New York Giants Roster Moves, Free Agency Signings

March 15, 2012

NEW YORK – To say that the Giants have been busy the past 48 hours is an understatement. The Giants could hit the 15-17 player signings benchmark by tonight if they continue at this pace. I see what Giants GM Jerry Reese is doing and it is fun to take this journey of evolution with him and guess what happens because he is not showing his hand. You must know the team well enough to come up with scenarios and quite frankly, if you’re one of those writers who has given up, don’t steal my formulas or ideas and print them as your own. I read everything related to the Giants daily. It’s like a kick in the gut when you put two and two together and check the timelines for story releases. If you want my work, pay me, don’t be a hack.

Now back to business, the Giants have made about a dozen deals over the last 48 hours and show no signs of stopping today. They know the cream of the crop is almost completely devoured by now and will make a couple more moves in my opinion by Friday night. It’s safe to say the Giants have addressed the tight end and cornerback areas considerably thus far. They also have S Chad Jones, CB Prince Amukamara, CB Corey Webster to work with too and TE Jake Ballard and TE Travis Beckum. How about signing both of the Andrews brothers (Shawn and Stacy)? Get those guys up to speed and on the field together and see what happens. I also think that signing DE Osi Umenyiora, S Deon Grant, LB Chase Blackburn are crucial for the defense and special teams group.

Let’s take a look at what has happened thus far. Giants GM Jerry Reese has solidified the cornerback position on defense. He knows the defensive line is fine but if a good deal presents itself, who knows? He knows the safety group is fine, maybe add one more. This tells me he will be attacking the linebacker group via the upcoming NFL draft. If he catches lightning in a bottle with a future LT, I think he will use the majority of the other picks on offense. I think it will be a LB or OL taken in round one this year. I hope it is another athletic linebacker to help out but at the same time think a ten year offensive lineman is needed right now. The recent roster moves also tell me the offensive line will be addressed via the draft and certainly the running back position.

Here are some of the recent signings by Big Blue this week. Some of the deals did not publicly state the terms.

These roster moves are valid as of 3/15/12 at 8:00 AM:

1. CB Terrell Thomas, 6’0″ 200 pounds – 4 year deal, fair and smart move.

2. WR Domenik Hixon, 6’2″ 185 pounds – 1 year deal, worth the shot.

3. CB Michael Coe, 6’0″ 190 pounds – Smart signing to bolster DB’s.

4. CB Bruce Johnson, 5’11” 185 pounds – Smart signing to bolster DB’s.

5. TE Jake Ballard, 6’6″ 256 pounds – I like this signing a lot. Well done.

6. CB Justin Tryon, 5’9″ 190 pounds – Smart signing to bolster DB’s.

7. QB David Carr, 6’3″ 215 pounds – I have always liked Carr.

8. TE Martellus Bennett, 6’6″ 270 pounds – 1 year deal, smart.

9. P Steve Weatherford, 6’2″ 211 pounds – Franchise tag, brilliant.

10. TE Larry Donnell, 6’6″ 269 pounds – No NFL experience.

11. OL Joel Reinders, 6’8″ 317 pounds – No NFL experience.

Keep an eye on players who were released, free agent markets:

1. RB Brandon Jacobs – Released by team. Surprising move and I hope he can return for a new restructured contract.

2. WR Mario Manningham – I hope we can re-sign Super Mario somehow but right now he is checking out the 49ers free agent market.

3. CB Aaron Ross – Visiting teams as we speak, Washington was the most recent. Really Aaron?

4. OL Kareem McKenzie – Restructure the contract for less money and get that 3rd ring and maybe Ring of Honor one day.

5. S Deon Grant – Both sides need to get this done. I love the way this man plays football.

6. LB Chase Blackburn – This guy is a big deal and he proved it again last season. Give him 3 years.

7. DE Dave Tollefson – He plays with the best defensive line in football and holds his own. Worth re-signing.

8. TE Kevin Boss – Rumors of him returning are doubtful after Martellus Bennett signing. Maybe not?

9. WR Plaxico Burress – Rumors of his return are most likely just that, rumors.

10. WR Steve Smith – This is an interesting possibility if they lose Mario Manningham. It’s doubtful to ever happen.

11. DE Osi Umenyiora – Pay this man the money he has earned and work it out like Manning’s contract or something.

What are your thoughts on the recent transactions made by the New York Giants? Feel free to leave a comment below.

RD – nygreporter.com

Check out New York Giants Team Captain, Justin Tuck’s camp info here Justin Tuck ProCamps.


Super Bowl XLVI Final Game Notes of the Season

February 6, 2012

NEW YORK – That was one heck of a way to end a great season. The Giants defeat the New England Patriots 21-17 in Indianapolis. It took a fourth quarter comeback to win a second Super Bowl for Big Blue as QB Eli Manning wins his second Super Bowl MVP Award. Most seem to agree this win puts Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you can include myself among them. There really is no way to describe the joy I’m feeling now and will feel for a very long time. I’m stuck someplace between numb and bursting with energy. Some where in between shocked and exhausted. I’m running on empty but so happy that it doesn’t matter at this point. The true blue fans have been waiting and anticipating this moment and when it finally arrives, it’s wonderful. So enjoy it!

