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Pics from Super Bowl XLIV !!!

So I had the chance to drive down to Ft. Lauderdale yesterday and take in some of the sights and sounds of Super Bowl week. While I am still crying in my beer that the NY Giants are not participants, it is still a fun event. Here are a few pictures (one or two having nothing at all to do with football):

 
 

Super Bowl XLIV;picks and predictions!!!

Greetings from sunny Florida! I have to be honest, it doesn't suck being here in February! 80 degrees, beautiful woman in bikinis, I could get used to this. I am heading down to Las Alos, the section of Ft. Lauderdale that is serving as Super Bowl central a little later today, check back for pics (including some non football bikini shots).

By the way, on a totally different topic, myself and a buddy talked ourselves into a beach volley ball game on Saturday against two tour beach volley ball players, both stunning blondes. We are playing for drinks, I have a feeling that while we will get embarressed  during the game and wind up paying for drinks all day, we will win somehow.

On to the game. The New Orleans Saints stumbled down the stretch losing their final three games and playing poorly in their final six. Also, they were incredibly fortunate to beat the Vikings in the NFC title game. When you get five friggin turnovers you should not need overtime to win.

I also kind of get the feeling that the Saints are just happy to be here.

Compare that to the Colts and Peyton Manning who appear to be on a mission (much like us in the volley ball game tomorrow). I just have strong feeling, forget all the "X's and O's" stuff, that the Colts win big.

Colts, 37-17.... 

The second anniversary of the greatest game ever played!!!!

Yes, all apologies to the participants in the 1958 NFL Championship game, but the greatest game ever played was two years ago to the day! February 3rd, 2008; Glendale Arizona, Ny Giants against the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

The 1958 game was critical to the NFL's growth, I get it. According to those who were around then (not I), it put the NFL on the map in front of a National TV audience. It was  a classic title game played in brutal condidtions in front of an, until then, record TV audience.

The game featured some all time greats; Johnny Unitas, Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Art Donovan, and on and on.

It was, by all accounts, one hell of a game and one with huge consequences for the leagues growth.

But I ask you this; all biases aside, how could it really be the greatest game ever played if the Giants lost?

See my point?

So, that fact being irrefutably established, lets look back in brief at the actual "greatest game ever played".

Think back first to set the scene to week seventeen of the 2007 season; the 10-5 Giants would host the history seeking (and not ashamed to admit it, to their credit, New England Patriots---are you listening, 2009 Colts?).

This was one of the most climatic regular season games in recent memory (and an appetizer to the "greatest game ever played").

Talk about fan interest; remember, the Saturday night contest was set to air from the swamps of the Meadowlands on the NFL Network. Problem was a large percentage of the country did not get the network and protested loudly enough that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wisely relented and aired the game not only on the NFL Network but also on regular TV.

Wise decision, Roger.

What a game! The NY Giants, with nothing at all to play for, went all out and gave the Patriots all they could handle enroute to a loss. I say loss, but really, the Giants ( who were locked into a wildcard matchup the next weekend in Tampa Bay, win, lose or draw) gained the respect of the NFL Nation and confidence that if they played with intensity, stuck together and did not turn the ball over they could beat anybody in football!  

Fast forward to February 3rd, 2008, Glendale Arizona, site of Super Bowl XLII (ie, the greatest game ever played).

The Giants were largely considered a "cute" story. They had a quarterback in Eli Manning who was widely regarded as being mediocre at best and with a tendency to become "skittish" under pressure (remember he threw 4 picks, 3 for touchdowns late in the season against the Vikings). Eli was opposed by the great Tom Brady.

The Giants were coached by what was considered to be a hostile old relic whom the game had passed by in Tom Coughlin. He would be opposed by this generations version of Vince Lombardi, the unbeatable Bill Belichek.

Virtually every match up favored New England, hence the double digit point spread Vegas put in their favor.

