2011 Preseason Game 4: Giants vs. Patriots, Game Notes

September 2, 2011

NEW YORK – The Giants played their final game of the preseason last night against the Patriots. The game looked like it would be a blowout early in the 1st quarter as the Patriots first team players jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead within the first six minutes. Of course, the Pats were playing against the Giants second string players, because the first string guys never saw the field. The first half saw a lot of sloppy play and even the 3rd quarter was a bit slow but you could feel the momentum shifting. But then in the 4th quarter, the Giants starting working into a groove and were able to pull out the comeback victory by the score of 18-17.

The Giants were getting beat in most areas of the game and all over the field for the first half of football. It was very difficult to watch, as many fans expressed on twitter last night. They went into the locker room at halftime with the score 17-3 and fans were expecting it to be a long night from that point on. But there were two rookies who brought them back from the ledge by scoring a TD and 2-point conversion in the second half. RB Da’Rel Scott scored on a huge 65 yard TD and WR Jerrel Jernigan who pulled down a tough 2-point conversion in the 4th quarter. It was a crazy up and down game but the Giants finished strong, which is exactly what the fans, coaches and players needed. I am very glad that these young players pulled themselves up from being down and pulled out a huge moral victory. The game also saw LB Clint Sintim go down with a bad knee injury. My thoughts and prayers are with him.

The Giants Tweet-Nation was out in full force last night and anxious to discuss the game LIVE with other Giants fans. The G-Men continued their program of letting fans have their tweets show up on the TV during the LIVE game (Fans be sure to add #GiantsGame to your tweets for a chance to have them show on TV) and some of the faithful were lucky enough to find social media glory. Congrats to all of you who were on TV last night!

I would be lying if I did not admit that the first three preseason games were mostly disappointing even thought the G-men outscored their opponents 54-50 and had a nice win against the Bears. The biggest area of concern has become the special teams. They are simply atrocious. I expect big changes to be made with this group before the regular season starts in 9 days. If not, I predict the team will lose no less then two games because of the poor play on the special teams. I understand that injuries have effected the team (for three straight years in a row now) but that does not excuse the absolute collapse of the Giants special teams group. I cringe during each and every special teams play during the games now. Mark my words about losing no less then two games because of special teams. I do not think they should use WR Jerrel Jernigan as a returner anymore either, keep the kid on the roster as a WR and lets see what he can do.

The Giants must be down to their final 53 man roster by tomorrow and will face the Washington Redskins next Sunday (9/11/11 at 4:15 PM EST) for their first regular season game. Playtime is over!

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game. 

QB Eli Manning – Manning and the rest of the starters sat out this game in order to rest up for the regular season, which starts in 9 days on 9/11/11.

RB Da’Rel Scott – Scott is simply electrifying and he gets another game ball from me for his performance. He finished with 114 rushing yards and 1 TD and 2 receptions for 20 yards.

S Tyler Sash  – Sash once again led the defense in tackles and also caused a forced fumble. I think he has earned a spot on the roster from my perspective.

QB David Carr – Carr had a shaky night but still managed to finish with 116 yards 0 TD’s and 1 INT’s. He should be fine in his backup role this year.

WR Domenik Hixon – Hixon put in some work at WR and finished with 33 yards. I would like to see him take over the returner duties in 2011.

RB Andre Brown – Brown had a very nice game and is deep into the RB competition for a roster spot in a crowded backfield. He played hard last night.

LB Jacquian Williams – I would like to introduce you all to the rookie Mr. Williams who had a huge game. He was all over the place and finished with 3 sacks on the night.

CB Brian Jackson – It was good to see Jackson back on the field and I hope this kid gets a real shot at playing time. He had a nice game and a forced fumble.

WR Devin Thomas – Thomas led all WR’s with 42 yards on the night as he continues to fight for a roster spot like many others. He also returned 4 kickoffs.

QB Ryan Perrilloux –  This rookie saw limited playing time but did go 3/4 for 22 yards when he was in the game.

CB Michael Coe – Coe is going to be a big part of the cornerback rotation this year and he had a nice game last night.

