PIGSKIN ~ WEEK 14 ~ Blue and Green Previews

UPDATED



Ouch! 

Week 13 kinda derailed the Ol' Trolley.  I was 5-8 and lost the Shmear.  From a high in the upper 20's just a few short weeks ago, I'm chopped down to +13 BAGELS in the basket with two consecutive sub-.500 weeks of picks.

SHMEAR of the WEEK record:  8-3
The Basket:  +13 Bagels



The WEEK 14 Big Bagel Roll-Out:
(Saturday NYDN Line)

Giants -3 (VIKINGS)
If the Giants can ever get out of Kansas City because of the snow storm, I don't care who the Vikings start.  I like the Giants.  They are surging.
*MONDAY NIGHT*

Dolphins +5 1/2 (JETS)
I just think it's going to be a close game.  I like the Jets winning but not by six.
WIN ~ 10-6 Dolphins

Raiders +4 (JAGUARS)
How can I turn my back on the Raiders now?  Al Davis, fellow Brooklynite, needs me.
LOSS ~ 38-31 Jaguars

STEELERS -9 (Bengals)
I don't like the number 9.  But I talked myself into the Steelers.  The last time I checked, the Bengals didn't have the Ravens' defense.  And Ben only has a busted nose.  He's not hurt.
WIN ~ 23-7 Steelers

Patriots -3 (BEARS)
The Bears will keep things respectable unlike the Jets.  The Pats should win by four but struggle mightily for their points.
WIN ~ 36-7 Patriots

Browns +1 (BILLS)
I'm still perfect.  I have been wrong about the Browns every week!  You know what to do.
LOSS ~ 13-6 Bills

Packers -6 1/2 (LIONS)
I would love for the Lions to wreck the Packers' situation Big Time.  Some injuries would be nice.  I'm a Giants fan...So what can I tell you?  The Pack is playing really good football and Aaron Rodgers is becoming a beast.
LOSS ~ 7-3 Lions

Falcons -7 (PANTHERS)
If anyone is taking the Panthers, I want to know who that one person is.
WIN ~ 31-10 Falcons

Bucs -2 (REDSKINS)
Oh....for lots of reasons.  But because the Bucs are going to make me sweat this out like the Packers will.  I'm a Giants fan remember?
LOSS ~ 17-16 Bucs

Rams +9 (SAINTS)
Strictly points on this one.  I think Coach Spags can keep the Rams within nine points.  I would love an upset here!  I'm a Giants fan....remember?
LOSS ~ 31-13 Saints

Seahawks +5 1/2 (49ERS)
You know why I'm picking the 'Hawks?  Because I want someone to win that awful division with a winning record.!
LOSS ~ 40-21 49ers

Broncos -4 1/2 (CARDINALS)
Is this game really necessary?
LOSS ~ 43-13 Cardinals

CHARGERS -7 (Chiefs)
Because the Chargers had their one hiccup this month surprising everyone by losing a December game.  Now they'll get hot but still lose this division to the Chiefs anyway.
WIN ~ 31-0 Chargers

COWBOYS +3 1/2 (Eagles)
Because I'm a Giants fan remember?  You can call the Cowboys anything you want; they're still good.  They play the Eagles well and I'm hoping Parity rears it's ugly head in Big D.
WIN ~ 30-27 Eagles


Fourteen BAGELS into the oven.


SHMEAR of the WEEK (8-3):
Packers -6 1/2 (LIONS)
Because I love a half point under seven!
LOSS!!!!


*POST GAMES:
* I lose the SHMEAR again!  I'm in a tail-spin.  I went 2-4 in the early games.
* I got the Browns wrong again!!  Is there a surer thing?
* Green Bay Packers' loss is a glorious thing for Giants fans!
* I knew last week the Raiders were toast.  I went with my heart.
* Atlanta Falcons shooting for home-field advantage through playoffs.  Win again.
* Bucs just re-entered the Wild-Card picture.
LATE GAMES:
* 4-3 in afternoon games.
* Woe the J-E-T-S.  They will lose next week to the Steelers also.
* The Patriots are playing insane football right now!
* The Chargers may be getting their act together too late.

I'm 6-7 for the Sunday games.
The Shmear = is another loss.

SEASON:
Shmear of the Week:  8-4
Season Bagel Count: +9   YIKES!! Where did all my Bagels go?






GANG GREEN
NEW YORK JETS:  Wanna put last week behind you?  Just beat the FISH.

Putting the Patriot game to rest; WEEK 14 PREVIEW:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-jets-what-happened-what-now.html

About that Patriots game:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-jets-can-mark-sanchez-sieze-night.html



BIG BLUE
NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  Playoff Positioning.
The schedule makers gave us no help this week.  The Packers, Falcons and Bucs all drew soft teams this week leaving no room for error in the Wild Card Picture.  What help we might be getting may come from the Cowboys if they can beat the Eagles for us.  The division title is a much more clearer picture to visualize than that very blurred Wild Card Race.  With four games left in the season, ten wins might not be enough to get in the playoffs.  We can't afford to slip in Minny....

THAT'S IF THEY EVER GET OUT OF KANSAS CITY!  Midwest snow storms are ruining everything!


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

On The GIANTS OFFENSIVE LINE:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/nygiants-offensive-line-regaining.html

WEEK 13 REVIEW ~ Giants defeat Redskins:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-giants-jacobs-and-big-blue-rumble.html

Have a Happy Football Sunday!

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers ~ Boogaard Missing Before Fight With Carkner

NEW YORK RANGERS: 
*   What Happened to Derek Boogaard?
*   Rangers Miss Colton Orr!

Derek Boogaard and Matt Carkner of the Ottawa Senators dropped gloves with each other Thursday night.  Boogaard landed an early shot.  But Carkner landed a hay-maker that ended Boogaard's fight on his feet.  Then Carkner just wrestled him down.  Boogaard fell hard with the mass of a mighty Oak onto his shoulder.  It was the same shoulder that caused him to miss three games in November.  Derek is not traveling to Columbus with the team and is headed back to NY to get that shoulder check on.

But when I asked what happened to Derek Boogaard, that has nothing to do with Thursday, Matt Carkner or a bad shoulder.

What I really mean is what "HAPPENED" to Derek Boogaard?

He has been so unimpressive in a Blueshirt.  When he was on the Minnesota Wild, he actually had a little skating in him and a nice hard shot to justify his ice time.  He was slimmer; quicker; and won every fight handily.

In a Blueshirt, his fights have been quite unimpressive to say the least.  Derek is out of playing shape.  In plain speak he is fatter and getting sloppier.  He is tiring faster in fights and skating slower.

