Sorry I havent posted in a while, I know you all missed me.
What we saw sunday was one of the more disgraceful performences in Giants history. Sure, you can go back to "the fumble" in 1978 or getting blownout by Dallas on Monday Night 1995. But this, this was as low as it gets. The Giants have had more heartbreaking losses obviously, but for pure embarressment purposes, this one might take the cake. In all my years of watching the Giants, I would say this might have been the most disgusting game I have ever seen them play. Forget what was at stake; they couldnt tackle, block, do anything for that matter. On top of that the team did not seem to care. Because of this changes need to be made. I already gave you a list a couple of weeks back, an overhaul needs to be done defensivly. You dont know what you are getting with Kenny Phillips who had major knee surgery, and young players such as Aaron Ross and Kiwi have proven too not be as good as advertised. We all know Osi needs to go, I dont care if he miraculously returns to form, he is a clubhouse cancer, someone that practically asked out after the game.
I think on offense the team is set, Smith and Nicks are going to be an unbelievable tandem, Boss has proven too be very solid, Eli had a career year despite being hurt, Ahamd Bradshaw proved he could be a very good number 2 back. What I worry about on offense is the line holding up because besides Snee and Beatty, who will take over for McKenzie in 2010, this line is old. Depth needs to be established. And then the number 1 back. Maybe you reverse the role with Bradshaw and Jacobs. One thing is for sure, the cap hit on Jacobs is too big to cut him, so they have to keep him. With Andre Brown coming back (who knows rutupuring your achilles as a 22 yr old running back is devastating) and D.J Ware, someone might emerge. Running backs or like middle relievers, they are a dime a dozen, so I wouldnt go crazy over that.
When you look at the free agent d-ends, two names stand out: Julius Peppers and Elvis Dumervil. Sorry Gmen fans, but neither will hit free agency. Carolina will retain Peppers and Dumervil will 100% be re-uped by the Broncos. Also, people forget, Peppers disappered for 1 1/2 years, he finally has regained his form, and is a club house cancer from all accounts. I will pass. Dumervil on the other hand would be an AMAZING acquistion, but again, a zero percent chance of that happening. Besides that there really isnt anyone. The good news is that this does not include cuts, so there might be other ends out there come March. However, the rest of the list includes, Aaron Kampman who is coming off an injury and is 30, Marcus Spears, Kyle Van Den Bosch, and a 33 year old Javon Kearse. However, just take a look at the interior lineman. Wilfork, Seymour, Casey Hampton are all free agents. However, the Coefield and Robbins are free agents as well. I think the Giants resign Coefield, let Robbins walk and go HARD after Wilfork. If they can manage to sign Wilfork you move Chris Canty to D-end and rotate him with Kiwi. The GIants could not stop the run whatsoever this year, and what better way than signing one of the best run stuffers in the league in Vince Wilfork. Remember, the Pats dont like paying guys, and I could EASILY see them letting him walk.
Couple of linebackers stick out. Merriman for one, and Karlos Dansby, Demeco Ryans, and Barret Rudd. I LOVE Ryans, and I think he would make an AMAZING replaced for fat Pierce. Listen, the Giants have so many holes on defense that they are going to have to spend and outrageous amount of money this spring in free agency. Its an uncapped year, and they are going into a new stadium where the revenue will POUR in. The bad news is the list of DB's are non-exsistent, and safties you could potentially sign a Nick Collins, or Roman Harper of the Saints. But the guy I am looking at, is Darren Sharper. If you cant beat him, then sign him. He KILLS the Giants, could give pointers to Eli to why he kills him, and also would bring desperatly needed leadership to that locker room. He could mentor young guys like Johnson, and Phillips and not too mention that he still is pretty good.
So here is my 2010 to do list:
- The Cowboys it looks like will not fire Wade Phillips, so you have to lure an excellent d-coordinator that runs a 4-3.
- Sign Vince Wilfork, DeMeco Ryans, and Darren Sharper. (Realistically, you would get two of three)
- Shore up the offensive line depth
- Trade Osi for a 3rd and 6th round pick
- Use 5 of now 8 picks on defensive players
- Cut Kareem McKenzie, Rockey Benard, Antonio Pierce...Let Danny Clark, Fred Robbins, Chase Blackburn, Kevin Dockery and obviously C.C Brown walk.
If you do those things, which sounds like a lot, and frankly it is, the Giants will be back as a contender next year.
- Lew
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Mad Dog Moment Number 3
AND
AND JIM HIMES!!!!!
- Lew
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Giants Prepare for to Get # 6 Seed
Kiss the NFC East goodbye. I dont even want to talk about that game sunday. I am in the middle of finals, the game upsets me everytime I think about it, and everyone who wanted to know my opinion has already talked to me. Bottom line is, this defense is simply atrocious. BEYOND BAD. So the Giants can say what they want, that they are going to win out and how for the best blah, blah, blah and all that junk. The defense might as well call themselevs the Detroit Lions because thats what they resemble right now. They are ruining a career and breakout year for Eli Manning, Steve Smith, a very productive Kevin Boss, and a playing hurt but yet pretty effective all season Ahamad Bradshaw. Look, best case scenario the Giants sneak into the playoffs and will either lose in a shootout to the Eagles are Cardinals. This team is not going any further than that. In any case, here is what I do ensure none of this happens again.
Fire Bill Sheridan; Hire Wade Phillips...as D-Coordinator
-Ok the first is a given and in addition to that I fire everyone on the defensive staff, even veteren defensive line coach Mike Wauffle. As players, you dont deserve anything for performing like that, things need to be COMPLETLY SHAKEN UP. As for Sheridan, he has been lost all year, he sends blitz packages in none blitz situations, sends pass rushers in coverage etc. The guy has been lost since training camp. Now, the ladder might come as a surprise. Wade Phillips will 100% get fired at the end of the season, # 6 seed or not. Why not hire Phillips to run the Giants defense. As a Head Coach, Phillips is atrocious. As a defensive coordinator, he is in fact pretty decent. Now, after compiling his overall defenses with the Saints, Eagles, Broncos, Bills, Falcons, and Chargers (only as d-coordinator) his defenses have ranked about 13th in the league. That number is not fantastic, but it is certainly better than what we have been since week 6, which is about 29th in the league. Plus, Phillips knows the NFC East inside and out, he has been the Cowboys coach for the last three years, and would know everything there is to know on the Dallas Cowboys. Not too mention, I think he and Coughlin would make a good team combining their knowledge of how to attack the Eagles. Now its not great, its not like getting Dick Lebeau, but I am being realistic, and I think it is worth a shot.
