12/13/11 Christmas DAC Day 13, The NYG Defense

December 13, 2011

NEW YORK – Hello Giants fans, I would like to discuss the New York Giants defense. I think everybody understand the situation we are in and why the team has been less then perfect in that department. People can look at me funny all they want but the truth is the Giants defense is simply using rookies, second stringers and a few solid veterans. Most of the guys injured are starters and the IR list must have close to 20 Giants players on it now or roughly 2/3 of the team. This doesn’t include the current list of banged up players that miss a few games here and there.

Some Giants fans understand and agree with me and other Giants leaders out there must show their displeasure in order to motivate those youngsters to play harder and smarter. Giants leaders such as Michael Strahan, Antonio Pierce and Carlos Emmons. Where the fans are supportive vocally and see the rookies out there trying their best, the veterans must stay on them to make them better. The respect is worth more then the money. I get it. The grasshopper understandeth the lesson.

I think DC Perry Fewell is doing an outstanding job with the personnel he has to work with. He is missing some major star names out there. Guys like CB Terrell Thomas, DE Osi Umenyiora, LB Clint Sintim, S Kenny Phillips. He is also using a bunch of rookies. Guys like CB Prince Amukamara, LB Jacquian Williams, LB Greg Jones and S Tyler Sash. These kids are playing their hearts out and will only get better. It is only a matter of time before they start picking up the game and getting to really understand what is happening. Then they will be able to read and react much better. Guys like Jason Pierre-Paul do not come around very often. This is a very special football player, if he keeps himself out of trouble he will go in the record books, I firmly believe that. I’m going to buy a home jersey with No.90 on the back. Guys like LB Michael Boley and S Antrel Rolle don’t come around often either, natural born leaders out there.

The Giants have had three straight years in a row where injuries have really dismantled a solid team put together by GM Jerry Reese. It is a shame that they got hit so hard because this would be a good looking squad playing together on the field. I really hope the fans can see that one day. The reality for right now is the Giants rank at the very bottom (bottom five) of the NFL defensive rankings. In order for them to improve on that area, players are going to have to stay healthy. It is unacceptable in New York to have anything less then a strong defense.

DAC Fact

Have you ever met any New York Giants players? I’ve met a few including New York Giants legend Michael Strahan. Check out the NYG Fans section and read the comment section for the whole story.

What are your thoughts about the Giants defense in 2011?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/12/11 Christmas DAC Day 12, Do You Believe?

December 12, 2011

NEW YORK – Hello Giants fans, let me ask you something, do you believe? That was the phrase being thrown around last night on twitter. The Giants were facing a third straight year of being eliminated from the playoffs but they fought off a scrappy Cowboys team to pull out the win. Be sure to come back a little bit later to check out our famous ‘Game Notes’ article, which will have all of the stats and analysis. The final score (37-34) proves that both defenses are nothing to write home about this year but it sure made for an exciting game to watch. There were reportedly eight different lead changes in this game and a huge attendance in the ‘House that Ego Built’.

As I mentioned in the game day article, this was the 99th meeting between these two teams and on New Year’s day 2012, the Giants and Cowboys will play for the 100th time in history. I don’t know how the rest of this season will play out but last night was clearly the best game of the year for Big Blue. Fans could not believe that Big Blue came back like that at the end of the game in a hostile environment. It was a thing of beauty to see play out before our eyes. The Giants have only 3 more games left in the season to lock down a playoff berth.

DAC Fact

Most NFL teams have nicknames and the Giants are no different. Can you name some of the titles fans have bestowed upon the New York Football Giants? Let me give you a hand with that. Some of the more popular nicknames for the Giants are Big Blue, the Jints, the G-Men, Big Blue Wrecking Crew, the Road Warriors and the New York Football Giants. The last one was actually the name written on the title for this team. They changed it by adding the word ‘football’, so people would not get confused with the Giants baseball team.

Are you surprised the Giants beat the Cowboys on the road last night?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/11/11 Christmas DAC Day 11, It’s Game Day!

