NEW YORK – They say all good things come in time. This is one of those moments they talk about. I am very happy to have a special guest for our readers today. An absolute certified New York Giants legend. This is the rare treat that will have fans talking all weekend about how good this gentleman was at playing football in New York. You’ve read the title of this article and you know the man, Mr. Rodney Hampton. The real Rodney Hampton is answering questions about his experiences in the NFL and his life for our readers here today.
This former running back for Big Blue is a fan favorite and has been for decades. Hampton gets love on a level reserved for very few New York Athletes in any sport. He was drafted by the Giants (1st round pick) and played his entire NFL career with New York. Just those two facts alone elevate him to another level in Giants lore. He was known for running hard and knocking people down. He is second on the Giants all-time record list for career rushing yards (6,897 yards) and had a five year streak of 1,000 yard seasons in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl twice and Oh yeah, Rodney is also a Super Bowl champion and he has the ring to prove it. He went to college at the University of Georgia and was born in Texas. In 2008, he was named the New York Giants Alumni Man of the Year.
Enough about the facts and numbers. Let’s get right to the man himself now. Ladies and gentleman, please welcome Rodney Hampton.
The nygreporter Rodney Hampton Interview
RD/Q1: Thank you very much for joining us at nygreporter.com and doing this interview Mr. Hampton. Let’s start this interview the same way that I have started all of my other interviews, at the beginning. Tell us a little about your rookie season and how it felt to be a first round pick?
Rodney Hampton: My rookie season was very exciting. For me, it was so exciting to be picked in the first round. That was like a dream to me and it took me a while at first to digest that. Being picked in the first round was also a big relief for me because I was so nervous. Before the actual draft begins, there is so much speculation over where a player may go and it all depends solely on the needs of each NFL team at the time. Overall, it was a great experience and prepared me for my future with the New York Giants.
RD/Q2: Talk about falling into a good situation. After being drafted out of Georgia, you fall into a wonderful situation playing for the New York Giants, who had just won a Super Bowl a few years earlier. What did it feel like to be surrounded by all of those pro bowl players?
Rodney Hampton: It felt good to be around a veteran team with proven winners. It felt like my freshman year at the University of Georgia, coming into a big program as a freshman, playing with the seniors and excelling my first year. I did the same thing my first year with the Giants, while I was surrounded by all of those legendary players on the team. They were quick to take me under their wings and show me the ropes on and off the field. I truly learned how to be a professional. One player in particular who showed me a lot was my fullback, Maurice Carthon. He was quick to reprimand me when he saw me slacking. Initially, I thought he was a bit harsh but I quickly came to appreciate him for that because I was young in a big city and needed a true mentor.
RD/Q3: What was the transition like going from Bill Parcells in 1990 as your head coach, to Ray Handley in 1991? In essence the difference between your rookie year and sophomore season. How about getting Dan Reeves in 1993? Who taught you the most about football?
Rodney Hampton: For me it wasn’t hard. My duty as a running back was to do my job and to do it to the best of my ability. It really didn’t make a difference who the coaches were because I had to work hard and do my job regardless. During my rookie year I was sidelined for the Super Bowl, so I had to work hard and get through my sophomore season to see if I really belonged in the NFL. I had a lot to prove to myself and my team. I needed to prove that I could really excel in the NFL. I rushed for over 1,000 yards my second year which was a huge accomplishment after being out the latter part of my rookie season.
Dan Reeves was great. He was a players coach, a disciplinarian and a fun guy who I absolutely loved playing for. He was my all-time favorite coach. But it all started for me back in Houston, Texas at a small neighborhood park called Apache Park. I was a part of a football little league on a team called the All Stars. I will never forget my coaches, Coach Scales, Coach Ellis and Coach Miller. They provided me with the foundation and fundamentals of football that I will never forget. Since then, there have been other coaches who have helped me and provided me with different techniques that made me a well rounded athlete. From middle school all the way through the pros, I was constantly learning and perfecting my game.
RD/Q4: You have a nice resume Rodney. You are a Super Bowl Champion, a 1st round pick and a 2x Pro Bowler. Was there anything else you wanted to accomplish in the NFL that father time would just not allow?
Rodney Hampton: No. I must say that I am happy with all of my accomplishments. I wish I could have won a few more Super Bowls (smile) but I’m happy with my career and I enjoyed my time with all of my team mates.
RD/Q5: You held the Giants all-time record for career rushing yards (6,897) until Tiki Barber broke the record in 2004. With the recent news that he has un-retired, is there anything you would like to say directly to Tiki? Any tips for him on how to win the fans back in New York?
