N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Quarterback Dilemma Nothing New

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

"Torn Between Two Lovers ... 

Feeling Like a Fool"

New York Giants: A Tale of Two Franchise Quarterbacks ...

Once upon a time, a general manager named George Young drafts an unknown quarterback from Morehead St., named Phil Simms.  Then NFL commissioner Pete Rozell even laughs in stunned disbelief as he announces the Giants selection.  Seven years later Simms leads the Giants to their first ever Super Bowl championship.  His own record setting performance earns him MVP honors.  Four years later, Simms and Jeff Hostetler lead them to a second Super Bowl championship.  However, the sudden departure of Bill Parcells hastens the end of the Giants glory days.  Yet, Phil Simms is still able to lead Big Blue to one more playoff victory in 1993 over the Vikings.  After which, the 38-year old Phil Simms is informed his contract would not be renewed by the organization.  His time as quarterback for the New York Giants, and his playing career effectively end right then.  The organization then commits to a full blown rebuild.  Enter Dave Brown, Kent Graham, et al.

Fast forward ...

The Giants trade for Eli Manning in a draft day acquisition.  Guess that makes him somewhat of an adoptive son.  After all, he was Ernie Accorsi's guy all along.  Point is fans embrace him, always have.  He's our blue bleeding Mr. Freeze.  And despite the continuing devolution of the Giants I still trust Eli - deficiencies and all - provided his is afforded safer working conditions.

Four years into his career, he leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and is named game MVP.  Four years later he again leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLVI, and for a second time is named game MVP.  After which, the overall talent level around him begins its precipitous decline.  The Giants glory years are clearly behind them, and it takes another five years before Eli and the Giants would again participate in post-season play. 

Sound familiar?

That was two seasons ago.  The Giants have won just four of their last 23 regular games.  Manning turns 38-years old this coming January, and his replacement is nowhere in sight.  That makes it rather unclear whether Dave Gettleman is leaning towards a full blown rebuild despite this week trading Eli Apple and Snacks.

Here we have a Giant tale in the handling of two franchise quarterbacks.  George Young handled Phil Simms with conviction.  The manner in which Jerry Reese, Dave Gettleman, and John Mara himself have handled Eli Manning's end of years, not so much.  And there's the rub, George Young acted on behalf of Wellington Mara.  I've never been inclined to blame John Mara for much.  But it's time for resistant fans to admit this present mess falls squarely in his lap.  Eli-Gate started with him, not to mention his loyalty to Jerry Reese.

Outside of drafting a quarterback, the only other way of acquiring one of any quality is via the rare trade.  Another way is capitalizing on another team's bad situation as the Giants did with their opportunistic acquisition of Kerry Collins.

If I'm the Giants, I'm paying close attention to the developing situation at Oakland between Derek Carr and the Raiders.  John Gruden is in the midst of trading assets for picks.  In other words, he's gutting the roster, and I couldn't applaud him more.  He's already amassed five first round draft picks.  As such, I feel Carr would be a great acquisition to get the Giants through some rebuilding years.  The Giants should at least be interested, but in no way should they overpay.  They'll also need to find Eli another home first, perhaps reuniting him with Tom Coughlin at Jacksonville.

If John Mara orders Dave Gettleman to gut this once and for all, much of the drama surrounding the Giants will go away.  I say that because more and more over the last two seasons, they've become the Jets, and Knicks, and Mets, as main suppliers of back page fodder.

N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Blight

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Creatures of the Blue Lagoon

New York Giants: We've Arrived at the Pit of Misery.

Dilly, Dilly!

What more can the Chiefs, Skins, Raiders, Cowboys, Eagles, and Cardinals, possibly do to make this any worse?

Let the Giants win?  Pfft!  That would be a real kick in the posterior, wouldn't it?

When the New York Giants start a season 1-8 for the first time since 1980, in part by losing to the previously winless (0-9) San Francisco 49ers, you know your season has officially hit rock bottom.

Under Ray Perkins at least the Giants had already begun the process of deconstruction and reconstruction.  After recognizing the err of their (Wellington Mara's) ways, new general manager George Young began drafting the likes of Phil Simms, and Lawrence Taylor, and continued further resetting the organization's future course.

