I'm Right, and Everyone Else Sucks.

Vindication is Sweet.

In an article that was printed in this very newspaper on November 28^th 2007, a certain columnist wrote that everyone was being too harsh on Giants quarterback Eli Manning. It was written that Manning wasn’t the colossal bust that everyone was making him out to be, but rather, he had not yet come into his own. At his best, he would be an accurate passer who was “at his best when boring.”

People sent this writer e-mails, and hate letters. They questioned his ability to understand even the simplest things about football. They walked up to him and told him he was an idiot, and that Manning wasn’t worth the money or the draft picks that the team had given up for him. They wanted to make sure that this writer knew he was the only one left with any faith.

Who’s laughing now, general public?

Manning has blossomed into just what I said he would be this whole time. He’s become an excellent game manager, who’s strengths are not throwing the ball 52 times a game, but instead protecting the football by spreading the ball around to the plethora of weapons that he has at his disposal. His game is now based upon letting his five-star ground attack do it’s job, and to make sure that he just keeps the ball out of the hands of the opposing defense for as long as possible.

However, it’s not just Manning that has justified my thoughts from earlier this season: It’s the entire team. Earlier in the season, I had gone on the radio, begging Tom Coughlin to use rookie runner Ahmad Bradshaw instead of rapidly aging Reuben Droughns. Now, Bradshaw is one of the hottest selling Giants jerseys over the last two weeks, as he continues to be effective against one tough defense after another. I spent time trying to understand why Corey Webster had fallen so far from being the physical, press coverage corner that I remembered watching at LSU. Now, he’s spent the last two weeks making Terrell Owens cry and possibly nailing the coffin shut on Brett Favre’s career.

HA.

Dance of Joy...

Besides the obvious elation over the way that Eli and the Giants played yesterday, I think that something was proved without a shadow of a doubt.

The value of Ahmad Bradshaw.

He's not going to become the starter anytime soon, but he can serve as the true change up to 1 BIG RB that the Giants need to make noise in these playoffs. Filling the void left when Derrick Ward went down in going to be huge, and their is no doubt that Bradshaw can truly hit the home run as he was an ankle tackle short of breaking another one yesterday.

And oh yeah, Eli Manning. Nuff' Said.

C.W. Post Pioneer Column 10: Eli Manning 101

Eli Manning’s four interception horror against the Vikings barely created confidence in the young quarterback’s ability to carry the New York Giants to playoff victory. In fact, some at the game where calling for back up Jared Lorenzen.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Are we serious?

There are a number of things that the younger Manning has done wrong over his still blossoming career. Last Sunday was one of them, as he looked scared of a Viking defense that is hardly anything special. The relatively simple cover-2 scheme that Minnesota ran seemed to confuse the Giants quarterback as he frequently threw into the arms of linebackers and safeties. To make the situation worse, three of his four interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

However, reading the defense isn’t Eli’s only problem. It was the lack of his starting running back that killed him. Without Brandon Jacobs, he felt the need to win the game all by himself. That led to him making throws that he normally thinks twice about making. He barely had time to think at all due to heavy inside pressure from Minnesota as the Giants offensive line has by
far its worst day of the year.

What people like to forget is that there are a lot of good things that Manning has done over the last two years. First off, there are four teams that have made the playoffs each of the last two years: The Colts, Patriots, Seahawks and Giants. While it’s hard to take solace in that after such a disgusting loss, it’s a daunting achievement. Those three teams have been amongst the NFL’s most consistent, and it’s been along time since the Giants have been able to call themselves consistent. Need we bring back memories of the up-and-down Jim Fassel era?

Another strong point is Eli’s knack for simply winning games. Sure, he may not win them singlehandedly by throwing the ball 40 times a game, but he does win. Since the beginning of 2005, when he was named the full time starter, he is 26-17.

For those who say that Manning is not the reason that the team has succeeded, it’s clear that he is a vital part of it. Over the last three years, the embattled quarterback has posted a plus-14 touchdown-to-interception ratio. That means that he’s put the ball in the end zone 14 times more than he’s put it into the hands of the defense.

