Die Hard Giants Fan

After Vegas opened the line with the New York Football Giants as 14 point underdogs, so many people have picked the Jints that it moved to 12 1/2.  You still must be a moron to put your money on the Pats.  Remember that they only covered 1 game out of their last 8.  Don’t be fooled.  And besides, the Giants still have scores to settle so they want this game.

 Upon Further Review - Michael Eisen wrote an article about the success that Eli Manning is having.

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin - Michael Eisen asked Tom Coughlin tons of questions about the NFC Championship Game.

Transcript: QB Eli Manning - Michael Eisen asked Eli Manning a bunch of questions about the Super Bowl.

Newsday:

Cooper Manning proud of Eli

Brady hits New York without the boot

Brady in walking cast? - The AP reported that “Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was photographed yesterday with what appears to be a walking cast or boot on his right foot.”  Brady will be fine by the time the Super Bowl comes around.  Brady said that he’ll play.  The Patriots declined to comment on the situation.

Giants’ defense is a confident bunch - And they should be!

Weary never felt better to thrilled Giants

Intangible “it” factor makes Giants dangerous  The good ‘ol “it” factor.  The G-MEN got it.

Eli was trying to find his fiancee in crowd - Poor Eli.

Packers give Giants’ Tynes game-winning ball - According to Katie Strang, “Gordon “Red” Batty, head equipment manager for the Green Bay Packers, waited for an hour after the game to meet with a Giants equipment manager to deliver the ball safely to Tynes.”  That was very kind of him.  That’s because the Packers have normal fans.  Lawrence deserves the ball.

Pats glad they’re playing recent foe

It’s likeable Giants vs. villainous Patriots - Sounds like a nice headline, but I wouldn’t consider the Patriots to be villainous.  In the article, Shaun Powell refers to the Patriots as the Yankees of football which isn’t true.  The Packers are the Yankees of football.  That’s why the Packers play in Title Town, USA.  The Patriots are a current dynasty, but a perennial powerhouse by no means.  They never won a Super Bowl until 2001, while teams like the Packers, Bears, and Giants began winning championships in the 1920’s.

America thinks Giants are Super - That’s good to hear.

Now we share Ernie’s vision - That vision would be Ernie’s vision of Eli.

Notes: Heroes’ welcome for Giants - Some NYG players received a well deserved standing ovation last night at Madison Square Garden.

How I made the Giants win - Jennifer Maloney wrote a story about a superstition that a Giants fan did during the last two games.  I told you what mine was.  Please comment about what your superstition was.

Giants fans frozen but feeling super

New York Daily News:

Lieutenant colonel Greg Gadson is Giants’ inspirational co-captain

Photos show Patriots QB Tom Brady shed walking boot on right foot

Conditions perfect for Giants win

Eli Manning gets props from Peyton

From Big Blue point of view, Eli Manning not the other brother

Giants relish underdog role

Terry Bradshaw does about-face while interviewing Tom Coughlin

All in the family for Lawrence Tynes

Keeping Lawrence Tynes on their side proves great move by Giants

Mike Strahan wants redemption - Roger Rubin put together a great article about how excited Strahan and Toomer are to get back to the Super Bowl.  They have a really sour taste in their mouths from the loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.  As much as I dislike Strahan, I love how Strahan and Toomer feel like nothing is good enough unless you win the game.  They feel like they have a lot to say about their painful experience in 2001, and how to make the outcome of Super Bowl XLII better.  The other good thing about them is that one of them is on defense and one of them is on offense.  They can spread their views to players on both sides of the ball.

Plaxico Burress shows little pity for old Pittsburgh Steeler teammates

New York Post:

BEATA-BILL

BAHR ON CLOUD 9 AFTER FIELD GOAL

TOOMER STILL FEELS PAIN OF ‘01 SUPE LOSS

LAWRENCE LEGEND

RING FOR ELI WOULD BE MANNINGS’ GREATEST PEY DAY

REFLECT & REFRESH

COOL UNDER FIRE - Paul Schwartz graded the Giants performance in the NFC Championship game.

CAN YOU SAY UPSET? - The Jints already did it 3 times in the Playoffs, so why not?

COUGHLIN NOT YET READY TO GIVE PAT ANSWERS

New York Times:

For Giants, Redemption Is as Good as It Gets

Before He Made Kick, Tynes Made a Decision

Burress Battles Back at Just the Right Time

Manning Enjoys Highlights

The Star-Ledger:

Chat archive: Needell on Spags

What’s the most annoying thing about Tom Brady?

Around the Web: Is Eddie Murphy a Giants Visionary?

Around the Web: Blogging Brady’s Boot

Seubert will play

If it’s Big Bluish, it’s flying off store shelves - I don’t know why stuff is flying off the shelves now.  If you are a Giants fan then don’t you already have all of the gear?

Giants fans are jumping: ‘We’re going,’ say many — but scoring a ticket is another matter

Around the Web: Gimpy-footed Brady visits supermodel in NYC

Belichick gives respect

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Look at all of this news.  Each week, the Local Press pumps out more and more and more news.  There’s plenty of good articles in here today.  Definetly check it out.  I’m so pumped up.  If you’re interested in sending us photos of you in your Giants gear, your pet in Giants gear, or if of a Giants tattoo then click on the Headers above for my contact info.  We would love to add picks of every Die Hard Giants Fan on the planet. 