Thank you to the New York Giants organization including the Mara and Tisch families. Thank you to Head Coach Tom Coughlin, the rest of the coaches and players. Thank you GM Jerry Reese, who has done an outstanding job, since taking over for Giants legend Ernie Accorsi. Go back and read all of my articles about Mr. Reese and you will see I have always been a fan of his work and have praised his draft skills and player transactions. Some of his moves however, had even me scratching my head this past offseason. In the NFL Lockout riddled 2011 year, players were coming and going at will in the NFL and the G-men lost some key players like WR Steve Smith, TE Kevin Boss, C Shaun O’Hara and OL Rich Seubert to retirement or contract situations. Then they lost CB Terrell Thomas, LB Clint Sintim, OT William Beatty, WR Domenik Hixon, LB Jonathan Goff and about ten more guys to the dreaded IR list (injured reserve). 2011 marks three straight years of injury epidemics for the G-men with at least 12 going on the season ending IR list, per year, that’s about 20% of the team going down for three straight years. But the Giants and Jerry Reese made all the right moves that had this team clicking by the end of the season. Congrats you are now Super Bowl Champions!

I thought singers Kelly Clarkson and Madonna did a good job with their respective areas of the nights entertainment. I thought NBC could have done a better job with the trophy presentation and post game stuff but thats why we have remote controls right? I also noticed audio problems coming from the NBC channel during the game. I suggest that Giants fans out there savor this moment and really enjoy this win for a couple of days. Do not get into any talks about the draft or who is signing what contract and when, just relax for a few days and enjoy winning the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLVI Champion New York Giants

QB Eli Manning – Super Bowl XLVI MVP Manning had a great game finishing with 296 yards 1 TD and 0 INT’s. Congrats Champ!

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a solid Super Bowl performance finishing with 103 yards 0 TD’s. Congrats Champ!

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw played like he wanted another ring and finished with 72 yards 1 TD rushing and 19 yards receiving. AB is a big part of this Championship. Congrats Champ!

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was emotionally spent following his 2 sack performance in Super Bowl XLVI. God Bless and Congrats Champ!

LB Chase Blackburn – Blackburn was making a lot of plays out there and finished with 1 INT. Congrats Champ!

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP will forever be double teamed now, so he will need to get bigger. He was still causing havoc and blocking passes. Congrats Champ!

TE Jake Ballard – Jake Ballard was injured during the game and finished with 10 yards. Congrats Champ!

CB Corey Webster – Webster played like a Champion and got his ring, great season Corey! Congrats Champ!

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs ran hard and finished with 37 yards. Two rings for Mr. Jacobs now. Congrats Champ!

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle was playing his heart out and creating chaos for the Patriots. Congrats Champ!

WR Victor Cruz – The Salsa King Cruz caught Eli Manning’s only TD pass of the game. Congrats Champ!

CB Aaron Ross – Ross owned the first quarter and really made an impact in this game. Congrats Champ!

LB Michael Boley – Boley had an outstanding game and was the leading tackler for Big Blue. Congrats Champ!

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had the play of the game and finished with 73 yards 0 TD’s. Congrats Champ!

S Deon Grant – The veteran safety was fourth on the team in tackles and really whacking guys out there. 3 more years! Congrats Champ!

TE Bear Pascoe – Pascoe filled in nicely for the other two injured TE’s and finished with 33 yards. Congrats Champ!

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi was causing disruptions for most of the game and really turned up the heat at the end. Pay Osi! Congrats Champ!

FB Henry Hynoski – Hynoski made a couple of nice catches and was blocking like a mad man. Congrats Champ!

TE Travis Beckum – Beckum tore his ACL early in the game and never returned. I’m sure the Super Bowl ring will help him heal. Congrats Champ!

DT Linval Joseph – Joseph did a great job in the middle and is a player to keep an eye on. Congrats Champ!

S Kenny Phillips – KP was second on the team in tackles and was throwing his body into every tackle. Congrats Champ!

DT Chris Canty – Canty had a nice game was clogging up the middle for Big Blue. Congrats Champ!

P Steve Weatherford – The Giants will sign Weatherford long term this offseason. The Weatherman had an outstanding game. Congrats Champ!

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes had a great game by making both of his FG attempts and his lone extra point attempt. Congrats Champ!

Giants Offense – The Giants offense beat the Patriots defense for most of the game. Now, they are Champions of the World. Congrats Champs!

Giants Defense – The Giants defense held Brady to 17 points. They had 2 sacks and 1 INT. Great Game Champs!

