NFL: The New York Football Giants

2008-11-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

Coach Tom Coughlin is one of the final nominees for Motorola's Coach of the week for week 12! Make sure you vote here! Oh, and happy Thanksgiving!

2008-10-30T06:54:00.001-07:00

Vote on Tuesday! November 4th is the day; get to the polls, man!

2008-10-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Wow! A team cruise sounds awesome! Of course, my girlfriend wants to know if Tynes needs a roommate...

Buyer Beware

2008-07-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

I know this is a Giants blog, but there's not too much happening with them at the moment. So let me complain about gas prices. Actually, I won't even complain about the prices themselves, but about the cash vs. credit thing. Here's an article about it. This article doesn't make it sound quite as bad, but some others have said that lots of gas stations aren't even telling people about the higher price if you pay with a credit card. If it's true, that pisses me off.

I'm as much a capitalist as the next guy. I pay more for organic food. I pay more for toys that aren't made in China. Hell, I even pay New York ticket brokers for premium seats. But I know what I'm paying and why in those cases.

So gas stations, I know you've got to make a living. No problem there. Just please make it clear to us when we're paying a premium!

We won we won we won we won! (Better late than never.)

2008-02-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

Holy $#@!, I have a blog. This was the most wicked season ever, and I think the rush must have affected my brain because I didn't blog a thing!

But I was watching, oh MAN was I watching, and University of Phoenix Stadium is now my favorite stadium EVER. After Giants Stadium, of course.

2007 World Champion New York Giants. That feels so good.

Preseason hopes

2007-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Training camp is coming up quick, and a lot of questions are in the air. We know Coughlin will coach and Manning will throw, but most everything else is undecided as of yet. What will the line-up look like come September 7th? The Cowboys will be our first test, no matter what your feelings on the decisions made.

Draft Day 5K a success

2007-05-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

On the morning of the NFL Draft, 1200 runners competed to benefit local charities. The Giants Foundation will take the proceeds and distribute them among organizations in the metro area. The race included free entry into the Giants Draft Party for runners.

Coughlin's Coffin

2007-03-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Seems like Coughlin days are numbered with the Giants. The Giants have been hemorrhaging key players throughout Coughlin's 3 seasons with the Giants. Not sure what his NFL coaching prospects are but it's likely that Coughlin will be nailing his own coffin if something dramatic doesn't happen in the 2007 season.

2007-01-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

What is going on with Michael Strahan? The New York Giants' defensive end has been ordered to pay his ex-wife over $15 million dollars, so why was he at her house arguing over it?

Giants Stumble Against Eagles

2006-12-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

The New York Giants are finding their once bright playoff hopes a little bit dimmer today after their loss against division rival Philadelphia Eagles, 36-22. The Giants defense allowed 22 points in the 4th quarter against an Eagles offense that was supposed to be dead and gone with the torn ACL of Donovan McNabb. But the surprising play of Jeff Garcia has the Eagles in the driver's seat for the wild card. The Giants have a tough game next weekend against the New Orleans Saints who is coming off of a disappointing loss to the Washington Redskins.

Much Needed Win for NY

2006-12-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

The New York Giants got a much needed win yesterday against the Carolina Panthers, 27-13. Stopping their 4 game losing streak the Giants are still in it, and in fact hold one of the wild card spots right now. As it stands right now, 3 of the 4 teams in the NFC East would make the playoffs, showing that this division top to bottom is the toughest in the NFC. Next week the Giants face the resurging Philadelphia Eagles for a key divisional clash.

What is going on with the New York Giants

2006-12-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

Last 3 Games have been lost.

Quarterback suffering from lack of confidence.

Coach seems on the verge of a meltdown.

Lets hope things turn around... QUICK

Mostly Too Painful to Talk About

2006-11-14T17:14:00.000-08:00

Our first half against the Chicago Bears was not spectacular, but we had things well in hand, until they passed for a TD just under a minute before halftime. Still, the Giants were up 13-10.

The second half was another story. Did the defense forget to come back out of the locker room? Most painful of all was the Bears' Devin Hester, cool as a cucumber, grabbing the Giants’ field goal that fell short (and which would have set the score at 24-23, I believe) Hester just hangs out there while our guys head off the field, and then he runs 108 yards for a touchdown. That run tied a record the Bears’ Nathan Vasher set last year—doing the same dang thing to the San Francisco 49ers.

Only thing consoling me just now is that we are still at the top of the heap in the NFC East.

What John Madden Said About the Giants

2006-10-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Scott Fowler, who writes about the Carolina Panthers, published an interview he had with John Madden the other day. Most of it was, predictably, about the Panthers, and also about the team they're playing next, the Dallas Cowboys. But Madden happened to remark that he thought "the best two teams in the NFC right now are Chicago and the New York Giants."

I'm not going to argue with John Madden.

Big Names in Baseball

2006-10-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

I was just looking at the web comments on the MLB playoffs and I was struck by a photo of one of the Oakland A's (hanging in the playoffs by the tips of their fingernails at this very moment), or rather by the caption under it. Talking about the previous game they had lost to the Detroit Tigers, it said "Milton Bradley said it best: 'It was all Kenny Rogers.'"

What hit me was that I don't really know those players but I would definitely recognize their names--on other people. Kenny "The Gambler" Rogers is a famous singer, and Milton Bradley...well maybe that's not a person, but the name is the board-game company, right. But those names have been well known long enough--what were their parents thinking? I think people should at least start out with their own name to go through life with.

How Did the NY Giants Spend Their Bye Week?

2006-10-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

I hope the Giants have been practicing a lot, including the fine art of letting bygones be bygone. When I read some of the comments going back and forth right after our, uh, not-too-successful (as in 42-30) encounter with the Seattle Seahawks, I was getting the impression that our favorite game of both coach and many players was not football but blame.

Actually, I shouldn’t use that term, because it is tiresome the way “blame game” gets tossed out to block constructive criticism. We all need to be open to practical ideas for improvement, including the members of the team that’s at the bottom of the NFL heap as regards pass defense. Happily, Will Demps had some encouraging comments, and they centered on strengthening communication, building trust, and of all things, having fun. The NFC East is the toughest division, and the Giants have a rough schedule. But we can have a great season if we can act as a team and have some fun.

New York Giants Restructure Defense

2006-06-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Giants' passing game and running game are highly rated, with the amazing Tiki Barber factoring into the fun of watching either way. But it's no secret that defense needed some attention. Seven out of this year's first eight free agents and five of seven draftees are defensive players. I will be interested to see how LaVar Arrington does for us, and one game I really want tickets for is on October 8th when his former Washington Redskin teammates come to town.

I’m going to see Tool at City Center no matter what!