The issue for New York fans is the unmanageable expectations that are put on Manning. Part of that is his fault. The trade demand on draft day will haunt him for the rest of the career, and unless he is the second coming of his brother, he will always have his detractors.

However, ESPN always brings up the draft picks that San Diego received for Manning and the Pro Bowl players that they became. Well, Former general manager Ernie Accorsi couldn’t have known that Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding would be the Chargers picks, let alone be so great. Comparing value with those players to Manning is like saying we could have prevented Britney Spears’ comeback by having her killed five years ago. Hindsight is always 20/20.

The other problem is that Eli is at his best when he is boring. That’s right; Eli is a very talented game manager. He has the talent to win an occasional game by himself, but is always at his best with a strong running game and a good defense helping him out. When Eli can play action pass, he is a different quarterback and his completion percentage and quarterback rating jump into the atmosphere. When you can give him the ball in opponent’s territory, he will convert it into points.

There is no doubt that Manning’s Thanksgiving Week Disaster is somewhat worrisome. However, it would be silly to think that Eli isn’t prepared to lead the Giants into the playoffs. He’s already done it twice before.

Well...That Was Less Than Inspiring....

First thing is first, The 3SS wishes a speedy recovery to Redskins Safety Sean Taylor. For those who don't know, Taylor was shot during an invasion of his home on Sunday and was fighting for his life into Monday Morning. Our best wishes go out to him and his family.

So, I'm never going to Giants Stadium again. Every time I go they lose. Badly.

However, I'm about to do something that I don't normally do:

Eli Manning Sucked yesterday.

See, He has this thing that he does when things don't go well early in the game. He starts gripping. He starts trying to be Peyton, throwing the ball around the field with reckless abandonment, and ends up digging the hole deeper.

The two best examples that I can find:

Minnesota (11/25/07) - 21-for-49, 273 Yards, 1 TD, 4 INT
Jacksonville(2006) - 19-for-41, 1 TD, 2 INT

He needs to learn to not panic when things don't go well early.

Now, it wasn't only his fault yesterday. The offensive line threw up there first real goose egg of the year. The Vikes came with heavy inside pressure and Chris Snee, Shaun O'Hara and Rich Seubert could do nothing to stop it. To make it worse, when backs came into to protect, they would routinely be steamrolled.

To quote an excellent coach I once had as a kid, There is only one thing that you can do after a game like this:

Flush it. The Bears are next Sunday, and all you can do is focus on beating them.

Here's a Thought...

With all this talk about Eli, Here's a fun piece of news from Rotoworld.com:

49ers coach Mike Nolan was asked Wednesday whether the team could consider dumping Alex Smith and his $49.5 million contract in the off season.

"We're in a pretty good cap situation," Nolan answered. "We've got our cap in the situation now where whatever we have to do to make the team better - add players - is what I'd like to think about, as far as spending money." It seems unlikely that the Niners would release their No. 1 overall pick after just three seasons, but they seem certain to bring in veteran competition.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Now, This brings up an interesting thought: Is Smith a bust, or hs he been sabotaged by the constant change in San Francisco?

Think about this. He has had three different offensive coordinators since being drafted first overall in 2003. He has never had any kind of consistency in the people around him, and certainly has never had a number one receiver.

I don't think that it would be wise to give up on Smith so early. He has talent, otherwise he never would have been taken first overall. He is perfectly capable of being a B-level quarterback, but he needs to start having consistency. With a good running back and a solid tight end, and an offensive coordinator who knows what he's doing, the team can win with him at QB.

Arthur Staple is Everything I Want to Be in Life...

In an effort to end this argument, (which will never end, because Jason will never back down off his argument, nor will I.) I'll just quote another article about Eli.

Arthur Staple is one of the best beat Writers in the league and he takes on critics of Eli Manning in this article.

I'm done talking about this for the week. I have to start meditating for the Lions game.

Picks Tomorrow, Radio Show Friday, Radio City Christmas Spectacular Saturday, Football Sunday.