 Notes, anecdotes and statistics - Here’s a look at some fun stats about the NFC Championship Game last night between the Giants and the Packers that Michael Eisen put together.  Feel free to read the article for the rest.

The Giants improved to 13-6 and advanced to Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., where they will face the AFC Champion New England Patriots. The Giants lost to the Patriots, 38-35, in their regular season finale on Dec. 29.

The Giants improved to 4-0 in NFC Championship Games, with victories in 1986, 1990, 2000 and this season. They won the 1990 game at San Francisco and Sunday’s contest on the road and on field goals on the final play of the game. In 1990, Matt Bahr kicked a 42-yarder as time expired. On Sunday, Lawrence Tynes kicked a 47-yarder 2:35 into overtime.

The No. 5 Giants are the lowest-seeded NFC team to reach the Super Bowl since the NFL began seeding teams in 1990.
Prior to their current run, only one NFC team seeded lower than No. 2 had won the conference championship - third-seeded Carolina won in 2003. In the AFC, sixth-seeded Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl two years.

The Giants are just the fourth team since the 1970 merger to reach the Super Bowl after starting the season 0-2. The 1993
Cowboys and the 1996 and 2001 Patriots were the others. The Cowboys and 2001 Patriots won the Super Bowl.

The Giants won their 10th consecutive road game, extending the single-season NFL record they set last week in Dallas. The 10 victories on the road (seven regular season, three postseason) set a single-season record. The Giants had been tied with the 2005 Steelers, who won nine road games (six regular season, three postseason). Yes – the Giants will be the road team in the Super Bowl.

The Giants improved their postseason record to 19-23, including 6-14 on the road. This is the first time in their history that the Giants have won three consecutive postseason road games.

The Giants are 2-4 against Green Bay in the postseason.

The temperature at game time was minus-one degree with winds of 12 miles-an-hour – a wind chill of minus-23. That made it the coldest game in Giants history. The previous coldest game was the 1962 NFL Championship Game – played in Yankee Stadium on Dec. 30, 1962 – when the temperature was 13 degrees with 40 mile-per-hour winds, creating a wind chill of minus-11. Dropping from second to third among the coldest games in franchise history is the 1985 Divisional Playoff in Chicago, where the temperature was 14 with 13 mile-per-hour winds. The wind chill was minus-9 degrees.

The Packers rushed for only 28 yards, the second-lowest total by a Giants opponent this season; Detroit ran for 25 yards on Nov. 18. It was the third-lowest total ever allowed by the Giants in a postseason game. Cleveland ran for 24 yards on Dec. 21, 1958 and Chicago rushed for 27 yards on Jan. 13, 1991.

Tom Coughlin won his first conference championship game on his third try. He lost the 1996 and 1999 AFC title games with Jacksonville.

Eli Manning improved to 3-2 as a starting quarterback in the postseason. He is just the third Giants quarterback to win as many as three postseason games in the Giants Stadium era (since 1976). Phil Simms won six postseason games from 1984 through 1993 and Jeff Hostetler won three in 1990.

Plaxico Burress set a Giants postseason record with 11 receptions, one more than Ike Hilliard had in the 2000 championship game against the Vikings.

McQuarters, who had no interceptions in his first four career postseason games, picked off Favre to give him one in each game this month. Corey Webster, whose pick in overtime set up Tynes’ game-winning field goal, has two.

The Giants’ honorary captains were Harry Carson, the Hall of Fame linebacker who played his entire career for the team from 1976-88, and U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Greg Gadson, who lost both of his legs in May when an IED (improvised explosive device) detonated while he was serving in Iraq. Gadson, a former West Point teammate of receivers coach Mike Sullivan, spoke to the Giants prior to their victory in Washington in September and he attended their Wild Card victory at Tampa Bay two weeks ago.

Redemption - Michael Eisen wrote a piece about how Lawrence Tynes missed two Field Goals in the 4th Quarter and then redeemed himself by nailing the 47-yard FG in OT.

Newsday:

Beating big odds, Eli leads Giants to Super Bowl - Even though Manning didn’t throw any TD passes, he moved the ball on the Packers throughout the game.  He constantly got the offense in position to put up points.  There were some dropped TD passes and some missed Field Goals, but Manning was not the problem.

Burress a towering presence in Giants victory - On top of Plaxico setting the Giants record for receptions in the Postseason, Burress just schooled Al Harris all night long.  They pushing and shoving from beginning to end.  Throughout the game, it was the most entertaining part of it.  Burress was going over to the Packers bench screaming “He can’t stop me”.  I loved it.  He played hard all season on one leg, and he schooled Harris on one leg in the NFC Championship game.  It wasn’t the Plaxico of previous years that gave up on plays long before the whistle blew.  He came through all year.

New York Daily News:

Giants beat Packers in overtime, will battle Patriots in Super Bowl XLII - In case you were in a coma overnight, this pretty much sums it up.

Giants’ overtime victory a TV hit - Why wouldn’t it be?  You had two of the original teams in the NFL play each other in the NFC Championship game.  One of the teams has won the most titles in NFL history, and the other team has won the third most titles in NFL history.  What else do you want?

