Giants defense as a whole was dominating in 2010. This includes players DE Justin Tuck, DE Osi Umenyiora and CB Terrell Thomas who were the top 3 defensive players in my mind.

4. Offensive line coach Pat Flaherty and the offensive linemen. This group of men did an outstanding job in 2010 and Coach Pat worked miracles with limited starters and backup players.

The Bad

1. Turnovers, turnovers and turnovers. The Giants had 42 turnovers in 2010, that averages out to about 2.5 per game, not good at all. The interceptions and fumbles must stop in 2011.

2. Dropped, tipped and missed passes by the wide receivers and tight ends. QB Eli Manning’s stats are deceiving because a rash of mental errors by the WR’s and TE’s cost the team games this year.

3. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride made some questionable calls (I’m being generous) this year. He did not seem to grasp the flow of the games and let’s be honest, the defense won most of the games in 2010.

4. Missing the playoffs in back to back seasons. The 2009 and 2010 NFL seasons, are two that Giants fans cannot forget fast enough.

The Ugly

1. Special Teams was simply bad in 2010. I mean really bad. This group needs more work then the Mona Lisa.

2. Injuries plagued the Giants once again in 2010 and the team finished with 16 players on the IR list, as well as a bevy of players who are banged up and will need off season surgery.

3. Rookie punter Matt Dodge had a terrible first season in the NFL. Inconsistency will get a player cut faster then a cheetah with a jet pack on.

4. The New York media calling for Head Coach Tom Coughlin to be fired. As a fan, there is nothing more disgusting to me, then the disrespect of this man who lives, eats and breathes Giants football.

– In other news, we here at the nygreporter would like to wish QB Eli Manning a Happy Birthday. Manning turned 30 years old yesterday.

RD – nygreporter.com

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Giants vs. Redskins, NFL Week 17: Game Notes

January 2, 2011

NEW YORK – Well Giants fans, we have come to the end of the road. The final game of the 2010 NFL regular season was played today. It’s crazy how quickly the year has gone by, as we are now in 2011. The field in Washington was atrocious and had the players changing their cleats early in the 1st quarter. The internet was buzzing first thing this morning about the game today and the help New York would need from Chicago to make the playoffs. I knew right then, this was going to be a long day but the Giants beat the Redskins 17-14 in a close game.

The first quarter was sloppy as usual for both teams. Sloppy in terms of game play and not penalties because there weren’t any in the first half. The Giants took an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter. It should have been 3-3 but Redskins kicker Gano missed a chippy shot at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was almost as sloppy with both teams turning the ball over. Eli Manning had yet another tipped ball INT, which must have set some NFL record because I have seem tons of them this season. The one word that sums up the Giants 2010 NFL season? Turnovers.

The Giants led 10-7 at halftime but Washington QB Rex Grossman was looking like a baller against the Giants defense during the first half. The second half of football was a bit slow with very few big plays. Things continued like this until the final seconds ticked off the game clock. To be honest, the Giants were lucky to pull out this win against the NFL’s worst 32nd ranked defense in Washington. Fans were holding their breath at the end of this game, something fans should not have had to do.

Giants fans everywhere found themselves trying to follow the Bears/Packers game in any way possible. Fans who traveled to Washington noted that the Redskins did not show the score at their stadium, something the team decided to do on their own. But it just wasn’t meant to be as the Packers beat the Bears and destroyed the Giants playoff hopes despite the victory over Washington.

So the Giants finish the season at 10-6 and 2nd place in the NFC East. Not a bad season but certainly a disappointment to the fans and Giants organization as a whole for missing the playoffs two years in a row.

The New York Giants 2010 NFL season is officially over!

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

– QB Eli Manning had a decent game and finished with 243 yards 1 TD and 1 INT

– RB Brandon Jacobs had a pretty good game and finished with 49 yards and 1 TD.

– WR Mario Manningham had a good game including a 92 yard TD catch in the third quarter. He finished with 101 yards and 1 TD.

– OL Rich Seubert was carted off the field in the 1st quarter with a dislocated knee cap. He was in a lot of pain and I hope he is OK.

– DT Barry Cofield made significant contributions to the team today including batting down a ball in the 1st quarter.

– CB Terrell Thomas had a very nice day and led all defensive tacklers in the game.

– TE Kevin Boss had a couple of catches and finished with 29 yards.

– LB Jonathan Goff had a very nice game and was making plays all over the field. He also had a forced fumble.

– WR Derek Hagan had a nice game but also dropped a sure TD in the endzone during the 1st quarter. He finished with 70 yards.

– RB Ahmad Bradshaw had a very quiet game and finished with only 22 yards.

– DE Justin Tuck had a good game, much better then the final stats say. Not bad for a guy who got into a car accident on New Year’s Eve.

– CB Aaron Ross was returning punts today once again for Big Blue.

– DE Jason Pierre-Paul continues to develop into a monster player. This guy had a key fumble recovery and is going to be special.

– OL Kevin Boothe replaced OL Rich Seubert who went down with an injury.

– DE Osi Umenyiora made some key plays for the Giants defense today including 2 forced fumbles and 2 sacks. He set an NFL record with 10 forced fumbles in a season.

– S Antrel Rolle is simply a baller. He had another solid game for Big Blue.

– The Giants defense had a shaky game but came together when it mattered. They set a new NFL record for recovered forced fumbles (22) in a season and finished with 2 sacks, 1 INT and 3 forced fumbles.

– The Giants offensive line was playing on fumes and did an outstanding job considering how many starting players were out. They did not allow a sack.

– K Lawrence Tynes who was enjoying an awesome year, missed a crucial FG late in the third quarter. He also made 1 FG and both extra point attempts.

– P Matt Dodge continued his awful rookie season by having another up and down game.

RD – nygreporter.com

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