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

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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!


Update: Giants Close Out Insane Week in the NFL

July 30, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants closed out an insane week last night by making a few more moves and signing the bulk of their rookie class. CB Prince Amukamara is the sole rookie that has yet to sign but the team expects to remedy that sometime today. GM Jerry Reese said there will be no long holdout on Princes behalf. The six rookies who did sign with the team yesterday include DT Marvin Austin, OL James Brewer, S Tyler Sash, WR Jerrel Jernigan, RB Da’Rel Scott and LB Jacquian Williams. I’m very excited about the team signing these guys and the fact that Amukamara will be signed soon. There is one player out of this bunch that remains a mystery man in my opinion. Fans haven’t heard much about LB Jacquian Williams, which has really got me curious. We’ve been hearing about all of the other picks and have even become familiar with their names but Williams is almost an after thought for some reason. That should make your radar pop up and say “Who is this kid?”

The best news of the day came when fans learned about RB Brandon Jacobs stepping up and restructuring his contract to remain with the team and give them room to sign other crucial players. You can say what you want about Jacobs but it doesn’t mean I have to listen to you. I have been a fan of Brandon’s since he first arrived and never wavered in my opinion about him staying with the team. I have seen a bunch of fair weather fans calling for his head and asking the team to get rid of him, which made me sick. Jacobs has proven he wants to remain in New York and has officially become a Son of New York with this latest unselfish move. Thank you Brandon for being a man and putting the team first. I will be buying your authentic jersey to wear during the 2011 season and I encourage all of our readers to do the same.

Big Blue also went out an signed a Punter yesterday. The moment the team signed veteran punter Steve Weatherford yesterday, the Matt Dodge clock began ticking. I have nothing against Matt Dodge personally and if anyone wanted him to do well, it was me. But the inconsistency cannot be overlooked and regardless of having a strong leg, you have to be consistent in the NFL. At the very least, there will be competition at the punter position in this years training camp. Most fans welcome the change.

The Giants will hit the practice field today as training camp opens up to the public. The players spent most of yesterday taking physicals, checking equipement and attending meetings but the time has come to get on the field and do some work. The coaches must feel like it is the first day of school because Giants coaches truly love their jobs. The weather channel expects no rain today, so the fans should be fine if they plan on attending. Fans must remember that if it rains, the practices will be brought indoors and then closed to the public, so be sure to check the weather if you plan on attending or driving long distances to check it out. Coach Tom Coughlin also met with former Giants WR Plaxico Burress last night for about 90 minutes. GM Jerry Reese said that the meeting went well and fans will now have to wait and see what Plaxico decides to do. I would like to have him back but I do not think our entire season depends on what he does. The Giants have a lethal group of WR’s regardless if  Plaxico in the mix or not. Stay tuned Giants fans for more news to come later in the day.

What do you think about the recent roster moves made by the Giants?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Giants Training Camp Opens, Rookies Get Jersey Numbers

July 29, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants are going to have a very busy day. The workers at the stadium are busy getting all of the equipment together and the players are working out the butterflies in their stomachs. It’s a rainy morning in the New York area and scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout the day. If the weather is bad, the practices will be moved indoors and closed to the public. Fans also have to remember to arrive early if they plan on attending training camp tomorrow because it is on a first come, first serve basis. Some Giants players were at the facility as early as 7:00 A.M. getting physicals and the twitter accounts of fans were buzzing with anticipation. It is sure to be a great day in East Rutherford.

Getting back to the physical and mental work of practice is a tremendous step in the right direction. The players have a short period of time to get into football shape and the rookies have almost no time to memorize an NFL playbook. The only thing that balances out these disturbing facts, is that it is a league wide issue due to the lockout and not just something the G-men will be dealing with. The front office will be working hard to make sure the team can re-sign the valuable players who are still without contracts. The coaches will concentrate on coaching.

There are big names floating around out there today. RB Ahmad Bradshaw still hasn’t agreed to the contract terms and RB Brandon Jacobs is said to be working with the team to restructure his contract, a classy move by Brandon. DE Osi Umenyiora is a hot topic and he wants to be paid a fair wage equal to his on-field production. WR Steve Smith is still on the mend but should be a priority signing for the Giants and TE Kevin Boss could make his way back to the team very soon. These players equal a ton of production for the Giants and will need to return in order to maintain the balance that already exists. The team and the fans are still a little woozy from the players who have already been released, if the players above don’t sign, we would essentially be looking at an entirely new team.