Trade Osi
- Some might be saying, "why would you subtract from an awful defense." I will tell you why. Osi is a distraction on this team. Last year they went 12-5 (incl. playoffs) without him and were well on their way to winning the Super Bowl if not for the Plax incident. Now, if you remember, the pass rush was dipping greatly at the end of the year, but it was still decent, not like it is right now. And still, the rest of the defense was playing well enought to combat the lack of pass rush. Certainly, if Osi were around in 2008, I dont know if he would have made that much of a difference. Pre injury Osi and post injury Osi are two different things. Since week 1 he has looked flat, and does not have that speed he used to have that made him so great. He thinks he is a much better player than he is, benefiting GREATLY from Michael Strahan. From waht I understand he is a complainer, the last of the old guard from the "2006 complain squad" and I think its time for him to go. Now, I think you can get a 3rd and 5th or 4th and a 6th for him, and honestly I would do either. The last thing this team needs is a distraction and its not exactly like Osi is helping out on the field either. In fact, the Giants are worse of WITH him than they are without him.
With the Giants first Four to Five Picks draft a defensive player
-This is a must. It doesnt all have to be secondary, but it HAS to be defensive players. The offense for now is ok, getting depth along the offensive line, and certainly a speedy, shifty back would be nice. O, and a veteran reciever who can catch the ball (where are you Amani) but besides that the offense is pretty much ok for the future. The defense is a completly different story. I think the pieces are there, but its still a bit away. I think drafting Brandon Spikes to replace Antonio Pierce is a given, Todd McShay has him going to the Giants, and I think he should be available for the Giants to take. From there you have to draft at least two guys in the secondary, another linebacker, and a guy on the defensive line. I am serious, out of the seven or actually six picks the Giants have for the 2010 draft, five have to be on defense.
Sign a Free Agent On the Defensive Line
- I need to see the list of FA out their for 2010 but we are headed into an uncapped year, so I think going out and making a smart move for a top defensive player is a given. It doesnt have to be the best player on the market, but one close to it.
Cut Rocky Benard, Antonio Pierce, C.C Brown, Fred Robbins, Michael Johnson, Gerris Wilkinson, and Danny Clark
- Heads have to roll for the performence of this defense. Remember after 2006 how the Giants cut Pettitgout, and Arrington as all Giants fans were absolutly shocked? Well same sort of deal, except these are not as big players. I would have included Osi but since I traded him, and since his contract is simply to massive, I cannot cut him. All seven have been absolutly AWFUL this year, some the whole year, others at times. I would love to do the same to Chris Canty, but remember, its only one year and his contract is way too big. Clark and Pierce are too old, I would love to have them on the coaching staff, but both think they can still play, which they cant. Pierce thanks for the memories, and dont let the door hit you on your ass. Robbins, I think the longest tenured Giant along with Osi, and Jeff Feagles has been a very solid memeber of the Giants. Again, he is old and his career is almost finished. Benard was an ENOURMOUS free agent bust, so bad that he was deactivated last game and his tenure with the Giants is almost certainly over. Brown, Johnson, and Wilkinson are young players who you have to make examples of. Wilkinson was a complete non factor barely ever played, but was a draft but, Brown was maybe the worst Giant I had ever seen, besting Curtis Deloatch, Tito Wooten, and Frank Walker. Johnson might come as a shock since he contributed in '07 and '08 but you know what, he was down right bad, check that, AWFUL this year, and was completly exposed for what he is.
Five moves, follow these guidelines, and the Giants should be ready to do big things come 2010 in the new stadium.
- Lew
Fire Bill Sheridan; Hire Wade Phillips...as D-Coordinator
-Ok the first is a given and in addition to that I fire everyone on the defensive staff, even veteren defensive line coach Mike Wauffle. As players, you dont deserve anything for performing like that, things need to be COMPLETLY SHAKEN UP. As for Sheridan, he has been lost all year, he sends blitz packages in none blitz situations, sends pass rushers in coverage etc. The guy has been lost since training camp. Now, the ladder might come as a surprise. Wade Phillips will 100% get fired at the end of the season, # 6 seed or not. Why not hire Phillips to run the Giants defense. As a Head Coach, Phillips is atrocious. As a defensive coordinator, he is in fact pretty decent. Now, after compiling his overall defenses with the Saints, Eagles, Broncos, Bills, Falcons, and Chargers (only as d-coordinator) his defenses have ranked about 13th in the league. That number is not fantastic, but it is certainly better than what we have been since week 6, which is about 29th in the league. Plus, Phillips knows the NFC East inside and out, he has been the Cowboys coach for the last three years, and would know everything there is to know on the Dallas Cowboys. Not too mention, I think he and Coughlin would make a good team combining their knowledge of how to attack the Eagles. Now its not great, its not like getting Dick Lebeau, but I am being realistic, and I think it is worth a shot.
Trade Osi
- Some might be saying, "why would you subtract from an awful defense." I will tell you why. Osi is a distraction on this team. Last year they went 12-5 (incl. playoffs) without him and were well on their way to winning the Super Bowl if not for the Plax incident. Now, if you remember, the pass rush was dipping greatly at the end of the year, but it was still decent, not like it is right now. And still, the rest of the defense was playing well enought to combat the lack of pass rush. Certainly, if Osi were around in 2008, I dont know if he would have made that much of a difference. Pre injury Osi and post injury Osi are two different things. Since week 1 he has looked flat, and does not have that speed he used to have that made him so great. He thinks he is a much better player than he is, benefiting GREATLY from Michael Strahan. From waht I understand he is a complainer, the last of the old guard from the "2006 complain squad" and I think its time for him to go. Now, I think you can get a 3rd and 5th or 4th and a 6th for him, and honestly I would do either. The last thing this team needs is a distraction and its not exactly like Osi is helping out on the field either. In fact, the Giants are worse of WITH him than they are without him.
With the Giants first Four to Five Picks draft a defensive player
-This is a must. It doesnt all have to be secondary, but it HAS to be defensive players. The offense for now is ok, getting depth along the offensive line, and certainly a speedy, shifty back would be nice. O, and a veteran reciever who can catch the ball (where are you Amani) but besides that the offense is pretty much ok for the future. The defense is a completly different story. I think the pieces are there, but its still a bit away. I think drafting Brandon Spikes to replace Antonio Pierce is a given, Todd McShay has him going to the Giants, and I think he should be available for the Giants to take. From there you have to draft at least two guys in the secondary, another linebacker, and a guy on the defensive line. I am serious, out of the seven or actually six picks the Giants have for the 2010 draft, five have to be on defense.
Sign a Free Agent On the Defensive Line
- I need to see the list of FA out their for 2010 but we are headed into an uncapped year, so I think going out and making a smart move for a top defensive player is a given. It doesnt have to be the best player on the market, but one close to it.
