NEW YORK JETS FOOTBALL:
A Little Bit Louder Now....SHOUT!
A Little Bit Louder Now....SHOUT!
A Little Bit Louder Now....SHOUT!
"I Gave... My Love.... A Cherry.....,"
**(Coach REX Blutarsky smashes guitar symbolic of last two weeks...here)**
"NOW....Waaaait a Minute!
Ya been so good to me!
I said ya been so good to me!
You Just Make Me Wanna...SHOUT!
Throw My Hands Up And...SHOUT!
Say That You Want Me! Say That You Need Me! Say That You Love Me!
C'Mon Now! Saaaaay You Will!
Because You Make Me Wanna...SHOUT!
SHOUT!"
*If you don't know what I'm getting at, read my Jets/Steelers preview:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/pigskin-week-15-ny-jets-toga-party.html
Sure they took their liberties with a few guests....but Man! - That was some Party huh?
Not only are Coach REX Blutarsky and the Green Gang from Delta House not getting expelled for throwing their season long Toga Party, they got away with going to Pittsburgh AND ruining the Home-Coming Parade too!
After Coach HOOVER Schottenheimer assumed his position by the mail-box and everyone was in place, first, the Black Smoke appeared in the distance as a kick-off returned for a touchdown startled the crowd. Then the Red Smoke miffed everybody with a naked-Bootleg. Finally, the Jets' Defense poured out their 10,000 marbles all over the field and had the Steel City Marching Band tripping over themselves in their own end-zone which resulted in the Jets scoring on a safety.
Coach REX Blutarsky and his Green Gang from DELTA HOUSE drove their Home Coming Float into Pittsburgh and hijacked a game no one thought they had any business winning from the Terrible Steel City Hard Hats. And they did it with one message in mind for all the naysayers; Eat Me, in pretty red and white flowered script.
C'mon Jet fans, didn't you wanna jump up and yell out, "Oh Boy! This is Great!" ?
Coach Blutarsky once decreed there's only one way to pledge yourself into REX House, and that it didn't involve standing around in your underwear getting butt-paddled by guys in hoods while having to ask for more. Coach doesn't like any kind of "Standing around Shitht!" Instead, all Coach wants to know is if you're following him when he roars and runs out the door on his way to chase down glory.
N.Y. J - E - T - S ~ FLYING HIGH AGAIN!
Bill Belichick took aim at REX's formation of Green Bombers and all but shot them out of the sky. Those Jets remaining with functional wings and an engine or two barely made it back to base. The remaining ground wreckage was left for REX to collect and haul-back to NYC on a flat-bed. Back at the Hangar, Rex tried readying his Green Baby to fly again. But she crash immediately after take-off against Miami.
Coach Rex is many things and one of them is resilient. Determined (and desperate) to get air-born again, REX re-assembled his now disfigured, Big Ugly Green Flying Contraption, not even Wile E. Coyote would feel safe in, using scotch-tape, Woody's Band-Aids, shoe laces, chewing gum and lots of spray paint.
But with Pittsburgh lacking their most potent anti Air-Sanchez machine; Troy Polamalu, the Jets flew their formation under the cover and concealment of bad weather. They zeroed in on-target, dropped their payload and stuck their mark; The Playoffs. Their tenth, and what everyone thought would be an unlikely win, ensured the Jets of their second consecutive post-season birth under Coach Rex.
Coach Rex and his team's vision is still in sight. It's just been a little harder to spot lately because of all the flack and smoke. Miraculously, they dodged a lot of bullets but also took a lot of hits. Their pilot Mark Sanchez is a walking casualty from last game. He'll be a go for next Sunday, but the question is how badly is he hurting?
If you listen to stories told by our aging great heroes of WWII and the ones told by the Bomber Pilots of the amazing Flying Fortress' in particular, they always say those plains were indestructible. Sometimes they were dumbfounded how their bird stayed air-born, much less getting them home in the face of such incredibly bad odds, while sustaining disheartening destruction to their craft.
Somehow, Rex continues to absorb all this team's flack. And now, unfortunately, there is a whole new launch of smart bombs he needs to take evasive maneuvers against with new revelations of "Foot-Gate". I myself could care less and you're not getting anything out of me. That's between him and what I can assume is his happily married wife. Period. With everything the Jets have been through as far as getting put through the media wringer and embarrassments on the field, I hope something like this doesn't linger around and cloud the fact that no matter what kind of sling or arrow you shoot his way, there's no denying one thing....Someone; many; all fans called for a Gut-Check and the Jets responded.
Coach Rex has the Jets FLYING HIGH AGAIN..!
Mike.BTB
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
N.Y. Giants ~ Eight Minutes To Midnight
BIG BLUE Pours It On During GIANT
First-Half Effort
Like New Year's Eve, The Clock Was Ticking Down Towards A Giants End-of-Game Party In BIG BLUE'S Home Finale:
The Giants' Defense picked-off a Michael Vick pass on Philly's first possession but nothing came of it. It did help get the G-Men off on an early momentum high. Michael Vick was admittedly more conservative after that pass, he'd say after the game.
Over the Giants' first two possessions, Eli was off his mark. He over-threw two passes by considerable margins to begin the game. Then on his second possession he nearly had a tipped pass intercepted. Then with 3:36 left in the first quarter, Eli connected with Mario Manningham on a 35 yard touchdown.
Giants led 7-0 with 56:24 left in the game.
The Giants were comfortably leading in all the offensive categories when the 1st quarter ended. But before the first fifteen minutes expired, Eli had a pass batted and intercepted. To start the second quarter the Giants did well to limit the Eagles to a field-goal off the turnover.
Giants led 7-3 with 43:10 left in the game.
On the Giants third possession of the game, they marched 73 yards on 8 plays. Eli Manning hit Mario Manningham for another touchdown on a 33 yard play. It was their second touchdown connection of the day.
With 8:17 left in the first half, the Giants now led 14-3 (with 36:43 left in the game).
At this point in the game, the Eagles hadn't had a pass play longer than 7 yards. Michael Vick was being harassed and hit. Justin Tuck recorded a sack that had Vick walking off the field with a slight limp. The Giants clearly had the freakish quarterback out of his game.
Before the 2nd quarter wound down, the Giants engineered another drive highlighted by another one of those foolish pass attempts by Eli that could have very easily been his third INT of the day. That pass went incomplete. On the next play on 3rd down and 6 to go, Coach Gilbride called for a nifty screen pass to Ahmad Bradshaw that went for a first down and brought the Giants to the PHI-29 yard line. The drive eventually stalled out but not before the Giants kicked through three more points to increase their lead.
The Giants led 17-3 with .48 seconds left in the half (and 30:12 left in the game).
With less than a minute remaining before the break, the Giants kicked-off. Justin Tuck continued his harassment of Michael Vick with another near sack. Then there was a fumble by the Eagles.
A review of the fumble gave the Giants the ball on the Eagles 8 yard line with .09 left. On the first play from scrimmage, Eli connected with Kevin Boss for his third TD pass. The Giants had just scored 10 points in 43 seconds on this glorious Big Blue afternoon.
The Giants now led 24-3. The remaining .05 of the 1st half was a mere a formality as everyone headed towards the locker rooms.
Big Blue was showered with roars of praise, applause of appreciation and adulation that rained down on them from their jubilant fans as they filed off the field. Thirty minutes now separated New Meadowlands Stadium, this team and their fans from revelry celebrating their avenging an earlier loss to the Eagles and practically assuring themselves the NFC East Title and the chance for a first round bye.
Eli was marvelous to this point passing for three touchdowns and carrying the offense. Mario Manningham was beating his man the whole half as he too was having a spectacular half of Football. It was only a matter of Eli gaining a little more accuracy before they would connect and they did so twice.
The run game was finding yardage hard to come by but they were chipping away, and Coach Gilbride made noticeable efforts to get them going. There was no big play thunder from them yet, but they were pounding out effective short yardage.
This was truely turning into a great day of Giants' Football. Everything was transpiring just as I thought it would! I honestly didn't think Philly could stay close to us for this one particular Giant Sunday. You can take a minute if you like and read my NYG WEEK15 Preview HERE.
Start 2nd Half
GIANTS 24
EAGLES 3
In the second half, The New York Giants picked up where they left off with Michael Vick. Justin Tuck and Rocky Bernard combined for another sack of Vick. The third skirmish of the game broke out between the teams five minutes in. And for a while the teams traded punts and field position.
This is when I started thinking to myself, "Here we go again with our customary Third Quarter Offensive Disappearance Act." It's a not so new, but ever growing trend where Coach Gilbride gets impatient with the pace of the run game and starts passing unnecessarily. They've made for seemingly futile third quarters in their appearance.
Que the clock again:
At 5: 50 of the third quarter, the Giants received the ball fresh off a Philly punt. They began the possession with an Ahmad Bradshaw run. Eli then connected with his receiver of the day; Mario Manningham. BUT, inexplicably, HE FUMBLED THE BALL! He made the catch and was going out of bounds when, incredulously, he stuck out his arm, with the ball, and left the Pigskin on the field to be recovered by Philadelphia!
At 4:06 of the third quarter, the Eagles capitalized on the turnover and scored when Michael Vick found a wide open Maclin for a touchdown.
The score was now 24-10 with N.Y. leading, and 19:06 left in the game.
The third quarter would end rather meekly for both teams.
The Giants continued to keep pressure on Vick starting the fourth quarter as they almost got to him again. But on a 3rd down and 13, he eluded a rush and almost connected on a huge play to Maclin if not for a great break-up by Terrell Thomas.
After a 36 yard pass play to Kevin Boss, another Giants' possession fizzled out. Matt Dodge's punt went for a touch-back and the Eagles took over at their twenty.
Soon, a fumble by the Eagles was ruled incorrectly and the ball was awarded to the Giants. Philly Coach Andy Reid, I assume could not get the confirmation from his guys upstairs telling him to throw his red flag and challenge in time. He wound up sticking the flag back in his pocket and the fumble went unchallenged and all the while everyone watching at home knew the Eagles would win the call if Coach Reid had done so.
The Giants then went on a 7 play-47 yard drive ending with Eli Manning hitting Kevin Boss for an 8 yard touchdown. It was Eli's fourth touchdown pass of the game; a new personal best for him and number 28 for the season.
The Giants now led 31-10 and there was only 8:17 left in the game.
The Big Blue Faithful Crowd could hardly contain themselves. Giants Stadium was roaring with delight. The final regular season home game for the Giants and their fans through the first 51:43 was fast becoming one of this franchise's most signature victories. It would be coming against one of their oldest rivals which made this that much more satisfying.
The Giants kicked-off and Philadelphia started their next possession at 8:01 of the fourth quarter.
TIME KEEPER :
Please set the clock to reflect Eight Minutes To Midnight ? Thank You.
7:50 left ~ Eagles first down.
At 7:28 from the Eagles 35 yard line ~ MICHAEL VICK hits Philly TE-CELEK for a 65 yard TOUCHDOWN!! Giants fail to make tackles.
GIANTS 31; Eagles 17
At 7:27 ~ The Eagles line up to kick-off. The Giants offer a five-man front. EAGLES execute an On-Side Kick against a sleeping Giants' Special Teams Unit.
Philly takes over on their own 43 yard line. A pass is good for +13. On first and ten, VICK is almost sacked by DEON GRANT but escapes and RUNS FOR 39 YARDS to the Giants 9 yard line.
At 5:28 ~ Michael Vick runs for 8 yards and a TOUCHDOWN!! Philadelphia had just scored two touchdowns within 2 minutes.
GIANTS 31; Eagles 24
At 5:21 ~ Giants begin their possession. They gain positive yardage running with Ahmad Bradshaw. Philly exhausts all three of their time-outs during this Giant drive.
CLOCK STRIKES 5 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!
With a little over three minutes left in the game, the Giant drive comes to a grinding halt forcing them to punt again. The Giants pin Philly back on their own 12 yard line.
At 3:01 ~ Eagles begin their possession.
CLOCK STRIKES 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!
At 2:56 ~ Vick almost sacked by Cofield. Pass attempt is incomplete.
At 2:50 ~ Michael Vick runs 33 yards to Giant 45 yard line.
At 2:07 ~ From Giant 42 yard line, Vick runs to Giants' 19 yard line.
CLOCK STRIKES TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!
At 1:36 ~ Michael Vick 13 yard pass to Maclin; Terrell Thomas missed tackle; TOUCHDOWN.
At 1:16 The Score Was Now TIED 31-31.
At 1:10 ~ After Philly kicked-off and D.J. Ware returned the ball 21 yards, the Giants begin their possession.
