Tempest

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07272009/news/...htm?&page=0 It's gonna be Sing Sing for Plaxico -- even if he cops to a lesser gun charge, says Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. Negotiations in the gun-possession case against ex-Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress -- who accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Midtown nightclub last November -- fell apart earlier this year after prosecutors insisted he do two years' state time on a plea to a lesser gun charge, the DA told The Post. NOT CATCHING ON WITH ANY TEAM The Super Bowl XLII star was willing to bite the bullet and do jail time, but he wouldn't agree to more than a year, the DA said. "We've always taken the position that he's going to have to go to jail, whether by trial or by plea," the legendary DA -- who retires at year end after 34 years in office -- said, breaking his public silence about the case. Morgenthau said his office would announce the grand jury's vote within four weeks. The Post has also learned Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is still on the hook for allegedly possessing his then-teammate's gun after the shooting -- and could face a jail term of his own. Burress and Pierce were side by side in the VIP vestibule at the Midtown club Latin Quarter last November when the star receiver accidentally shot himself clear through the thigh with his own gun -- a .40-caliber Glock for which the player had an expired Florida permit. According to law-enforcement sources, as Pierce tended to his trembling, bleeding teammate, a security worker at the club placed the blood-splattered gun in the glove compartment of Pierce's Cadillac Escalade. Prosecutors have considered flipping the unidentified Latin Quarter security worker in hopes of nailing Pierce for allegedly bringing the Glock to Burress' Totowa, NJ, home after first driving Burress to New York-Cornell Hospital, sources said. "To charge Antonio and immunize other individuals engaged in the same alleged conduct -- I would hope any grand jury would reject that outrageous proposition," Pierce lawyer Michael Bachner said when asked about the potential flip. Burress' lawyer wife, Tiffany, allegedly handed the gun over to cops the next day, but she is not believed to be facing any charges. Morgenthau did specify that no New York-Cornell medical personnel would be charged for failing in their obligation under state law to inform police about Burress' gunshot wound. Hospital officials allowed the famous receiver to sign in under the name "Harris Smith." Morgenthau played coy on Pierce. "I'm not going to go into that," he said, smiling, when asked whether Burress alone faced gun-possession charges. If the grand jury indicts either player on the top charge of criminal possession of a weapon, the mandatory minimum sentence is 3½ years in prison, although a plea to a lesser charge, such as attempted possession, could result in far less time. Meanwhile, Burress has not ruled out testifying before the grand jury hearing the case, said his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, who slammed the DA's office for failing to recognize what the lawyer called the "unique" and "sympathetic" circumstances of the self-inflicted shooting case. "Now that they have drawn a line in the sand, this is going to be a battle," Brafman said, vowing to fight for his client "vigorously . . . and at trial if necessary. "We are bitterly disappointed," Brafman said of the DA's decision to reject a low-jail plea and proceed with seeking an indictment. Meanwhile, Burress has not ruled out testifying before the grand jury hearing the case, said his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, who slammed the DA's office for failing to recognize what the lawyer called the "unique" and "sympathetic" circumstances of the self-inflicted shooting case. "Now that they have drawn a line in the sand, this is going to be a battle," Brafman said, vowing to fight for his client "vigorously - "and at trial if necessary. "We are bitterly disappointed," Brafman said of the DA's decision to reject a low-jail plea and proceed with seeking an indictment. The DA's hard line ignores that Burress' gun had been purchased legally, was not used in the commission of a crime, fired accidentally and resulted in an injury only to himself, the lawyer said. "I told Mr. Morgenthau that in my view, his office should consider the possibility that a grand jury, or if necessary, a trial jury, might very well decide not to indict or convict Mr. Burress," Brafman said. "There are a great many sympathetic factors in this case that would suggest to any reasonable person that for an isolated lapse in judgment Plaxico has already paid a very severe penalty," not the least the forfeiture of his $35 million contract, Brafman said. Morgenthau, meanwhile, defended his office against accusations of "celebrity justice" in letting the case linger for more than half a year - enough time to let Burress entertain offers by other teams to play for millions this season. "There were a lot of things that had to be run down," the DA said. That included checking out the Florida license, Burress' claims that he had the gun because of alleged robberies near his home, what happened to the gun after the shooting, and whether he received any special consideration at the hospital - in addition to plea negotiations, the DA said. "It's only seven months," Morgenthau said of the time between shooting and grand jury. "It's not a lifetime."

lol, quite the sense of humor.

Well honestly, what would you like the fans to say about a man that none of the fans know that does not play for the New York Giants to say? Its a family issue, not a team issue. Thanks for bringing it to our attention but it does not require the kind of attention that Wellington Mara received.