Not Bad.

We've Been Having This Arguement for Years, Why Not Do It In Print?

As usual, Jason doesn't get it. As Usual, Jason takes everything I say, twists it to make me sound like an idiot, and then tries to make himself sound smarter. (Yes, this is my best friend I'm talking about, I'm allowed to say these things.)

At no point in that article did I say that Eli is a great QB. He isn't, I know that. I've heard the first overall pick thing and the trade value sooooo many times that I''m immune to it completely. (By the way, there is NO WAY that Merriman would have been a Giant. He doesn't fit the scheme at all.)

I'm simply saying that he doesn't get the respect that a GOOD QB deserves. That's what he is. He's good. Sure, the last two minutes of THE FIRST HALF, he hasn't been good. When he's ahead, he almost never gets to even throw the ball.

THe arguement I'm making isn't about greatness. It's not even about living up to the hype. I just think that if Eli had a different last name, he would be treated different.

And Jay, Let's be serious. David Garrard? Would you want DG quarterbacking for the 49ers over Eli? (He's going to say yes, because he's stubborn.) I'll give you Kitna on that list. That's it. I'm discounting Anderson because you called him a journeyman when he is in his third year.(Yes, this year he is playing better than Eli now. But Jeff Blake and Shaun King also had one good year.) Garcia is not making mistakes. He's also not making plays. The Bucs are 5-4 because there defense is underrated.

The thing is this. Jason is so focused on being unbiased, that in reality, he's self-hating. He does it with the Yankees, and now that the Niners suck, he'd rather call for his (very good) coach's head than just stick it out. I can't blame him for it, it's the way people are wired. However, I don't ride that train of negativity and he (along with another close friend that Jason actively has sex with) hates me for it.

Oh Yeah, The Word Bust should NOT EVEN BE IN THE CONVERSATION. Bust's don't have +7 TD-to-INT ratios two years running.

Stop trying to sound smart and go work on your grammar.

Bitch.

Music To a Fan's Ears...

Sure, It would have been great if the Giants won yesterday. It would have been great if the team hadn't shot themselves in the foot by playing the sloppiest half of football that they had played all season in their most important game. It would have been great if the ref's didn't call TWO touch holding calls. (I watch football with some of the most ref-agreeable people ever. Jason and the Boys all thought the holding calls were "obvious and blatant." Then, everyone else I spoke to today, including Jet and Cowboy fans thought that they were somewhat unnecessary.) It would have been great if the Refs hadn't called a bullshit late hit penalty on Michael Johnson.

However, They did, They did, and They Did.

So, where to the New York Giants go from here?

Well, There are positive signs:

From Arthur Staple's Blog at Newsday.com

Eli was also good, standing up for himself to a question about whether he feels worse because of the way he played. "I'm not the one to blame for a loss," he said. "You're going to lose games, it's part of football. You win the next one, you're back in a good spot."

Still a lot of confidence all the way around the room. "There's a totally different attitude," Gibril Wilson said. "Guys aren't worried about what happened last year, last week, yesterday. We're thinking about what's next."

Kareem McKenzie said his bruised back felt "spectacular," though that's just because he likes multisyllable words.

To most people, this wouldn't be a big deal. However, This was the time when all the infighting started last year. The loss to the Bears starting the squabbling and worrying. This year, the fact that one day later, the team seems to be looking forward is such a good sign.

Also, I'm happy for Eli telling the media to go to hell. He played well last night. I don't care what anyone says. I Know, I'm waiting for Jason: "What!? You are SOOO Biased!"

Yea, okay. He threw two interceptions, but did you see them? The first he floated because his hand got hit. The second he floated because he was trying to make a play down the field on the last play of the game.

I'm not letting him off the hook for the delay of Game penalties. That can't happen. It was shocking because Eli normally saves his best for the fourth quarter of games. Therefore, I think that he has built a certain trust in me that says that this debacle was a one time thing.