CLOCK STRIKES ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT!
The next three Giants' plays went like this:
*first and 10 ~ incomplete...no time off clock. (no run to kill clock)
*second and 10 ~ nearly picked off; incomplete; no time off clock (no run to kill clock)
*third and 10 ~ Eli sacked!
At 0.14 seconds left in the game the Giants must punt.
In what I can only guess was an attempt to win the game by going with three consecutive pass plays, the Giants gained no first downs and took little time off the clock.
Tom Coughlin instructs his young punter, Matt Dodge, to kick the ball out of bounds so as to take the game into Over-Time.
At 0.14 ~ Matt Dodge receives the snap from center and disobeys a direct order by punting a low line-drive to DeSEAN JACKSON.
DeSean Jackson momentarily fumbles the ball, recovers, and returns Matt Dodge's punt 65 yards for a TOUCDOWN.
There were no flags. And when everyone looked up, there was no time left on the clock and the scoreboard said:
NEW YORK GIANTS: Eagles Stick Talons Into G-Men And Rip Their Fan's Hearts Out.
Silence ~ The party that never was. A silent crowd loitering around like zombies left in disbelief was all that remained in Giants Stadium for what can only be described as a disaster of epic proportion in their last regular home season game of 2010. The Giants all but assured they will not be the NFC East Champs; they will not receive a first-round bye, nor will they now be entitled to a home playoff game, and that's even if they make the playoffs at this point.
The Giants had an opportunity to reclaim greatness this season with this one game and simply BLEW IT! A crowd delighted to near perfect football for 52:00 minutes Sunday afternoon were made to go home dejected, deflated, demoralized, and because the finish was such a complete failure, the crowd also went home deranged and disoriented.
What started out as a game that looked to be one this franchise's most glorious victories, in the blink of an eye, turned on them and became one of this organization's all-time ultimate nightmares.
UNBELIEVABLE LOSS OF HISTORIC PROPORTION!
Giving up 28 points in the 4th quarter; Game ends on a punt return for a touchdown.
Coach Coughlin was right about one thing; There's enough blame to go around for everyone!
* The struggles started in the beginning the the third quarter when Coach Gilbride decided to get away from the running game. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for 31 carries and 100 yards for the game. It was an honest workman's performance that still required respect on Philly's part. Coach Gilbride all but made Jacobs disappear throughout the 2nd half.
This has been following right along with a mysterious trend of Offensive futility in the third quarters in games of late. Perhaps Coach Gilbride isn't adapting well enough to half-time adjustment made to his schemes? That's totally based on my frustration. This Offense can look so masterful and then so futile all in the same game, quarter or drive.
* How the hell does Mario Manningham fumble that ball? He just laid the ball on the field. I couldn't believe it! This is honestly when my panic settled in....well..., because I've seen these kind of things from the Giants before (reference 2003 playoff game vs 49ers)
* Poor/lack of tackling by Kenny Phillips on Celek's 65 yard Touchdown at 7:28 AND Terrell Thomas on Maclin at 1:16.
* Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn getting caught with his pants down on Philly's on-side kick. He posted a 5-man front. They were all running back for blocking on the assumed, ensuing kick. There's not a person on the unit who was thinking On-Side. Why? Everyone at home knew Philly had to attempt one to stay within reach. The Special Teams have been an Achilles Heal to us all year and everyone knew it. But no one...no one ever expected this. We'd given the unit only glancing criticisms because we've gotten away with their deficiencies. This game we were completely blind-sided. Special Teams finally bit us in the ass at the worst possible time.
* I need to know exactly what Def. Coordinator Perry Fewell had the guys doing out there for 52:00 minutes, then failed miserably at over the last 8 minutes. Maclin and Celek were continually wide open and Michael Vick was suddenly set free to run wild. Does having Justin Tuck dropping back in coverage really make sense to you, the fan and reader?
* With 1:10 left, the failure of the Giants' Offense to get a first down as they stumbled through a three and out series which left the Eagles with 0:14 seconds left. This is the very moment I spent Weeks 3 through 10 screaming about.
* THE PUNT!! What the hell was that? A failure to follow directions...that's what! His job was to kick the ball out of bounds. This also gets thrown back to the Special Teams Coach. This, and the punt coverage that was supposed to tackle the guy with the ball all fall on Coach Quinn.
* Coach Coughlin ~ I thought he was going to beat-up Matt Dodge right on the field. He immediately berated his young kicker and even put his hands on him for a sec... Coach really blew his stack. And I Can't Blame Him! Ya just gotta be careful there Coach.
Coach Coughlin; Coach Fewell; Coach Gilbride; Coach Quinn, the Offense, The Defense and the Special Teams, all contributed in an all-hands-on-deck effort to detonate this season.
I am still short many, many words to truely describe to you how I feel. But like I said, Giant fans have been here before.
So, yeah - the Giants lost their opportunity to have a great season...AGAIN. For this week we get to use words like disgusting; disaster; colossal meltdown, abysmal, atrocious, pathetic, ponderous...etc etc.
You get the picture.
The End...for now.
Mike.BTB
First-Half Effort
Like New Year's Eve, The Clock Was Ticking Down Towards A Giants End-of-Game Party In BIG BLUE'S Home Finale:
The Giants' Defense picked-off a Michael Vick pass on Philly's first possession but nothing came of it. It did help get the G-Men off on an early momentum high. Michael Vick was admittedly more conservative after that pass, he'd say after the game.
Over the Giants' first two possessions, Eli was off his mark. He over-threw two passes by considerable margins to begin the game. Then on his second possession he nearly had a tipped pass intercepted. Then with 3:36 left in the first quarter, Eli connected with Mario Manningham on a 35 yard touchdown.
Giants led 7-0 with 56:24 left in the game.
The Giants were comfortably leading in all the offensive categories when the 1st quarter ended. But before the first fifteen minutes expired, Eli had a pass batted and intercepted. To start the second quarter the Giants did well to limit the Eagles to a field-goal off the turnover.
Giants led 7-3 with 43:10 left in the game.
On the Giants third possession of the game, they marched 73 yards on 8 plays. Eli Manning hit Mario Manningham for another touchdown on a 33 yard play. It was their second touchdown connection of the day.
With 8:17 left in the first half, the Giants now led 14-3 (with 36:43 left in the game).
At this point in the game, the Eagles hadn't had a pass play longer than 7 yards. Michael Vick was being harassed and hit. Justin Tuck recorded a sack that had Vick walking off the field with a slight limp. The Giants clearly had the freakish quarterback out of his game.
Before the 2nd quarter wound down, the Giants engineered another drive highlighted by another one of those foolish pass attempts by Eli that could have very easily been his third INT of the day. That pass went incomplete. On the next play on 3rd down and 6 to go, Coach Gilbride called for a nifty screen pass to Ahmad Bradshaw that went for a first down and brought the Giants to the PHI-29 yard line. The drive eventually stalled out but not before the Giants kicked through three more points to increase their lead.
The Giants led 17-3 with .48 seconds left in the half (and 30:12 left in the game).
With less than a minute remaining before the break, the Giants kicked-off. Justin Tuck continued his harassment of Michael Vick with another near sack. Then there was a fumble by the Eagles.
A review of the fumble gave the Giants the ball on the Eagles 8 yard line with .09 left. On the first play from scrimmage, Eli connected with Kevin Boss for his third TD pass. The Giants had just scored 10 points in 43 seconds on this glorious Big Blue afternoon.
The Giants now led 24-3. The remaining .05 of the 1st half was a mere a formality as everyone headed towards the locker rooms.
Big Blue was showered with roars of praise, applause of appreciation and adulation that rained down on them from their jubilant fans as they filed off the field. Thirty minutes now separated New Meadowlands Stadium, this team and their fans from revelry celebrating their avenging an earlier loss to the Eagles and practically assuring themselves the NFC East Title and the chance for a first round bye.
Eli was marvelous to this point passing for three touchdowns and carrying the offense. Mario Manningham was beating his man the whole half as he too was having a spectacular half of Football. It was only a matter of Eli gaining a little more accuracy before they would connect and they did so twice.
The run game was finding yardage hard to come by but they were chipping away, and Coach Gilbride made noticeable efforts to get them going. There was no big play thunder from them yet, but they were pounding out effective short yardage.
This was truely turning into a great day of Giants' Football. Everything was transpiring just as I thought it would! I honestly didn't think Philly could stay close to us for this one particular Giant Sunday. You can take a minute if you like and read my NYG WEEK15 Preview HERE.
Start 2nd Half
GIANTS 24
EAGLES 3
In the second half, The New York Giants picked up where they left off with Michael Vick. Justin Tuck and Rocky Bernard combined for another sack of Vick. The third skirmish of the game broke out between the teams five minutes in. And for a while the teams traded punts and field position.
This is when I started thinking to myself, "Here we go again with our customary Third Quarter Offensive Disappearance Act." It's a not so new, but ever growing trend where Coach Gilbride gets impatient with the pace of the run game and starts passing unnecessarily. They've made for seemingly futile third quarters in their appearance.
Que the clock again:
At 5: 50 of the third quarter, the Giants received the ball fresh off a Philly punt. They began the possession with an Ahmad Bradshaw run. Eli then connected with his receiver of the day; Mario Manningham. BUT, inexplicably, HE FUMBLED THE BALL! He made the catch and was going out of bounds when, incredulously, he stuck out his arm, with the ball, and left the Pigskin on the field to be recovered by Philadelphia!
At 4:06 of the third quarter, the Eagles capitalized on the turnover and scored when Michael Vick found a wide open Maclin for a touchdown.
The score was now 24-10 with N.Y. leading, and 19:06 left in the game.
The third quarter would end rather meekly for both teams.
The Giants continued to keep pressure on Vick starting the fourth quarter as they almost got to him again. But on a 3rd down and 13, he eluded a rush and almost connected on a huge play to Maclin if not for a great break-up by Terrell Thomas.
After a 36 yard pass play to Kevin Boss, another Giants' possession fizzled out. Matt Dodge's punt went for a touch-back and the Eagles took over at their twenty.
Soon, a fumble by the Eagles was ruled incorrectly and the ball was awarded to the Giants. Philly Coach Andy Reid, I assume could not get the confirmation from his guys upstairs telling him to throw his red flag and challenge in time. He wound up sticking the flag back in his pocket and the fumble went unchallenged and all the while everyone watching at home knew the Eagles would win the call if Coach Reid had done so.
The Giants then went on a 7 play-47 yard drive ending with Eli Manning hitting Kevin Boss for an 8 yard touchdown. It was Eli's fourth touchdown pass of the game; a new personal best for him and number 28 for the season.
The Giants now led 31-10 and there was only 8:17 left in the game.
The Big Blue Faithful Crowd could hardly contain themselves. Giants Stadium was roaring with delight. The final regular season home game for the Giants and their fans through the first 51:43 was fast becoming one of this franchise's most signature victories. It would be coming against one of their oldest rivals which made this that much more satisfying.
The Giants kicked-off and Philadelphia started their next possession at 8:01 of the fourth quarter.
TIME KEEPER :
Please set the clock to reflect Eight Minutes To Midnight ? Thank You.
7:50 left ~ Eagles first down.
At 7:28 from the Eagles 35 yard line ~ MICHAEL VICK hits Philly TE-CELEK for a 65 yard TOUCHDOWN!! Giants fail to make tackles.
GIANTS 31; Eagles 17
At 7:27 ~ The Eagles line up to kick-off. The Giants offer a five-man front. EAGLES execute an On-Side Kick against a sleeping Giants' Special Teams Unit.
Philly takes over on their own 43 yard line. A pass is good for +13. On first and ten, VICK is almost sacked by DEON GRANT but escapes and RUNS FOR 39 YARDS to the Giants 9 yard line.
At 5:28 ~ Michael Vick runs for 8 yards and a TOUCHDOWN!! Philadelphia had just scored two touchdowns within 2 minutes.
GIANTS 31; Eagles 24
At 5:21 ~ Giants begin their possession. They gain positive yardage running with Ahmad Bradshaw. Philly exhausts all three of their time-outs during this Giant drive.
CLOCK STRIKES 5 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!
With a little over three minutes left in the game, the Giant drive comes to a grinding halt forcing them to punt again. The Giants pin Philly back on their own 12 yard line.
At 3:01 ~ Eagles begin their possession.
CLOCK STRIKES 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!
At 2:56 ~ Vick almost sacked by Cofield. Pass attempt is incomplete.
At 2:50 ~ Michael Vick runs 33 yards to Giant 45 yard line.
At 2:07 ~ From Giant 42 yard line, Vick runs to Giants' 19 yard line.
