Final Goodbye to Giants MLB Antonio Pierce

March 12, 2010

Many fans wanted Antonio Pierce to be cut this upcoming 2010 season. I have had many discussions with fans about this topic and could not let the subject go without a final word on the Giants defensive general, Antonio Pierce. I understand that his skills have declined with age (33) but he was still a New York Giant. It seems to me like fans are forgetting all that he has done for the team. Without sounding sappy or mushy about the subject, the man deserves some respect now that he has moved on. He also left the team with a lot of class by publicly praising the organization and saying he understands the business move. He said he will cherish the time he had in New York and wished them well. What more do you want from the guy?

He has proven to be a great team mate and friend to his fellow players. He is a Super Bowl Champion and Pro Bowl player. He commanded the defense on the field and did his job extremely well, even if he lost a step due to father time. Personally, I was sad to see him go. Now here we are without a middle linebacker and we’re creeping up to the NFL Draft. I am confident that Jerry Reese has a plan and he will execute it shortly. You don’t get rid of a player like AP without having some sort of a backup plan. Perhaps, the team feels like it is time to give someone on the roster currently a shot, but who? Chase Blackburn? Jonathan Goff? No one knows the plan and we must all sit back and wait for it to unfold. I wish AP luck in everything he does in the future and nothing but success in his life in general.

What do you think about the departure of MLB Antonio Pierce and who do you think a good replacement would be via free agency, trade or the draft?

RD – NYGReporter.com


New York Giants sign QB Jim Sorgi

March 9, 2010

The New York Giants found the backup QB they were looking for after the departure of QB David Carr. Jim Sorgi was signed to a deal today after passing a physical with the team. Sorgi was Peyton Manning’s backup QB in Indy for six years. The 29-year old Sorgi said that he was excited about working with Eli Manning and helping him in any way possible. I’m glad that the team addressed an area of need rather quickly, locked in and pulled the trigger on Jim Sorgi. However, I do not think he is a better QB then David Carr. I would have preferred to have kept Carr but Sorgi might prove to be extremely helpful in the homework department. The fact that he has worked closely with the best Quarterback in the NFL, is a huge plus for Eli Manning, even if he is Peyton’s brother.

I’m not sure how much field time Sorgi will get, probably about as much as he did with Peyton, since both Peyton and Eli have Iron Man streaks going for the most consecutive starts. The Giants continue to make all of the right moves on paper and have kept their word by aggressively hitting the free agent market. I am looking for one more big signing before the NFL Draft next month. Middle Linebacker is the most blaring need as of today and a rookie simply cannot take command of a team the way a veteran can. This might be a position worth trading a player for, if one cannot be found via free agency. There is a never a dull moment during the off season!

RD – NYGReporter.com


Hakeem Nicks vs. Anquan Boldin

March 9, 2010

At the beginning of the 2009 season, the biggest concern for most Giants fans were the wide receivers. Having lost Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress in the same year seemed to be too much to overcome. One of the big names that kept popping up all over the internet was WR Anquan Boldin. Boldin recently signed a 4-year $28 million dollar deal with the Baltimore Ravens and will finally be out of All-World WR Larry Fitzgerald’s shadow. So why am I bringing this up?

Now that Hakeem “Octo-Hands” Nicks has some experience under his belt and Anquan Boldin is with a new team, I thought it would be interesting to do a comparison on both guys. Hakeem Nicks would not be a Giant if Jerry Reese had brought in Boldin, a move that surely would have included giving up draft picks. In my mind, these two guys are linked and it is fun to see how both will perform in 2010.

Let me say that I think the Giants made the right move by drafting Hakeem Nicks. I don’t think anyone can deny that the brightest spot on the team in 2009, was the WR Corps. All of us were proven wrong. Hakeem “Those are some big hands” Nicks could prove to be a superstar in the NFL. He performed extremely well in his rookie season and will surely have a bigger role in the Giants offense next season. I can only say this now, because I was one of those fans worried about the WR group. Yes, I admit it. Not that I didn’t believe in Nicks but when you see a great player like Anquan Boldin on the table, it’s hard to look away. And all of that brings us here today. Nicks surely on the cusp of becoming a number one WR with the G-Men and Boldin about to become a number one WR in Baltimore. Who do you think will have a better season in 2010? Does it come down to Eli Manning or Joe Flacco having a better season?

