2007 NY Giants Articles and Video

[jerseygiantfan]

Only Blue skies

Upbeat Tom wearing Giant smile

 

BY RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

Tom Coughlin tells Giants to focus on wild-card picture not fact that team is reeling from four straight losses.

 

Don't worry. Be happy.

That was the message Tom Coughlin delivered yesterday in the Bizarro World press room at Giants Stadium, when the usually grumpy coach gave one of the most upbeat talks of his three-year tenure. After two weeks of mostly negative press, the embattled coach was clearly trying to accentuate the positive.

 

Despite his team riding a four-game losing streak that has likely cost them a shot at a division title, Coughlin doesn't want the Giants to head into their NFC wild-card showdown in Carolina on Sunday with the dark cloud hovering overhead.

 

"You have to get excited. It's a new week here," a smiling Coughlin said. "You're all sitting here like this with your heads down and I know you want to win just as bad as I want to win. You have to get it going. You have to get yourself fired up a little bit for a new week and a new opportunity."

 

His tongue appeared to be slightly embedded in his cheek when he hopped onto the podium and delivered those opening marks, but he did seem serious about the tone of his message.

 

"That's exactly what I told the players," he insisted. "We're all in the same situation here, the four teams that are 6-6. It's a great opportunity for us.

 

"What do we do with it?"

 

The Giants, the Panthers, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons are all 6-6, tied for the two NFC wild-card spots. And with the Giants playing the Panthers and Eagles the next two weeks - and with reports out of Carolina saying Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has a torn ligament in his thumb - the Giants have a golden opportunity to turn their fortunes around.

 

That's why Coughlin doesn't want his players slouching its way to Carolina with a sad look on their faces. Mr. Happy wants to see smiles and fire in their eyes.

 

After all, isn't this fun?

 

"I think it's time to get off the last (game, a crushing, 23-20 loss to Dallas) and get onto the new one, and the excitement of the new game and the opportunities that we have," he said. "I try to make the players understand that, to not be distracted by what's being said on the outside about our team, and to know what the reality of the situation is and what opportunities there are.

 

"Win one game and it changes a lot of things. Get excited about that. We have a whole quarter of the season left to go and it's an exciting time. For anybody to say that it isn't, despite the disappointments, is foolish. You only go around this thing one time."

 

Asked if he thought the players, despite the turmoil of the last month, got his message, Coughlin said "Do you guys get it? I'm using the same one in (the locker room). This is not an IQ test, now."

 

Most of the players didn't notice much of a change in Coughlin's demeanor. But his message definitely seemed to get through.

 

"Everybody's not as down as people are coming across," said receiver David Tyree. "You're not going to be completely chipper as you'd like to be when you're on a four-game losing streak. But I don't think our esteem is messed up."

 

"Why would we not be upbeat?" added linebacker Antonio Pierce. "We've still got a job to do and we've still got a game to play. So I think everybody's upbeat around here. The head coach has got to be that way. If he was sitting there slumping his head, putting it in the tank, don't you think everybody else would?"

 

Originally published on December 7, 2006

[jerseygiantfan]

NEW STADIUM

[jerseygiantfan]

Whats in a name?

[jerseygiantfan]

Feeling Giant void

Big Blue has missed Strahan

 

BY RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

It's possible that Michael Strahan, who has been out the last five weeks with a sprained right foot, may not return in '06.

 

The voice is what the Giants seem to miss the most. The big, booming, cocky, upbeat voice they've gotten so used to hearing in the defensive huddle. In many ways, things are so much quieter when Michael Strahan is not on the field.

"It would give us a tremendous boost just to hear his voice again," Giants safety Gibril Wilson said. "Stray's always talking and he's always trying to get guys riled up. If you just hear his voice, just to know that he's there is big. His voice does a lot."

 

Barring the unexpected, that voice will be silent for a fifth straight game tomorrow when the Giants (6-6) travel to face the Carolina Panthers (6-6) in a big showdown in the NFC wild-card race. Strahan hasn't played since spraining his right foot against the Houston Texans on Nov.5.

 

And it's no coincidence that the Giants haven't won since. In fact, they rarely win when the seven-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer is sidelined. The Giants are 1-11 with Strahan out of the lineup since 2004, and 1-13 without him since 1994, his second NFL season. And while other injuries and other factors have certainly contributed to the losing, a lopsided stat like that cannot be dismissed.

 

"No, it's not an accident," said rookie Mathias Kiwanuka, Strahan's replacement at defensive end. "It's just another credit to him, another notch on his belt. Obviously you can count on him to do a lot during the game. And maybe something that some people don't understand is that he does do a lot that affects the game even when he's not getting sacks."

 

Strahan, 35, has only three sacks in eight games this season, and the pass rush struggled at times even when he was in there. But he was his usual dominant force as a run-stopper, and drew constant double- and triple-teams. And maybe more importantly, when he's out of the lineup, the Giants have an obvious leadership void. "He's a Hall of Fame defensive end, but more than that he's a leader on our defense," said linebacker Brandon Short. "He's one of the guys that gets guys going. He has the experience and the respect so that when he speaks, guys listen."

 

"I think more than all the stats, it's just having that leadership on the field," Kiwanuka added. "That's something that guys respond to. Even people that played high school ball understand what that means to have that person that everybody looks to - not necessarily to make a play, but just to bring that extra energy."

 

Unfortunately for the Giants, as Short said, "the veteran guys on the defense have to be able to step up and at some point be able to fill that void" because it doesn't look like Strahan is close to returning.

 

The Giants' timetable for his recovery from the dreaded "Lisfranc" sprain was 2-4 weeks and he's now at five weeks and counting. All he's done so far at practice is one day - Nov. 29 - of individual drills. Originally Strahan said he could miss up to eight weeks with his injury, and an orthopedic surgeon told the Daily News that Strahan was likely to miss the rest of the season. Both surely seem like reasonable possibilities now.

 

So if the Giants want to make the playoffs, they may have to learn to win without the one player they've never learned how to win without. And they know that's not going to be an easy task.

 

 

 

WEINKE, RIGHT? Chris Weinke likely will start at quarterback for Carolina tomorrow in place of Jake Delhomme, who missed a third straight day of practice yesterday with torn ligaments in his right thumb. ... K Jay Feely has battled a sore foot this week, but says "it won't be an issue" and he'll kick tomorrow. Just in case, the Giants worked out several kickers yesterday, including 39-year-old Steve Christie. ... LB Antonio Pierce (knee) returned to practice. CB Corey Webster (toe) remained out and will probably miss tomorrow's game. ... WR Plaxico Burress was named the winner of the sixth annual George Young Good Guy Award by the Giants' chapter of the Professional Football Writers of America.