Giants Special Teams – The special teams had a very nice game and have improved a lot since week one. Great Game Champs!

What did you think about the game and Super Bowl XLVI festivities?

RD – nygreporter.com – I’m a bELIever!

Check out New York Giants Team Captain, Justin Tuck’s camp info here Justin Tuck ProCamps.


Playoffs NFL Week 20: Giants vs. 49ers, Game Notes

January 23, 2012

NEW YORK – What an incredible season it has been for the Giants. A month or so ago, fans were wondering if they would make it to the playoffs at all and here they were, finding themselves battling for the NFC Championship crown. If the Giants beat the 49ers, they would be in the Super Bowl once again. Guess what? The Giants beat the 49ers 20-17 in overtime and will be going to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis for a rematch against the New England Patriots. Hollywood could not write a more riveting script. The Giants have owned the Patriots since 2007 including the preseason, regular season and postseason. The Patriots are the real underdogs in this game and face the hungry NFC Champion Giants.

Let me just pause for a moment to acknowledge QB Eli Manning. This guy has weathered every storm thrown his way and really showed the NFL world how tough he is last night. Manning was getting beat down the entire game by a rabid 49ers defense and he kept getting up and performing. I have always respected Eli Manning but the way he played last night brought me to another level of respect for him. Easy Eli is a tough guy and a true Iron Man. I’m glad he is our quarterback and I’m happy that he is getting the respect he deserved all along.

This game was a battle from the opening kickoff until the final FG in OT. The 49ers defense played a terrific game and my hat is off to them. The Giants took a 10-7 lead into the locker room at halftime and seemed to pick up some momentum with a nice drive prior to heading inside. The second half of the game was intense. Both teams were fighting all the way up to the coin toss for overtime and beyond. Make no mistake, the Giants earned their spot in the Super Bowl. I am very proud to say that I am a Giants fan and really proud of what Eli Manning did on the field. Hey Giants fans, we’re going to the Super Bowl, again!

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

QB Eli Manning – What can you say about Manning? This guy is simply awesome and for all his quiet demeanor, a true tough guy. He finished with 316 yards 2 TD’s 0 INT’s

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw ran hard as usual and had his hands full with a rabid 49ers defense. He finished with 74 yards rushing and 52 yards receiving.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks got banged up early but returned to the game. He finished with 55 yards.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was playing on another level last night and finished with 1.5 sacks.

LB Michael Boley – Boley was doing a lot more out there then the final stats would lead you to believe. He plays with a lot of passion.

WR Victor Cruz – The ‘Salsa King’ Cruz had another superb performance and finished with 142 yards 0 TD’s.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP cannot be contained and gets double teamed every game now. He was the Giants leading tackler and finished with 0.5 sacks.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle finished in the top five tacklers once again and played a great game. I love the way this guy plays football.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs didn’t get in much work last night because they were throwing the ball all over the place and Bradshaw got a lot of work. He finished with 13 yards 0 TD’s.

LB Jacquian Williams – This young man was playing like he wanted to go to the Super Bowl. He is only going to get better and finished with 1 forced fumble.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario wasn’t getting many balls thrown his way but still managed to grab 1 TD in traffic. Maybe the biggest play of the game in my opinion.

CB Corey Webster – I’ve been saying it all year, Webster has taken his game to another level and really improved. He finished with 1 forced fumble.

TE Bear Pascoe – Pascoe had only one catch in this game but it was a big one. He finished with 1 TD, his first ever in the NFL. Congrats Bear!

LB Chase Blackburn – Blackburn was second on the team in tackles and I still cannot figure out why they let this guy go in the offseason. Re-sign him Jerry!

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi was battling a tough offensive line out there all night and finished with 0.5 sacks. He simply causes havoc every game.

FB Henry Hynoski – This guy has really stepped up his game. He has been playing with a lot of heart and making contributions to the team. He finished with 20 yards.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi is a straight baller and was playing with a mean streak last night. He finished with 0.5 sacks.

DT Linval Joseph – I really like what I have been seeing from this young man. Keep an eye on him because he could end up as one of the greats.

S Kenny Phillips – Phillips is such an instinctual player and when he hits somebody, they fall to the ground. His angles and approaches are incredible.

CB Aaron Ross – Ross was out there making plays and continues to do a good job filling in for the injured Terrell Thomas. Good job Aaron!

S Deon Grant – Grant was in the top five for defensive tacklers and has become a force for Big Blue. I hope he retires a Giant in five or six years.

K Lawrence Tynes – What can I say? Tynes kicked the winning FG that sends Big Blue to the Super Bowl. Heck of a kick Larry!

P Steve Weatherford – The Weatherman is a weapon. He had another solid game last night. Consistency in the punting game is a relief for a change.

Giants Offense – This group of players had the toughest game of the year last night and certainly the most physical. They came out on top due to resiliency.