I can only think of one point of merit in Boogaard's defense and that's the fact Coach Torts only gives him about four minutes a night.  But let Matt Carkner serve as all the evidence we need of Boogaard's downturn.  Derek in years past routinely laid out Matt Carkner before.  It seemed as if Boogaard was too slow to the punch against Carkner this time.

Boogaard is still young in his late 20's and I thought from the moment we acquired him it was a tremendous addition.  He will no doubt miss a little time, and while he does, I can only fix my mind on one person; Colton Orr.

Colton Orr has been the biggest loss as far as Ranger toughness is concerned.  He was another casualty of Sather's inability to manage the Salary Cap.  And to compound this Ranger fan's dismay over losing him to Toronto, he routinely kicked Matt Carkner's behind!

Sather was fresh off shovelling loads of bad money at Redden, Rozsival, Gomez and Drury, when it came time for Colton Orr to ask for his money, Sather pretty much told him to beat it because Colton wanted three to four years.

Glen Sather's solution? - Signing the ancient Donald Brashear for pretty much the same money but for only two years.  Incredulously, Sather signed the same guy who cheap-shot'd Blair Betts the year before.  Brashear played maybe 5 minutes before he fell apart and disappeared.  He is still collecting a pay check from the Rangers this year.  Derek Boogaard was signed for the same dollar range as Orr was requesting.

Both players signed for the same dollar range Colton Orr was requesting.  While Brashear was a total mistake and Boogaard has been unimpressive and out of shape, Colton Orr is playing good hockey in Toronto...and can kick Matt Carkner's ass.

Ponderous.


Most recent NYR posts:
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-rangers-settle-score-against-ottawa.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/nyrangers-torts-plays-3-card-monty-with.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-rangers-its-long-grind.html

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/ny-rangers-loss-against-tampa-still-on.html

TONIGHT

NEW YORK RANGERS

(17-12-1; 35 points)

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets

(15-11-1;  31 points)

GAME NOTES:

* Sean Avery is tied for the team lead in assists with 13.  He is +5.  Avery also leads the team in penalty minutes with 103.

* Michael Del Zotto is back in the rotation.

* All 7 of Derek Stepan's goals were on the road.

* The Rangers won the last time these teams met at MSG.


GAME FINAL:
Rangers  1
Blue Jackets 3

*RANGERS Goal ~ Marc Staal (Power Play)

This game was just a shame to lose. It was very well played by both teams.  The game was tight until 14:54 of the 3rd period.  That's when the game unravelled on the Rangers.  Rick Nash took a bad angle shot from BEHIND the red line over in the right side corner.  Henrik Lundqvist was pressed against the goal post for the shot.  But somehow the puck still found it's way through Henri's left leg and trickled into the net.

Rick Nash would finish the night with two goals.  Marc Staal was the lone Ranger scorer with a goal on a Ranger power play.

The best player on the ice tonight besides Rick Nash may have been Columbus's goalie Steve Mason.  He's been having an up and down season.  But tonight, he was mint with 32 saves.

Get over it guys.  Tomorrow the Washington Capitals will be in MSG for a 7pm game.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. JETS ~ What Happened & What Now?

NEW YORK JETS:  Embrace The Pain And Make Sure It Doesn't Happen Again.


It's five days later and I'm still having trouble finding the right mix of words to help explain what happened to the Jets Monday night in Foxborough.

In Football terms, blow-outs are easy enough to explain.  The Jets fell behind early and the score got out of control fast.  Damage control takes you away from your game as desperate measures over-ride the failed plan.  As a result you become predictable and in the end you look thoroughly out-classed no matter what you do.  We've all seen good teams get blown out before, and all players no doubt, have experienced being on the losing side of one..  They understand games like this take on a life of their own.  The hang-over from a game like this has more to do with overly dramatic fans, the ensuing Media undressing and Gospel sermons by and according to "the experts".  The team itself will move on.

That's life.  Even the most skilled snow-boarders look insignificant and hopeless trying to "out-ski" an avalanche and the bravest and most courageous of Firefighters have all met blazes they thought better of, and just decided to let it burn.

Stuff happens.  There's only one way to react.  Get up; dust yourself off; check for injuries, move on and get ready to do it again.

Wouldn't that be nice?  If only everyone took it upon themselves to be that pragmatic in life.  *sigh*

C'mon Mike!  Gimmie a Break.  Tell Us What You Really Feel!

(?)

OK

J - E - T - S
Just - Endure - The - Sting
...The pain and ridicule goes away eventually.

JETS NATION: 
Uh....This is Your Head Coach; We Have A Problem.  Prepare For Impact.  Thanks For Flying.

COACH REX   VS.  COACH BELICHICK:

COACH REX tried gimmicking his opponent by going no-huddle to start.  I'm sorry.  That is very basic.  Defending against no-huddle is hard-wired into EVERY teams defensive schemes.  Reacting to it is an involuntary action....like breathing.  The No-Huddle has it's place in Football but was REX trying this against Bill Belichick after both coaches having 10 days to prepare his team?  Are you kidding me?  Bill Belichick thwarted a high powered, no-huddle offense to win a Super Bowl (XXV) and told us exactly how he was going to do it!

No, really!  Did Coach Rex think he could fool, and or, manipulate Coach Belicheck like that?  And let's just assume for a minute, the first drive was successful and resulted in seven points.  How long before Belichick adjusts, slows things down and and forces Mark Sanchez to become a real factor in the game versus just being the front-man of an offensive gimmick?  Exactly how long did he plan on going No-Huddle?

After that we don't know what the heck else the Jets really wanted to do because things got way out of control way too fast and disrupted everything.  Whatever the offensive plan they had in mind, what transpired on the field was a complete failure.  This game plan should have been burried right next to the football Coach Rex burried at their practice facility.  But this game should in no way be indicative of the Jets and Mark Sanchez' offensive capability.  They're OK.  Things just snowballed away from them.

But REX said it best when he said he got out-coached.  He did; royally.

The flight plan was flawed from take-off.  He didn't just get out-coached, when REX's formation of Big Green Bombers appeared over the Foxborough sky, Bill Belichick and his Minute-Men turned the flood lights on and skyward, located his target package and shot REX's formation of Jets clear out of the night-time New England sky.  That great big Green Bomber Jet turned out to be made of nothing more than paper-mache with a good paint job and "(Paper)Tiger" pinstriped on the tail.  Coach Belichick made Rex take that tail, tuck it between his legs and tow his wreckage all the way back to NY in pieces.  REX injected a lot of rhetoric into JetsNation.  Coach Belichick chose to let his players to the talking on the field.  Then went as far as huddling his team together on the sideline during the game to collectively remind everyone to stick to their "assigned tasks".

