Brooklyn Nets: The Great Purge of Flatbush

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

It's back to the old drawing board 

as Mikhail Prohorov trashes his initial blueprint for greatness.

BROOKLYN NETS: Billy King's all-out effort to build an immediate winner instead set the Flatbush Hoops back for years to come.

There's an old saying -  Haste Makes Waste.

What did you expect?

When Bruce Ratner purchased the team, then announced his plan to move them to Brooklyn, his refusal to resign Kenyon Martin essentially became the first indication he was less interested in owning a basketball team, than he was using them as a vehicle to get his proposed downtown Atlantic Yards development realized.

The team inevitably initiated a great rebuild anyway, by first deconstructing the roster during their final years in New Jersey.

After all Ratner's legal wrangling, majority ownership of the team ponderously, if not conveniently, transferred to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov even before the concrete foundation at Barclays Center had been poured.  

The new owner's first order of business was to revamp the front office, beginning with the unceremonious purging of Rod Thorn.  The Nets in turn hired Billy King to be their next general manager.  In his defense, King was charged with not just turning the Nets into a competitive team in time for their Brooklyn debut, but to fulfill the owner's mandate of winning a championship within five years of assuming control.

Suffice to say, that hastily executed mission ended in disaster.  To date, Billy King has done more to help rebuild the Boston Celtics than he has the Nets, whom are in their fourth straight season of regression.  Presently sporting a 10-27 record, only Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers have fared worse this season.

For two seasons now, I've wondered aloud why Billy King was still GM of the Nets...

I no longer have to wonder.  Owner Mikhail Prokhorov finally had enough of this futility as well, and this weekend cleaned house.

Billy King, and Coach Hollins have been relieved of their duties.

This means the Nets will finish out the regular season with their fifth head coach since moving to Brooklyn (in 2012-2013), and will most likely begin next season with their sixth coach in 5 years.

On the bright side, the Nets will gain a measure of salary cap relief next season.  Otherwise, the Nets draft has been compromised till 2020, when they finally regain control of their #1 pick again.  Till then, Boston will reap the benefits of Brooklyn's futility.

Assistant coach Tony Brown will finish out the season as interim coach, while Billy King will be retained, reassigned, and made responsible for finding his own replacement.

N.Y. Mets: Mike Piazza stamps his heart on HOF plaque

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

MIKE PIAZZA - C

#31

New York Mets

1998 - 2005

Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

2015

NEW YORK METS: A tip of the cap to one of New York City's adoptive sons.

Was there really any debate as to which team Mike Piazza's cap would represent on his Hall of Fame plaque?

I mean no disrespect to Los Angelinos - I don't know what type of relationship Mike Piazza shared with L.A. fans, and the community.  So, if this sounds ignorant of me to say, so be it.  But, outside of posting prodigious offensive statistics as a member of the Dodgers, his L.A. narrative is comparatively limited, I think, and more easily captured on the back of a baseball card.

The cornerstone of his brilliant career was indeed set at Chavez Ravine.  Piazza stormed out of the gate, qualifying as a 24-year old Rookie of the Year.  In 7 seasons with the Dodgers, Mike Piazza batted .331, and posted a .966 OPS.  In 1997, Piazza slugged .638, and batted .362 (yet ponderously failed to capture the batting title).  He did, however, set career highs with 40 home runs and 124 RBI.

The following season he was ponderously traded twice, first to the Florida Marlins, then, amazingly to the Mets.  He stepped into the New York limelight as a 29-year old in 1998, and exited at 36-years of age in 2005.

In 8 seasons with the Mets, Piazza batted .296, with a .915 OPS.  In 1999, he matched his career highs with another 40 home runs and 124 RBI, but saw his average drop to .303 that season with a .575 slugging mark (... a complete non-issues for Mets fans, as if.  We were just giddy to have him).

Overall, Piazza played 243 more games for the Mets than with the Dodgers, posted 78 more doubles, 43 more home runs, 92 more RBI, and scored 89 more runs than he did with L.A.