Giants Defense – The Giants defense had a superb game last night. This group has really stepped up in recent weeks and finished with 3 sacks 0 INT’s and 2 forced fumbles.

Giants Special Teams – The special teams play was good last night. Thomas deserves the game ball and Tynes did what he had to do. Still some missed tackles and room for improvement.

What are your thoughts on the Giants performance against the 49ers?

RD – nygreporter.com – WE’RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!

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Playoffs NFL Week 19: Giants vs. Packers, Game Notes

January 16, 2012

NEW YORK – The Giants are now only two wins away from the rings. The Giants played their hearts out last night and beat the Green Bay Packers 37-20. I would have normally written this last night but I was celebrating all night long. The entire Giants community has been correctly stating that the team not only beat the Packers but also the refs. Is this what we have come to in the NFL? Teams losing to atrocious refereeing? Roger Goodell better look into this and hand out some punishment including a four game suspension or something to the effect of what a player would receive. This is the second round of the playoffs and completely inexcusable. If he wants to maintain the integrity of the game in the fans mind, something needs to be done about this. There were multiple blown calls and non-calls made last night but the Giants overcame it all and will play the San Francisco 49ers next week out west for the NFC championship.

The first half of football was pretty balanced and fun to watch. Both teams seemed to move the ball well and traded points a few times. The Packers defense was playing surprisingly well and I was a bit shocked by how many cheap shots they were taking on Eli Manning with no calls from the refs. Right before the teams headed into the locker room, Manning threw a Hail Mary pass into the endzone that WR Hakeem Nicks pulled down to give Big Blue a 20-10 halftime lead. The second half saw some of the same action with QB Aaron Rodgers moving the ball well but the fourth quarter was all about Big Blue. Everyone knows that Eli Manning owns the fourth quarter and he proved it again. The Giants defense also stepped up big time in the second half and started getting to Rodgers often and causing havoc on the field. The long break really seemed to make the Packers sluggish and out of sync.

This Giants victory sets up some very interesting scenarios for fans. The first being the San Francisco game next week. Giants fans still remember that playoff game in 2003 where another blown call by the refs cost the Giants the opportunity to win. This should be billed simply as a revenge game for the fans, although I doubt the media will look at it that way. If the Giants get their revenge and beat the 49ers an even more interesting scenario unfolds. The Patriots play the Ravens next week for the AFC championship. Regardless of who wins that game, the G-Men will see a Super Bowl rematch. I have no preference on who New York plays but a rematch against the Ravens would be billed as another revenge game (2000 Super Bowl loss) and the Patriots (2007 Super Bowl win) game would be another New York vs. Boston type of scenario. I’d be happy just to make it back to the Super Bowl regardless of who we play and of course take home the Lombardi trophy when the game is over. The Road Warriors have returned!

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

QB Eli Manning – Manning was simply brilliant once again and finished the game with 330 yards 3 TD’s and 1 INT. Manning is the hottest QB in the NFL right now.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw was running hard as usual and made some critical plays late in the game. He finished with 63 yards on the ground and 21 yards receiving.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a tremendous game and finished with 165 yards and 2 TD’s. He was clearly Manning’s favorite target last night.

LB Michael Boley – Boley is such a tough guy and great leader. He finished the night second on the team in tackles and had 2 sacks.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck didn’t make very many tackles but he was disrupting QB Aaron Rodgers comfort zone the entire game.

WR Victor Cruz – The Salsa Man was garnering a lot of attention but still finished with 74 yards 0 TD’s.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle made some key plays out there last night and was the leading tackler for Big Blue once again. Rolle = Beast.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs tried to stay busy in this game that was all about passing but he did get 22 yards and the dagger TD that finished off the Packers in the 4th quarter.

CB Corey Webster – Webster continues to play on another level this year and he had another great game last night.

S Deon Grant – Grant was hitting everything that came into his area and also had 1 INT. He got banged up but returned to the game.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP was getting double teamed for most of the game. This seems to be the story every week now. JPP = Beast!

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had a solid game and contributed 31 yards and 1 TD to the victory. Nice game Mario!

CB Aaron Ross – Ross was out there making plays and really took his game to another level last night. He made a few key plays that could have changed the game.

LB Jacquian Williams – Williams is having one heck of a season for a rookie and now finds himself in the NFC Championship game.

TE Jake Ballard – Ballard had a rough night and finished with 17 yards. I expect him to get more involved next week.

S Kenny Phillips – I love the way Phillips plays the game of football. The hard hitting safety finished with 1 forced fumble.

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi gets my defensive game ball. The Giants need to pay this man. He finished with 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.

DT Chris Canty – Canty was having a good game before leaving with a knee injury. He did not return to the game.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes went 3/4 on FG attempts with one blocked and 4/4 on extra point attempts. He also had a kickoff go out of bounds.

P Steve Weatherford – The Weatherman was brilliant once again and has really become the best special teams weapon on the team.

