Die Hard Sports Fan

NFL.com put together a video clip on Strahan’s retirement.  In it, Giants players react to news of Michael Strahan’s retirement after an offseason practice.  To view this video, click here.

A little while ago, GM Jerry Reese joined the ‘Mike and the Mad Dog’ show to talk about the latest Giants news including Michael Strahan’s retirement.  To hear the interview in it’s entirety, click here.

Giants.com:

Michael Strahan retires - John Mara had this to say about Michael Strahan’s retirement announcement,

Michael called me earlier this morning to tell me he had decided to retire. I told him I was disappointed and that I knew he could still play at a very high level and we were hoping to have him back. But I certainly understand his decision. I told him he’s been a great Giant. He thanked me for everything the organization has done for him. I said, ‘I think you’ve done more for us than we can ever do for you.’

Various other players had quotes in the article as well.

Eisen’s Insight (Video) - Michael Eisen and John Schmeelk discuss Strahan’s retirement.

DE Osi Umenyiora (Video)

DE Justin Tuck (Video)

LB Mathias Kiwanuka (Video)

WR Amani Toomer (Video)

QB Eli Manning (Video)

OTA Report: Wide Receivers (Video)

New York Post:

SHOCKEY’S MINI-DRAMA - Paul Schwartz wonders if Jeremy Shockey will attend mini-camp.

The Star-Ledger:

Runyan, McNabb say goodbye to Strahan

Correction: Presser at 11:30 tomorrow - Michael Eisen announced that the Giants will hold a press conference for Michael’s retiredment at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Pierce happy for Strahan

Strahan’s new team? Probably FOX

Strahan’s decision not about money

Toomer still in denial

Umenyiora on Strahan: ‘He’s going to miss us’

Giants teammates, coaches stunned by Strahan’s decision

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I know absolutely nothing about Fantasy Football, but Michael Fabiano of NFL.com explains why Eli Manning may be a breakout candidate.  Fabiano defines a ‘breakout candidate’ as “known commodities who have the potential to produce the best numbers of their NFL careers.”  Michael wrote this analysis about Eli,

Manning threw for a mediocre 3,336 yards with 23 touchdowns and a career-high 20 interceptions in 2007. But based on his impressive run en route to a Super Bowl championship, it’s hard to discount Manning as a breakout candidate. Chances are he won’t put up 4,000 yards and 30 scores, but a season with 3,800 yards and 25 touchdowns isn’t a stretch. Manning will be seen as a low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback and is well worth a middle-round selection.

New York Daily News:

Amani Toomer catches that old feeling - Ralph Vacchiano stated that Amani Toomer looked much younger than he really is out there on the field yesterday.  He caught a couple great catches during yesterday’s OTAs.  Vacchiano reminded us that Toomer was rehabbing his way back from a torn ACL in his left knee heading into last season so Amani is just happy to be able participate right now.  Toomer feels like he won’t be as rusty as he was going into last season.  We need Mr. Reliable for as long as he can contribute.  He’s not the quickest guy in the world, but he runs solid routes and has some of the best hands that I’ve ever seen which is why he’s the all-time leader in receptions for the Giants.

New York Post:

KIWANUKA HEALTHY, THRILLED TO BE BACK - Paul Schwartz found out that Mathias Kiwanuka did not have any problems after yesterday’s OTAs.  After missing the last six games of the regular season and the Super Bowl run due to a broken left leg and ankle damage that required surgery, Kiwankua had this to say after yesterday’s workout, “This is excellent. I’ll take every rep I can, every snap I can take. … It’s a chance to get oiled up on some of the new things and get back into the old things we used to do. I’m looking forward to all of it.”  I’m looking forward to Kiwanuka getting back out there because he’s a stud.

The Star-Ledger:

Super champs champ at the bit - Mike Garafolo also wrote an article about yesterday’s OTAs.  More specifically, he found out what Toomer and SB XLII MVP Eli Manning thought about them.

Toomer said,

When you get out there, I’m telling you, it is like nothing (else) matters. When you get out there, you step into a different world. You start playing and it’s like you don’t care who’s covering you, you don’t care if it means anything or not. … You just enjoy the competition of it and I know I missed it this whole offseason.

Manning said,

It was a good first day. We just want to get better. We looked at a lot of stuff last season that we need to improve on, especially on the offensive side and in the passing game.