K Rhys Lloyd – The Giants continued to try and use Lloyd as a FG kicker, which he is not. He finished 1/3 on FG attempts for the night.

LB Greg Jones – The rookie Jones had a very nice game and finished with a sack to boot.

S Derrick Martin – The veteran Martin scored a TD on a fumble late in the 4th quarter. He was brought in to the team after the G-men lost 4 DB’s in a matter of weeks.

WR Jerrel Jernigan – Jernigan is not the answer for the return game in my opinion. He does however deserve at shot at WR. He scored a big 2-point conversion when given the chance to play WR.

P Matt Dodge – Dodge had another decent game and will learn his fate over the next 48 hours about his roster spot.

LB Clint Sintim – Sintim went down late in the game with a knee injury and had to be carted off the field. Another huge blow to the already depleted roster. Get well soon brother!

LB Mark Herzlich – The birthday boy Herzlich got a sack on his big day and continued to play very good football. This kid earned a roster spot.

DT Dwayne Hendricks – This big fellow and New Jersey native had a really good game and finished with 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

The Giants Defense – This group finished the game strong, which is all you can ask for. They finished with 8 sacks, 0 INT’s and 3 forced fumbles.

What do you think about the Giants performance against the Patriots?

RD – nygreporter.com

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2011 Preseason Game 2: Giants vs. Bears, Game Notes

August 23, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants faced the Chicago Bears on Monday night in the Meadowlands and played one heck of a game. The Giants won 41-13 but did not come out of the game without some bad news, some really bad news. By now, most fans have already read my previous article and know that Big Blue lost star CB Terrell Thomas for the year with a torn ACL on a freak play where DE Jason Pierre-Paul’s leg swung around and hit Thomas in the leg. There could not be any worse news then learning that you lost your No.1 CB for the year. I was surprised because Thomas walked off the field under his own strength and seemed ok. I truly wish him a speedy recovery and I’m sure that the rest of Giants Nation does as well.

The game started out slow in the first quarter but picked up steam from that point on. Going into the second quarter the game was tied up 3-3 and it seemed like fans would be in for a sleeper. But that changed rather quickly once the team started rolling. RB Brandon Jacobs was the spark the team needed to get going and after he scored his touchdown, the Giants never looked back for the rest of the game. The score was 20-6 by halftime and the Giants defense would allow only seven more points for the rest of the game. I’m not sure if this game represented the fact that the G-men have shaken off the rust or that the Bears are just an awful team but hey, a win is a win. This is only a preseason game, so I try not to get too excited but seeing some of those rookies perform so well has me pumped up. Rookie RB Da’Rel Scott gets my game ball. That kid can run like the wind and had the best play of the night when he ran the ball 97 yards for a TD late in the 4th quarter. I hope we get to see more of him real soon.

Fans can expect GM Jerry Reese to bring in a veteran CB sometime this week. I would not be surprised at all if he does so as early as today. With limited time left before the regular season starts, the team will need to bring the new guy up to speed in a very short period of time. The Giants have become very thin at CB and will need to remedy that as quickly as possible.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

QB Eli Manning – Manning still looked very shaky out there and finished 8/16 for 78 yards 0 TD 0 INT.

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw was his usual elusive tough self and finished with 15 yards on 5 carries during his short playing time.

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks did not do much in this game and played very little. However, I expect big things from him once the regular season starts.

DE Justin Tuck – Tuck had 3 tackles in his limited playing time. He will be ready to rock and roll once September comes around.

RB Da’Rel Scott – This rookie is fast. Scott introduced himself to the football world with a 97-yard TD run late in the 4th quarter. He had only 1 carry but made the most of it. Did I mention how fast he is?

CB Terrell Thomas – The team lost CB Thomas for the year with a torn ACL in the 2nd quarter. This is devastating news. Get well soon T2.

RB Brandon Jacobs – Jacobs was flashing some old school ball running last night and had a good game. He finished with 48 yards on 6 carries and 1 TD.

DE Jason Pierre-Paul – JPP was disruptive at times but NFL teams know about the secret now and will look to stop JPP at all costs. Good luck.