Rodney Hampton: I wish Tiki the best of luck, go for it Tiki! I believe in him as a player. He is a great running back and I’m sure there are a few teams out there who feel he would be an asset. There are still many Giants fans out there that love Tiki Barber. Some are displeased with a few of the comments he has made in the past. The fans in New York are great and I’m sure once he is back out there on the field he’ll have their support. He provided a lot of excitement for the fans and I know they will forever appreciate that.
RD/Q6: A players number is a big deal in sports. Some feel the number represents the man inside. Was the No.27 jersey picked by you or was it given to you? Is that your lucky/favorite number and if not, what is? How do you feel about Brandon Jacobs wearing the No.27 jersey now?
Rodney Hampton: The number 27 was given to me. In my opinion, the jersey number is just a number. The most important thing is how well one performs while wearing the jersey. Since I wore the number 27 jersey, it makes me feel proud to see Brandon Jacobs “Bringing it” while wearing the number 27.
RD/Q7: What have you been working on lately Rodney and do you have any interesting plans for the near future?
Rodney Hampton: I do appearances throughout the year for the Giants and attend many charity events. I have been extremely busy lately with my own charity, Hamps Camp. Over the years, I have hosted many football camps during the summer for underprivileged kids in New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Texas. Through my nonprofit organization Hamps Camp Inc, we have now started providing after school programs for kids. We have two programs that we currently offer, Fundamentals of Football and All Sports Program. It seems like this is the perfect time for us to do these after school programs because of all the layoffs in the education system. We have brought back the fire in many of the kids that we work with. Currently, we are only in Houston but we’re planning to expand. It has been so exciting to see the kids now that I’ve worked with grow so much both physically and mentally.
RD/Q8: If you had to sum up your entire NFL career in a sentence, what would it be? What is the greatest single life lesson you have ever learned the hard way? Is there anything you would do differently?
Rodney Hampton: The NFL was the best experience of my life because it not only allowed me to be a part of footballs most elite, it also prepared me for life after the game.
My career in the NFL was very smooth. I was blessed to have a family that made sure my business was handled correctly, which allowed me to be at ease and concentrate on my job as a running back. Looking back now, I would do everything the same. Any of the mistakes that I made helped me to become the man that I am today and I’m very proud to say that I love the man who I’ve come to be.
RD/Q9: Texas, Georgia and New York all played a big role in your life. Who has the best food? The best fans? and the best vibe? If home is where the heart is, then where is home to you Rodney?
Rodney Hampton: Texas has the best food. My best friend Jarrett Scales, owns a great restaurant there called Triple J’s BBQ that has the best BBQ in town. Now they’ve added burgers to the menu since he knows that is one of my favorite dishes. New York has the best fans by far. They’re loyal, passionate and die-hard fans for the New York Giants. It’s so amazing to me that no matter how many times I’m there working or visiting, I always have fans that express their gratitude for my service with the team. I love the New York Giants fans! As far as your question about the best vibe, I would have to say it is a tie between Georgia and New York. Georgia has a laid back, southern friendly vibe and New York is the city that never sleeps. New York always has something exciting to get into and it’s the city that is so nice, they had to name it twice, New York, New York!
RD/Q10: This is my last question for you Rodney, if you were lost in the vast ocean on a broken submarine for years and could only take three people with you, to help you survive the ordeal, who would they be?
Rodney Hampton: I really can’t answer this question because I could never see myself in this situation!
RD: Thank you very much for this interview Mr. Hampton and best wishes to you in the future. God Bless.
What a great guy. I really enjoyed this interview and I hope that all of our readers did as well. Please visit www.hampscamp.com and try to contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids if possible. You can also call them if you prefer at 1-888-635-HAMP (4267) to find out how to donate, volunteer or become a sponsor. Thanks!
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.
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.
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.
– 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
– 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.
– 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.
As some of you may or may not be aware, this Sunday (March 6th), will be the one year anniversary of the creation of nygreporter.com! It has been an incredible year to say the least. As we approach both our one year mark and our 24,000th view, we here at nygreporter would like to take step back and reflect on the year it was. Having started in March of 2010, this site has followed the exact path of a real year in the NFL. As you all know, the seasons official begins in March each year and we have been lucky enough to be here covering the ups and downs of the 2010-2011 campaign.