When was he our number one receiver?

Another thing is that it sure didn't look like a full deck of cards up in the air or in her hands. Hell she could have thrown up 5 cards and I couldn't pull that off. She sure looked like she was enjoying it.

Damn that just get me more pumped up for football. I just can't wait to see Nicks on the field pulling down passes from Manning. I haven't been this excited about a rookie since Jeremy Shockey.

I'm betting Kehl starts this season.

I think Keyshawn made quite a good point... Shut up and play. I don't recall him pulling the crap these guys are. I believe Marshall is quite a way from pulling the stunt he is.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writ...tml?eref=si_nfl A couple weeks back, when I wrote a story about how NFL receivers have dominated the news, one potential source I tried to reach was Keyshawn Johnson. As it turned out, Johnson called me back after I had already finished the piece, but that doesn't mean he didn't have anything interesting to say about the state of the NFL's diva position. No surprise there, as Johnson has been speaking his mind entertainingly since the moment he joined the NFL. "I know this much,'' Johnson told me. "Back in 1996, I was drafted No. 1 overall [by the Jets]. I was the queen of the ball, the princess, whatever. And all those guys have come after me. I wrote the book on diva receivers. Truly, when you break it all down, I'm the first guy in the last 15 years of receivers who did all that stuff. I threw my helmet to the ground when no one was doing that. I slammed my helmet to the ground and then they changed the rules banning that.'' But Johnson had the good fortune to be drafted and play under Jets head coach Bill Parcells early in his career, and in time, the Tuna taught him how to be a team player even if he never lost his individuality or his penchant for drawing attention to himself at the game's most diva-heavy position. "It took me two years to figure that out,'' Johnson said. "But eventually I had to admit to myself: 'You had fun with that act for a couple years, kid. But let it go. Now it's time to be a professional, have fun, make money and win games.''' Johnson said he hasn't been closely following all the offseason storylines involving high-profile receivers this year, but he didn't hold back when I referenced Brandon Marshall's recent request to be traded from Denver. "Brandon Marshall, what have you ever done?'' Johnson said. "You went to one Pro Bowl, maybe two. You caught a bunch of balls because they threw them to you. Have you even won a playoff game yet? Guys like me and Michael Irvin, we all won rings. Win a ring first and then talk that way. "He says he doesn't want to play in Denver because he doesn't have a quarterback now that Jay Cutler is in Chicago. Please. When I was with the Jets, our starting quarterbacks were Ray Lucas, Frank Reich, Neil O'Donnell, Glenn Foley, Rick Mirer and Vinny Testaverde. And he's complaining about having to play with Kyle Orton? You should worry about making your quarterback better.'' Johnson serves as an ESPN analyst during the NFL season, and this offseason has been devoting his energies to his new show about decorating on the A&E network: Tackling Design. His opinions apparently never get rusty, no matter what time of year it is. "I keep seeing where Anquan Boldin wants to be traded from Arizona, or he wants to be paid like Larry Fitzgerald,'' Johnson said. "Anquan, you're a glorified T.J. Houshmandzadeh, so cut it out. They're the same player. You want $11 million? Why don't you take the $8 million they're offering and be happy? You're not Larry Fitzgerald.'' C'mon, Key. Tell us what you really think. Don't hold back.

I doubt he comes back to the Giants, even more doubtful that he plays this season. Quite a few irrational fans are still ticked at Plaxico as evidence of the previous posts.

And where does Antonio Pierce stand in the MLB gang... Everyone in the organization keeps saying news of Pierce's decline has been greatly overblown. Still, he has to prove it on the field. Too many blunders, too many bad plays, too few tackles and not enough sacks made 2008 a struggle.