Giants turn chills to thrills

Eli Manning moves ahead of brother Peyton with Super turnaround

Giants’ upset is ice as nice

Lawrence Tynes kicks game-winning field goal, then goes missing

Corey Webster’s interception of Brett Favre sets up game-winner - That was big time, especially in the NFL when both teams don’t get to touch the ball.

Lawrence Tynes’ kick is a snap

No duress for Plaxico Burress

Tom Brady, Patriots bracing for Giant rematch with Big Blue - And Eli Manning, Giants bracing for Patriot rematch.

Giants seek revenge for Week 17 loss to Patriots at Meadowlands

Justin Tuck wins battle with Ryan Grant - The Giants did an outstanding job of shutting down Grant.  Grant finished the game with 29 rushing yards.

Is Brett Favre finished? - If you saw the post game then you saw Favre answer this question.  Favre said he would decide quickly and let the Packers know.

Ahmad Bradshaw looks Super - Hank Gola points out that Bradshaw was injured and didn’t play against the Patriots.  Since the Patriots didn’t get to see him up close and personal, Ahmad could be a big advantage for the Giants.

New York Post:

3RD TYNES A CHARM!!!

BENCH WARMERS GET THE JOB DONE

YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE IT: COUGHLIN’S TRUE BLUE

ALFORD OVERCOMES BAD SNAP

HE’S A BRAD MAN

GRANT: KUDOS TO JINTS

SUPER SECOND CHANCE FOR STRAHAN

GIANTS ‘KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT PATS’

CORNERING THE MARKET ON BIG-GAME DRAMATICS

GAME 3RD-COLDEST IN NFL HISTORY - It was -1 degree at kickoff.

CALL HIM BRRR-ESS

UNBELIEVABLE: FAVRE CAN’T SAVE THE DAY FOR ICE-COLD PACK

ELI’S NEW MANN IN NFC

BLUE PARAD-ICE

The Star-Ledger:

Around the Web: Is Eli Superman to the Patriot’s Legion of Doom? - Kelly Heyboer included this YouTube video titled “Eli, Put on Your Superman Cape” by Ryan Parker in her post.

Around the Web: Big Blue Blogging - Kelly Heyboer wrote about all of the Giants bloggers that were up all night expressing their feelings after the second nail bitter in two weeks.  Kelly included excerts of a few other Giants blogs also.

Falcons can’t talk to Giants defensive coordinator Spagnuolo — yet - Who cares about ‘yet’?  The fact of the matter is that each win increases the chances of Spags not being here next year.  As for Atlanta, I wouldn’t to start out as a Head Coach there anyway.

A look back to NYG-GB

What a Super Bowl matchup - As long as the Giants are in it, I like it.

Early spread favors Patriots by 13 to 14 points against Giants - I don’t understand what Vegas was thinking when they made this spread.  The Giants were just as much of an underdog in Week 17 when they lost by 3 points.  The Patriots haven’t covered a spread in the Playoffs this year as well.  According to this article, out of the last 8 games, the Patriots only covered once.  You would be an absolute moron to pick the Pats.

Giants reach Super Bowl

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The big game is getting closer and closer.  It’s hump day…so we will start discussing the matchups between Big Blue and Big D.  Did any of you make it to Tampa Bay?  If so, please comment on your experience.  Same goes for Dallas if any of you are going down there.  Also, we are constantly looking to add pictures of fans to Die Hard Giants Fan.  So if you got any good ones while tailgating or at the stadium then you can email them to me.  Feel free to impress us with painted faces, crazy haircuts, tattoos.  We want pics of pets too.  Click on any of the pictures pages on the header bar for instructions and my email address.

 Time to Shine - Michael Eisen believes that Ahmad Bradshaw will help the Giants beat the Cowboys.

Transcript: WR Plaxico Burress

Transcript: Dallas Coach Wade Phillips - Wade Phillips discusses the upcoming game and the health of his team.

Transcript: WR Amani Toomer

Transcript: QB Eli Manning

Transcript: RB Brandon Jacobs

Transcript: Dallas QB Tony Romo - Check out what T.C. says here:

Q:  There are reports from Dallas that Jessica is not coming to the game.  Is that true?

A:  I like how it is a ‘report.’  That is a good way to ask the question, too.  I’m slowly learning the tricks, guys.  I’m slowly learning.  I don’t know.  Everyone keep their eyes open, we will find out, I guess.

Coach Coughlin said that he likes how it is a report.  That’s hysterical.  Think about it.  They are asking a head coach about Jessica Simpson.

Mailbag for January 9, 2008

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin - Michael Eisen discusses the status of injuries and the Cowboys with Tom Coughlin.

Fan’s Point of View - James Walker describes his experience at the Giants/Bucs game.

Newsday:

Surging Giants haven’t missed injured Shockey - It is possible that we will though…Shockey had a season high against the Cowboys.

Jessica Simpson: Giants’ secret weapon?

Falcons ask to talk to Spagnuolo about top job

New York Daily News:

How Giants can lasso Cowboys

Falcons interview Chris Mara, waiting on Steve Spagnuolo - Why doesn’t the Mara family and Tisch family purchase the Falcons, run the operations, and supply a coaching staff?

New York Post:

3RD TIME CAN BE CHARM FOR JINTS

O’HARA LIKES HIS CHANCES FOR SUNDAY - I love the sound of that.