LB Mark Herzlich – The rookie LB got his first NFL INT last night and was a force on special teams. The more I see, the more I like this kid.

WR Victor Cruz – Cruz had a very nice game and led all WR’s with 40 yards on 3 receptions. He is another WR making a case to be the 3rd wideout.

P Matt Dodge – Dodge wasn’t awful last night and seemed to play with a chip on his shoulder as he was punting bombs.

LB Jonathan Goff – Goff had the lone sack of the night for Big Blue and had a good game with limited playing time.

TE Daniel Coats – New Giants TE Coats made a nice play late in the game and finished with 17 yards and 1 TD.

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes did not play in the game and is on the mend from getting banged up in last weeks game against the Panthers.

RB Danny Ware – Ware scored the only TD in the 3rd quarter but needs to work on holding onto the ball.

K Rhys Lloyd – Lloyd had a solid game for a guy who doesn’t kick FG’s. He went 2/2 on FG attempts and 5/5 on extra point attempts.

WR Mario Manningham – Super Mario had a nice game and finished with 39 yards on 4 receptions. He should have a great 2011 season.

QB David Carr – Carr had an outstanding welcome home party and finished the night by going 9/11 for 84 yards and 2 TD’s. I’m glad he is back with the team.

WR Domenik Hixon – Hixon has been making a case for himself to be the third WR in my opinion. He finished with 13 yards and 1 TD.

DE Osi Umenyiora – Osi did not play in the game as he recovers from recent surgery. I’m glad the team will have him on the roster in 2011.

WR Devin Thomas – Devin did a really nice job returning kickoffs. It was nice to see somebody on special teams step up and play with pride.

What did you think about the Giants performance against the Bears on Monday night?

RD – nygreporter.com

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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

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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

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2011 New York Giants Wide Receiver Group

February 16, 2011

NEW YORK – The New York Giants wide receiver group is one of the bright spots on the team. Along with being one of the bright spots of the team, it could also become a headache for the team. The reason is simple and it is the same question the team must answer every single year. Which six WR’s will be on the roster at the beginning of the season. The G-Men are solid with the starters that include WR Hakeem Nicks, WR Steve Smith and WR Mario Manningham. Those three guys will be on the team for sure. The problems begin to arise after the three starters. In a pool of talented young WR’s, who the heck do you keep on the team?

I expect a lot of people to have their own opinions about this subject and I respect them all. I can only give my perspective on what the Giants will do and who deserves to remain on the teams final roster. I expect one or two will end up on the practice squad if they cannot find employment elsewhere. The one thing that is blatantly clear to me now, is the fact that the New York Giants receivers are big guys. Not one of them are below 5’11” and the tallest guy is a whopping 6’6″. Sinorice Moss is no longer with the team and now the chatter has begun about bringing back Plaxico Burress. Burress coming back to the Giants is a possibility but highly unlikely. I wouldn’t mind seeing the team give him a league minimum contract for a year or two but I’m not sure how Coughlin wold feel about it.

Things are going to be very interesting for GM Jerry Reese this off season, that is of course assuming there will be a 2011 NFL season after the CBA talks. Recent reports say that the talks are not going very well at all. This is something that has fans ripping their hair out and wondering when the greed will end for an industry that makes about 10 billion dollars a year.

But enough about that, let’s take a look at the wide receivers currently on the New York Giants roster and remember this list could change due to trades or any other transactions in the near future.

2011 New York Giants Wide Receivers as of 2-16-11

1. Hakeem Nicks, 6’1″ 215 pounds – Nicks has separated himself from the pack to become the No.1 WR for Big Blue. If not for a injury in 2010 that caused him to miss three games, he would have made the pro bowl in my opinion. Look for him to make the pro bowl this year if he can stay fully healthy for the entire season. This man is a superstar.

2. Steve Smith, 5’11” 195 pounds – Mr. Smith ended the 2010 NFL season on the IR list and missed a total of seven games. This was a huge blow to the team and something fans do not want to experience again. The team and fans have come to depend on Smith in a big way and things were not the same without him. He is also QB Eli Manning’s favorite safety valve.