CLOCK STRIKES TWO MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!
At 1:36 ~ Michael Vick 13 yard pass to Maclin; Terrell Thomas missed tackle; TOUCHDOWN.
At 1:16 The Score Was Now TIED 31-31.
At 1:10 ~ After Philly kicked-off and D.J. Ware returned the ball 21 yards, the Giants begin their possession.
CLOCK STRIKES ONE MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT!
The next three Giants' plays went like this:
*first and 10 ~ incomplete...no time off clock. (no run to kill clock)
*second and 10 ~ nearly picked off; incomplete; no time off clock (no run to kill clock)
*third and 10 ~ Eli sacked!
At 0.14 seconds left in the game the Giants must punt.
In what I can only guess was an attempt to win the game by going with three consecutive pass plays, the Giants gained no first downs and took little time off the clock.
Tom Coughlin instructs his young punter, Matt Dodge, to kick the ball out of bounds so as to take the game into Over-Time.
At 0.14 ~ Matt Dodge receives the snap from center and disobeys a direct order by punting a low line-drive to DeSEAN JACKSON.
DeSean Jackson momentarily fumbles the ball, recovers, and returns Matt Dodge's punt 65 yards for a TOUCDOWN.
There were no flags. And when everyone looked up, there was no time left on the clock and the scoreboard said:
EAGLES 38
GIANTS 31
Final
THE GIANTS' CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT
BIG BLUE's DOOMSDAY CLOCK GOES BOOM!
The Meadowlands Crowd is left
SHOCKED and AWED.
NEW YORK GIANTS: Eagles Stick Talons Into G-Men And Rip Their Fan's Hearts Out.
Silence ~ The party that never was. A silent crowd loitering around like zombies left in disbelief was all that remained in Giants Stadium for what can only be described as a disaster of epic proportion in their last regular home season game of 2010. The Giants all but assured they will not be the NFC East Champs; they will not receive a first-round bye, nor will they now be entitled to a home playoff game, and that's even if they make the playoffs at this point.
The Giants had an opportunity to reclaim greatness this season with this one game and simply BLEW IT! A crowd delighted to near perfect football for 52:00 minutes Sunday afternoon were made to go home dejected, deflated, demoralized, and because the finish was such a complete failure, the crowd also went home deranged and disoriented.
What started out as a game that looked to be one this franchise's most glorious victories, in the blink of an eye, turned on them and became one of this organization's all-time ultimate nightmares.
UNBELIEVABLE LOSS OF HISTORIC PROPORTION!
Giving up 28 points in the 4th quarter; Game ends on a punt return for a touchdown.
Coach Coughlin was right about one thing; There's enough blame to go around for everyone!
* The struggles started in the beginning the the third quarter when Coach Gilbride decided to get away from the running game. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs combined for 31 carries and 100 yards for the game. It was an honest workman's performance that still required respect on Philly's part. Coach Gilbride all but made Jacobs disappear throughout the 2nd half.
This has been following right along with a mysterious trend of Offensive futility in the third quarters in games of late. Perhaps Coach Gilbride isn't adapting well enough to half-time adjustment made to his schemes? That's totally based on my frustration. This Offense can look so masterful and then so futile all in the same game, quarter or drive.
* How the hell does Mario Manningham fumble that ball? He just laid the ball on the field. I couldn't believe it! This is honestly when my panic settled in....well..., because I've seen these kind of things from the Giants before (reference 2003 playoff game vs 49ers)
* Poor/lack of tackling by Kenny Phillips on Celek's 65 yard Touchdown at 7:28 AND Terrell Thomas on Maclin at 1:16.
* Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn getting caught with his pants down on Philly's on-side kick. He posted a 5-man front. They were all running back for blocking on the assumed, ensuing kick. There's not a person on the unit who was thinking On-Side. Why? Everyone at home knew Philly had to attempt one to stay within reach. The Special Teams have been an Achilles Heal to us all year and everyone knew it. But no one...no one ever expected this. We'd given the unit only glancing criticisms because we've gotten away with their deficiencies. This game we were completely blind-sided. Special Teams finally bit us in the ass at the worst possible time.
* I need to know exactly what Def. Coordinator Perry Fewell had the guys doing out there for 52:00 minutes, then failed miserably at over the last 8 minutes. Maclin and Celek were continually wide open and Michael Vick was suddenly set free to run wild. Does having Justin Tuck dropping back in coverage really make sense to you, the fan and reader?
* With 1:10 left, the failure of the Giants' Offense to get a first down as they stumbled through a three and out series which left the Eagles with 0:14 seconds left. This is the very moment I spent Weeks 3 through 10 screaming about.
* THE PUNT!! What the hell was that? A failure to follow directions...that's what! His job was to kick the ball out of bounds. This also gets thrown back to the Special Teams Coach. This, and the punt coverage that was supposed to tackle the guy with the ball all fall on Coach Quinn.
* Coach Coughlin ~ I thought he was going to beat-up Matt Dodge right on the field. He immediately berated his young kicker and even put his hands on him for a sec... Coach really blew his stack. And I Can't Blame Him! Ya just gotta be careful there Coach.
Coach Coughlin; Coach Fewell; Coach Gilbride; Coach Quinn, the Offense, The Defense and the Special Teams, all contributed in an all-hands-on-deck effort to detonate this season.
I am still short many, many words to truely describe to you how I feel. But like I said, Giant fans have been here before.
So, yeah - the Giants lost their opportunity to have a great season...AGAIN. For this week we get to use words like disgusting; disaster; colossal meltdown, abysmal, atrocious, pathetic, ponderous...etc etc.
You get the picture.
The End...for now.
Mike.BTB
Sunday, December 19, 2010
N.Y.GIANTS ~ NFC EAST Showdown...If Eagles Dare
Week 15
N.F.C. EAST
SHOW-DOWN
Philadelphia Eagles
vs.
NEW YORK GIANTS
I've largely given Eli a pass this season regarding his high number of interceptions based solely in my opinion that he'll do more to win me a game, than lose one. He's my guy and I'm a loyalist that way. But there's no escaping many of his high passes have resulted in tipped balls this season, which in turn resulted many times in an interception. Another select group of interceptions I have blamed Coach Gilbride and poor, unnecessary play selection, like that one against the Redskins in the end-zone.
But last week, Eli, buddy, those two picks were disgusting and all on you dude. We can not afford to turn over the ball like we did the last time we played the Eagles in Philly. The turn-overs in that game had more to do with Ahmad Bradshaw's fumbles, but that seems to have been corrected for the moment. Eli's picks however, continue to pile-up and it's something Eli has to control this Sunday. Turn-overs were the single biggest reason for that loss to Philly in Week 11.
But ever since Eli Manning connected with Kevin Boss for a touchdown against the Jaguars to seal that game, Eli hasn't had to be the onus in the Offensive game-plan. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have alleviated much of that responsibility from Eli recently. While that's meant to be very complimentary towards the running game, that is in no way a slight against Eli. He's only been tasked lately with managing things but his time is coming very soon when we'll look for him to be a hero for us. And when that time comes, my dude with 24 TD passes good for 5th best in the NFL, will get it done because he's DONE it before.
In the mean time, the running game is devouring yardage with fury. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have been a Big Blue Running of the Bulls stampeding and trampling over defenses.
The Eagles Defense has given up as many points as the woeful Redskins have. They will not be able to stop our running game because Eli will keep them honest. If they dare Eli to beat them, my Dude will make them pay...then..Jacobs and Bradshaw will make them suffer.
Eli, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw will be fronted by the reunited, and still great G-Men of the Offensive Line. Shaun O'Hara, the Center, will return after a long nagging foot injury. David Diehl will have another week and a game under his belt with no set-backs. This formidable Offensive Line is finally back together again (Shawn Andrews should be available for reserve duties also) after many weeks apart. That's great news for the running holes Jacobs will be running through; great news for the blockers Bradshaw will be following and cutting behind; and great news for Eli's passing lanes and protection. If you're the Eagles Defense, that's bad news for you.
Outside of the Giants turning the ball over, there will be nothing the Eagles can do to stop us.
The Giants Defense will handle Michael Vick just as they contained him last time around. If he isn't careful about sliding feet first, he may turn into another Giant Defensive statistic. Last week, the Giants were denied the opportunity to get their hands on Brett Favre so they pounded Tarvaris Jackson into submission instead. I believe he was the 6th or so quarterback the Defense has knocked out of commission this season. Justin Tuck, Cofield, Osi and Jason Paul-Pierre I'm sure will be looking to add another QB to their collection.
This Defense has given up the NFC East's least amount of points. All the Giants' division foes have given up over 300 points thus far. The Giants have allowed 250 points. That's good for first in the division and fifth best in the Conference. Coach Perry Fewell and his Defense are gaining greater understanding of each other and the results are bearing that out. The Front Four have been getting sacks without the Giants having to blitz too often as Antrel Rolle and Terrell Thomas have been reaping the rewards in the secondary as a direct result with their roles easier to disguise.
The Linebacker Corps. which have done a more than respectable job this season just took a big hit when we lost Clint Sintim for the rest of the season to yet another Big Blue injury. But Jerry Reese will address that like he has every other injury situation this year; effectively!
Welcome to the Greatest Days of Fall and being a Giants fan. I relish days, games, opponents and opportunities like today. This is where you want to be as a fan at this point in the season..; That is, feeling good about your team and great about your chances as you face-off against your toughest competition and one of your most hated rivals.
This is December Football. This is what it's all about.
My clock just hit 3:42 a.m. as I post these Big Blue Thoughts. In nine hours and seventeen minutes, the New York Football Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles will square off in an epic battle for the right to sit atop the NFC Eastern Division. I'll get a few hours of sleep, but the truth is I'm all fired up.
After suffering consecutive and deflating losses to the Cowboys and Eagles in weeks ten and eleven, the New York Football Giants have played their way back into a position to have their 2010 season be considered "great" again.
I relish the opportunity to play Philadelphia for sole rights to occupy the mountain top;
If Eagles Dare.
Mike.BTB
PIGSKIN ~ WEEK 15 ~ N.Y. JETS; A TOGA PARTY?
Updated.
NFL ~ THREE WEEKS LEFT TO 2010 REGULAR SEASON.
What happened to my bountiful basket of BAGELS?
In addition to getting the Cleveland Browns wrong every week this year, my latest trend now is to do horribly in the early games and closing the gap with the afternoon games.
SEASON STATS:
BAGEL COUNT = +9
SHMEAR of the WEEK = 8-4
PRE-GAME STRETCH:
* Eagles vs. GIANTS; Battle of the NFC bEAST.
* The Giants can get a huge assist from New England today as they play the Packers without their QB.
* I think things are about to get a lot worse for the Jets.
* It would be sweet if the Ravens could beat the Saints!
* How will the Jets respond with adversity staring them in the face?
** It's going to be stupid, ridiculous cold Monday night in Minnesota for Vikings/Bears. It's gonna be great!
The WEEK 15 Big BAGEL Roll-Out:
(NYDN Saturday Line)
GIANTS -3 (Eagles)
What doomed the Giants last time they played was 5 NYG turn-overs. I expect that number to come down. The running game is rushing with impact. Eli only needs to do "just enough".
LOSS ~ 38-31 Eagles
STEELERS -6 (Jets)
I fully expect the Jets to lose their third game in a row. Mark Sanchez is in for a hell of an afternoon.
LOSS ~ 22-17 Jets
Chiefs -1 (RAMS)
I really would like to take the Rams here, but I can't. The Chiefs are trying to secure their division title. They'll be up for this and bounce back.
WIN ~ 27-13 Chiefs
Texans +1 1/2 (TITANS)
Did you see the way Houston moved the ball on the Ravens last Monday night?
LOSS ~ 31-17 Titans
COLTS -5 (Jaguars)
Garrett is out for the Jags and Peyton is in for the Colts. Peyton Manning will make sure the Colts are tied for the division lead by the end of the game.
WIN ~ 34-24 Colts
Cardinals +3 (PANTHERS)
Is there really such a thing as a favorite in this game? Take the points and hope.
LOSS ~ 19-12 Panthers
Browns +1 1/2 (BENGALS)
You know the routine by now. I haven't picked a single Browns game correctly all season. Go the other way!
LOSS ~ 19-17 Bengals
Bills +5 1/2 (DOLPHINS)
I am only looking for the Bills to keep the game closer than 5 1/2.
WIN ~ 17-14 Bills
COWBOYS -7 (Redskins)
Coach Shanahan benched QB Donovan McNabb. The Redskins are miserable.
LOSS ~ 33-30 Cowboys
BUCS -5 1/2 (Lions)
This game could get very ugly. If you stay awake until the third quarter, you really love Football.
