NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: New York Giants

Our long national nightmare is over. Today begins the first day of many more days to come. Today is the first day of our famous NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: the hottest thing to come at you this summer. Of course, it can only star yours truly. Without further waiting, I proclaim this day, July 14, 2008, as the unofficial start to the 2008 NFL season!

This week, we will profile the always popular NFC East. It's the division that sees more of Joe Buck than Ed Werder and Sal Paolantonio combined. I'll get to my namesake's team tomorrow, but today, we honor the defending Super Bowl champions...

It's hard to believe that our defending Super Bowl champions actually started the 2007 season under much uncertainty. This was a team that lost Tiki Barber to retirement, saw Michael Strahan hold out for most of training camp and saw scrutiny for quarterback Eli Manning and head coach Tom Coughlin.

This team got no love from me. After they started 0-2, I immediately discounted them from even making the playoffs. In hindsight, I regret this move a lot. This team really showed a lot of heart in the postseason. I'm never doubting Eli Manning again.

The Giants will open up the regular season at home on Thursday night against division foe Washington Redskins. On Oct. 5, they face their first tough opponent when they face the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks. The week after, they'll go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns. Manning will also get a chance to face Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. We finally get a chance to see these two '04 rookies, who are now Super Bowl champions, go at it.

It's now time to do the favorite that the kids enjoy, the burning questions (yearbook style):

• Eli Manning will: Continue to progress as a marquee quarterback
  
  
• Starting running back this year will be: Brandon Jacobs
  
  
• Jeremy Shockey will: Continue to be annoying and will get hurt (again!)
  
  
• Coolest name on the team (Top 3): Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyiora and Guy Whimper
  
  
• Michael Strahan will be: Buffer between Terry Bradshaw and Frank Caliendo
  
  
• Better back-up quarterback (Carr or Wright): Push
  
  
• Top Giants rookie in 2008: Kenny Phillips, FS, from The U
  
  
• Team MVP for this year: Osi Umenyiora
  
  
• 80s song that best describes the Giants: Don't Stop Believin'- Journey
  
  
• In 2008, the Giants will: Finish the season 9-7, third in the NFC East

Enjoy the videos

Redemption is the Word That Defines the Super Bowl

The New York Giants are leaving Glendale, Ariz. as the Champions of the National Football League. They defeated the New England Patriots 17-14, in one of the hardest fought battles in recent memory.

This was an exciting game from start to finish. The fourth quarter was one of the best in Super Bowl history.

When I think about Super Bowl, it's all about redemption. The Giants represent the redemption theme perfectly.

Tom Coughlin redeemed himself and has proven that he is the right man to coach the Giants. Eli Manning proved he is the real deal in New York. When he struggled, he always fought back and never gave up.

When Manning stepped on to the field with less than three minutes left, the world's eyes were on him. When his team needed him the most, Manning stepped up and proved his worth not only to his team, but to all of his doubters, from analysts to sports writers and especially the fans.

Plexico Burress redeemed himself tonight when his team needed him the most. With less than 40 seconds left in the game, Burress caught his second pass of the game. That reception would prove to be the most important for the Giants as it was the go-ahead touchdown.

It just goes to show one thing and one thing only, it doesn't matter how many receptions you have. What really matters is scoring the final touchdown, the Super Bowl clinching touchdown.

This was a great game, easily among the three best Super Bowl games I've ever seen. It just had that feeling of a great Super Bowl. From start to finish, this was just exciting. Both teams should be proud to even have the chance to play. In the end though, it was Manning and the Giants who came out on top.


Great work by the Giants. This 2007 season was truly one we'll never forget.