3. Mario Manningham, 5’11” 185 pounds – Super Mario has been improving each and every year since he arrived in New York. He put together a very nice 2010 season and finished 2nd on the team for WR’s. He was forced to miss two games due to injury but who hasn’t on the Giants the past two seasons. Manningham is arguably the best No.3 WR in the NFL.

4. Ramses Barden, 6’6″ 227 pounds – Fans are hoping that Barden has grasped the Giants playbook while he was sidelined for thirteen games and finished the year on the IR list. Now all he has to do is perform on the field. This guy was praised as the replacement for Plaxico Burress when he arrived. I think it was more because of his height then his talent. That is a lot of pressure to put on a rookie and he didn’t deserve it. Still, the time has come to perform.

5. Domenik Hixon, 6’2″ 182 pounds – Hixon did not play in a single game in 2010 and was put on the IR list (seems like a trend now I bet) during training camp. This really hurt the Giants return game on special teams and also eliminated a big target WR in special passing situations. He will be back in 2011 and the fans will be thankful for that.

6. Victor Cruz, 6’1″ 200 pounds – This kid was lightning in a bottle during the preseason and had fans sitting on the edge of their seats. He is a local kid from Jersey who made the most of his opportunity and landed a roster spot. Unfortunately, he landed on season ending IR list and did not get to shine in the regular season. If the Giants were to cut him, he would be picked up by another team the very same day. He has the aura of a playmaker.

7. Derek Hagan, 6’2″ 215 pounds – After the WR group was clearly decimated by injuries, as you have been reading, the G-Men called on an old friend to come back and help the team out. Hagan did a pretty good job for the seven games he was with the team. He finished 6th on the team at WR, despite not playing for half of the season.

8. Duke Calhoun, 6’4″ 205 pounds – Calhoun played in six games for the Giants but did not get the ball thrown to him very much. Almost not at all actually. He finished with 1 reception for 4 yards in 2010.

9. Michael Clayton, 6’4″ 215 pounds – Clayton was brought in for the same reason Hagan was, the team needed depth at WR. And like Calhoun, Clayton didn’t see the ball but one time for 19 yards.

10. Devin Thomas, 6’2″ 218 pounds – Once again, Thomas is a player that was brought in for depth after the rash of injuries crushed the WR corps.

11. Todd Watkins, 6’3″ 195 pounds- This guy was added to the reserve future list and is a complete question mark.

12. Samuel Giguere, 5’11” 215 pounds – This guy was added to the reserve future list and has seen limited playing time in the NFL.

13. Plaxico Burress, 6’5″ 230 pounds – This is clearly a wild card and something that fans have been talking about recently, now that his release date is close. Reports have come out that say Burress has been working out five days a week and looks in great shape. Will the Giants be persuaded into giving him another shot with the team? I don’t know but I think the man deserves another chance now that he has paid his debt to society.

If you had to pick only six of the above WR’s, who would you keep on the roster?

RD – nygreporter.com

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New York Giants Can’t Catch a Break

November 23, 2010

NEW YORK – The New York Giants have problems, big problems. The team has not been able to stay healthy since 2008. The 2009 NFL season may be one of the worst on record as far as injuries are concerned. The 2010 NFL season is slowly catching up to that infamous honor. There is absolutely nothing more frustrating then having a ton of talent on a team that cannot play due to injuries. I get physically ill when I think about the pro bowlers and supreme talent who have landed on the IR this year or who have missed significant playing time due to injuries.

The Giants have been making so many mid-season transactions, that it has become difficult to keep track of them all. It seems like the team is brining in a new player every single week. The news broke yesterday about star WR Hakeem Nicks having to miss at least 3 weeks with a leg injury and it was just another punch to the gut. The Giants already have players, who are playing games with injuries and legging them out. I will leave a current list of players who are missing significant time in 2010 below, so you can see for yourself what the team is dealing with.