San Francisco likewise knows exactly where rock bottom is, but unlike the Giants, have already begun the process of putting these days behind them.  They presently have a locker room filled with high draft picks that before long will likely have the Niners playing competitive football again.

The Giants, however, are still a piano falling out of the sky.  It behooves them to finally acknowledge that they've arrived at the end of another long cycle, and that it's time for another reset.

That decision, however, can not come from general manager Jerry Reese.  He'll only continue spinning the team bus wheels in the mud; throwing bad money here, and wasting another draft pick there.

A new direction must be decided upon by John Mara, who was on hand for Sunday's game at Levi's Stadium watching his grandfather's and father's team lose in rather embarrassing fashion, again.

In consecutive weeks, the Giants have now faced arguably the best and worst teams in the NFL.  Yet, their performance from game to game deviated very little.

With a fairly equal amount of offensive opportunity, the Giants gained 374 total yards in 29:30 minutes of possession against the Rams, then gained 310 total yards in 31:00 minutes against the Niners.  The Rams on the other hand amassed 473 total yards in 30:30 minutes of possession, while the Niners similarly totaled 474 yards in 29:00 minutes.  Both teams would join to defeat the Giants by a combined 82-38 disparity.

The respective outcome of these last two games are not a coincidence.  The numbers scream indifference; apathy; defeatism.

Otherwise, the entire 2017 season has indeed been a Big Blue Blight.

Super Bowl 50: Giants Bust Broncos XXI

1967  ~  2016

SUPER BOWL

50

SUPER BOWL MEMORIES

XXI

Denver Broncos     20

New York Giants   39

The first ... my first ... OUR first Super Bowl ... and the Giants first NFL championship since the glory days of 1956.  

Don't forget Jets fans, it was Big Blue rooters whom first flew sign-towing planes over the Giants practice field several decades ago.  Now, finally, the Duke's 30-year rebuilding plan came to fruition.

Just as with the Mets, I spent the late 1970s and early 1980s watching Big Blue gradually transform themselves into a smash mouth power.  I endured brutal seasons as a youngster, then transitioned into a teen under Ray Perkins.  I grew into my own under the George Young/Bill Parcells regime.

But, by the time 1986 rolled around, I had already traded in my civilian status for a gig with Uncle Sam's service.  I actually watched the Super Bowl from Texas accompanied by me and myself.  And don't ask me how I pulled it off either.  You try doing that as the lone New Yorker in what was essentially a three story frat house.  The Pigskin gods were obviously with me during those playoffs and Super Bowl.  I went undisturbed, and free to bask in my somewhat ponderous glory (...of all years).

The Rose Bowl was beautiful...

Denver held a 10-9 lead at half-time, and you're damn right I was worried.  That's what Giants fans did back then.  Although the Giants dominated their regular season opponents, this was still something entirely new to us.

Plus, we were playing John Elway, whom gave the Broncos a 10-7 lead in the first quarter with a 4-yard TD scramble.

The Giants, however, inevitably imposed their will over Denver, outscoring them 30-10 in the second half.  The long maligned Phil Simms set Super Bowl records for completion rate and quarterback rating.  He went 22/25 for 268 yards and three touchdowns en route to winning MVP honors.  He also contributed 25 rushing yards towards the Giants overall 136 yards on the ground.  

The Giants gained 399 total combined yards against the Broncos defense led by linebacker Tom Jackson, and new partner Karl Mecklenburg.

The game aside, my favorite part of that Super Bowl was listening to Don Criqui call the action...

"as Mark Bavaro genuflects in prayer..."

This will always be the sweetest of the Giants four Super Bowls for me.  But, I chose that word carefully, as I have other ways of characterizing their other three Lombardi Trophy winners.

Then New York City Mayor, Edward Koch, refused to host a victory parade down Broadway for the Giants, citing they played in New Jersey.  He was a good mayor, and a necessary type at that time in the city's history.  But he became so petty regarding the matter.

New York Giants: Eli And Kevin Gilbride Rewriting Giants History

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:  Over The Last Three Seasons, The Offensive Line Has Deteriorated, The Running Game Has Declined, While Wide Receiver Needed Healing After A Shot To The Leg.  The More Giant Conditions Worsened Around Eli, The Greater Big Blue's Quarterback Became.