 

Originally published on December 9, 2006

 

 

 

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[jerseygiantfan]

Giants end 4 game losing streak

[jerseygiantfan]

In Carolina, Giants finer

 

Win helps Blue see Big picture

 

BY RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

David Tyree of the Giants celebrates his touchdown catch during the third quarter of yesterday's victory.

 

CHARLOTTE - The Giants did not dump a bucket of Gatorade on Tom Coughlin's head when the final gun sounded. There was no confetti and no fireworks and no one was carried off the field.

But the way the Giants felt yesterday after winning for the first time in more than a month, it was as if all of that had just happened.

 

"Guys were joking about it," said linebacker Antonio Pierce. "But it felt like a playoff win."

 

In some ways, the Giants' 27-13 triumph over the Carolina Panthers was exactly like a playoff victory, considering it kept their once-fading postseason hopes alive. At 7-6, they are now in a three-team tie for the two NFC wild-card spots with the Philadelphia Eagles - their opponent next week - and the Atlanta Falcons. And with Dallas' loss to New Orleans last night, the Giants still have a shot to win a division that looked so out of reach just one week ago.

 

But maybe even more importantly, the victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Giants, temporarily shelved any talk about Coughlin's job status, put a stop to all the recent chaos in the locker room and left them feeling good about themselves for the first time in a while.

 

"What's really important is reinforcement for everybody in every walk of life," Coughlin said. "You put so much into it, you expect it right back out and we haven't had that over the course of the last month. So we've been a little frustrated by that without a doubt."

 

"I think you forget how good it feels to win when you lose four in a row," added center Shaun O'Hara. "That's the biggest thing today. It feels so good to win."

 

They won despite a Panther-record 423-yard performance by Carolina quarterback Chris Weinke, who was subbing for the injured Jake Delhomme. The Giants turned that into one of the emptiest 400-yard days in NFL history. They made sure Weinke (34-of-61) couldn't find his top two weapons - Steve Smith (five catches, 67 yards) and Keyshawn Johnson (5-51). And in the second half of Weinke's first start in four years, the Giants intercepted him three times.

 

And by the time Weinke started throwing the ball all over the field, the Giants' offense had done just enough to build an insurmountable cushion. They got 112 yards from Tiki Barber, who went over 10,000 yards for his career, and an efficient performance from Eli Manning (17-for-33, 172 yards, three touchdowns). It was enough to overcome a second half in which they gained only 70 yards as a team.

 

The Giants got an early boost when the Panthers (6-7) opened the game without their top two cornerbacks (Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas) and then lost a third (Christian Morton) on the opening series. That left the Panthers with two rookies - Richard Marshall and Dion Byrum - in the secondary and Manning picked on them both. He threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress and a 1-yarder to Jeremy Shockey in the first half, allowing the Giants to go into halftime with a 17-10 lead.

 

By the time the third quarter was half over, Manning had led two more scoring drives, to a 29-yard Jay Feely field goal and a 3-yard touchdown pass to David Tyree. That put the Giants up 27-10.

 

And that was important because the Giants didn't get a single first down the rest of the way.

 

That was OK, though, because Weinke - who is now 1-16 as a starter in his NFL career - couldn't capitalize.

 

Weinke - who threw for 286 yards in the second half alone - had the Panthers in Giants territory on each of their last five drives. But all he got was a 45-yard John Kasay field goal to show for it.

 

"It wasn't the prettiest second half in the world," Manning said. "But we didn't make any mistakes."

 

"(Weinke's) yardage don't matter," Pierce added. "We got the win. That's all we care about."

 

That's all the Giants have been caring about for a month, of course, as they tried to dig themselves out of a seemingly bottomless pit. They are not completely out of the hole yet. They know a loss to the Eagles on Sunday could signal a return to all the chaos and the questions about Coughlin's job security, as well as push the Giants back to the brink of elimination.

 

But for one day, at least, they finally had a reason to smile.

 

"Anytime you win, you get a little confidence, a little buildup," safety Gabril Wilson said. "This is definitely going to get the whole team's morale up."

 

"It feels like there's a monkey off our backs," added former Panther Brandon Short. "Just like winning is a habit, losing is, too. We're back on the winning track now."

 

Originally published on December 11, 2006

[jerseygiantfan]

Tiki rushes to Coughlin's side

 

Retiring RB says bring back Tom

 

 

 

 

Tom Coughlin reacts to a touchdown during yesterday's game.

 

CHARLOTTE - Tiki Barber is retiring in another few weeks or so and will be gone next season, but insists Tom Coughlin should be back.

Barber has been Coughlin's biggest critic, but after yesterday's 27-13 victory over the Panthers broke a four-game losing streak, he endorsed the coach's return in 2007 and insists Coughlin deserves a contract extension.

 

The vote of confidence came from an unexpected precinct, considering Barber publicly questioned Coughlin twice over the last 11 months. But he firmly said, "I do," when asked if he thinks the Giants should bring Coughlin back.

 

Why?

 

"He's done a good job," he said, standing outside the Giants' locker room. "He's been here for three years and been riddled with major, major injuries and he's held us together."

 

Coughlin has one year remaining on his contract and the Giants will make a decision after the season whether to fire him or extend the pact. They could also buy time and force him to coach out the last year of his deal before determining his fate.

 

Barber said "they should" extend Coughlin's contract.

 

"He deserves it," he said. "There is going to be a lot of transition after this season, (GM) Ernie (Accorsi) is leaving. I'm not going to be here. That could be a good or bad thing."

 

The Giants want stability. They want to keep Coughlin. But a month of losses and the turmoil in the locker room made Coughlin's job security an issue. He gets to exhale for a week but the Giants are deferring a decision on the future until the season is over.

 

On his way to the bus late yesterday afternoon, Coughlin, who was in a very good mood, was asked if the speculation bothers him.

 

"I don't pay any attention to it. I really don't," he said. "I just try to do the best I can."

 

Barber started the unrest last season after the Giants were shut out by the Panthers when he claimed, "In some ways we were outcoached." Then he was critical of the coaches last month after carrying just 10 times in a loss to the Jaguars in a game in which Eli Manning struggled but still was allowed to throw 41 times.

 

Now, after another game against the Panthers, Barber has reversed direction even better than he does on the field and emerged as a Coughlin ally.

 

Still, Barber doesn't believe he previously betrayed his coach. He said he doesn't second-guess himself for second-guessing Coughlin after the Jacksonville game.

 

"I wasn't criticizing the coach publicly. And I don't regret it," he said. "There's reasons and motivations for the things that I do. I really didn't say anything other than what Coach Coughlin said. It's just that I was a little more energetic about it."

 

Barber did set a negative tone and, in doing so, turned up the heat on his coach. It is against NFL protocol for a player to call out his coach.