WIN OR LOSE, BIG BLUE SEASON IS A SUCCESS - I agree with that.  The Coach and the franchise Quarterback got their first win in the Playoffs.  The expectations will be set higher next season, and the franchise should continue to improve each year until they reach the ultimate goal.  There shouldn’t be a regression.

The Star-Ledger:

T.O. a N.O. G.O.? Yeah right

Pre-practice injury report

Spagnuolo in running for Falcons job

Giants face a third and long shot

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We are an hour from game time and I’m PUMPED UP about today’s game.  It’s been 7 long years and it’s all about to change today.  I’m hoping that we are giving the Game Ball to Brandon Jacobs later because that means he did what he’s supposed to do.  Or, maybe Eli Manning will impress us by leading the team to a victory rather than being a non-factor in a Giants victory.  There are a couple of bad things.  We know about Jeff Garcia, Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, and the Tampa defense, but we’ll also have to sit through a horrible broadcast.  Originally they announced it as Joe Buck and Moose Johnston, but right now they announced it as Joe Buck and Troy Aikman which is the worst tandem that the NFL can bring us.  If it is Joe Buck and Moose Johnston then that is the second worst tandem that the NFL can bring us.  You may be better off listening to the game on WFAN. 

 Key Matchup - John Schmeelk covers the key matchup for the Wild Card game against the Bucs.

Newsday:

GIANTS GIGANTIC NUMBERS - Newsday pointed out the stats for both starting QBs today.

THE LAST WORD: Not weathering well in the Sunshine State

Undrafted NFL players prove value in postseason

Giants, Coughlin on same page for playoffs

Jury still out on Giants quarterback Eli Manning - Shaun Powell states the obvious.

Jerry Reese has made right moves as Giants’ GM - Bob Glauber goes over each of Jerry Reese’s draft picks from last offseason.

Giants’ Coughlin has worked on dealing with media

New York Daily News:

If this is his swan song, Giants want Michael Strahan to get ring - I would rather see the Jints win without Michael Strahan.

Win or lose against Tampa Bay, Tom Coughlin a lock to return to Giants - I believe that Coach Coughlin will get at least a year win or lose.  However, I believe that he’ll be able to negotiate a real contract for big bucks and a longer period if he gets out of the first round of the Playoffs.

No-name Buccaneers’ defense is rebuilt and ready for playoff run - About half of them are new, a few of the old Bucs are still around, and they also brought in defenders from other teams that are known like Cato June.

Brandon Jacobs a weighty proposition for Tampa Bay defense - Yep…all 264 pounds of him.

Playbook: Giants at Bucs

New York Post:

GIANTS: BUC STOPS HERE

THIS ONE’S ON YOU ELI - Steve Serby provides Eli with a pregame pep talk.

TRENCH WAR FAVORS JINTS - I agree with Paul Schwartz about that.

HE’S BAAAACK! - Yes, Bart Hubbuch is talking about Jeff Garcia.

JINTS DC HAS EYE ON JEFF

TWO TEAMS TAKE DIFFERENT PATHS ON REST ISSUE

SEVEN-YEAR ITCH - I’ve been feeling it the whole time.  Win already!

SERBY’S SUNDAY Q&A WITH… Giants Right Guard Chris Snee.

PLAYS OF THE DAY

JINTS WILL PAINT PIRATE SHIP BLUE

The Star-Ledger:

Plax’s healing process

Spagnuolo’s saving grace: Love of family

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The amount of Giants news this week has been unbelievable.   And with that said, there really isn’t anything written really well about the Giants.  It’s all mostly common sense stuff like the Giants have to run the ball against the Bucs.  There has been some great stories in The Post this week about the Knicks, but we’re not here to talk about the Knicks.  There has been some great stories about Roger Clemens, but were not here to talk about him either.  And it’s all deserved.  And by the way, I’m very happy that I didn’t have to listen to Tiki, Shockey, and Strahan complain all season.  Thanks for listening to Coach Coughlin when he told you all to shut up and play with the exception of Tiki who’s job now is to talk and talk and talk.

 Transcript of Chat with DE Justin Tuck

Road Warriors

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin

Coughlin’s Corner

Bucs Scouting Report

Newsday:

Five things the Giants must do to Beat the Bucs

Giants credit Spagnuolo for turning around defense - On the defensive side of the ball, I’m very happy with Spags as I said yesterday.

Giants’ Gilbride salutes Bucs’ defensive guru - I bet he did.  Gilbride struggles putting up points in every game so I’m sure that this is a real challenge trying to figure the Bucs out.  I hope that we can get a new OC this offseason, but we’ll cover that in the offseason.

Ring is the only thing Giants’ Strahan lacks

Metro-area fans can now get tickets

Pierce, Giants no fans of Ronde’s statements

Former Giant Carl Banks takes next step in his career

Giants playoff moment - Newsday relives the NFC wild-card game between the Giants and the Eagles in 1981.  This is the first time Newsday put together one of these about a game that’s before my time.  I was 4 and have no recollection of this game.  Feel free to tell me about it if you remember it.

NFL GRIDIRON GUIDE: Quest ends at Qwest - Ed McNamara picked the Bucs who are favored by 3.  I don’t know about that decision.