Last year, the defense was the main problem and that has been fixed with the arrival of DC Perry Fewell and a bunch of new players. In 2010, the special teams has effected more games then I care to discuss and the offense has been turning the ball over at an astonishing rate. So far, turnovers and the special teams play are number one and two on my list of issues. Not too far behind and perhaps tied with one of the previous two items are the injuries. The Giants can’t seem to catch a break this year, after once again having a promising first half of the season. The Giants have had the No.1 defense and a top three offense for much of the first half of the 2010 NFL season and now it seems to be slipping away week by week. They are currently the No.2 defense and No.3 offense in the NFL with a 6-4 record.

This season is far from over and the G-Men are capable of running the table when healthy but when your three starting WR’s are Mario Manningham, Duke Calhoun and Derek Hagan, you may run into some problems because those are your No.3, No.4 and No.5 WR’s on the depth chart. Not to mention that TE Kevin Boss has been banged up all year and has missed time, further taking away weapons from Eli manning who is having a solid season despite his meltdown against the Eagles this past weekend.

The 6-4 Giants will reportedly sign the 6’4″ former Tampa Bay WR Michael Clayton to a one year deal today, to help the depleted WR corps. Clayton is a young 28 year old player with six years of NFL experience under his belt. He will be brought in from his current Omaha team with the UFL. This might be just the thing this young man needs to live up to his potential. The Giants will need to clear the air and get focused for their next game this weekend against the Jaguars at 1PM EST in New Meadowlands stadium.

Let’s take a look at some of the injured players for Big Blue.

– QB Jim Sorgi – Injured Reserve List

– WR Ramses Barden – Injured Reserve List

– WR Domenik Hixon – Injured Reserve List

– WR Victor Cruz – Injured Reserve List

– DE Mathias Kiwanuka – Injured Reserve List

– LB Adrian Tracy – Injured Reserve List

– S Michael Johnson – Injured Reserve List

– CB Bruce Johnson – Injured Reserve List

– OL Adam Koets – Injured Reserve List

– S Chad Jones – Non Football Injury -Injured Reserve List

– WR Steve Smith – Week to Week

– WR Hakeem Nicks – Week to Week

– OL Shaun O’Hara – Week to Week

– OL David Diehl – Week to Week

– FB Madison Hedgecock – Week to Week

RD – nygreporter.com

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Manning Bowl II Game Day Chatter, The Long Wait

September 19, 2010

NEW YORK – Good morning Giants fans! I suggest you enjoy your breakfast, go for a jog or maybe get some shopping out of the way. Why do I suggest staying busy? Because it is going to be a very long day waiting for the 8:20 PM EST kickoff. I am writing this article to give you a few minutes of entertainment about Big Blue, as you watch the clock slowly grind the minutes away until kickoff.

This is going to be a good game. I give this game a ninety percent chance of living up to the hype. If you read our previous article, then you know I am taking brother Eli to win this game. I see the Giants winning by three points and I would not be surprised at all if this turned into an instant classic. These two love each other but when Peyton and Eli get on the field, trust me, they want to beat each other. Fans continue to read about how their parents are going to have a hard time watching this game. I’m sure they will be on hand to console whichever brother losses and one thing for certain is that there will be a winner and a loser, no ties here my friends.

Their father Archie (aka the luckiest father in the world) Manning should get one of those split jerseys with half Giants and half Colts sewn together (they might have already thought of this) to show support for both of the brothers.

Some of the recent news about the Giants include the fact that they have some players ruled out for today’s game. Those players include TE Kevin Boss, LB Chase Blackburn, OL William Beatty and LB Phillip Dillard. There are also some players who are questionable, they include WR Hakeem Nicks and DE Osi Umenyiora. CB Aaron Ross will play today and could this be the game where we see WR Victor Cruz gets his first game time logged? The G-Men also signed OL Dennis Landolt to the practice squad after releasing LB Bryan Kehl (a move I do not agree with). They also activated TE Bear Pascoe from the practice squad, due to TE Kevin Boss’ injury.

There are a few players that I expect will have a very good game, this is for all of you fantasy football players out there. Those players include DE Mathias Kiwanuka (Kiwi is going to explode today, 2 sacks minimum), WR Steve Smith, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, QB Eli Manning. I expect WR Mario Manningham to have an above average game and I believe RB Brandon Jacobs will get a goal line TD today as well. There is a reason why this game is being aired on prime time. Enjoy the game! Go Giants!