Giants Offense – What can I say? The Giants offense was awesome last night and put up 37 points on the best team in football.

Giants Defense – The Giants defense got off to a slow start in the first half but exploded in the second half to secure the victory.

Giants Special Teams – The special teams recovered two onside kicks and had a decent game but they still need improvement.

What did you think of the Giants performance last night?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


NFL Week 17: Giants vs. Cowboys, Game Notes

January 2, 2012

NEW YORK – Happy New Year everyone! The Giants played the division rival Cowboys in a big game last night for the NFC East Championship. The G-Men and fans were looking to QB Eli Manning to take over the game and get the victory at MetLife stadium. The Giants would not disappoint as they beat the Cowboys 31-14 on a rainy night in New Jersey to make it back to the playoffs. The G-Men dominated this game from the very beginning and all that Giants fans had to do was sit back and enjoy the show. I wasn’t concerned for a moment throughout this entire game and the Giants never gave up the lead. This was a fun game to watch.

The Giants dominated this game the entire first half. It was almost sad to see how badly the Cowboys were playing. The G-Men took a 21-0 lead into the locker room at halftime and they were playing so well that I doubt there was anything to talk about. They came out for the second half and seemed determined to win the game. The Cowboys put up a better fight in the second half but could not do enough to keep the game within reach. Giants WR Victor Cruz is simply a beast and he is doing things out there that elite WR’s do. It is impossible to overlook this young man anymore. The Giants end the 2011 regular season with a 9-7 record and will play the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday at 1:00 PM EST in East Rutherford.

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

QB Eli Manning – Manning had one of his best games of the year. He finished with 346 yards 3 TD’s and 0 INT’s. Can you say elite?

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – AB ran the ball hard and finished with 57 yards and 1 TD. He also had 12 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a solid game and finished with 76 yards and 1 TD. The emergence of Cruz is overshadowing the Giants No.1 WR.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was causing trouble all over the field and finished with 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

LB Michael Boley – Boley is a beast. He led all defensive tacklers and had another outstanding game.

S Kenny Phillips – Phillips also had a solid game and was the second leading tackler for Big Blue.

LB Mathias Kiawnuka – I have never seen Kiwi play like he did last night. He was in the zone and all around the ball.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP is a Pro Bowler and he played like it last night. He finished with 1 sack but was all over the place.

WR Victor Cruz – Cruz gets my game ball again. This young man is simply frightening to opposing defenses. He finished with 178 yards and 1 TD. Good luck trying to stop this Salsa machine!

LB Chase Blackburn – Blackburn has done a great job since returning to the Giants. He was making plays again last night.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs contributed what he could but this game was all about passing. He finished with 16 yards.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle was out there banging with the Cowboys and finished with 1 INT. Nice job Antrel!

TE Bear Pascoe – Pascoe got a couple of balls thrown his way as the team tries to fill in for the injured TE Jake Ballard.

CB Aaron Ross – I have to take my hat off to Ross who was thrown into the starting lineup by Terrell Thomas’ injury. Great job Aaron!

DT Chris Canty – The big dude in the middle had a great game against his former team. He finished with 1 sack.

CB Corey Webster – Webster had a tough task covering those Cowboy WR’s but he held his own and has had an outstanding season.

OL David Baas – Baas was having a tough time with the Dallas front but held his own and did a good job.

S Deon Grant – Grant hits like a Mack truck out there and last night was no different for the veteran. Solid game for Deon.

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi returned to the field after missing a month and made himself useful with 2 sacks. Osi is a beast.

FB Henry Hynoski – The rookie FB had his best game of the year at the right time. He finished with 31 yards but was knocking people to the ground with his blocking.

CB Jacquian Williams – The rookie LB was third on the team in tackles and finished with 1 sack. Watch out, he is going to get better next year.

P Steve Weatherford – Once again, the Weatherman had a solid game and will surely see a new contract in the near future.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes missed a FG and made one. He also made all four of his extra point attempts.

Giants Offense – The Giants offense was potent and deadly last night. A solid game all the way around.

Giants Defense – The Giants defense was smothering and finished with 6 sacks, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble. They wanted this win.

Giants Special Teams – The Giants special teams still needs work but they are getting better as the year goes on.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Cowboys?

RD – nygreporter.com – Happy New Year!

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NFL Week 14: Giants vs. Cowboys, Game Notes

December 12, 2011

NEW YORK – The game last night was something to see. It was hands down the best and most exciting game of the year for Big Blue. The Giants pulled out the win 37-34 in a battle. There were a ton of lead changes and despite the horrible calls by the refs, the Giants found a way to win. They are now in first place of the NFC East and control their own playoff destiny. The G-Men will need to win one of the two upcoming games against the Redskins or Jets and then they need to win the final game of the year against the Cowboys in MetLife stadium. Actually, all three of their final games will be played in MetLife stadium (Giants stadium), even though the Jets game is considered a home game for Sanchez and company.