We were there through all of the botched punts, the 25 interceptions, the horrific and scary losses but we were also there to witness 4002 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, 1235 rushing yards for 1052 receiving yards, we saw 11.5 sacks twice over and a 5 interception season by one shutdown corner. We saw 10 wins, we saw no playoffs, we saw an IR list that looked more closely to the size of an active roster (kidding of course) but most of all we saw a ton of heart from a team that in the end was left defeated yet hungry. I strongly believe that the team has an incredible hunger to win; I see big things in the future for this group of guys!
As far as nygreporter goes? Well, we are hungry too! Hungry to improve, to write better, to write more, to see more traffic and ultimately more success. I see big things in the future for us too. You, as the reader, can expect big things this coming year. We will be here all season long for years to come covering your favorite team, so please, stick with us, support us, spark debate in the comment section, let us know you are here and what you are thinking! We would absolutely love to hear from you! We wish all of our readers the best in everything they do, thank you for sticking with us through our first year we hope you have enjoyed reading our work almost as much as we have enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come!
NEW YORK – Do you play fantasy football? Are you a Giants fan? If you answered yes to both of these questions and feel like you are a mediocre fantasy player or novice, then you have come to the right place. I am going to offer some nygreporter fantasy football advice and include my projections for Giants players. Other NFL players will be included, simply because they are tops their respective value lists. We are now heading into week three of the NFL regular season and this is the week where you begin to panic about certain players, my advice is don’t panic. Plan for the future and check your bye weeks. Check the waiver lists but do not panic.
If you are an experienced fantasy football player and find some of this information remedial to you, please feel free to add any fantasy advice you may have for our readers in the comment section below. We are always open to hearing opinions or strategies because this is after all for the fantasy football team owners. Plus, even I love to learn anything new or fresh about the fantasy sports world. In fact, I will leave a TIP area open for your fantasy football tip and the best one will get edited in and you will get credit for it. Simply leave a comment below, you do not need to be a member to leave a comment.
If you feel like you still have some fantasy related questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we would be happy to give you our opinion. Fantasy football and fantasy sports in general can become addicting. You have been warned. Enjoy the season!
Let’s take a look at some nygreporter fantasy tips.
TIP: What do I love more then anything during week five of the NFL season? Picking up players who had their bye week in week four. This way, the bye week is over and you won’t be concerned with having to monitor this player or defense for the rest of the season. You can pretty much forget about that player unless he has an injury and getting a good defense when the bye week has passed, allows you to stick with one defense for the rest of the year, opening up an extra roster space for another skill position.
TIP: If you want to win, then get a routine. This is a simple step but mostly overlooked. There are some users who play fantasy sports who don’t rally care about the outcome. Other get into a routine where they do all the research to give themselves a better chance at winning. The routine is the key. You must make a checklist of things that need to be checked every weekend. That includes bye week status, injuries, opposing offense or defense rankings, home team, checking your lineup and so forth. You get the idea.
TIP: Checking fantasy players for dummies. This is like the cliff notes for doing a proper player search for the novice. Use the “percent owned” option, this will list the players based upon the amount of total fantasy users. That means if a player is owned by 90% of fantasy players, there is a solid chance that the fantasy community as a whole, know what they are talking about. There are millions of fantasy players using these games and 90% of them agreeing on a players value is priceless.
TIP: Every single Sunday at noon, you must watch the pre game shows and check your fantasy football rosters. You watch those pre game shows because that is when the injury report comes out, usually within an hour of the 1 o’clock kickoffs. Most fantasy football sites allow you to change your roster up to 5 minutes before kick off.
TIP: Your drafts are more then likely already completed. For those of you who are joining your leagues late, here is some draft advice. Be sure to check the settings for your league before you draft. Now that users can make custom leagues, players have to be sure they are getting into a league they will like. Head to Head is always the easiest and most fun IMO. Rotisserie is another option but much more stressful and annoying, not for the faint of heart either. Always que players prior to the actual draft and do a customized player ranking. This is a fail safe in case you cannot get out of work and miss a LIVE draft. I prefer to do the LIVE drafts over the automated ones. If you do an automated draft, be sure to immediately check the waiver wire for players using the “percentage owned” option.
TIP: I do not recommend anyone playing fantasy football for money until at least one season being tutored by an experienced player. There are many websites where you can legally play for money. CBS Sports was the first to do so but others have now emerged that are poised to change the fantasy sports world forever. Websites, like the brand new FantaZ fantasy sports site are the future of online gaming for real money and a ton of fun. You can play for free on the FantaZ site if you like to learn the game or play for money. Sign up early for the expected October launch date.
