The 2011 NFL Lockout Ends After 136 Days of Stress

July 25, 2011

NEW YORK – The 2011 NFL lockout has finally come to an end today on the 136th day of the lockout (I do not subtract the 4 days a judge ordered the lockout stoppage in April). Thanks for the ulcer and 4 1/2 months of worrying. Maybe next year you can finish me off by telling me the Giants will be relocating to Oklahoma City or something like that. After all of the bickering and posturing, both sides have finally agreed to a deal and saved the 2011 season. I know that I am supposed to be overwhelmed with joy and excited but strangely I’m not. I feel like someone who went through a draining court process for half a year. I really thought I would feel excited but this sense of relief is still dominating my mind. I’m sure this feeling will change in the next day or two once the fire returns in my belly. I won’t have time to digest everything that has happened because football business will explode at a rapid pace now.

NFL teams can sign their free agents and begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents tomorrow. They can also start talking about trades with other teams and start talking with undrafted free agents as well. Let’s not forget all of the rookies from the 2011 NFL draft class, they need to be addressed too. The new rules on the 10 year deal are still very foggy but I expect team lawyers to pull an all-nighter to get themselves up to speed. We’ve got training camp starting in 4 days (reportedly this Friday) for Big Blue and the preseason starting in about two weeks. The NFL cancelled the Hall of Fame game and all signs point to preseason games beginning on August 11, 2011. This is going to be a very turbulent few weeks for Giants fans because there are going to be some players that leave the team. These are players that will make your heart break. There will also be some excitement for the new players the team brings in but it always hurts when you lose an old friend.

Be sure to check back with us a few times per day because the articles will be pouring out now to keep up with the news. There isn’t much to report yet except to say that things are about to get stupid, silly crazy! I’m actually starting to get excited now and should be on red alert by the time I’m finished writing this article. I would like to say good luck to all of the Giants free agents, I hope you can all come back. I would also like to say farewell to any players who might leave the team and I want to let you know that once you’re a Giant, you’re always a Giant to New York and the fans! Best wishes and good luck to you guys. And to the fans I ask, are you ready for some football?

What have you learned from the 2011 NFL lockout and how has it affected you as a fan?

RD – nygreporter.com

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Bizarre Week in the NFL Ends Today With Possible Vote

July 22, 2011

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

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

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

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

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

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Former Giant Plaxico Burress Just Cannot Keep His Mouth Shut

June 15, 2011

NEW YORK – Our readers know how much I have talked about giving Plaxico Burress another chance in the NFL. I have written a few articles on him before and after his release from prison last week. I was on his side and hoping that he learned from the error of his ways and came out of jail with a fresh outlook on life. I was wrong. I was dumbfounded when I read what Burress had to say about Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants. I just cannot believe he would burn a bridge before he was anywhere near making amends. Really Plaxico?

Giants fans have not forgotten the facts of the Burress era. The facts are that Burress is a prima donna who has a problem with authority. He mentioned how he hated the prison system because of the way guards spoke to the prisoners in there. How he hated being told what to do and when to eat and all of that. What the heck did he expect? As I watched the video clip with a hot soup face (face scrunched up in disbelief), I shook my head and instantly felt a wave of peace come over me. It was time to say goodbye and good riddens to Plaxico Burress.

It is no secret that Burress has a big mouth but this was such a public relations fumble that Tiki Barber would be shaking his head at it. The unrepentant Burress came across as bitter and having a bad attitude. But you go on and keep imagining that you’re “keeping it real” Plaxico. You want to keep it real? You just dissed New York, the Giants and Coach Coughlin in one sitting and then chose to gloat about the possibility of going to the New York Jets? Now I feel like a fool for sticking up for Burress and I’m glad that Coach Coughlin recognized the headache Plaxico would become down the road.