 

"There is nothing wrong with pressure," Barber said. "It makes you perform, feel an urgency. If you succeed under pressure, you reap the rewards. Honestly, the losing streak we've been on, four games, we went from 6-2 to 6-6, I told Tom, 'What better position to be in, backs against the wall, you have all the incentive in the world to give every ounce of effort that you have. That is not necessarily a bad thing.'"

 

Temporarily at least, the Giants saved their season by beating the Panthers. The victory sets up another game with huge playoff implications next week against the Eagles, who are winning without Donovan McNabb.

 

It would have been humiliating for the Giants to lose to Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke, whose 1-15 record coming into the game was the worst of any current quarterback with at least 10 career starts. He had a 15-game losing streak, had not started since 2002 or played a down this season. Even though he threw for a Panthers-record 423 yards, he needed 61 pass attempts to do it and got plenty of garbage-time yards.

 

The Panthers turned out to be just what the Giants needed: a team that could match them injury-for-injury. They were without QB Jake Delhomme and starting corners Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas and then in the first quarter lost Christian Morton, who had replaced Lucas. Coughlin probably could have had Manning throw more than 33 times, but Barber, who went over the 10,000-yard mark for his career with his 112 yards, was picking up huge chunks.

 

There was a sense of relief in the Giants' locker room after the game. They are back in business.

 

"It was a long time," Antonio Pierce said. "That was a month of hell right there. Nobody in the world wants to lose four straight games."

 

Barber believes the speculation about Coughlin's job is unfair, "but that's New York. It happens. He understand that comes with the job description," he said. "Honestly, he's done a good job. He's doing whatever it takes. Give him credit for that."

 

The last three games will determine whether that gets him back next year.

 

Originally published on December 11, 2006

[so-cal dub]

Tiki rushes to Coughlin's side

 

Retiring RB says bring back Tom

 

 

 

 

Tom Coughlin reacts to a touchdown during yesterday's game.

 

CHARLOTTE - Tiki Barber is retiring in another few weeks or so and will be gone next season, but insists Tom Coughlin should be back.

Barber has been Coughlin's biggest critic, but after yesterday's 27-13 victory over the Panthers broke a four-game losing streak, he endorsed the coach's return in 2007 and insists Coughlin deserves a contract extension.

 

The vote of confidence came from an unexpected precinct, considering Barber publicly questioned Coughlin twice over the last 11 months. But he firmly said, "I do," when asked if he thinks the Giants should bring Coughlin back.

 

Why?

 

"He's done a good job," he said, standing outside the Giants' locker room. "He's been here for three years and been riddled with major, major injuries and he's held us together."

 

Coughlin has one year remaining on his contract and the Giants will make a decision after the season whether to fire him or extend the pact. They could also buy time and force him to coach out the last year of his deal before determining his fate.

 

Barber said "they should" extend Coughlin's contract.

 

"He deserves it," he said. "There is going to be a lot of transition after this season, (GM) Ernie (Accorsi) is leaving. I'm not going to be here. That could be a good or bad thing."

 

The Giants want stability. They want to keep Coughlin. But a month of losses and the turmoil in the locker room made Coughlin's job security an issue. He gets to exhale for a week but the Giants are deferring a decision on the future until the season is over.

 

On his way to the bus late yesterday afternoon, Coughlin, who was in a very good mood, was asked if the speculation bothers him.

 

"I don't pay any attention to it. I really don't," he said. "I just try to do the best I can."

 

Barber started the unrest last season after the Giants were shut out by the Panthers when he claimed, "In some ways we were outcoached." Then he was critical of the coaches last month after carrying just 10 times in a loss to the Jaguars in a game in which Eli Manning struggled but still was allowed to throw 41 times.

 

Now, after another game against the Panthers, Barber has reversed direction even better than he does on the field and emerged as a Coughlin ally.

 

Still, Barber doesn't believe he previously betrayed his coach. He said he doesn't second-guess himself for second-guessing Coughlin after the Jacksonville game.

 

"I wasn't criticizing the coach publicly. And I don't regret it," he said. "There's reasons and motivations for the things that I do. I really didn't say anything other than what Coach Coughlin said. It's just that I was a little more energetic about it."

 

Barber did set a negative tone and, in doing so, turned up the heat on his coach. It is against NFL protocol for a player to call out his coach.

 

"There is nothing wrong with pressure," Barber said. "It makes you perform, feel an urgency. If you succeed under pressure, you reap the rewards. Honestly, the losing streak we've been on, four games, we went from 6-2 to 6-6, I told Tom, 'What better position to be in, backs against the wall, you have all the incentive in the world to give every ounce of effort that you have. That is not necessarily a bad thing.'"

 

Temporarily at least, the Giants saved their season by beating the Panthers. The victory sets up another game with huge playoff implications next week against the Eagles, who are winning without Donovan McNabb.

 

It would have been humiliating for the Giants to lose to Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke, whose 1-15 record coming into the game was the worst of any current quarterback with at least 10 career starts. He had a 15-game losing streak, had not started since 2002 or played a down this season. Even though he threw for a Panthers-record 423 yards, he needed 61 pass attempts to do it and got plenty of garbage-time yards.

 

The Panthers turned out to be just what the Giants needed: a team that could match them injury-for-injury. They were without QB Jake Delhomme and starting corners Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas and then in the first quarter lost Christian Morton, who had replaced Lucas. Coughlin probably could have had Manning throw more than 33 times, but Barber, who went over the 10,000-yard mark for his career with his 112 yards, was picking up huge chunks.

 

There was a sense of relief in the Giants' locker room after the game. They are back in business.

 

"It was a long time," Antonio Pierce said. "That was a month of hell right there. Nobody in the world wants to lose four straight games."

 

Barber believes the speculation about Coughlin's job is unfair, "but that's New York. It happens. He understand that comes with the job description," he said. "Honestly, he's done a good job. He's doing whatever it takes. Give him credit for that."

 

The last three games will determine whether that gets him back next year.

 

Originally published on December 11, 2006

Cute. The asshole quitter is trying to stiff the Gmen organization even more. I seriously am starting to hate that asshole. I wish he would just shut the fuck up sometimes.

[NeMesiS]

Cute. The asshole quitter is trying to stiff the Gmen organization even more. I seriously am starting to hate that asshole. I wish he would just shut the fuck up sometimes.

Who?

[jerseygiantfan]

Who?

 

He's talking about Tiki.

[jerseygiantfan]

Manning on road to recovery

 

When the Giants were losing four consecutive games to have all of New York calling for Tom Coughlin's head, Eli Manning looked like he had no fire in his belly. Manning looked lost and definitely tentative in the pocket. He had nowhere to go and nowhere to run and hide.

 

Well, Manning has turned New York's season around with consecutive solid efforts. In a mini-playoff game in Carolina, Manning completed a big fourth-and-10 pass early to keep a scoring drive alive, and he also found Plaxico Burress on a 50-yard completion while under pressure.

