Big Blue is Making Waves Early in the Free Agency Pool

July 26, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants have started making roster moves. The biggest signing of the day was Boston College star LB Mark Herzlich. This is a kid that seems to charm everyone he meets and he has also shown his inner strength by beating cancer. I do not want to focus too much on him beating cancer (awesome story) because I’m sure this young man wants to put that all behind him and focus on the future. I hope other sports writers will leave him alone about that too. Let the kid play football now.

Giants GM Jerry Reese continues to show why he is an elite general manager in the NFL by having a great morning in the free agent market. The collection of undrafted rookies he has made deals with all bring unique talents to the table. Of course, Herzlich was projected to be a first round pick before he got sick and I have been hearing a lot of good things about this fullback Hynoski.

I will list a few of the players below but this is by no means the complete list. These are just a few players the team has worked on this morning. You can absolutely expect the list of players to grow but I thought I would give our readers a taste of what the day has brought so far. You can expect the madness to continue throughout this week and all the way up until the season starts. The two biggest needs for Big Blue are linebackers and offensive linemen.

Let’s take a look at some of the players the Giants were able to grab today.

1. LB Mark Herzlich – 6’4″ 250 pounds, Boston College

2. FB Henry Hynoski – 6’2″ 260 pounds, Pittsburgh

3. DB David Sims – 5’9″ 200 pounds, Iowa State

4. DT Martin Parker – 6’2″ 303 pounds, Richmond

5. LB Spencer Paysinger – 6’3″ 235 pounds, Oregon

6. DE Justin Trattou – 6’3″ 250 pounds, University of Florida

Which player are you hoping the G-Men will re-sign out of the current Giants free agents?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


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!


New York Giants QB Eli Manning is a Superhero

July 19, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants have a superhero on the team. I know it sounds strange but it’s true. Can you guess which superhero I’m talking about? I’m talking about QB Eli Manning being an Iron Man in the NFL. I have talked about this in previous articles as one of the many achievements Easy Eli has accomplished so far in his short career. I simply added it to the list of other achievements such as Super Bowl MVP, Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl Champion. The NFL Iron Man title is reserved for the players who have the most consecutive career starts.

I was a bit shocked when I checked this out today and realized that Eli Manning is ranked 6th for quarterbacks on the all-time consecutive starts list with 103. Yes, you heard me correctly, he is ranked 6th All-Time in NFL history. He is also ranked 3rd among active players, his brother Peyton is ranked 2nd all-time with 208 starts, trailing only Brett Favre who sits on top of the list with 297 consecutive starts. Only Peyton and Eli have active streaks in the top 10 still going right now as well. The others on the list have had their streaks snapped at some point. That Favre record is amazing considering all of the injuries that occur on the field each and every year. If things go right for Eli in 2011, he will easily overtake the No.5 position on this list by week 5. By week 9, he will have surpassed Tom Brady for the No.4 position on the list and by week 14 he will hurdle over Ron Jaworski for the No.3 spot. I do not want to jinx Manning which is why I am writing this article before the season starts but it’s pretty cool to think he will be ranked 3rd on the all-time list by seasons end if things go well.

I will leave the list below for all of our readers to check out and I would love to hear your opinions on this subject. Is this a record that deserves more attention such as the Cal Ripken Jr. consecutive starts record for baseballs Iron Man title? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that football is much more violent then baseball. While Ripken’s record is extremely impressive for baseball, it cannot truly be compared to the staggering 297 consecutive game streak held by Brett Favre. This is just my opinion, what do you think?

The NFL All-Time Consecutive Starts List for QB (Iron Man Streak)

1. QB Brett Favre, retired – 297 consecutive starts. The number is 321 if you include the playoffs.

2. QB Peyton Manning, active – 208 consecutive starts. The number is 227 if you include the playoffs.

3. QB Ron Jaworski, retired – 116 consecutive starts. The number is 123 if you include the playoffs.

4. QB Tom Brady, active – 111 consecutive starts (*streak ended in 2008). The number is 128 if you include the playoffs.

5. QB Joe Ferguson, retired – 107 consecutive starts. The number is 110 if you include the playoffs.

6. QB Eli Manning, active – 103 consecutive starts. The number is 110 if you include the playoffs.

Are you surprised to find out about this ongoing accomplishment by QB Eli Manning?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


2011 New York Giants Free Agent Frenzy

July 18, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants have a lot of work to do once this lockout ends. They have some really good players that need new contracts. WR Steve Smith, RB Ahmad Bradshaw and DT Barry Cofield are the top three in my opinion. Some will disagree with my assessment but some will also agree with me. There will be areas of need that will arise out of the pile once the free agency madness begins. DE Osi Umenyiora is one of the big time players seeking a new contract as well, even though he still has 2 years left on his existing contract. The guy backed up his talk by having an excellent 2010 season and in my opinion deserves a better contract. DE Mathias Kiwanuka and RB Brandon Jacobs are no easy fixes either.