Then of course, he appeared in back-to-back N.L. Championships, and one World Series with the Mets.  In all, Piazza appeared in 22 post-season games with the Mets as opposed to just 6 total games over 2 NLDS appearances as a  Dodger.

Numbers, however, can't account for everything, and there's the rub...

Born in Pennsylvania, he was instilled with a very grounded, blue collar work ethic, and at the very least, Piazza was also humble.  So it was very endearing to hear him say New York City was, and still remains where his heart lies.  Easier said than done, considering the litany of star players who've come to NYC only to endure fractured, even cantankerous relationships with fans and media alike.

Fact is, Piazza instantly became an adoptive New Yorker.  As they say - this ain't Kansas, Toto.  The author of Long Shot was no recluse.  He seemed quite at ease within the frenzied pace and culture of NYC (and in his dealings with a voracious media).  Piazza was about town, and routinely hung out on weekends at the local rock stations heavy metal shows.

On a more serious note, the understated superstar's majestic home run in baseball's first game played after the events of 9/11 had a healing quality to it - if I may - allowing not just fans watching at home or in attendance, but New Yorkers and Americans in general, a moment to escape their personal anxieties, respective grief, and the overall anguish gripping the city and nation at the time.

For many, you might say that night was one of the first steps towards regaining a sense of normalcy.
To his credit, Mike Piazza never allowed himself to be called a hero for playing a game.  He continues to respectfully defer at every opportunity.  That said, one never knows what they'll feel until it happens - and that night, the crowd, uniformed members of our various services, and those more closely affected by that event, spoke for themselves.

Not just as a Met, but as an adoptive New Yorker, he's intricately woven into the fabric of New York City history.

There will always be that bond...

Urban Art: South Side - Makatron and WoodzArt

Williamsburg, South Side

South 2nd Street

FROM

South 3rd Street

FROM

PIGSKIN 2015: Wild Card Weekend

PIGSKIN

WILD CARD

WEEKEND

SATURDAY

Chiefs -3 (TEXANS)

I'll like the Chiefs' defense as a starter.  Then I'll take Alex Smith's experience and steadiness over that of Brian Hoyer's any day.  The Texans might sack Smith, often, but won't be able to prevent points.  Houston will look one dimensional.  Thank you very much.

WIN; 30-0 Chiefs

Steelers -3 (BENGALS)

Third meeting of the season for them.  This is going to be intense.  Can Big Ben overcome a compromised running game and a sketchy defense?  I've seen Big Ben do it before.  Can the Bengals overcome the loss of Andy Dalton?  I don't think so - and therein lies the difference.  If you're one for trends, the Bengals tend to do their worst work in big games at home.  But, hey, if you think this game will come down to a last minute field goal, then go with the Cats.  Good luck with that.

Loss; 18-16 Steelers

SUNDAY

Seahawks -5 (VIKINGS)

Whether by arm or by legs, Russell Wilson will see the Seahawks through.  If the Vikings allow him to run, the Seahawks cover easy.  If the Vikes stack the box, Wilson will exploit them outside.  If the Vikes play it straight, Marshawn Lynch becomes a factor.  In other words, the Vikes are going to get out-coached (among other things).  The Minnesota Vikings WERE a nice story.

Loss; 10-9 Seahawks

Packers -1 (D.C. HOGS)

The Packers are in a funk.  And I think there's a certain head coach whom senses his job in jeopardy should the Hogs win.  On a personal measure, Aaron Rogers is performing at an all-time pedestrian level.  That said, those Hogs can play respectable defense, and after finishing the season winning 4 straight, just might be catching the Packers at an opportune time.  You know what they say - any given Sunday.  But, we owe it to ourselves to pick Green Bay, don't we?  Green Bay has a good pass rush, right?  I mean, get to Kirk Cousins and the Packers win, right?  Right?  

Did I mention Kirk Cousins?