Well, we all know what actually happened. The patriots were denied perfection by Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, the Giants ridiculous pass rush that sent Tom Brady running back into the arms of girlfriend Gizelle (really cannot blame him there...) and a magical catch by an unknown guy from Jersey named David Tyree.

Yes, Giants fans, Happy anniversary!!!!! 

Will you cheer for Jeremy Shockey in the Super Bowl???

I had an interesting conversation today with a buddy who is also a huge NY Giants fan. The discussion eventually turned to the big game Sunday; and to our feelings about former Giant Jeremy Shockey.

We all know the situation behind Shockey's departure; after breaking his leg against the Redskins in week fifteen of the magical 2007 season (his last as a Giant as it turned out), the Giants went on an improbable run to win the Super Bowl.

Shockey claimed he felt insulted because the Giants refused to let him, cast and all, stand on the sidelines. So, he sat in the owners luxury box, a stiff drink in each hand, and watched Eli Manning and company ride off to glory.

His feelings were hurt and he, as Shockey generally does, made them publically known.

He blasted the Giants at every opportunity and made himself such a nuisance that Jerry Reese eventually pulled the trigger on a trade with the Saints. 

It seems the trade has worked out for both clubs. Shockey did not leave on good terms to say the least. I was pretty pissed at him when it happened, but time heals all wounds.

So, on Sunday, despite Shockey's stupid penalties, dropped passes, loud mouth, attitude and showing up of Eli Manning, I will still cheer for him.

The picture below explains why. The guy, say what you like about him, gave the Giants more then 100%...

  

Interview with Giants coordinator, Perry Fewell!!!

Last week Giants play by play man Bob Papa sat down with new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell on Giants.com .

I am still not quite certain what to think of Fewell as coordinator, truth is I didn't see a whole lot of his teams play. However, Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin think highly of the man and that means a lot to me.

All I can say is after watching the interview I like him. He seems bright, energetic, tough but with an ability to relate to his players, lets hope so....

Perry Fewell interview 

Will you watch the Pro Bowl???

First off, I must admit, I like the idea of playing the Pro Bowl between the conference title games and the Super Bowl. It gives it more of an "in season" feel. I rarely watch it after the Super Bowl, I find it kind of depressing.

This is traditionally a kind of dead week as we all eagerly await the Super Bowl. So, atleast we have  football to watch. Albeit not real football, but I will take it because after next Sunday, that's all she wrote until September ... 

Has A.P. played his final game as a NY Giant???

Antonio Pierce, an undrafted player out of college, has turned into a pretty good NFL player. His signing as a free agent from the Washington Redskins a few years back is definitely one you have to put into the "success" column. Pierce has been an outstanding leader for the Giants, he is a fiery player and also very smart, he generally wins the chess matches that occur in game with the opposing quarterback.

For most of his career he was a good tackler and adequate in pass coverage.

However, at 30 years of age; young for most people but an NFL senior citizen, he has clearly lost a step. Pierce is recovering from a bulging disc in his neck that caused the Giants to place him on season ending IR last year.

After ten years of brutal NFL play your body starts to show the effects, and I think Pierce is at that point. He no longer posesses the ability to cover backs and tight ends out of the backfield which makes him a liability to the defense.

While the Giants need his leadership and smarts I don't know whether they can make up for his alarming lack of speed. The middle of the field, the area Pierce roams, is wide open to opposing QB's for those easy dump off type passes that have victimized the Giants the past two seasons.

New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was recently asked if Pierce will be back. He did not exactly give it a thumbs up as he did when asked about Osi Umenyiora. Fewell basically said "we will see".

I interpret that as "pack your bags, Antonio."

So, if I am correct that the Giants are ready to move on the question becomes, who will fill his shoes?

The Giants have two somewhat experienced middle linebackers on the roster in Chase Blackburn and Jonathon Goff. They are both solid players with certain plusses and minuses.

Blackburn is a guy the coaches love. He plays with intensity, he is tough, smart and an outstanding tackler. Yet, he is not too athletic and is, much like Pierce, a liability in pass coverage.