There are other players who need to sign contracts but the guys mentioned above are the big names. The team still needs to sign the majority of their 2011 draft picks and also get them acclimated to the Giants way of doing business. Be sure to check back with us later in the day for transaction updates and players moves.

Let’s take a look at the jersey numbers the rookies will wear.

1. CB Prince Amukamara – No.20

2. DT Marvin Austin – No.96

3. OL James Brewer – No.78

4. LB Greg Jones – No.53

5. RB Da’Rel Scott – No.34

6. WR Jerrel Jernigan – No.3

7. S Tyler Sash – No.39

8. FB Henry Hynoski – No.45

9. LB Mark Herzlich – No.58

Do you plan on attending a training camp session this year at the Timex Performance Center?

RD – nygreporter.com

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Giants Getting Ready to Get Down to Business

July 28, 2011

NEW YORK – Giants owner John Mara said he expects to have a “naming rights” deal in place for the stadium before the season begins in September. I’m sure that we will hear news on this very soon, within a week or so. This might seem like a small piece of business considering all of the madness going on with the players but fans better familiarize themselves with it. They will be looking at it for a lot of years to come. As I’ve said many times, it will always be Giants stadium to me but the thought of calling it the MetLife stadium for a decade is vividly unappealing. However, I understand why the Giants and Jets need to do this, I just wish it could be named the JetBlue stadium or Green Giant stadium.

Then we have training camp opening tomorrow at the Timex Performance Center for the first time in team history. The training camp practices will be open on a “first come, first serve” basis because of the lack of space. There will be a capacity of about 2,000 fans allowed to enter, so be sure to get there early if you want to get in. Also, be sure to bring a few bucks for the parking (camp itself is free) and any merchandise you want to buy. You can bring photo cameras with you but no video cameras. It is always a good idea to bring some water and snacks with you too if you have kids. It really is a unique experience that I recommend to all Giants fans.

Fans can expect a ton of player news to drop during the day today. Be sure to come back and catch up on all of the news with us. I expect some of the players to be released today and maybe get a few of the current players on the roster re-signed. RB Ahmad Bradshaw, RB Brandon Jacobs and TE Kevin Boss top the list for today. WR Steve Smith, DE Osi Umenyiora and DE Mathias Kiwanuka have to be crucial re-singings as well. These six guys make up a ton of production for Big Blue. Stay tuned for the good and bad news that is sure to follow at some point today.

Are you excited about the 2011 NFL season kicking off soon?

RD – nygreporter.com

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New York Giants Continue Adding and Subtracting Players

July 27, 2011

NEW YORK – It has been absolutely insane the past two days. Today we saw some interesting moves made by Big Blue. The first thing I would like to mention is the classy move to extend head coach Tom Coughlin’s contract through the 2012 season. Tom Coughlin deserves to remain with the team despite what the “experts” say about him being on some invisible hot seat. Coughlin is an elite head coach and a proven winner. As a fan, I am very happy to see John Mara reward Coughlin for his hard work and show how valuable he is to the organization. Congrats on your new contract coach and I hope you can stay another ten years.

Another coach that was hired today is assistant special teams coach Larry Izzo. Fans have known about this move for weeks. The Giants have been horrible on special teams the past couple of years. There is just no other way to say it. The Giants actually lost games due to the poor play of special teams and Jerry Reese took notice because he addressed that area during the draft and yesterday when he worked on the undrafted rookies. Izzo was an outstanding special teams player when he played in the NFL and spent the bulk of his career with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. He is a three time Pro Bowl player and a three time Super Bowl Champion.

The Giants were unable to work out a deal with DT Rocky Bernard, so he is expected to be released soon. This does not surprise me at all but does make me wonder if the team could have kept DT Barry Cofield if the news was announced prior to him making a six year deal with the Washington Redskins this morning. The team is going to miss Barry Cofield and I was pleased to hear they fought to try and keep him. The Giants have become very deep at the DT position with young talent but losing two veterans could hurt them a bit. The Giants are also looking to sign RB Ahmad Bradshaw, RB Brandon Jacobs and TE Kevin Boss. These three guys were in the news the most today as the front office clearly turns it’s attention to the offense. WR Plaxico Burress is back in the mix as a possibility to return and he is expected to meet with the Giants on Friday.