WIN; 35-18 Packers

Yes!

All the home teams will lose!

N.Y. Mets: RA's New Year/HOF Podcast

Here's our latest podcast at 

RisingApple.com

Rising Apple Report: 

The New Year Hall of Fame Edition

I hosted, with fellow writer Rich, and Rising Apple site editor Danny on the panel.
 Our featured guest was Metstradamus, or as his parents call him, John.

A celebration of Mike Piazza's election into Baseball's Hall of Fame
and the ongoing State of the Mets.

I ranted on ownership.

Enjoy!

N.Y. Giants: Dean Coughlin Cleaned Up Animal House

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

The man who put down a Giant insurrection...

NEW YORK GIANTS FOOTBALL: Thank you, Tom Coughlin, for all you've done as Head Coach of Big Blue.

I remember John McVay's last season as head coach in 1976, then grew into my Giants fandom under the stern guidance of Ray Perkins.

Years later, the Giants won Super Bowl XXV, I turned 24-years old, Bill Parcells left, in turn leaving me despondent, and thinking the Giants would never win ever again.

It's true.

Then Ray Handley happened, making Dan Reeves a necessary, and welcome sight for sore eyes.   Thankfully, the 1993 season served as somewhat of a healer.  Despite the departures and respective retirements of many former Big Blue champions, Reeves helped me move on with life.

Then came Jim Fassel, and what I dub the Delta House years (lots of fun, but riddled with typical frat house consequences).

What a bunch of knuckleheads - really - the whole lot of 'em.  For better or worse, guys like Jesse Armstead, Amani Toomer, Jason Sehorn, Jeremy Shockey, Keith Hamilton, Kerry Collins, Michael Strahan and Tiki Barker made Giants football exciting again, but in the most undisciplined manner conceivable.

Wellington Mara, however, was getting on in years, and so the renewed success of the Giants under Jim Fassel, and winning the 2000 NFC championship became perhaps one of the happiest moments of his life.

In truth, that Giants edition was extremely likable.  It took me nearly 10 years, but I was finally over the departure of Bill Parcells (kinda) because of these guys.

Make no mistake, however, Fassel was the ultimate player's coach.  Allowing the inmates to run the asylum ultimately cost the Giants greater glories, that sometimes were lost in quite embarrassing fashion.  Jim Fassel earned his dismissal.  There's little debate there.  Change was clearly needed.

Enter Tom Coughlin - chewing barbed wire and spitting napalm at reporters during his introductory presser.

The unruly Giants didn't take too well to their new commander and controller.

Foolish me sided with the players in those first two years - all but Tiki Barber that is.  I did not appreciate Barber's unrepentant, open defiance and denunciation of Coughlin.  That's not how I want my team's players behaving.  Therefore, in Tiki's case I was totally on board with the head coach.   Otherwise, my son chastised me for my initial lack of Coughlin acceptance.  Then by 2010, I was the one staunchly defending him against naysayers calling for his firing.

Jerry Reese was made to deal with Michael Strahan, and I applauded Reese's dismissive treatment of Strahan at the time.  But, what has transpired over the last few years falls mainly on him, not Coughlin.

Did the Giants suffer from poor coaching decisions this season?  Yes, but, that would necessitate expanding this conversation to include Eli Manning's play changing at the line within this new west coast system.

Sure, there's more to this than just that.  That said, somewhere between the seemingly ceaseless litany of criticisms levied upon Tom Coughlin by Tiki Barber, and the two Lombardi trophies added to the Giants collection under Tom Coughlin, lies the truth regarding his long tenure as head coach.

Do I think Tom Coughlin quit ... because it was right for the Giants?

No.  The Giants resorted to replacing both their offensive and defensive coordinators first.  Naturally, the head coach is next in line for modification.  I think Coughlin was respectfully squeezed out, and given the opportunity to leave under his own terms with class, and his dignity in tact.