During Eli Manning's rookie season of 2004, he appeared in nine games and started seven.  He completed 95 of 197 pass attempts for 1,043 yards.  Eli finished his first season with six touchdowns and nine interceptions.  Nine years later, just three games into the 2012 season, Eli Manning has completed 79 of 118 pass attempts for 1,011 yards.  He has thrown five touchdowns and has been intercepted three times.


Since the day Eli threw his first pass in the NFL, through last Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers, Eli has thrown for 28,590 yards, which now ranks #43 all-time.  If all goes well against the Eagles next Sunday, Eli will pass Len Dawson and Rich Gannon, and move up to #41 all-time behind Brad Johnson.  If two of the three QB's I just mentioned sound pedestrian to you, it is because they were.  But while Gannon's and Johnson's careers are closed books, Eli doesn't turn thirty two years old until January.  With continued health, the names on the all-time list Eli closes on will surely become more elite.


Within the Land of Giants, Phil Simms tops the G-Men with 33,462 yards passing.  Eli is now just 4,872 yards away.  It might take the final two minutes in Week Sixteen to get it done, but Eli Manning can pass Phil Simms this season.  If Eli keeps throwing at this current pace, there is a slight chance he can accumulate another 4,000+ yards passing this season.  Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying...., Eli is on his way towards a 5,000 yard season.  It would be the organization's first.


Phil Simms topped 4,000 yards passing one time in his career.  That came in 1984 when he attempted a career high 533 passes.  That also marked the only time Simms ever attempted 500+ passes in a season.  Phil Simms had five other seasons in which he eclipsed 3,000 yards passing.  And four times in his career, he threw twenty or more touchdowns.


Phil Simms battled many injuries throughout his career.  Were it not for injury, his career numbers would surely appear to the average fan far superior than they do.  And if you're a Giants fan of that era like I am, you know Phil played for Bill Parcells within an entirely different system of football than we are currently playing today.  Everything the Giants did back then was predicated off the running game.  Phil Simms was charged with game management, and on occasion, greatness.  Smash mouth football limited Phil Simms to a career average twenty eight pass attempts per game.


Giants fans will never hesitate calling Phil Simms a great quarterback.  In Super Bowl XXI, he lived the dream and authored the most efficient day a quarterback could ever have in the biggest game of his career.  While not organization's first NFL championship, Phil Simms did deliver Giants fans their first ever Lombardi Trophy.  He was also largely responsible for putting the Giants in position for a second trophy.


Life is different for a certain age of Giants fan now.  Not drastically though, for defense still rules the day.  Instead of dominating with linebackers as the Giants did back then, today they do it with defensive linemen.  Offensively however, guys like me are still a little astonished with the new pass first regime.


Holding the leash of this modern Blue monster is Simon Bar Sinister; Kevin Gilbride.  Since 2006, he is the Offensive Coordinator who routinely leads the league in most yards attempted per pass.  He and Eli Manning have now collaborated on two Super Bowl winning drives.  Kevin Gilbride was Eli's quarterback coach for his first two seasons in the league.  That set the foundation for what the two would accomplish together after Kevin Gilbride's promotion to Offensive Coordinator seven years ago.


Interestingly, before the 2011 season, Eli attempted his most passes in 2005 under former Coordinator John Hufnagel.  It wasn't until Eli's sixth season under Gilbride that he re-established his new career high with 589 pass attempts last season.  Not coincidentally, Eli set a new career single season high with 4,933 yards.  Some of that was born out of having the worst rushing game in the league.  But it is still easy to see 5,000 yards being the next logical step for them both.


Save for his rookie season, Eli has never thrown less than twenty touchdowns.  Under Kevin Gilbride, Eli has averaged thirty two pass attempts per game.  He has topped 500+ attempts in six of the last seven seasons.  In every season except his rookie year, Eli has surpassed 3,000 yards passing.  For the past three consecutive seasons, he surpassed 4,000 yards passing.  Last season he threw for roughly nine hundred more yards than he did in 2009 and 2010, and fell just sixty seven yards short of his first 5,000 yard campaign.  But then again, he won his second Super Bowl MVP, didn't he?  Together, Eli and Coach Gilbride are re-writing the Giants record books and cementing themselves a place in all-time Giants history with a body of work unrivaled within the organization.  And they do not seem nearly through.