LOSS ~ 23-20 Lions O.T.
Saints +2 (RAVENS)
See TEXANS vs. TITANS game. If Matt Schaub (TEX) can do what he did against the Ravens, Drew Brees should be able to move the ball also.
LOSS ~ 30-24 Ravens
Falcons -6 (SEAHAWKS)
Because there is no reason to doubt the Falcons now.
WIN ~ 34-18 Falcons
RAIDERS -7 (Broncos)
For decades the home team was always favored by three points in this match-up. The Broncos are horrible. The Raiders in a romp.
WIN ~ 39-23 Raiders
Patriots -13 (PACKERS)
That's a lot of wood. Rogers will miss the game for the Packers. But even a snow storm against a very stingy Chicago defense couldn't slow Tom Brady down.
* Night
That's 14 more BAGELS into the oven.
SHMEAR of the WEEK: (8-4)
*COWBOYS -7 (Redskins)
**LOSS**
POST GAME COMMENTS:
* GIANTS lose. What an incredible meltdown.
* Jets beat the Steelers!
* Giants get help ~ Saints Lose; Bucs Lose
* I got the Browns game wrong again!! Remain perfect.
* The Basket of BAGELS has dwindled down to +3.
N.Y. GIANTS vs Eagles
***CLICK LINK FOR MY NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS WEEK 15 PREVIEW
Titled: NFC EAST SHOWDOWN; If EAGLES DARE
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/nygiants-nfc-east-showdownif-eagles.html
NEW YORK JETS (9-4):
A Toga Party?
The Boys from DELTA HOUSE are staring expulsion in the face if they don't pass this next test against the Steelers in Pittsburgh; a place where they have never successfully partied before. Good luck guys, you're gonna need it. Just remember, "It wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor."
Forget about the fake answers in the dumpster. That's the Jets' problem in the first place. Everyone thinks they're a fake now. So instead...., This Sunday requires a real stupid gesture be done on some-one's part.... And you're just the guys to do it! Because if the Jets don't get it done Sunday, Dean Wormer is sure to drop the "Big One" on the Jets' season, for sure.
Heading into Week 15 we find the Jets in a nose dive they need to pull-out of faster than BLUTO can down a bottle of Jack Daniel's, before all their playoff and Super Bowl aspirations get taken away in a U-Haul, even including all the games they didn't steal.
They now have three short weeks or maybe just three hours this Sunday to regain control and their composure so as to correct this free fall they find themselves in. Dean Wormer is serious this time.
Things couldn't have gone more wrong for the Jets than they have over the last two weeks. They've lost their last two games by a combined score of 55-9 to the Patriots and the Dolphins. Their Coaching, the Quarterback, the team's preparedness, their skill level and even this season's earlier successes have all been called into question. To make matters even worse, the Jets have had to deal with "WALL-GATE" which invariably caused the Jets' professionalism to be called into question as well.
ANIMAL HOUSE opened up for business when they signed on for HARD KNOCKS. They've been blustery, bodacious, boastful, and quite unapologetic about how they've been perceived since. All the Green DELTA Frat Brothers blissfully followed the dictates of their brash Delta Leader...;
Coach Rex BLUTARSKY. This season long TOGA PARTY was his idea. REX was the first one to yell ALLIGATOR!!!
Well, Double Secret Probation time is over.
The scroll of charges brought against Gang Green's ANIMAL HOUSE for the purposes of revoking their CHARTER reads as follows:
* FALSIFICATION of ORIGINAL CHARTER DOCUMENTS ~ Coach Blutarsky originally and continually declared this a "Ground and Pound" Fraternity. They have been nothing of the kind. They are running the ball almost 20% less this season that they did last year. Shonn Greene continues to be under-utilized as the Jets continue to invest false hope in a resurgence from LT. They have disguised the fact they haven't been Ground and Pound since Leon Washington and Thomas Jones last rushed for them.
* ETHICS VIOLATIONS ~ Charged with employing OPERATION GREEN-WALL. ~ A Strength and Conditioning Coach would take it upon himself to coordinated a little band of Green Sideline Gremlins without the Head Coach's knowledge is a little far fetched.
* FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ~ Bad decisions and mental gaffes have sabotaged Coach Blutarsky's Green Bomber Fleet. *Starting the game by going no-huddle against Bill Belichick showed a complete lack of originality. Likewise when the Jets employed the WildCat against the Dolphins. That's not GROUND AND POUND... That's Smoke and Mirror tactics. *Two times on Special Teams the Jets were caught with too few players on the field; once against N.E. and last week again versus Miami. *In that game against Miami, the decision to spike the ball on first down came from the sidelines. *Coach REX's usage of his Challenges have been nothing short of confounding. *The over-all Offensive Game Plan has been simplistic; the receiving has been substandard and the quarterback has shown every bit of his minimal and still lacking experience. Coach REX Blutarsky and Coach HOOVER Schottenheimer must be held accountable.
*And the most egregious charge of all ~ CHEESE BURGERS ON THE FIELD!! Decorum does not permit me to explain further.
If Coach REX doesn't get this Jet Plane flying right again, it will truly have been, "Seven Years of College Down The Drain!" All that will be missing are the two pencils up his nostrils when Dean Wormer calls him into the office, and the Real Life Media tears him a "new one".
But for his sake, I hope BIG TALK Blutarsky can conjure up something as inappropriate as the EAT ME float and something as equally threatening and frightening as the DEATHMOBILE when they head to The Steel City.
When it's time to "Cut the Cake", will the Jets be able to unleash mayhem and chaos through the streets of downtown Pittsburgh all the way to Heinz Field and ruin everyone wearing Black and Gold's day? OR, will they be the Beauty who got caught hiding behind the car in her bra and panties when Bluto made his get-away, driving off leaving everything behind him in smoke?
We're going to find out. This could turn out to be "One of the greatest days of their lives" and have all their fans back home jumping up and yelling, "Oh Boy! This is great!" OR, the Jets might wind up leaving their fans feeling like the Mayor of Faber felt amidst all the bedlam at the parade when he learned his wife was unfaithful and when he was introduced to the other college punk who molested his fifteen year old daughter and got her pregnant.
That's an awful lot to put on Mark Sanchez' shoulders against the Steelers. But that's the situation the Jets find themselves in. Quarterback Kid needs to bail-out his Coach. This can be a great story if he can pull out a win for Bluto. But Coach REX and Coach Schottenheimer need to be way better and help out their quarterback also.
It looks like Mark Sanchez and PITT's Troy Polamalu won't have to stare each-other down in a game of chicken to see who blinks first. Troy may miss the game with a leg injury. Somehow Coach Schottenheimer HAS to make that work towards his and the Jets' advantage.
The Jets visit the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. In my opinion, this game couldn't come at a worse time. But one of the truest tests in life is how you respond when faced with adversity. The schedule makers don't care about Gut Check games. They're about the only one's though.
We're going to see if this Toga Party was worth it.
Mike.BTB
NFL ~ THREE WEEKS LEFT TO 2010 REGULAR SEASON.
What happened to my bountiful basket of BAGELS?
In addition to getting the Cleveland Browns wrong every week this year, my latest trend now is to do horribly in the early games and closing the gap with the afternoon games.
SEASON STATS:
BAGEL COUNT = +9
SHMEAR of the WEEK = 8-4
PRE-GAME STRETCH:
* Eagles vs. GIANTS; Battle of the NFC bEAST.
* The Giants can get a huge assist from New England today as they play the Packers without their QB.
* I think things are about to get a lot worse for the Jets.
* It would be sweet if the Ravens could beat the Saints!
* How will the Jets respond with adversity staring them in the face?
** It's going to be stupid, ridiculous cold Monday night in Minnesota for Vikings/Bears. It's gonna be great!
The WEEK 15 Big BAGEL Roll-Out:
(NYDN Saturday Line)
GIANTS -3 (Eagles)
What doomed the Giants last time they played was 5 NYG turn-overs. I expect that number to come down. The running game is rushing with impact. Eli only needs to do "just enough".
LOSS ~ 38-31 Eagles
STEELERS -6 (Jets)
I fully expect the Jets to lose their third game in a row. Mark Sanchez is in for a hell of an afternoon.
LOSS ~ 22-17 Jets
Chiefs -1 (RAMS)
I really would like to take the Rams here, but I can't. The Chiefs are trying to secure their division title. They'll be up for this and bounce back.
WIN ~ 27-13 Chiefs
Texans +1 1/2 (TITANS)
Did you see the way Houston moved the ball on the Ravens last Monday night?
LOSS ~ 31-17 Titans
COLTS -5 (Jaguars)
Garrett is out for the Jags and Peyton is in for the Colts. Peyton Manning will make sure the Colts are tied for the division lead by the end of the game.
WIN ~ 34-24 Colts
Cardinals +3 (PANTHERS)
Is there really such a thing as a favorite in this game? Take the points and hope.
LOSS ~ 19-12 Panthers
Browns +1 1/2 (BENGALS)
You know the routine by now. I haven't picked a single Browns game correctly all season. Go the other way!
LOSS ~ 19-17 Bengals
Bills +5 1/2 (DOLPHINS)
I am only looking for the Bills to keep the game closer than 5 1/2.
WIN ~ 17-14 Bills
COWBOYS -7 (Redskins)
Coach Shanahan benched QB Donovan McNabb. The Redskins are miserable.
LOSS ~ 33-30 Cowboys
BUCS -5 1/2 (Lions)
This game could get very ugly. If you stay awake until the third quarter, you really love Football.
LOSS ~ 23-20 Lions O.T.
Saints +2 (RAVENS)
See TEXANS vs. TITANS game. If Matt Schaub (TEX) can do what he did against the Ravens, Drew Brees should be able to move the ball also.
LOSS ~ 30-24 Ravens
Falcons -6 (SEAHAWKS)
Because there is no reason to doubt the Falcons now.
WIN ~ 34-18 Falcons
RAIDERS -7 (Broncos)
For decades the home team was always favored by three points in this match-up. The Broncos are horrible. The Raiders in a romp.
WIN ~ 39-23 Raiders
Patriots -13 (PACKERS)
That's a lot of wood. Rogers will miss the game for the Packers. But even a snow storm against a very stingy Chicago defense couldn't slow Tom Brady down.
* Night
That's 14 more BAGELS into the oven.
SHMEAR of the WEEK: (8-4)
*COWBOYS -7 (Redskins)
**LOSS**
POST GAME COMMENTS:
* GIANTS lose. What an incredible meltdown.
* Jets beat the Steelers!
* Giants get help ~ Saints Lose; Bucs Lose
* I got the Browns game wrong again!! Remain perfect.
* The Basket of BAGELS has dwindled down to +3.
N.Y. GIANTS vs Eagles
***CLICK LINK FOR MY NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS WEEK 15 PREVIEW
Titled: NFC EAST SHOWDOWN; If EAGLES DARE
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/nygiants-nfc-east-showdownif-eagles.html
NEW YORK JETS (9-4):
A Toga Party?
The Boys from DELTA HOUSE are staring expulsion in the face if they don't pass this next test against the Steelers in Pittsburgh; a place where they have never successfully partied before. Good luck guys, you're gonna need it. Just remember, "It wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor."
Forget about the fake answers in the dumpster. That's the Jets' problem in the first place. Everyone thinks they're a fake now. So instead...., This Sunday requires a real stupid gesture be done on some-one's part.... And you're just the guys to do it! Because if the Jets don't get it done Sunday, Dean Wormer is sure to drop the "Big One" on the Jets' season, for sure.
Heading into Week 15 we find the Jets in a nose dive they need to pull-out of faster than BLUTO can down a bottle of Jack Daniel's, before all their playoff and Super Bowl aspirations get taken away in a U-Haul, even including all the games they didn't steal.
They now have three short weeks or maybe just three hours this Sunday to regain control and their composure so as to correct this free fall they find themselves in. Dean Wormer is serious this time.
Things couldn't have gone more wrong for the Jets than they have over the last two weeks. They've lost their last two games by a combined score of 55-9 to the Patriots and the Dolphins. Their Coaching, the Quarterback, the team's preparedness, their skill level and even this season's earlier successes have all been called into question. To make matters even worse, the Jets have had to deal with "WALL-GATE" which invariably caused the Jets' professionalism to be called into question as well.
ANIMAL HOUSE opened up for business when they signed on for HARD KNOCKS. They've been blustery, bodacious, boastful, and quite unapologetic about how they've been perceived since. All the Green DELTA Frat Brothers blissfully followed the dictates of their brash Delta Leader...;
Coach Rex BLUTARSKY. This season long TOGA PARTY was his idea. REX was the first one to yell ALLIGATOR!!!
