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Today, the media covered trade rumors, SpyGate, the Combine, and the birth of Tyree’s twin girls. I wrote how I felt about Hall and Trufant below. Feel free to comment on each of them. Do you love them or hate them and let me know why? I’ve had the opportunity to watch the Giants play the Falcons several times so I know that Hall is the real deal. I’ve also seen the Falcons play many nationally televised games because they used to get those spots when Vick was on the team. However, I don’t know anything about Trufant except that he was named to the Pro Bowl which isn’t an indicator of anything. I questioned his heart in the Divisional Playoffs and based my opinion solely on that. If you can’t bring it in the Playoffs because it’s snowing then you are missing something. Seattle is a team that is difficult to grasp. They don’t lose at home so it’s hard to figure out where they stand. I picked them to beat the Redskins in Wild Card Weekend because they were home. I picked them to cover the spread in Green Bay, but I figured that they would lose while giving Green Bay a fight. There was no fight at all.
Giants.com:
Combine Thoughts - Yesterday, Tom Coughlin met with the media at the NFL Combine to discuss many topics. Michael Eisen included a short version of Coach Coughlin’s press conference in the article as well as the video of the entire thing.
Newsday:
Eyeing pair of top CBs - Bob Glauber covered the rumors about the NY Giants being interested in Hall and Trufant that we covered yesterday. I already pointed out that Hall will be traded by the Falcons because his mouth gets him into too much trouble. DeAngelo Hall said that “he will not return to the team after new general manager Thomas Dimitroff told him the club would consider offers for him.” Basically, he is being forced out which makes him the defensive equivalent of a Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson, or T.O. Speaking of Keyshawn, did you hear is trying to make a comeback? Where will he play? Hall then went on to say he doesn’t want a raise, he just wants to play for a team that wants him. So who wants him? It seems like the Giants are interested in him because they offered their first round draft pick for him. A first round pick for a player this good is a bargain, but you have to deal with his antics. It’s not as much of a bargain as the Pats getting Moss for a fourth round pick, but it’s pretty good. I don’t want Hall. Glauber reported something different about whether Marcus Trufant could be traded, which was “Seattle has designated Trufant as their “franchise” player, meaning Seattle has virtually exclusive negotiating rights with him for the 2008 season. But that does not preclude them from making a trade.” I don’t care if he can or cannot be traded because I don’t want him. Go back and watch the Divisional Playoffs between the Seahawks and the Packers. What did Trufant do in snowy Green Bay? Nothing…not only nothing, but the entire team stopped playing once it started snowing. He is not mentally or physically tough enough to be a New York Football Giant. What kind of Road Warrior gives up in Lambeau Field? I didn’t see any Giants quit in minus 24 degrees on the frozen tundra. That is why I don’t want Trufant either.
New York Daily News:
Pat spies evaded Giants - This is the same thing that the New York Post reported yesterday. Ralph Vacciano also went onto explain the current situation with SpyGate. After Roger Goodell met with Senator Arlen Spector, Spector didn’t come out of the meeting a happy man. Vacchiano wrote,
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) told ESPN.com he’s been “stonewalled” by the Jets and Patriots in his efforts to investigate SpyGate. Both organizations have retained outside counsel to handle inquiries with Specter, who met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week.
“I think that is somewhere between absurd to insulting that they won’t let us talk to the witnesses,” Specter told ESPN.com. A Jets team spokesman referred all questions to the league.
Here’s some advice for the Commissioner. Do not piss off Senators or make them feel “stonewalled”. The Government is bigger than you may realize, and they will come after you.
NFL: Shut SpyGate door - Ralph Vacciano wrote that “The NFL’s powerful Competition Committee voiced strong support Thursday for the way NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has handled SpyGate, and urged everyone - including Congress - to put the episode to rest.The NFL’s powerful Competition Committee voiced strong support Thursday for the way NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has handled SpyGate, and urged everyone - including Congress - to put the episode to rest.” I agree that the NFL handled the SpyGate situation (meaning Week 1 against the Jets) properly with the exception of a few things. I don’t believe that the NFL should destroy evidence, I do believe that the game should’ve resulted in an automatic loss, and I believe that the NFL should not be albe to name a cheater the ‘Coach of the Year’. I believe that was the fair penalty for a one-off incident. Now, more and more stories are coming out about it being around since Bill Belichick became the Head Coach of the Patriots which has been 8 years. Here’s the fair punishment for that. Each Preseason game, Regular Season game, and Postseason game that the Patriots played since 2000, the same fine should apply to Belichick and Bob Kraft. On top of the fines, the same amount of draft picks should be taken away for each game for those 8 years. Belichick faked the funk and should be banned from coaching in the NFL and the Hall of Fame because it is clear that he is not the genius we thought he was. So now the NFL is saying that the penalty inflicted upon the Patriots was substantial enough for all of this and they want it to go away, including Congress. I disagree with that. If the Commissioner was able to do his job then Congress wouldn’t have to do it for him. The same thing is happening in baseball with the steroids. The NFL and Congress should work together to investigate this issue to the fullest. Rid the NFL of the scum. Goodell has no problem making his presence known when it comes to players like Pacman Jones. The scum may be a player just as Jones clearly is, a coach just as Belichick clearly is, or an owner just as Kraft clearly is. The Commissioner must understand that and investigate the issues the same way.