The first half was up and down with both teams scoring at will. They went into the locker room with Dallas leading 17-15. The Giants got a rare safety for 2 points and those were the first points on the board for either team. The second half was much of the same with both teams scoring a lot and taking advantage of the depleted defensive squads. The heart attack Giants won this game in the final two minutes and Manning notched his sixth 4th quarter comeback victory of the season. Dallas had a chance to send the game into overtime but a blocked FG by Jason Pierre-Paul put an end to all of that.

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

QB Eli Manning – Easy Eli had a terrific game once again and has eclipsed the 4,000 yard passing mark for a third straight year. He finished with 400 yards 2 TD’s 1 INT. He should make the Pro Bowl.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Brandon the Bull was playing like a mad man last night. He finished with 101 yards and 2 TD’s. Nice job Brandon!

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a great game too and was pulling down everything thrown his way. He finished with 157 yards 0 TD’s.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – I’m convinced that JPP is not from earth. He gets my game ball and single handedly saved the Giants season. He finished with 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked punt. He also led the entire defense in tackles. Wow!

LB Michael Boley – Every time I saw a Cowboys player get rocked, I saw Boley bouncing up from the ground. The guy is awesome and finished second on the team in tackles.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario made his presence known with 62 yards and 1 TD. Way to go Mario!

S Antrel Rolle – The hard hitting safety was making plays out there and doing his best against the speedy Dallas WR’s.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – AB was shut down for the first half for a team violation. He finished with 12 yards. Well below my prediction of a big game. He will be fine and ready to go next week.

DT Chris Canty – Canty’s return to Dallas wasn’t a warm and fuzzy reunion. He made some plays out there and finished with 1 sack.

LB Jacquian Williams – I saw this kid making a lot of plays out there. I saw him miss a few too but he is outstanding for a rookie thrown into the fire. He has a bright future in New York.

CB Prince Amukamara – Prince is still learning the system and getting his feet under him. He finished third on the defense in tackles.

TE Jake Ballard – Big Jake is the real deal and Manning’s favorite safety valve. He finished with 52 yards and 1 TD.

S Deon Grant – The crafty veteran had a solid game once again and finished with 1 fumble recovery.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi is fast for a guy his size. You don’t realize how big he is from the way he flies around on the field. He had a great game.

WR Victor Cruz – Cruz finished second on the team in receiving and had 82 yards. That’s a good game by most standards.

CB Aaron Ross – Ross continues to do his best while filling in for Terrell Thomas. He made some plays out there against Dallas.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck left the game in the first half with an injured toe but returned. He had a decent game but can play better.

P Steve Weatherford – This guy is Mr. Consistency. Fans are glad this is one area of the team that is no longer an issue. Good job Steve!

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes had a good game and finished with 2 FG’s. He also made all 3 of his extra point attempts.

Giants Offense – The offense had a great game and won the shoot out against the Cowboys. Eli Manning is playing out of his mind right now.

Giants Defense – It’s no secret that the injury riddled Giants defense has become the achilles heel. They are doing their best with who they have.

Giants Special Teams – The special teams blocked a FG that gave the G-men the win. I would say they did a good job in this game.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Cowboys?

RD – nygreporter.com

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Happy Thanksgiving to our Readers and Giants Fans

November 24, 2011

NEW YORK – Hello Giants fans, I would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! I would also like to wish the players, staff and coaches a very Happy Thanksgiving and their families as well. This includes Kate Mara (follow back @nygreporter or have your agent email me, I want to interview you) and both the Mara and Tisch family owners. I would like to thank all of you for the classy way you conduct business and for the entertainment you have given my family for generations. I still firmly believe the Giants will be back in the playoffs this year.

I hope all of you can think of something to be thankful for this holiday season. I have heard a saying that goes “You buy the ticket, you take the ride”. It means no complaining, you take the ride of life and one thing leads to another and based on your choices, an outcome blossoms. Today is the perfect day to call an old friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while. Have them pass the phone around the room and catch up with everyone. Some of you can’t be home for the holidays, I have been there myself once or twice. Keep your head up and maybe things will be different next year. To the military stationed all over the world, you are not forgotten. Thank you for your service for your country. I hope all of you have some peace this year and get to enjoy yourselves a bit. If you see someone in uniform, stop them and shake their hand.

The Giants play the Saints and QB Drew Brees on Monday Night Football. This is going to be a very difficult game to win but knowing the G-Men, they could end up blowing them out by 25 points. I believe the Giants can beat anyone but the Saints and Packers were clearly the top two teams we had to play all year. The first of the two is about to go down on Monday night. The Giants must stop Saints TE Jimmy Graham (force the Saints to use a TE as blocker in defensive scheme), RB Darren Sproles and the defensive ends must get to Brees often. QB Eli Manning must have one of his standard big games to get Big Blue that seventh win of the year. Be safe and be smart, drink responsibly.