2006-05-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

The band Tool is doing a mini tour playing at a few small venues in a few choice cities and I am dying to get tickets. I don’t even recognize the names of some of the places they are playing so these have got to be small venues and it looks like they have all sold out. This may be the precursor to a big stadium tour but I am not taking any chances. I am going to get my Tool tickets before this night is over!

It’s going to be our year.

2006-04-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Jeff Feagles, punter for the New York Giants, has decided to stay on another year. It was rumored that he was going to retire this year but it appears that is not the case. He is one of the best and I am glad to see him returning for 2006.

Put me in Coach, I’m ready!

2006-03-27T18:02:00.000-08:00

Eli Manning and Peyton Manning will meet on the field for the first time ever, to open the 2006 season. It is hard to believe that these two haven’t played each other in the NFL but it’s true. I think the meeting would be all the sweeter if one of the brothers was on defense and could sack the other. That would be funny.

Giants Fan Vacations in New Mexico

2006-02-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Now that football season is over I got to get out of town for a while. We went to Taos, New Mexico and up into the Rocky Mountains at Angelfire. I love it up there because the cold air is so dry. It could be 30 degrees outside and people are wearing shorts. Not like here in New York where the wet cold gets in under your coat and chills your toes. If you ever get the chance, visit New Mexico for slow easy living and clean mountain air.

Barber Gives Back to Our Military

2006-02-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

Tiki Barber is not just a famous football player but he is a good man too. While preparing for the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, Tiki Barber was doing something to show his support for our men and women of the armed forces. On an invitation from Captain Rob Wolfe, Tiki went on an early morning PT run with one hundred and fifteen men of the 2nd Battallion based in Hawaii.

Giants Should Be Proud. I am.

2006-01-21T21:53:00.000-08:00

My heart is still a little heavy when I think about poor Eli Manning and the New York Giants. I know the pressure of competing for the Super Bowl would be too much for me, so I hope he doesn’t beat himself up about losing. All the New York Giants should be proud they had a great season and made it to the playoffs.

Manning Vows to Improve Next Season

2006-01-14T17:10:00.000-08:00

Eli Manning has said this week that he feels he will get better in 2006. He wants to assure the fans that he is going to work on his game and leadership skills. Eli says he is going to try to be the man that can get the win when things aren’t going our way. I don’t think he should be beating himself over up the Carolina game. He made mistakes but I don’t know anyone who could perform well under all that pressure. Just to get to the playoffs is a grand achievement and he took us there. Manning is the heart and soul of this team and I could never resent him for playing his worst game against the Panthers.

Giant Pride and Some Great Stats

2006-01-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

The Giants season has been full of record breaking plays and stats. Tiki Barber was a big contributor because he became the only player in NFL history to get 500 receiving yards and 1,800 rushing yards in a single season. Barber is second in NFL history for overall yards with 2,390.The Giants first playoff game sold out of tickets in 11 minutes. Are you proud of your team? Our total for points in a season is the second best in Giants history at 422. The Giant offense was ranked higher than it has been since 1972 at fourth in the league in 2006. I am very proud of this team and the effort they put into winning this season

Giants Need Oakland to Lose

2005-12-29T15:50:00.000-08:00

Our loss to the Redskins came at the wrong time for us. We have to win this next game against the Oakland Raiders to clinch the NFC East title. The Raiders haven’t played the Giants since 1998 and they have lost five consecutive games so our chances at the title look really good. We are lucky we had a loss to give and are not in dire straits now because of it. Eli Manning has a good chance of having a great game as the Raiders pass rush has been ineffective for some time. Kerry Collins is facing his old team and is treating this game as very important because he would like to end this 4-11 season on a positive note.

Pro Bowl and Return of the Redskins

2005-12-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

The Pro Bowl elects were announced and the New York Giants will be sending a record six players to the all-star game. This comes as no surprise with the talent we have seen on this team this year. The honorees are Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and David Tyree. We beat the Chiefs on Saturday, extending our winning streak to thee games and this is just the way I saw the Giants moving into the playoffs. We face the Redskins and then the Raiders and I have high hopes for the playoffs. This team will have no problem beating the Redskins again after shutting them out early in the season.

Feely Makes a Giants Better Team

2005-12-15T16:44:00.000-08:00

Our Giants kicker Jay Feely may have missed three field goals in Seattle but he remains the highest scoring and best kicker in the NFL. He has a whopping 119 points for his career and the best statistical rating for a kicker in the NFL. Feely made up for Seattle in the game against the Cowboys and has made his mark in many other games this season. Kickers have the more riding on each individual play than any other position on the team, and Jay Feely performs well under pressure a majority of the time. Feely has enhanced the score of quite a few games this season and we hope to see him in the same place next season.

Barber Beats Cowboys Inch by Inch

2005-12-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Giants played like a team possessed by victory against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. The Cowboys couldn’t convert on downs and they had more punts plays than first downs it seemed. The New York Giants fought well and totally stopped the Dallas running game. We also stopped their passing game. We clenched the conference with an iron fist and proved we are the better team against a formidable opponent. Tiki Barber was the star of the game with 30 carries and 115 yards. Eli Manning only completed 12 of his 31 passes so Barbers contribution was desperately needed.

Shhhh! We’re Playing Football.

2005-12-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

The New York Giants fell hard in an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It was like many of the close match ups we have seen this season. I wish I knew exactly how many games had gone into overtime this season, but I know it’s a lot. If we let the Cowboys get that close we very well may lose. So we need the fans to play their 12th man role and fill the stadium with Giants chants and raucous noise to keep the Cowboys offense on their toes. It worked well in Seattle and really affected our ability to call plays on the field.

Eagles Lose in Giants’ Nest

2005-11-22T16:48:00.000-08:00

The New York Giants stomped the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday 27-17. We had lost four games in a row to the Eagles and finally pulled out of the slump and showed no fear in the face of a fierce rival. This game also was our 600th franchise victory and only two other teams have reached that many wins. Our defense actually allowed a touchdown for the first time in a long time and got no sacks for the game which is another impressive stat. The most impressive thing of all was that the Giants had no turnovers for the entire game. The New York Giants are a well oiled machine and are ready for the match up against the Seahawks next week.

Giants to Host Eagles

2005-11-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

The New York Giants are ignoring the Philadelphia Eagles apparent weakened state. They are acting as if the Eagles are their old selves and preparing for an intense battle this Sunday. Donovan McNabb may be hurt but he still led a great offense against the Cowboys who scraped together a win in the final minutes of the game. New York is determined not to underestimate this Eagles defense. We will be prepared for the cold nasty weather at Giants Stadium and are looking for a win over the Eagles this week. Eli Manning has led us to nine wins this season. Let’s hope for ten as the Giants prepare for the team who has won four NFC East titles in a row.

