Allstarjim

These SuperBowl bonuses are getting better and better!

HAPPY?! Did you see the deal? We get Santana WITHOUT having to give up Pelfrey or Fernando Martinez! It's a STEAL! Thanks Yanks! Thanks Sawx!

I can't believe the Mets did it! I think with the Yanks publicly saying they weren't in it, Boston just didn't care as much anymore. That left the Mets! How else do explain they got him without having to give up major-league ready Pelfrey or the top hitting prospect Fernando Martinez? Brilliant job by Minaya. NOW SIGN HIM! Watch out now, Phillies! It's ON!

Precisely the reason they should do it. They would receive more picks and be able to address multiple positions of need, as well as add depth to their running back situation. And Ronnie Brown definitely needs the help. He is taking too much of a beating doing it pretty much on his own.

It used to be necessary to advance to E-5. Now you can be promoted to E-5 with the anticipation of completing the course. You cannot be promoted to E-6 without it, though.

I think that the 32nd pick will be the first pick of the second round.

Consistent success breeds hating. When you win A LOT, you've done that at the expense of a lot of other teams. Therefore, a greater pool of fans feel victimized by the successful team. The other factor is jealousy. Why should an Arizona fan root for the Patriots to win their 4th this decade when their team has never even made it to the SuperBowl? So instead of rooting for the consistent winner, they'll root for the other guy, because at least that gives them more hope that anyone can take down the big dog and anyone can make it and win the big one. With baseball it's a little different, because other fans feel like the Yankees treat the rest of the Majors as their farm system. There is no way for smaller market teams to be able to assemble the stars that the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Angels, and Dodgers can afford. Because of the lack of parity, other teams resent the richest ones, but mainly the Yanks, and I think a lot of that has to do with Steinbrenner.

Thanks, BIGBLUE, and the Giants better play with theirs!

OH! You mean HAY-ZOOS!

Hey Charlie! I'm a sergeant. But I can pretty much guarantee I won't be in the PX swiggin' beers. The best I can hope for is getting to watch the game in the barracks. I will have to talk to some of my buddies that have been to this school recently, but from what I've gathered, it's been pretty locked down.

Lubeck, this is my only hope, that the instructors will have a heart. It is really up to them. Hopefully they are football fans, and hopefully they are not dix. I will not know until that day. It will also depend on the planned curriculum they have for that day as well.

The military doesn't care about your priorities. They tell you where to be and for how long you're going to be there. I have no say in this. This is WLC, formerly PLDC, so you army guys will know. They lock you down like basic training in this school, although it's not as bad as far as treating you like shit like basic. It's a school I need to get done with to get promoted, so in a way, I'm glad I'm getting it over with, but if I miss the first SuperBowl the Giants have been in since 2000, I will :explode:

Well, I was just informed today that I will be going to Fort Dix in a week for a two week military school I need. There is a good possibility because of this I will not be allowed to watch the SuperBowl, since this school is pretty strict. :explode:

Well played, blu, well played.

This is called the fallacy of composition. If a is true, and b is true, then a must be the cause of b. Not so. There are many factors why the team is different. We have a new defensive coordinator, and I can't remember right now if this is Gilbride's first or 2nd year either. Additionally, Tom Coughlin has dramatically changed his coaching style as well from last year to this. To me, this is the biggest factor into why the team has more chemistry, IMO. Eli has also matured this year and has taken more control of the team's leadership. And just to give you an idea, have you ever considered that had Tiki not retired that Coughlin might not have changed his coaching philosophy to be more player friendly? Have you not considered that Eli's growth might not have happened if Tiki was still on the team? Necessity sometimes is the greatest motivator. And Eli NEEDED to grow up leadership wise without Tiki around anymore. I have heard Tiki lightly criticize the coaching staff while he was still in uniform, after a tough loss. Nothing Shockey hasn't ever done. And he has also said that they were outplayed. I don't see a big deal in it. Coaches say the players need to execute better all the time. I have no problem with a player saying that they were outcoached. I never heard Tiki criticize Eli for a loss, even though many times there was ample room for that. Eli did not play well for a large part of last season, and by and large, Tiki was very supportive of him. Even in the Costas-Tiki segment on Football Night in America where Tiki had the infamous "comical" quote, he was OVERALL complimentary of Eli and said he believed that Eli would grow into his potential and be a great leader. But the media only took out the "comical" part (out of context) because they knew they could cause a controversy with it and create a news story on what was likely otherwise a light news day. And that is what I mean by media driven. I saw that segment, and what Tiki said was not that bad at all, and I've seen ten times worse by the very people on this board (including myself) who profess to be huge Giant fans. And he was getting paid for his opinions unlike us. It was his job to give analysis of the Giants that night, and he gave it in a thoughtful, honest manner that really was not nearly as controversial as ESPN made it out to be. Then there was the book. Again, people taking out one part about Coughlin without giving the entire picture of what he said. And fact of the matter is... who really cares? He was right! Coughlin was an a-hole. For the love of God he fined Strahan for being only 5 minutes early to a team meeting. You don't micro manage veterans that are clearly leaders of the team, like Strahan, Tiki, O'Hara, and Toomer. That was Coughlin's mistake last year and he learned from it. If Coughlin didn't think his approach was wrong, why did he change and become more player-friendly? It's because Tiki's criticism was valid and he knew it, and was in danger of losing the team had he not changed, JUST LIKE HE HAD DONE IN JACKSONVILLE. I know from a friend who was a big Jacksonville fan who also had a cousin and friends from the hood in the NFL, that free agents did not want to go to Jacksonville and play for Coughlin because of his reputation, and the players that were there wanted out. Take all of that for what you will. Tiki's story has been consistent from the beginning of all this hoopla. He's always said he supports the team. Even John Mara consulted with Tiki after the season about what changes should be made if any and what he thought. IF MARA THOUGHT FOR A SECOND THAT TIKI WAS A LOCKERROOM CANCER AND A PROBLEM ON THE TEAM, WHY WOULD HE ASK FOR HIS INPUT, AND WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TRIED TO TALK HIM OUT OF RETIRING WHEN THEY KNEW THEY HAD A STUD WAITING IN THE WINGS? The answer is that what's being said about Tiki now is largely bs. He was a professional as a player, a team leader, and someone who had rightfully earned a voice in the league. I will always respect him for the player AND teammate that he was. Did he make mistakes? Sure. But I know the controversy that surrounds him and the negative attention was largely media created and don't fault Tiki at all for doing his job.