Let’s not forget how many times he was fined for being late to practice, all his off the field legal problems and how he threw a monkey wrench into the promising 2008 season for the Giants as a team. He is acting like a 34 year old child by saying he doesn’t like the Tom Coughlin system or the way that he coaches. Hey Plaxico, why don’t you try joining the rest of us in the real world where 90% of the public hate their jobs and bosses. Real men stick it out because they have no other choice but to provide for their families. You threw away $12 million dollars and two years of your life because of your ego. Now you decide to call out the team who showed you love and gave you that fat contract to begin with? Why not point that finger at yourself and realize that grown ups don’t act this way. Could you imagine Ray Lewis complaining about practice or the coaching? I can only hope that Burress decides to go to the Philadelphia Eagles, so the Giants DB’s can knock him out while he goes up for a pass. Now that is keeping it real.

What do the fans think about Plaxico Burress calling out head coach Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants on TV?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Should the Giants Think About a New Kicker in 2011?

June 12, 2011

NEW YORK – I couldn’t help noticing that a couple of kickers are free agents this year. There are more then two out there but two really caught my attention. They are David Akers and Ryan Longwell. I know that some Giants fans are big Lawrence Tynes fans but I am not one of them. It seems like we have this discussion every year about the kicker position. It tells me that other fans do not completely trust Tynes, just as I don’t. Yes, Tynes kicked that huge FG to get the G-Men into the Super Bowl but he also missed some huge FG’s in his career. Is it time to look for a long term kicker elsewhere or bring in a crafty veteran for the short term?

Both Akers and Longwell are 36 years old and can still play the game. Tynes is 33 years old. The Eagles drafted a kicker in the 4th round (really? lol) of this years NFL Draft, which most likely means Akers could end up elsewhere. Bringing in Akers would mean improving our kicking team and taking away a weapon from the Eagles in my opinion. The Giants special teams was an area of focus this offseason and they will need to do more work in that area before fans can exhale. The Giants special teams has been absolutely atrocious in recent years. Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn must have a lucky horse shoe hidden on him at all times because most coaches would have been fired by now for a lack of production.

I would prefer to have David Akers over Ryan Longwell, who seems to have aged much quicker then Akers. I still think either one would be an improvement over Tynes. I’m sure there will be fans who disagree with me but there will also be fans who agree with this sentiment. I have no qualms about suggesting the team address the kicker position. It would be nice to see the Giants bring in two rookie free agent kickers for training camp competition and possibly catch lightning in a bottle with one of those young men. The NFL lockout has now reached 93 days and fans can only hope there will even be a 2011 training camp. I’m not sure where Tom Coughlin’s comfort level is with Tynes but I can tell you that mine isn’t very high. The time has come to address the kicker position.

Who would you want as the Giants kicker in 2011 between Lawrence Tynes, David Akers and Ryan Longwell? Also, if you were the GM of an NFL team, would you use a valuable draft pick on a kicker?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Giants Fans Endure Another Week Without Football

June 10, 2011

NEW YORK – There hasn’t been much news recently for fans to digest about the Giants. The players have taken it upon themselves to practice at New Jersey high schools, risking injury and their careers. There was an increase in the number of team members who attended but that was the extent of new Giants news. The NFL owners and players union met again this week but still no end to the 2011 NFL lockout (91 days long now). I’m starting to sound like a broken record now, even to myself. I am not immune to the frustration or the bad moods that accompany watching these silly negotiations that have turned up no solutions. It is truly exhausting trying to endure this lockout.

The major sports sites began rolling out their fantasy football programs, just in case there is a football season in 2011. CBS Sports and ESPN specifically rolled out their fantasy programs to fans. The mock drafts are beginning to pick up in what seems to be the only football ravenous fans have had in a while. The chats in these mock drafts all revolve around the question about whether or not there will be a season. The same old story we’ve been hearing for the past three months. Still, doing these mock drafts and setting up a real fantasy league gives one a sense of normalcy for this time of year.

The only other piece of news that could be considered “Giants related” was the release of former WR Plaxico Burress from prison on June 6, 2011. This has become a much larger topic of discussion due to the lack of NFL news in general. Should the Giants re-sign him or not. That seems to be the biggest question surrounding the Giants this week. All I can say is, Thank God it’s Friday. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and maybe we will hear some good news early next week.