Ask Nicely

2005-06-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

In his first season Shockey set the stage for a new breed of tight ends. He was aggressive and punished tacklers left and right. It came to a point were teams would adjust just for him. In this last season Shockey still put up decent numbers but they were nothing compared to his first season.

So recently he as been complaining he wants the ball more. Well, ask and you shall receive.

''He wants it so bad, we just have to make sure we're doing everything we can offensively to help him.'' - offensive coordinator John Hufnagel

The coaches seem to agree and if Shockey does become a target more on a regular basis I am sure, young gun, Eli Manning will surely appreciate that.

He is Back

2005-06-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

Good news today in Giant land, Strahan is back!! Strahan had suffered a torn pectoral muscle it what most considered a freak accident. It was Strahan's first major surgery and he recovered very well as he was given permission to practice again with no limitations at all. Glad to have him back though.

Tough Love

2005-05-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am sure everyone knows the way head coach Tom Coughlin works. To say he is a disciplinarian would be an understatement. It is nothing but tough love from this coach, but word around the block is that he has loosened up a bit. Now when I say bit I mean a very, very small increment. Regardless though, it allows players to have more of a comfort zone with their head coach, which always a positive thing for any team.

'It is not a Toomer'

2005-05-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

The 2004 season was not to kind to Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer. Toomer but up horrible stats then hurt his hamstring right when Kurt Warner was dethroned by young buck Eli Manning.

Well now Toomer will get to put his hamstring to the test. This is the first time that Toomer will get to test it out at full speed. Hopefully all goes well and Toomer can rebound this year.

The New Guy

2005-05-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

With the presence of tight end Heath Miller, the Steelers No. 1 pick of the 2005 NFL Draft, there should defiantly be some benefits added to the play of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

This is because Miller will present match up problems for a defense. He is too quick and evasive to be covered by a linebacker and too big and strong for a safety. This makes him the equivalent of a Tony Gonzales or a Jeremy Shockey, giving Roethlisberger a go to target over the middle where the zone coverage is usually soft.

QB Shuffle

2005-05-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

From Foxsports.com

The ever-evolving backup quarterback situation took more twists as the team acquired Tim Hasselbeck off waivers and reached an injury settlement with Jim Miller, who had hip surgery in April.

The moves set up a training camp battle for the No. 2 job behind Eli Manning between Hasselbeck, 27, and Jesse Palmer, 26.

The two are six months apart in age and have about the same level of experience, which is not much. Palmer might have a leg up because of his strong arm, familiarity with the system, comfort level with the coaches and close friendship with Manning.

But coach Tom Coughlin likes Hasselbeck's spunk and knows his family well, having recruited and coached his older brother, Matt, at Boston College.

Jared Lorenzen figures to be the fourth passer in camp and if he performs well could earn a spot on the practice squad.

The Next Generationi

2005-05-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

CB Corey Webster, the second-round draft pick, looked agile and quick as he covered fellow rookies under the tough wind conditions. He even had a couple of picks. The team loves his ability to go up and get the ball as a converted receiver.

Making it Count

2005-04-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

from Foxsports.com

The team filled its top two positional needs with CB Corey Webster and DE Justin Tuck. Both will have a chance to play regularly at positions where there is no established depth. Webster offers a nice blend of size and speed; perhaps most important, he also has a feel for making interceptions. Starting CBs Will Peterson and Will Allen have not created many turnovers; Allen in particular has dropped several potential picks. Tuck, Notre Dame's career leader in sacks, has nice quickness and good inside moves. The most urgent need on offense was a young backup to RB Tiki Barber, preferably one who could aid an anemic short-yardage game. Brandon Jacobs (6-4, 267) could fill that need.

A Draft Wishper

2005-04-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

from Foxsports.com

Because it made the trade for QB Eli Manning in 2004, the team will be without a first-round pick for the first time in 12 years and will have only four choices overall. There is little chance of a trade up into the first round, but a trade down to get more picks is a possibility if there are interested partners.

The Come Back

2005-04-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

One would have to believe that the return DE Michael Strahan is very important to the New York Football Giants. As it is the defensive end spot is thin with Umeyiora hurt as well.

Strahan who is now 33 and entering his 13th NFL season is in the public eye with his divorce on top of battling his first major injury since his rookie year. His team has complete faith in his come back for the 2005 season.

Strahan had to undergo surgery in November to repair his torn chest muscle, and now it is believed to be almost a full recovery. So come training camp expect Strahan to be locked and loaded with out any restrictions holding him back.

A strong Trio

2005-03-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

The signing of WR Plaxico Burress completed arguably the most stellar free agent class in the league and should produce a passing game with tricky matchups for opposing secondaries.

Starting WRs Burress and Amani Toomer, are 6-5 and 6-3, respectively. TE Jeremy Shockey, the other main receiving threat, is 6-5.

That will make it tough for opponents to get by with undersized defensive backs, especially in the red zone.

Burress has been inconsistent in holding onto the ball and did not have many yards after the catch last season.But he knows how to use his height to his advantage on high balls and he might thrive in a more pass-oriented offense than the one Bill Cowher used in Pittsburgh. . . .

Action Plan

2005-02-27T12:05:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

The top targets in free agency are offensive tackle and wide receiver. It is difficult to assess the tackle market until the franchise tag and re-signing dust settles. Orlando Pace and Walter Jones already are off the market, so the top choices remaining would include Jonas Jennings, Kareem McKenzie and perhaps Ryan Diem. Luke Petitgout has proven himself at left tackle in the past, but he is coming off a tough year and might be forced back to the right if the team lands a big name who can play the left side. A player such as McKenzie might be appealing because he can play both tackle positions. At least that is the theory. He played the right side for the Jets. . . .

At receiver, Amani Toomer is coming off a frustrating, injury-marred year and could use a young, fast, big wideout to complement both him and Shockey. It is not known how much the team is willing to spend for a player like that, but the early list of candidates worth looking at includes Plaxico Burress, Jerry Porter and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Porter would be a great fit, but there will be plenty of competition for his services. . . .

With DT Corey Simon franchised, it is not clear whether the team will look to tackle or linebacker as its top priority on defense. If the team pays big for offensive help it might be content to add lower priced veterans on defense and bolster that unit in the draft. One certainty in this offseason is there will be fewer veteran signings overall. Last year the team signed waves of reasonably priced free agents to add depth to a rebuilt roster, but with a core in place and key players under contract, the focus this year likely will be more on quality than quantity.

A tight Issue

2005-02-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

We all know that Jeremy Shockey is a huge presence on the field for the New York Football Giants. We all know that Shockey has great hands to catch the ball, along with his vision and route running ability. Although people tend to forget that Shockey is an all purposed tight end, and look past the fact he can block.