Ahmad Bradshaw’s agent Drew Rosenhaus came out in the news today and said that although Bradshaw would prefer to stay in New York, he would also not mind playing for the Miami Dolphins if a deal could not be worked out. While this appears to be a game of trickery of the agents part to strike some fear into Big Blue, agents should be very careful when dealing with the Giants or they just might oblige. The weather might be nice down in Miami but they have not be relevant for decades in the football world. Going to Miami would be about the money and the weather, while staying in New York would be all about the Championship rings.

DT Barry Cofield was also in the news over the weekend and rumors have started swirling about him possibly going to Washington if things can’t be worked out in New York. I really like Barry Cofield and hope they can make a fair deal to keep him. Cofield has been the biggest anomaly on the team as far as I’m concerned. The previous rumors of draft day trades and the lack of a new contract really have me dumbstruck. Perhaps the coaches see something that I am missing because he seems solid as a rock in the middle of that defensive line. Another player and former Giant who may end up playing in the same division (NFC East) is WR Plaxico Burress, who could end up in Philadelphia of all places.

The player who is the most important re-signing of 2011 is WR Steve Smith. The Giants offense has a better rhythm with him in the games and QB Eli Manning has really leaned on the sure hands of Smith, now that the two have become more aquatinted with each other on the field. Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham are awesome wide receivers in their own right but Steve Smith is the glue that holds that passing attacking together. Smith and Bradshaw seem to be the two locks for re-signing in my opinion. With the lockout expected to end any day now, fans better get ready for the free agent frenzy that is right around the corner.

Which player signing should be the number one concern for the Giants during this free agency period?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


2011 New York Giants Fantasy Football Companion

July 12, 2011

NEW YORK – The 2011 NFL lockout has now reached 123 days. Reports have been circulating with the positive news that a deal could be made within the next week or two. Of course, they have been saying the same thing for over 4 months now but with the preseason so close (August 7, 2011), they may be telling the truth this time. If the season is truly going to be saved, then it is time to discuss fantasy football for the millions of people who enjoy playing the game every season. I will only be talking about New York Giants players in this article.

The first player we must discuss is WR Steve Smith. This is the steal of the entire fantasy football world for 2011 in my opinion. I have completed drafts in several leagues already and have been baffled by the fact that WR Steve Smith has gone undrafted in each and every one of them. I have been very fortunate to pick him up in every single one of my leagues without even drafting him. Knowing Smith will be available greatly effects draft strategy because you know you will get a quality WR on the back end, which allows you to focus on the running game or other areas of need early on. Smith has said that he is recovering from an injury very well and he will be ready for the 2011 season. Steve Smith will be the steal of this draft year in my opinion.

The following player list will show the player values for the 2011 fantasy football season. The players will listed in the order of their overall fantasy value. This list reveals my opinions only and should not be compared to any other fantasy ranking system. I have won a ton of fantasy championships and have over a decade of experience which makes me a fantasy expert. Of course, anything can go wrong at anytime and injuries could seriously effect the following predictions.

New York Giants Fantasy Football

1. QB Eli Manning – Manning has been putting up big numbers in recent years and I expect that trend to continue. Easy Eli responds to criticism very well and after being snubbed from the NFL Top 100 list, I expect Manning to play with a chip on his shoulder. Look for Eli to throw for 4,000+ yards and 30+ TD’s in 2011.

2. WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks has the potential to be an all-pro player. I expect 1,200+ yards and 10 TD’s minimum from him in 2011.

3. New York Giants Defense – The Giants defense is simply scary. If they can remain healthy they will be a top 3 defense in 2011.

4. RB Ahmad Bradshaw – I am assuming the Giants will re-sign the speedy Bradshaw. If they do, Bradshaw will rush for 1,000+ yards and 7 or 8 TD’s.

5. WR Steve Smith – Smith is another player I assume the Giants will re-sign. Smith can easily eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark and pull down 5 TD’s.

6. RB Brandon Jacobs – I believe the Giants will utilize Jacobs the proper way in 2011. They will give him the ball more and give him the goal line carries. I expect Brandon “The Bull” to rush for about 700-800 yards with 10 TD’s.