December 11, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants play another night game tonight, that makes three night games in the past month for Big Blue. Fans will have to wait all day to find out what will become of the Giants season. If they lose, their season is essentially over. I’m not worried though because it is out of our hands now and completely up to the players. All of the pep talks in the world can’t make a tackle on the field. So sit back and enjoy the show because something tells me that Big Blue will come out with the win. Head Coach Tom Coughlin, will do all that he can to have his team prepared, this I am sure of. The play calling from OC Gilbride and DC Fewell will need to be exceptional tonight in order to keep the season alive.

The Giants injury report states that DE Osi Umenyiora, S Kenny Phillips, C David Baas, LB Mark Herzlich and LB Spencer Paysinger will not play tonight. Losing all of these players and adding them to the crowded injury list is really making me sick. The absolute epidemic of injuries is sickening. I do not want to sound cold or unsympathetic to the situation or to the players personally because I truly wish them all a fast recovery. But the damage it has done to the team as a whole is undeniable. The Giants defense was hit especially hard, knocking them down the rankings to the 29th defense overall, which is completely unacceptable for a New York football team. All I can say is, get well soon guys. My final score prediction one more time is Giants 28 – Cowboys 21.

DAC Fact

Do you know how many times the Giants and Cowboys have played each other? These two teams have a long history of rivalry and have met on the football field 98 times. That means today will be the 99th time and the big 100th contest will be in the final game of the 2011 season on New Year’s day. The first time they played each other was on December 4, 1960 in Yankee stadium and the game famously ended in a tie 31-31. These franchises have played in overtime games twice in team history and split victories in those two overtime games. They have also played two games to a tie in team history. Dallas leads the all-time series 56-40-2.

Who will finish the game with more passing yards, Eli Manning or Tony Romo?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/10/11 Christmas DAC Day 10, Double Digits

December 10, 2011

NEW YORK – I have been talking to some of our fellow Giants fans about the upcoming Cowboys game. The most important game of the year for Big Blue. I have been very surprised by some of the final score predictions being made. Three Giants fans have predicted a double digit victory for Big Blue, which means they think the Giants will win by 10 or more points. My own prediction has the Giants winning by a TD with the score of 28-21. I am making that optimistic prediction because the Giants are Road Warriors and they play in Texas. The Giants can and must win on Sunday night.

The Washington Redskins and Philadelphia “Dream Team” Eagles are both basically out of the playoffs already. They will not be doing anything but playing golf in January. There is a slim chance that they could get in if the Cowboys and Giants lose all of their final games but that is unlikely to happen. So the Cowboys have our full attention in the NFC East and they will be playing a very hungry New York Football Giants club.

DAC Fact

Do you know how many double digit wins the Giants have in 2011? So far (after 12 games), the Giants have only 2 double digit victories and the last one was in week three. This makes sense because each and every week feels like a close game and I’ve been on the edge of my seat for them all. The two teams the G-Men beat by double digits are the Eagles (29-16) and Rams (28-16). If some of the Giants fans are correct, Big Blue might get their third double digit win of the year on Sunday night.

What is your final score prediction for the Giants/Cowboys game?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support New York Giants Legend, George Martin’s “A Journey for 9/11” Charity. Never Forget!


12/9/11 Christmas DAC Day 9, Enjoy the Weekend

December 9, 2011

NEW YORK – Hello Giants Fans, here we are at the end of the week on a Friday and we’re just two weeks away from Christmas now. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited for Christmas this year. I’m also excited for the game on Sunday Night Football. The Giants play the Cowboys, as you very well know and this is more then a regular season game, this is a make or break game for Big Blue. If the Giants win, their playoff hopes continue for another week and if they lose, they are most likely done. So win the game!

Let me be clear, the Giants can absolutely beat the Cowboys. Going into Texas and getting the job done is a whole other story entirely. The Giants are really in a bad spot with injuries and will need the rookies and second stringers to have the game of their lives in a hostile environment. Of course, the one thing the Giants have going for them is the incredible ‘choking’ streak of Cowboys QB Tony Romo. That should help tremendously when Big Blue takes the field. To be honest, I’m even nervous to give a final score prediction in this game. But since most of our readers expect me to make a prediction, I will say the Giants win by a TD 28-21.

DAC Fact

Did you know the New York Giants have 27 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Some of them decided to go into the Hall under the wing of different teams but all of them played for Big Blue and some of them played their entire careers in New York. Two of the men inducted were actually not even players. Tim Mara and Wellington Mara were inducted as owners. The Giants have the second most players inducted. Tim Mara and Mel Hein were inducted as part of the inaugural ceremony in 1963. I expect the Giants to add many more players to the Hall of Fame before they are done. Nice going gentlemen!

