NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: New York Giants

It's still a surprise to me how the Giants, led by Eli Manning won a Super Bowl in the 2007 season. Let me repeat that...Eli Manning won a Super Bowl!

More surprising was the fact that the Giants won the NFC East in 2008. They did more than win it, they dominated!

The Giants finished in the top five in scoring offense and defense. Manning completed 60 percent of his passes and went to his first Pro Bowl year last season. That's how good the Giants were in 2008. Of course, that's how it went in the regular season!.

The Giants were knocked out in the divisional round by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants failed to capitalize on their top seed in the NFC.

It's 2009 now and who knows what to expect from the Giants. The Eagles are considered by some the favorite to win the East. The East has always been competitive. It should be interesting to see how the Giants do in 2009.

Time for the burnin' questions:

Most Offensive Player: Steve Smith
Most Defensive Player: Osi Umenyiora
Best New Guy: Hakeem Nicks
Coolest Twitter Page: Sinorice Moss
Team Song: Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
Coolest Names (Top 3): Chris Snee, Jeff Feagles, Stoney Woodson
Most Likely to Succeed: Brandon Jacobs
In 2009, the Giants will go: 11-5 (Playoffs)

Tomorrow, we'll preview the Redskins.

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

The Best of the Mondays: Week 1

I've finally decided to do this after months and months of promises. I'm doing the best of the Mondays, my own Monday morning analysis of the week's games. Today, we go back to week one of the 2007 regular season. I'll give my own analysis of my analysis. Sounds stupid, doesn't it? I'll have my present day thoughts in italics.

My oh my how the time passes. Tony Romo picked apart the eventual Super Bowl champions. Kevin Everett's career and life were uncertain after his injury during the kickoff against Denver. Also, the Patriots destroyed the Jets in their first game of the regular season. (NOTE: The whole Spygate controversy started the afternoon that this post was made). Enjoy the post kiddies and I'll see you on Hump Day.

• New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is certainly having fun with his new offensive weapons. His new three new wide receivers combined for 263 yards. Randy Moss led the team with 183 yards and one touchdown- Did Mangini get the last laugh?
  
  New York Jet fans were cheering Kellen Clemons as he came into the game, replacing injured Chad Pennington. What is up with that?- No it had to be the hoodie!
  
  How about that Ellis Hobbs, 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, longest in NFL History. Big props to Hobbs!- Woo, Ellis Hobbs!
  
  
• The Chicago Bears lost to the San Diego Chargers 14-3. I am disappointed. They held LaDainian Tomlinson to 25 yards on the ground. The Bears offense needs to improve, or heads will roll- The Chargers were up and down early on, but they stuck it out and made it to the AFC title game.
  
  
• A big congratulations goes out to Houston Texans defensive end, Mario Williams, scoring his first touchdown on a fumble recovery. Way to go man. By the way, the Texans defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-3- Who knew that the Texans would be a big surprise in the NFL that season? Not I!
  
  
• Condolensces go out to Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett, who is recovering from surgery this morning after a helmut-to-helmut collison left him unconscious. Hopefully, it is nothing serious, but definitely keep him in your thoughts and prayers- I'm glad he made it through and is now walking again.
  
  
• ROMO ALERT: Tony Romo shined on Sunday Night (is Football Night), throwing for 345 yards and four touchdowns. The Cowboys won the game 45-35. It was definitely a great way to end a great Sunday- A lot of questions came up in regards to the competency of the Giants. Hindsight now tells us differently.
  
  
• Monday Night Picks: I'm picking the Baltimore Ravens over the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers over the Arizona Cardinals- I went 1-1 on that night in case you forgot
  

Tuesdays with Romo: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!!!!

Here's something interesting that I found on the Youtube. It's a ripoff off those NBA two-sided (Two-Face???) commercials. It features some famous quarterback brothers. Maybe you know them and maybe you don't. I'll shut up and let you watch this video.

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.

Thursdays: The New York Giants

We continue to profile the 32 teams of the NFL, we take a look at the NFC East and preview the Giants.

The Giants finished the year 8-8, 3rd in the East, clinching the final spot in the playoffs. They lost to division foe, Philadelphia Eagles, in the Wild Card round.

They drafted Texas CB, Aaron Ross in the first round of this year's draft. The Giants will take on the Jets, the Dolphins (in London), the 49ers and the Bears.

Time for those burnin questions (Yearbook style):

1. Michael Strahan will: Not be starring in any Chunky Soup Commercials this year (besides I hear there's a curse)
2. The Giants will miss Tiki Barber: Until Brandon Jacobs comes along (or will he?)
3. Tiki Barber: Needs to stick to analyzing football instead of reporting for the 'Today' show
4. Eli Manning needs to: Bring it
5. In 2007, Eli Manning will: Not resemble Phil Simms, instead resembling Kent Graham
6. In 2007, Steve Smith (Giants) will: Not put up the same numbers as Steve Smith (Panthers)
7. Tom Coughlin will: Be fired at the end of the season (Hopefully for being five minutes late)
8. Kiss song that best describes team: They don't get one
9. In 2007, the Giants will: Go 9-7, clinching a Wild Card spot

See y'all tomorrow

Nos