Head coach Tom Coughlin kept him in the blocking scheme more of this past season, doing that the Giants cancel out an important weapon on offense.I would recommend finding another tight end that can block to let Shockey be more involved with the offense, especially in the end zone.

Prove It

2005-02-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

Veteran wide receiver Amana Toomer has seen better days, and finished the season very uncharacteristic, with numbers that are low for him.

What is the reason behind it all?

Maybe it is because he is getting older now that he will be playing in his 30’s or was it because of his hamstring injury that seemed to be cumbersome to him throughout the season, or just maybe it was because of a rookie quarterback.

Hopefully Toomer will keep himself healthy enough for next season. I know that Toomer will still have the big play ability, but regardless, look for the Giants to add youth and speed to their wide receiver cops either through the draft or free agency.

In the Trenches

2005-01-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

How does one build a team?

Some would go get a quarterback, some would pursue a running back, others a line-backer or a go to receiver. Personally I feel it starts with the line. If you can get five guys together that work as one unit, whether it is on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, you can easily build from there.

Well to bad for the Giants, who went the path of the quarterback? In doing so, there Giants had another rough year for the o-line. It is apparent there is room for improvement and for a deeper talent pool. With the exceptions of second-round pick in ’04, Chris Snee and C Shaun O’Hara, the Giants need to put some attention to the protection around their golden boy Eli Manning.

Free Agent Buzz

2005-01-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

With no first-round pick and more cap room than usual, the team must focus on free agency to improve. The top target is offensive tackle, preferably one who can anchor the left side. Jones and Pace are the big names, but it not clear either will be available. If so they will be wildly expensive. The team wants a big-play receiver. Plaxico Burress and Jerry Porter would be nice additions but both could be headed elsewhere. T.J. Houshmandzadeh deserves consideration. The other goal is to bolster the middle of the linebacking corps and/or defensive line. MLB Kevin Lewis filled in better than many expected but the team would love a more dynamic playmaker at that spot.

A Happy Ending for Now

2005-01-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

The season came to an end this past Sunday for the The New York Football Gaints. Eli started showing signs of life. Tiki is going to the pro-bowl and Tom Coughlin seems to pleased with the season finale win over the Cowboys.

Now it is all about putting 2 and 2 together. It seems the pieces are in place for a young talented team to emerge next year. If all goes well, and Coughlin sticks it out and keeps pushing. I think next season will be a different story.

Eli still will not be at the top of his game, but he has a great supporting cast to help on his way. Keep the heads up high.

FYI
Barber set a single-season rushing records with 1,518 yards for the Giants

Barber increased his career rushing total to 6,927 yards for the Gaints

Barber finished the season with an NFL-best 2,096 yards from scrimmage

Barber also set a new Gaints record with the 2,096 yards from scrimmage

Warner to be Missed?

2004-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

“I want to be somewhere starting next year. They know it’s not here with the New York Giants. And they understand my point of view 100 percent.” - Kurt Warner

These where the words from Kurt Warner. It is apparent he wont be with the Gaints next season. Since Eli is the quaterback of the future.

Thought the Gaints had a winning record with Warner. Warner was the bad. He still ranks number 7 in the NFC.

Eli on the other still has a little more time to grow. To bad Warner's inpatince well have him leaving. Eli will be great to watch some day. And Warner has front row seats to this Eli's career.

It is not like Warner can't help the guy out some.

Eli vs. Ben

2004-12-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

BY AP, from ESPN.com

The main thing separating Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning on Saturday was the Pittsburgh Steelers' rookie quarterback made his biggest plays with the game on the line.

Roethlisberger threw for a season-high 316 yards and hit four straight passes to set up Jerome Bettis' game-winning 1-yard run with 4:57 to go, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 33-30 win over the New York Giants.

"I am amazed, but he is an awesome quarterback," receiver Antwaan Randle said after Roethlisberger led the Steelers (13-1) to a team-record 12th straight win and handed the Giants (5-9) a seventh straight loss.

"He might have a long way to go, but he has this great poise," said Randle El, who caught five passes for 149 yards and a TD and also threw his first career TD. "You can have all the ability in the world but if you don't have to the poise to do it, it won't happen."

Roethlisberger, who has not lost in 25 straight college and pro starts, showed his poise in moving the Steelers from their 33 to the New York 8 after a Tiki Barber 1-yard run had given New York a 30-26 lead.

"He has been making good decisions with games on the line," coach Bill Cowher said of the 11th pick in the NFL draft. "In the fourth quarter, he has a feel for the game and an understanding of the game and he manages it well."

Until Saturday, Manning has struggled in losing his first four starts. The No. 1 pick in the draft was horrible in his last two games and seemingly had lost his confidence.

Using a game plan filled with plays he liked, Manning found himself against the NFL's top-ranked defense. He threw two touchdown passes and set up Barber's go-ahead touchdown with three completions of 15 yards or more.

"I had fun because we were getting some stuff done," said Manning, who completed 16 of 23 for 182 yards. "We were making plays, running the ball, the line was protecting, receivers were making catching. We got in a rhythm and it was back to playing football again. It was a good feeling."

Roethlisberger hit five passes of 34 or more yards in a much-hyped matchup with Manning, who only had one over 20 yards.

The two talked before the game and they congratulated each other after it was over.

"I don't ever want to remember what it is like to lose," said Roethlisberger, who also threw two interceptions.

Randle El caught a 35-yard touchdown pass and threw a 10-yard shovel pass to Verron Haynes for a touchdown. Jeff Reed kicked four field goals, Hines Ward had nine catches for 134 yards despite finishing the game with a hip pointer and Bettis ran for 140 yards for the Steelers.

Manning threw touchdown passes of 2 yards to Jeremy Shockey and 1 yard to Marcellus Rivers. He also hit Amani Toomer with two 17-yard passes and he added a 15-yarder to Ike Hilliard to set up Barber's go-ahead TD run.

Manning was sacked on a 2-point conversion attempt.

Roethlisberger then sandwiched passes of 9 and 11 yards to Ward around a dump off to Bettis before hitting Randle El for 36 yards to the Giants 8. Three straight runs by Bettis got the ball in the end zone.

Willie Williams picked off a deep throw to a tripped Toomer on the next series and the Steelers ran out the clock.

Giants receiver Willie Ponder took the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score. It was the Giants' first game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown in a regular-season home game in their 80-year history.

The Steelers used trickery to tie the game with Randle El making the shovel pass after taking a lateral from Roethlisberger.

Manning, who had led the Giants to only one touchdown in 45 possessions since replacing Kurt Warner at quarterback, hit Shockey for a TD on the next series.

Manning gave New York a 24-23 lead with his TD pass to Rivers.

Reed put Pittsburgh ahead 26-24 with is 28-yarder early in the fourth quarter.