New York Daily News:

Upbeat Giants feel playoff ghosts are things of the past

Inside the Matchups: Giants at Bucs

Moment is right for Eli Manning to follow Peyton’s lead - I love the positive vibes coming out of the Daily News.  Gary Myers tells us how Eli can win a first round Playoff game faster than Peyton did.  He doesn’t mention the talent difference between the Colts and the Giants though.  When Peyton couldn’t win a Playoff game, it was because they only had 3 offensive players that mattered and Peyton being one of them.  Eli has played on Giants teams with some of the best at their position in the game like Tiki, Shockey, Toomer, Burress, etc.  With the talent around Eli, he should win faster, but he isn’t as integral to the offense as Peyton was.  If Eli only handed off to James and threw to Harrison then he wouldn’t be in the Playoffs.

Plaxico Burress to Bucs’ Ronde Barber: Worry about me, not Eli Manning - Burress tries to deter Ronde Barber.  Obviously, Ronde will be covering Plaxico, but maybe Ronde knows that he’s in a few blitz schemes to bring Eli down.

Road-savvy Giants believe they can travel all the way to the Super Bowl - These comments were provided by Plaxico and Tuck.  I wish they reserved these kinds of comments for the locker room.

Jon Gruden: Brandon Jacobs poses big problem - I heard the interview with Gruden on Monday, I believe.  The Daily News is bringing this to us late.  Obviously, Gruden knows that the Giants want to hand the ball off to Jacobs all day.  So, he’s going to have everybody shut Jacobs down and I believe it will be successful for a while because it will be their primary focus.  What the Giants need to do is keep doing it until the Bucs are worn out and can’t tackle him anymore.  OC Gilbride needs to stick with the run no matter what.

Giants ticket ban gets the boot

Regular Season Rewind: For Giants & Bucs, it’s been wild ride

New York Post:

A LINE IN THE SAND

BIG BLUE BLOWS OFF BARBER BROS. BARBS

FORTUNE ROOKIES

CHUMP CHANGE

RELENTLESS ROAD WARRIORS WILLING & ABLE

New York Times:

If Giants Feel the Pressure, They Sure Don’t Show It

Under Spagnuolo, Giants Give Grudgingly

The Star-Ledger:

Official injury report

Injury report

Giants not afraid to leave home

Sibling rivalry? Nah, it’s all Tiki

Madison hurting, will struggle to play

Collins becomes a titan among QBs - Another former inconsistent Giants Quarterback, Kerry Collins, has a 50/50 chance to get the start against the Chargers.

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I really can’t wait for this game.  I know the Giants are the better team even though Vegas put the line in favor of the Bucs.  I am concerned about Jeff Garcia because he’s elusive and has the history against us.  The Bucs defense had a great year.  Of course they can win.  I am concerned about Eli.  The fact that he plays better earlier in the season says to me that he has difficulty playing against teams that are on a Playoff push like the Redskins in Week 16.  He has trouble against teams with their backs up against the wall like in the Playoffs the last two seasons.  In some ways, it didn’t surprise me that he had such a great game against the Patriots because the game didn’t mean anything so there was no pressure on him.  This Sunday, there will be.  So I just want the Giants to win this game already.  I really believe that we can reach the Superbowl.  I don’t believe that they are the best team, but I believe that they can upset some teams.  I’d prefer that we don’t have to go to Seattle or Green Bay, but they will play where they have to play. 

 Transcript: DE Michael Strahan - Michael Strahan answered a few good questions here like:

It almost seems like one win won’t satisfy this group?

No, what is the use?  Everybody is so focused on the Giants getting out of the first round of the playoffs but for us if you are going to come this far you might as well do the whole thing, go all the way.  I think last week’s game, the outcome, was not exactly what we wanted or what we expected.  I think it gave us a sense that we can play with anybody if we put our minds to it.  I think with that after the game last week everybody really feels that we have a great opportunity to go all the way, an opportunity to win it if we get there.  That is everybody’s focus, not just one week and one game.

What has it been like playing for Steve Spagnuolo this season?

Fun. It has been a lot of fun.  He has brought a lot of energy to the defense, accountability to the defense, and he tells you what he expects.  He is straight-up, he is straight-forward with you, and I think as a player that is what you appreciate from your coach, that is what you want from your coach, someone who tells you exactly what they feel, how they feel, and what you need to do to be good and what you have done doesn’t make you bad.  He does that every week.

What were you saying by giving Spagnuolo a Gatorade bath after the Buffalo game?

Congratulations, you did a great job.  In that game we didn’t start out great but one thing about our season even when we weren’t playing that well defensively he just kept telling us tp stay the course, do what we need you to do and things are going to work out.  Just don’t deviate from the course and try to do too much and get away from what our plan is.  We have done that and it has helped us win some games and we just wanted to try to make him sick.

In my opinion, Steve Spagnuolo was the Coach of the Year on the Giants staff.

Transcript: LB Antonio Pierce

Transcript: OC Kevin Gilbride

Giant Task - Michael Eisen says it is a ‘Giants Task’ to beat Jeff Garcia.

Transcript: DC Steve Spagnuolo

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin - After doing this blog all year, I learned that Tom Coughlin doesn’t answer any good questions.  And I’m not talking about anything that has to do with game strategy.