Turkey Day NFL Games/Times/Stations

12:30 PM EST – Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions on FOX Sports.

4:15 PM EST – Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys on CBS Sports.

8:20 PM EST – San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens on NFL Network (Boo!)

Monday Night Football

8:30 PM EST – New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints on ESPN.

What is your all time favorite Thanksgiving family tradition? What is your traditional meal?

– The traditional Thanksgiving day meal in my family has always been turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, biscuits, brown gravy, pie, beer and wine.

RD – nygreporter.com – Happy Thanksgiving!

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NFL Week 11: Giants vs. Eagles, Game Notes

November 21, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants played host to the Eagles on Sunday Night Football in part two of their annual clash. The “Dream Team” was 3-6 and almost mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. That was the reality of their situation until they beat the Giants 17-10 and improved to 4-6 on the year. Both teams were missing key players like NYG-RB Bradshaw, NYG-LB Boley, PHI-QB Vick and PHI-WR Maclin who were all ruled out prior to game) and did the best they could depth wise. Another handful of Giants players left the game, like RB DJ Ware who left with a concussion and OL Chris Snee who needed an early IV. In one of the rare times that my final score prediction is way off, I’ll admit I was completely wrong when I said the final score would be Giants 38 – Eagles 21 with the G-Men winning by 15.

These two teams had a brawl last night. QB Eli Manning was one of the many players who got roughed up more then once and players had to stay on their toes or get stomped. These teams were fighting hard out there and literal fights were breaking out on the field all night. DeSean Jackson is a classless rube who doesn’t seem to realize that video of his actions will remain forever. The fact that he continues to be so immature is not only pitiful, it also hurts his team. Watching the game last night is the closest thing to a sad opera (the Luciano Pavarotti kind, not the soap kind) that I can think of. The G-men are missing players and more are going down out there, all while they try but cannot seem to move the ball very well. The running game was atrocious most of the game and wide receivers could not seem to pull down sure catches bouncing off their hands. Hey, everyone misses catches sometimes but the problem with this group of misses, is the timing. All of them happening at once like that feels overwhelming. All of this leading up to the grand finale of losing the game.

The Eagles took a 10-3 lead into the locker room at halftime and came out feeling more motivated then when they went inside. And although everyone was sure a 4th quarter comeback would be pulled off by QB Eli Manning, far too many penalties (5/39), sacks (3) and turnovers (2) made sure that would never happen. The second half played out like watching paint dry. Slow and sloppy play made me feel like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. The game ended with Giants stadium mostly silent and fans upset after back to back losses.

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

QB Eli Manning – Manning did everything he could to try and win this game. There were a lot of dropped passes and he finished with 264 yards 1 TD and 1 INT.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs was trying to run hard but the Eagles employed a swarm policy on Brandon. He finished with 21 yards 0 TD’s.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks had a good game and finished with 69 yards, Not bad considering who was covering him.

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi told the press he will see Eagles RB LeSean McCoy on the field in regards to some preseason trash talk. There is no doubt that McCoy is hurting today.

CB Prince Amukamara – The rookie CB finally made his debut and did not disappoint finishing 2nd on the team in tackles and grabbing 1 INT. Congrats Prince!

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi went beast on the Eagles and had his best game of the year. He led all tacklers on defense.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was battling all night and had a good game. He put some serious pressure on QB Vince Young.

DT Chris Canty – ‘The Thing’ as I like to call him, Canty had a good game. He has played well in the past two or three games in a row now.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had a very quiet night, finishing with one catch for four yards.

S Antrel Rolle – The final stats don’t show it but Rolle was making some serious plays out there.

LB Jacquian Williams – The rookie LB had another solid game. I am very impressed with this young man.

WR Victor Cruz – The red hot NJ native finished first on the team in receiving with 128 yards and 1 TD. Vic is for real.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP looked absolutely slaphappy at times out there while creating havoc for the Eagles offensive line. He also had 1 sack.

TE Jake Ballard – Ballard had a very quiet game and finished with 13 yards 0 TD’s.

CB Aaron Ross – Ross continues to make INT’s by getting another against the Eagles. He has tied his career high (4) for INT’s in a season.

S Kenny Phillips – Phillips says don’t forget about me, grabbing 1 INT of his own. Phillips is really playing on another level this year.

LB Mark Herzlich – Mark had a good debut game and was fired up for getting the start. He has a good football sense and seems to always be around the ball.

S Deon Grant – Grant is a fan favorite now. He had another solid game and brought some toughness to each play. Let him retire a Giant one day.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw missed another game this week with a bad wheel but could be back in time for the Saints game. The Giants need AB bad.

LB Michael Boley – Mike was injured during the 49ers game and had to miss this week versus the Eagles. The G-Men really need Boley back ASAP.

