Die Hard Sports Fan

NFL.com created the ‘2008 Player rankings: Top 100′ for Fantasy Football.  Like I’ve said before, I don’t know anything about Fantasy Football.  I know that Eli never does really well when it comes to stats and power rankings so I wanted to see where the Super Bowl MVP would end up on this list about four months after winning Super Bowl XLII.  Eli is 72nd on the list.  Well, at least he has two new massive rings to rock while the 71 guys ahead of him can put up better stats in ‘08.  Surprisingly, Jacobs is the first Giant to appear on the list and he is 27th.  Plaxico is 39th.  Much further down is Shockey who is 91st, and that is it for the Champs.

 <a href="http://Giants.com" title="http://Giants.
" target="_blank">Giants.com:

Experience Factor - Michael Eisen pointed out that the newly signed Defensive End, Renaldo Wynn, brings experience and depth to the D-Line.  Wynn signed with the Saints last year which was a season after New Orleans went to the NFC Championship game.  When asked about the vibe last year in the Bayou, Renaldo said,

Some of the players might have got a little comfortable, some of the young guys. Sometimes that is a hard thing; you have a lot of young guys who might not know how to take success as much. Obviously, with the Saints they have not had a long tradition of winning. How do you accept the success? I think that some of the young guys probably had a hard time accepting that and looking at it like, ‘Hey, you aren’t going to sneak up on anybody, people are going to be aiming for you.’

This concept is what fears me the most as we head into the ’08 season.  The history of the Super Bowl hangover is real.  I just want to watch Big Blue play competitive football.  As long as they are trying to win the Super Bowl again, I will be satisfied if they don’t achieve their goal.  I don’t want to watch them flat out suck because they won the Super Bowl last year.

After being here only a week, Wynn feels like this Giants group is different than the Saints because,

Even though they won the Super Bowl last year, they are still hungry to win it again. There is a lot of veteran leadership and it’s obvious they’re hungry for this season.

The first meeting I went to with Coach Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) one of his key points was, ‘Last year is over, we’re 0-0 now, last year means nothing. If anything, we are going to be aimed at more than ever, people are going to know who we are and people are going to be shooting for us. So we have to make sure we start from square one.

His comments are somewhat relieving, but Wynn has only been here for a week.  He may just be saying the politically correct thing because he’s new and doesn’t want to step on anybody’s shoes.  Go Giants!

OTA Report: Secondary (Video) - Giants.com takes a closer look at the Giants secondary during OTA’s.

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NFL.com put together a list of the ‘Top 10 pass rushers in NFL history’.  Before I opened it, I thought about how many Giants were on the list.  Obviously, I thought of LT and Michael Strahan.  I wasn’t sure of how many there could be before my time, which isn’t long ago.  When I opened up the list, there weren’t any more Jints than the two I assumed.  Taylor was 3rd which doesn’t make sense to me, and Strahan was 7th.  They have Deacon Jones 1st, but I’ve never seen him play.  The late Reggie White is 2nd, and I always though LT was better than White.  Plus, LT has 2 rings and White has 1.  At the same time, I’m comparing a LB to a DE.  The article contains three videos for each member of the Top 10 list if you want to check them out.

Giants.com:

Mailbag for June 4 - Michael Eisen fields questions posed by Giants‘ fans.  Here’s a good question because the last thing I want to watch this year is the Super Bowl hangover:

Michael,

Tom Coughlin was on the staff  the last time the Giants won the Super Bowl. They didn’t make the playoffs after the 1991 season. What will he do, and how will keep the team focused, and not have the team letdown during this upcoming season?

 

Dear Russell:

The Coach is well aware of the pitfalls that claim the repeat aspirations of most recent Super Bowl champions. He has reminded the players that the hard work they put in last offseason led to their championship and the importance of not letting up this year. In fact, as he handed each player his Super Bowl ring last week, Coughlin said, “Let’s get back to work so we can do this again.” The coach is not letting up one inch or ounce. He is demanding the same dedication to effort and detail that proved so successful last season. The ring ceremony was the last event of the 2007 season. Everyone’s energy is now committed to making 2008 a successful year.

Fan’s Take - A Giants fan wrote their perspective on the improbable 2007 season.

OTA Report: O-Line (Video) - Giants.com takes a closer look at the Giants O-Line during the OTA workouts.

OTA Report: D-Line (Video) - Giants.com takes a closer look at the Giants D-Line during the OTA workouts.

DE Renaldo Wynn (Video) - Giants.com interviews their newest player Renaldo Wynn.

DT Jay Alford (Video) - Giants.com interviews Jay Alford about the OTAs and about his rookie season.  Part of his rookie season included sacking Tom Brady in the Super Bowl so they touch on that as well.

New York Daily News:

After Super Bowl grab, David Tyree is hoping to hang on with Giants - Ralph Vacciano believes that the “Giants are overloaded at receiver, which could put Tyree’s roster spot in jeopardy if he suffers any setbacks.”

Giants to see Jeremy Shockey soon - Ralph Vacchiano stated that Jeremy Shockey is actually supposed to make it up to New York next week.

The enigmatic tight end is expected to participate in the Giants’ mandatory mini-camp next week, according to a team source. He is due in the New York area later this week for a promotional appearance on Saturday afternoon.

According to an advertisement on the Internet, Shockey is scheduled to appear at the Powerade Pro Challenge at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, although his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, could not be reached to confirm his client’s plans. If Shockey shows up, it will be his first public appearance since he was stuck watching Super Bowl XLII from a luxury box because of his broken leg.

New York Post:

SHOCKEY MAY SHOW ON RADAR

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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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After a celebration at Tiffany & Co. last night, the G-MEN had to show up for OTAs today.  I look forward to hearing how things pan out in the OTAs in the days and weeks to come.

Giants.com:

Players return to field - The Giants today held the first of their six OTAs (organized team activities).

Newsday:

Giants receive Super Bowl rings at Tiffany’s celebration - Tom Rock wrote, “just under four months after their victory in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants received their championship rings in a private ceremony at Tiffany & Co. last night.”  Then, “one by one they would stand in front of the wood-paneled wall, holding the silver Lombardi Trophy in one grip and wearing a freshly minted Super Bowl ring on the other.”  That must weigh a ton, huh?  Antonio Pierce was unable to make it because he’s on his honeymoon.  Jeremy Shockey was unable to make it because if he can’t practice with the team then how can he make it to pick up his ring?

New York Daily News:

Giants get Super Bowl rings

New York Post:

‘RINGING’ QUESTIONS

New York Times:

The Giants Receive Their Super Bowl Rings - The New York Times doesn’t write articles when news about the Jints occur, but they do when when the Champs pick up rings at Tiffany & Co.

The Star-Ledger:

A few glimpses at the rings - Mike Garafolo included some pictures of the Super Bowl XLII rings.

Giants’ finger of fate rings true at Tiffany’s - Mike Garafolo described, “the rings, which were produced at a discounted price of about $5,500 each, feature three Lombardi trophies on the top — one for each of the franchise’s Super Bowl titles — as well as the words “Eleven Straight on the Road” on the shank. The Super Bowl XLII logo, the final score (17-14) and the date of the game adorn the opposite shank.”

Live from the red, er, Big Blue carpet - Mike Garafolo takes us through the event last night live at Tiffany & Co.

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