7. WR Mario Manningham – Manningham has shown flashes of brilliance and should have 750 yards and 8 TD’s. Mario might have more if there are any reoccurring issues with Steve Smiths injury.

8. TE Kevin Boss – Boss has been plagued by injuries but should still grab 600-700 yards and 5 TD’s.

9. WR Victor Cruz (sleeper pick) – I like this kid a lot. If he gets an opportunity to log serious playing time due to player injuries, he could really do some great things. Either way, I expect him to flourish on special teams in 2011.

Do you play fantasy football and if so, would you agree with the list above? Would you add/subtract anything to/from the list?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


New York Giants: 2011 Training Camp Update

July 8, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants have officially cancelled their annual training camp at the University of Albany in favor of holding it at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford. This is not surprising news at all and I actually expected this type of press release sometime this week. The Giants have to make their plans now and cannot afford to wait any longer for the lockout to give them answers. I’m sure this must have been a very difficult decision to make but at the end of the day, they made the correct choice. I applaud them for waiting right up to the last minute to try and salvage their agreement with Albany but ultimately they need to take care of business and they have done so with this decision.

The G-Men have spent the past 15 years up at the University of Albany and have helped support local business’ there during that entire time. The influx of Giants fans to that area during training camp cannot be understated. The biggest question fans have now is about the possibility of being locked out of the practices due to a lack of space. Attendance for these training camps generally bring out tens of thousands of fans annually. I’m not sure how much money the team makes during these summer sessions but I can tell you that they have a ton of Giants merchandise for sale up at Albany. The team has to be losing money by making this choice. However, there was really no other choice that could have been made when you sit back and think about it.

There hasn’t been much reaction from the players or coaches yet because this news is still very new. I’m sure fans will learn more about the team plans and if they will be able to attend a session or two this year. I’m sure that head coach Tom Coughlin isn’t happy about the situation but he will adapt and overcome as always. We are less then a month away from the Hall of Fame game, so getting the players in proper football shape has become the top priority. The 2011 NFL lockout has now reached 119 days and has affected tens of thousands of people during the worst economic crisis in American history.

What do you think about the Giants having to hold camp in East Rutherford this year?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


My Question to the NFL: What Should I Do?

July 6, 2011

NEW YORK – After 117 days of the 2011 NFL Lockout, I have only one question for the NFL, what should I do? Taking a serious look at this situation has forced me to ask the question. Just like the thousands of NFL employees who make a modest wage working long hours for the teams and offices. What should they do? Just as the LeBron James commercial begged the question to the public, I pose the same question to you NFL, what should I do? I am a football writer and as such I need team news, game news, practice reports, transactions and scenarios to write about.

How much is enough? I am floored by the possibility of losing an entire NFL season because of disagreements over money. I am disgusted by the fact that a room full of adults cannot come to a friendly agreement and get back to work. There are millions of Americans unemployed right now and tens of millions on food stamps. Make a fair deal for all parties involved and stop embarrassing yourselves publicly. If you think the average guy on the street has sympathy for your situation, you are mistaken. The average guy on the street knows he is a small part of making that $9 billion pot of gold for the NFL each and every year. We are 32 days (8-7-11) away from the Hall of Fame game and there is still no deal in place? What should I do?

Should I forget my dream of getting a paid job writing for the New York Giants after almost 3 years of writing for free? What should I do?

Should I give in agree with my family and friends, who tell me that I am wasting my time writing about NFL football? What should I do?

Should I stop being an NFL fan and refuse to buy another ticket or watch another game on TV due to bitterness? What should I do?

Should I become an anti-NFL writer from now on and point out all of the negative aspects of the game and business? What should I do?

Should I drop all of the players on my fantasy football team and never play the game again? What should I do?

Should I delete this website and create a new one dedicated to the philosophy of labor negotiations? What should I do?

Should I take all of my football memorabilia and authentic Giants jerseys and sell them on eBay? What should I do?

Should I stop using any products that sponsor the NFL and their business in protest? What should I do?

Should I handcuff myself to the front gate of Giants stadium like some nut until the lockout ends? What should I do?

Should I stop using my twitter account to interact with other Giants fans and discuss NFL football? What should I do?