Over the last three seasons Kevin Gilbride's and Eli's attempts have risen commensurate with the decline of the once formidable Giants running game, and specifically the decline of Brandon Jacobs.  As is the case today regarding Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants back is often compromised by injury rather than being in decline.  Also consider, three seasons ago the Giants record setting Offensive Line was ravaged by injuries.  In 2011, Jerry Reese began reconstruction of the Offensive Line in earnest with the releasing of Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert, and the free agent acquisition of David Baas.


Over the last three seasons, that wasn't all that was seemingly collapsing around Eli Manning.  In 2008, Plaxico Burress put a bullet into the Giants chance at yet another Super Bowl.  But more lasting, he blasted a wound into the position of wide receiver that took the Giants almost two seasons to heel from.


Since 2009, Jerry Reese selected a number of receivers that Eli Manning is now currently in the process of turning into stars.  And entering this season, Jerry Reese continued revamping the line with the release of Kareem McKenzie.  If David Diehl isn't already compromised by a recent injury, he is surely next to get replaced.  In the backfield, as noted, Ahmad Bradshaw missed the last two games after an early Week Two injury.  And rookie David Wilson is doing everything possible to stay in Coach Coughlin's dog house.  Something unexpected happened on the way to Week Three however.  The Offensive Line has been back-up effectively by Sean Locklear and the return of Will Beatty.  And the rushing game has also been refortified by third year Aaron Brown, who as Bill Parcells used to say, is running with power.


We shall see how Kevin Gilbride proceeds forward with a resurgent offensive line, and a reborn running game which now relies on a third year back getting his first crack at starting.  However, in spite of a few revelations during Week Two, the worse conditions and situations get around Eli, the better he becomes.  Since the 2009 season, in the face of a deteriorating running game, the decline of a once formidable offensive line, and left with a gaping wound at wide receiver, Eli Manning's heroics have multiplied exponentially, and his greatness revealed.


Bring on the Eagles!





Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Coughlin and Parcells; Parallel Eras

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE ~ Super Bowl XLVI Edition

ATLANTA FALCONS

GREEN BAY PACKERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:

Tom Coughlin and Bill Parcells are Mirror Images of

BIG Success and BLUE Setbacks.

Previous Posts:

Only Coach Gilbride Can "RIGHT" the Running Game

Super Sizing the Offensive Line

Two Super Bowl victories in five years cemented Bill Parcells' (as well as Bill Belichick's) legend in the Land of Giants forever.  The coach who came from 3-12-1 in his first season, won the Mara Family their first two Lombardi Trophies.  But make no mistake, there were a bunch of bad moments during the Parcells Era too.



Ever since the Giants won Super Bowl XLII, I've often reminded my son we were inside a five year window to make another Super Bowl appearance.  And quite similarly to the way an era evolved a quarter-century ago for me, here we go again.  It's as if history is making it's way around again and giving a younger generation a glimpse into what their parents went through twenty-five, and twenty one years ago.  Including this season, the last five years have in a sense been a modern day parallel of Bill Parcells' Giants march to greatness.



This Super Bowl, aside from the "Brady's Revenge" factor, has very nearly come about the way Carl Banks once described his team's ascent in 1990;

"We're back!"  "They said we couldn't do it."   "They put a fork in us and said we were done." 

Phil Simms; Rodney Hampton; - Done! - Lost for the season.  Even Carl Banks had that broken hand.  But it goes without saying today's Giants have dealt with injuries just the same.  Now they're back in the Super Bowl after so many in the Media wrote them off after the Saints blow-out; then again at 7-7; and at every chance they had since.  Just as The Matriarch; Ann Mara; who so "politely" pointed that out to Terry Bradshaw.  Parcells used to love that too - when the world wasn't just against you; they belittled you. The Media tried it back then with Parcells because the Giants were never pretty.  They were smash-mouth.  That's why he was so nasty and belittling back to them; -  because what he did, worked.  It just wasn't as flashy as San Francisco's west coast bling.  Phil Simms received the brunt of that crap from day one all the way into and after a 1990 Monday Night 7-3 loss against San Francisco.  We know how that season ended though.