Well, Double Secret Probation time is over.
The scroll of charges brought against Gang Green's ANIMAL HOUSE for the purposes of revoking their CHARTER reads as follows:
* FALSIFICATION of ORIGINAL CHARTER DOCUMENTS ~ Coach Blutarsky originally and continually declared this a "Ground and Pound" Fraternity. They have been nothing of the kind. They are running the ball almost 20% less this season that they did last year. Shonn Greene continues to be under-utilized as the Jets continue to invest false hope in a resurgence from LT. They have disguised the fact they haven't been Ground and Pound since Leon Washington and Thomas Jones last rushed for them.
* ETHICS VIOLATIONS ~ Charged with employing OPERATION GREEN-WALL. ~ A Strength and Conditioning Coach would take it upon himself to coordinated a little band of Green Sideline Gremlins without the Head Coach's knowledge is a little far fetched.
* FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ~ Bad decisions and mental gaffes have sabotaged Coach Blutarsky's Green Bomber Fleet. *Starting the game by going no-huddle against Bill Belichick showed a complete lack of originality. Likewise when the Jets employed the WildCat against the Dolphins. That's not GROUND AND POUND... That's Smoke and Mirror tactics. *Two times on Special Teams the Jets were caught with too few players on the field; once against N.E. and last week again versus Miami. *In that game against Miami, the decision to spike the ball on first down came from the sidelines. *Coach REX's usage of his Challenges have been nothing short of confounding. *The over-all Offensive Game Plan has been simplistic; the receiving has been substandard and the quarterback has shown every bit of his minimal and still lacking experience. Coach REX Blutarsky and Coach HOOVER Schottenheimer must be held accountable.
*And the most egregious charge of all ~ CHEESE BURGERS ON THE FIELD!! Decorum does not permit me to explain further.
If Coach REX doesn't get this Jet Plane flying right again, it will truly have been, "Seven Years of College Down The Drain!" All that will be missing are the two pencils up his nostrils when Dean Wormer calls him into the office, and the Real Life Media tears him a "new one".
But for his sake, I hope BIG TALK Blutarsky can conjure up something as inappropriate as the EAT ME float and something as equally threatening and frightening as the DEATHMOBILE when they head to The Steel City.
When it's time to "Cut the Cake", will the Jets be able to unleash mayhem and chaos through the streets of downtown Pittsburgh all the way to Heinz Field and ruin everyone wearing Black and Gold's day? OR, will they be the Beauty who got caught hiding behind the car in her bra and panties when Bluto made his get-away, driving off leaving everything behind him in smoke?
We're going to find out. This could turn out to be "One of the greatest days of their lives" and have all their fans back home jumping up and yelling, "Oh Boy! This is great!" OR, the Jets might wind up leaving their fans feeling like the Mayor of Faber felt amidst all the bedlam at the parade when he learned his wife was unfaithful and when he was introduced to the other college punk who molested his fifteen year old daughter and got her pregnant.
That's an awful lot to put on Mark Sanchez' shoulders against the Steelers. But that's the situation the Jets find themselves in. Quarterback Kid needs to bail-out his Coach. This can be a great story if he can pull out a win for Bluto. But Coach REX and Coach Schottenheimer need to be way better and help out their quarterback also.
It looks like Mark Sanchez and PITT's Troy Polamalu won't have to stare each-other down in a game of chicken to see who blinks first. Troy may miss the game with a leg injury. Somehow Coach Schottenheimer HAS to make that work towards his and the Jets' advantage.
The Jets visit the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. In my opinion, this game couldn't come at a worse time. But one of the truest tests in life is how you respond when faced with adversity. The schedule makers don't care about Gut Check games. They're about the only one's though.
We're going to see if this Toga Party was worth it.
Mike.BTB
Saturday, December 18, 2010
NJ/BKN NETS ~ C'Mon!? Brooklyn New Yorkers? Really?
You have got to be kidding me! The Brooklyn New Yorkers?
C'MON!!
Is that the best you can do?
FIRST TOPIC - BROOKLYN vs. NEW YORK BRANDING:
Don't even waste my time; It's Brooklyn or nothing! Anything other than Brooklyn will be a colossal mistake. A populace of 2.5 million should play second fiddle to no one.
Earlier in the month, NetsDaily.com was all over this naming disaster. Check 'em out.
http://www.netsdaily.com/2010/12/13/1869875/who-are-the-brooklyn-new-yorkers
A related article to the possible Name Change Disaster:
From: TheAtlanticWire.com
By: Ray Gustini
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/Brooklyn-New-Yorkers-Is-a-Terrible-Terrible-NBA-Team-Name-2781
Possible Names For Brooklyn's NBA Team:
Reading around blogs and articles I've come across some names we'll start this list off with;
1) - Brooklyn Ballers (seen on NetsDaily.com)
2) - Brooklyn Knights, Jammers (Traffic Jammers that is..) and Stars
(seen on TheBrooklynPaper.com/comments)
Here are a bunch of names that weren't too hard to come up with!
1) - Brooklyn T~Birds, (ThunderBirds) think "Lords of Flatbush"
1a)-Brooklyn Lords, see "Lords of Flatbush".
2) - Brooklyn Dukes, think the "Duke of Flatbush"...Duke Snider.
3) - Brooklyn Atlantics, They'll be on Atlantic Avenue, throwback to the 1860's Era Baseball Champions.
4) - Brooklyn Kingsmen, think Kings County; Kings H'way is named that for a reason.
5) - Brooklyn Emperors, this is the Empire State...isn't it?
6) - Brooklyn Empires, see Empire State
7) - Brooklyn Rivals, see NY Knicks
8) - Brooklyn Rebels, a name once considered for the Mets.
9) - Brooklyn Nightmares, See "NoLandGrab"
10) - Brooklyn Thrillers, ?
11) - Brooklyn ThunderBolts, the old Coney Island roller coaster.
12) - Brooklyn Continentals, reference to The Battle of Brooklyn.
13) - Brooklyn NETS ~ It works!
14) - Brooklyn Hoops, ?
15) - Brooklyn Cagers, ?
And then there's my official suggestion:
The BROOKLYN TROLLEYS
C'MON!
"NYET"!.... on The BROOKLYN NEW YORKERS?
Fugheddaboudit!
Barclays Center
As of ~ DECEMBER 13th
C'MON!!
Is that the best you can do?
FIRST TOPIC - BROOKLYN vs. NEW YORK BRANDING:
Don't even waste my time; It's Brooklyn or nothing! Anything other than Brooklyn will be a colossal mistake. A populace of 2.5 million should play second fiddle to no one.
Earlier in the month, NetsDaily.com was all over this naming disaster. Check 'em out.
http://www.netsdaily.com/2010/12/13/1869875/who-are-the-brooklyn-new-yorkers
Picture from NetsDaily
A related article to the possible Name Change Disaster:
From: TheAtlanticWire.com
By: Ray Gustini
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/Brooklyn-New-Yorkers-Is-a-Terrible-Terrible-NBA-Team-Name-2781
Possible Names For Brooklyn's NBA Team:
Reading around blogs and articles I've come across some names we'll start this list off with;
1) - Brooklyn Ballers (seen on NetsDaily.com)
2) - Brooklyn Knights, Jammers (Traffic Jammers that is..) and Stars
(seen on TheBrooklynPaper.com/comments)
Here are a bunch of names that weren't too hard to come up with!
1) - Brooklyn T~Birds, (ThunderBirds) think "Lords of Flatbush"
1a)-Brooklyn Lords, see "Lords of Flatbush".
2) - Brooklyn Dukes, think the "Duke of Flatbush"...Duke Snider.
3) - Brooklyn Atlantics, They'll be on Atlantic Avenue, throwback to the 1860's Era Baseball Champions.
4) - Brooklyn Kingsmen, think Kings County; Kings H'way is named that for a reason.
5) - Brooklyn Emperors, this is the Empire State...isn't it?
6) - Brooklyn Empires, see Empire State
7) - Brooklyn Rivals, see NY Knicks
8) - Brooklyn Rebels, a name once considered for the Mets.
9) - Brooklyn Nightmares, See "NoLandGrab"
10) - Brooklyn Thrillers, ?
11) - Brooklyn ThunderBolts, the old Coney Island roller coaster.
12) - Brooklyn Continentals, reference to The Battle of Brooklyn.
13) - Brooklyn NETS ~ It works!
14) - Brooklyn Hoops, ?
15) - Brooklyn Cagers, ?
The BROOKLYN TROLLEYS
C'MON!
"NYET"!.... on The BROOKLYN NEW YORKERS?
Fugheddaboudit!
Barclays Center
Construction ~ December 2010
As of ~ DECEMBER 13th
As of December 17th
Mike.BTB
Friday, December 17, 2010
N.Y. Knicks ~ Knicks Fade in Second-Half HEAT
NEW YORK KNICKERBOCKERS: For 30 minutes, The Garden was as Hot as South Beach.
Madison Square Garden Rumbled; Then Mumbled; Then Just Got Humbled.
The final score was 113-91; Miami Heat over the Knicks. LeBron James lead the game in Boo's and scored a triple-double notching 32 points; 11 rebounds; 10 assists. We pretty much knew that would happen especially watching Turiaf, Gallo and Felton attempting to guard him with little effect. Dwayne Wade dropped another 26 points. We've come to expect that playing against him too.
Then there's Chris Bosh. He scored another 26 points for Miami and pulled down 7 rebounds. That's the third guy in Miami's triumvirate. He's the guy we didn't have an answer for if you're asking me.
There's a bunch of things that conspired against the Knicks in the second half tonight. But here are the things that stick out in my mind reviewing tonight's loss over-all.
*What happened to the Knicks running game in the second half?
*They were only 13 of 23 from the free throw line tonight.
* They only shot 39% from the field.
*Miami clamped down on defense as the Knicks only scored 34 points in the second half.
*From start to finish, the Heat scored whenever they wanted.
*Meanwhile the Knicks bench could only muster 12 points.
For whatever reason, they looked pretty lethargic in the second half. I'm not about to speculate why but maybe they play too many minutes because we have no bench... But having said that, if you pair the following scorers, Stoudemire and LeBron; Gallo's 25 points and Wade's 26, it's safe to call it a wash. Not exactly...but there's a point to be made here.
As I said we had no answer for Bosh. He had the early mismatch against Fields that I thought the Heat were going to exploit all night. Landry Fields and Ray Felton only had five and eight points respectively. That's your game right there. Chandler and Miami's Arroyo was another wash. But Ray's and Landry's combined 13 points were doubled by Chris Bosh. Felton had double digits in assists but now you see what happens to this team when Landry and Ray aren't scoring in double digits. Could Ray Felton have scored more if his hand wasn't wrapped up? Maybe.
But let's end on a good note shall we? The first quarter of this game was one of the most electrifying 12:00 minutes of basketball by the Knicks in a long time!
D-Gallo was having an inspired start to this game. Gallo was first as he and D-Wade exchanged monstrous dunks with around 6:30 left in the first quarter. Ray Felton came back with a left-handed lay-up for two. Chris Bosh put up an air-ball the Heat's next time down. THEN, on the ensuing Knick's possession, Amar'e Stoudemire D-Huuuunked!!.. the Knicks to a one point lead with 5:54 left.
The crowd went bonkers!
That moment was louder than any Knick moment covering the last eight years(?). The roar which erupted from the crowd was enough to strip away anything that still needed removal in the Garden's roof during her extensive renovations.
(Then some time in the third quarter they were silenced and by the fouth quarter, humbled.)
The Knicks went into half-time tied 57-57 against LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the rest of the South Beach Humids. For the first thirty minutes tonight, the atmosphere was glorious. Miami may have brought the HEAT to MSG this evening, but the Garden is proving to be a cool place to be again.
Mike.BTB
Madison Square Garden Rumbled; Then Mumbled; Then Just Got Humbled.
The final score was 113-91; Miami Heat over the Knicks. LeBron James lead the game in Boo's and scored a triple-double notching 32 points; 11 rebounds; 10 assists. We pretty much knew that would happen especially watching Turiaf, Gallo and Felton attempting to guard him with little effect. Dwayne Wade dropped another 26 points. We've come to expect that playing against him too.
Then there's Chris Bosh. He scored another 26 points for Miami and pulled down 7 rebounds. That's the third guy in Miami's triumvirate. He's the guy we didn't have an answer for if you're asking me.
There's a bunch of things that conspired against the Knicks in the second half tonight. But here are the things that stick out in my mind reviewing tonight's loss over-all.