At the end of the day, it will be my decision to make and I’m confident that what ever I choose to do, it will be the right decision for me. I will know what to do when the time is right. The issue here should not be all of the questions I have asked above but rather why a loyal fan of the NFL should have to ask all of these questions? At a time when America is hurting, you assume that the fans will be at your doorstep once this lockout ends begging to see the show. After nearly 4 months of headaches, don’t be too sure. It is arrogant to assume that business will be booming following a lockout that should have never occurred in the first place. You reap what you sow and I fully expect the NFL to lose fans over this lockout. Despite the popular belief that the fans will always be there, the reality of unshakeable integrity is overlooked. Some people cannot be bought and some people will not trade honor for glory.

My final question in this article is simple, What will YOU do?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


New York Giants: The State of the NFL in 2011

July 3, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants are exactly 70 days away from their first scheduled regular season game on September 11, 2011 against the Washington Redskins. The Giants are also about 40 days away from their first scheduled preseason game against the Carolina Panthers with the game date yet TBA (to be announced) but will occur between August 11, 2011 and August 14, 2011. The 2011 NFL lockout has now reached 114 days and there is still no end in sight. Minicamp will be lost this season. The NFL rookie symposium has been cancelled and teams are changing their regular training camp plans. Free agency has been deeply effected and although team leaders such as QB Eli Manning take it upon themselves to organize player practices, there can be no exception for the real thing. These player practices should add to the shame of this NFL lockout.

Players are literally risking their careers to get in some work. This is absolutely unacceptable. What a sad state we find the NFL in these days. Here we are on this 4th of July weekend and besides talking about baseball, fans have to discuss the stupid lockout and try to guess when it will end or if there will even be a season. You know that things are bad when fans care more about the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog eating contest then they do about football. Still, Giants fans remain loyal because of how John Mara and the organization are handling the situation. The Giants front office have clearly been the most vocal and have taken the lead on more then one occasion during these discussions.

Sports fans will also have a new countdown to endure since the NBA has now started it’s own lockout. When does it end? These deals and new contracts are issues that should have been worked out months before the due date, so the fans don’t have to suffer. The only thing these lockouts accomplish is locking out the fans from their favorite teams and causing a ton of resentment. I think Ray Lewis was right when he said that crime would go up due to these lockouts. The boredom that could take over the minds of our sports society might be too much to handle. Think of a world without sports and then consider what those tens of millions of fans would be doing otherwise. The idle mind is the devils playground. End this lockout and get back to work before things get ugly.

What do you think about the current state of the NFL?

RD – nygreporter.com

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


New York Giants Summer Time Blues News

June 29, 2011

NEW YORK – We’ve had some interesting reports come out this week concerning Giants players. QB Eli Manning has been particularly visible and vocal this week. Manning continued to hold the player workouts in different locations around the East Coast and was very clear when asked who he would rather have as a teammate between Plaxico Burress and Tiki Barber. Not surprisingly, Manning chose Burress. He was also featured in a commercial with his brother Peyton that was hysterical. I wrote an article about it and suggest you check it out if you missed it Eli & Peyton Manning star in Football Cops because it is really funny. Safety Antrel Rolle was also in the news doing a ESPN podcast and DE Osi Umenyiora continues to discuss his contract situation to anyone who will listen. You can’t blame the guy for wanting to get his paper right.

The Giants have also been discussing selling the naming rights for Giants stadium. So far, it looks like they are getting fans ready to call New Meadowlands stadium the MetLife Stadium. I do not like the name personally because I feel it reflects the New York Mets, which I am not a fan of. Most fans agree that JetBlue Stadium or Green Giant Stadium would be a better fit but neither company seems to hear the battle cry. There is still no word about the 2011 training camp and where it will be held. The NFL lockout has now reached 110 days and if it continues any longer, the Giants will surely cancel their annual trip up to Albany. I expect an announcement to come either this Friday or sometime next week about this situation. The Giants simply can’t wait any longer to protect the preparation process for players and coaches. The Giants also announced that they will be hiring special teams assistant coach Larry Izzo once the lockout ends.

OL Shawn Andrews went on vacation in the Turks and Caicos islands. Andrews is one of the most vocal players on the team and can be found on twitter most days chatting it up with fans. I hope the Giants realize what a true social media machine he has become for the team. CB Terrell Thomas held a football camp for kids out in California this past weekend too. He was joined by a few teammates including CB Michael Coe and WR Ramses Barden. It is nice to see Giants players getting involved with communities and also seeing them support each other in their efforts. Great job guys! That is all I have to report for now. There isn’t much football news these days but I’m sure this will change by next week when some really important decisions will have to be made.

What would you do with your time if the NFL lockout actually cancels the 2011 NFL season?

RD – nygreporter.com

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