 

Eli looks very comfortable using play-action and the Giants' play-calling has settled down, utilizing Tiki Barber as much as possible. When Barber is running wild, Manning can use play-action all he wants and the Giants are in business. The Panthers basically stuffed Brandon Jacobs, but Eli was smart enough to use some red-zone pass plays to produce three touchdowns.

 

Once again, Eli wasn't intercepted and was sacked only once. Manning isn't the most excitable leader on the field, but if he keeps playing like this the Giants will be a factor in the playoffs. He definitely made amends for a horrible playoff defeat to the Panthers last season

[jerseygiantfan]

The wild blue yonder awaits

 

Giants revive their season

 

BY RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

 

 

A week ago, the Giants were dead and their coach was buried. By Sunday night, they could be back in first place in the NFC East, gearing up for a game that could earn them a first-round bye.

It's become such a wild and crazy ride for the Giants that it's getting hard to figure out which teams and which race to follow on the scoreboard. Their season-saving, 27-13 win in Carolina on Sunday put them back in the thick of the division and wild-card races. Despite a month of turmoil and a four-game losing streak, their goals remain within reach.

 

And all they have to reach them is what they've said they had to do from the beginning: Get hot at the right time.

 

"December is the most important month in football," tight end Jeremy Shockey said. "Whoever excels and gets better is the team with the advantage."

 

That is reality in the parity-driven NFL, that one good month can overcome three months of mediocrity. Just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were 7-5 last season before finishing on a 4-0 run, and before they knew it they were Super Bowl champions. Or ask the Giants of 2002, who were 6-6 before making a playoff push with a 4-0 finish. Or the 2000 Giants, who went 4-0 in December after Jim Fassel pushed his chips to the middle of the table and guided his team to the Super Bowl.

 

Crazy things can happen in December if a team gets on a roll, which is exactly the message Tom Coughlin has been pushing.

 

"I don't know that (momentum) overcomes anything, but it usually goes hand-in-hand with confidence, with playing well, with feeling like you can change the outcome of the game at a particular time," he said. "I think it certainly is something that's a huge plus and that has certainly been documented many, many times over."

 

The Giants (7-6) got some momentum back, and not just because they finally got a win. They also have a chance to bury one wild-card contender Sunday when they face the Philadelphia Eagles (7-6), who are missing Donovan McNabb. And they have the tiebreaker over two other contenders, the Panthers (6-7) and the Falcons (7-6), two teams with major injury problems of their own.

 

The Giants also get some help from the schedule this week, as the division-leading Cowboys (8-5) play the Falcons on Saturday night, which will help the Giants in either the NFC East or the wild-card chase. The division race is now wide-open again, thanks to the Cowboys' 42-17 loss to New Orleans on Sunday night. And if Washington can somehow beat the Saints (9-4) on Sunday, New Orleans will come to Giants Stadium on Christmas Eve with the No. 2 seed in the conference on the line.

 

Think that might be enough to get Coughlin a contract extension that seemed like a longshot two weeks ago?

 

That's how quickly things can change in NFL Decembers, another message Coughlin is delivering to his troops. Things can turn on the Giants just as quickly as they seem to be turning on everyone else, if they don't stay on top of their rediscovered game.

 

"It's good to see us play a little bit better and we need to continue to do that," Coughlin said. "We're really going to be excited about playing, and I hope that we continue to focus well and prepare well and the quality of our play just continues to improve. Because it really has to."

 

Originally published on December 12, 2006

[jerseygiantfan]

THEY'RE 'NUT' OUT OF IT BACK IN THE MIX

 

: Eli Manning, Jeremy Shockey and the Giants are just one game behind Dallas. December 12, 2006 -- ONLY in the NFL - the Nutty Football League - do the Nutty Giants suddenly have a chance to win the division again.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can a team lose half its defense, forget how to be a team, go a month without winning and wake up on the second Tuesday in December one game behind the first-place Cowboys.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can Tom Coughlin be portrayed as Bozo The Coach one week and hailed as the closest thing to the Big Blue Lombardi the next.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can Eli Manning stand up in the locker room and exhort and curse and win on a day when Peyton Manning loses for the third time in four outings and Tom Brady is shut out.

 

Now that the Fellowship of the Miserable has been disbanded, the Nutty Giants can start pointing fingers again ... at the Cowboys.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can One [Team That] Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest return home from what might prove to be a thunderbolt victory in Carolina to watch Tony Romo stumble on the Road to Canton and look more like a former afterthought out of Eastern Illinois on the same primetime night that Drew Brees throws five touchdown passes on Bill Parcells' defense.

 

"We have a chance now, I think that's the encouraging thing about it, and everybody's feeling good; it's amazing how the mood around the locker room and everything changes with one victory," Michael Strahan was saying yesterday on his weekly paid radio spot.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can a team like the Jets, even after a crushing loss to the Bills, still have a wild-card chance in December.

 

But it is not the chance, this second chance, the Nutty Giants have now.

 

They really didn't deserve this chance, this second chance, not after the month of Amateur Hour, on and off the field, they gave us. But here it is.

 

Shame on the Nutty Giants if they blow this one.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can a team New York had soured on get this chance, this second chance, to write a sweet ending.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can a nutty team that can win five straight, then lose four straight, win four straight to storm into the playoffs.

 

So, Nutty Giants, run the damn table and make New York warm in January.

 

The Panther game means absolutely nothing if the Nutty Giants don't beat the Eagles Sunday, if the Nutty Giants cannot turn Giants Stadium into a House of Pain. "These guys are gonna come in ready to play, and we just have to be ready for that," Strahan said on WFAN. "Jeff Garcia (8 TDs, 0 INTs in 134 attempts and QB ratings of 121, 105.9 and 115.1 in relief of Donovan McNabb) we all know can play, he's definitely a motivator, he's a winner, and that's why those guys are responding the way that they've responded.

 

"This is a big game, this is a playoff game for us right now, plain and simple. Every game here on out is a playoff game for us. That's the mindset that we know they're gonna have and Andy Reid's gonna make sure that they have, and that's the mindset that we're gonna have to have."

 

A victory over the Eagles - likely without Strahan - would give the Nutty Giants the kind of momentum and swagger they will need to deal with New Orleans' Drew Brees and Reggie Bush in what doesn't have to be Tiki Barber's final game at Giants Stadium.

 

A victory over the Saints would give the Nutty Giants an opportunity to win the division on the road against the Deadskins ... as long as the Cowboys slip up Saturday night in the Georgia Dome against the desperate Falcons, or Christmas Day against the desperate Eagles, when Garcia will do everything in his power to stick it to his old nemesis, Terrell Owens.

 

The Nutty Giants better take care of business - Manning accepting the mantle of leadership is no small development - because the Cowboys finish their season at home on New Year's Eve afternoon against the downtrodden Lions.