*What happened to the Knicks running game in the second half?
*They were only 13 of 23 from the free throw line tonight.
* They only shot 39% from the field.
*Miami clamped down on defense as the Knicks only scored 34 points in the second half.
*From start to finish, the Heat scored whenever they wanted.
*Meanwhile the Knicks bench could only muster 12 points.
For whatever reason, they looked pretty lethargic in the second half. I'm not about to speculate why but maybe they play too many minutes because we have no bench... But having said that, if you pair the following scorers, Stoudemire and LeBron; Gallo's 25 points and Wade's 26, it's safe to call it a wash. Not exactly...but there's a point to be made here.
As I said we had no answer for Bosh. He had the early mismatch against Fields that I thought the Heat were going to exploit all night. Landry Fields and Ray Felton only had five and eight points respectively. That's your game right there. Chandler and Miami's Arroyo was another wash. But Ray's and Landry's combined 13 points were doubled by Chris Bosh. Felton had double digits in assists but now you see what happens to this team when Landry and Ray aren't scoring in double digits. Could Ray Felton have scored more if his hand wasn't wrapped up? Maybe.
But let's end on a good note shall we? The first quarter of this game was one of the most electrifying 12:00 minutes of basketball by the Knicks in a long time!
D-Gallo was having an inspired start to this game. Gallo was first as he and D-Wade exchanged monstrous dunks with around 6:30 left in the first quarter. Ray Felton came back with a left-handed lay-up for two. Chris Bosh put up an air-ball the Heat's next time down. THEN, on the ensuing Knick's possession, Amar'e Stoudemire D-Huuuunked!!.. the Knicks to a one point lead with 5:54 left.
The crowd went bonkers!
That moment was louder than any Knick moment covering the last eight years(?). The roar which erupted from the crowd was enough to strip away anything that still needed removal in the Garden's roof during her extensive renovations.
(Then some time in the third quarter they were silenced and by the fouth quarter, humbled.)
The Knicks went into half-time tied 57-57 against LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the rest of the South Beach Humids. For the first thirty minutes tonight, the atmosphere was glorious. Miami may have brought the HEAT to MSG this evening, but the Garden is proving to be a cool place to be again.
Mike.BTB
Thursday, December 16, 2010
N.Y.Rangers ~ We Are What Our Record Says We Are
NEW YORK RANGERS: Blueshirts Man-Handle NHL's Elite Teams.
So, Who Exactly Are These Guys Anyway?
Thirty-two games into the season may be an odd time to take stock of the Rangers. But a closer look at this team is warranted after the Blueshirts thoroughly manhandled two of the NHL's elite.
The Washington Capitals were already in a mini tail-spin by the time they arrived at Madison Square Garden. But I don't think anyone anticipated the 7-0 drubbing the Rangers inflicted upon the Capital City Skaters. I sure didn't.
In this game, Chris Drury finally made his return from missing virtually the entire season with multiple breaks to his finger. The Rangers completely shut down Alex Ovechkin and had him frustrated enough to get into a some-what rare fight with Brandon Dubinsky. With the win over Washington, the Rangers evened-up their series against the Capitals. The Rangers lost their first game together back in November.
Then the Rangers took the sizzle of the Caps game to Pittsburgh with them, where they proceeded to beat Sidney "SLEW" and the Penguins four goals to one. Once again, an NHL elite team was thoroughly shut down by the Rangers and the second "elite" player in successive games was held in check. Sidney Crosby could only muster an assist on an Evgeni Malkin goal during the Ranger win.
It was the third time the Rangers and Penguins faced off this year. The Rangers beat the Penguins back in November in a game that went into over-time. Last month the Penguins repaid the favor. The Rangers now enjoy a 2 games to 1 advantage over their PITT rival.
So what do we make of a team that just manhandled the Capitals and the Penguins in consecutive games?
Going into tonight's game with the Coyotes, the Rangers were 19-13-1; good for 39 points. That makes them the 5th best team in the Conference when you adjust for the division leaders. The top team in the Conference is Philadelphia with 47 points; then Pitt with 44 points.
There are only 7 teams in the NHL with 100 or more goals scored this season. It's damn near remarkable that, as much as "we" howl about the Rangers not having a top-flight scorer on the roster, the Rangers are one of those seven teams. Three of those seven teams play in the Atlantic Division; The Penguins, Flyers, and yours truly...the New York Rangers. The only other Eastern Conference team with 100+ goals scored is the Atlanta Thrashers.
Defensively, the Rangers are 6th best in the Conference which also is a surprising stat after watching how hard they work and how gritty they are. I thought they might be slightly better than they are. I was slightly surprised at how the numbers reflect their effectiveness in a lesser light based on my own impressions of the team.
In another way to look at this team, the Rangers would occupy first place in four other NHL divisions if they didn't play in the Atlantic with Pittsburgh and Philly. Go figure.
Their games have ranged everywhere from very good to very bad this season. In a game back in November the Rangers drilled the Oilers 8-2. Then, there was the most recent game against the Capitals, in-which the Rangers won 7-0. But there have been ugly games like a 6-4 loss to the Islanders and a 6-4 loss to Atlanta, both early on in October. In November, I recall a 5-1 beat-down at the hands of Colorado. Incidentally we have lost two games to Colorado this season.
Somehow, the Rangers achieved a 9-7 record in November. But most of those wins came against the second division. The losses piled up against the League's better teams. Game losses against Chicago; Philly; St. Louis; Washington; Boston; Colorado; Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh were hardly balanced with wins against quality teams such as Chicago; PITT and Nashville.
They split their games against Chicago, Boston and Ottawa. And as I mentioned they are 1-1 against the Capitals and 2-1 versus the Penguins.
Someone once said you are what your record says you are. The Rangers have been everything we fans have a responsible right to expect of them.
But what does it all mean?
The Answer ~ We are a third place club in the Atlantic Division; Nothing more; Nothing less. We'll have really good nights and horrific ones too. But on a night-in, night-out basis, they will be a hard working bunch. At least we know that much.
RANGER NOTES:
RYAN CALLAHAN ~ will be out for the next month and a half due to a broken hand he sustained when attempting to block a shot very early in the game against Pittsburgh. This is a huge and frustrating blow to the Blueshirts. Just as we were getting Chris Drury back, we lost the player who embodies this current addition of Broadway Blueshirts the most.
SEAN AVERY ~ Here I go again. Now that Callahan will miss extensive time, how about giving Sean Avery his spot along side Dubinsky and Anisimov? Or, at a minimum moving him up to the third line?
Upon Drury's return, Coach Torts promptly put Chris on line with Avery and Christensen. I can deal with that combination. But now that Coach Torts has a genuine reason to incessantly tinker with his forward lines, do we really know what combinations we may see in the very near future?
Nope.
Mike.BTB
So, Who Exactly Are These Guys Anyway?
Thirty-two games into the season may be an odd time to take stock of the Rangers. But a closer look at this team is warranted after the Blueshirts thoroughly manhandled two of the NHL's elite.
The Washington Capitals were already in a mini tail-spin by the time they arrived at Madison Square Garden. But I don't think anyone anticipated the 7-0 drubbing the Rangers inflicted upon the Capital City Skaters. I sure didn't.
In this game, Chris Drury finally made his return from missing virtually the entire season with multiple breaks to his finger. The Rangers completely shut down Alex Ovechkin and had him frustrated enough to get into a some-what rare fight with Brandon Dubinsky. With the win over Washington, the Rangers evened-up their series against the Capitals. The Rangers lost their first game together back in November.
Then the Rangers took the sizzle of the Caps game to Pittsburgh with them, where they proceeded to beat Sidney "SLEW" and the Penguins four goals to one. Once again, an NHL elite team was thoroughly shut down by the Rangers and the second "elite" player in successive games was held in check. Sidney Crosby could only muster an assist on an Evgeni Malkin goal during the Ranger win.
It was the third time the Rangers and Penguins faced off this year. The Rangers beat the Penguins back in November in a game that went into over-time. Last month the Penguins repaid the favor. The Rangers now enjoy a 2 games to 1 advantage over their PITT rival.
So what do we make of a team that just manhandled the Capitals and the Penguins in consecutive games?
Going into tonight's game with the Coyotes, the Rangers were 19-13-1; good for 39 points. That makes them the 5th best team in the Conference when you adjust for the division leaders. The top team in the Conference is Philadelphia with 47 points; then Pitt with 44 points.
There are only 7 teams in the NHL with 100 or more goals scored this season. It's damn near remarkable that, as much as "we" howl about the Rangers not having a top-flight scorer on the roster, the Rangers are one of those seven teams. Three of those seven teams play in the Atlantic Division; The Penguins, Flyers, and yours truly...the New York Rangers. The only other Eastern Conference team with 100+ goals scored is the Atlanta Thrashers.
Defensively, the Rangers are 6th best in the Conference which also is a surprising stat after watching how hard they work and how gritty they are. I thought they might be slightly better than they are. I was slightly surprised at how the numbers reflect their effectiveness in a lesser light based on my own impressions of the team.
In another way to look at this team, the Rangers would occupy first place in four other NHL divisions if they didn't play in the Atlantic with Pittsburgh and Philly. Go figure.
Their games have ranged everywhere from very good to very bad this season. In a game back in November the Rangers drilled the Oilers 8-2. Then, there was the most recent game against the Capitals, in-which the Rangers won 7-0. But there have been ugly games like a 6-4 loss to the Islanders and a 6-4 loss to Atlanta, both early on in October. In November, I recall a 5-1 beat-down at the hands of Colorado. Incidentally we have lost two games to Colorado this season.
Somehow, the Rangers achieved a 9-7 record in November. But most of those wins came against the second division. The losses piled up against the League's better teams. Game losses against Chicago; Philly; St. Louis; Washington; Boston; Colorado; Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh were hardly balanced with wins against quality teams such as Chicago; PITT and Nashville.
They split their games against Chicago, Boston and Ottawa. And as I mentioned they are 1-1 against the Capitals and 2-1 versus the Penguins.
Someone once said you are what your record says you are. The Rangers have been everything we fans have a responsible right to expect of them.
But what does it all mean?
The Answer ~ We are a third place club in the Atlantic Division; Nothing more; Nothing less. We'll have really good nights and horrific ones too. But on a night-in, night-out basis, they will be a hard working bunch. At least we know that much.
RANGER NOTES:
RYAN CALLAHAN ~ will be out for the next month and a half due to a broken hand he sustained when attempting to block a shot very early in the game against Pittsburgh. This is a huge and frustrating blow to the Blueshirts. Just as we were getting Chris Drury back, we lost the player who embodies this current addition of Broadway Blueshirts the most.
SEAN AVERY ~ Here I go again. Now that Callahan will miss extensive time, how about giving Sean Avery his spot along side Dubinsky and Anisimov? Or, at a minimum moving him up to the third line?
Upon Drury's return, Coach Torts promptly put Chris on line with Avery and Christensen. I can deal with that combination. But now that Coach Torts has a genuine reason to incessantly tinker with his forward lines, do we really know what combinations we may see in the very near future?
Nope.
Mike.BTB
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
N.Y. Knicks ~ A Celtic Win Is A Huge Knick Victory
NEW YORK KNICKS: For Five Minutes, The Knicks and Amar'e Achieved Sweet Victory Over The Celtics as Madison Square Garden Roared Again!
**Savvy and Experience Were Only Two Points Better Than The Knickerbockers Tonight.
This is the stretch of games when the Knicks will finally be tested. A more accurate analysis of this new Knickerbocker team now begins in earnest. They started off well beating the Denver Nuggest and Carmelo Anthony last Sunday. Next up would be the Boyz from Beantown.
The Boston Celtics came into Madison Square Garden tonight sporting the Eastern Conference's best record built on the strength of a 10 game winning streak. The Knicks have a little streak of their own winning their last 8 games in a row. As of tonight, the Knicks are the team closest to the Celtics in the division standings with a 16-9 record and 4 games back. The first place Celtics were 19-4 before tonight's game.
And so, the championship calibur squad from Boston visited the new, re-formed Knicks in a good old- fashioned Atlantic Division match-up.
Amar'e Stoudemire topped thirty points for the 9th consecutive game (he finished with 39) and Ray Felton ochestrated what is becoming routine quarterbacking with a snarl. The Knicks took the lead in the opening minutes and clinged to it dearly all night long.
It appeared as if Boston was just rope-a-doping the Knicks, and that their defensive would rise-up to take over late in this game. The Celtics stayed close all night and tied it a few times. But this squad of Knicks never gave up against the Legendary Green Shamrocks.