Twenty one years after Super Bowl XXV, my son is gunning for his second Super Bowl inside five years like I did at his age.  His team; our team; is Coached by one of Parcells' grasshoppers; Tom Coughlin.  I never wavered once on Parcells.  If I never told you before (I have..), I'll remind you all now.  I did with Coughlin.  After the 2006 season, I wanted him fired.  All I'll say right now about that is Jerry Reese and John Mara made me realize my thinking was highly flawed.  But that subject  deserves a different post.  The point I want to make is that my son was always a staunch supporter of Coughlin's.  He told me flat out I was wrong then, and still reminds me about it from time to time.  Good for him.  As Coughlin has made an impression upon him, then so too in my early twenties, if Parcells would have asked me to eat dirt, I'd have shown up with spoon in hand and a salt shaker for taste.



Like Tom Coughlin, Bill Parcells' Giants were not without their troubles; and vice-versa.  Four years after their initial Super Bowl victories, Tom Coughlin finds himself in position to win his second Lombardi Trophy, just like Bill Parcells was in 1990-01.  It's uncanny how the two eras match up.  Are there differences?  Sure..., many.  That team of the late 80's was all about smash-mouth and ball control offense.  On defense, they rode the backs of great linebackers.  Today's Giants are passing juggernauts with a ferocious defensive line.   They're kind of the same, but different, or, different but the same.  They're the Giants.  In both eras, drafting has made the difference.



There were no playoffs for Bill Parcells in 1983.  There were no playoffs for Tom Coughlin in 2004.  In 1984, the Giants faced the 49ers in the playoffs and got blown out.  Coach Coughlin's 2005 NFC East champs got blown out by the Carolina Panthers as Tiki Barber infamously accused his Coach of getting Out-Coached by another former Giants coach; John Fox.  In 1985, the Giants were embarrassed during a frigid playoff game in Chicago partly due to a wind-blown missed punt attempt.  In 2006, the Giants embarrassed themselves with an 8-8 record and just barely made the playoffs where they lost to the Eagles in the first round.



After two years of making the playoffs and falling short, both coaches led their teams to respective Super Bowls in their fourth year on the job.  But the Giants bid to repeat in 2008 was shot in the leg just as the Player Strike of 1987 effectively killed the Giants' bid to repeat back then.  Both seasons were horrible ways to follow-up their respective Super Bowl seasons.



As far as that 2008 season and how it ended, ask yourself which you'd rather happen - losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs after a dominant 12-4 season, OR, after having a dominant 12-4 regular season in 1989, watching the Rams' Flipper Anderson run right through the end zone and into the old Giants Stadium tunnels after scoring the winning touchdown in overtime of the opening round playoff game?  In either case; in both eras; in both seasons; the Giants went home prematurely.  And just to let you know, that Rams game still haunts me today more than losing Super Bowl XXXV; or losing to the Niners in 2003; or losing to the Vikings in 1997 ever did.



There were no playoffs for Bill Parcells in 1987 and 1988.  Nor were there any playoffs for Tom Coughlin in 2009 and 2010.  In 2010, the Giants missed the playoffs with a 10-6 record.  That's when Coach Coughlin famously told his detractors to kiss his ass; and rightfully so as far as I'm concerned.  In 1988, the Giants went 10-6 as well, and missed the playoffs because they lost the last game of the season to the Jets.




It seems what's old is new again.  And with any luck, this Sunday can be just as glorious for a new generation and my son in particular, just as it was for this forty-something fan who grew up in the wonderful Big Blue Land of Giants an era ago and thankfully never grew-up.






Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Has History Taught You Nothing?

From the desk of:   DO IT FOR THE DUKE * Playoff Edition

2011

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Divisional Round Weekend

NEW YORK GIANTS

vs.

Green Bay Packers

From,

Lambeau Field in

THE FROZEN TUNDRA

of Green Bay, Wisconsin

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL:   No One Ever Gives This Team a Shot.  And That's Just The Way We Like It!

BRING ON THE PACKERS!