 

Of course, only in the Nutty Football League can a dog like the Lions shock a contender like the Cowboys.

 

Only in the Nutty Football League can a Super dream die ... and somehow come back to life.

 

steve.serby@nypost.com

[so-cal dub]

or Christmas Day against the desperate Eagles, when Garcia will do everything in his power

Where's this moron's editor? Last time I checked Christmas was the 25th, not the 17th.

[TaylorBanksCarsonVanPelt]

Where's this moron's editor? Last time I checked Christmas was the 25th, not the 17th.

If its Serby...my five year old has more writing talent and is more coherent in his prose than this asshole ever was. With home town writers like him we would be better off reading the out of town presses.

[jerseygiantfan]

Mann-to-Mann talk

 

Archie fired up over leader in Eli

 

By RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

Eli Manning sometimes seems a bit lost, but mates and his famous father now see burning desire.

 

When Eli Manning huddled up his offense in the locker room before Sunday's game, there seemed to be a little more energy in his voice than usual. The language may have even gotten a little salty. To some, it seemed like he yelled.

It's hard to say whether that un-Eli-like performance had any effect on the Giants' season-saving, 27-13 win over the Carolina Panthers, but it certainly seemed to get everyone's attention. His teammates are always watching the easy-going quarterback, searching for sparks. His words, eyes and body language are dissected every day.

 

To Archie Manning, all that over-analysis is somewhat amusing. People can look and interpret all they want, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback said yesterday, but his 25-year-old son isn't undergoing a sudden, radical change.

 

"Eli has been criticized for being too quiet, too easy, too steady, too this," Archie said. "But he's been the same through the four-week struggle as he was during the five-game winning streak. He's been Eli. I've been proud of him for that."

 

Archie, who was at the ESPNZone in Manhattan yesterday for the relaunch of AstroTurf fields, said his son hadn't told him about his pregame talk - "He would never tell me that," Archie said. "And I wouldn't ask." - but he didn't sound surprised that it happened. He's always insisted that his laid-back youngest son has more fire in him than most people believe.

 

"Everybody's got their opinions about this emotions thing," Archie said. "Eli's somewhat stoic and quiet, but that's not to say Eli doesn't have emotions. Don't ever think Eli won't jump somebody's butt. The fans and the media may not see it, but he will."

 

On the outside, however, Eli's demeanor doesn't change, even for his family. Archie said they speak three to four times per week, in good times and bad, and the football part of the conversation is usually the same. "I haven't heard him say one thing to me or his mother about their locker room, about the coaches," Archie said. "He says, 'I've got to play better and I've got to get my offense going better.' That's what he's got to do."

 

Eli has certainly done that the last two weeks, completing 59.4% of his passes (41 of 69) for 442 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Heading into a huge game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, he's coming off two efficient, mistake-free games. He could easily have won them both.

 

But more is always demanded. He's expected to scream and to be a fiery leader. He's supposed to scold Plaxico Burress when he throws a tantrum, or chew out linemen when they commit penalties.

 

"I don't want him to be anything other than competitive and spontaneous," Tom Coughlin said. "I think the idea that he's the symbol of our team and all people look at his reaction to things to know how the team is taking something, it's very well-taken."

 

"But he's in a big market," Archie added. "And maybe when you're winning, sometimes you get praise that you're kind of levelheaded out there and in control. Then all of a sudden you start losing. Then you're criticized for not having enough fire. That's just part of it. You are who you are."

 

 

 

BC BECKONS: Kevin Gilbride, the Giants' quarterbacks coach, is reportedly on the short list of candidates for Boston College's head coaching opening.

 

BC plans to interview the 55-year-old Gilbride, according to a report in the Boston Globe, 12 years after the school tried to interview him as a potential replacement for the departing Coughlin. At the time, the Houston Oilers reportedly turned down BC.

 

It's not clear if BC has contacted the Giants yet, but it's doubtful the Giants would stand in his way.

 

The Clipboard

 

 

Hot Seat: DEs Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka. Somebody's got to get to Eagles QB Jeff Garcia, and Michael Strahan won't be around to help.

 

 

X's and O's: Tiki Barber had 21 carries for 51 yards against the Eagles in Week 2. He ran 16 times for 31 yards in a one- or two-back set, and five times for 20 yards out of a shotgun formation.

 

 

Whispers: Did Umenyiora come back too soon? He hasn't looked anywhere near 100% in two games since returning from a hip flexor injury.

 

Originally published on December 13, 2006

[NeMesiS]

Thanks JGF

[jerseygiantfan]

Thanks JGF

 

 

you're welcome....i am committed to this...I will have an article a day.........minimum.....

[jerseygiantfan]

Burress also could see double coverage

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Associated Press

Posted: 2 hours ago

 

 

Lions at Packers

(FOX: Ron Pitts, Jesse Palmer) IS THIS OUR JESSE PALMER????????

Redskins at Saints

(FOX: Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger)

Buccaneers at Bears

(FOX: Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston)

Eagles at Giants

(FOX: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)

Rams at Raiders

(FOX: Matt Vasgersian, J.C. Pearson)

Browns at Ravens

Texans at Patriots

Steelers at Panthers

Jaguars at Titans

Dolphins at Bills

Jets at Vikings

Broncos at Cardinals

Chiefs at Chargers

Monday:

 

Bengals at Colts

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress is daring the Philadelphia Eagles to keep him from making an impact in Sunday's NFC East showdown.

 

Burress insists there is no way the Eagles can shut him down.

 

 

"I don't see that happening," Burress said Thursday when asked if the Eagles could take him out of the game. "They would be crazy to think they could do it. I am just going to go out and do what I have been doing, go out and make some plays."

 

Burress played a major role in the Giants' 30-24 overtime win over the Eagles on Sept. 17, catching six passes for a season-high 114 yards. He completed the Giants' comeback from a 24-7 third-quarter deficit with a leaping 31-yard touchdown catch in overtime.

 

A little less than three months later, the second Giants-Eagles matchup is going to be even more important, with both teams (7-6) needing to win to smooth their road to the playoffs. Both control their own postseason hopes. If they win out, they will make the playoffs either as the NFC East winner or a wild card team.

 

Burress will face added pressure this time around. When New York played Philadelphia the first time, the Eagles were burned by Burress and Amani Toomer, who had a career-high 12 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

 

There will be no Toomer this time around. He was lost for the season with a knee injury more than a month ago and backups Tim Carter, David Tyree and Sinorice Moss have not contributed much in his absence.

 

That should allow the Eagles to double-cover Burress, if they want.

 

"You only have to imagine that they are going to have wrinkles," said Burress, who has 54 catches for 787 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns this season. "We just have to wait and see what they are going to dish out to us."