TIP: Talking trash in good clean fun is part of the game. There are some who get carried away though and allow themselves to become belligerent. Do not be this guy/girl. You may find yourself invited to private leagues and make some friends who sign up each and every year because of the atmosphere of the league. Yes, leagues have atmospheres. You may hear of a “dead” league. This is a place where no one trades or talks or uses the boards. These are the leagues that you check once per week and thats it. The “fun” league is self explanatory. Cursing and acting like an idiot has no place in fantasy where kids can be playing for fun.
TIP: BEST Fantasy Football TIP From Reader Comment GOES HERE!!!
NEW YORK GIANTS TOP 5 FANTASY PLAYER PROJECTIONS (UPDATED):
1. QB Eli Manning – I expect QB Eli Manning to improve on his career year in 2009. He should be good for 250 yards and 2 TD’s 1 INT per game average IMO. I am only adding the 1 INT because of all the tipped and dropped balls by the WR group so far this year. I have already been quoted as saying, I believe Eli Manning will make the 2010 pro bowl, I stand by what I said and know that I am looking at a calm, cool and collected veteran quarterback. My top 3 fantasy QB’s – Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady
2. WR Hakeem Nicks – Hakeem Nicks has become the favorite target for Easy Eli. He has 4 TD’s so far this year in two games and seems to be on the cusp of stardom. Nicks could end up averaging 2 TD’s per game the rest of the season if he stays healthy. His enormous hands like frying pans and strong build make him a perfect candidate to join the elite WR’s one day, if not this season. I also see Nicks as a record setter for Big Blue. He can easily end up with the single season TD record and yards and YAC records. My top 3 fantasy WR’s – Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald
3. WR Steve Smith – Smith has been quiet so far this year and you know what, that is just the way he likes it. Smith could easily end up with the most receptions for Big Blue in 2010. 7-8 catches per game for 90-100 yards. I gave Steve Smith the nickname “The Silent Assassin” a long time ago for this very reason. He comes out of nowhere with clutch grabs and when the game is over, the defenses are scratching their heads. My top 3 fantasy WR’s – Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald
4. RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Somewhere along the road, the Giants became a passing offense. Bradshaw has worked to become the starting RB and I expect him to average 100 yards and a TD every single game. He is a dynamic running back that can be very elusive on the field. If he can stay healthy, he may prove to be a huge asset. If RB Brandon Jacobs can be cool with the situation in New York, they will be the dynamic duo again, just inverted. Nothing wrong with tiring out the opposing defense from speed, running and making them chase you, before you wear them out from a physical pounding. My top 3 fantasy RB’s – Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice
5. Team Defense – Speaking from a strictly fantasy point perspective, the Giants defense should give their owners a steady amount of positive weekly points. For the season average, I expect them to have 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF per game as an average in 2010. They may give up an average of 18-24 points per game but they will also lay the wood on opposing offenses. The points will come mostly from the extra stats but this defense is more then capable of shutting out a team or two this year as well. My top 3 fantasy defenses – Packers, Ravens, Steelers
How many fantasy football leagues are you in for the 2010 NFL season? You do not need to be a member to leave a comment below.
This has been a day full of blasts from the past. Two former New York Giants decided to retire with the G-Men and have it go down in the record books that they are part of the family forever. They are Ike Hilliard and David Tyree. The fans hold both of these players in very high regard, especially WR David Tyree who helped the team win a Super Bowl. Ike Hilliard is a fan favorite because he was with the Giants for most of his career after playing at the University of Florida. Both WR’s David Tyree and Ike Hilliard, were drafted by the New York Giants. Hilliard in 1997 and Tyree in 2003.
I had the pleasure of seeing Hilliard play at the Swamp during the nineties (1996) at the University of Florida. Ike (5’11” 210 pounds) spent eight years with the Giants after they drafted him and then the next four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a gifted wide receiver and a fan favorite, just as David Tyree was/is. Two former Giants WR’s coming back to the team, signing with the team, then retiring with the team. This is something that does not happen everyday in the world of football.
Ike played alongside Amani Toomer for a lot of years and I’m sure that Toomer would have nothing but good things to say about No.88 Hilliard. Ike took the heat off of Toomer on more then one occasion allowing Toomer to flourish. Toomer can hold his own in any situation and I do not want to sound like Toomer needed help. It was just a good fit to see them both on the field doing their thing.
Everyone here at the nygreporter wishes Ike Hilliard and his family all of the best!
Are you happy to see that WR Ike Hilliard has retired as a New York Giant?