The Knicks held a two, four, six and eight point lead for the majority of the night. With ten minutes left in the 4th period, Amar'e Stoudemire blocked two consecutive shot to protect a Knicks' two point lead. The Knicks would turn that into a four point lead again but then Ray Allen dropped a three on the Knicks and the lead was down to one again.
With six minutes left the Knicks were still clinging to one and three point leads. At 5:45 D'Gallo dazzled by driving baseline for a dunk to make it 102-99 and then Ray Felton burried a three his next time up the floor. The Celtics kept trading baskets them but Ray Felton and Stoudemire kept making shots also.
At 3:52, the Knicks called a time-out.
At 3:11 Amar'e Stoudemire scored his 39th point of the night giving the Knicks 111 points; the most the Celtics would allow this season to any team. It appeared as if the Knicks had the vaunted Celtics' D taxed.
With 2:18 left in the game the Knicks were still holding on tightly to their slim lead. Amar'e and Felton kept on surging and gave every impression they were practiced at the art of closing out games.
With 2:00 left the Knicks led 113-111. And at 1:29, after a foul to Garnett and two made free throws, the game was tied 113-113.
Ray Felton drove the paint but ended up wildly out of control trying to penetrate. He lost his dribble and the ball. The Celtics returned up court where Ray Allen burried another three for the Celtics. The score was now 116-113 Boston.
D'Gallo made a left handed lay-up after driving the left side of the paint off a Felton pass and got fouled....116-116 ~ 0.44 left.
Soon again, it was Knick ball with 20 seconds left. Felton found Stoudemire down low but Amar'e could not convert as the shot went in and out. The Celtics rebounded and promptly called for a time out with 0.12 seconds left.
Having won much credibility tonight, the Knicks had their eyes on winning this game. A Boston possession and 0.12 seconds stood between over-time or defeat.
It wasn't the Celtics defense that would bury the Knicks late. Instead, it was Paul Pierce who burried a shot from just to the side of the high right elbow. All that was left on the clock for the Knicks to attempt a shot to tie or win this game were four-tenths of a second.
The Knicks inbounded to Amar'e who promptly put up a shot from above the three point line and HIT It!
Incredibly, an Amar'e Stoudemire three point shot won the game for the Knickerbockers....But only for a few minutes until the refs checked the replay and confirmed that Amar'e got the shot off too late. The buzzer went off; the back-board light went on, and Amar'e still had the ball in his hands.
The Celtics win 118-116 tonight in Madison Square Garden. In this game, savvy won-out over youth.
Before the game, Coach Rivers said there'd be no trophies handed out after the game for who ever won. The comments stemmed from being asked about "the Knicks/Celtics rivalry". Well, Doc Rivers was right about not recieving trophies, but he and his team were lucky to leave NYC with their streak extended. Luck may not be a correct word to use as perhaps savvy is the better way to descibe Boston's last second "comeback" win.
The Knicks are clearly an emerging team as evidenced by tonight's effort. But they are still learning how to gel together and close games out. But there is no Knick fan tonight who left MSG who could have possibly been upset with tonight's game in spite of the loss.
Do I believe in moral victories? Not really. But I do have strong convictions about improvement and a strong appreciation for competing. The Knicks are presently engaged in both processes.
We fell two points short tonight or we just ran out of time; Take your pick. Or you can look at things this way. Tonight was a win-win.
December games against the League's best is a fair barometer to guage this team and the readings after the last two games are favorable. The Knicks and Celtics may very well be two teams passing and waving to each other in the night. The former Champions are practiced at the art of picking their moments and closing-out games. But Boston's Big Three's last days will be coming sooner than later in a figurative sense. They may have pushed their team to a 10 game winning streak and a 5 game lead over the Knicks in the standings. But the truth is tonight, they were only two points and a second better. Even Kevin Garnett knows that's too close for comfort.
The Knicks are just arriving and haven't even un-packed their bags yet. Tonight they made Boston and the rest of the contenders in this League understand the Knicks should no longer be viewed as one of the NBA's door matts. There's still much more work to do but this team looks like it intends on staying around for a while. And after one look around Madison Square Garden tonight, it was clear the fans were back HOME and planned on staying a while also.
Next up....Bring the HEAT; The Miami Heat!
*LINK: TRADE RUMOR*
From: Examiner.com Minnesota
Article: "Timberwolves Guard Telfair Could be Traded To New York Knicks"
By: Matt Krumrie; Minnesota Timberwolves Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/minnesota-timberwolves-in-minneapolis/reports-timberwolves-guard-telfair-could-be-traded-to-new-york-knicks
Mike.BTB
**Savvy and Experience Were Only Two Points Better Than The Knickerbockers Tonight.
This is the stretch of games when the Knicks will finally be tested. A more accurate analysis of this new Knickerbocker team now begins in earnest. They started off well beating the Denver Nuggest and Carmelo Anthony last Sunday. Next up would be the Boyz from Beantown.
The Boston Celtics came into Madison Square Garden tonight sporting the Eastern Conference's best record built on the strength of a 10 game winning streak. The Knicks have a little streak of their own winning their last 8 games in a row. As of tonight, the Knicks are the team closest to the Celtics in the division standings with a 16-9 record and 4 games back. The first place Celtics were 19-4 before tonight's game.
And so, the championship calibur squad from Boston visited the new, re-formed Knicks in a good old- fashioned Atlantic Division match-up.
Amar'e Stoudemire topped thirty points for the 9th consecutive game (he finished with 39) and Ray Felton ochestrated what is becoming routine quarterbacking with a snarl. The Knicks took the lead in the opening minutes and clinged to it dearly all night long.
It appeared as if Boston was just rope-a-doping the Knicks, and that their defensive would rise-up to take over late in this game. The Celtics stayed close all night and tied it a few times. But this squad of Knicks never gave up against the Legendary Green Shamrocks.
The Knicks held a two, four, six and eight point lead for the majority of the night. With ten minutes left in the 4th period, Amar'e Stoudemire blocked two consecutive shot to protect a Knicks' two point lead. The Knicks would turn that into a four point lead again but then Ray Allen dropped a three on the Knicks and the lead was down to one again.
With six minutes left the Knicks were still clinging to one and three point leads. At 5:45 D'Gallo dazzled by driving baseline for a dunk to make it 102-99 and then Ray Felton burried a three his next time up the floor. The Celtics kept trading baskets them but Ray Felton and Stoudemire kept making shots also.
At 3:52, the Knicks called a time-out.
At 3:11 Amar'e Stoudemire scored his 39th point of the night giving the Knicks 111 points; the most the Celtics would allow this season to any team. It appeared as if the Knicks had the vaunted Celtics' D taxed.
With 2:18 left in the game the Knicks were still holding on tightly to their slim lead. Amar'e and Felton kept on surging and gave every impression they were practiced at the art of closing out games.
With 2:00 left the Knicks led 113-111. And at 1:29, after a foul to Garnett and two made free throws, the game was tied 113-113.
Ray Felton drove the paint but ended up wildly out of control trying to penetrate. He lost his dribble and the ball. The Celtics returned up court where Ray Allen burried another three for the Celtics. The score was now 116-113 Boston.
D'Gallo made a left handed lay-up after driving the left side of the paint off a Felton pass and got fouled....116-116 ~ 0.44 left.
Soon again, it was Knick ball with 20 seconds left. Felton found Stoudemire down low but Amar'e could not convert as the shot went in and out. The Celtics rebounded and promptly called for a time out with 0.12 seconds left.
Having won much credibility tonight, the Knicks had their eyes on winning this game. A Boston possession and 0.12 seconds stood between over-time or defeat.
It wasn't the Celtics defense that would bury the Knicks late. Instead, it was Paul Pierce who burried a shot from just to the side of the high right elbow. All that was left on the clock for the Knicks to attempt a shot to tie or win this game were four-tenths of a second.
The Knicks inbounded to Amar'e who promptly put up a shot from above the three point line and HIT It!
Incredibly, an Amar'e Stoudemire three point shot won the game for the Knickerbockers....But only for a few minutes until the refs checked the replay and confirmed that Amar'e got the shot off too late. The buzzer went off; the back-board light went on, and Amar'e still had the ball in his hands.
The Celtics win 118-116 tonight in Madison Square Garden. In this game, savvy won-out over youth.
Before the game, Coach Rivers said there'd be no trophies handed out after the game for who ever won. The comments stemmed from being asked about "the Knicks/Celtics rivalry". Well, Doc Rivers was right about not recieving trophies, but he and his team were lucky to leave NYC with their streak extended. Luck may not be a correct word to use as perhaps savvy is the better way to descibe Boston's last second "comeback" win.
The Knicks are clearly an emerging team as evidenced by tonight's effort. But they are still learning how to gel together and close games out. But there is no Knick fan tonight who left MSG who could have possibly been upset with tonight's game in spite of the loss.
Do I believe in moral victories? Not really. But I do have strong convictions about improvement and a strong appreciation for competing. The Knicks are presently engaged in both processes.
We fell two points short tonight or we just ran out of time; Take your pick. Or you can look at things this way. Tonight was a win-win.
December games against the League's best is a fair barometer to guage this team and the readings after the last two games are favorable. The Knicks and Celtics may very well be two teams passing and waving to each other in the night. The former Champions are practiced at the art of picking their moments and closing-out games. But Boston's Big Three's last days will be coming sooner than later in a figurative sense. They may have pushed their team to a 10 game winning streak and a 5 game lead over the Knicks in the standings. But the truth is tonight, they were only two points and a second better. Even Kevin Garnett knows that's too close for comfort.
The Knicks are just arriving and haven't even un-packed their bags yet. Tonight they made Boston and the rest of the contenders in this League understand the Knicks should no longer be viewed as one of the NBA's door matts. There's still much more work to do but this team looks like it intends on staying around for a while. And after one look around Madison Square Garden tonight, it was clear the fans were back HOME and planned on staying a while also.
Next up....Bring the HEAT; The Miami Heat!
*LINK: TRADE RUMOR*
From: Examiner.com Minnesota
Article: "Timberwolves Guard Telfair Could be Traded To New York Knicks"
By: Matt Krumrie; Minnesota Timberwolves Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/minnesota-timberwolves-in-minneapolis/reports-timberwolves-guard-telfair-could-be-traded-to-new-york-knicks
Mike.BTB
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
N.Y. GIANTS ~ Running the Ball Sending GIANT Message
Yesterday's Post ~ My Game Summary: HERE
Giants 21; Vikings 3 FINAL
NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Coach Gilbride Plows Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw through the Purple Storm.
*On BRANDON JACOBS; A Word to the Wise.
**Brandon JACOBS and Ahmad BRADSHAW ~ 555 combined rushing yards last three weeks.
....But first;
The Giants' Big Blue Mack Truck threw on the tire chains and plowed through the Midwest from Kansas City all the way to downtown Detroit while the smaller Bobcat made tracks through the side streets. And the two together; Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, armed with N.Y. Giant Offensive Line earth-movers, cleared a path all the way back to the Meadowlands where they will wait for the arrival of Eagles and a showdown in the frozen swamps of East Rutherford for division supremacy.
The two together "stormed" for over 200 yards rushing Monday night, and in their wake left behind a Purple Mess and trail of destruction that leads back to Minnesota where the Vikings' home dome sits torn and battered from the weekend blizzard. But the Giants' running game is causing more devastation to defenses than any snowfall out west.
Last week Ahmad Bradshaw fell just short of gaining 100 yards against Washington while Brandon Jacobs ran wild rushing for 103 yards on only 8 carries. This week they both hit their century mark with authority.
Brandon Jacobs does something extremely well, which he gets little to no credit for. He has a tendency to start games off with a Big Blue Bang; sometimes literally. Whether it's an atom splitting collision that some poor Safety gets the worst of, or, breaking off a big run to set the tone; - Brandon Jacobs has been getting the message out early in games that He's Back, Healthy and You Better Get Out of His Way!
Think; Think back. He did it to the Packers on that really cold night and he did it to the Patriots in that really big game that followed. Today, he is healthy again; as healthy as he was those two nights in 2007.
After being named the starter and reclaiming his old role, Brandon Jacobs kept the Giants respectable three weeks ago while his team played a lethargic first half against the Jaguars. The week prior against Philadelphia, the ground game gained few yards, but more critically, Ahmad Bradshaw could not hold onto the ball. That precipitated Jacobs regaining his starting spot. He finished against Jacksonville with 87 high-impact yards capped off by a late 18 yard rumble.