Even I said Bill Belichick would be coming at the Jets with two and three tight ends.  If I knew it, that means other people knew it, so REX had to know it.  You saw the game and what the League's highest scoring Offense did to the Jets defense.  There's no need to rehash that at this point.

There's also no need to get into how much better Tom Brady is than Mark Sanchez or how much better the Patriots are than the Jets.


That's a lot of crap to have to deal with for just one game and for a team that still sports a 9-3 record.  But that's the kind of crap everyone seems to clamour for. 

So many teams wish they had it that bad.  You wanna get the last game behind you?  Beat the Fish tomorrow.

Sunday - December 12, 2010  4pm

Miami Dolphins

vs.

NEW YORK JETS

"Jets" Stadium



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Purple Daze ~ Week 14 Preview

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  It's Time Big Blue Helps Brett Favre Come To Grips With Retirement...
(If The Vikes Don't Do It First).


Brett Favre is not only compromised, he's old hat.  I don't know what steps he's taking to get his shoulder in game-shape for Sunday, but he may be just what the doctor ordered for the Giants.

Captain Kronos' shoulder is hurting and he remains questionable for Sunday's game.  He has said putting on a shirt and his socks is a struggle for him.  Friday, he threw very lightly at practice for the first time this week.  But then again he never needed Training Camp, did he?  And as always with him these days, questions swirl regarding his retirement.

Yea right!

Minnesota continues to willingly hold themselves hostage to Brett Favre's whims. This week that means continuing his consecutive games played streak, which is up to....# Who Cares...!  Brett Favre will have his way because it's all about him and therefore will play. I relish the opportunity against the Old Goat. Silver Chin is an interception or two waiting to happen if he plays Sunday.


It's time for the Giants to knock another QB out of commission and particular to this game, finally send Brett into retirement, to battle Jenn Sterger in court, back to Mississippi, or to go play Football back on the ranch with his Wrangler Jeans Posse.

But Favre playing Sunday remains a very big IF.  The Vikings are not only in the midst's of internal chaos, they are a wounded "Viking" hemorrhaging Purple Ooze everyday they allow Brett Favre to keep killing them.  The Vikings might decide to sack Brett before we can get to him first.

It's time someone sent this NAG to Ye Old Glue Factory for Aged Football Players.  This job falls on the Vikings and is owed to all Football organizations in the known universe.  If the Vikings won't, the G-Men should.



BIG BLUE: Teams In Turmoil Are Usually A Big Problem.
*Tarvaris Jackson and Adrian Peterson can leave us in a PURPLE DAZE.

If the Vikings have a backbone they will start Tarvaris Jackson who changes things a little bit and in my view, makes this a tougher game for the Giants to handle.  With Brett Favre dropping back in the pocket, the toughest thing we'll have to contend with on their way to sacking him are pigeons.

Tarvaris Jackson gives the Giants something else to think about besides trying to stop Adrian Peterson from running wild, which is a mobile quarterback.  Jackson can move the pocket on the Giants' D and create all sorts of broken play dilemmas for us.  You won't find any pigeons on Jackson like you will on Favre the Statue.

Favre inspires jokes now-a-days, but I'm taking a Tarvaris Jackson/Adrian Peterson combo very seriously.  To me, the Vikings are similar to the Cowboys; skilled teams who's seasons went awry.  I still think Minnesota is very dangerous and capable of quick strikes and many points.

To that point, the Giants secondary concerns me this game.  Last week, when it was clear the Redskins running game was going no-where, everyone knew Donovan McNabb was forced to throw the ball the rest of the day.  The Skins' receivers dropped so many passes and McNabb still threw for over 300 yards.

Jokes aside, Favre can still find 60 more minutes in his fading career to be great and/or Jackson can wind up being very disruptive for the defense much in the way Michael Vick is and McNabb used to be.  There's a silver lining to that however.  Even though we lost to the Eagles, Michael Vick was contained well enough and with McNabb, the (defense) secondary still held the Skins and McNabb to 7 points in a Bend-Don't-Break kinda way.  I just refuse to take-on the troubled but still very skilled Vikings team without due caution.  We can't afford to let a team in disarray knock us off our game.  There is something about teams in the midst's of internal conflict that make them reckless on the field.  In turn, reckless teams are very unpredictable. 





BIG BLUE:  The Running Game Is In Gear.  Time To Get Pass Attack Back In Order After Injuries.

The O-Line is now getting healthier with every passing day.  Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have been running towards all kinds of daylight because of it.  But somehow, I still envision the Giants having to win this game in a mini shoot-out.  Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are returning this week.  While Derek Hagan did an admirable job last week, hearing Nicks and Smith will be back is most welcome news.

Now that Nicks and Smith are back, along with O'Hara and Diehl, while they may not be 100% yet, they are reunited with the Offense none-the-less.

Now finally, Coach Gilbride, your time has come.  Get the passing attack back up to snuff and in harmony with the running game.  I'm not looking to alter the ground game as we've run it the last few weeks, but for a game, this game against the Vikings, I'd like to see Coach air things out.

There's a time and a place for everything and right now, a good airing-out is needed.  The Eagles and Packers are coming up.  So, go ahead Coach Gilbride, this week, without any flack from me....,

LET THE PIGEONS LOOSE!!



Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers Settle The Score Against Ottawa

NEW YORK RANGERS:  With Unsettled Forward Lines, Rangers Settle Score Against Ottawa Senators.

FINAL ~ As-Of Thursday 12-09-10:  RANGERS 5  ~  SENATORS 3


Being able to win games when key players aren't at their best is something I talked about in my last posting.
Sometimes you need goals just to cover a bad game or a lame effort.

Last night the Rangers were forced to grind and claw their way to another victory.  But this time they accomplished what they could not do Sunday which was compliment their grittiness with some scoring and a little luck.

Timely goals accompanied them during this opening road game in Canada.  The Rangers owned their lone lead of the night only after 55 minutes of regulation time had gone by.  Otherwise, they were playing catch-up all night.

Coach Torts' newly revamped Gaborik Line was responsible for the Rangers' first two goals against the Sens.  Gaborik, Stepan and Fedotenko all scored points last night.  Derek Stepan, promoted to the first line for the game, paid immediate dividends scoring at 4:40 into things.  One minute and forty seconds earlier Michael Sauer handed Ottawa an early 1-0 lead with an ill-advised pass from behind the defensive red line to the front of Henrik Lundqvist.  Of course, the pass was picked off and after a point-blank shot, Ottawa's Mike Fisher scored on a rebound.