Let the Pain Begin

There was no way the Giants were supposed to do what they did to Joe Montana on their way to doing what they did to John Elway.  Deep down, no one other than Giant Fans thought they'd pull that off.  In 1990, no one thought the Giants would be able to do the same thing to Joe Montana that we did to him in 1986, again.  Then people gave the Giants even less of a chance to do anything to stop Jim Kelly.  There was no way the Giants were going to stop him and Buffalo's mighty offense.  And remember how there was no way in hell the Giants would go into Green Bay and beat the NFC's top seeded team and Brett Favbrvrevbrb in sub-zero weather?  And remember how everyone predicted DOOM for the Giants when they went up against Tom Brady?



If history has taught us anything, it's that any quarterback can be beat.  Just ask Drew Brees, and all those quarterbacks I mentioned above.  A guy named Rex Smith beat the mighty Drew Brees at his own game Saturday because the Saints' defense wasn't as good as San Francisco's.



For the Giants, a guy like Phil Simms; who was almost laughed out of the building when drafted out of Moorehead State; beat Montana and Elway multiple times.  His back-up; Jeff Hostetler; stepped in to beat the mighty, and defending Super Bowl Champion Joe Montana...again!  But not before a guy named Leonard Marshall erased Montana from competition with one hit; just like Jim Burt did five years prior.  Then Jeff Hostetler out-did Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, in Super Bowl XXV.



Eli Manning?  He didn't have four full years in the league yet before he stepped on a frozen field and defeated Brett Favre in such frigid weather no one would willingly expose themselves to.  And even then, there's probably millions of people on Earth who would have come up with an excuse not to be out in that cold because they're weak minded.  Yet Eli Manning kept finding Plaxico Buress and Amani Toomer using his bare right hand.  Eli and the Giants were even less likely to topple the undefeated New England Patriots, and their ELITE quarterback; Tom Brady.  But little Eli and the Giants did it anyway.



Who cares where Eli Manning ranks on the Elite Quarterbacks list!  That's not a question.  That's a statement.  The Media banter regarding Eli's elite status is becoming one of the most tired topics of the day.  He's the New York Giants' quarterback; he's good enough for us; and he's good enough to beat Aaron Rodgers.  We Giants Fans could care less who's ahead of him on the subjectively great list of QB's.   He's our guy and that's who we want handling the pigskin; Period!  So please, keep that conversation in your cubicles.  Lists are for the have-nots and slow news days.  Debate with yourselves; go ahead and keep telling each other how great each other is.  In the mean time, we have our guy and that's it.   I can't reiterate enough - Who Cares!



The Media always loves to wax nostalgic whenever the Giants do anything well, or unexpectedly.  But prior to the fact, they kill them any chance they get.  So, this is old hat for us fans, isn't it?  And so, here we are again.  No one is giving this team a shot.  They'll say we have a good chance today just to cover their behinds.  But relatively no one is decidedly picking the Giants.



Me?  I could care less what the Packers can and can not do.  They interest me not.  If you're my age, we get that from Bill Parcells.  He told other teams he was going to run the ball.  He just dared you to stop him.  And so, all I care about is what the Football Giants can and can not do; and what we do well, and what we do not.  Because if the Giants show up today and play Giants Football, we fans have nothing to worry about.  But then again, thinking like that is not in our nature now is it? 



Speaking for myself, I root scared unlike our green-counterparts of the city.  And I think most Giants fans do too.  We are a confident and smart Blue Bunch.  But sometimes the Media can wear on anyone.  I think we relish the moment people start putting the underdog tag on our collars.  But when the "Crazed Dogs" get let off the leash and prove people wrong, the sharp-tongued doubters scatter, and the naysayers silently slither away hoping to get away un-noticed.



Welcome back to Green Bay folks and here we are again.  This time is like any other time for the New York Football Giants.  We are tasked with yet another Mission Impossible.  Aaron Rodgers has been deified by the Media and has a statue of his likeness located on ESPN/Bristol University Campus which was carved from a single block of cheese in his honor.  How dare the Giants even entertain the prospects of winning this game?  Shame on them and anyone else who thinks the Giants can win.  Just leave your Man-Card at the door and leave before they have you arrested for trespassing.