 

In the first game, the Eagles lived and died by the blitz. When they used it in the first half, it confused the Giants. When they ran it in the second half, New York made the right adjustments and made big plays.

 

The game-winning touchdown came with Eagles on a blitz. Burress and cornerback Sheldon Brown were next to each other when Eli Manning's pass came down and the 6-foot-5 receiver used a 7-inch height advantage to grab the ball.

 

"Plaxico made a heck of a play on Sheldon, but Sheldon made some good plays against him, too," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "You're not going to get any corner that is 6-foot-6, as tall as Plaxico is. You've got to put yourself in the right position and still be able to go up and make a play as that big body is leaning on you."

 

Besides Brown and Lito Sheppard, the Eagles can use former Giant William James — he was known as Will Peterson while in New York — against Burress. James is 6 feet tall.

 

"We know each other very well," Burress said. "He knows what I do and I know what he does well. You try not to let him do those things here."

 

Manning said it is possible for opposing defenses to take away a receiver by having two defenders assigned to him. However, he added that creates opportunities for other receivers, and opens up the running game.

 

When told that Burress felt no one could shut him down, Manning laughed.

 

"That's a receiver's mindset," Manning said. "If the receiver lines up in the same position you can do it (take him out). If you move him around and put him in different places, which we do with him, it makes it hard to completely take someone out."

[jerseygiantfan]

Just call him Plax machine

 

Eagles say WR can't be stopped

 

By HANK GOLA

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

Plaxico Burress finds it's better to receive and seeks to keep it going in NFC showdown.

 

 

Eagles' Brian Dawkins (20) celebrates getting to QB, something he'll try to do to Eli Manning.

 

Plaxico Burress doesn't know exactly what to expect from the Eagles on Sunday, but as he approached the NFC showdown, he was sure of one thing.

 

They won't be able to take him out of the game, he said.

 

 

"No," he answered matter of factly. "There are a lot of ways to do everything. I don't see that happening. They would be crazy to think they could do it."

 

 

What's more, said Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, he is right. And Sheppard, who has played some hoops with the Giants wide receiver, doesn't think Plaxico is showing disrespect to the Eagle corners.

 

 

"Naw. It don't," he said after yesterday's practice session in Philly. "Truthfully, it would be crazy considering we haven't been real good against the run. So why would we focus on the receivers if we can't stop the run? Hey, it would be crazy.

 

 

"I agree with what he said. I don't know, I just do."

 

 

The Eagles certainly didn't stop Burress in Week 2 when he capped a second-half rally by soaring over cornerback Sheldon Brown for a 31-yard game-winning touchdown catch in overtime. It was part of a career-high 371-yard performance by Eli Manning, who excelled in leading a hurry-up, spread attack that forced the Eagles' nickel defense onto the field and dared it to blitz.

 

 

Much has changed on both sides since then.

 

 

Amani Toomer, who torched the Eagles for 12 catches, 137 yards and a pair of TDs in that game is on injured reserve, and Burress has become the obvious object of double coverage every week.

 

 

Meanwhile, opponents have been running over the Eagles with such impunity, they have been attacking them less in the air. And secondly, the makeup of the entire secondary has changed.

 

 

Sheppard missed the first game, and Roderick Hood left it with an injury, bringing Joselio Hanson onto the field (against Toomer, mostly) as an inviting target. Strong safety Michael Lewis has also since lost his job to Sean Considine and is now playing in the nickel and dime packages and against two-tight end formations.

 

 

The biggest difference, however, is someone quite familiar to the Giants, even though he is going by a different name these days. William James (nee Will Peterson) was a mainstay in the Giants' defense for most of five seasons before being released with a bad back (and perhaps a worse relationship with Tom Coughlin) in May.

 

 

James signed with the Eagles on Halloween and made his first real impact last week in Washington as the nickel corner, deflecting a pass that Lewis returned 84 yards for a touchdown, the Eagles' fifth interception in the last three games.

 

 

There is speculation in Philly that defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will avoid the size mismatch that cost the Eagles in September and start the 6-foot James against the 6-5 Burress instead of the shorter Brown. Burress not only beat Brown for the game-winner, he also caught a 23-yard pass that turned into a fortuitous Giants TD after Brian Dawkins stripped him and Tim Carter recovered it in the end zone.

 

 

"You have to expect adjustments," Burress said. "We really don't know what they are, so you are not going to find out until you line up against them. When you go out and have success against a particular team, there are certain situations, the way that they play us, especially the blitzing. You only have to imagine that they are going to have wrinkles. We just have to wait and see what they are going to dish out to us."

 

 

Manning, who has been well protected the past two weeks, knows that the Eagles will bring pressure, including "a blitz of the day," especially considering that center Shaun O'Hara is hurting. And that will likely isolate Burress on James for the possibility of big plays. Burress remembers James as a "competitor" and a "pretty good backup" who is also "one of the more aggressive guys in the league." Read that to mean he takes chances.

 

 

"I played against him in practice, not in a game," Burress said of his old teammate. "I probably know more about him than other guys on the team. I only see those guys once or twice a year; I practiced with him every day for almost a year and a half.

 

 

"We know each other very well. He knows what I do and I know what he does well. You try not to let him do those things here."

 

 

James did not react to Burress' boast that he can't be stopped but he did come up with a way of doing it.

 

 

"Six-six is 6-6," he said. "When the ball goes up in the air, (he is) able to have that height advantage. When the ball is in the air, you got to be hungry to go get it.

 

 

"He is going towards the ball, he is aggressive attacking the ball. Corners who are aggressive that go up and get it with him fare better than those who try to play the ball and wait for it to come down."

 

 

So, is Burress unstoppable? Can the Eagles take him out of this game?

 

 

"That's a receiver's mind-set," Manning said. "If the receiver lines up in the same position, you can do it. If you move him around and put him in different places like we do with him, it makes it hard to completely shut him out."

 

 

Or up.

[jerseygiantfan]

Strahan hopes to practice this week

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Associated Press

Posted: 15 hours ago

 

 

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan might play for the New York Giants on Sunday in their crucial game against the New Orleans Saints.

 

Strahan hopes to practice this week for the first time since spraining his right foot against the Houston Texans on Nov. 5. He has missed the last six games, a span that has seen the Giants (7-7) lose five times.

New York can win its last two games and still be out of the playoffs.

 

Strahan did not speak to the media in the Giants locker room on Monday. Earlier in the day, he said in a weekly paid radio spot that his chances of playing were 50-50.

 

Coach Tom Coughlin and Strahan had a long talk before Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles before deciding to give Strahan another week off.

 

"Michael wants to play, he wants to play," Coughlin said Monday, adding that the final decision to rest him was made about four hours before kickoff.

 

Strahan worked in individual drills last week, but he did not practice with the team.

