gmenroc

Microfacture surgery seems to shelf a guy for a minimum of a year...without any football activity. Don't want to hurry back from it ala Steve Smith when he went off to the Eagles. In today's NFL, players tend to be forgotten pretty easily since it's more and more a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. In the case of Ballard, a lesser known guy who was more a role player than a star...it could easily be the end for him. PUP...then IR, or so it seems that's his fate at this point in time for 2012

When on the field that is...heard he's been an injury concern for a few years now.

Goff was visiting the Dolphins today or yesterday. Haven't heard if there was an offer or not.

I was all of 10 years old in 1990, but I remember the dropoff from Parcells to Handley. I can't say that I remember, or would remember, how Parcells left our team. That said, the Giants don't strike me as a franchise that would let a departing coach name his successor. Seems that'd be a decision that'd come from management/front office folk...today, and in the past.

I agree with this premise, that each QB has to be evaluated on his own...and over the course of time. However, Brady has shown that with a defender in his face, or after getting hit a few times...he can lose his poise pretty significantly. I think poise is vastly underrated, due in part to its immeasurability. Comparing stats isn't the be all and end all, though it's important just the same. Brady puts up better numbers than Eli, but he also gets to face the Dolphins twice and Bills twice each year. Not to mention, the offense in New England is vastly different than the offense we have. Granted, we've moved more towards a passing offense over the past few years, but we're still not the dink and dunk offense that is New England. I think in comparing QBs, one of the fairest ways to go about it, is to project what each would do on the other's team, all other factors equal. I think Eli would put up Brady-like numbers running New England's offense. I do not think, that Brady would do the same in our offense. I think Brady wins the accuracy battle between the two, though that gap has closed significantly ever since Plax shot himself. Again, I think Eli wins the poise battle. Neither can run for shit. Arm strength is about equal, or at least no sizeable or recognizable difference. In the 4th quarter, I think Eli is about as clutch a QB as I've seen. That is more of a recent development for me and I'm still pissed/depressed when there's 2 minutes left, we're losing by 5, and Eli has the ball...this, because I'm thinking it's not going to happen for us. But Eli pulled us out more than he didn't this season, or so it seemed. Point is, it's close between the two of them and depending upon which attribute you emphasize, one may lead the other. But for me, I'll take Eli by a thread...

Nor I

I don't know that he necessarily strung anyone along. I think the delay was a result of the appeal process and the finalization of the suspensions. I think it's further delayed by the the not-yet-released suspensions of the players involved. So I don't see it fair, pinning the declination of his services on Parcells. I think too, with Parcells being in his 70s, despite not being a me-first guy, he might want to enter the hall of fame while still alive. I read somewhere that had he returned to coaching, it would've delayed his eligibility by 5 years. In other words, had he already been inducted into the HOF, and then had this opportunity....or had the suspensions been reduced so he only had to coach 1/2 a season as opposed to a full season...or had the Saints fired Payton and given the job to Parcells permanently so as not to create a lame duck coach...all could have lead to his accepting the position as opposed to passing on it.

I'm with you, I want Blackburn back. I think there's something about him that just fits with us that wouldn't necessarily transition onto a new team. Can't say what it is. I'm not too pissed at Tolly. I would've like him back, but given the lineup in front of him, it's not like he was going to start anytime soon. So for him to leave for a starting position, I can't bitch. If he was going to a situation where he was 4th on the depth chart, getting the same money as we would've paid...then I'd be irked. I fully expect Osi to go next year....it's a feeling we're going to have to get used to as our Super Bowl winning team starts hitting free agency. And that's why we build through the draft and coach up guys. It's how you have to do it in order to be a mainstay come playoffs. Free agency can be used to plug a hole or to create flexibility come draft day, but that's really where it ends.

I really only give Roethlisberger credit for one ring. His first one, it was all about running the ball with Bettis and playing good defense. When a QB averages just over 20 throws per game, while I wouldn't go so far to say that you're winning in spite of him, I would say that he isn't the reason you're winning the game. He's neither winning it for you, nor losing it for you. Add to that his off the field distractions and I don't put him top 5. My top 5 can take receivers and make them better. My top 5 can put the team on their back and deliver the W. My top 5 can play AND be the offensive coordinator when called upon to manipulate defenses. Roethlisberger is close, but not quite over than hump in my opinion.

1. Rodgers 2. E. Manning 3. Brady 4. Brees 5. P. Manning Rivers, Roethlisberger, Ryan, Stafford, Newton round out the top 10 for me. Vick, Romo are in top 15

If Goff signs elsewhere, than I'd consider Fletcher. Signing Fletcher would hurt the Redskins far more than it'd help us. I like what we saw from J. Williams last year. He made some good plays as a young player. Blackburn filled in beautifully late in the season. I know with Osi entering his final year, there are thoughts of bringing Kiwi back to DE, which of course, would create a hole at LB. For this season, I'd be fine with Goff, Boley, Kiwi...backed up by G. Jones, C. Blackburn, and draft pick/Paysinger. If Goff or Blackburn don't re-sign, than I'd be fine with pursuing Fletcher. Fletcher should not get anything more than a 1 or 2 year deal topping out at about 3 mil.