The last of the middle linebackers Picture in your mind the NFL's all-time most dominating defensive players. You're probably seeing Ray Nitschke's bent nose, Mike Singletary's cutting stare, Dick Butkus' scowl. Maybe it's Jack Lambert's toothless growl, Junior Seau's wild eyes or Ray Lewis' ferocity. Middle linebackers have been so much a part of the league's history, they might as well be part of the logo, like the silhouette of Jerry West in the NBA. But where have all the great middle linebackers gone? Once roaming wild, today dominating middle linebackers practically are on the verge of extinction. (CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF CURRENT STARTING MIDDLE LINEBACKERS.) They have been replaced as feared game-changers by sleek rush-ends, massive defensive tackles and shut-down corners. Recent free-agent signings reflected as much, with Albert Haynesworth signing a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins, Nnamdi Asomugha signing a three-year deal worth $15 million a year and Carolina's Julius Peppers signing a one-year tender worth more than $16 million. The evolution of defenses and, more significant, offenses, has broken the mold of what a middle linebacker should look and play like. Quick: Name the five best middle linebackers in the league today. Baltimore's Lewis? Naturally. Chicago's Brian Urlacher? Of course. Patrick Willis of the Niners and DeMeco Ryans of the Texans? You would get an argument in some circles, but probably. And ... and ... who else? Most impact NFL middle-linebackers today are either relics, such as Zach Thomas and Tedy Bruschi, or hybrids playing the inside-linebacker spot in the ever-popular 3-4 defense, like Karlos Dansby and Bart Scott. The position has changed and been devalued, literally. Once the premier position on the defensive side of the ball -- the proverbial quarterback of the defense -- middle linebackers now are more like the tight ends of the defense. Or at least that's how they're paid. If you averaged the top-five salaries at every position on the field in 2008, the five highest-paid middle linebackers averaged $5.68 million. Only kickers ($2.24 million) and tight ends ($3.74 million) averaged less. Cornerbacks ($10 million), defensive tackles ($8.04 million) and defensive ends ($8.02 million) averaged significantly more among the five highest-paid players at their respective positions. Clearly, owners and general managers are investing significantly more elsewhere on the field. It speaks to how much value is put on finding a premier playmaker in the middle. It also speaks to how difficult it has become to find big-time talent at the position. Where have you gone, Chuck Bednarik? The position is going the way of the dinosaur for the same reason real dinosaurs disappeared. The landscape and climate have changed The beginning of the end of the do-everything, Ray Lewis-type middle linebackers probably began with the advent of run-and-shoot and no-huddle offenses in the mid-1980s. In a sense, football mad scientists Darrel "Mouse" Davis and Sam Wyche helped change the position. When Jack Pardee hired Davis to implement the run-and-shoot for the Houston Gamblers in the upstart USFL in 1984, the numbers quarterback Jim Kelly put up were astounding. It was impossible for the NFL not to notice -- and copy. Offensive coordinators around the league began tinkering with run-and-shoot sets and by the late-1980s, the Houston Oilers went full run-and-shoot in the NFL with much success. Meanwhile, Wyche was changing things in Cincinnati, implementing a no-huddle attack that fatigued opposing players, put a premium on smaller, faster defensive personnel and changed the way defensive coordinators game-planned. Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason excelled under the attacking style, and the Buffalo Bills followed suit with a similarly fast-paced K-Gun that led to four Super Bowl appearances. Defenses have been trying to adjust to variations of the run-and-shoot and no-huddle ever since. Offenses have spread the field with four- and five-wide sets. There have been one-back and no-back sets. There have been spreads, wider line-splits and now more teams turning to the wildcat formation that extends the defense even more. Classic middle linebackers have been left in the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust past. That's not to say there is no place for fierce players like San Francisco's Willis, Houston's Ryans or Carolina's Jon Beason. Teams still must stop the run in order to be successful. And middle linebackers have evolved as well, becoming faster and better in pass coverage without losing tackling punch. But those kinds of talents are rare. There simply are not a lot of them. And making things more difficult have been the huge changes in college football. Spread offenses -- with quarterbacks constantly in the shotgun formation, running backs running laterally into pass routes and wide receivers all over the field -- have stressed the linebacking talent pool. It's not uncommon on college football Saturdays to find safeties playing in the middle-linebacker spot, or not a single linebacker even on the field. College defensive coordinators are forced to put five, six, seven defensive backs on the field. Players who could be NFL linebackers usually are forced to line up on the defensive line. The position has become the most difficult to scout and project, because teams are speculating on whether a collegiate defensive end can play standing up, can tackle and pursue, or if an undersized safety or outside backer can bulk up and play inside. The last middle linebacker to enter the Hall of Fame was Mike Singletary, 11 years ago. Take a good look at Ray Lewis. Take a mental picture. He is among the last of a dying breed.

Now we started Eli midway through his rookie season, it was a hot debate then and now we have had a few years of Eli Manning. Did this help or hinder his development? After reading the article, an interesting point is made that a franchise QB can make his offensive line play better around him. Makes you wonder if all these years it was less to blame on our offensive line and more on the QB not establishing a presence in the pocket?