However, I also remember the beautiful passes to Shockey on several different occasions yesterday. (Note to Cowboy Opponents: Roy Williams SUCKS. He is terrible. Meanwhile, Troy Aikman was on his Jock as soon as he made the ONE big hit on Jacobs. Troy, You're an idiot. Did you see Shockey bitch him around all day, or are you too busy blowing Joe Buck in the booth. I hate those two.) I remember the zip he had on his short routes. I remember him BEATING Terrence Newman on a TD pass that Amani Toomer dropped.

Eli is a better player than anyone gives him credit for. I think that he is really getting the short end of the stick and if I was him, I would be close to pulling an A-Rod and getting the hell out of dodge. There are plenty of teams that would love to have him. Don't think so? Quick who is the quarterback on the following teams?:

Kansas City: Damon Huard/Brodie Croyle
Miami: Cleo Lemon
Atlanta: John Joseph Harrington/Byron Leftiwch
Baltimore: Steve McNair/Kyle Boller
Arizona: Kurt Warner

I can keep going if you want, but I think you get my point. Eli is better than everyone on that list.

Football is judged on a week to week basis. I know that, I'm not stupid. Everyone will be down on the Giants this week. However, If they beat Detroit this Sunday, They can basically take the wild card by the throat. Then, they can get the rematch that I know 1 BIG RB wants against the Cowboys. How Do I know?

Arthur Staple again:

Patrick Crayton called the Giants "scared," and (incorrectly) said Brandon Jacobs was doing some talking all week. Jacobs fired back and said, "He (stinks), first of all. So it's unfair for him to say something like that." Kind of makes you hope there's a playoff rematch.

Is it January yet?

And I Will Not Be Committing Suicide Quite Yet...

God Bless Us. Everyone.

Straight From Newsday's Bob Glauber: (Who had previously been talked about because he shook Eli's hand)

It probably sounds worse than it really is, but the bottom line is that Manning is day-to-day and will not - I repeat, will not - be out for a prolonged period. He might even play Sunday against the Packers; if not then, then almost certainly the following week at Washington.

It's a lot better news than what he feared after being injured midway through the fourth quarter Sunday near the end of a transcendent performance that made you believe that Manning's time is here.

If You'll excuse me, I have a Dance of Joy to do...

I Think I'll go Kill Myself...

Rough Day in the NFL yesterday. First and foremost, We'd like to wish Kevin Everett a full and speedy recovery. It's a terrible thing when anything like this happens on a football field.

However, Didn't it seem like alot of people got hurt yesterday? Orlando Pace is out for the season. Chad Pennington's diagnosis is being kept very hush-hush, and we all know about the Giants mash unit.

Which brings me to the point of this article, Eli Manning. First off, Eli looked fantastic last night. He looked like he is growing into the quarterback that I always knew that he could be, and Contrary to what most believed (Jason and Brian, I'm looking at you.) David Diehl held up very well at Left Tackle.

And then tragedy struck.

Eli's shoulder has been a hot topic in New York today as no one seems to know exactly what is going on with it. The Giants say that the QB is day-to-day and ESPN and Chris Mortensen is saying that Eli will miss an entire month. Then the NFL Network said that He is aiming to be back on September 30th. Well, Apparently no one knows what the hell is going on. I almost always trust Mort but am obviously hoping that he is wrong.

Here's what Newsday Beat Writer Arthur Staple said in his blog earlier tonight:

Giants say Eli has a bruised A-C joint in a statement; TC says Eli has a sprained shoulder, which means it's separated. So ESPN is somewhat right. But he's day to day, and neither Eli nor TC is ruling the QB out for Sunday. Hey, Eli shook Bob Glauber's hand. "Vigorously," Blaubs reported. He's cured!

Seriously -- it's not as minor as Eli made it out to be, but it's not necessarily an automatic month either.

I think that this is probably the case. I think Eli will miss Sunday, but be back for Week 3.

I'm hoping.

Be Back Tomorrow with Impressions from Week 1.

A look Back at the Giants-Jets Preseason Game....