In the second period, Coach Torts' new first line struck again.  After the Senators took a 2-1 lead on a Power Play goal by Jason Spezza,  Ruslan Fedotenko responded with his 5th goal of the season (assisted by Gaborik; Rozsival).

Mike Fisher would put Ottawa ahead for a third and last time with his second goal half way through the period making the score 3-2.  Perhaps, a crushing goal like this would have doomed the Blueshirts Sunday.  In this game however, the Rangers enjoyed a little bit of luck to go along with that grittiness of theirs.

The Rangers scored three unanswered goals in the third period. 

The game tying goal came at 16:30 from Erik Christensen who was demoted to the fourth line due to his inconsistent play.  He took an odd angle shot from just before the left side red line. The unsecured puck trickled in past OTT goalie-Elliot and after a review, the score was tied 3-3 in the third period.  The shot was a nice break for the Rangers but it was a smart move to just put the shot on goal when no other play presented itself.  Coaches always say - Put the puck on net from any angle.  This goal was an example why.

That was the third time the Rangers tied the score.  It was a good development considering the Sens had a goal taken away upon review on a puck that rattled off the crossbar and bounced behind Henrik precariously close to the goal line. 

Soon after on an Ottawa power-play, Henrik Lundqvist made the save of saves keeping the game tied.  The Blueshirt King stopped Fisher cold at the doorstep in what was by far his biggest save of the night during a game in which he clearly was not at his best.  The would-be goal would have meant a Hat-Trick for the Senator.

Instead, it would be a rookie scoring his first NHL goal that would make the biggest difference tonight.
Sean Avery, likewise demoted to the fourth line again, played on a line late in the third period with Mike Sauer and Brandon Prust.  Avery did what he does so well.  He battled and dug out a puck from behind the Ottawa red line and passed to Prust in the left circle who passed across the slot to Sauer waiting in the right circle.  A slap-shot with 5:00 left in the game put the Rangers ahead 4-3.  Assists on the Sauer goal belonged to Avery and Prust.  The goal more than made up for Sauer's first period defensive gaffe allowing Ottawa to score first.

That goal proved to be the game winner.  Brandon Dubinsky added an empty net goal to seal the game at
5-3.  It was his team leading 13th goal of the season and coming off a slight dry spell for him.

The Rangers are now 17-12-1 this season.  Not bad.  Even better is their record on the road; 11-4.  They'll try to improve that road record against the Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow night.

After the game during QandA, Team Grind's Coach John Tortorella, could be heard advising a reporter, "Don't grind me!"

Really!?  I find that fascinating.



Points of Contention:

** When Avery played on the first line, he put on a clinic.  He's played nothing short of good hockey this season with the minuscule amount of minutes given to him.  SO what happened? 

However, the other side to that is everyone on Coach Torts' new line scored points against Ottawa last night.  Nice; OK.  But I hardly think a line of Gaborik with Mike Sauer and Ruslan Fedotenko is the way to go.  I say put Avery back with Gaborik and then if you want, let Sauer center them.  See how that works.  But with the way Torts constantly juggles everything around, it's probably only a matter of time before that combination gets assembled.


** Rangers scored on the PP but they are still just passing around the perimeter and trying cross-ice passes from way too wide and far out.  That pass only works when you tighten and close-in on the area around net.  The Rangers are attempting that pass from high and wide and get the zone cleared on them as a result more often than they should.

Saturday ~ December 11, 2010

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Giants ~ Offensive Line Regaining Health (and Greatness).

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:
Offensive Line Has Big Blue Surging Forward With Power.

Shaun O'Hara, Rich Seubert, Kareem McKenzie, David Diehl and Chris Snee have been together a long time.  They have long been considered one of the best offensive lines in Football.  Prior to last year when their streak was snapped, they started 38 consecutive games together.

Last year injuries put that streak to rest and also took a heavy toll on the Giants' season.  This year has been no different.  Shaun O'Hara is still a question heading into Sunday's game with Minnesota due to a bum foot that won't let up.  David Diehl however should be back in action this week.  His practices went well and he seems like a go to return from a partially torn hamstring.

It's always been my contention the Giants will live and die with this Offensive Line.  Everything starts and ends with them.  Having said that, the Giants are not only very alive, this patched-up Offensive Line has been doing extremely well.

The whole left side of this line was decimated losing starters Diehl and O'Hara.  Then back-up Adam Koets was lost for the season after the Seattle game.  When it came time for his turn to step in, the unheralded signing of former Pro-Bowler Shawn Andrews in the off-season practically had everyone calling GM Jerry Reese brilliant over the acquisition right up until he went down with a back back of his own that is still barking at him.

If you're not willing to call Jerry Reese brilliant just yet, how about extremely damn good then?  I am an unabashed Reese cheerleader by the way.  But if you remember back to the Jim Fassell days and the first year Coughlin took over, we had a guy named Luke Pettigout on our Offensive Line who was a penalty waiting to happen.  Remember him and all the bad Football he engaged in?  Now remember how Jerry Reese in one of his very first moves as the new Giants GM told Pettigout in a stone-faced manner to Beat It!  That's the moment when this Offensive Line was finally free to become one of the most dominant units in the NFL.  It was all a matter of addition by subtraction.

Fast-forward to this season, and what you have is a GM who somehow supplied this team with more depth on the Line than we all realized.  Will Beatty, drafted by Reese and Kevin Boothe, imported from Oakland have stepped in and contributed mightily filling in for the Big Blue regulars.  No more proof of their effectiveness is needed than the holes they've created that Brandon Jacobs has run through these last two weeks and the fact Eli has stayed very well protected and clean.

Will Beatty was rolling right along Sunday then got caught in a series of bad holding penalties.  Give the kid credit and give Offensive Line Coach Pat Flaherty even more credit for on-the-spot, in-game corrections on his technique. 

Coach Pat Flaherty has been here for seven years now and is regarded as one of the best in the business just like the Giants Offensive Line is considered one of the best in the business.

The Boys who supply the Daylight held things together as the situation became more dire by the week it seemed, and did an outstanding Big Blue job.  Now that health is returning to fortify the Line, the Giants and their Big Blue fan base should move forward with an increasing confidence knowing Giants Football still means Running With Power.



Mike.BTB

NYRangers ~ Torts Plays 3-Card Monte with Forward Lines

NEW YORK RANGERS:  Rangers trying To Bounce Back In A Rematch Against Sens While Coach Torts Bounces Team Around.


The Rangers are in the Great White North's capital city tonight for another crack at the Senators.  Better luck this time; Aye? 