Cut Rocky Benard, Antonio Pierce, C.C Brown, Fred Robbins, Michael Johnson, Gerris Wilkinson, and Danny Clark
- Heads have to roll for the performence of this defense. Remember after 2006 how the Giants cut Pettitgout, and Arrington as all Giants fans were absolutly shocked? Well same sort of deal, except these are not as big players. I would have included Osi but since I traded him, and since his contract is simply to massive, I cannot cut him. All seven have been absolutly AWFUL this year, some the whole year, others at times. I would love to do the same to Chris Canty, but remember, its only one year and his contract is way too big. Clark and Pierce are too old, I would love to have them on the coaching staff, but both think they can still play, which they cant. Pierce thanks for the memories, and dont let the door hit you on your ass. Robbins, I think the longest tenured Giant along with Osi, and Jeff Feagles has been a very solid memeber of the Giants. Again, he is old and his career is almost finished. Benard was an ENOURMOUS free agent bust, so bad that he was deactivated last game and his tenure with the Giants is almost certainly over. Brown, Johnson, and Wilkinson are young players who you have to make examples of. Wilkinson was a complete non factor barely ever played, but was a draft but, Brown was maybe the worst Giant I had ever seen, besting Curtis Deloatch, Tito Wooten, and Frank Walker. Johnson might come as a shock since he contributed in '07 and '08 but you know what, he was down right bad, check that, AWFUL this year, and was completly exposed for what he is.
Five moves, follow these guidelines, and the Giants should be ready to do big things come 2010 in the new stadium.
- Lew
Saturday, December 12, 2009
NFL Picks/ Giants Preview full of scenarios
Big week 14 in the NFL tomorrow as teams look to position themselves for a playoff run or stop winning games so they can get the number one pick (great QB class this year so big for the Panthers to lose all there......O WAIT, the Panthers don’t have their first round pick...sorry Panthers).
Saints (-10.5) Over Falcons
This is all dependent on if Matt Ryan or Michael Turner play. Both are questionable, and after reading numerous articles, it both sounds like if they play, they are both not going to be near 75% percent. This does not at all bode well for the Falcons, as they are slipping and sliding due to injuries. The Saints meanwhile had a miraculous win out of their ass over the Redskins last week, something that just proves that this might be their year. Teams who are really good, don’t win these types of games and not go AT LEAST to the Super Bowl. I would be very, VERY surprised if the Saints did not win the NFC. This was the game I circled for the longest time that the Saints would lose. But after all the Falcons injuries, I just don’t see it anymore. Saints go 13-0 and are one step closer to perfection.
Saints 34 Falcons 17
Lions (+13.5) Over Ravens
To the blind, casual fan, the Ravens have a physical, great football team. Unfortunately, in what real football fans called "the real world" the Ravens are a soft, lacking a killer instinct team. Joe Flacco has looked awful in his Sophomore slump season, and though the Ravens defense isn’t statistically bad (6th in points, 9th in total defense) they have lacked that fire they have had for a while. You would be dumb not to think Rex Ryan had a lot to do with it. Ryan was the emotional fire the Ravens needed and fed off of. The Lions will lose, but will not get blowout.
Ravens 20 Lions 10
Bears (+3.5) Over Packers
Maybe this is wishful thinking, and yes, we all know the Bears stink, but the Packers have not beaten anyone. Say what you want about the Giants, but the Packers have not beaten anyone more dangerous or more impressive than the Giants have. The Packers have an outrageous amount of flaws (running game, offensive line) and I feel the Bears are due. Cutler can’t be this bad...Or can he.
Bears 23 Packers 20 OT
Texans (-7) Over Seahawks
I don’t think I have written more than a few sentences of the Seahawks all season. You know why? because they are far and away the most boring team in the NFL. At least the Jags have Maurice Jones-Drew who do the Seahawks have? They either get blown out or blow someone else out, the ladder usually does not happen, and the teams they have beaten have all been other boring teams. Nice contract to Matt Schaub by the way hes a real clutch QB, delivers well under pressure. Nice move. Has nothing to do with Andre Johnson.
Texans 27 Seahawks 18
Broncos (+7) Over Colts
I am not going to go Broncos outright, but that line is a little fishy. If this game was at Denver, I think the Broncos win. However, at home, in cozy Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts take this one, in a close game, and move to 13-0.
Colts 27 Broncos 23
Jags (-3) Over Dolphins
Don’t look now, but this is a HUGE playoff like game. With the Steelers out of the picture (not at all officially but come on, do you think the Steelers are a playoff team after losing to the Raiders and Browns back to back) you pretty much have a battle between the Jags, Dolphins, Jets, and Ravens for that last AFC wild card spot. This is very intriguing for a couple of reasons. For one, if the Bengals end up with the #3 seed, the #6 team I think is going to win. Which would set up a nice #6 team vs. Colts matchup which could be a 30 point Colts win. Second, the battle between all four of these teams is going to come down to the wire, maybe the last week of the season, that is why this game is so important. If the Dolphins lose, cross them off the playoff list. They would be three games behind the Jags (2 games in the standings plus the Jags have the tie breaker making it 3) so they would officially be eliminated, three behind with three to play. As I previously mentioned, the Ravens are going to win, putting them at 7-6 (7-4 Conference) and the Jets should win Mark Sanchez or not. If the Jets win they would go to 7-6 (6-5 Conference) and leap frog Miami. The Jags, as I think they will, will take care of business and go 8-5. But now it gets REALLY interesting. The Jags have a home game against the Colts next week, a game that I can see the Jags winning, followed by @ the Pats and a home game against the Browns. Popular believe would mean the Jags would go 9-7. I, on the other hand, think the Jags will in fact beat the Colts and finish 10-6. The Jags will ultimately grab that last spot in the field of 6.
Jags 23 Dolphins 17
Bills (+1) Over Chiefs
Common, I am in playoff football mode, not meaningless games that’s main storyline is how long is TO going to try.
Bills 13 Chiefs 10
Redskins (-1) Over Raiders
What did I say? I thought we were not going to cover non playoff teams. Alright, well the Redskins almost made me look like a genius last week, until they collapsed....AGIAN. Yes, I am going against my rule of not picking the Redskins two weeks in a row and it probably will back fire.
Redskins 17 Raiders 13
Rams (+13) Over Titans
Wow, soooooo intriguing. My question though is why is this line so high?? The Rams have done well against the really obnoxiously high spread so I don’t see how Chris Johnson and company is going to change that. Though, I do see Chris Johnson rushing for about 250 yards in this game.