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION (AGAIN)

New York Giants – 41

Indianapolis Colts – 38

RD – nygreporter.com

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What if Giants WR Hakeem Nicks Can’t Play Sunday?

September 17, 2010

NEW YORK – Somebody needs to ask this question, so it might as well be me. What will the New York Giants wide receiver depth chart look like on Sunday night, if star WR Hakeem Nicks in unable to play due to his ankle injury?

I don’t want to jinx the situation by asking this but I would like to know who you think gets the top three spots? There are a few different scenarios and yes, some of them include preseason stud WR Victor Cruz.

Is it disrespectful to the guys who have been on the team for a longer amount of time, to throw Cruz in on a few plays? I don’t think so. I’m positive the coaches must be salivating to see what he can do when the game is real. Perhaps, this weekend the fans will have an opportunity to see just that. I will take it a step further and say that I think the team needs to do that.

There is no question that WR Steve Smith and WR Mario Manningham will be two of the three starters. The question really resides in the third WR slot. Who do you think will start or do you think they will use a rotation for this game? Those players who fans might see on Sunday include WR Ramses Barden, WR Victor Cruz, WR Duke Calhoun. There are some WR’s on the IR list already, like WR Domenik Hixon and WR Sinorice Moss. It seems a lot thinner now doesn’t it, without Nicks in the equation.

QB Eli Manning has been watching some of his favorite targets go down with injuries. Even Manning himself, cut his head open during a preseason game that required stitches. Manning has lost WR Hixon and WR Moss for the entire season and now he has TE Kevin Boss and WR Nicks banged up for an important game. TE Travis Beckum will get the start and TE Bear Pascoe was activated from the practice squad this week, to serve as a backup. I still think that Eli Manning will be in a shoot out with older brother Peyton on Sunday night. How sweet would it be, if WR Victor Cruz got his first NFL TD, as the game winner versus the Colts. So many possibilities floating out there and the single certainty, that the entire nation will be watching Manning Bowl II on Sunday night.

My picks for the three starters, if WR Hakeem Nicks is ruled out for the Colts game.

1. Steve Smith

2. Mario Manningham

3. Victor Cruz

Do you think that WR Hakeem Nicks (3 TD’s in week one) will play in the Colts game Sunday night?

RD – nygreporter.com

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New York Giants Training Camp Report 8/20/10

August 20, 2010

Hello Giants Fans,

Today was the final day of the 2010 New York Giants training camp. Twenty days have come and gone and we’ve learned some interesting facts about the players. The Giants beat the Jets in their first preseason game and will now face the Steelers tomorrow night at New Meadowlands stadium at 7 PM EST.

Fans will get an opportunity to see QB Rhett Bomar lead the offense for most of the game. Bomar was taking mostly second and third string reps at training camp. QB Eli Manning will sit this one out as he heals up from the head laceration he received on Monday night. QB Jim Sorgi is also banged up and expect to miss some playing time. Now that camp is over, I expect to see a lot of player movement.

The 2010 New York Giants training camp is officially over but that doesn’t mean that Big Blue is done practicing. I expect the coaches to ramp up the intensity to prepare the team for the new season. Tom Coughlin has his lists and OC Kevin Gilbride is drawing up plays somewhere in the facility. New DC Perry Fewell is working on strategies like a mad scientist. Special teams coach Tom Quinn is facing one of the toughest challenges of the 2010 NFL season. There isn’t much time left before the first regular season game. Fans can expect to see things moving much more rapidly now.

I’m actually surprised by how many negative comments I have seen from sports “experts” about the Giants. Maybe they can’t see what the rest of us can see or maybe they are right and yet to be vindicated. I simply have to believe that the 2010 team will be much better then the injury plagued 2009 season. There have already been a few injuries in 2010 that have had fans shaking their heads. The injury list simply can’t get out of hand this season or they will have no shot.

Let’s take a look at some of the news from this week about the New York Giants.