2009 Season Stats:

1. Anquan Boldin – 15 game starts, 84 receptions, 1,024 yards, 4 TD’s

2. Hakeem Nicks – 6 game starts, 47 receptions, 790 yards, 6 TD’s

RD – NYGReporter.com


Can Brandon Jacobs be the Bully of Broadway?

March 8, 2010

It’s safe to say that New York Giants RB Brandon Jacobs had one of his worst years in the NFL last season. The entire Giants running game seemed to be injured or playing injured throughout the year. When the year was over (basically after the Panthers game) officially, the coaches decided to place a number of Giants on the IR list, Jacobs was one of those players to close out the season on the Injured Reserve list. Jacobs had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in January which begs the question of how well he will perform in 2010. Can he go back to that bruising, bully style of running attack that gave him his reputation in the first place? I think Brandon the Bull will be fine in 2010. He will be playing with a chip on his shoulder this year. I am extremely confident that RB Brandon Jacobs will rush for 1,000 yards this season. Who wants to bet against him?

RB Ahmad Bradshaw had some ankle issues and injuries of his own, after rookie RB Andre Brown was lost for the season in training camp. DJ Ware played in a limited role but missed a bunch of time due to injury as well. Hopefully, 2010 will prove to be a year when injuries are a non factor for the running back group. I truly believe that the Giants can return to form if they can find the missing piece, which is who will fill the  Derrick Ward role from a couple of years ago? Can Andre Brown step up and do that? Brandon Jacobs runs too hard to be in the game for every single down. The running game in general needs some help from the third string and beyond.

RD – NYGReporter.com


A Final Farewell to the old Giants Stadium

March 7, 2010

The New Meadowlands Stadium will open for the 2010 NFL season. There will be a concert there long before that during the summer. It’s tough to see them tearing it down. I have a lot of great memories attached to that old stadium. Both inside watching the game and the tailgating before the game were equally entertaining. I can’t even count how many times I have had the pleasure of attending Giants games. I have been in the best seats in the house to the worst seats they had up top. I’ve been to the NFL Draft party they throw there and on the field itself. I’ve been in the locker room and toured the building. I am glad that I did all of those things before they tore it down. I felt the same way about visiting Monument Park in the old Yankee Stadium before they built the new one. What are some of your memories from the old Giants stadium?

Farewell to one of the greatest stadiums in modern history! Check out this tribute from Giants.com.

http://www.giants.com/Giants_Stadium_Tribute/

You can also buy Authentic Giants Stadium merchandise from Steiner Sports.

http://www.steinersports.com/ssm/control/giantsstadiumcollectibles?intcmp=rt_meadowlands

RD – NYGReporter.com


David Carr seeks golden opportunity in San Francisco

March 7, 2010

David Carr is a San Francisco 49er. This is something I did not want to happen. I liked the idea of having a reliable backup QB in the wings such as Carr. Now we will need to bring in another QB to backup Eli Manning. Rhett Bomar is the only other QB listed on the roster. There have been some rumors about Mark Brunell possibly coming to town. I’ve heard things about Michael Vick and Jeff Garcia. There have been a bunch of other rumors but Tom Coughlin will no doubt provide a veteran backup QB for Eli. Eli is still an iron man, having never missed a start in his career. This team seems to be going through more of a change then I anticipated.

Who do you think the Giants will end up with as a backup QB?

RD – NYGReporter.com


Antrel Rolle signs with Big Blue

March 6, 2010

Safety Antrel Rolle signed with the Giants for 5-years at $37 million dollars. This is a huge upgrade to the secondary and addresses a position of need for the team. I expect big things from this years free agency market. Getting Rolle was just the start of Jerry Reese’s plan to overhaul certain positions on the team. Look for the Giants to address the MLB position next. The G-Men need a veteran MLB to compliment the rookie MLB they will pick up in the draft this year. They will also double tap the safety position by drafting someone at that position as well IMO. Things are getting interesting for Giants fans.

RD – NYGReporter.com