That's what you WANT to think. As much of the criticism he's given given Coughlin, he's also credited him for helping his career. As much as he's criticized Eli's leadership, he's also lauded him and shown faith in him fulfilling his potential. This thing has been media driven from the start and you and other Giant fans still want to villainize him and think the worst. I can tell you that I have a pretty good bs detector, and all the bs I've smelt was coming from the media and not from Tiki. Plus, Tiki has pretty much been saying the same thing since this thing has started, not just because the Giants are now going to the SuperBowl. Nothing revisionist about what he's saying, he's been saying it since the media blew this thing up in the first place.

The thread was started before this past season, Charlie. Next year, I suspect you are correct, but I would imagine that Ward (if he is retained, will fall to #3 on the depth chart behind Jacobs and Bradshaw, and the two will split carries. I suspect about a 60-40 split with Jacobs getting the majority.

Co-host of ESPN's First Take, at a roast for Mike and Mike, Dana reportedly said, "F*** Notre Dame, F*** Touchdown Jesus, F*** Jesus." Mike Golic is a Notre Dame alum. Just hilarious Dana. These roasts can be funny, but only when it's comedians that are doing the roasting. ESPN shouldn't have talking heads and journalists up there trying to be funny, in a format that is known for vulgarity. That said, you deserve everything you get when you say something as stupid, insensitive, and provacative as F*** Jesus. What a dumbass. Link to ESPN article

I don't want to say anything about a dynasty, but I will say on both sides of the ball we have great, impact players at key positions who should contribute for at least the next couple of years. On the other side, there is the Cowboys. They also have a great group of players on both sides of the ball and are a relatively young team as well. Romo has not done well in the playoffs, but he wins in the regular season meaning he will lead his team to the playoffs on a regular basis. It's only a matter of time before it clicks for Romo like it has clicked for Eli this year. It's funny that people say Romo can't win in the playoffs when Eli lost his first two playoff games and looked really bad in doing so. All I'm saying is that with our team and with the Cowboys team, this will be an intense rivalry for the next 5 years or so IMO. It has the potential to be a rivalry on par with the current Colts/Pats rivalry. And I look forward to seeing the Giants get the better of them more times than not!

Absolutely! I commented on this in the other thread. It looks like Fassel is very close. There must be something that Snyder doesn't like about Gregg Williams. But why keep giving him interview after interview just to turn him down yet again? Makes no sense. And now it looks like they are trying to replace him altogether. I know he will land in a better situation.

You are the man, BIGBLUE!

Totally agree with the above, give the man a raise and a bonus! He probably gets a bonus just for the team being in the Supe anyways. Also, Fassel has had 3 interviews now with the Skins. There could be an announcement anytime! Not sure what other head coaching vacancies there are. But right now, Spags staying looks very promising!

Not so. I was listening to the Barber Shop on Sirius tonight and he told Ronde that when he went to the Bucs-Giants playoff game he was rooting for the Giants but also for his brother to do well. He also said he still doesn't regret retiring because his heart wasn't in it anymore, and it was just time, and he knew it. He went on to say that he still loves the Giants organization, and is really happy for the team's success, especially for the old-timers like Toomer and Strahan. And finally, he said what is said about him is all media driven, from NY and then picked up by the national media and that it's bs. Adding that the only reason he gave criticism is because it was his job. Tiki didn't do anything that every person on this MB has multiple times over, except he is getting paid to do it as his job. Over and over again his statements have been amplified by the media and taken out of context. He remains very supportive of the Giants as he said so YET AGAIN tonight.

Fer sure!

AH SHIT! There is not a lot of superstition I believe in, but the SI cover curse is one of them.