Titans 26 Rams 17
Vikings (-6.5) Over Bengals
Ok, THATS more like it. The Favre theory I have had all year is making a showing, as Favre stunk up the joint last week. I am absolutely not sold on the Bengals, as they have fallen off recently, winning but playing badly against bad teams. I don’t like that sign. If they won this game, I would re-evaluate the Bengals. But I think the Vikings are too talented for them. Which leads me to my next point. Why does everyone think the Vikings are this juggernaut team? Look at the teams they have lost to (Cards, Steelers) and look at the teams they have beaten (Browns, Lions (2), 49ers, Packers (2), Rams, Ravens, Seahawks, Bears). ARE YOU KIDDING ME. That is by far BY FAR the easiest schedule I have ever seen. Enough with the four easy games the Giants played, after that they have not played an easy game since week 5. The Vikings have had 8 count them 8 easy games this year. You want to discount the second Packers game fine, but don’t tell me the Ravens at home is not an easy game. The Ravens stink, their QB as awful, and their defense is not nearly the same. Don’t give me the Ravens who are 6-6 in a down-year AFC North. I would take the Bengals but I just don’t see them coming up in a big spot. They don’t know how to win. You watch, I have been saying this for a long time now, Favre and this team will lose in some big spot whether its the NFC Title game or the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Vikings 30 Bengals 20
Panthers (+13) Over Pats
Talk about a team that simply does not have it. The Pats are not good period. Their defense flat out sucks, and Moss is now starting to take off plays. When Moss takes off plays you know he knows something is wrong. This does not bode well down the stretch for the once mighty Pats.
Pats 27 Panthers 16
Bucs (+4.5) Over Jets
A reader emailed Bill Simmons saying this before the Jets took on the Panthers a couple weeks ago: "I can guarantee you the Jets beat both Carolina and Buffalo, get their fan pumped up that they can make a big playoff run, and then lose and crush their fan base with them to the 1 win Tampa Bay Bucs." Well, so far this guy has been right, and this is typical Jets reeling you in spitting you out type of season. Paper and stats and everything tells me Jets, but my gut and what I have seen with the franchise year in and year out tells me Bucs. I know I said early in this column that the Jets SHOULD WIN and go 7-6. But should win doesn’t mean they will win.
Bucs 20 Jets 17
Chargers (+3) Over Cowboys
Chargers in a heartbeat. I love the roll this team is on, but I question whether this team could do it in a big spot in the playoffs. The Cowboys on the other hand are a mess. Typical December swoon, if they lose, look out below, because this is just going to keep snowballing from here.
Chargers 29 Cowboys 23
Cards (-3.5) Over 49ers
The Cards are winning this division end of story. When has the NFC West had two good, competitive teams at the same time? You have to go all the way back to 2003 when the Rams went 12-4 and the Seahawks went 10-6. Also, in 2001, the Rams were 14-2 and the 49ers were 12-4, which was pre re-alignment.
Cards 30 49ers 16
Giants (PK) Over Eagles
I am going to use this space to write a little preview of the game. This is the season for the Giants, if they lose this game, they can just go home because the division is out of the question, and the wild card looks very much up in the air. I don’t know about you, but I think this once again is going to be a war. The Eagles EMBARESSED the Giants last meeting, a 40-17 pounding in which the Giants looked like a pee-wee team out there. However, I took from that game that the Giants looked so, SO, SO bad but the Eagles were not that good. I look at the Eagles as a solid football team, but not a team the Giants can’t beat.
The Giants need to run the ball well, something they have not done all year, and I am not yet convinced that the Giants well ever run the ball well this year. Jacobs looks like a shell of his former self, and the O-Line is simply not doing a good job of opening up holes for him. Bradshaw meanwhile had two nice runs, but continued that fumbling problem and cost the Giants 7 points. Another thing that concerns me is Eli is December at Giants Stadium. Let’s throw out his rookie year, he only had 7 starts and was thrown into the fire on a team that was collapsing and panicking. So starting in 2005, Eli in December/January at home is 4-8 with 13 TD's 13 INT and 4 of those TD's came in one game against the Pats in 2007. Bottom line is that he has been absolutely atrocious at home in the last month of the season. Eli has to HAS to come out and have a big game tomorrow, BUT NOT FORCE THINGS. If it is not there, then throw it away, or take the sack, do not DO NOT throw these ridiculous lobs in traffic that are always picked and returned for a big gain.
The defense is the other issue. Remember guys, this defense still stinks, it stinks big time. But if they force turnovers, and make big stops, then that should be enough. On the flip side, that is very, very hard to do. They were lucky to do that in the Cowboys game, despite out playing Dallas (I have to bring this up because Ron "I am the biggest Eagles homer on the face of the earth and though I am incredibly biased I still inexplicably have a job on ESPN and announce Monday Night Football....O and LT OWNED me as a player and made me look like a 5 year old girl" Jaworski said that Dallas outplayed the Giants last week. How so? If not for a late garbage TD, the Giants would have won by 14. Typical Jaws). The Eagles are going to try to go deep to Jackson, but there is some good news in this, the Giants Stadium winds are supposed to make an appearance tomorrow night. That means this will significantly cut down on the deep balls McNabb will want to throw to Jackson and Maclin, killing the thing the Eagles rely on most.
I know most people are going to pick the Eagles, but I really think the Giants can win. They are gaining confidence, this crowd is going to be a playoff atmosphere a ROCKING Giants Stadium in the last ever game against the Eagles (barring a playoff meeting) at Giants Stadium. The Eagles will be there, but the Giants fans are going to be drunk, very rowdy, and loud as hell. As I mentioned before, this is it for the Giants. Win this game, and they are 8-5, 6-3 in the conference, but more importantly 4-1 in the division. Barring a letdown against the Redskins next Monday night in Washington, the Giants can go 5-1 in the division, which would be better than the Eagles or Cowboys, and would give the Giants a tie breaker in the NFC East. The Giants then would play the Panthers at home in the last ever regular season game at Giants Stadium (could be last game ever) and then @ the Vikings. Let’s say the Giants win the next three games and are 10-5 going into the Vikings game. The Eagles have two home games against the 49ers and Broncos and will most likely be 10-5 heading into a showdown at Dallas. The Cowboys have a home game against the Chargers, @ the Saints, @ the Redskins and then home against the Eagles in an extended playoff game. Heres how I can see this stacking up if the Giants beat the Eagles tomorrow night, heading into that Eagles-Cowboys matchup:
Giants 10-5 (5-1 Division)
Eagles 10-5 (3-2 Division)
Cowboys 9-6 (2-3 Division; beat the Eagles 20-16 in their first meeting)
(Yes, I am predicting the Cowboys to beat the Saints, but in typical Cowboys fashion lose @ the Redskins)
This could be a problem for the Giants. The Vikings have a easy schedule along the way, (home vs Cinncy, @ Carolina and Chicago) but the Favre collapse does loom, as well as the fact they will play two very cold games in Carolina and a bone-chiling cold game in Chicago. They can easily get picked off in one of those games, not to mention the Cinncy game. If that happens it is not good because the Cards have the easiest next three games of any NFL team. @ the 49ers, @ the Lions, and home against the Rams before they face off at home against the Packers. So lets say the Vikings lose one of those games, and are 12-3 going into the Giants game. The Cards will probably be 11-4 heading into a home game against the Packers. Remember if both the Vikings and the Cards tie at the end of the year, the Cards get the #2 seed because of the win they had over the Vikings last week. All of this means if the Vikings lose one or two games from now until the Giants game, that the Vikings will be playing very hard against the Giants, and frankly I dont see the Giants winning that game despite the "momentum" the would have had heading into that week. Adding the Packers into the mix, they have games @ the Bears, @ the Steelers, home against the Seahawks until the game @ the Cards. I can see them going 10-5 heading into that game which would mean the playoff scenario would look like this heading into week 17:
#1 Saints 14-1 @ Panthers
#2 Vikings 12-3 vs Giants
# 3 Cards 11-4 vs Packers
# 4 Giants 10-5 @ Vikings
# 5 Eagles 10-5 @ Cowboys
# 6 Packers 10-5 @ Cards
LOOMING
Cowboys 9-6 vs Eagles
That is one hell of a week 17. Now, this is all predictions, so this will probably never take place. But can you imagine what this would be like. Every team plays hard, and I can tell you the Giants will lose that game if the Vikings play hard.