....Because an Aw-Shucks kid from the South ain't gonna beat no quarterback who does THE BELT move every time he throws a touchdown pass. - Especially when that's what the corporate suits at the networks want also.  Yeah..., because Aaron Rodgers just oozes testosterone like sweat pouring down the brows of those Dancers With The Stars, which is what American Pop TV hounds and leaches suck on these days.  So get in step they say!  Because the Giants' Secondary can't Do The Hustle with; nor can the Giants' pass rush Tango with Lord Rodgers of the twenty-fifth and a half.... Century!!!!



Problem is, the dance is over.  Let the game begin.  This team is exactly where Jerry Reese said it would be.  In the second round of the playoffs it doesn't matter how the Giants got here.  The fact is, the Giants' General Manager and I expected them to be in this position.  And now that they are here, I assure you they aren't just happy to be here and they certainly didn't travel all the way to Green Bay to congratulate their friends after the game on a job well done either.



I don't care how many weapons Aaron Rodgers has because we have weapons too.  I don't care how good Aaron Rodgers is, because our quarterback is good too.  I don't care how cold it is in Green Bay, because when I left my house this morning, it was pretty damn cold here as well.  And I don't give a damn about the history and nostalgia of playing in Lambeau Field because we are the New York Football Giants - Established in 1925.



January Football, to me, is still all about physicality.  And from the Packers' defense, I'm just not feeling it.  They can't bring the pain like a healthy Giants squad can and will.   And with all Perry Fewell's DOGS in place, I know this Giants Defense can bring three hours of violence upon anyone; especially the Packers' Offensive Line.  I pity the fools!  Aaron Rodgers will still need that BELT of his for when they strap him onto a stretcher.




Yes, I'm predicting a Giants victory tonight.  Has history taught you nothing?  So look out!  Bad Guys coming through.





LEAD-IN POSTS:

Gilbride; Art of Deception or a Babbling Fool?
Coach Perry Fewell's Time Is Now
Big (Offensive) Line of Contention
Reintroduce Yourselves to Giants Football; Win Over Falcons
Playoffs Return to the House of Blue
Rushing to the CENTER of the Problem
Defensive Synchronicity
G-Men and the Department of Defense
Don't Worry Pop.  I Got This. - Dallas Game






Mike.BTB

N.Y.Giants ~ BIG BLUE NOR'EASTER To Hit Detroit

BIG BLUE PREVIEW ~ Part II

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:
Done playing in the snow?  Tell Brett the Fossil to suit-up and
Let's Play Some Football!

In two hours and twenty minutes, the bizarre weekend for the Giants will finally gain some normalcy and Football will be concern number one again.  Tonight's odd 7:20pm Monday Night start against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit's Ford Field (Home of the Detroit Lions) now unfortunately follows the Eagles defeat of the Cowboys in Dallas.  So, once again, we must play follow the leader, win, and keep pace with Philly.

Around the League in games that can have an affect on the Giants as the season draws to a close in three weeks, the Bears got their claws clipped by the New England Patriots in a snow-driven blow-out, and the Packers had a woeful losing effort against the Lions.  The Saints continued to gel and now the Bucs have crept back into the NFC Wild Card picture.

And so, due to unsettling losses against the Cowboys and the Eagles earlier this season, tonight is a must win for the G-Men against the Vikings.  The Giants must achieve at least 11 wins to have a realistic chance of making the play-offs in what's becoming an increasingly tightening race.  There are only four more chances including tonight, to max out at 12 wins.  That's assuming we win out.  Going three 3-1 in the final four may be cutting things too close.

The last four games on the Giants' schedule poses a daunting task in trying to win-out.  After tonight we play the Eagles at home in a rematch and most likely a game that will decide the NFC East Title.  Then we must play the Packers who are vying for the same playoff spot we currently are.  The season finale is against the 'Skins in Washington.

The road ahead will be hard to negotiate.  But we can only begin by winning tonight on our first stop.

These two teams have played feast or famine contests in the past.  Some games were memorable for all the right reasons.  Some games were horrendous and completely forgettable.

*Phil Simms has told his story hundreds of times, how the 1986 Giants' Offense was really sputtering along and playing relatively ineffective Football that season until they went to Minnesota.  The Giants were behind 20-19 with 1:12 left in the 4th quarter.  Faced with a 4th down and 17 to go, Phil Simms connected with Bobby Johnson for a first down.  That pass enabled the Giants to kick a field goal and win 22-20.  That play propelled the Giants all the way through to a victory in Super Bowl XXI.