A Giant Dilemma

2004-12-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

Is the Giants’ offense having trouble scoring because Eli Manning is struggling, or are Manning’s problems the result of an offense that offers him little help?

Coach Tom Coughlin didn’t provide an answer in a conference call today, but acknowledged the Giants need better play from the quarterback and those around him as they enter the final three weeks of the season.

Manning and his mates both had forgettable games in the Giants’ 37-14 loss to the Ravens Sunday in Baltimore. The rookie quarterback completed only four of 18 passes for 27 yards, did not lead the Giants to the end zone and finished with a rating of 0.0. The offense put its only points on the board with 3:25 remaining, after Kurt Warner had replaced Manning and the outcome had long since been decided.

The Giants lost their sixth consecutive game, the last four with Manning as the starting quarterback. Manning has taken the snaps for 46 offensive possessions and has the led the Giants to one touchdown. He has one scoring pass and six interceptions. As a team, the Giants have scored 37 points in four games, including one touchdown apiece on defense and special teams.

So who do you blame first, the quarterback or everyone on the offense?

“I think it’s hard for us right now to find a whole lot of positives on the offensive side,” Coughlin said. “It really was a situation (in Baltimore) where we needed the players around him to play at a higher level to help him so that he doesn’t have to be in the middle of making of every play or a high percentage of every play. Obviously, that’s not the case. But it has to start. The quarterback has to make plays, there’s no doubt about that either.”

When Manning left the game midway through the fourth quarter, the Giants had 58 yards of total offense. Immediately after the game, Coughlin announced to the team and then to the media that Manning will remain the starting quarterback. As a reward, Manning will face Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Steelers have won 11 games in a row and have the NFL’s top-ranked defense.

To some, it seems like a good week to give Manning a break and let Warner, the veteran, stabilize the situation. But Coughlin does not believe Manning should watch for a week.

“I don’t think that’s the answer,” he said. “I think you have to compete and look at the defenses we’ve played over the last few weeks, and that’s just part of the deal. I can’t make it any easier for you. It is what it is. You are playing against the best in football without a doubt and it’s week-in and week-out. And, of course, it doesn’t get any easier this week. I don’t know that that’s the answer. I will say that we have got to take better care of the football (after turning it over six times in Baltimore). I’m not going to sit here and stand for that now. That’s not even giving us a chance to win when we turn it over like that.”

The Giants players remain supportive of Manning. Coughlin was adamant that he does not have to “sell” Manning to the team after four disappointing weeks.

“We had a discussion in the locker room following the game yesterday and I think the players are in agreement with it,” Coughlin said. “I told them exactly that it was my responsibility, I made the decision. I said that Kurt played an outstanding game when he came off the bench, but Eli remains the starter. Eli’s got to go out and do what I believe what he told you after the game, to make plays so his teammates realize that he can win the game for them.”

While conceding that Manning played poorly against the Ravens, Coughlin believes one or two successful big plays could get the quarterback and the offense headed in the right direction.

“I look at it trying to be as positive as I can. You’ve a young guy who has faced a series of defenses, particularly on third down, which he had worked well against during practice,” Coughlin said. “Obviously, practices are not the same speed as you find on Sunday. He worked against them well during the week. He threw the ball at the right spot and he had momentum going into the game. Those things were on schedule. He didn’t get off to a good start in the game, didn’t make some plays early on.

“I thought the way in which the game started for us with the fumble on the kickoff and the fumble on the next series didn’t help him or anyone on the offensive side. Then to finish that up with an under thrown interception in which (Amani) Toomer had a step on (Gary) Baxter wasn’t a positive either. I just think that like anybody else, if something good would happen for Eli and the offensive team, I think they would feel a lot better about themselves.”

But opposing defense are making that very difficult by using all kinds of exotic blitzes and coverages to confound Manning.

“What they’re trying to do obviously is confuse the look that he has,” Coughlin said. “It’s causing him to pause at the line of scrimmage, which really is affecting the offense, because we seem to be over the ball for such a long amount of time. We just have to make a determination and go. They’re moving around, so obviously you just have to make a call and stick with it. They’re doing that for the obvious reason, to try and confuse the young player when in the long run there are some keys where they are either going to bring the predetermined number of people or come in a fashion that’s relatively familiar to him. I thought we had a pretty good workable scheme for either their four-down or three-down fronts in the sub-package and the third-down package in the game when we went in. I think that pretty much held up except they did cause some new and different alignments.”

Coughlin knows a rookie quarterback is going to make some mental mistakes. But he doesn’t want to see Manning falter in the physical aspect of his game, or start using bad mechanics.

“I think when he tries to hurry the ball his mechanics aren’t the way they should be,” Coughlin said. “I think there were two or three tipped balls early in the game where he was trying to sidearm the ball in between defensive linemen, for example, that I’d rather he didn’t do that or release it at the high point. But during the course of the game, sometimes you have to do things. I’m always concerned with fundamentals and we’ll continue to work on that.”

Perhaps in the next three weeks, the Giants will reap a reward from that hard work.

Giants Fall to Eagles, 27-6

2004-11-29T11:27:00.000-08:00

By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

Four was the Giants’ unlucky number on Sunday.

Their 27-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was their a) fourth in a row overall, b) fourth consecutive at home, and c) fourth straight to the Eagles. The defeat dropped the Giants to 5-6 with road games at Washington and Baltimore the next two weeks.

The Eagles improved to 10-1 and clinched their – what else? – fourth consecutive NFC East title.

The 21-point margin of defeat was the Giants’ largest in a home game since a 50-21 loss to the Redskins on Sept. 19, 1999.

The Giants trailed at halftime, 7-6, but surrendered 20 unanswered points in the second half, including 13 in the third period. Eli Manning completed just six passes, threw two costly interceptions and fumbled a ball that the Giants recovered. The Giants had a punt blocked and finished with a season-low 12 first downs.

“Not a lot of positives today,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “We weren’t as physical as I expected us to be. We didn’t tackle well. We didn’t block the line of scrimmage as well. Why the second half wasn’t more effective in terms of just our protections and our tackling…even at 20-6, anything can happen in a game. You get a touchdown, you come back and score anything can happen, but it wasn’t to be and the game deteriorated from there, so there not a lot of positive comments about the way we played today.”

“It’s been an M.O. for us, unfortunately, all season,” said Tiki Barber, who rushed for 110 yards despite suffering a laceration in his knee that required stitches. “We’re putting together half games. We’re good in one half or the other but not all the way through. I think we did well in the first half, but in the second half we were misfiring in a lot of different areas and in a lot of different parts of our team. Special teams, with the blocked punt, and the interception that gave them field position. It’s hard to win when you play that way.”

Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook scored touchdowns on short runs and hooked up for a 34-yard scoring pass and David Akers kicked a pair of field goals for Philadelphia, which improved to 10-1 and clinched its fourth consecutive NFC East title. The Eagles are just the third team since the 16-game schedule was introduced in 1978 to secure a division championship after 11 games.

The Giants, who wore red jerseys for the first time since 1953, failed to score a touchdown and got only two first-half field goals from Steve Christie. They have scored only 30 points in three games.

“We played bad today,” said linebacker Carlos Emmons. “If we keep playing like this, we are going to keep losing. They didn’t do anything we didn’t expect. They just executed the plays better than we did. We have a lot of games left, guys just have to step up. We are going to see who this means something to. It is time for us to step up now.”

Manning, making his second start, completed only six of 21 passes for 148 yards, including strikes of 50 and 52 yards to fellow rookie Jamaar Taylor.

“It wasn’t a good performance,” Coughlin said. “The two interceptions, one with the possibility of scoring some points, and the other one (set up Philly points)…they were definitely setbacks. Now is he responsible for the incompletions? A lot of them he is fighting for his life and throwing the ball away, so I wouldn’t comment on that until I see the tape. But I didn’t think the protection was very good and I didn’t think we reacted very well to their pressure.”

“I have to play better than I did today,” Manning said. “It’s just a matter of I have to make plays and I can’t mistakes. I can’t turn the ball over. Even the first drive that we had in the game, we drove down the field and on a curl, Amani (Toomer) was open and the ball slipped out of my hand and it kills the drive when you do those things. I have to stop making mistakes and be better prepared and play smarter football.”

The Eagles seized control of the game with 13 unanswered points in the third period – aided by an interception and a blocked punt – to increase their lead to 20-6. Akers kicked two field goals just 2:31 apart – from 47 and 42 yards – and Westbrook scored a touchdown.

The surge began after the second-half kickoff, when Philly moved 53 yards in nine plays to set up Akers’ first field goal. On the first play of the half, from the Eagles’ 18-yard line, Westbrook ran for 10 yards. Philly then advanced 15 yards further when Will Allen was penalized for unnecessary roughness after he threw Westbrook down out-of-bounds.

“That was not a smart play,” Coughlin said. “That’s not a smart play and that’s what I’m talking about. (Philadelphia started at its) 18 and then we have run and then we have a penalty on top of the run, not smart. You have to learn how to play and how to control yourself and maintain poise and that wasn’t the case.”

The longest play on the drive was a 24-yard pass to Terrell Owens that moved the ball to the Giants’ 23-yard line. The drive then stalled, as Lance Legree tackled Westbrook for a three-yard loss and McNabb was penalized for an illegal forward pass. Akers then kicked his 47-yard field goal.

On the second play of the Giants’ subsequent possession, Manning overthrew Toomer on the left side and the ball was intercepted by safety Brian Dawkins at the Giants’ 47-yard line. A 20-yard pass to L.J. Smith helped the Eagles move the ball to the 24 before Akers came on to kick his second field goal.

“I saw man-to-man and I was trying to throw a ball where Amani could go and get it and maybe adjust and get the ball,” Toomer said. “I didn’t see the safety running over. It was a stupid throw and a bad decision on my part.”

The Giants’ next possession also ended poorly. After Manning was sacked for an eight-yard loss by Corey Simon and Darwin Walker, Jeff Feagles came on to punt. His kick was blocked by Jevon Kearse – who had also applied pressure on the previous play – and recovered by Hugh Douglas on the Giants’ 28-yard line.

“One of the worst parts of the day was the blocked punt,” Coughlin said. “We just got overrun on the blocked punt by Kearse and that’s something that we had not done, hadn’t really had a whole lot of issues with that.”

Philadelphia covered the 28 yards in seven plays, including McNabb passes of 10 yards to Owens and 11 to Westbrook. A seven-yard pass to Owens gave the Eagles a first down at the Giants’ five. Former Giant Dorsey Levens picked up four yards before Westbrook scored the touchdown on a run up the middle.

Westbrook scored again when he caught a screen pass from McNabb and weaved his way through the Giants defense for a 34-yard score with 9:52 remaining in the fourth period. That completed a nine-play, 82-yard drive and increased Philly’s lead to three touchdowns.

The Giants trailed at halftime, 7-6, thanks to Christie’s second field goal, a 31-yarder with 9:08 remaining in the second period.

Following an Eagles punt, the Giants took possession at the Philadelphia 46-yard line. Manning immediately threw a 26-yard pass down the middle to Shockey. Tiki Barber gained three yards, but Manning was then sacked for a 12-yard loss by blitzing linebacker Mark Simoneau, who shot through the line untouched. That pushed the ball back to the 29. Barber gained 14 yards on a run to the left side before Christie was summoned.

Philadelphia took a 7-3 lead on McNabb’s four-yard touchdown run to the right side on the first play of the second quarter. The Eagles drove 53 yards in seven plays following a Giants field goal, including a 16-yard run by McNabb to open the possession. Westbrook had a 12-yard run to give the Eagles a first down on the Giants’ 12-yard line.

Levens gained eight yards on the final two plays of the opening period to set up a third-and-two from the four. After the teams moved to the East end of the field, the Eagles sent two receivers out to the right side. With the defenders pre-occupied in pass coverage, McNabb ran to that side and slipped into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

The Giants squandered an opportunity to score in the second period. On the first play after Osi Umenyiora recovered a McNabb fumble, Manning threw a 52-yard pass to Taylor that gave the Giants a first down at the Eagles three-yard line. It was the longest completion of Manning’s young career. But on the next play, Manning’s fade pass to the left side for Jeremy Shockey was intercepted by substitute defensive back Quintin Mikell.

“We had a fade with Shockey and I just threw a bad ball,” Manning said. “I didn’t get it high enough. I didn’t give him a chance where either he’s going to catch it or no one is going to catch it. I threw it inside, didn’t get enough height on it and that’s just something that I can’t do.”

“I didn’t think it was thrown very well,” Coughlin said. “That whole issue there is if you do have the height advantage that we have, the ball needs to be thrown high. If you’re not going to catch it, then Shockey has got to knock the ball down and not let them catch it. I didn’t think there was much of a chance on that. The ball didn’t seem to be up in the air very high. I know he was trying to throw it to the back pylon but it didn’t seem to have the trajectory that was necessary.”

The Giants took a 3-0 lead on Christie’s 22-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining in the first period. The score capped an 87-yard drive that included Manning’s 50-yard pass to Taylor, who got a step ahead of cornerback Lito Sheppard on the right side and hauled in the perfectly-thrown ball.

The long pass gave the Giants a first down at the Eagles’ 11-yard line. After Barber’s three-yard run and an offsides penalty on Philadelphia, the Giants faced a second-and-three at the four. Manning threw a pair of incompletions into the end zone before Christie was summoned to kick the field goal.