Scenario #1: Giants win @ Vikings, Cards beat Packers, Eagles beat Cowboys
Giants win NFC East and 4th seed. Since the Cards beat the Giants, the Giants cant go any further than the 4th seed. The Cards are now the # 2 seed. The Vikings are #3 the Eagles are # 5 and the Packers are #6 based on their win over Dallas.
Scenario # 2: Giants lose @ Vikings, Eagles win @ Cowboys, Packers win @ Cards
That would eliminate the Cowboys, the Packers would be 11-5 and be the number 5 seed automatically. The Vikings are # 2 and the Eagles are #3 based on common opponets record being better than the Cards. The Cards are #4 and the Giants sneak in as a # 6 seed.
Scenario # 3: Giants lose @ Vikings, Cowboys win vs Eagles, Packers win @ Cards
Vikings are the # 2 seed, the Cards are # 3, the Giants win the NFC East based in division record and are the # 4 seed. The Packers get the # 5 seed at 11-5 and the Cowboys, based on sweeping the Eagles are now the # 6 seed. The Eagles are eliminated.
Scenario # 4: Giants lose @ Vikings, Cowboys win vs Eagles, Cards win vs Packers
The Vikings are the # 2 seed, the Cards are # 3, the Giants win the NFC East and are the #4 seed. Based on common opponets, the Cowboys and Eagles are the # 5 and # 6 seed, eliminating the Packers, despite the fact the Packers beat the Cowboys. (All three teams would be 8-4 in the conference based off of this scenario so it would then go to common opponets).
Whew. That was pretty complicated. Pick a scenario you want, more than likely this will never happen so I just wasted an hour are so conjuring up a hypothetical scenario. Bottom line, the Giants need to win tomorrow night or none of this is possible.
- Lew
Saints (-10.5) Over Falcons
This is all dependent on if Matt Ryan or Michael Turner play. Both are questionable, and after reading numerous articles, it both sounds like if they play, they are both not going to be near 75% percent. This does not at all bode well for the Falcons, as they are slipping and sliding due to injuries. The Saints meanwhile had a miraculous win out of their ass over the Redskins last week, something that just proves that this might be their year. Teams who are really good, don’t win these types of games and not go AT LEAST to the Super Bowl. I would be very, VERY surprised if the Saints did not win the NFC. This was the game I circled for the longest time that the Saints would lose. But after all the Falcons injuries, I just don’t see it anymore. Saints go 13-0 and are one step closer to perfection.
Saints 34 Falcons 17
Lions (+13.5) Over Ravens
To the blind, casual fan, the Ravens have a physical, great football team. Unfortunately, in what real football fans called "the real world" the Ravens are a soft, lacking a killer instinct team. Joe Flacco has looked awful in his Sophomore slump season, and though the Ravens defense isn’t statistically bad (6th in points, 9th in total defense) they have lacked that fire they have had for a while. You would be dumb not to think Rex Ryan had a lot to do with it. Ryan was the emotional fire the Ravens needed and fed off of. The Lions will lose, but will not get blowout.
Ravens 20 Lions 10
Bears (+3.5) Over Packers
Maybe this is wishful thinking, and yes, we all know the Bears stink, but the Packers have not beaten anyone. Say what you want about the Giants, but the Packers have not beaten anyone more dangerous or more impressive than the Giants have. The Packers have an outrageous amount of flaws (running game, offensive line) and I feel the Bears are due. Cutler can’t be this bad...Or can he.
Bears 23 Packers 20 OT
Texans (-7) Over Seahawks
I don’t think I have written more than a few sentences of the Seahawks all season. You know why? because they are far and away the most boring team in the NFL. At least the Jags have Maurice Jones-Drew who do the Seahawks have? They either get blown out or blow someone else out, the ladder usually does not happen, and the teams they have beaten have all been other boring teams. Nice contract to Matt Schaub by the way hes a real clutch QB, delivers well under pressure. Nice move. Has nothing to do with Andre Johnson.
Texans 27 Seahawks 18
Broncos (+7) Over Colts
I am not going to go Broncos outright, but that line is a little fishy. If this game was at Denver, I think the Broncos win. However, at home, in cozy Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts take this one, in a close game, and move to 13-0.
Colts 27 Broncos 23
Jags (-3) Over Dolphins
Don’t look now, but this is a HUGE playoff like game. With the Steelers out of the picture (not at all officially but come on, do you think the Steelers are a playoff team after losing to the Raiders and Browns back to back) you pretty much have a battle between the Jags, Dolphins, Jets, and Ravens for that last AFC wild card spot. This is very intriguing for a couple of reasons. For one, if the Bengals end up with the #3 seed, the #6 team I think is going to win. Which would set up a nice #6 team vs. Colts matchup which could be a 30 point Colts win. Second, the battle between all four of these teams is going to come down to the wire, maybe the last week of the season, that is why this game is so important. If the Dolphins lose, cross them off the playoff list. They would be three games behind the Jags (2 games in the standings plus the Jags have the tie breaker making it 3) so they would officially be eliminated, three behind with three to play. As I previously mentioned, the Ravens are going to win, putting them at 7-6 (7-4 Conference) and the Jets should win Mark Sanchez or not. If the Jets win they would go to 7-6 (6-5 Conference) and leap frog Miami. The Jags, as I think they will, will take care of business and go 8-5. But now it gets REALLY interesting. The Jags have a home game against the Colts next week, a game that I can see the Jags winning, followed by @ the Pats and a home game against the Browns. Popular believe would mean the Jags would go 9-7. I, on the other hand, think the Jags will in fact beat the Colts and finish 10-6. The Jags will ultimately grab that last spot in the field of 6.