Junior Giants-Jingle all the way!

Big Obstacle - Michael Eisen is calling the Bucs defense as the Giants ‘Big Obstacle’.

Transcript: DE Justin Tuck - In Michael Eisen’s Q&A Session with Justin Tuck, Eisen asked Tuck about the Quarterback that stopped the Giants Playoff run twice, Jeff Garcia.

The fact that Jeff Garcia can improvise and scramble how much of a challenge is it to play him?

Good, it is a good challenge.  He has a track record against the Giants.  Just look what he did last year, so he is definitely our main focus for stopping this offense.

How do you stop him?

Obviously not what we did last year so we are going to have to try something new.  Just trying our best to keep him in the pocket and getting our hands up because he is a shorter quarterback and we can knock down some balls. That is where we start.

Transcript: QB Eli Manning

Newsday:

Sirius trash talk: Giants react to Ronde’s slight - A day ago, I wrote that there would probably be less media interest in this game than normal because Tiki retired.  I was very wrong about that.  I saw that Ronde Barber was on the back page of the Post and the Daily News with this quote, “Eli can be had”.  How frequently does a player from the city of Tampa Bay end up on the back of a NY newspaper?  Probably never…but it happened today.

Notes: Giants’ O’Hara, Mitchell, Madison sit out

Giants playoff moment - Newsday relives the NFC Wild Card game in 2003 between the Jeff Garcia led 49ers and the Kerry Collins led Giants.  This was a game that I wish never happened.  It was easier for me to accept the whoopings that the Giants took in the 2001 Superbowl and the 2006 Wild Card game then it was for me to accept the Giants blowing a 24 point lead.  This is the biggest reason I hate T.O. and Garcia.  Then T.O. had to come over to the NFC East, and Garcia came to Philly and now we have to face him in Tampa Bay.  I also would’ve preferred that Newsday didn’t remind me of that.  I already saw the game and don’t want to think about it anymore.

Giants’ Jacobs must learn how to avoid hits - Shaun Powell makes a great point because Jacobs goes to the sidelines too many times per game, and he has been injured a few times this season.

Bucs’ Garcia wonders if he’ll be rusty from rest - I hope Garcia’s rusty in the game.

Eli adds flavor that’s pure vanilla - Who cares?

New York Daily News:

Giants: We need to win turnover battle

Tiki who? Giants fine without Barber

Ex-Giants out to boot former club - Ohm Youngmisuk points out the ex-Giants seeking revenge.  Here the list: Luke Petitgout, Matt Bryant, and Ike Hilliard.  I forgot about Luke going to Tampa and I paid no attention to where Matt went.

Injured Giants on the mend

Bucs blocking New York on tickets - This article was written early.  I heard on Mike and the Mad Dog that Cuomo called somebody in FL and got this waived so you guys should be able to get tickets to the game.  There are plenty of tickets available.  I also heard that you can get them from StubHub for as little as $100 for anyone interested in heading down to Tampa.

New York Post:

RONDE’S BARBS CHOP DOWN ELI

GIANTS NOT WORRIED IF TIKI TURNS TRAITOR

BRANDON IS BIG BLUE’S RAGING BULL

NO TIME TO REST

O’HARA’S STATUS REMAINS QUESTIONABLE

New York Times:

Garcia’s a Nemesis That Really Gets Around - I was thinking about this yesterday.  How does Garcia keep getting traded if he makes the Playoffs?  I remember that he didn’t live up to his predecessors in San Francisco, Joe Montana and Steve Young, but they were much better with him than they are now.

Fresh-Faced Buccaneers Take Nothing for Granted

Well-Rested Buccaneers to Face Surging Giants

The Star-Ledger:

Bucs lift ticket ban

Thursday injury report

Jacobs is Bucs’ worst nightmare - I love the sound of that.

Same problem, different angle

Rooting interest has Tiki mixed

Bucs’ Garcia a Giant obstacle

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I apologize to you all for not writing yesterday.  I’m not feeling well at all, but I feel a notch better today than yesterday.  So we got a HUGE game this Sunday, but it wouldn’t have been if we beat the Redskins.  However, the G-MEN like to make us wait until the last possible second to make the Playoffs (i.e., we clinced the Playoffs in the final game of 2006).  Since it is almost impossible that we beat the mighty Patriots in the final week, this probably is our final shot at making the Playoffs, unless other teams start losing.  Ain’t that something?  I think so.  This one will be on Peyton’s kid brother’s arm.  This is the #1 Draft Pick money shot right here:

 Bills Scouting Report

WR Hixon’s emotional return - Michael Eisen wrote a story about Domenik Hixon’s return to Ralph Wilson Stadium.  The last time Hixon played there, he took the hit from Kevin Everett that paralyzed Everett’s.  I’ve read that Kevin Everett is supposed to walk out on the field this Sunday.  I can’t wait to see that, and I’m very happy for him because he was able to overcome so much.  Definitely check out this article.

Transcript: WR Domenik Hixon

Transcript: DC Steve Spagnuolo

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin

Transcript: DE Osi Umenyiora - Michael Eisen asked Osi Umenyiora how it feels getting selected to the Pro Bowl.