 

"I really believe it was the smart thing," Coughlin said. "He has not practiced. He has not had the pads on and he hasn't been off balance and tried to plant and push.

 

"I want the guy on the field as much as anyone does," Coughlin added. "I think you have to be very smart about this. You have to be sure the medical people are on board and that the player can perform at a high level and be in position where he can be productive and not have to worry that he will re-injure himself."

 

Coughlin said the medical staff wants to see Strahan practice for a week before clearing him to play.

 

"We're trying for it to be this week," Coughlin said.

[jerseygiantfan]

We need help!

 

Giants' playoff fate out of their control

 

BY RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

Tom Coughlin looks perplexed Sunday and is more so yesterday when he learns Giants do not control their destiny.

 

Throughout all the losing and all the turmoil of the last six weeks, the one thing the Giants always seemed to lean on was the idea that their playoff destiny was still in their hands. Keep winning, they said, and they would end up in the playoffs.

As it turns out, that's not true.

 

Much to the surprise of most Giants players, the team uncovered a scenario yesterday in which it can win its final two games - vs. New Orleans Sunday and at Washington Dec. 30 - and still miss the playoffs. It would take four other games to break the right way, but it's not as farfetched as it seems.

 

The organization apparently wasn't aware of that possibility until yesterday morning. And until reporters started asking them about it yesterday afternoon, most players still assumed that with two wins they'd be in.

 

"It's not true anymore?" asked linebacker Brandon Short. "Well, all we can worry about is what we can control, and that's how we play as a team and individually. Whether we control our own destiny or not, that's out of our control."

 

"We controlled our own destiny," added cornerback Sam Madison.

 

"And we screwed it up."

 

Not completely. As Tom Coughlin put it yesterday, the Giants (7-7) "still pretty much have destiny in our own hands." The only way they won't get in with a 9-7 record is if Atlanta beats Carolina on Christmas Eve, Philadelphia defeats Dallas on Christmas Day, and Atlanta beats Philadelphia and Dallas defeats Detroit in Week 17.

 

If that happens, the Cowboys would win the division at 10-6, while the Eagles, Falcons and Giants would be tied at 9-7. The Eagles and Falcons would end up with the two NFC wild-card spots based on the NFL's tiebreaker rules.

 

Coughlin was made aware of that scenario one day after the Giants' 36-22 loss to the Eagles on Sunday, and neither he nor the team would say who discovered the possibility. With eight teams alive in the NFC wild-card chase with two weeks to go, it's easy to see how that mistake could be made even by experts armed with computer programs.

 

In fact, this race is so crazy that the Giants not only could miss the playoffs with a 9-7 record, but they could also make the playoffs even if they go 0-2 and finish 7-9. And while they can't be eliminated over Christmas weekend, they could clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Saints on Sunday if they get the correct results from four of five other games.

 

"What I told the team was this: What's really important to me right now is that we focus on improvement," Coughlin said. "I didn't like the way that we played (Sunday). I don't think it was as good as it could have been."

 

The Giants turned the ball over four times against the Eagles and were only able to run for 88 yards on a team that had been giving up an average of 186.5 over the previous six weeks. Twice they stalled inside the Philly 10-yard line and they hurt themselves again with a couple of key penalties at bad times.

 

With the high-powered Saints (9-5) coming to Giants Stadium on Sunday, winning their last two games won't be a possibility for the Giants if they don't play better than that.

 

Still, even though they've now lost five of six games, they remain a confident team. When Madison was asked if he thought the Giants would reach the playoffs, he said "Yeah, we'll make them." Short said the same thing, though he was careful not to label it a guarantee.

 

"I don't make guarantees," he said. "I'm not Jim Fassel. I'm not putting all my chips in. No way. But I'm confident in my team, even though we don't control our own destiny anymore."

 

Originally published on December 19, 2006

[jerseygiantfan]

Blue bar is lowered

 

Giants' Insider

 

By RALPH VACCHIANO

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

Tom Coughlin has gone from contending for the top seed in the NFC to fighting to keep his job in a matter of weeks.

 

Wellington Mara may have always had high expectations for the Giants, but he also had a minimum standard for success. And every season he was clear about where that standard was set.

 

 

"I always say if you're in contention the last home game of the year," Mara said many times, "you have a successful season in terms of giving the fans what they want."

 

 

The current Giants, then, should be considered a hit, because they're right in the thick of a playoff race as they head into their home finale on Sunday. They have a chance to clinch a playoff berth if they beat the New Orleans Saints and four of five other games break right.

 

 

Still, the question remains, after five losses in six games that spoiled a promising 6-2 start, after four losses in seven games at Giants Stadium, after weeks of back-page drama and turmoil and after the Giants lost control of their own playoff destiny in a mediocre NFC:

 

 

Is this really what Giants fans want?

 

 

That's the big question facing co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch in a few weeks, no matter how this season concludes. Is this mediocrity in a year when the Giants talked openly about the Super Bowl being good enough for them and their paying customers? And if it's not, has it earned Tom Coughlin the right for one more chance?

 

 

Mara was at a memorial service for Lamar Hunt in Kansas City yesterday, and Tisch was out of the country, so neither could be reached for comment. But despite reports that say Coughlin is safe for 2007, some prominent members of the organization have yet to definitively make up their minds. The Giants appear to sincerely want to give Coughlin a contract extension, but his future might hinge on what happens the last two games.

 

 

And let's assume the Giants don't win both of them - a safe assumption considering they haven't won back-to-back games since early November. They can still get in the playoffs at 8-8 or 7-9, and it's always been assumed a second consecutive playoff berth - something the Giants haven't done in 16 years - would be enough to save Coughlin's job.

 

 

But is sneaking into the playoffs at .500 (or worse) a success? Should the Giants and their fans be satisfied with that? And how can the fans possibly be satisfied with what they've witnessed the Giants do in person? They have seen their team beat only Washington, Tampa Bay and Houston at home this season - teams with a combined record of 12-30.

 

 

In the last three home losses, they've watched the Giants get outscored 97-62.

 

 

"You definitely, definitely - and I told our team this - you need to put together an outstanding performance for our fans here at home," Coughlin said.

 

 

And to be fair, this hasn't been 2003 when the end of the Jim Fassel era played out in front of half-empty stadiums, prompting Wellington Mara to call the fans' abandonment "a message that comes loud and clear."

 

 

The fans are hanging with the Giants until the end this time because the Giants - sometimes despite themselves - are hanging in there, too.

 

 

Only John Mara and Steve Tisch know whether that's good enough.

 

 

Attention centers on O'Hara

 

 

The agent for Shaun O'Hara said yesterday that the door is not closed on the center re-signing with the Giants, even though GM Ernie Accorsi has expressed doubt that they'll be able to agree to a contract before O'Hara becomes an unrestricted free agent in March.