Steve Tisch quietly wanted Coughlin gone last season.  If you remember, Steve Tisch publicly lashed out again midway through this season.  Suffice to say, he has not been happy.  Then again, we all know John Mara is the real shot caller, and even he couldn't be dissuaded from enacting reform - not this time.

Tom Coughlin restored order to Giants football.  Looking back on the Jim Fassel years, I say that with confidence.

Now, the time is right for change.

My lasting images of Tom Coughlin are three: his frostbitten face during the 2007 NFC championship game in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, and the two times his float passed me by during the Super Bowl victory parades down the Canyon of Heroes.

I've had my issues with Tom Coughlin.  I stated them clearly to open the season.

Tiki Barber still disparages his former coach till this day, recently saying Coughlin took the will to continue playing football from him.  To that I say, the Giants wound up better for it.

That's life in the NFL, Tiki.  Get over it.

Tom Coughlin was a great coach.

He'll be difficult to replace.

The BTB Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

BASEBALL

HALL of FAME

2016

Eligible Players

Garret Anderson  -  Brad Ausmus  -  Jeff Bagwell  -  Barry Bonds

Luis Castillo  -  Roger Clemens  -  David Eckstein  -  Jim Edmonds

Nomar Garciapara  -  Troy Glaus  -  Ken Griffey Jr.  -  Mark Grudzielanek

Mike Hampton  -  Trevor Hoffman  -  Jason Kendall  -  Jeff Kent

Mike Lowell  -  Edgar Martinez  -  Fred McGriff  -  Mark McGwire

Mike Mussina  -  Mike Piazza  -  Tim Raines  -  Curt Schilling

Gary Sheffield  -  Lee Smith  -  Sammy Sosa  -  Mike Sweeney

Alan Trammell  -  Billy Wagner  -  Larry Walker  -  Randy Winn

My Ballot:

1) Ken Griffey Jr.
Had he worked-out his body just a little more, Griffey Jr. would have been even greater than his numbers indicate.  His years spent in Cincinnati were overly compromised by injuries.  Otherwise, his seasons in Seattle were epic.  The only real debate is whether Griffey breaks Tom Seaver's 98.8% induction record.

2) Mike Piazza
I do not operate under the guise of suspicion.  That is a dangerous tact in any walk of life.  To me, it's simple - a given player was either a user of PEDs, or not.  There has never been evidence linking Mike Piazza to PEDs.  I'm sorry, back acne just does not constitute an indictment.  Writers whom previously failed to vote for Piazza in the hope some evidence would eventually materialize should have their privilege revoked on the grounds of egregious bias in the absence of reasonable suspicion.
Mike Piazza was the most prolific hitting catcher of all-time - period.

3) Tim Raines
Yes, he got snared in the drug scandal of the 1980s.  And yes, Tim Raines even admitted to sliding head first so as to not break the vile of cocaine he kept in his back pocket.  Baseball, and legal system caught up with, and dealt with the matter.  If you can overlook that, then there's little debating that Raines was one of the 2 or 3 greatest lead-off hitters of all-time.  His only other mistake was playing in the same era as Rickey Henderson.

4) Jeff Kent
It's hard to find anyone whom actually likes this guy.  I don't - particularly as a Mets fan.  But, that is neither here nor there.  His numbers as a second baseman speak for themselves.  He was not a great defensive player, but then, many HOF'ers weren't either.  You can dislike him, just do not deny him of his HOF worthiness.  Championing a case for him does not come easy for me.  Sometimes you just have to turn a blind eye.

5) Alan Trammell
His credentials have everything to do with whom you talk to.  If you come from my era, shortstops were typically weak hitting, smallish, skinny, and above all primarily defensively orientated players.   Think Mark Belanger and Buddy Harrelson.  Along with Robin Yount, Alan Trammell was clearly a step above his contemporaries - until the likes of Cal Ripken, then Barry Larkin, Nomar Garciapara, and Alex Rodriguez all broke the mold.