How are you spending your time without NFL football this summer?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


The Giants Have Some Decisions to Make This Week

June 7, 2011

NEW YORK – The talk of the town this week is without a doubt Plaxico Burress. Since being released from prison yesterday he was one of the hottest topics on the internet and the world of sports media in general. Most Giants fans felt a chill run up their spines when Burress emerged wearing a Philadelphia Phillies baseball cap. One could not escape the thought of it being a hint that he plans on signing with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. While everyone keeps asking the question about whether or not the Giants should re-sign Burress, most forgot to ask if Burress wants to re-sign with New York.

Besides the Burress madness sweeping the city, another question that must be asked revolves around the current group of Giants wide receivers. What is the state of the WR’s already on the roster? That answer is simple, the state of the New York Giants WR’s is strong. Could the team use a proven veteran like Burress for depth on the team? Absolutely. Do they need Burress on the team to define that position? Absolutely not. Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham have proven to be perfectly capable of handling the job. Not to mention some young talent with Victor Cruz and the rookie Jerrel Jernigan waiting in the wings for their shot. There are a handful of other WR’s trying to fight for a roster spot as well, so there is no shortage of wide receiver talent on Big Blue.

Many fans have been crunching the numbers and showing QB Eli Manning’s progress with and without Burress on the team. It is nice to see some numbers but I think it goes beyond all of that. There is a ton of data to consider before making a big decision like this. Plaxico Burress will be on an NFL team this season for certain. Hopefully, he doesn’t go to a rival team and play against the G-Men twice per year but if he does, so what? The Giants will deal with it. He won’t be any more of a threat then say DeSean Jackson or Miles Austin. The Giants have a very scary secondary, so I say bring it on. GM Jerry Reese is no fool and if he chooses not to bring back Burress, you can bet he has a very good reason. With all of this being said, I want to make it known that I believe Plaxico deserves another chance in the NFL. I hope he can reunite with Giants. If he doesn’t sign with Big Blue, then I wish him well with his new team. The NFL lockout has now reached 88 days and is actually affording Burress some R&R before he has to get down to business. My advice to Burress is to enjoy it while it lasts and I would like to say good luck to the Giants on having to make a very tough decision.

RD – nygreporter.com

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


The Good, Bad and Ugly Giants News This Week

June 3, 2011

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

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

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

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

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Happy Memorial Day to Giants Fans Everywhere

May 30, 2011

NEW YORK – I would like to say Happy Memorial day to all of the U.S. military around the world. I would also like to thank our military for everything they do. You are not forgotten! I hope Americans take the time to explain the true meaning of this holiday to their children. I hope we can take a moment of silence to remember all of the fallen soldiers who gave their lives to protect this country. My Uncle John is one of the people who died for this country. I’m sure most of our readers have a family member or know someone who has lost a loved one in war. Beer and BBQ are always nice but let us never forget the true meaning of this day of remembrance.

The NFL lockout has now reached 80 days and I would suggest the owners and players do the same thing. Do not forget the meaning of the game. Do not forget why you play the game of football and why you choose to own an NFL team. While you are arguing over millions of dollars the fans are suffering. Your fan base is suffering. The fans certainly have no choice but to wait things out and it’s a shame. Make a deal soon and end this nonsense that is almost 3 months old now.

I have been watching the ships, planes and helicopters for fleet week. If you haven’t had the chance to check it out, I suggest you do sometime. It makes me proud to be an American when I see the awesome power of the military. Seeing the USS New York floating down the hudson river and knowing it was built from the steel of the World Trade Center gave me chills. If there is one thing I would like to say, it is simply do not forget. Always remember why we have this holiday and try to take a moment for those who have fallen with honor. God bless you and your families and God bless the U.S. military all over the world. You are not forgotten!