To start or not to start your new franchise QB Peyton Manning is always joking about somebody breaking his rookie interception record. You can tell he hates owning it. But he loves the fact he had the chance to get it. As a rookie in 1998, Manning threw a record 28 interceptions. There's a reason for that: He was given a chance to start from Day 1 for the Indianapolis Colts without many restrictions placed on him, receiving quarterback freedom early on that allowed him to throw a rookie-record 575 passes. The Colts knew there would be mistakes. That's inevitable with a rookie starter. They were building something. And you can see what that is today, a passing offense as good as any and a Super Bowl ring on Manning's hand. The Detroit Lions have to do the same thing. They have to play Matthew Stafford as a rookie. Not spot duty. Give him the job. End the stupid debate that's going on in Detroit and name him the starter. I keep hearing how Daunte Culpepper is in shape and isn't a tackle playing quarterback anymore. I hear he looks good throwing it again, that he's ready for a fight, ready to force new Lions coach Jim Schwartz make a tough decision. That's all well and good, but what does that do for the franchise if Culpepper starts? Here's what: It stunts future growth. Culpepper is 32 years old. His best football is behind him. The last time he was any good was in 2004 and he had a guy named Randy Moss in Minnesota. The Lions aren't a good enough team that a veteran quarterback can make a difference. They were 0-16 last year. Remember? They won't be a playoff team this season -- no matter who starts. By playing Culpepper, they would be postponing the inevitable. This is Stafford's team now and for the long run. When the Lions used the first pick in this year's draft on Stafford, they landed the franchise passer they've been craving for years. He is a prototype: Big, strong and understands the passing game. I've watched enough tape of the kid to know that he has what it takes to be a top-level passer. The Lions have to know it, too. So why hesitate to play him? Schwartz has said he will play Stafford when he's ready and when he's the best quarterback for the Lions. Deep down, he has to know that time is now. Was Manning ready when he started as a rookie? Probably not, but the experience made him the quarterback he is today. Manning has told me many times that playing experience is invaluable. "You just can't get the same thing by watching," he said. When brother Eli came into the league, Peyton openly hoped Eli got the chance to start as a rookie, which he did. The Atlanta Falcons started Matt Ryan all 16 games as a rookie in 2008 because they had a new coach and were coming off a losing season. All Ryan did was lead the Falcons to the playoffs. The book on the Falcons heading into season was they lacked a good enough offensive line to protect Ryan. Some wondered if the beating would melt his psyche. But Ryan made the line better. He cured an ill, which good quarterbacks do. Todd McClure, the Falcons center, told me last year Ryan had a strong presence in the huddle, which made it hard to tell he was a rookie from the get-go. The Falcons allowed 47 sacks in 2007. With Ryan, it was down to 17 in 2008. The Lions do have issues on their offensive line. It is a unit that gave up 52 sacks last season, the worst in the league. That's why we keep hearing how that line could ruin Stafford's confidence if he plays from the opener. When Manning took over, the Colts had given up 62 sacks the previous year and the team was coming off a 3-13 record. Indy went 3-13 in Manning's rookie season, but he was only sacked 22 times. As far as Stafford's psyche, does this sound like a kid with a fragile psyche? "I'm a competitive person," Stafford said. "I love a challenge." Did the 28 interceptions damage Manning's psyche? Did going 0-11 as a rookie starter ruin Troy Aikman? That's the point here: If the quarterback is the right guy, rookie struggles won't impact their future. The playing experience will. Those who counter will bring up David Carr and Tim Couch and Cade McNown and some of the others whose careers flopped after stating for bad teams early in their careers. Those passers simply did not meet expectations and, no matter what circumstances, would have failed. Carr had all the tools to be a star. But the word out of Houston was he wasn't dedicated to the task. That's why he failed. Not because he was sacked a record 76 times. Detroit fans went down this path in 2002 when the Lions drafted Joey Harrington with the third overall pick. He started as a rookie, struggled behind a bad line, and was later considered a bust. Harrington didn't have the mental makeup -- or the skills -- to handle being the starter. That doesn't mean Stafford can't handle it. If the Lions drafted him to turn the franchise around, let him do it. If he sits this season, that will make 2010 a learning year for him because learning from the sidelines isn't learning on the field. So let's say Culpepper starts the entire season. The Lions go 3-13. Then what? Stafford has his real rookie season in 2010, and the Lions are starting over again. For coach Schwartz, it would mean Year 3 before a playoff chance is even possible. By playing Stafford this season and letting him learn on the fly, it might accelerate that timetable. Matt Stafford wearing a baseball cap on Sundays this fall will do nothing for the Lions' long-term future. Even if he breaks Manning's rookie interception record -- which Peyton sure hopes -- at least he'd be playing.