6) Jeff Bagwell
See Mike Piazza.  Then take a look below at Gary Sheffield and Mark McGwire.  I debated this one way too long.  Bagwell, however, deserves the benefit of the doubt.


The Hall of Very Very Good:

Fred McGriff
Edgar Martinez
Mike Mussina
Larry Walker
Lee Smith
Curt Schilling
Nomar Garciapara
Billy Wagner
Trevor Hoffman

The Hall of Fame should be for the elite.  I'm having to think these players too much, and so I would have to decline ... for now.

I'd love for Crime Dog to get in the Hall.  But, take a look at what other first basemen of renown accomplished.  Edgar Martinez was a great hitter - few better.  I'm just not sure they were the elite of their day.

Mike Mussina pitched his entire career in the highly competitive A.L. East (against the Red Sox, and both for and against the Orioles and Yankees), and still fared extremely well.  That said, if Jack Morris is not in the Hall, I can not justify putting Mussina, nor Curt Chilling in the Hall.

Lastly, I think Lee Smith was a far more effective reliever/closer than Trevor Hoffman ever was.  I've never seen a closer blow damn near every big game he pitched more so than Hoffman.  He is the epitome of an accumulator.  Billy Wagner?  Overall, I'm not sure writers take closers too seriously.   The ones that are in the Hall, are truly the elite.

That said, I do believe in consistency and longevity, and the ability to accumulate a HOF resume without really dominating the game.  There's something to that.  I just do not think Trevor Hoffman was that good, at any point of his career (not in that division, unlike Mussina).


Not Even a Consideration:

Barry Bonds
Read Game of Shadows.  That's good enough for me.

Roger Clemens
Hires some dude as a personal trainer, lets him into his home, let's him inject his wife with juice, but Roger himself was never injected.  That's what Clemens wants us to believe.  Too circumstantial?   There's Andy Pettitte's deposition too.

Sammy Sosa
What a clown.  At the height of his popularity, this guy spoke English like a British judge, and was even hawking tourism commercials for the Dominican Republic in very fine English indeed.  Then, suddenly, he forgot every word of the English language when he appeared before a congressional hearing regarding steroid usage in baseball.  Aye caramba!

Gary Sheffield and Mark McGwire
They were just two of many whom turned the magic number of 500 home runs into a farce.

Happy New Year - 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thank you all for visiting my little endeavor I call the

Brooklyn Trolley Blogger

Wishing you a healthy and happy

New Year

2016

N.Y. Mets: 2015 Review - The Year That Was Podcast

Here's our final podcast of 2015
a/o December 29th

On behalf of the crew at 

RisingApple.com

Happy New Year

The three Rising Apple veterans,

Sam, Rich, and I, talked about the 2015 season that was. 

Gary Mac from MetsMusings.com called in to wish a Happy New Year.

Stuff: 

Michael Conforto, Bartolo Colon, Curtis Granderson, Wilmer Flores,

Thor, Jeurys Familia, the departed Daniel Murphy, 

where's next year's offense coming from, 

favorite moments, and much more.

We actually exercised some discipline 

and limited ourselves to a one hour show.

Enjoy!

#LGM

Merry Christmas ~ 2015

Have a Holly Trolley Christmas...

A rainy day, is still a great day at Coney Island

Mid-December 2015

Someone got a new paint job.  Lookin' good!

Agreeable weather has no doubt helped work crews perform much needed off-season renovations 

to Brooklyn's famed Cyclone Roller Coaster.  By the looks of things, 

she'll be in great shape for next season.

OPENED 1927

MADE A NYC LANDMARK ~ 1988

Built 1920

Made a NYC Landmark ~ 1989

Work crews are also grinding down the exterior of Deno's Wonder Wheel 

in preparation for a new paint job as well.

The next hot dog eating contest is still a ways away, but there will be a fireworks show at the Parachute Jump for New Year's Eve, and I think the Wonder Wheel might be open as well.  Sounds like a new cool way to bring in the New Year.