– QB Eli Manning was cut in the Monday night game and required 12 stitches.

– QB Eli Manning will not play in the Giants second preseason game tomorrow night versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

– The New York Giants will play their first ever home opener at the new stadium.

– Backup QB Jim Sorgi will miss 2-3 weeks with a shoulder injury he got from a hit he took against the Jets.

– The Giants cut OL Cliff Louis, who they recently signed to bolster the offensive line.

– The Giants cut TE Jake Ballard to make room for QB Dominic Randolph.

– The Giants signed OL Shawn Andrews who is a former two-time pro bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles.

– Backup QB Rhett Bomar will play almost the entire game against Pittsburgh.

– WR Ramses Barden is banged up and will sit out a few practices.

– The Giants signed QB Dominic Randolph as a backup due to all of the injuries at QB.

– Rookie punter Matt Dodge seems to be having a rough time adjusting and may need more work then originally expected.

– OL William Beatty appears to be the man at left tackle, something Giants fans might see for the next eight or nine years straight.

– Rookie DE Jason Pierre-Paul has reportedly already put on 12 pounds of muscle weighing in at 282 pounds.

– Safety Kenny Phillips seems to be doing very well thus far. Fans are praying that Phillips can remain healthy all season.

– 39,875 total Giants fans attended the training camp in Albany this year. It was the fifth best year since they began fifteen years ago upstate.

– Rookie WR Victor Cruz emerged and made a name for himself Monday night. This kid has star written all over him.

– LB Keith Bulluck and S Kenny Phillips are set to make their Giants debut tomorrow night versus the Steelers.

– LB Chase Blackburn and OL Chris Snee are still banged up and sidelined. Not to mention OL Rich Seubert.

Who do you think is going to win the game between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers?

RD – nygreporter.com

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New York Giants QB Eli Manning Update, Status Unknown

August 18, 2010

Hello Giants Fans,

New York Giants QB Eli Manning suffered a head laceration on Monday night, requiring twelve stitches to close up the three inch gash near his left temple. He was checked for a concussion and the results came back negative, so that is a good thing. You do not need your Super Bowl MVP QB having cerebral issues before the season even starts. I see absolutely no reason why Eli Manning would play in the Pittsburgh Steelers game this Saturday night. The Giants will hold their home opener this Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 7 PM EST in New Meadowlands stadium. The team announced that Manning will be going through some additional tests as a precaution but Manning has said he feels fine and is just sore.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin said that Manning’s status is up in the air for the preseason game against the Steelers on Saturday. I hope they give Manning the night off and let him work the game from the sidelines on the headset. The obvious concern for the team is the cut continuing to open up because of the fact that Eli needs to wear a helmet. It would be smart to allow that cut time to heal before Manning puts on a helmet again. Quite frankly, Manning could run the practices at training camp without a helmet. I would rest him until the fourth preseason game if it were up to me and give that cut a couple of weeks to heal, it’s a long season and you don’t want that thing opening up every weekend.

These are all preseason games mind you but it is still a football game. Without these games on TV, fans would probably never see the likes of WR Victor Cruz (6’1″ 200 pounds) burst onto the NFL scene. Cruz, who is a local New Jersey kid, made a million new fans (including me) on Monday and became the NFL leader in scoring and receiving yards overnight. If this kid does not make the team, I am going to be in awe and will say in public that the team made a big mistake. I’m sure this comment will be redundant by the time the season starts but I still felt it needed to be said. It’s time to shake thing up a little bit, even though I like all of the guys we have at WR now. Whichever receivers do not make the final cut, I wish them well in their journey and they will be a Giant forever.

All of the preseason games should be aired for free on local television stations. It is a travesty that the networks do not work something out that allows fans the opportunity to watch the games that “mean nothing”. The Giants vs. Jets game might not have meant anything in the standings but it sure was a fun game to watch. After eight months without Giants football, I’m sure I am not the only one who felt excited to watch that game.

Do you think New York Giants QB Eli Manning should play against the Steelers this Saturday night?

RD – nygreporter.com

PLEASE SUPPORT THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT!!