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NFL.com had a poll where over 200,000 fans ranked all 32 teams for the 2008 season.  Here are the results:

1. Patriots - Core of team returns to avenge Super Bowl loss after perfect regular season.
2. Colts - Core of Super Bowl XLI team is still intact. Dwight Freeney should be ready for season.
3. Cowboys - Talented squad only got better during offseason with Pacman Jones, Zach Thomas.
4. Giants - Competition in NFC East should be tough as Super Bowl champs look to go back-to-back.

Who knows how this stuff works?  Big Blue is obviously the team to beat.  If you want your team to be No. 1 then beat the Champs.

According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, ”Cowboys cornerback Pacman Jones has received permission from the NFL to participate in offseason workouts, training camp, and the preseason.  However, he has not yet been reinstated to participate in regular-season games.”  It seems like Pacman may make it back into the NFL which is a shame.

Florio also reported that Terrell Owens will remain as a Cowboy because, “Owens, we’re told, will receive a signing bonus of nearly $13 million.  In all, he’s under contract for four years, and he’ll earn $34 million.”  Now we have to face this moron twice a year for four more years.

Giants.com:

Tuesday’s OTA Report - Michael Eisen pointed out that Amani Toomer was one of the more visible players on the field today.

Giants Bolster D-Line - Michael Eisen announced that the Giants signed DE Renaldo Wynn which other media outlets reported yesterday.  Eisen included a whole bunch of information about Wynn.

• Michael also reported that the Giants placed linebacker Keith O’Neil on their reserve/retired list.

New York Daily News:

Eli & Amani rekindle their chemistry - Ralph Vacchiano also covered the Giants OTAs.  Vacchiano also noted that:

• Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress, Osi Umenyiora, Antonio Pierce and Michael Strahan did not attend.  AP is still on his honeymoon, and who knows where the rest of them were…
• David Tyree did not participate, though he was inside Giants Stadium doing rehab work for his knee.  “Tyree said his knee feels good and his rehab is right on schedule.  He expects to be ready for the start of training camp.”
• Derrick Ward “said he’s 90-95% healed from his broken fibula and isn’t limited at all in what he can do on the field.”
• Mathias Kiwanuka “said he’s getting closer to 100% too and didn’t seem limited on the field.”

New York Post:

WYNN LANDS WITH GIANTS

The Star-Ledger:

A few practice tidbits

Taking attendance at OTAs

Giants announce Wynn signing - Mike Garafolo included Jerry Reese’s and Tom Coughlin’s thoughts on the signing of Renaldo.

More on the Wynn signing - Mike Garafolo explains why the Giants didn’t sign Wynn until June 1 when Wynn first visited the Giants in mid-May.  Garafolo’s conclusion is, “Wynn’s signing on June 1 means he won’t impact the Giants’ chances for compensatory picks in next year’s draft.”

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Even though the workouts are voluntary, the NY Giants officially had to report to work today.  In an article below, Michael Eisen captured their thoughts about returning to work and seeing everybody again.  2008 is the year where Big Blue will try to repeat, and it begins here.  The NFL always displays the stats on how poorly Super Bowl Champs play the year after.  Let’s hope that the G-MEN don’t come down with that.

Giants.com:

Giants Return! - Michael Eisen pointed out that the Giants Offseason Program began today.  Eisen found out what the Giants think about seeing each other again.

Fans Take - A Giants fan tells us what she thought about the 2007 season.

New York Daily News:

A sneak peek at the Giants (literally) - Ralph Vacchiano wrote this about Mathias Kiwanuka, “LB Mathias Kiwanuka, who missed the final six games of last season with a broken leg, is far enough along in his rehabilitation that he’s begun running. In a brief conversation as he walked into the stadium this morning, he said his recovery is going well.”

The Star-Ledger:

It’s official: NY Giants will host Skins in opener - After being leaked last week, Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that, ”the Giants and Redskins will kick off the 2008 season with a 7 p.m. game Sept. 4.”

NY Giants set for offseason workouts - Mike Garafolo details who was not expected to attend the Giants Offseason Workouts and why.

ProFootballTalk.com:

COUGHLIN’S SON-IN-LAW TO SKIP WORKOUTS? - According to Mike Florio, Chris Snee is planning to skip the voluntary workouts because he wants a new contract.  I guess he wants to follow the footsteps of Osi.

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