The Force is Strong in B'klyn

Sorry for my inactivity, folks.
Sometimes life leaves one no choice but to step away from our hobbies.
Be sure, however, this Trolley is still rollin', and as usual, closer than you think.


I WILL see Star Wars this week ... at some point.
I was 10-years old when Episode IV came out.

I couldn't resist..

Picture from the latest edition of The Brooklyn Paper.

Knicks Victorious in Season's First Battle of the Boroughs

From the desks of:

DUTCH PANTS CAN'T JUMP  and  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

Friday Final

Nets        91

Knicks  108

Knicks rookie backs up his words.

Add trash talkin' New Yorker to his resume...

As a lead-in to the season's first East River showdown, the freshly minted Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month said Europeans know the Knicks well, but the Nets, not so much.

Kristaps Porzingis then backed up his riff in so far as Knicks fans being better than Nets fans with 19 points and 10 rebounds during Friday night's 108-91 lopsided victory over Brooklyn at Madison Square Garden.

Indeed, twenty games into the Knicks season Porzingis has turned boos into cheers, and is easily the lead story in town.

His selection was met with resounding disapproval by fans at the 2015 draft, but a quarter of the way through his first season as a pro, he has won fans over with 13.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game - but doing so with smoothness and skill.

Most importantly, Porzingas has Carmelo Anthony believing he's here to help expedite the rebuilding process, and elevate Melo's game - not hinder it.

Proof lies in the numbers.  The Knicks improved to 10-10 with Friday's victory.  This time last season, they were a mere 4-16, en route to a 17-65 regular season.

This time, they really, really mean it..

The Brooklyn Nets have become notoriously poor starters (among other things...).

The Nets were 11-9 after the first twenty games during their inaugural season, and were playing .500 ball in late December when they decided to fire coach Avery Johnson.  Under P.J. Carlisimo, the Nets posted a 35-19 record the rest of the way.

The Nets started 6-14 in the 2013-14 season, and posted an 8-12 record after twenty games last season.  Each time, they rebounded well enough in order make the playoffs.

This season, the Nets are 5-14 to date and appear really, really, determined to keep a steady course.

*

Friday night, the Nets had 15 assists for the entire game.  The Knicks Jose Calderon led all players with 10 assists by himself.  Joe Johnson led the Nets with four assists, and got ejected for a flagrant elbow foul late in the game.

The Rivalry Comes to Brooklyn: Rangers vs. Islanders - I

From the desks of:

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  and  FIVE FOR FLATBUSH

The Rivalry

TONIGHT

New York Rangers

vs.

New York Islanders

FROM

BARCLAYS CENTER

BROOKLYN

Six points separate the (#2) Rangers and (#5) Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Sandwiched between them are Washington and Pittsburgh.  The gap between them, however, is now far closer than New Yorkers are normally accustomed to.

This evening, the Rivalry prepares to cross the East River, and invade the Borough of churches.

Lord Stanley pray for us all....

Both Nassau County leadership, and locals, rejected further financing of the decades long campaign, and ultimately pulled the plug on constructing a new base of operations for their NHL hockey club.

Forced to move on, the crossroads of Brooklyn are the new battle front between Tex's Rangers, and the seemingly nomadic Islanders.

The Battles of Uniondale are done.  The fight for Flatbush, is on.

Now it's Borough against Borough - or maybe it will build up to that over time, as Long Islanders are the one's largely attending games during this early going.  On that note, you can bet there will be hoards of Rangers fans in the building.

It's going to take some time in order for the Isles to establish their settlement along Flatbush Avenue.

In the meantime, enjoy the first regular season game between the Islanders and Rangers in Brooklyn.

The Skates of 'Rath...

Kevin Klein's promotion to the top defensive line didn't last very long.  He is due to miss the next few weeks with an abdominal injury sustained against Carolina.

As they say, one man's injury is another man's opportunity, meaning, Dylan McIlrath will finally get a block of consistent playing time (whether Alain Vigneault likes it or not).