Early in the drive, Manning completed a third-down pass to Toomer and scrambled for a 15-yard gain on third-and-eight.

Those kinds of plays were few and far between in the second half.

“We had opportunities early in the game; we just didn’t capitalize on them,” Toomer said. “That is the story of our season. It comes down to turnovers again. We didn’t execute. That is the problem. We don’t execute. We work all week on different things and it just doesn’t seem to click.”

Giants Fall to Bears, 28-21

2004-11-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – From a psychological standpoint, the Giants’ 28-21 loss to the Chicago Bears Sunday is difficult to fathom. The Giants were coming off a resounding road victory in Minnesota, they took the field knowing a victory would move them within one game of Philadelphia in the NFC East race (because the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season) and they had a vocal Giants Stadium crowd behind them after jumping out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Then you look at the cold, hard numbers, and the defeat is very understandable. There were five turnovers (three fumbles and two interceptions) committed by a Giants team that had a total of six in the first seven games. Four of them were in the first half, including, remarkably, three on three consecutive plays late in the second period. Those miscues led to 13 points.

Add in a season-high 14 penalties for 109 yards – including one that took a touchdown off the board and another that wiped out an 86-yard kickoff return. And Kurt Warner getting sacked seven times and running for his life on numerous other occasions. Going one-for-14 on third-down conversion attempts, and one-for-six when it was third-and-one or fourth-and-one.

The Giants fell to 5-3 and remain two games behind Philadelphia. Chicago is 3-5.

Tom Coughlin’s post-game news conference was laced with lines that told the story: “Very uncharacteristic game for us in terms of five turnovers, a ton of penalties, untimely plays in circumstances really throughout the entire game.”… “It was very frustrating not to be able to continue the rest of the game like we played in the first quarter.” … “That’s what I’m saying, just stupid plays throughout the game, penalties, turnovers, increasing the opportunity that you won’t be able to get out from under the problems that you create for yourself.”… “You know what’s really disappointing? We’re at home. We’ve lost two in a row at home. We’re 5-3 and we’ve lost two in a row at home. That’s very disappointing, and I’m sure it’s very disappointing for our fans as well.”… “There’s not a lot to be pleased with.”

Practice Report for Thursday

2004-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – One consequence of the Giants’ fast start is that the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft spends gamedays on the sidelines instead of on the field.
And that’s fine with Eli Manning.

Rookie QB Eli Manning continues to develop behind starting QB Kurt Warner.

“The number one thing for me is for the team to win,” Manning said. “It makes everything easier. It makes the next day coming in and the whole week go a little smoother. I’d like to be out there playing. But I’m making the best out of the situation and it’s fun to be a part of this team and to be winning games.”

The 4-1 Giants will take a four-game winning streak into their bye weekend. Quarterback Kurt Warner, who won the starting job with a strong training camp, has thrown just one interception in 147 pass attempts and has made several key plays.

Manning has played just once, at the end of the Giants’ only loss, 31-17 in Philadelphia on opening day. In what could be considered a good omen, the Giants scored a touchdown on his first professional snap on Tiki Barber’s 72-yard run.

Manning completed three of nine passes for 66 yards, including a 34-yarder to Barber. He was welcomed to the NFL with a crushing blind-side hit from the Eagles’ Jerome McDougle.

Manning is still the Giants’ quarterback of the future. But as long as Warner continues to excel and the Giants keep winning, he will remain a spectator during the games.

But Manning continues to grow and improve as a quarterback. He works hard every day in practice, both as the scout team quarterback and with the snaps he gets with the regular offense. Manning studies each week as if he is the starter and does a mental rep in practice each time Warner takes a snap.

In addition, at Tom Coughlin’s urging, Manning is studying tapes of successful NFL quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Donovan McNabb and his brother, Peyton Manning of Indianapolis.

“I’m getting more comfortable with the offense,” Manning said. “You learn little things like simple reads, what defenses plays are better against. Each week when we put in the game plan you try to learn different philosophies of the offense and continue to learn what plays are good against certain defenses.

Because Manning is a Warner injury away from becoming the quarterback, he must prepare each week as thoroughly as the starter. When asked where Manning has made the biggest strides, Coughlin mentioned the mental aspect of the rookie’s progress.

Manning has benefited from having a willing and astute teacher in Warner, who has never hesitated to help the young player who aspires to take over his job. Manning has been able to learn about being a professional and what it takes to win in the NFL by watching Warner. But all the classroom and practice sessions can’t make up for not playing on Sunday.

Manning had a head start because he brings superb football intellect to the job.

“He certainly did an outstanding job of grasping all the things we threw at him in the spring and in the summer and even now of understanding what we want,” Coughlin said. “It’s a different thing to perform under pressure than it is to learn it obviously, but I can tell you this, that at no time did we back off anything in terms of preparation knowledge, level of sophistication because he was a rookie. Our plan was to load him up and that’s what we’ve done.”

Perhaps the most important question right now for the Giants regarding Manning is this: If something happens to Warner, can the rookie go in, run the team and win games?

“I think he would be as ready as anybody can possibly be,” Gilbride said. “Unless you are out there doing it, that is where your greatest growth takes place. He gets as much work as we can afford to give him in practice. In terms of the mental reps and the preparation that we can do in the meeting room and then in our drill work, he is doing all he can do and he is as good as any backup will be in terms of getting himself ready to go.”

For the Giants to find out definitively, Warner would have to suffer an injury. Obviously, no one wants that to happen. So for now, Manning will have to continue his hard work while waiting his turn to step into the lineup.

Warner was once Favre's backup

2004-09-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

Since becoming the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers in 1992, Brett Favre has had 11 backups who have gone on to start for other teams. Only one of those signal-callers has won a Super Bowl and the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

That player is Kurt Warner, now the Giants’ starting quarterback. On Sunday, the two quarterbacks – who have played in four Super Bowls, won two Super Bowls and have five MVP awards between them – will share the spotlight when the Giants visit the Packers in Lambeau Field.

Warner’s first NFL experience was with the Packers in 1994. He signed with Green Bay as a free agent after being passed over in the draft following a career at Northern Iowa. After getting a look in training camp, Warner was released.

After leaving Green Bay, Warner did not resurface in the NFL again until St. Louis signed him after the 1997 season. The rest, as they say, is history. Warner became one of the greatest success stories in NFL history. In 1999, his first year as a starter, he was voted Most Valuable Player and led the Rams to a victory over Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV (Warner was also the game’s MVP). Two years later, he won the award again while leading St. Louis to another Super Bowl, which the Rams lost to New England.