After losing to Ottawa 3-1 last time around with pathetic style, Coach Torts decided it was time to rearrange the furniture in the room again after rearranging things just last week.

The "Free Sean Avery Society" is here-by back in session after a very short recess. 

Wasn't it just three games ago Coach Torts was extolling Avery's efforts this season, and there-by rewarded him with a shot on the first line?  Didn't Torts recently snap at Larry Brooks for what Coach perceived was instigating Avery Drama that perhaps Coach didn't believe existed at the time?  And wasn't Avery the one who played a marvelous game with his first line opportunity when he assisted on three goals, played great along the boards and thus rewarded Coach's decision?

That was quick!  Nothing lasts forever, much less four days with Torts.  As a result, Sean Avery has been demoted to the fourth line dungeon again, and will no doubt receive the second least amount of ice time behind Derek Boogaard.  What Avery did, or didn't do to earn this latest slight by Coach is beyond me and I think it's the complete wrong way to go. 

There is absolutely no way Alex Frolov should be receiving even one more second of ice time over Sean Avery.  Alex is just the latest scrub to come through the Rangers' Forwards Waste Treatment Facility.  Since the days Petr Prucha was scared into scoring 20+ goals by Jarimir Jagr and then disappeared, the Rangers have had a revolving Winger policy which has ushered in scrub after scrub after scrub.  Adam Voros and Nick Zherdev were the last two scrubs who needed replacing.  Glen Sather went out and got another fraud in Frolov and here we are again.  Ponderous!

Callahan and Dubinsky will be rejoined by Artem Anisimov on the second line while Marian Gaborik will now play with Ruslan Fedotenko and rookie Derek Stepan.  Stepan actually deserves a shot at this line.  He's played smart hockey.

Eric Christensen, who is most likely the odd-man out when either Chris Drury or Vinny Prospal return, will be on the fourth line with Avery doing crossword puzzles.

Coach Torts can rearrange the furniture in the room all he wants, it's still the same furniture.  How about he sets three lines and let's them play together for two weeks or so.  Let them play and grow into lines.  Coach thinks by continually shaking the box, his pieces will hopefully fall into place and Presto Chango ~ Instant Line.

Keep shakin' Coach, because Glen Sather won't be bringing you any new forwards for Christmas this year.

In another shake-up, Michael Del Zotto will be a very well deserved healthy scratch tonight.  He has his good moments. But he's young and has a lot to learn.  Think about your game while you sit out tonight, Kid.

TONIGHT  7:30pm

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Ottawa Senators

Somewhere really cold in Canada.

Mike.BTB

N.Y.Knicks ~ The Bounces Went Our Way Tonight

NEW YORK KNICKS: 
* Landry Fields Electrifies Crowd. 
** Amar'e Continues To Lead Knicks.
*** "Snarling" Ray Felton Bounces Raptors In Last Seconds.

Final
Toronto Raptors     110
New York Knicks   113

I counted five; Five bounces on the rim, then in...and..the Knicks win.  It was a bad shot but that was because Toronto defended the play well.  Ray had no pass and nowhere to go....but up.  And up it went.  Then down it came and after bouncing around a bit, down it went.  Then after one last shot attempt by the Raptors, victorious, off went the Knicks to their locker room winners of their last 6 consecutive games.

Ray Felton's last second shot gets on ESPN tonight, but he kept things together for the Knicks in the first half snarling the whole time.  But before that, and before Amar'e put the Knicks on his back in the fourth quarter, Landry Fields added his own highlight to the All-Time Sickest Knicks' Slams and Jams moments.  The reDUNKulous Rookie slammed home a Put-Back so viciously, the play would have broken the rest of Bernard King's fingers had he attempted such violence above the rim.

As far as "The Put-Back" ~ there was always Bernard King's put-back versus the Pistons in the playoffs back in the day when he had his fingers all taped up together.  Then there was Patrick Ewing's put-back of a John Starks drive against the Pacers.  Landry Fields' put-back was equally rim rocking, if not spectacular.  Incidentally, it tied the score at 56-56 with just under one minute left in the first half.

Landry's highlight moment wasn't just something to marvel at, it juiced the crowd up exponentially.  The crowd was pretty docile in the first quarter.  And who could blame them.  The Knicks fell behind right from the opening tip allowing the Raptors to get out to a 13-0 lead.   C'mon...The Raptors?

Landry's slam punctuated a 1st half comeback as it not only tied the score, it set the tone for the rest of the game, not to mention setting MSG decibel levels.  That play woke everybody up and the Garden was raucous from that moment on.

It seemed the more the Garden crowd engouraged their team with the customary DE-FENSE chant, the more Toronto's C-Andrea Bargnani kept raining buckets on us.  He would finish the night with 41 points but the crowds efforts would still not go unrewarded.

The fourth quarter appropriately belonged to Amar'e Stoudemire.  Playing with four fouls then getting a fifth foul called against him on a play, I could see ref Dick Bavetta mouth to Amar'e, "You have a point", when the two discussed the foul.

No matter.  He kept his cool and kept scoring buckets.  Eighteen of Stoudemire's thirty nine points tonight came in the fourth quarter.  Add in 14 rebounds and a few blocked shots and what you have is a man carrying his team.  Tonight was the 6th consecutive game Amar'e scored over 30 points.  One more will tie the Knicks' club record for consecutive games of 30+ points.  For Toronto, there was no solution for his slams off the pick and roll, dunks coming from the low post and his mid-range jumper.

After he was done dominating the 4th quarter and Ray Felton ensured we'd gotten a good bounce, the Garden fans emptied out onto 7th Avenue happy their team just won it's 14th game versus 9 loses... And if you were with me, you were talking about that Landry Fields put-back all the way home.




Mike.BTB

Navy Yard ~ The Last Days of ADMIRAL'S ROW

Click on all pictures for enlarged views.

Views along Flushing Avenue.

View of interior walls.

The Admiral's Mansion is adjacent to the Vinegar Hill Historic District.

Mike.BTB

Brooklyn Heights ~ An Afternoon at St. Ann's ~ Art

If you're new to my site, this is a Trolley Ride.  My "Trolley Rides" are all about meeting the people which make Brooklyn an incredible place to live, work and play.  These Trolley Rides are an exploration of our fascinating Borough and the wonders in it.

This oasis of pseudo-urban archeology is right behind

St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church

at Montague Street and Clinton Street.

Around the corner on Pierrepont Street is

Saint Ann's School.

That's where I met with ANGELO BELLFATTO; an Art Instructor there.

My very enlightening conversation with him started when I asked permission to photograph a certain piece he's working on for the purposes of posting the picture here.