Jags 23 Dolphins 17
Bills (+1) Over Chiefs
Common, I am in playoff football mode, not meaningless games that’s main storyline is how long is TO going to try.
Bills 13 Chiefs 10
Redskins (-1) Over Raiders
What did I say? I thought we were not going to cover non playoff teams. Alright, well the Redskins almost made me look like a genius last week, until they collapsed....AGIAN. Yes, I am going against my rule of not picking the Redskins two weeks in a row and it probably will back fire.
Redskins 17 Raiders 13
Rams (+13) Over Titans
Wow, soooooo intriguing. My question though is why is this line so high?? The Rams have done well against the really obnoxiously high spread so I don’t see how Chris Johnson and company is going to change that. Though, I do see Chris Johnson rushing for about 250 yards in this game.
Titans 26 Rams 17
Vikings (-6.5) Over Bengals
Ok, THATS more like it. The Favre theory I have had all year is making a showing, as Favre stunk up the joint last week. I am absolutely not sold on the Bengals, as they have fallen off recently, winning but playing badly against bad teams. I don’t like that sign. If they won this game, I would re-evaluate the Bengals. But I think the Vikings are too talented for them. Which leads me to my next point. Why does everyone think the Vikings are this juggernaut team? Look at the teams they have lost to (Cards, Steelers) and look at the teams they have beaten (Browns, Lions (2), 49ers, Packers (2), Rams, Ravens, Seahawks, Bears). ARE YOU KIDDING ME. That is by far BY FAR the easiest schedule I have ever seen. Enough with the four easy games the Giants played, after that they have not played an easy game since week 5. The Vikings have had 8 count them 8 easy games this year. You want to discount the second Packers game fine, but don’t tell me the Ravens at home is not an easy game. The Ravens stink, their QB as awful, and their defense is not nearly the same. Don’t give me the Ravens who are 6-6 in a down-year AFC North. I would take the Bengals but I just don’t see them coming up in a big spot. They don’t know how to win. You watch, I have been saying this for a long time now, Favre and this team will lose in some big spot whether its the NFC Title game or the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Vikings 30 Bengals 20
Panthers (+13) Over Pats
Talk about a team that simply does not have it. The Pats are not good period. Their defense flat out sucks, and Moss is now starting to take off plays. When Moss takes off plays you know he knows something is wrong. This does not bode well down the stretch for the once mighty Pats.
Pats 27 Panthers 16
Bucs (+4.5) Over Jets
A reader emailed Bill Simmons saying this before the Jets took on the Panthers a couple weeks ago: "I can guarantee you the Jets beat both Carolina and Buffalo, get their fan pumped up that they can make a big playoff run, and then lose and crush their fan base with them to the 1 win Tampa Bay Bucs." Well, so far this guy has been right, and this is typical Jets reeling you in spitting you out type of season. Paper and stats and everything tells me Jets, but my gut and what I have seen with the franchise year in and year out tells me Bucs. I know I said early in this column that the Jets SHOULD WIN and go 7-6. But should win doesn’t mean they will win.
Bucs 20 Jets 17
Chargers (+3) Over Cowboys
Chargers in a heartbeat. I love the roll this team is on, but I question whether this team could do it in a big spot in the playoffs. The Cowboys on the other hand are a mess. Typical December swoon, if they lose, look out below, because this is just going to keep snowballing from here.
Chargers 29 Cowboys 23
Cards (-3.5) Over 49ers
The Cards are winning this division end of story. When has the NFC West had two good, competitive teams at the same time? You have to go all the way back to 2003 when the Rams went 12-4 and the Seahawks went 10-6. Also, in 2001, the Rams were 14-2 and the 49ers were 12-4, which was pre re-alignment.
Cards 30 49ers 16
Giants (PK) Over Eagles
I am going to use this space to write a little preview of the game. This is the season for the Giants, if they lose this game, they can just go home because the division is out of the question, and the wild card looks very much up in the air. I don’t know about you, but I think this once again is going to be a war. The Eagles EMBARESSED the Giants last meeting, a 40-17 pounding in which the Giants looked like a pee-wee team out there. However, I took from that game that the Giants looked so, SO, SO bad but the Eagles were not that good. I look at the Eagles as a solid football team, but not a team the Giants can’t beat.
The Giants need to run the ball well, something they have not done all year, and I am not yet convinced that the Giants well ever run the ball well this year. Jacobs looks like a shell of his former self, and the O-Line is simply not doing a good job of opening up holes for him. Bradshaw meanwhile had two nice runs, but continued that fumbling problem and cost the Giants 7 points. Another thing that concerns me is Eli is December at Giants Stadium. Let’s throw out his rookie year, he only had 7 starts and was thrown into the fire on a team that was collapsing and panicking. So starting in 2005, Eli in December/January at home is 4-8 with 13 TD's 13 INT and 4 of those TD's came in one game against the Pats in 2007. Bottom line is that he has been absolutely atrocious at home in the last month of the season. Eli has to HAS to come out and have a big game tomorrow, BUT NOT FORCE THINGS. If it is not there, then throw it away, or take the sack, do not DO NOT throw these ridiculous lobs in traffic that are always picked and returned for a big gain.
The defense is the other issue. Remember guys, this defense still stinks, it stinks big time. But if they force turnovers, and make big stops, then that should be enough. On the flip side, that is very, very hard to do. They were lucky to do that in the Cowboys game, despite out playing Dallas (I have to bring this up because Ron "I am the biggest Eagles homer on the face of the earth and though I am incredibly biased I still inexplicably have a job on ESPN and announce Monday Night Football....O and LT OWNED me as a player and made me look like a 5 year old girl" Jaworski said that Dallas outplayed the Giants last week. How so? If not for a late garbage TD, the Giants would have won by 14. Typical Jaws). The Eagles are going to try to go deep to Jackson, but there is some good news in this, the Giants Stadium winds are supposed to make an appearance tomorrow night. That means this will significantly cut down on the deep balls McNabb will want to throw to Jackson and Maclin, killing the thing the Eagles rely on most.