N.Y. Giants: Piling Weight of the Season on Eli's Shoulders

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Youngster no more.  

The old vet must be the Mann from here on out.

New York Giants: Unfairly, or not, Big Blue needs Eli Manning to be elite down the stretch.

The Fates are looking over the Giants.  I mean ... what more could Jerry Reese's broken pieces ask for?

Thanksgiving Day effectively eliminated the Cowboys from any meaningful conversation, and put the Eagles dysfunction on full display for the nation to see.  The Giants now get an opportunity to act on their own behalf by putting their last remaining division rival to pasture once and for all.

Yes Virginia, as improbable as it may seem, the stage is set for Big Blue taking one small step forward in the standings, and a Giant leap towards capturing an NFC East division flag by Christmas.

It's theirs for as long as they step up, keep their wits about them, execute, and take it.  But, as we've seen numerous times this season, particularly in the final minutes of games, that's been a task easier said than done.

Defensively, the Redskins have allowed 370 yards per game, while the Giants have surrendered 420 yards per game (2nd most in the NFL).  Yet, both average 25.3 points allowed per game, placing each in the bottom third of the league.

Offensively, the Giants average 27.3 points per game, while the Hogs have posted an average of 22.1 points per.

But let us not forget what Kirk Cousins did to the Giants secondary in Week Three.  Yes, he threw a pair of interceptions, but was also 30/49 for 316 yards, and a touchdown. Washington outscored the Giants 15-14 in the 4th quarter, in what ultimately ended up being a 32-21 Giants victory.

Just saying....

The return of Coach Spagnuolo means the Giants once again rank among league leaders in takeaways.  In fact, the Giants rank second.

There's your game.

Washington runs the ball as atrociously as the Giants do.  Both team's running games are ranked 7th and 8th worst, respectively.  So, the Giants better make sure they take away what little running game the Redskins possess, thereby putting Kirk Cousins in bad throwing situations.  Then it's a matter of Cousins offering the Giants defense opportunities to make big plays.

On the Blue side of the ball, the Giants lack of an effective running game makes the marrow in my bones boil over with frustration.  While injuries to the offensive line pose their own issues, this four-headed backfield they employ is nothing more than a mythical creature that needs to be eradicated.

Throughout football, I can not believe such learned minds have let the art of rushing to daylight become the road least traveled.  In the Giants case, it's avoidance by design.  But I digress...

If throw they must, then throw the damn thing with fury.

Time and again throughout Eli Manning's career, his leadership, and that ridiculous "elite" tag has been brought into question.  Unlike his earlier years, he no longer has a top grade offensive line, a punishing running game, nor a top ranked defense that made the Giants a well balanced team.

Today, there's only Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., a scratch-off lottery system of playing opportunities, and a litany of question marks.  Yet, many unfairly demand Eli Manning put any lingering questions regarding his leadership beyond the late Autumn shadows of doubt starting Sunday.

Fans want another miracle run from him, but I'd offer his support group is immensely inferior than that of previous Big Blue contenders.

Hakeem Nicks is a nice blast from the past, but hard to gauge his impact on the immediate future before they play the games.  There's an old saying - players become available for a reason.  Just ask Jon Beason....

My biggest takeaway from today's game will be how Coach McAdoo utilizes Orleans Darkwa.

We'll revisit everything, then.

Here's what I said in my PIGSKIN PICKS:

Giants -2 1/2 (D.C. HOGS)

This is not your father's NFC East of the 1980s, folks.  If the Hogs win, they'll tie the Giants for the division lead with sub par 5-6 records.  A Giants win, however, would at least somewhat legitimize their standing in a poor bracket.  Many would argue the Giants could, and should be 8-3 right now.   They had their chances, sure, but as Bill Parcells would say - they are what their record says they are. That said, the Giants should be better than Washington, period.  I'd be thankful if they just went out there and seized the day.