This is Titled:  "WORK IN PROGRESS"  ~  clay.

I found this...Fascinating!

Meeting Angelo was like finding a nice cold glass of water in a desert in the sense he helped me quench a thirst.  We talked about my frustrations with being a "closet artist".

What I mean by that is my want of formal training and about what I feel has been my failure to ever really advance myself in that regard.  I'd get laughed off my softball team sharing a long ago dream I had regarding who I wanted to be when I grew up, like the one I shared today with Mr. Bellfatto.  So..., Shhhh.

I never became that person. 

But if you want to know what the Giants have to do in order to win this Sunday

versus the Minnesota Vikings or Lee Mazzilli's batting average in 1979...., I'm your guy.

Someone immediately came to Angelo's mind while we talked;

someone he said who might be very helpful to me.

There's a saying I live by;

Nothing Ventured ~ Nothing Gained.

Mr. Bellfatto, the pleasure meeting you today was all mine.

I hope to hear from you soon and I'm very interested in seeing

"the Finished Piece" one day in the near future.

Thank you and be well.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. RANGERS ~ It's Going To Be A Long Grind

NEW YORK RANGERS:  If The Blueshirt Ups And Downs Are Getting You Sea Sick,  That Means You Didn't Prepare Before You Got On Board.

There was something eerily familiar about that last loss to the Ottawa Senators over the weekend.  The 3-1 loss to the Sens was a disappointment; yes. But was it a surprise? No.  Ranger fans knew this was going to be an up and down season with several stinkers along the way.


I can't exactly put my finger on it.  Maybe because for Ranger fans, the problem is hard to spot due to lack of familiarity.  We don't have any real, practical experience recognizing a genuine scorer in a Blueshirt.  We've never drafted one in my life-time.  But we have signed many big names who were ghosts of their former selves along the way.  The latest, and not so latest dynamic affecting this situation presently is the salary cap and GM Glen Sather's feeble handling of it.  And yes, Glen Sather himself.  The contracts he gave Drury (Gomez and the domino effect), Redden and Rozsival still have us shackled to the wall.

There is no scorer coming; this year or next because of it.

As much as we've become enamoured with Callahan  and the rest of "the core" comprised of (a suddenly fading) Dubinsky, Staal and company, we still shouldn't be ogling at them through love blind goggles. When this team is bad, it's bad.  And despite eight goals in two games against the Islanders, this team is still offensively challenged in a major way.  Let's remember, those goals came against the woeful Islanders. 

This past game more resembled the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguin loses when we got out-skated, out-passed and out-classed both on the Power Play and at even strength.  These three loses in particular were systematic dismantlings of the Rangers.  Each time, each team, matched the Rangers' physicality and exceeded it.  But each time they punctuated their game with speed and scoring the Rangers had no chance keeping up with.  At what point did you think the Rangers would score three goals against the Sens the way we play, were playing, and the way the Sens were skating and playing defense?

I thought so.

Were the Rangers caught in "that" part of a brutal schedule and as a team were just physically taxed to high hell?  Sure, to some extent. But that negates nothing I said.

When the Rangers can't scratch, claw and grind out victories; battle for pucks against the boards, finish checks, establish a good fore-check and get the puck low, they usually look horrible losing to someone who skates right by them while a Blueshirt is still looking to scrum.  We then mistake that for being tired, or like me, accuse them of skating in cement shoes.  We do that because we keep comparing them to something they're not, which is a scoring team.  We do that every time they string together some wins.

We live with the occasional Henrik stinker because when push comes to shove, he's money.  Real money we have but there's no cap space to spend it.  Thus, we have no big scorer; a go-to-guy.  We still have no firmly established first line either (or 2nd line, or 3rd line), much less having that one guy.

Sometimes, you just have to outscore opponents.  Sometimes when certain aspects of your game take the night off, it's nice if the scorers can just go out and score goals and cover some butts.  That's gotta be good for 4 wins a season; no?  Not in our situation.  For us these days, that translates into a 3-1 loss.  The only way we are going to win games is by grinding, clawing and Henrik Lundqvist doing hand stands.

I can respect that.  These guys are good guys to root for.  They get a much deserved break this week.  And besides, you can't be disappointed with what you don't expect.

Glen Sather?  Well now...., there's someone we can have a conversation about till our next face off.



Mike.BTB

N.Y. GIANTS ~ Jacobs and Big Blue Rumble Over 'Skins

NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS:  How Is It That I Am Upset After A Dominant Victory Over A Division Rival Which Kept Us Tied For First Place? 

ASK Coach GILBRIDE!!

I could be happier about this win.  And don't get me wrong; I am happy and quite relieved (for a few days).  But following me, you'd know I expected this outcome.  The Eagles won last Thursday night and the Giants needed to match it.  So, Mission accomplished.

Woo Hoo!

Now, can someone explain to me what my egomaniac Offensive Coordinator, Kevin Gilbride suffers from?  Or did I just answer my own question?  The interception Eli Manning threw in the end-zone during that second quarter drive is on Kevin Gilbride, not Eli!!  What the hell was he calling a pass play for?  It was a bad decision to fling that ball and Eli did another one of those throw and protect yourself  by turning away from the play passes.  I saw it; I know it; Bad decision Eli.  But, the Giants had been running with fury, like they stole trinkets and beads from the Redskins' sideline.  The 'Skins had no answer for the running game and the field was too crowded inside the five yard line.  At the time the Giants were up 14-0.  And then, there went Coach Gilbride showing off again!  What a bad spot for that call.

In that drive, Brandon Jacobs, who was already over 50 yards to that point, put his head down and plowed his way forward for a first down.  He gained another first down shortly after, which just happened to be the 4000th rushing yard of his career.  He was averaging 12 yards a carry, finding holes and running with power.  Even Eli was on the run.  He rolled right on one pass play and hit TE-Pascoe soon after connecting with a pass to Derek Hagan for another Giant first down.  Another pair of rushes by Ahmad Bradshaw got us a first down where the Giants now had 1st and Goal to-go inside the FIVE.  It was then Coach Gilbride struck and called for the Giants' 31st turnover of the season; good for #1 in the NFL.

Why pass there?  You keep running the damn ball until the other teams proves they can stop it!  C'MON!

Additionally, after a first half performance resulting in 6 carries and 74 freakin' yards gained, Coach Gilbride all but made Brandon Jacobs disappear.  For most of the third quarter Coach Gilbride abandoned the run!
At the 6:36 mark of the third quarter, Brandon Jacobs touched the ball for only the second time in the second half and rumbled for 28 yards and another Giants touchdown.  It was Jacobs' 2nd scoring run of the day.  But just prior to that during this same drive, at the 7:00 mark, Gilbride dialed up another pass that nearly got picked off again.  A Washington penalty gave us the first down and it was then, when Jacobs rumbled in for the touchdown.  THAT was the last time we saw Brandon Jacobs!  Eight carries?