I know most people are going to pick the Eagles, but I really think the Giants can win. They are gaining confidence, this crowd is going to be a playoff atmosphere a ROCKING Giants Stadium in the last ever game against the Eagles (barring a playoff meeting) at Giants Stadium. The Eagles will be there, but the Giants fans are going to be drunk, very rowdy, and loud as hell. As I mentioned before, this is it for the Giants. Win this game, and they are 8-5, 6-3 in the conference, but more importantly 4-1 in the division. Barring a letdown against the Redskins next Monday night in Washington, the Giants can go 5-1 in the division, which would be better than the Eagles or Cowboys, and would give the Giants a tie breaker in the NFC East. The Giants then would play the Panthers at home in the last ever regular season game at Giants Stadium (could be last game ever) and then @ the Vikings. Let’s say the Giants win the next three games and are 10-5 going into the Vikings game. The Eagles have two home games against the 49ers and Broncos and will most likely be 10-5 heading into a showdown at Dallas. The Cowboys have a home game against the Chargers, @ the Saints, @ the Redskins and then home against the Eagles in an extended playoff game. Heres how I can see this stacking up if the Giants beat the Eagles tomorrow night, heading into that Eagles-Cowboys matchup:
Giants 10-5 (5-1 Division)
Eagles 10-5 (3-2 Division)
Cowboys 9-6 (2-3 Division; beat the Eagles 20-16 in their first meeting)
(Yes, I am predicting the Cowboys to beat the Saints, but in typical Cowboys fashion lose @ the Redskins)
This could be a problem for the Giants. The Vikings have a easy schedule along the way, (home vs Cinncy, @ Carolina and Chicago) but the Favre collapse does loom, as well as the fact they will play two very cold games in Carolina and a bone-chiling cold game in Chicago. They can easily get picked off in one of those games, not to mention the Cinncy game. If that happens it is not good because the Cards have the easiest next three games of any NFL team. @ the 49ers, @ the Lions, and home against the Rams before they face off at home against the Packers. So lets say the Vikings lose one of those games, and are 12-3 going into the Giants game. The Cards will probably be 11-4 heading into a home game against the Packers. Remember if both the Vikings and the Cards tie at the end of the year, the Cards get the #2 seed because of the win they had over the Vikings last week. All of this means if the Vikings lose one or two games from now until the Giants game, that the Vikings will be playing very hard against the Giants, and frankly I dont see the Giants winning that game despite the "momentum" the would have had heading into that week. Adding the Packers into the mix, they have games @ the Bears, @ the Steelers, home against the Seahawks until the game @ the Cards. I can see them going 10-5 heading into that game which would mean the playoff scenario would look like this heading into week 17:
#1 Saints 14-1 @ Panthers
#2 Vikings 12-3 vs Giants
# 3 Cards 11-4 vs Packers
# 4 Giants 10-5 @ Vikings
# 5 Eagles 10-5 @ Cowboys
# 6 Packers 10-5 @ Cards
LOOMING
Cowboys 9-6 vs Eagles
That is one hell of a week 17. Now, this is all predictions, so this will probably never take place. But can you imagine what this would be like. Every team plays hard, and I can tell you the Giants will lose that game if the Vikings play hard.
Scenario #1: Giants win @ Vikings, Cards beat Packers, Eagles beat Cowboys
Giants win NFC East and 4th seed. Since the Cards beat the Giants, the Giants cant go any further than the 4th seed. The Cards are now the # 2 seed. The Vikings are #3 the Eagles are # 5 and the Packers are #6 based on their win over Dallas.
Scenario # 2: Giants lose @ Vikings, Eagles win @ Cowboys, Packers win @ Cards
That would eliminate the Cowboys, the Packers would be 11-5 and be the number 5 seed automatically. The Vikings are # 2 and the Eagles are #3 based on common opponets record being better than the Cards. The Cards are #4 and the Giants sneak in as a # 6 seed.
Scenario # 3: Giants lose @ Vikings, Cowboys win vs Eagles, Packers win @ Cards
Vikings are the # 2 seed, the Cards are # 3, the Giants win the NFC East based in division record and are the # 4 seed. The Packers get the # 5 seed at 11-5 and the Cowboys, based on sweeping the Eagles are now the # 6 seed. The Eagles are eliminated.
Scenario # 4: Giants lose @ Vikings, Cowboys win vs Eagles, Cards win vs Packers
The Vikings are the # 2 seed, the Cards are # 3, the Giants win the NFC East and are the #4 seed. Based on common opponets, the Cowboys and Eagles are the # 5 and # 6 seed, eliminating the Packers, despite the fact the Packers beat the Cowboys. (All three teams would be 8-4 in the conference based off of this scenario so it would then go to common opponets).
Whew. That was pretty complicated. Pick a scenario you want, more than likely this will never happen so I just wasted an hour are so conjuring up a hypothetical scenario. Bottom line, the Giants need to win tomorrow night or none of this is possible.
- Lew
Friday, December 11, 2009
Up coming stuff
Hey people. I am being lazy today and not posting (I know it sucks, but read Bill Simmons he posted like 10 things today and about a 5,000 word essay on Tiger) but I have to write a 10 page paper tomorrow so believe me, during my breaks I will be posting a lot and just trying to put it off as much as possible.
A few thoughts:
- The Steelers are atrocious; their season is over and we can relax at how amazing Ben Rothlisberger is. Great QB, no denying that, but the guy isnt Joe Montana, sorry. This team is centered around Troy P. and the running attack, the former missed 3/4 of the season and the ladder is non exsistent. Losing back-back games to the Raiders and the Browns is one of the most pathetic things I have seen in a long time. And that includes watching an 0-16 Detroit Lions team last year. The Raiders are better with Gradkowski, but they are still a team who Alabama could possibly beat. And then there are the Browns. The Browns are statstically worse than the 0-16 Lions, a team thats only win was a 6-3 barn-burner against the lonly Bills. Derek Anderson was 2-17 for 20 yards that day. If I am a Steelers fan, you hope they lose out, go 6-10 and then get a top 15 pick, say 10-12 range, take someone really, really good, and then go out and win 13 games. This exactly happend when they took Rothlisberger in 2004.
Syracuse is legit. I dont know if they can get a 2 seed or miraculously a #1 seed, but Syracuse is definatly AT THE VERY LEAST a top 10 team. They are not just beating teams, they are blowing them out. Now, last nights game was not a blowout in any stretch of the imagination, but they still won by 12 and controlled the whole game. This team is less talented than last years sweet 16 team, but believe me, this team is actually A TEAM. They care, they have GREAT chemistry, and the depth is fantastic. Cuse can beat you inside like they did last night with Rick Jackson and Arinze, they can beat you mid range with Wes Johnson, and they can beat you outside with Andy Rautins, Brandon Triche, and D-Up Scoop Jardine. This team plays defense as well, and makes teams pay for turnover. The big problem: Foul shooting. It always is, and you NEED to hit free throws to go far in the tournament, Memphis in 2007 proved that. However, this team should be ranked #5 come monday, and they have now beaten 3 top 25 teams by an average of 15.7 points. The rest of the teams Cuse has won by an average of over 30 points, so unlike my last four years at Cuse, this team is blowing out teams, not letting teams linger. Now, if we had Johnny Flynn? Well, I think you might be talking about a 37-3 type team, and one the great teams in Syracuse basketball history and a team that would be by far the number 1 contenders to win a National Title. This year? Who knows. The Final Four is such a toss up every year, nobody ever knows what is going to happen. Is it possible? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not, but the way this team is playing now, it is always nice to dream of dancing to Indy this coming April.