Ah more future color analysts for the NFL network. Here we develop the QB of yesterday into the commentator of tomorrow.

He went into a bit of a sophomore slump and picked up some penalties last season. Regardless of that, I definitely see him bouncing back with a great season.

For all the little things we complain about when it comes to Eli, I'd still rather he continues to win ugly than lose looking great. Overthrow the receiver by 10 yards, throw passes at receivers ankles 5 feet away, throw an interception or two if it will help settle you down, but just keep on winning. Now when it comes to his salary, I'm betting he gets about $15-17 million a season. The cap keeps growing, keep reinvesting that in the key positions and continue to improve this team. Come on guys, its not like the Giants are going to be giving the fans back this money. I'd rather pay Eli than go through the QB merry-go-round again or have you all forgotten that already?

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football...ant_payday.html Quarterback Eli Manning aiming high in quest for next Giant payday BY Ralph Vacchiano dAILY news sports writer Friday, June 19th 2009, 6:01 AM Eli Manning is still in line to get one of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history. He is just going to have to wait a little longer than expected. Manning and the Giants remain far apart in their negotiations on a new deal, according to two NFL sources with knowledge of the talks. Nobody is panicking, even though 2009 is the last year of Manning's rookie contract, and both sides expect a deal will eventually get done. But they had originally hoped to do it this spring, with the Giants prepared to make Manning one of the NFL's richest players. According to one source, Manning's agents "want to make him the highest-paid player." Another source suggested the Super Bowl XLII MVP's initial asking price was up near an average of $20 million per year. Neither Manning nor co-owner John Mara would discuss details when asked during Giants minicamp this week. And when Manning, whose original six-year deal was worth $45 million to $54 million, was asked if he wanted to be the NFL's highest-paid player, he said, "I don't have an ego about that. "I'll leave it to my agent and the Giants," Manning said. "They'll figure out all the details. My job is to prepare, get this team ready and let everything else play itself out." Though $20 million per year might be too high, league sources expect Manning - who will make $9.4 million this season - eventually will get a deal worth around $15 million per year. Several league executives and NFL agents expect the final package to be for seven or eight years and be worth around $110 million-$120 million, with more than $40 million in guaranteed money. The largest contract in NFL history was the 10-year, $130 million deal (with $37 million in guarantees) the Atlanta Falcons gave Michael Vick in 2003. The seven-year, $98 million contract Peyton Manning got in 2004 averaged $14 million per season, which was an NFL high until this spring when the Oakland Raiders signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to a complicated, three-year, $45 million deal that could average $15 million per. The Giants know the price will be high, but they have no intention of letting Manning hit free agency. Even if he plays out his contract, they likely would place the franchise tag on him next March to prevent him from going anyplace. "Obviously we want him to spend the rest of his career here, and we'll reach an agreement in due time," Mara said. "But I can't guess when that will be." Manning couldn't guess either, but he said the timing doesn't matter. "I signed a six-year deal and I have one more year," Manning said. "Something could happen before the season starts, but I'm not worried about it right now. I hope (it'll get done). I've had a great five years here. I love the organization, I love my teammates. I hope they feel the same way. But we'll see. You never know." PRICE IS WRIGHT: CB DeAndre Wright, the Giants' sixth-round pick, agreed to a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $4 million. . . . Tom Coughlin's message to players Thursday at the end of their three-day minicamp was to remember the "bitter bitterness" of how they collapsed at the end of last season. "They need to think long and hard about the disappointment of January," he said. . . . Eighteen players missed at least one practice due to injuries. DE Justin Tuck and G Chris Snee were excused Thursday for personal reasons. . . . Players are off now until Aug. 2, when they report to training camp in Albany.

Alienating as many pro bowlers you possibly can before the team can even take the field. Feel free to add him to your madden team, I don't want him on my team.

Eli Manning: The QB is damn near always the MVP after the team wins the Super Bowl. Backups? We Don't Need No Stinking Backups!

Its really not that big of a deal because the organization was smart enough to stack the DT position with players capable of starting should Robbins fail to come through. I'd be shocked if he's ready to go in September.

Holy shit, its the voice of fuckin reason. :worshippy:

It makes sense that a full sized practice field can be an advantage for the team going forward.

Its going to be a lot of fun watching him play, especially considering its one of the few times that a player I think would do great is drafted by the Giants.

Out of curiosity, who are these home grown wide receivers that New England won lots of super bowls with. I can only think of one, the rest are all imports. Gruden is doing tv now, how about Denis Green? He's a great coach to have in front of a camera. Yeah too bad about Palmer sticking to tv but if not Manning then who?