Lawrence Taylor: The Greatest Football Player Ever?

March 13, 2010

The NFL has started to do something very interesting, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the NFL Draft. They have started a versus section on NFL.com, where fans can vote on one player versus another. You could have Joe Montana facing off against Phil Simms or Ray Lewis squared up against Mike Singletary. I know this is a question that has been asked for years and something that has been dissected and examined by all fans. But for all of our efforts, we still don’t know the answer.

How is it possible to figure out who was the greatest NFL player of all time? It’s impossible to me. I am a Giants fan, so of course I am going to say LB Lawrence Taylor. A Bears fan will most likely say RB Walter Payton. A 49ers fan might say WR Jerry Rice. It seems like for all of the effort put into this question, the best we can all do collectively, is choose a top 5 or top 10 list. Taylor, Payton and Rice are all on that list by the way. Some have to break it down by offense and defensive players. Some just roll their eyes when asked for their choice. I’m not sure what scientific formula could produce the answer but I am going to stick with Lawrence Taylor as the greatest football player of all time.

We all know he changed the game forever with his unique style of attacking. We all know that he has had off field issues that make some doubters dismiss his superiority on the field. If we start small, say at the linebacker position, can you give me the name of a better linebacker in NFL history then LT? OK I didn’t think so. On to the next question, can you tell me the name of any defensive player who is better then LT? Again, you would be hard pressed but here is where it gets tricky. When we begin to look at the NFL as a whole and include offensive players into the mix, the picture becomes cloudy. Payton and Rice to be specific are just as talented and athletic as LT was. The difference is what they made their bodies do with that athleticism. A running back, a wide receiver and a linebacker. I’m sure some of you have your own choices to throw into the mix and please feel free to do so. But out of the three players I mentioned, I’m picking LT because defense wins championships. I would love to hear what you think. Is LT the greatest football player of all time?

RD – NYGReporter.com


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


2010 NFL Draft: New York Giants Part 1

March 11, 2010

Hello Giants fans, I thought we could do something different today and try to predict the Giants draft picks by position and round. Naming player prospects is fine as well, as long as you list the position next to the name. I have been having some talks with my fellow Giants fans about this and opinions vary as always. Of course, we still don’t know if Big Blue is done with the free agency market yet. So far, they have signed S Antrel Rolle and QB Jim Sorgi. There are positions of need to fill, with MLB being the most apparent.

So for now, let’s assume that the G-Men are done with free agency (which I do not believe). Looking at the current roster and taking into consideration the quality of players that remain at each position, let’s try to figure out what the Giants will do on draft day. Good luck and I look forward to checking out your predictions for the 2010 NFL Draft. I will leave my personal predictions below.

RD – NYGReporter.com

2010 NFL Draft – New York Giants

Round 1 – Linebacker (MLB)

Round 2 – Safety (Chad Jones)

Round 3 – Offensive Lineman (Center)

Round 4 – Defensive Tackle

Round 5 – Cornerback

Round 6 – Running Back

Round 7 – Offensive Lineman (Guard)


Could LaDainian Tomlinson become a New York Giant?

March 10, 2010

I see LaDainian Tomlinson still on the market and I’m wondering how that is possible? Even a 30 year old Tomlinson (I choose not to refer to him as LT, out of respect for Lawrence Taylor) has still got some gas in the tank and can run circles around a lot of current NFL RB’s. To answer the title question, Yes. Tomlinson could and should become a New York Giant. I could see him signing a 2 or 3 year deal with the team and split carries with Brandon Jacobs. We would need to cut Danny Ware and use Ahmad Bradshaw as a third down back. In truth, Tom Coughlin could just start the hot RB and inter-change them at will.

The bottom line is that having Jacobs, Bradshaw & Tomlinson is a good problem to have. It instantly upgrades us to one of the best RB Corps in the NFL. It might also be just what the doctor ordered for Tomlinson, splitting carries in this point in his career would only extend it. I would keep RB Andre Brown on the roster because he has a lot of potential in the NFL and nobody got to see what the sophomore can do yet. He was injured early in training camp during his rookie season last year. Jerry Reese must have Tomlinson on his radar, even if it were to glance at the prospect of bringing him to New York. I will support what ever choice he makes because he is able to see more then we can.

The Giants still need a middle linebacker as their number one priority but nailing down Tomlinson for 2 or 3 years, will fill a lot of seats in the New Meadowlands Stadium and put the Big Blue running game into a higher bracket. We will have to wait and see where he ends up. Reports are claiming that the Vikings appear to be the most interested at this point.

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


Giants DT Fred Robbins signs with Rams

March 9, 2010

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Giants continue to develop into a new team with the loss of DT Fred Robbins to the Rams. Big Fred will be reunited with Coach Spags in St. Louis after signing a 3-year $12 million dollar deal. The 10 year veteran signed with the Giants back in 2004 and had been very productive for the team. After last season, many fans were calling for his replacement saying that he lost a step. Try telling that to Coach Spags who was very excited to get a player of Robbins caliber on his team. Fred Robbins is a big man at 325 pounds and will certainly help shore up the Rams defensive line. I want to personally wish Fred well with his new team and all of his future ventures. I met Fred in person a couple of years ago and found him to be a very nice guy. Keep your head up Fred!

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


Clint Sintim will not have a Sophomore Slump

March 8, 2010

Clint Sintim saw limited playing time during his rookie season in 2009. Since then, the Giants have started the process of putting together a winning coaching staff and making some serious roster moves. Sintim is a menacing, physical specimen that could be set free on opposing teams this year, once Perry Fewell figures out where he will fit the best. He can play defensive end too. A spot where he saw some action in 2009. I look for the versatile Sintim to be used much more in the defensive scheme this season. With all of the player changes the G-Men have made so far, the one thing that is for certain, is that Jerry Reese will bring in a free agent MLB before the season starts. Sintim has the potential to be a Pro Bowl player someday.

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