Transcript: LB Antonio Pierce

Transcript: DE Michael Strahan

Chance to step up - Michael Eisen wrote an article about the opportunity Kevin Boss has now that Jeremy Shockey was placed on IR.

Transcript: QB Eli Manning

Newsday:

Umenyiora, Giants ‘D’ must play better

Notes: Giants’ Hixon hopes to meet Bills’ Everett

Giants replace Shockey with low-key rookie Boss

Notes: Pro Bowl snub annoys Giants’ Burress

New York Daily News:

Eli Manning, Giants have much at stake

Loose Giants don’t mind pressure

Osi Umenyiora OK as only Pro Bowler

Eli Manning struggling in cold weather

Only Eli Manning can save Coughlin

New York Post:

A TOUGH BILL TO SWALLOW - LT has a message for Eli.

EMOTIONAL RETURN FOR HIXON

HOLIDAY SPIRIT BITES JOVIAL (YET DESPERATE) GIANTS

FEAGLES WARY OF PARRISH

UMENYIORA ONLY BIG BLUE PLAYER VOTED TO PRO BOWL

New York Times:

Giants Look to Rookies to Fill Shockey’s Void

The Star-Ledger:

Osi’s got gifts in his sack

A look ahead to NYG-BUF

This one won’t be easy

Players are staying loose heading into key game

Tuck, McKenzie back to practice

Fantasy Focus

Bills hope for home-field advantage

Rookies to fill Shockey’s shoes

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Today, we got a bunch of news about this week’s big game against the Dirty Birds.  Most of the news is about the injuries that Big Blue is suffering.  After Eli’s come-back against the Bears, the press only wrote one article about him heading into this week’s game against the Eagles.

 Rivalry Renewed - Michael Eisen points out how great this rivalry really is.  The Giants and Eagles have been doing this for almost a century.

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin - Michael Eisen asked Tom Coughlin a bunch of questions about the health of the team.

Coughin’s Corner - Michael Eisen asked Tom Coughlin some questions regarding how Coughlin feels about the 2007 season so far.

Transcript: Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo - In Michael Eisen’s Q&A with Steve Spagnuolo, Eisen asked Spags about his tactics for this week’s matchup against the Iggles.

Mailbag for December 7, 2007 - Michael Eisen fields a bunch of email regarding the no-huddle hot topic of the week.

New Threat - Michael Eisen wrote an entire article about good Brian Westbrook is.  In reality, he’s like Tiki but not as good.  However, he’s really really good.  The Giants did not have to worry about Westbrook in Week 4 because he sat on the bench, but he will play this Sunday.

Transcript: TE Jeremy Shockey

Transcript: DE Osi Umenyiora - In Michael Eisen’s Q&A Session with Osi Umenyiora, Eisen asks a few questions regarding the Week 4 game against the Eagles and how Osi feels about this week’s game against the Eagles.  This is definitely an article you want to read.

Transcript: Coach Tom Coughlin

Transcript: LB Antonio Pierce - In Michael Eisen’s Q&A Session with Antonio Pierce, Eisen asks Pierce if he will be a game time decision on Sunday and Pierce’s response was yes.  Here’s a great question regarding the whooping of Week 4:

Do you expect them to come back angry after not being at full strength when they last played you guys?

Definitely, I think they were embarrassed with that last game with that performance with 12 sacks and I think the three points they put up.  They are looking to run their best game and they are just coming off of their best game offensively a week before.  We expect to get their best punch and they do have all their weapons back, they have the left tackle, they have the tight end, and they have a healthy Westbrook right now, or healthier than what he was when we played them and he didn’t play.  So with that being said, it is going to be a very difficult team to face and they are going to be fired up, and plus they are at home.

Newsday:

Injuries bother Giants’ runners more than tacklers

Notes: Giants safeties Wilson and Butler are hurting

NFL Gridiron Guide’s Week 14 picks - The Eagles are favored by 3 points and Ed McNamara picked the Dirty Birds to cover out of desperation.

New York Daily News:

Osi Umenyiora doubts he’ll get six sacks against Eagles again

Inside the Matchups, Week 14 - Jim Rich is choosing the favored Iggles to beat Big Blue this Sunday.

When Giants hold on to the ball, good things - including wins - happen - It is interesting that Vic Ziegel wrote this article during a week following a game that the G-MEN won with a -4 turnover ratio.  It is common knowledge that minimizing turnovers is advantagous to the success of a team…not just the Giants.

Antonio Pierce, Brandon Jacobs unsure if they will play against Eagles

New York Post:

‘TALKING SACK’

TO STOP EAGLES, STOP WESTBROOK

WHERE EAGLES DARE - Mike Puma talks about how a last place Eagles team is still in the Playoff mix.

COUGHLIN HOPES BUTLER CAN DO IT AGAINST EAGLES

New York Times:

Giants Find 3rd Receiver to Be an Elusive Catch

The Star-Ledger:

All points bulletin on Eagles QB

Tuck’s a Good Guy - Mike Garafolo wrote this about Justin Tuck and Die Hard Giants Fan would like to congratulate him on his achievement:

The third-year DE was voted this year’s winner of the George Young Good Guy Award by the Giants’ chapter of the Professional Football Writers of America. The award, named for the late general manager of the Giants, is given to the Giants player who demonstrates consistent cooperation with the media throughout the season.