There is a fairly new commercial out these days for Dr. Pepper. Some of you already know what I am talking about and others have not seen it yet. Be warned there will be spoilers discussed here. This is one of the funniest commercials I have ever seen and it seems to be tailored to the New York Giants fan directly. I am going to leave a link to the commercial in the bottom below. The commercial is basically about Michael Strahan, showing up at Donovan McNabb’s house with a pizza. He hands a confused McNabb the pizza, then proceeds to pile drive tackle McNabb through a hallway table. Strahan jumps up and flexes his muscles with a yell. McNabb steals the show by saying the words “Come on, Mike man”.
As I said before, most of you have probably already seen it but I had to write this story about it. McNabb is now a Washington Redskin and Michael Strahan is a TV star. Giants fans had to watch McNabb scramble and make the Giants defense look stupid on way too many plays. One of the finest days in history for Giants fans, was the game where Big Blue recorded 12 sacks in a single game against the Eagles. Seeing Strahan in that commercial with a very cool McNabb was funny as hell. I give Donovan a lot of credit for doing this commercial. Check it out and see for yourself.
Have you seen the Michael Strahan Dr. Pepper commercial yet? If you have seen it, tell us what you think of it in the comment area.
Here is a new segment that we will be doing here on the NYG Reporter, we will call them the unoriginal name of the “top ten” lists. Yes, we understand the cliche but it is still an effective means for communicating pertinent information about the team. The previous article we wrote before this, where we took a look at the fantasy football possibilities got me thinking. I mentioned that I thought WR Hakeem Nicks would break the single season Giants record for receiving yards in 2010. The current all-time record is 1,343 receiving yards, in a single season, set by WR Amani Toomer in 2002. During Hakeem Nicks’ rookie season in 2009, he had 790 receiving yards and six touchdowns, even though he only started in six games.
It will be interesting to see how the Smith/Nicks WR duo compliment each other. We could be on the verge of something big here in 2010. Let’s not forget about WR Mario Manningham, WR Ramses Barden, WR Derek Hagan, WR Domenik Hixon, WR Sinorice Moss and the rookie WR Tim Brown that Coughlin has mentioned during interviews. They will be competing with each other during the current OTA’s going on and even more so, come training camp in Albany this summer.
We will be doing the running backs and quarterbacks records during this week as well, so be sure to come back and check them out.
Let’s take a look at the top ten all-time receiving yards records for the New York Giants.
New York Giants all-time receiving yards, per single season, record standings.
1. WR Amani Toomer, 1,343 receiving yards in 2002.
2. WR Steve Smith, 1,220 receiving yards in 2009.
3. WR Plaxico Burress, 1,214 receiving yards in 2005.
4. WR Homer Jones, 1,209 receiving yards in 1967.
5. WR Amani Toomer, 1,183 receiving yards in 1999.
6. WR Del Shofner, 1,181 receiving yards in 1963.
7. WR Earnest Gray, 1,139 receiving yards in 1983.
8. WR Del Shofner, 1,133 receiving yards in 1962.
9. WR Del Shofner, 1,125 receiving yards in 1961.
10. WR Amani Toomer, 1,094 receiving yards in 2000.
Are you surprised by the amount of wide receivers on this list that have played in the 1960’s? Do you think that WR Hakeem Nicks can re-write the record books in 2010?
This site was born on 03/06/10 in the state of New York. nygreporter is a home for New York Giants fans and writers. We are a family friendly website and keep the comments clean. Remember that kids read this stuff too. This is a place where football fans can come and go as they please, without any headaches. We are a destination for NFL fans who want real analysis and original opinion articles about the New York Giants. The idea is to continue publishing solid work and to build on the existing good reputation we have within the Giants community. Ultimately, leading to a full time paid job writing or partnership of this website with someone who can see the light and see the social media value of working with values.
THE 2011 NFL LOCKOUT IS OVER AS OF 7/25/11. The lockout lasted (136 days). **A judge ordered the end of the NFL lockout for 4 days on 4/25/11 but I do not subtract those 4 days from the total.
NEW YORK – They say all good things come in time. This is one of those moments they talk about. I am very happy to have a special guest for our readers today. An absolute certified New York Giants legend. This is the rare treat that will have fans talking all weekend about how good this gentleman was at playing football in New York. You’ve read the title of this article and you know the man, Mr. Rodney Hampton. The real Rodney Hampton is answering questions about his experiences in the NFL and his life for our readers here today.
What a great guy. I really enjoyed this interview and I hope that all of our readers did as well. Please visit www.hampscamp.com and try to contribute to Rodney Hampton’s charity for the kids if possible. You can also call them if you prefer at 1-888-635-HAMP (4267) to find out how to donate, volunteer or become a sponsor. Thanks!
Posted by robdomaine 
nygreporter.com 