*For the 1993 season, Dan Reeves took control of the Giants after the team floundered after Bill Parcells retired and the Ray Handley years that followed.  Coach Reeves, made life as a Giant fan much more bearable as we ALL thought our lives were ruined after 1990.  But Coach Reeves squeezed every last bit of Football glory out of the remaining veteran Giants and with some newer guys, Coach guided us to a playoff appearance against the Minnesota Vikings.  Phil Simms kept our heads on straight one last time and Rodney Hampton rumbled us home to victory in front of the home crowd; 17-10.


*THE FASSEL YEARS:
**In 1997, Jim Fassell took the "new" Giants back to the top of the NFC East Division.  Behind an inspired defense that achieved an insane turn-over ratio and Coached by a wily Defensive Coordinator; John Fox, this Giants team re-emerged as a Big Blue playoff contender.  That wild, but undisciplined bunch faced off against the Vikings in a first round Playoff Game on December 27, 1997.  In one of the most bizarre four minutes of Football I had ever seen to that point, the Giants were directly responsible for making Dennis Green appear to be a good coach.  The Giants had the game in-hand, then all of a sudden, the Defense started fighting....WITH EACH OTHER! - ON THE FIELD! - DURING THE GAME! No one could believe the melt-down that ensued at the hands of Randal Cunningham, Dennis Green and the Vikings.
The Giants would lose that playoff game 23-22.  Ponderous!

**The National Football Conference Championship Game ~ January 14, 2001 ~ Giants vs. Vikings:
The Giants won 41-0.  Kerry Collins had one of the more spectacular games a Giants' quarterback has ever had.  The Giants Offense was Perfect that day.  The Giants Defense pitched a shut-out in what amounted to be one of the most dominant Championship Game victories in all Football history.

Then we have matters more related to today's Giants and concerns about tonight's game.

You see, Eli Manning has never beaten the Vikings.  He's 0-4 against them with only 2 TD's and a whopping 9 INT's.  There is also the matter of last year's season final when the Giants were resoundingly beaten by the Vikings 44-7.  That precipitated some very harsh words by the Media as the Giants were dubbed one of the biggest disappointments in Football, and also by NYG Owner John Mara regarding their disappointing season.  The team started 5-0 and finished 8-8.

For Giants fans tonight, this game is as important to them as any they've played against the Vikings and any they will play this year.  It's not being spoken of that way...much.  But the Giants' playoff hopes rest in the balance.  The Vikings on the other hand are collapsing like......Doh!  Their season hasn't gone well at all, and quite honestly, Brett Favre is at the root of their matter.

Last year Brett Favre helped orchestrate that 44-7 Giant debacle in Week 17 that put us out of our misery.  This game, he may not be so sure to play.  But if he does, I'd like the Giants to return the courtesy and put him out of his misery.  While Brett is struggling, beset by injuries, he is called to action, faced with his chase for the now elusive 300th consecutive start of his career.  He's listed as questionable and remains a game time decision.

He'd be doing us a favor by stepping out on the field tonight and attempting to QB the Vikings.

C'mon!  Play!  Please?!

As far as the game itself,  the Defense needs to keep Adrian Peterson under wraps.  Stop him and you stop the Vikings Offense.  He needs to be stopped on first contact.  We can't have him bouncing off tacklers and busting out for big plays.  Stop Adrian Peterson and limit Viking first downs.  And most of all, make sure we control third down.  They must be forced to punt by owning 3rd down.  I do not want to get into a shoot-out with this team.

But if it's a shoot out they want, then it's a Shoot-Out they'll get.  Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are returning to catch Eli's passes and David Diehl will be back on the left side to fortify the Offensive Line.  Center-Shaun O'Hara still looks like a scratch.  While I always choose to grind the ball on the ground with a 20/20 mix of Jacobs and Bradshaw, I have a feeling Coach Gilbride and Eli will have to fling that Pigskin around tonight.

More power to ya Coach.  Give em hell.



It's almost game-time.

Previous Posts:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-giants-big-blue-white-out.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-giants-purple-daze-week-14-preview.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/nygiants-offensive-line-regaining.html



Mike.BTB