New York Post:
COUGHLIN SMILES THROUGH COMBINE - That’s because T.C. just won the Super Bowl.
GIANTLY ‘INNACURATE’ - Greg Aiello, the senior vice president of public relations for the NFL, claimed that the SpyGate story released yesterday by The New York Times is “inaccurate”, and Paul Schwartz covered this story.
New York Times:
Coughlin’s Success Changes Opinions
The Star-Ledger:
Giants not alone in hunt for Hall - According to Mike Garafolo, the rumors of teams interested in DeAngelo include the Redskins, the Bucs, the Dolphins, and the Cowboys. I hope he ends up in the AFC. Garafolo pointed out that the Giants might be forced to add more to the trade if all of this demand truly exists.
Coughlin is still glowing
N.Y. builder to buy half of Dolphins - Mike Garafolo reported that “New York builder Stephen Ross agreed to buy half the Miami Dolphins from owner Wayne Huizenga, with an opportunity to become managing general partner. Ross would acquire 50 percent of the franchise, Dolphin Stadium and surrounding developable land, the team said yesterday. The NFL must approve the sale.” Am I the only one that feels like I’m missing information here? Are they staying in Miami? Are they building a new stadium in Miami or elsewhere?
Tyree a SB hero … and a proud papa - Mike Garafolo noted that “Tyree’s wife, Leilah, gave birth to Sophia (4 lbs., 14 oz., 18¾ inches) and Hannah (5 lbs., 3 oz., 19 inches). Both baby girls and Leilah are doing well, said Tyree’s agents, Michael and Mark Clouser.” Die Hard Giants Fan would like to congratulate David Tyree and his wife Leilah on their new twin girls.
Trades must wait a week - Mike Garafolo pointed out that the G-MEN cannot trade for Hall of anybody else until next Friday because “The 2008 league year doesn’t begin until that day — Feb. 29. That’s when free agency starts and it’s also when the trade blackout period, which began with the Oct. 16 trade deadline, will be lifted.”
D-Hall on the Giants - Mike Garafolo lets you know what Hall thinks of the Giants and a whole lot more.
D-Hall: I’m done with ATL
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Chris Mortenson of 
I just came across a very interesting article over at the Giants Blog on 
So Brian Kelly signed with the Lions and Trent Green is expected to sign with the Rams today. So the Giants are still searching for another cornerback and a backup quarterback. You would think that the it would be easier for the Super Bowl champs to fill their needs than teams like the Lions and the Rams. Both of them are dome teams which I don’t like anyway. Green already played for the Rams so he might feel comfortable there, but they were 5-11 in 2007. Both of these teams must be opening their checkbooks for these guys because it makes no sense for a player to choose the Lions or the Rams over the Giants…
The Giants are still looking into some free agents, but they aren’t as busy as what other teams are doing. Since Jerry Reese said that the Giants will be relatively quiet during free agency, I’m waiting for the Draft which is still a ways away. That’s when Jerry will be busy so I want to see who we are getting already. 
Hopefully you guys are keeping up with all of this Free Agent stuff around the NFL. Teams are dumping players to get ready for Free Agency which begins at midnight as well as the Draft which is in April. We aren’t going to cover every team, but there is some intersting things taking place. I will let you know about the NFC East to an extent, and I will let you know about former Giants. First, the Eagles supposedly cut Jevon ‘The Freak’ Kearse because he suffered a knee injury in 2006 and didn’t get many minutes in 2007. Maybe Brian Dawkins will retire soon too… We’ve heard the rumors that the Dolphins are interested in Reggie Torbor. Bill Parcells is steering that ship, and may be able to sign Torbor as soon as tomorrow. The Tuna always has something funny to say, and he was quoted as saying that he doesn’t want any “thugs and hoodlums” on his team. Can he say that?