 

 

"I don't think you ever close the door," agent Tony Agnone said. "But it's going to take a good offer to get him signed."

 

 

Though Agnone declined to name their asking price, another source said a $3 million per year offer might do the job. Agnone also said he was "really, really surprised" to read the shot Accorsi took at him last week in the Daily News when the GM said "We've lost every player (Agnone) has ever represented, except for (Michael) Strahan." Agnone pointed out that all his former Giants got much more money elsewhere.

 

 

"In each situation the player decided, 'I have to do what I have to do,'" Agnone said. "None of the Giants' offers were even close to what those players eventually got."...RB/KR Derrick Ward was placed on injured reserve with a broken right foot - the same injury that kept him out the first six games of the season. Chad Morton will likely return to his old kickoff return job. RB James Sims came off the practice squad to replace Ward. CB Gerric McPherson (hamstring) was placed on the practice squad injured list. DT Sir Henry Anderson was waived from the practice squad and DB R.J. Cobbs was signed.

 

Strahan to practice today

 

 

Nearly 6-1/2 weeks after spraining his foot, Michael Strahan is planning to participate in his first full-team practice this afternoon.

 

 

The 35-year-old has so far made it through only four days of individual drills and one day (last Friday) of group drills with the rest of the defensive line. Tom Coughlin has made it clear that he wants to see Strahan get through a full week of practice before letting him play in a game, so the real test will come tomorrow when Strahan sees if his foot feels well enough to let him practice two days in a row.

 

 

The clipboard

 

 

Hot seat: The Giants' secondary. The Saints have the best overall offense (400.6 yards per game) and passing offense (296) in the NFL.

 

 

X's and O's: So much for getting rookie WR Sinorice Moss more involved. He had zero catches against the Eagles.

 

 

Whispers: C Shaun O'Hara (ankle) showed improvement last week, but the team is bracing for the likely possibility he'll miss one more game.

[jerseygiantfan]

Strahan practices, Snee out with illness

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Associated Press

Posted: 15 hours ago

 

 

 

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Giants defensive end Michael Strahan practiced for the second straight day Thursday and it's looking more likely the seven-time Pro Bowler will play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

"Michael has done everything, been in every drill (and) is working his way back into his ability to be in the middle with all things," coach Tom Coughlin said. "He's done well."

 

Coughlin refused to speculate how much Strahan would play in his first action since spraining his right foot on Nov. 5 against Houston.

 

"Well, I know one thing," Coughlin said, "his heart is going to be out there with everything he's got. He's been away from it for awhile, but he'll come back fast, I'm sure."

 

Center Shaun O'Hara (ankle) and backup Rich Seubert (leg) both missed practice Thursday. If they can't play, Grey Ruegamer would start at center.

 

Guard Chris Snee was ill and missed practice Thursday, but he is probable for Sunday.

 

Halfback Brandon Jacobs (ankle) missed the team portion of the practice. He practiced Wednesday, but he was a little sore on Thursday, so he sat out, Coughlin said.

[jerseygiantfan]

Strahan set to march in

 

Should return to tackle Saints

 

BY HANK GOLA

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

 

 

 

Barring a setback in today's practice, Michael Strahan will be on the field Sunday trying to wrap up Drew Brees for the holidays.

 

Yesterday was the crucial test for the Giants defensive end and he passed it. Strahan's foot made it through a second day of full-go practice without getting sore, an indication that he'll play against the Saints.

 

"Michael has done everything," a very upbeat Coughlin said. "(He's) been in every drill (and) is working his way back into his ability to be in the middle with all the bullets flying. He's done well."

 

Since those bullets will be coming from Brees, Reggie Bush and the NFL's top-ranked offense, Strahan's activation has a degree of desperation to it. He would probably be rested Sunday had the Giants already secured a playoff berth, but after losing five of the six games Strahan has missed with a sprain, the Giants can't afford not to use him as long as he can play at all.

 

As for how much Strahan will even play or how effective he can be, at this point it's almost as if the Giants are counting as much on an emotional lift as they are on any physical contributions from the All-Pro. And while Strahan stayed mum, other than wishing the assembled media a "Merry Christmas," the most realistic notes of the day were sounded by his teammate, linebacker Antonio Pierce.

 

"I don't think he's going to be able to play a full game. Do you think he's going to be able to play a full game?" Pierce asked. "He's been out so long, we just want Mike to be out there just to help us out. If it's third down … 20 plays … that would be good, kind of like we did with Osi (Umenyiora). If he does come back, that's what I expect. If he plays more, great."

 

Asked about Strahan's possible role, Coughlin said, "I'm not sure yet. I'll wait until the last minute to make that call."

 

And as for what he expects from him, the coach said: "Well, I know one thing. His heart is going to be out there with everything he's got. He's been away from it for awhile, but he'll come back fast, I'm sure."

 

There was no way to tell if the coach's fingers were crossed, but he certainly should have his hands full with this week's opponent. The Saints have the most balanced offense the Giants will face all year. They have the NFC's best quarterback in Brees, and one of football's most elusive runners in Bush. Deuce McAllister is among the league's most underrated backs, and Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown helps to protect Brees, who has been sacked just 17 times.

 

The Saints are quite capable of spreading the Giants out and running on them, as the Eagles did last week, or letting Brees work over an exploitable secondary.

 

"They have a lot of weapons, very explosive from what we've seen," said linebacker Carlos Emmons, who will see a lot of Bush as a receiver. "Just the TV games we've seen like when they played Dallas … if Brees is throwing the ball like that it's hard for anyone to beat them."

 

Even Eli Manning seemed to sound the alarm while talking about "the great possibility that you're going to have to put up numbers."

 

If there is any ray of hope, it's that the Redskins hemmed in Bush last Sunday by swarming to the ball and seemed to confuse Brees by bringing pressure from both edges and up the middle. New Orleans coach Sean Payton said the Redskins didn't do anything out of the ordinary but perhaps the Washington game plan will be somewhat of a blueprint.

 

That's where the Giants hope Strahan will come in, using his bursts of speed to disrupt Brees while freeing up other players to match up against the Saints' other playmakers.

 

He'll be up against right tackle Jon Stinchcomb, a strong but slower-footed player who will force Strahan to use a lot of leverage and power. Strahan will probably not be able to take a full game's pounding, so Mathias Kiwanuka could see as much if not more action.

 

If anything, having Strahan in uniform will be worth a lot of emotion when the game starts. "Just his presence," cornerback Sam Madison said. "He keeps everybody loose on the football field."

 

Added linebacker Brandon Short: "If he's out on the field with one leg he'll have an impact because Michael Strahan at 80% is probably better than 95% of the defensive ends in the NFL. You can't overstate the importance of having somebody like that back."

 

Originally published on December 22, 2006