Let’s take a look at some of the moves/deals over the past 48 hours.

1. C Shaun O’Hara – expected to be released.

2. OL Rich Seubert – expected to be released.

3. OL Shawn Andrews – expected to be released.

4. DT Barry Cofield – six year deal with Washington Redskins.

5. DT Rocky Bernard – expected to be released.

6. Coach Tom Coughlin – signs contract extension through 2012.

7. Coach Larry Izzo – hired as assistant special teams coach.

8. OL David Baas – agreed to a deal with Giants via 49ers.

9. OL Kevin Boothe – signs two year deal with Giants.

10. WR Plaxico Burress – meeting with Giants on Friday.

How have you been keeping up with all of the transactions going on with Big Blue and the NFL?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Bizarre Week in the NFL Ends Today With Possible Vote

July 22, 2011

NEW YORK – Things have really started to heat up with the lockout situation (currently 133 days). I haven’t seen this much hype since the presidential elections. We’ve got information coming in from all over the country, both from the owner negotiations and also from players hometowns and such. It is absolute madness and it might not be over today as some expect. The NFL owners approved a deal yesterday (meaning the owners agreed with each other on a deal to show players) and handed it over to the players. This means if the players accept the proposal, teams will go back to work as early as tomorrow when they open the team facilities. Sounds great right? The only problem is that players have come out saying the NFL owners sneaked in some new stuff before handing the deal to the players. Shame on the owners for playing dirty and being sneaky porkers.

After a night in which twitter exploded with theories and speculation from the sports community, we rise to a new day. So what happens now? It is hard to say but the owners have waited so long to introduce this proposal that it really puts everyone in a bad situation. The players will not accept something they think is unfair and there simply isn’t enough time to start this whole process over again without canceling games. Just like they did last night when they cancelled the Hall of Fame game which was to be played on August 7, 2011. Roger Goodell has said that if a deal isn’t reached by this Wednesday (7/27/11), more games will have to be cancelled in the preseason and it could seriously jeopardize the regular season beginning on time. My question to the NFL owners is simple, why the heck did you wait so long to hand over a proposal which has directly put everyone in this time crunch situation? Was there no sense of urgency to get this done? The only way a vote gets done today is if the NFL owners alter the current deal they gave to the players.

Meanwhile, we have Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw talking in the news about going to the Miami Dolphins. That is not encouraging news at all. Reports say the G-Men will be about $11 million dollars over the salary cap once the lockout ends and that they will need to make some tough decisions. The Giants are simply going to have to trim the roster and everyone knows it. What we don’t know is who is going to be let go or traded. Some of the more prominent names who could become salary cap casualties are DT Barry Cofield, DE Osi Umenyiora, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Steve Smith, RB Brandon Jacobs and DE Mathias Kiwanuka. There are more players at risk but these six scare me the most. I do not want to lose any of these guys but the reality is that at least one of these players will not be with the team in 2011, maybe even two or more. Following the madness of keeping star players on the team, the G-Men will then have to focus on signing the rookies, who they haven’t seen play on the field yet.

Giants owner John Mara has said that he hopes to have the naming rights to New Meadowlands stadium sold before the season starts. Most reports think the new name will be the MetLife stadium, which I absolutely hate. I have not heard one Giants fan mention how they liked that name. In the age of corporations, it was nice that fans still had Giants stadium and Yankee stadium out there. It gave fans the feeling that their teams were above selling out to the corporate animals. I understand the situation is different with the leech Jets sharing the stadium but we can dream, right? It will always be Giants stadium to me.

What are your thoughts on how the 2011 NFL lockout is being handled?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


2011 New York Giants Fantasy Football Companion

July 12, 2011

NEW YORK – The 2011 NFL lockout has now reached 123 days. Reports have been circulating with the positive news that a deal could be made within the next week or two. Of course, they have been saying the same thing for over 4 months now but with the preseason so close (August 7, 2011), they may be telling the truth this time. If the season is truly going to be saved, then it is time to discuss fantasy football for the millions of people who enjoy playing the game every season. I will only be talking about New York Giants players in this article.