Goff is very athletic and much better then Blackburn in pass coverage. Yet he is inexperienced and not as good a tackler.

The Giants got a good look at each player in live action last season. Did they see enough to feel comfortable going into 2010 with either one penciled in as the starter at the all important MLB position?

I am not so sure.

I know this, one of the biggest questions for Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese this off season will be what to do at middle linebacker....

Tim Tebow, the Super Bowl commercial and the way I see it....

For you NFL fans hiding under a rock awaiting the biggest game on the Planet, news flash; we have controversy! No, this one does not involve NFL players being involved in Nightclub stabbings, arrested for soliciting hookers, running off to Mexico on Super Bowl eve inexplicably (see Raiders-Bucs), or torturing dogs.

This controversy is far worse!

This one is regarding a TV commercial---one in which nobody screaming about it's airing has actually seen.

I refer to the as yet unreleased Super Bowl ad featuring Florida Gator All- American quarterback, Tim Tebow and his Mother.

Evidently, Tebow's mom had a medical issue that threatened her life when pregnant with little Timmy. The Doctor's advised Mr'sT (sorry "Mr. T", had to throw that in, you understand, but loved ya in Rocky...) that she would be well- advised to have an abortion to save herself.

Well, Tim's mom refused to follow the medical advice she recieved. She did so for whatever reasons and it clearly turned out quite well for all involved (especially Tim).

So, a Church group that is heavily Pro-Life is sponsoring the Super Bowl ad that will, by all accounts, simply tell the Tebow's story and try to make the point that if you are to be "pro-choice" it may be worth considering choosing life.

Let me be clear; I am not getting in the middle of the whole abortion argument here on a NY Giants blog.

However, it does piss me off that numerous "pro-choice" groups are rallying fervently to try to compel CBS (hardly a conservative organization) to pull the ad under the guise that it attacks "free choice".

Perhaps, these groups may want to take a minute and actually think about the fact that free choice means others can take opposing views without being censored...  

Hey, Roger Goodell, what were you thinking???

To what do I refer in the title of this post? To the fact that the Pro Bowl, typically played in Honolulu the week after the Super Bowl will this week be played in Miami the week prior to the big game. Now, here is what I think; the Pro Bowl is largely a waste of time anyway. I mean, even as a huge Giants fan first and NFL fan second I generally have about as much interest in watching a bunch of Millionaires giving half hearted effort in what basically amounts to a high quality flag football game as I do in going to the Dentist.

However, I happen to like the fact that Mr. Goodell thought "outside the box" (whatever the hell that means) and tried moving the game to the dead week between the Championship games and the Super Bowl. I give him credit for trying to stimulate fan interest.

So what is my problem (other then the fact that I am not dating a Super Model)?

Simply this; the Pro Bowl selections from the Super Bowl participants are required to travel to Miami for promotional purposes!

Really, Roger?

Are you friggin kidding me!!! Do you really want Peyton Manning and others mugging it up for the cameras with NFL advertisers rather the being with their team and preparing for the biggest game on the effin planet?????

Roger, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???? 

Big mouth is at it again...

By "big mouth" I am referring to Jets coach Rex Ryan. Ryan you might remember stated prior to the Playoffs that the Jets, yes, the NY Jets, should be favored to win the Super Bowl. (Those silly guys in Vegas had them at 50-1; how dare they!)

Of course the Jets didn't quite get it done despite having an admirable and surprising season. I give the Jets credit for a great season, and Ryan credit for doing a great job!

But the man just does not shut up!

This week he stated that the Jets, yes, the NY Jets, were now the big kid on the block in New York sports. Really? Bigger then the Ny Giants or the New York Yankees? Pleeeeeeeeeease!

I know he is in some ways refreshing. I know Jets fans, long-time second class citizens in New York football love having fat boy speak up for them.

But please, Rex baby, I like ya, but get a friggin grip!

Here's an idea Rex; WIN something before running your mouth!