A look ahead to NYG-PHI

Eli the Road Warrior

Pierce unsure if balky ankle will be ready

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Now that the season is half over, it’s time to take a step back and look at some things.  Before the season started, I wrote a post titled, “Will Eli be a Manning?”.  It was about whether or not Eli would step up and play like those who carry the same name.  I know he never will play at Archie or Peyton’s level, but I think he could be playing better than he has been the past few seasons.

 With that said, the first half of the season isn’t an indicator of that.  Eli has put up very good stats during the first half of football each year.  The team has also played very well in the first half of the season each year as well.  It is in the second half of the season that Eli has performed mindblowingly poor the past few seasons.  And the team ended it up with horific records in the second half each year.

Eli has also had horrific performances in the playoffs the past two seasons as Big Blue got ousted in the first round each time.  First to Carolina, and then to Philly.  The Panthers completely spanked the Giants after Tiki had one of his best seasons ever.  The G-MEN only lost to Philly by a point or two I think last season.

For Eli to be considered a better Quarterback in the NFL, he needs to play like he did in the first half of the season in the second half of the season for starters.  Add to that a Playoff win or two, and he will begin to meet or exceed people’s expectations.  It’s a 16 game season, so playing great for 8 games and poor for 8 games isn’t going to cut it.  He needs to close the season as well as he started.  I’m not looking for another Big Blue meltdown.  The Giants had two in as many years.  My Mets just had the worst one ever in MLB history this September.  Can one of my teams pull something spectaculor off?  I’d rather the Giants over the Mets.

Now onto another topic.  Earlier in the season, I wrote a post titled “Does Coughlin Lack Killer Instinct?”.  The Giants are known for playing down to the level of their competition which allows these scrubby teams to stick around the game long enough to come back and win the game.  An example of that would be last week’s game against the Dolphins, where the Dolphins put up 10 points in the 2nd half and made it a three point game.

Take the Miami game out of the equation, and you have multiple games in a row where Coughlin had Eli take a knee at the end of the game and even pulling him from games.  I believe Eli was even out of the 49ers game with 5 minutes remaining.  So T.C. proved me wrong.  He has done everything right when the Giants have had the lead.  Tom has also allowed his team to build up large leads earlier in games than years past.  Last year, the Giants wouldn’t play until the 4th Quarter.  Eli was the king of the 2:00 drive to try and win the game.  It’s not like that this year.  But, things aren’t going to be as easy as the scrubs we just beat up.  The level of the competition is slightly tougher in the second half.  mrjokah release the second half schedule the other day so you can look at that to see what we’re up against.

The defense has turned around this year under first year Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.  It’s a really good thing that former Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis is no longer with us.  Even though we were 6-2 last year after 8 games, our D didn’t look this good.  However, we had the hardest schedule in the NFC East last season.  So it might not be so easy for me to make my case.  I love the aggresiveness of this defensive unit.  It’s great to watch.

The 3-Headed Monster, (Jacobs, Ward, and Droughns), have filled in the gap of Tiki.  This is a huge part of the team’s success this year.  Jacobs was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.  All of them have player really well.  As much as I loved Tiki’s ability to break free for a 75-yard TD run, I love watching Jacobs drag 5 defenders right up the gut for 7 yards.  It’s old school smashmouth football.

Plaxico Burress leads the NFC in Touch Downs, and he was tied with Randy Moss for the lead in the NFL for 6 out of 8 weeks.  He seems like he changed a lot as well.  With that said, everything is great when teams are winning.  His character will get tested when the team loses a few games.  Hopefully, that happens another season.

It’s good to see Mr. Clutch, Amani Toomer, back in the mix after his season ending injury last year.  He’s been solid this year as well.  He broke the Giants All-Time reception record and All-Time touch down record.

The weakness of Big Blue this year is Special Teams.  They need to be called out for it.  It’s horrible all around from kick offs, kick off coverage, punts, punt coverage, kick off returns, punt returns, and field goals.  There’s nothing good to mention about any of it.  It seems like it will remain this way this year because we’re half way through the season.  When you play tougher opponents and playoff games, Special Teams matters.  So this needs to be addressed.

I’m looking forward to a great second half of football, and a nice playoff run eliminating the Cowboys in any round of the playoffs we face them in.  But for now, let’s spank the ‘Boys 100-0 on November 11th.

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The Giants brought in Steve Spagnuolo to implement the Eagles defense.  It wasn’t so shabby in the preseason, week 1, or week 2.  However, since halftime of the Redskins game, the Giants’ defense has been playing at another level.  They haven’t allowed a TD in 6 quarters of NFC East football.  More than that, the Giants sacked McNabb an NFL record tying 12 times. 

BIG DOGS step up in BIG GAMES, and the defense did just that.  Osi Umenyiora set the Giants single game record with 6 Sacks all by himself.  Umenyiora also had 2 Forced Fumbles.  Talk about taking over a game.  Michael Strahan had 1 Sack to set the all-time Giants Sack record at 133 1/2, and LT and Harry Carson were in the stadium to celebrate.  Mathias Kiwanuka participated in the fun with 3 Sacks.  Justin Tuck as well with 2 Sacks.

I loved how they just smothered the Birds.  I hope this carries over week after week, especially this week in an AFC match-up against the Jets.  Please don’t drop a notch.

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