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/8/11 Christmas DAC Day 8, Sunday Night Fever

December 8, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants will play the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Texas. To say this is an important game would be an understatement. The Giants have no choice but to sweep the Cowgirls…huh hum, I mean the Cowboys or face another year without the playoffs. I wish I could say that I am confident the Giants can pull this task off but I’m not. I have to be honest with my readers and myself. The Giants are more likely to miss the playoffs this year, then they are to make it back. Let me explain why I feel like this and let me be clear, the Giants always have a shot to pull off the miracle because of QB Eli Manning. However, winning three out of the next four games will be extremely tough for Big Blue.

OK Giants fans, it’s time for some reality and serious reflection on the current situation. The Giants offense is ranked 9th in the NFL overall but that is only because of the passing game which ranks 4th. The Giants rushing game is ranked 29th (ouch!). It gets even worse on defense where the Giants passing defense is ranked 28th, while the rushing defense is ranked 23rd. The Giants overall defense is ranked 29th (ouch!) Elite teams won’t need much time in the video room to realize that you have to stop Eli Manning to win a game. It is no secret that the Giants have fallen down the rankings because of injuries and not the poor play of first string athletes. It has been this way with injuries for 3 straight years now.

DAC Fact

Did you know the Giants were purchased for only $500 dollars back in 1925 by the Giants original owner Tim Mara? As of 2010, the New York Giants are reportedly worth $1.3 billion dollars (according to Forbes estimates). Not a bad investment huh?

Will the New York Giants sweep the Dallas Cowboys this year?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/7/11 Christmas DAC Day 7, Lucky Number Seven

December 7, 2011

NEW YORK – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We are only about 2 1/2 weeks away from Christmas now. I hope all of the kids reading this are being good and listening to your parents. Santa will keep you on the ‘good’ list if you do the right thing. As for the adults, it’s time for a little math. Let me ask you something, what do you get when you add two thousand plus seven? Hey, the answer is 2007. you know, like the year the Giants earned themselves another nickname (Road Warriors) by making it back to the SuperBowl after a 17 year drought. Thank you God!

Another interesting fact about the Giants and the number seven is the fact that the Super Bowl XLII win was the Giants 7th league Championship. They had won 4 NFL Championships before the Super Bowl era and then 3 Championships after it. Pretty cool huh? The number seven is also one of the few Giants jersey numbers that are retired. Mel Hein has the honor of being the last New York Giant to wear number seven. Now it gets weird, the Giants have only played in seven different stadiums/venues since their inception in 1925. Can you guess how many times they have won the NFC East? Yep, you know it, lucky number seven.

DAC Fact

Did you know that the victory for Big Blue in Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 is the greatest upset in Super Bowl history? The Giants beat the undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 and got their ‘ten table’ Championship rings. The Patriots were favored by 2 TD’s and QB Tom Brady had just finished having the best regular season performance by a QB in NFL history. Many experts will say that this Super Bowl also had the greatest play in Super Bowl history, known simply as ‘The Catch’. The Manning to Tyree pass is the most incredible play I have ever seen in that type of environment and under that king of pressure.

What is your favorite/lucky number? If you don’t have one yet, it’s never too late to pick one.

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/6/11 Christmas DAC Day 6, What a Manning!

December 6, 2011

NEW YORK – Hello Giants fans, here we are on day six of our little digital advent calendar. I hope you are all enjoying this holiday season. I was thinking about QB Eli Manning’s performance against the Packers again today and thought it was about time to take a look at Manning’s career progress. The guy has it all in his professional career and his personal life. It’s easy to see why so many people out there hate on Manning. Shame on all of you haters!

I honestly believe that when he retires, he will be the greatest quarterback in Giants history. I know that is a bold statement but it is what I believe (sorry Phil Simms). He will need to win another Super Bowl to lock that down and another Pro Bowl selection wouldn’t hurt either. I expect at least one of these to occur this year, if not both (cross your fingers).