Last week versus the Redskins, Brandon Jacobs served Washington with a very early message, pounding it home with big yardage plays as Bradshaw finishing things out. Brandon Jacobs undressed the Redskins' defense to the tune of 103 yards on only 8 carries and two touchdowns mostly in the first half. Jacobs himself lobbied to keep Ahmad Bradshaw rushing in the second half so as to also achieve 100 yards on the day. Ahmad finished with 97 yards rushing but the two combined for a 200+ yards rushing afternoon.
And like I said, this week they both would hit their century marks....and achieve them with Power.
BRANDON JACOBS' LINE:
14 rushes for 116 yards; touchdown.
(Last week he rushed for his 4,000th yard as a Giant)
AHMAD BRADSHAW'S LINE:
11 rushes for 103 yards; touchdown.
(Last week he surpassed 1,000 yards for the season)
That's a combined 219 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. It's their second consecutive week of running in excess of 200 yards as a tandem. And just to play with perspective, these two gentlemen have rushed for 555 yards in the last three weeks behind an Offensive Line regaining health to it's left side. The last time the Giants had two backs run for 100 yards in the same game was 2007 and wouldn't you know..., it was Jacobs and Bradshaw who did it on a December day, and now they combined to do it again.
Brandon Jacobs sent a another message Monday, this time to the Minnesota Vikings five minutes into the second quarter. On the Giants' fourth possession, Brandon Jacobs illuminated the Purple People Eaters with a huge ray of "Daylight" and shined for 73 yards up-field. Ahmad Bradshaw brought the ball to the goal line and Jacobs re-entered the game to score. Bradshaw also added a score in the third quarter.
These days Brandon Jacobs can be seen on the sidelines as a jubilant team mate; smiling, hopping around and chillin' with his running mate while the Defense is on the field.
Smile Brandon, because we're smiling right along with you.
Brandon Jacobs was nothing more than a Big Blue pin cushion last season. Week after week the scrutiny and criticism mounted and became more derisive with every TV show, radio segment and newspaper article.
He revealed he was playing hurt last season and that didn't exactly go over well with the masses, the coaches, or Jerry Reese, as he left everyone wondering what happened to their once formidable Back.
But there is not doubt today, a healthy and happy Brandon Jacobs, is one of the most intimidating and imposing forces on a Football field. In the locker room, the sidelines, or in the huddle, he HAS been an excellent team-mate this year and was always supportive of Ahmad Bradshaw before, during, after, and again as this team's featured back.
Brandon Jacobs has worked hard coming back from off-season surgeries, media attacks, fan apathy, maybe even some self-doubt and organizational questioning. This season he's worked his tail off helping the Giants vie for a playoff spot. These last three weeks he has flat out dominated and pulled the Giants along like a team of oxen pulls a plow, but in Brandon's case a 260 pound team of one. Today, against many a fan's lingering chagrin, Brandon Jacobs has delivered the New York Football Giants to the most important game of their season.
The sour taste left in the Giants' mouth after their first round loss to the Eagles two years ago never went away. It's never gone away for me either. Losing to the Eagles in Week 11 this season, was a very bitter reminder of the distaste of that day two winters ago and dampened many 2010 aspirations for fans of the G-Men. But come this Sunday, Brandon stands to impact this game like he was unable to in 2008. In Week 11 of this season, we wasn't being asked to. That incidentally was the night Ahmad Bradshaw lost his starting role and Brandon Jacobs reappeared on the Football scene as a Big Blue Giant difference maker.
Ahmad Bradshaw is still getting more carries than Brandon, in spite of their job titles, Ahmad has indeed been a horse. But there is a price to pay for his all-out style and determination with his Dave Meggett-like body type. Every extra push exerted by Bradshaw and every extra yard he tries to gain may be getting subtracted from his Football life on the other end (said in jest). Bradshaw runs singularly focused one one thing; yardage. But his frame can and does get dented, bruised and hurt. He was seen getting his wrist wrapped in the 4th quarter signalling to all, his night was through. He'll continue to play through it, like he does every other pain he currently suffers through in silence. But his helmet found it's way to the bench for good Monday with 6:30 left in the game.
The Defense turned the 2nd half into a tune-up for Sunday's heavyweight battle with the Boys from Philly. But before the game would end, Brandon still had a few more messages for those who still refused to roll with the Big Blue Mack Truck. For two weeks prior to Monday night's game and all the way through kick-off time, Brandon Jacobs continued to fend off slings and arrows from those who chose to take away his big chunks of yardage, like his 73 yard rush, and readjust his Avg-Yards-Per-Carry. With Ahmad Bradshaw done for the day and DJ Ware doing the jitterbug anticipating some clock time, Brandon Jacobs chose this time before the two minute warning to deliver his moist poignant message of the night.
TAKE THAT! Brandon for 8 yards.
TAKE THAT! Brandon for 7 yards and a first down.
AND TAKE THAT! Brandon for 9 yards.
AND THAT! Brandon for 3 and another first down.
That's twenty-seven yards on four carries with two first downs all gained by protecting the ball and running straight up the gut. Those may just end up as stats on some-one's spread-sheet right next to the tidbit about Adrian Peterson being the best Back on the field scribbled out... But to the teams still playing meaningful Football in the NFC and the Eagles in particular, Brandon Jacobs ran as if he's was daring someone to get in his way.
The Vikings were beaten by this time. That message was more of a word to the wise.
Mike.BTB
Giants 21; Vikings 3 FINAL
NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS: Coach Gilbride Plows Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw through the Purple Storm.
*On BRANDON JACOBS; A Word to the Wise.
**Brandon JACOBS and Ahmad BRADSHAW ~ 555 combined rushing yards last three weeks.
....But first;
The Giants' Big Blue Mack Truck threw on the tire chains and plowed through the Midwest from Kansas City all the way to downtown Detroit while the smaller Bobcat made tracks through the side streets. And the two together; Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, armed with N.Y. Giant Offensive Line earth-movers, cleared a path all the way back to the Meadowlands where they will wait for the arrival of Eagles and a showdown in the frozen swamps of East Rutherford for division supremacy.
The two together "stormed" for over 200 yards rushing Monday night, and in their wake left behind a Purple Mess and trail of destruction that leads back to Minnesota where the Vikings' home dome sits torn and battered from the weekend blizzard. But the Giants' running game is causing more devastation to defenses than any snowfall out west.
Last week Ahmad Bradshaw fell just short of gaining 100 yards against Washington while Brandon Jacobs ran wild rushing for 103 yards on only 8 carries. This week they both hit their century mark with authority.
Brandon Jacobs does something extremely well, which he gets little to no credit for. He has a tendency to start games off with a Big Blue Bang; sometimes literally. Whether it's an atom splitting collision that some poor Safety gets the worst of, or, breaking off a big run to set the tone; - Brandon Jacobs has been getting the message out early in games that He's Back, Healthy and You Better Get Out of His Way!
Think; Think back. He did it to the Packers on that really cold night and he did it to the Patriots in that really big game that followed. Today, he is healthy again; as healthy as he was those two nights in 2007.
After being named the starter and reclaiming his old role, Brandon Jacobs kept the Giants respectable three weeks ago while his team played a lethargic first half against the Jaguars. The week prior against Philadelphia, the ground game gained few yards, but more critically, Ahmad Bradshaw could not hold onto the ball. That precipitated Jacobs regaining his starting spot. He finished against Jacksonville with 87 high-impact yards capped off by a late 18 yard rumble.
Last week versus the Redskins, Brandon Jacobs served Washington with a very early message, pounding it home with big yardage plays as Bradshaw finishing things out. Brandon Jacobs undressed the Redskins' defense to the tune of 103 yards on only 8 carries and two touchdowns mostly in the first half. Jacobs himself lobbied to keep Ahmad Bradshaw rushing in the second half so as to also achieve 100 yards on the day. Ahmad finished with 97 yards rushing but the two combined for a 200+ yards rushing afternoon.
And like I said, this week they both would hit their century marks....and achieve them with Power.
BRANDON JACOBS' LINE:
14 rushes for 116 yards; touchdown.
(Last week he rushed for his 4,000th yard as a Giant)
AHMAD BRADSHAW'S LINE:
11 rushes for 103 yards; touchdown.
(Last week he surpassed 1,000 yards for the season)
That's a combined 219 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. It's their second consecutive week of running in excess of 200 yards as a tandem. And just to play with perspective, these two gentlemen have rushed for 555 yards in the last three weeks behind an Offensive Line regaining health to it's left side. The last time the Giants had two backs run for 100 yards in the same game was 2007 and wouldn't you know..., it was Jacobs and Bradshaw who did it on a December day, and now they combined to do it again.
Brandon Jacobs sent a another message Monday, this time to the Minnesota Vikings five minutes into the second quarter. On the Giants' fourth possession, Brandon Jacobs illuminated the Purple People Eaters with a huge ray of "Daylight" and shined for 73 yards up-field. Ahmad Bradshaw brought the ball to the goal line and Jacobs re-entered the game to score. Bradshaw also added a score in the third quarter.
These days Brandon Jacobs can be seen on the sidelines as a jubilant team mate; smiling, hopping around and chillin' with his running mate while the Defense is on the field.
Smile Brandon, because we're smiling right along with you.
Brandon Jacobs was nothing more than a Big Blue pin cushion last season. Week after week the scrutiny and criticism mounted and became more derisive with every TV show, radio segment and newspaper article.
He revealed he was playing hurt last season and that didn't exactly go over well with the masses, the coaches, or Jerry Reese, as he left everyone wondering what happened to their once formidable Back.
But there is not doubt today, a healthy and happy Brandon Jacobs, is one of the most intimidating and imposing forces on a Football field. In the locker room, the sidelines, or in the huddle, he HAS been an excellent team-mate this year and was always supportive of Ahmad Bradshaw before, during, after, and again as this team's featured back.
Brandon Jacobs has worked hard coming back from off-season surgeries, media attacks, fan apathy, maybe even some self-doubt and organizational questioning. This season he's worked his tail off helping the Giants vie for a playoff spot. These last three weeks he has flat out dominated and pulled the Giants along like a team of oxen pulls a plow, but in Brandon's case a 260 pound team of one. Today, against many a fan's lingering chagrin, Brandon Jacobs has delivered the New York Football Giants to the most important game of their season.
The sour taste left in the Giants' mouth after their first round loss to the Eagles two years ago never went away. It's never gone away for me either. Losing to the Eagles in Week 11 this season, was a very bitter reminder of the distaste of that day two winters ago and dampened many 2010 aspirations for fans of the G-Men. But come this Sunday, Brandon stands to impact this game like he was unable to in 2008. In Week 11 of this season, we wasn't being asked to. That incidentally was the night Ahmad Bradshaw lost his starting role and Brandon Jacobs reappeared on the Football scene as a Big Blue Giant difference maker.
Ahmad Bradshaw is still getting more carries than Brandon, in spite of their job titles, Ahmad has indeed been a horse. But there is a price to pay for his all-out style and determination with his Dave Meggett-like body type. Every extra push exerted by Bradshaw and every extra yard he tries to gain may be getting subtracted from his Football life on the other end (said in jest). Bradshaw runs singularly focused one one thing; yardage. But his frame can and does get dented, bruised and hurt. He was seen getting his wrist wrapped in the 4th quarter signalling to all, his night was through. He'll continue to play through it, like he does every other pain he currently suffers through in silence. But his helmet found it's way to the bench for good Monday with 6:30 left in the game.
The Defense turned the 2nd half into a tune-up for Sunday's heavyweight battle with the Boys from Philly. But before the game would end, Brandon still had a few more messages for those who still refused to roll with the Big Blue Mack Truck. For two weeks prior to Monday night's game and all the way through kick-off time, Brandon Jacobs continued to fend off slings and arrows from those who chose to take away his big chunks of yardage, like his 73 yard rush, and readjust his Avg-Yards-Per-Carry. With Ahmad Bradshaw done for the day and DJ Ware doing the jitterbug anticipating some clock time, Brandon Jacobs chose this time before the two minute warning to deliver his moist poignant message of the night.
TAKE THAT! Brandon for 8 yards.
TAKE THAT! Brandon for 7 yards and a first down.
AND TAKE THAT! Brandon for 9 yards.
AND THAT! Brandon for 3 and another first down.
That's twenty-seven yards on four carries with two first downs all gained by protecting the ball and running straight up the gut. Those may just end up as stats on some-one's spread-sheet right next to the tidbit about Adrian Peterson being the best Back on the field scribbled out... But to the teams still playing meaningful Football in the NFC and the Eagles in particular, Brandon Jacobs ran as if he's was daring someone to get in his way.
The Vikings were beaten by this time. That message was more of a word to the wise.
Mike.BTB
Men In Black III Film Production in Brooklyn
Work beginning today will run through Friday the 17th.
Live, from the scene,
Mike.BTB
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