I'd take a 6th or later on him, but that's about it. If he drops that far, it'd hopefully be the dose of reality he seemingly needs. Then again, I'd want his contract laden with distraction/motivation clauses and with rookie wage scale, I don't know if that is even possible.

Something's telling that here this guy is...in the one and only application process he has...to show his talents to 32 teams who already have piqued interest...and he isn't prepared and fails to perform. It says a lot. Motivation - not on par...otherwise he'd have been prepared. Big moment performance - not on the same level as others...he failed when it was up to him to do well Add to this the fact that he's been noted as a headcase, and I'll gladly pass. He might have talent, but unless we pick him up in the round where our philosophy switches from BPA to Best Athlete Available.

Wasn't it smoking pot or something like that that's so widespread anymore that it's deemed relatively minor?

I think this Need vs. BPA discussion is why Fleener is there for the Giants in most mocks. If still there at 32, he could be argued as the BPA and at the same time, fill a need. Now, I've read reports that Beckum is set to be okay by the regular season. If he's there, and Bennett is there...the need for a TE is much less than previously thought. That said, I think Ballard is signed for just one more year, Bennett is signed for only a year...so if you're thinking long term, TE will be a big need next offseason. Drafting Fleener this year would give greater flexibilty next offseason. OT is also sketchy right now. Beatty coming off injury, Brewer being relatively unknown, Diehl starting to show a little age, and McKenzie not being resigned...leads to a fairly large question mark. Now, I've seen McKenzie hasn't been signed by anyone, let alone us. I'd not be opposed to him coming back for a year or two at vet minimum...just for assurance purposes. He could easily be cut in favor of an upcoming rookie draft pick, be it a guy we get this year or be it Brewer. RB, we need to draft someone with Jacobs' leaving. I don't know that Scott or Ware is ready for the increase in carries. Neither instills much confidence...in me anyhow. Scott only has a season under his belt, so I think he should still get some touches this season, but there's definitely a need here. I don't believe this to be so crucial as to spend our first rounder on it, but top 3 rounds for sure.

cbssportsline or something like that has player rankings/reviews. nfl draft exchange was a good one, but it's sketchy anymore.

Tolly was underrated and a very good backup to Osi, Tuck, and JPP. If the Giants are serious about keeping Osi, then they have to make room. If they're serious about paying Nicks and Cruz, they have to make room. I believe there's something about carrying over extra cap space from one year to the next. If true, that could play into this as well. With the guys we have still, we could still attack offenses in such a way that whatever backup is in there in Tolly's place, they'll face single teams...so they need only hold their own...not necessarily need to be dominant.

I'd be really surprised to see us pick a WR #1 knowing that we have Nicks and Cruz, with upcoming Jernigan and Barden entering perhaps the most important part of his career

I wasn't arguing for or against that package...simply stating that with that set, there would be a spot for Jones or Sash given Grant not being signed. I too agree that Fewell adjusted based on what he had at the time. I also agree that with Prince, T2, and CWeb being healthy...that the 3 S look will be shelved. Any development by the young LBers and should Goff return...would only lessen the number of times we see the 3 safety approach....because we'd have guys who are NOT liabilities in coverage, yet have the size to play the run AND go up against the quicker, taller TEs in the game. That said, given we had success running the 3 safety package in the past...I don't know that we should completely do away with it. Keeping it in the rotation would not be a bad thing in my opinion.

Soaking in the sun...looks like Eli might need it...pasty-ass white boy.

Chad Jones I don't have a hard time remembering, due to his accident/recovery story.

If Bradshaw does go down for a number of games, I honestly can't say who'd I have more faith in: Ware, Scott, or a draft pick.

Visited Browns I thought, didn't sign to my knowledge.

Bradshaw taking more carries, offseason participation or not, is a huge concern for most Giants fans I'd think. Scott/Ware/draft pick behind them is a little sketchy I think, but then again, in an ever passing-friendly league...we could be ahead of the curve in putting lesser demand on the RB position.

No question the Oline needs help. Brewer will be entering his 2nd year and Beatty will return with Diehl being in the mix as well. There are certainly some question marks there. Baas played better later in the season I thought. Petrus and Snee work well as far as I'm concerned at guard. So depth is a need and so is quality of play. I think part of what made O'Hara so good was continuity. It was the same group along the Oline for quite some time. That helps I think, more than a lot of other individual stats.