RD – nygreporter.com

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


New York Giants Memorial Day Weekend News

May 28, 2011

NEW YORK – We have entered the 78th day of the 2011 NFL lockout. There still hasn’t been any real progress in resolving the lockout and here we are now during Memorial Day weekend. In fact, the NFL has cancelled the 2011 rookie symposium in Ohio, something that has benefitted rookies for years by giving them first hand knowledge of what to expect in the pros and how to conduct themselves off the field in order to protect themselves from the wolves (both male and female). Perhaps, Big Blue team leaders can take the Giants rookies under their wings and break down the “real deal” knowledge on being an NFL player.

The NFL also decided to make some rule changes to the game. These changes were immediately criticized by the players and media alike. I’m not going to list them all here but let’s just say they are concerned about “player safety” in the most violent game on the planet. Throughout all of this, we still have Roger Goodell stating that an 18 game season is going to happen. Well, he isn’t really saying it out loud directly but he is certainly preparing the teams and players psychologically for the inevitable change to the game. I’m still not sure how I feel about this after seeing the Giants have over 25 players land on the IR list the past two seasons. More games seem to equal more injuries to most experts.

Steve Smith was recently in the news talking about his progress in rehabbing his injury. He said things are going well and he is ahead of schedule. Some Giants players are on vacation this weekend and enjoying some R&R in beautiful and tropical locations (you know who you are). The Giants announced the 10 winners of their fan contest and QB Eli Manning was dissed by being left off the top 100 player list (this list is a joke) that was in the news this past week. Head Coach Tom Coughlin held his annual Jay Fund golfing event and Eli Manning continues to organize “player practices” to try and stay in shape. There isn’t much more football news except to say we are less then 15 weeks away from the first scheduled regular season game against the Redskins. Keep your fingers crossed that there is a season Giants fans.

What do you think about the NFL and owners making all of these changes to the rule book and also canceling the rookie symposium? Enjoy the weekend!

RD – nygreporter.com

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


Giants QB Eli Manning is a Top 50 NFL Player

May 26, 2011

NEW YORK – The recent news about Giants QB Eli Manning being absent from a list of the top 100 NFL players has fans enraged. This only confirms the number of New York haters there are in the world. If there are Eli Manning haters out there, then they are just miserable people in general. You would be hard pressed to find a QB, past or present, that has conducted themselves more professionally then Manning. The omission of Manning from any top NFL player list is a slap in the face to the Giants organization and Giants fans alike. The burden of proof lies on the accuser, so I would love to hear them explain how Manning can be left off this list.

These uninformed dorks who think Eli Manning isn’t a top 100 NFL player are right, he isn’t, he is a top 50 NFL player! Eli Manning is an iron man who has never missed a game. He is a Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP and Pro Bowl player. He was a top 5 NFL quarterback in 2010 and topped 4,000 yards for a second straight year. Some people want to mention his 25 interceptions in 2010 and that is fine. I understand that unless you are a Giants fan and watch each and every game, you would not know that between 8-10 of those INT’s were dropped or tipped passes. Yes, sometimes he refuses to take a sack and tries to force a play but that is due to his competitive nature.

Pat Kirwan wrote a wonderful article about this very subject on NFL.com, he was equally flabbergasted at Manning’s omission. The Giants liked his article so much that they included it on their website. I love seeing them stand by their leader in a situation like this. In the end, none of this will matter because Manning’s career will speak for itself. I am not concerned about what his legacy will be since he has already reached and conquered the pinnacle of his profession. The lack of respect he gets from so called “experts” and the media in general is a shame. He is a stand up guy who has done nothing but remain a class act and they instead choose to idolize the fools who make the news over dopey actions. I am still amazed by this. Eli Manning will use this information to his advantage and have a career season, that is simply what he does. He does not talk a lot but he certainly walks the walk. The rest of the NFL will not doubt his elite “status” among the other NFL players after this season (if there is a season).

Do you think that New York Giants QB Eli Manning is a top 100 player in the NFL (dumb question I know but someone thought it was smart to write it)?

RD – nygreporter.com

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