In the fourth quarter, the ball was still being thrown unnecessarily with a 28-7 lead.

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS?



BIG BLUE ~ Take Two:
NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS Over-Power Docile Washington Redskins.  Maintain Share Of First Place.

BIG BLUE who needed a big win this week went out and won in a Big Blue way. 

They weren't going to get any help from the Packers, Bears, Falcons or the Saints Sunday afternoon.  All those teams would win their games.  It seems only the Bucs cease to factor in Giant plans now after a loss to Atlanta.  With G-Men destiny still firmly in G-Men hands the Giants needed to help themselves Sunday to keep it that way.

They did.

The Redskins were served notice early and often that Sunday would be a long, cold day for them.  The Giants scored on their first two possessions, sputtered on their third, and had 1st down and goal on their 4th possession before Coach Gilbride dialed-up an (Eli) interception in the end zone. 

We are all looking for the healthy returns of Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith.  But all we needed was for ELI and the passing game to keep the defense honest and make them respect it. This game would be a running game. That's what I believed before the game and that's basically what we got with all Coach Gilbride's excesses aside.  Eli wasn't called upon to win this game for us.  That type of plan wasn't necessary for the Redskins.  But yes, Eli and Gilbride will be asked to win us games on their own, sometime during the rest of the season and maybe even the playoffs.  It's just....   aw-forget it!




BIG BLUE ~ Take Three:
NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS Run To Daylight With Power.

The running game as we know, supplied the Giants' Offense with everything they needed for a successful afternoon.  That's what December Football is all about; Power Football.

Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs ran "Hog"-wild over the Redskins to the tune of 200 yards and four touchdowns; scoring two apiece.

*Brandon Jacobs had his first 100 yard rushing game since 2008.
*Brandon Jacobs surpassed 4000 yards rushing for his career.
*Ahmad Bradshaw became the 8th back in Giants' history to gain 1,000 yards in a season.

He didn't fumble but I still see him not securing the ball properly.  Regardless, Ahmad Bradshaw played game-horse, getting the majority of the carries and amassing 97 yards rushing.  While I chose to rail against Coach Gilbride for above stated reasons, it was Brandon Jacobs himself who claimed to be pushing for Ahmad to continue getting the carries, as Jacobs hoped Ahmad could also gain 100 yards rushing for the day.  Bradshaw fell three yards short but he made his running-mate very proud while achieving a piece of Giants' history in the process.



Big Blue ~ Take Four:
BRANDON JACOBS - Who's Your Big Blue Daddy?

Come to Papa!!

Brandon Jacobs piled everyone into the back of his Big Blue Mack Truck, and drove home a victory of Giant proportion.  Like a son who did his Pop proud, Brandon ran with power towards daylight and gave credence to everything I've been saying about him all year.

I don't quite understand the reluctance to stand by him...again, as fans.  We spit-shined, polished him and showed him off to everyone, once, like he was "SWEDE" from "Heartbreak Ridge".  He used to be referred to as "Our Bully".  We loved it and him,once, when he menaced defenses.  We rode that TRUCK all the way to Green Bay for a Championship Game.  Then we won a Super Bowl.  Then he held out.  Then he was hurt.  Then we thought he was done.  The he found himself out of our hearts.  Then he had a little attitude flare-up early this season.  Then we thought he was out of his mind.  Then rumors swirled he wanted to be traded.  Then we told him to get lost.

Then he emerged as one of the most important Giants as we move forward.

Well, you can't have it like that!  I never shared those perspectives and I never treated him that way.  That's a fact.

It's time Giants Fans, to again bring Brandon Jacobs into your bosoms and show him love.  He's done everything to earn it.

That's right Brandon ~ Come to Papa.  Who's had your back since WEEK ONE? 

I have.



Big Blue ~ Take Five:
Who Had Donovan McNabb's Back?  The G-Men Did!

Donovan McNabb wished someone had his back; someone other than Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants that is.  The latest member drafted into the BIG BLUE Brigade had himself an afternoon that gets talked about.  That's what you get in this town.  Tell 'your mom' to sew those two sacks on your sleeve permanently.  That was a hell of a day you had.  Well done.

Like the rest of the Defensive effort; Very Well Done.....But not Great.

Donovan McNabb still passed for over 300 yards and had so many more dropped passes work against him and the 'Skins.  Six turnovers will also destroy the best laid plans.  At one point, I rubbed my eyes a few times because I could have sworn I was looking at a Prevent Defense when the 'Skins scored their lone touchdown.

However, the Giants practically limited all yards after catch superbly.  The Giants also completely shut down the Washington running game limiting them to a total of 74 yards on the ground.  And they in fact, inflicted all those turnovers.  Of course, there are the Giants' four sacks.  We can't forget those.

An otherwise great performance was marred by how easily McNabb can pick apart our secondary.  And again, you can't let the dropped passed go under-spoken.  The defensive unit got a tiny bit complacent in the third quarter, but as part of something bigger that impeded the Giants as a whole all quarter long; namely, themselves.

And on that note, Justin Tuck appears to be doing everything he can, in words and deeds, trying to make sure the G-Men play Big and Blue.  He just may have charged himself with making sure the Giants don't slip off the NFC Playoff slope.

December can do that.  It gets slippery out there if you're not careful.



Next up:  NYGiants Offensive Line.


Mike.BTB

N.Y. JETS ~ Can Mark Sanchez Sieze The Night?

NEW YORK JETS ~ The Jets' Flight Has Been More Like a Magic Carpet Ride.  Now It's Time To See What REX's Big Green Bomber Can Do!


Herm Edwards couldn't do it.  He coached not to lose.  Eric Mangini couldn't do it although he had his moments against his former mentor.  Chad Pennington couldn't do it and neither could Brett Fvb%vrsbra.  "IT" - would be smacking the smugness right out of Coach Belichick's and his New England Patriots' mouths, and the smirks right off their faces.

Little dings and dents the Jets inflicted in the Patriots' armor along the way, hardly a reputation make; namely Week Two and any day in the sun Mangini might have had.  The success and lack-of, between the two organizations speaks for itself.

Coach Ryan certainly is big enough to talk as tough as he wants.  He has ushered in the Era of D-Generation REX.  He conjures up a real intimidating game image and inspires a rambunctious team mentality.  Can Coach Rex get his team to follow through on all the hype he rains down on them and make his words ring true against an old master gamesmen?  Coach Rex's attitude certainly is infectious enough.  His confidence and belief system permeates this team.  The Jets say they are up to the task but take things further.  They have no problem tossing around the words "Super Bowl" like jock straps in the hamper.