The first player we must discuss is WR Steve Smith. This is the steal of the entire fantasy football world for 2011 in my opinion. I have completed drafts in several leagues already and have been baffled by the fact that WR Steve Smith has gone undrafted in each and every one of them. I have been very fortunate to pick him up in every single one of my leagues without even drafting him. Knowing Smith will be available greatly effects draft strategy because you know you will get a quality WR on the back end, which allows you to focus on the running game or other areas of need early on. Smith has said that he is recovering from an injury very well and he will be ready for the 2011 season. Steve Smith will be the steal of this draft year in my opinion.

The following player list will show the player values for the 2011 fantasy football season. The players will listed in the order of their overall fantasy value. This list reveals my opinions only and should not be compared to any other fantasy ranking system. I have won a ton of fantasy championships and have over a decade of experience which makes me a fantasy expert. Of course, anything can go wrong at anytime and injuries could seriously effect the following predictions.

New York Giants Fantasy Football

1. QB Eli Manning – Manning has been putting up big numbers in recent years and I expect that trend to continue. Easy Eli responds to criticism very well and after being snubbed from the NFL Top 100 list, I expect Manning to play with a chip on his shoulder. Look for Eli to throw for 4,000+ yards and 30+ TD’s in 2011.

2. WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks has the potential to be an all-pro player. I expect 1,200+ yards and 10 TD’s minimum from him in 2011.

3. New York Giants Defense – The Giants defense is simply scary. If they can remain healthy they will be a top 3 defense in 2011.

4. RB Ahmad Bradshaw – I am assuming the Giants will re-sign the speedy Bradshaw. If they do, Bradshaw will rush for 1,000+ yards and 7 or 8 TD’s.

5. WR Steve Smith – Smith is another player I assume the Giants will re-sign. Smith can easily eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark and pull down 5 TD’s.

6. RB Brandon Jacobs – I believe the Giants will utilize Jacobs the proper way in 2011. They will give him the ball more and give him the goal line carries. I expect Brandon “The Bull” to rush for about 700-800 yards with 10 TD’s.

7. WR Mario Manningham – Manningham has shown flashes of brilliance and should have 750 yards and 8 TD’s. Mario might have more if there are any reoccurring issues with Steve Smiths injury.

8. TE Kevin Boss – Boss has been plagued by injuries but should still grab 600-700 yards and 5 TD’s.

9. WR Victor Cruz (sleeper pick) – I like this kid a lot. If he gets an opportunity to log serious playing time due to player injuries, he could really do some great things. Either way, I expect him to flourish on special teams in 2011.

Do you play fantasy football and if so, would you agree with the list above? Would you add/subtract anything to/from the list?

RD – nygreporter.com

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The Good, Bad and Ugly Giants News This Week

June 3, 2011

NEW YORK – This has been another crazy week for the NFL and Giants. We have now reached the 84th day of the 2011 NFL lockout (regardless of what other sites say because they choose to minus the 4 day break a judge gave) and although both sides have started talking again, there is still no deal. The rumors say the owners and players are making progress but nothing has happened yet. This is the ugly news. This is the annoying thorn in your mind that will not go away. This is the insipid nightmare that teases fans about losing an entire year of NFL football. Well, maybe it isn’t really nightmare since all of this is happening in reality. Keep your fingers crossed that they can work something out within the next few days.

The good news came from WR Steve Smith giving a positive update on his condition and saying how he wants to return to New York. There have been quite a few Giants players in the news this week but they mostly speculated on the lockout situation. Justin Tuck attended a charity event and the news about WR Plaxico Burress being released from prison in 3 days has people wondering if he will play for Big Blue in 2011. I think the man deserves another chance in the NFL and have said that from the start. It will be very interesting to see how all of this plays out during the next week or two. RB Brandon Jacobs seemed less certain about Burress’ future with the Giants as well as his own. This lockout has a lot of players concerned and it seems like Jacobs is clearly one of them.

The bad news for Giants fans this week came from the passing of DE Andy Robustelli at 85 years old. A New York Giants legend and a real stand up man. Everyone in the Giants organization had nothing but praise for Mr. Robustelli including owner John Mara who called him a mans man. Robustelli played 9 years with the Giants and helped them win an NFL Championship in 1956 during his first year in New York. He was a seven time Pro Bowl selection, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member and a New York Giants Ring of Honor member. He also worked in the Giants front office for six years in the 1970’s. The funeral will be held tomorrow at 11:30 AM in Connecticut and he will be remembered as a true blue Giant forever.

Our prayers go out to the Robustelli family and friends. God Bless!

RD – nygreporter.com

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


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