The Giants signed Warner on June 2, a day after he was released by the Rams. With No. 1 draft choice Eli Manning waiting in the wings, Warner has led the Giants to a 2-1 start. Last week, he reached 15,000 passing yards in his 56th game, tying Dan Marino for the fewest games needed to reach that milestone.

Gaints Ready for Lound Mouth T.O.

2004-09-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

From NFL.com
"I just see myself as a guy that can come in and make some plays, and it’s not for me to say if I’m the missing link or not, but I definitely know my position on the team,” Owens said on a conference call. “I’m definitely here to try to win a Super Bowl, and that’s the stand that I’m taking right now. We’re going to take our first step toward that on Sunday.”

Not if the Giants can help it. They are not unfamiliar with Owens. In a Monday night game in 1998, Owens caught five passes for 140 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown in a 49ers victory over the Giants. Owens faced the Giants twice in 2002, catching four passes for 41 yards in a prime-time opener and nine for 177 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown on the Niners’ first play, in San Francisco’s comeback victory in an NFC Wild Card game.

When Tai Streets scored the winning touchdown with 1:05 left, Owens and Williams tangled and received offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. They went at it again after the 49ers’ unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. Owens and Williams were flagged for unnecessary roughness, but the Giants’ safety was ejected from the game for throwing a punch.

Today, both players have matching recollections of that game.
“All I know is that we won. That’s it,” Owens said.

“I remember they won,” Williams said. “That’s the most frustrating part. We’re out here to win games. We’re not here to take out any personal grudges on anybody. We need to come away from this game with a win.”

To do that, they can’t let Owens dominate the game.

“I’m expecting him to be at the top of his game and to come out, especially in the opening game, and have a phenomenal game,” Williams said. “I know that’s his expectation and that’s what their fans want to see, that’s what their coaches want to see. It’s our job to prevent that from happening. It’s going to be a great challenge for us and we’re looking forward to it.”

Jason Whittle returns to the Giants

2004-09-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Giants sent an undisclosed draft choice to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to acquire guard Jason Whittle, who played for the Giants from 1998-2002. Whittle, 6-4, 305, played in 63 games with 19 starts for the Giants. He started all 14 games in which he played in 2002. On March 7, 2003, Whittle signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent. Last year, Whittle played in all 16 games for the Bucs and started the first five games at right guard.

In other roster moves, the Giants released kicker Bill Gramatica, offensive lineman Mike Saffer and defensive lineman Delbert Cowsette. Gramatica's departure leaves the kicking duties to Todd France, who has never kicked in an NFL regular season game.

With the moves, the Giants reached the NFL-mandated roster limit of 65 players. They also have six NFL Europe exemptions. Like all teams, they Giants must cut their active roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. Sunday, meaning they must release 18 players.

How Much of an Effect Will the Injuries Have?

2004-08-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

Heading into the annual summer clash between the Giants and the Jets, Big Blue is going to be a little shorthanded. The following Giants are not expected to play due to injury:

Defensive end Lorenzo Bromell (PUP/knee), kicker Bill Gramatica (back), quarterback Jesse Palmer (abdominal strain), guards Barry Stokes (gluteal strain), Scott Peters (leg), Travis Scott (knee) and Rich Seubert (PUP/leg), tight end Jeremy Shockey (hamstring/foot), defensive end Keith Washington (eye) and safety Gibril Wilson (sprained neck).

Running back Curtis Keaton is questionable with a knee injury.

As a result, these are the changes in the starting lineup: Wayne Lucier will start at left guard for Stokes. Visanthe Shiancoe will start at tight end for Shockey. Osi Umenyiora will start at right defensive end for Washington. Kevin Lewis will start at middle linebacker for Nick Griesen.

Battle Between Manning and Warner Continues

2004-08-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Kurt Warner will start at quarterback for the New York Giants this week, although his competition with rookie Eli Manning for the regular-season job continues. Coach Tom Coughlin announced on Wednesday that the two-time MVP will start Friday against the New York Jets, but that Manning, the No. 1 pick in the draft, will get about the same amount of snaps with the first-team offense.

``It's Kurt's turn,'' Coughlin said of the starting nod, adding that it was his plan all along to have the two quarterbacks alternate starting assignments in the first three preseason games.

Warner started against Kansas City in the preseason opener and Manning got a start last week against Carolina. Manning and Warner were informed of the decision on the final day of training camp at the University at Albany.

Coughlin said he will name a starter for the season opener at Philadelphia on Sept. 12 ``at the right time."

``It really didn't matter to me whether I started or didn't,'' said Manning, the brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, last year's co-NFL MVP. ``When I get my name called, I try to go in there and do my job.''

Warner was signed in June to give the Giants a caretaker quarterback until Manning was ready to take over. However, Manning has performed so well the Giants might well put their $45 million prodigy to work right away.

``The bottom line is we don't know,'' Warner said. ``We have no idea. We can't sit here and worry about every play or every mistake. I think our mindset, both Eli and myself, we want to continue to get better, so whatever call is made that person is ready to play and the other one is ready to help them in whatever way they can.''

Statistically, the quarterbacks are almost even in the preseason.

Eli Manning's Challenge

2004-08-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

What a way to test a rookie quarterback: Give him his first NFL start against the defending NFC champions and their vaunted defense.

Eli Manning is ready for the challenge. Carolina Panthers are too.

It's a test by Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who is holding tryouts for his starting quarterback spot. Manning, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, is battling two-time MVP Kurt Warner for the job.

Warner started last week's 34-24 win over Kansas City, giving way to Manning, who went 7-for-13 for 91 yards and no touchdowns.

Manning knows the Panthers will be a tougher opponent, with the foursome of Peppers, All-Pro Kris Jenkins, Mike Rucker and Brentson Buckner eager to jar him a bit. He'll also have to dodge speedy linebackers Dan Morgan and Mark Fields.

``It's a great defense with a lot of good players,'' Manning said. ``It's going to be a challenge. That's when you have to go out there and make smart decisions. When nothing is there, you have to see what you're going to do.''

Giants Schedule 2004

2004-07-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the schedule for the New York Giants' 2004 season:

2004 Preseason
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug. 13 Kansas City 8:00 p.m.
Aug. 19 at Carolina 8:00 p.m.
Aug. 27 at New York 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 Baltimore 7:00 p.m.

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 12 at Philadelphia 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 19 Washington 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 Cleveland 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Green Bay 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Dallas 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 Open Date
Oct. 24 Detroit 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Minnesota 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 Chicago 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Arizona 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 21 Atlanta 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 28 Philadelphia 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Washington 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Baltimore 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 18 Pittsburgh 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 26 at Cincinnati 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 Dallas 8:30 p.m.

All times are Eastern

blog under construction

2004-07-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

I'm still working on getting this blog set up, so come back in a bit for updates!

GO GIANTS!!!