I’m going to briefly remind you all of some of Manning’s accomplishments. He is a Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, Pro Bowl player and he is an NFL Iron Man (consecutive starts streak). When this season is complete, he will have his third straight year with over 4,000 yards passing and he should pass the 30 TD mark for a second straight year. Those numbers are no joke and something that will keep Manning in the elite QB discussion. Let’s take a look at what Manning has done since beating the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl. Thanks Eli!

QB Eli Manning’s statistics since 2008

2008 – 3,238 passing yards, 21 TD’s and 10 INT’s

2009 – 4,021 passing yards, 27 TD’s and 14 INT’s

2010 – 4,002 passing yards, 31 TD’s and 25 INT’s

2011 – 3,705 passing yards, 23 TD’s and 11 INT’s (12 games)

DAC Fact

Did you know that QB Eli Manning graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing and a 3.44 GPA? He also set or tied 45 school records on the football field for Ole Miss.

RD – nygreporter.com – Happy Holidays!

Please Support New York Giants Legend, George Martin’s “A Journey for 9/11” Charity. Never Forget!


12/5/11 Christmas DAC Day 5, Monday Big Blues

December 5, 2011

NEW YORK – Hello Giants fans, that was a tough loss against the Packers last night. I knew it would be a close game but I really thought the Giants were going to win. The undefeated Packers continue rolling and deserve the victory. The reason I gave that side note of Monday Big Blues in the article title is obvious. With only four games left in the season, the G-men need to do everything in their power to win all four of those games. If they fail to do so, they will be swimming in the blues until next year.

The playoffs are right around the corner and the Giants fans need their postseason fix after missing the past two years. Do I think it’s possible? Absolutely. The Giants need to get some players healthy on defense to get really busy on the field. Now we learn that S Kenny Phillips was injured in Sundays game and it only gets worse. In my honest opinion, the Giants are lucky to have the record they own with all of these injuries. It is a testament to the depth on the New York squad but still, a 6-6 record is nothing to cheer about.

DAC Fact

Yes, the Giants lost to the undefeated Green Bay Packers (12-0) and it looks like QB Aaron Rodgers is a sure thing to win the NFL MVP for 2011. He has been playing on another level this year and breaking records. Which got me thinking, how many New York Giants players have won the NFL MVP? Do you think you know the answer? This isn’t trivia, it is simply stating Giants facts. The answer is five.

Let’s take a look at the five Giants who earned NFL MVP honors.

1. Mel Hein – 1938 NFL MVP

2. Frank Gifford – 1956 NFL MVP

3. Charlie Conerly – 1959 NFL MVP

4. Y.A. Tittle – 1963 NFL MVP

5. Lawrence Taylor – 1986 NFL MVP

Who do you think will end up as the next Giants NFL MVP? Is he on this team?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


12/4/11 Christmas DAC Day 4, Game Day Fact

December 4, 2011

NEW YORK – Because of the normal nygreporter ‘Game Notes’ article today, we will only be doing a short DAC fact for today and on all game days. Just a little something for you while you wait for our article later after the game. It is hard to believe we are only 20 days away from Christmas Eve now and 20 days away from that Christmas Eve game with the Jets that I’ll be going to. Remember, my Giants/Jets article will be published on December 26, 2011 for that weekend because I will be away. I am very excited for that game! The Giants play the undefeated Green Bay Packers today at 4:15 PM EST. Go Giants!

DAC Fact:

Do you know how many retired jersey numbers the Giants have? The answer might surprise you. I have to be honest, when I think of retired numbers and teams that might run out of numbers to retire one day, the same team comes to mind, the Yankees. But the Giants are a close second with 11 numbers retired so far. DE Michael Strahan should also have his number retired one day down the road. Let’s take a look at the numbers and players retired.

New York Giants retired numbers.

No.1 – Ray Flaherty, Ray has the honor of being the first person with a professional sports number retired, in any sport.

No.4 – Tuffy Leemans

No.7 – Mel Hein

No.11 – Phil Simms

No.14 – Y.A. Tittle

No.16 – Frank Gifford

No.32 – Al Blozis

No.40 – Joe Morrison

No.42 – Charlie Conerly

No.50 – Ken Strong

No.56 – Lawrence Taylor

What is your favorite New York Giants number and why? Do you own any Giants jerseys?

RD – nygreporter.com

Please Support New York Giants Legend, George Martin’s “A Journey for 9/11” Charity. Never Forget!