P Steve Weatherford – Giants fans have fallen completely in love with the Weatherman (I’m Ron Burgundy voice) and calling him MVP over the web.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes continued his mediocre season by kicking 1 FG and 1 extra point. Still, he is making his kicks.

Giants Offense – The Giants offense did all it could with the players they had. They really miss RB Ahmad Bradshaw in New York and him back soon.

Giants Defense – Even with getting all of the turnovers, the Giants defense allowed QB Vince Young to look like the college Vince Young, not the NFL Vince Young. They lose a heartbreaker and hard fought game.

Giants Special Teams – It’s time to look for a 10 year kicker and All Pro return man. Keep Weatherford permanently. SMH!

What did you think of the Giants performance against the Eagles? Will the G-Men win the NFC East?

RD – nygreporter.com

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NFL Week 3: Giants vs. Eagles, Game Notes

September 25, 2011

NEW YORK – This was one of the most anticipated games of the season. There was so much hype surrounding this game because of all the trash talk in the media by the Eagles. It was widely believed that the Eagles would field the better team because the G-Men suffered so many injuries but the experts were wrong again. The Giants won the game 29-16 (my prediction prior to the game was 27-16, pretty close). Even though the Eagles proclaimed themselves to be a “Dream Team” prior to the start of the season, they couldn’t back up their talk. Only time will tell how good they are but seeing how they were 1-1 before this game and 1-2 after the game, they sure don’t look like a “Dream Team” to me.

Let me be fair, this was a hard fought victory. Both teams were playing their hearts out and QB Michael Vick looked like he was on his way to having a great game until the Giants broke his right hand. Fans knew the game was over at that point. The Giants went into the locker room at halftime with a 14-13 lead and appeared to have lost the momentum. That trend continued in the 3rd quarter but then in the 4th quarter the Giants came back to life and finished strong. The entire game lived up to the hype and had the outcome that Giants fans were looking for. The Giants needed this win badly after losing the last six straight games to the Eagles.

The Giants offense performed so well that I will have to divide my offensive game ball into three sections for QB Eli Manning, RB Ahmad Bradshaw and WR Victor Cruz. Manning had his best game of the year despite being sacked 3 times. The offense played above and beyond what anyone thought they could today and did the fans proud by shutting up the loudmouth Eagles players and fans. The G-Men came up big in the 4th quarter by shutting out the Eagles and scoring fifteen points themselves. Ironically enough, I have to divide my defensive game ball up in three parts too for DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Aaron Ross and S Kenny Phillips. Today was a great day to be a Giants fan.

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

QB Eli Manning – Manning had an outstanding game and finished 16/23 with 254 yards 4 TD’s and 0 INT’s.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw is simply a beast. He finished with 86 yards on the ground, 53 receiving yards and 1 TD.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks was being smothered the entire game but still finished with 25 yards.

CB Aaron Ross – Ross played out of his mind today and was all over the field. He finished with 2 INT’s.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck was having a good game until he left with an injury. We all hope he will be OK.

WR Victor Cruz – This Jersey native had a break out game today. He finished with 102 yards and 2 TD’s.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Brandon the Bull had a great game and finished with 19 yards on the ground, 53 yards receiving and 1 TD.

S Antrel Rolle – Rolle had a good game and kept his cool despite the Eagles players trying to get in his head.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario missed this game due to a concussion. Fans are hoping Mario will have a speedy recovery and get back on the field soon. Get well soon Mario!

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – The future is now for this young man. He left the game late in the 4th after getting banged up but still finished with 2 sacks.

S Kenny Phillips – Phillips played an outstanding game and finished with 1 INT and 1 forced fumble.

LB Jacquian Williams – Keep your eye on this rookie. He led all defensive tacklers and plays with fire.

S Deon Grant – Grant had a great game and his veteran swagger on the field cannot be overstated. Re-signing him was huge this offseason.

LB Mathias Kiwanuka – Kiwi had a nice game and a few key tackles. I still think he should be used as a DE and not a LB.

TE Travis Beckum – Beckum’s return to the field was quiet and he finished with 1 catch for 2 yards.

WR Brandon Stokley – Stokley had a quiet game and finished with 1 catch for 7 yards.

LB Greg Jones – The rookie Jones is still settling into his role in the middle and had a decent game.

LB Michael Boley – Boley had a great game and continues to be the veteran presence needed in the LB group.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes made all three of his extra point attempts and had no FG attempts.

P Steve Weatherford – The Weatherman had another good game and kept the ball away from DeSean Jackson.

Giants Defense – The defense was outstanding today and finished with 2 sacks, 3 INT’s and 1 forced fumble.

Giants Offense – Hats off to Kevin Gilbride who called a good game today. The Giants offense played their best game of the year.

Giants Special Teams – Even the special teams got in on the party and played much better today.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Eagles?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Giants Plan Begins to Take Shape, Roster Moves Continue

August 18, 2011

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

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

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

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

RD – nygreporter

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