The Jets are 9-2 to show for all their Coach's roaring.  As of December 5th, the Jets are tied for 1st place in the AFC East with the 9-2 New England Patriots. 

The Jets will be trying to beat the Patriots for the second time this season.  The Jets have actually had their number the last two seasons.  But anyone who knows a thing or two about the NFL knows beating Bill Belichick twice in the same season is a daunting task.

The Patriots arrived at their 9-2 record by basically outscoring everybody.  They aren't stellar on defense but even then, Bill Belichick defenses don't hurt themselves.

The Jets however, have arrived here via something more resembling a magic carpet ride than a Big Green Fighter-Bomber streaking through the sky.  Three late game thrillers featuring two last-minute comebacks and an O.T. win were sandwiched by the 9-0 failed take-off against the Packers and, for a change, a comfortable win versus Cincy.  Their opposition played huge parts in putting the Jets into position for heroics during that stretch.  But when the Jets were given openings, Mark Sanchez and the Jets came through with flying colors.  You can listen to the detractors say the Jets haven't really played anyone good.  I hear them too.  I'm just ignoring them.

The Jets' Offense is somewhat better than the AFC average.  What the Jets have done is maximize their points and kept the other team off the board.  What they've done extremely well is mount late comebacks to win games when given an opportunity.  But the Jets put themselves in those situations and the variables such as bad coaching decisions by the other side can be taken away.  It comes down to execution.  When pressed, they perform.  When not pressed to do so, they sputter.  But it appears obvious Mark Sanchez is off the chain now and he and the Jets are full of big play capability.  This offense put up 28 points against the Pats in Game Two and the truth is the Pats' Defense hasn't gotten much better since then.  The questions you have to ask are, - Can the Jets afford to be put in a comeback situation again, and against this team?  Let's face it, Coach Belichick will not make the same mistakes other coaches have made against the Jets there-by putting them in position to make comebacks.  Another question is, will 28 points this time around be enough to outscore the #1 Offense in Football? 

Success and failure rest squarely on the shoulders of Mark Sanchez Monday night.  That's just the way it is.

Like I said, this Patriot Defensive unit isn't that much improved from the Week Two bunch who gave up 28 points to the Jets.  But, this is a Bill Belichick team, and that means the defense will bend, but not break.  What that means is the Patriots are committed to outscoring you, but they don't give points away.  You still have to earn them.  Coach Belichick will also add a new wrinkle for Mark Sanchez to ponder.  Count on it.

The results of Week Two mean absolutely nothing to me today.  We are talking about something that happened 300 Patriot Points ago.  TOM BRADY leads the AFC's top offensive team with 334 points scored.  They are second in the NFL behind the Eagles (344).  Wes Welker, Randy Moss; No Randy Moss; Cher; ~ It doesn't matter.  They just score points.  Now they are going with three tight end sets.  They make anything work and are 5-0 at home.

The JETS Defensively?  First Chris Jenkins is lost early for the season, now, late, Safety JIM LEONHARD has a broken leg and is out for the remainder of the season.  He was the guy calling defensive plays out there. This may prove devastating to the Jets.  The Jets don't get to the QB unless they blitz.  That is now an even bigger problem for the Jets.  But this is the third most stingiest Defense in Football with only 187 points allowed after Chris Jenkins got hurt.  This defense has held truer to the Bend-Don't-Break model than the Pats have.  The Bears (172) have given up the least points in the NFL.  Then, the list is AFC dominant.  The Steelers are 1st in the AFC with only 181 points allowed; Jets 2nd with 187; and the Ravens 3rd with 188.  The Pats?  A whopping 266.

There's nothing about this match-up telling me the Jets can't win.  But, there's nothing telling me the Patriots can't foil Gang Green's Monday Night Dreams either.

To me this boils down to one thing and one thing only; Can Mark Sanchez make more out his opportunities with the ball than Tom Brady can with his?

Can Mark Sanchez outshine Tom Brady and Sieze the Night?

Only the Final Score will tell.




Mike.BTB

LINKS For Lunch: Sunday Reading

Article Links ~ New York's Teams:


New York Aviators Hockey ~ StamfordAdvocate.com
"Danbury Suffers First Home Loss - Aviators Shut Out Whalers In FHL Action" - John Saward
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Danbury-suffers-first-home-loss-861090.php

New York Islanders ~ N.Y. Post
"NHL Must Act to Save Sinking Islanders" - Larry Brooks
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/islanders/bettman_must_act_to_save_sinking_tlPXRiMeKv9AagGUqYelvI


New Jersey Devils ~ 1050espn.com
"Donnie Pucks: What We Learned About The Devils In November" - Don Lagreca
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/hockey/post/_/id/1417/donnie-pucks-what-did-we-learn-about-the-devils-in-november


New York Rangers ~ Yahoo! Sports
Rangers Team Report
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/teams/nyr/report


New York Knicks ~ HoopsVibe.com
"Amar'e Stoudemire And Ray Felton Saving Knicks" - HoopsVibe News
http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba-news-and-rumors/articles/111702-report-amare-stoudemire-and-ray-felton-new-yorks-new-dynamic-duo


New Jersey Nets ~ BrooklynTrolleyBlogger
"An Arena Grows In Brooklyn - December 2010" - Mike.BTB
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/arena-grows-in-brooklyn-december-2010.html
New Jersey Nets ~ NetsDaily.com
"Game 21 - Nets vs. Celtics - Sunday, December 5, 1:00" - Net Income
http://www.netsdaily.com/2010/12/4/1855329/game-21-nets-vs-celtics-sunday-december-5-1-00


New York Giants ~ The Washington Post
"Unlike the Washington Redskins, The New York Giants Are A Model Of Consistency"
- Mark Maske
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/04/AR2010120403154.html?hpid=topnews


New York Jets ~ BleacherReport.com
"New York Jets - New England Patriots Rivalry Preview" - Marc Pare
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/456510-jetspats-rivalry-preview-not-just-the-boston-tea-party-anymore


New York Yankees ~ ESPN/MLB
"For Derek Jeter, the end of innocence" - Buster Olney
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=5887161&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d5887161%26campaign%3drss%26source%3dMLBHeadlines


New York Mets ~ NYDailyNews.com
On John Maine, Pagan, Dickey, - an article by Andy Martino
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/12/02/2010-12-02_maine_reign_to_end.html








Mike.BTB