Is it sad that I've begun writing things days after they happen purely because I am waiting to find out who got hurt during the game? I feel like I'm waiting to see if there is a flag before celebrating a long touchdown pass.

So, How about that Giant defense? Sure, the Jets were not going to do anything extremely exciting during their pre-season game with the G-Men, as to not let their opponents get any of their trick plays on film, but at the same time, The Giants Defense completely shut Chad Pennington and Co. down. They didn't move the ball at all after Leon Washington's long TD catch on the first play from scrimmage. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the whole thing is that it was the defensive line that was causing the problems for Gang Green. While we expect Osi Umeniyora to be invlovled and make plays, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, and especially Justin Tuck were fantastic. I'm excited to see what this defense can do in Week 1 against the Cowboys.

Offensively, Antoher receiver went down when David Tyree broke his wrist, He'll miss 3-6 Weeks. FB Robert Douglas had his knee scoped, meaning that he will be out for 2-3 Weeks. It's going to be an achievement to be able to field an offense at this point.

In terms of good news, Eli Manning has another excellent showing. His decision making ability is vastly improved and I believe that he has improved in every facet of the game. Again, the thing that impressed me most is his new-found ability to stay in the pocket and deliver strong, accurate passes. We haven't seen a single pass off of his back-foot the whole pre-season.

Brandon Jacobs is still making contact with too many defenders. I know that he is a battering ram, but he still needs to avoid some contact so he can last a whole season. Reuben Droughns will make the team, but didn't make himself any friends in training camp. He is going into this season being more important on special teams than on offense. I wold rather give carries to Ryan Grant or Ahmad Bradshaw at this point.

WR Plaxico Burress was in the city on today getting his back looked at. Plax CANNOT miss time. It's that easy. Suck it Up. At least it might open up a spot for Saturday's star, Anthony Mix. Mix has Burress-esque size, but is raw and needs to contribute on special teams to gain a spot on the roster. He survived the cut-down to 76, so stay tuned.

Bring tha Ruckus!

If you get this reference, you probably know us very well.

Anyway, I don't know if anyone has been paying attention, but ESPN.com has an excellent new blog. Matt Mosley has been going around to NFL mini-camps and has been doing in-depth notes column.

Here's his one with the Giants.

He makes some very interesting points. Most of them actually make me very happy.

Michael Jennings has long been a personal favorite of mine. He's kind of like everything Sinorce Moss should have been last year, only without the injury problem. I think that if he can touch the ball like 20-25 times this season on screen passes and the such, he can make an impact.

I'm happy that Moss is going to be more involved though. I think that the Giants seem to have a good idea on how to use him too according to Mosley. The more Moss touches the ball, the more teams have to account for him. The more Shockey and Burress see single coverage.

I'm predicting that this is going to be Eli's year. Eli is going to put it all together this year. He is going to be in the top 7 or 8 in QB rating.

I have a man crush on The Juggernaut. Jacobs is going to be able to replace Tiki, not because of the highlight reel crush jobs he puts on linebackers, but because he has improved dramatically as a blocker and receiver. He put a ton of time in last season to learn the offense and supposedly has been doing the same this year. We've also been hearing alot about Ahmad Bradshaw, and while I think that he will be a Tiki type runner, at least as a change of pace back, I want to make sure that he doesn't go to jail first. Call me a cynic.

People are underrating the line. It may not blow the doors off of people, but it will be solid. I'm very happy to hear Rich Seubert is playing like the top level guard he could have became if he didn't break his leg in the 49ers game in 2003.

Mathias Kiwanuka's move to linebacker is going to be a big X factor. I think that the most important thing is for him to be able to hold up in run support because he won't be asked to play zone coverage all that much. Teams will be running directly at him in the beginning of the season and he needs to make it clear that that's not an option. I'm just really excited for team's new defense. Having a pass rush is a good thing.

Sometime soon, we are going to take a surprise trip to Foxwoods. We actually almost just did it tonight. We almost did it suits. Foxwoods, baby, Foxwoods!

Plus, you know we would blog the whole thing.

Happy Father's Day! Going to Play Poker.