- Lew
A few thoughts:
- The Steelers are atrocious; their season is over and we can relax at how amazing Ben Rothlisberger is. Great QB, no denying that, but the guy isnt Joe Montana, sorry. This team is centered around Troy P. and the running attack, the former missed 3/4 of the season and the ladder is non exsistent. Losing back-back games to the Raiders and the Browns is one of the most pathetic things I have seen in a long time. And that includes watching an 0-16 Detroit Lions team last year. The Raiders are better with Gradkowski, but they are still a team who Alabama could possibly beat. And then there are the Browns. The Browns are statstically worse than the 0-16 Lions, a team thats only win was a 6-3 barn-burner against the lonly Bills. Derek Anderson was 2-17 for 20 yards that day. If I am a Steelers fan, you hope they lose out, go 6-10 and then get a top 15 pick, say 10-12 range, take someone really, really good, and then go out and win 13 games. This exactly happend when they took Rothlisberger in 2004.
Syracuse is legit. I dont know if they can get a 2 seed or miraculously a #1 seed, but Syracuse is definatly AT THE VERY LEAST a top 10 team. They are not just beating teams, they are blowing them out. Now, last nights game was not a blowout in any stretch of the imagination, but they still won by 12 and controlled the whole game. This team is less talented than last years sweet 16 team, but believe me, this team is actually A TEAM. They care, they have GREAT chemistry, and the depth is fantastic. Cuse can beat you inside like they did last night with Rick Jackson and Arinze, they can beat you mid range with Wes Johnson, and they can beat you outside with Andy Rautins, Brandon Triche, and D-Up Scoop Jardine. This team plays defense as well, and makes teams pay for turnover. The big problem: Foul shooting. It always is, and you NEED to hit free throws to go far in the tournament, Memphis in 2007 proved that. However, this team should be ranked #5 come monday, and they have now beaten 3 top 25 teams by an average of 15.7 points. The rest of the teams Cuse has won by an average of over 30 points, so unlike my last four years at Cuse, this team is blowing out teams, not letting teams linger. Now, if we had Johnny Flynn? Well, I think you might be talking about a 37-3 type team, and one the great teams in Syracuse basketball history and a team that would be by far the number 1 contenders to win a National Title. This year? Who knows. The Final Four is such a toss up every year, nobody ever knows what is going to happen. Is it possible? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not, but the way this team is playing now, it is always nice to dream of dancing to Indy this coming April.
- Lew
Thursday, December 10, 2009
New York Giants This Decade
In honor of SI's All Decade articles recently posted (they posted the NFL yesterday and the MLB today) I am going to go through the best and worst of the Giants, Knicks, and Yankees this decade. Let’s first start with the Giants, as the Knicks and Yankees will be posted in the coming days.
Best Team: 2007
This is an easy choice. The Giants were 10-5 heading into the much anticipated New England game at home against the 15-0 Pats. Most people did not know what to think of this team, they had some ugly losses (twice to Dallas, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Washington) while they had some unimpressive wins (Detroit, Philly, Chicago, Miami) and looked like a team headed for a first round loss in the playoffs. It all changed on that night, a night where the Giants almost picked off the undefeated Pats, holding a 28-17 lead late in the third quarter. The Giants ended up losing that game, but gained all the momentum from staying that close with New England. We all know what happened next. They dominated the Bucs, beat the despised 13-3 and #1 seeded Cowboys, went into historic Lambeau Field and beat Favre and the Packers in overtime IN -24 DEGREES IF YOU FACTOR IN THE WINDCHILL (of course this was Favre's last game with Green Bay) and went on to beat the 18-0 Pats in Super Bowl 42. Probably the most historic season in Giants history, not just this decade.
Worst Team: 2003
The 2003 Giants were a team that had all the hype going into the year, but any true Giants fan knew this team was headed for trouble. After the second worst playoff collapse in NFL history (38-14 middle of the third quarter to lose 39-38 to the 49ers) the Giants were not over that loss heading into the '03 season. I don’t care what anyone says, I know they were not over it, and they needed to clean house, which they did one year later. You know how I know that? Because the Giants had two DEMORALIZING losses in the first six weeks of the season. The first was to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. The Giants trailed 23-7 in the third and 29-14 in the 4th, came ALL THE WAY BACK and went ahead 32-29 with seconds left, only for Matt Bryant to kick the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. Quincy Carter completed a 30 yards pass, and Billy Cundiff tied the game with a 52 yard field goal. The Cowboys won in overtime. The second game was against the Eagles who were struggling mightily. The Giants had a 10-7 lead and were milking the game. The Eagles could not move the ball to save their lives. McNabb has 64 yards passing, the Eagles with 9 first downs and 134 total yards of offense. Jeff Feagles punted the ball to Brian Westbrook, and Westbrook took the ball 84 yards to the house. Just like that, the Giants lost.
The Giants then won two games in a row and improved to 4-4, the ladder when coming against the Jets in Overtime (a game my friend and I at the time Josh predicted would be a tie) ended up in a Giants victory only after Brett Conway hit a 29 yard field goal with a minute left in the game. After that, the Giants fell apart, losing 8 games in a row to end the year (plus the 2004 opener to make it 9) which saw the bachelor Jesse Palmer start at the end of the year and lose every single game. This also started the streak: the last Giants game I did not attend or watch live was the last game of the year, a 37-24 lose to the eventual NFC Champion Carolina Panthers. This year also saw the last of the Jim Fassel era and the infamous Joe Horn cell phone game.
Best Regular Season Game: Giants-Patriots 2007
15-0 Pats, one win away from historic 16-0, a sight nobody has ever seen before. The only team in their way was an up and down New York Giants team that stood at 10-5. From the kickoff you knew this was not your average regular season game. You knew this was a game on the 2nd play when Eli ran a play action to Plaxico Burress over the middle for 40 something yards. The crowd was so in shock and went so nuts that you just had a feeling something special was going to happen. This also happens to be the best crowd of any regular season Giants game I have ever been to, and I have been to roughly 60 games at Giants Stadium. We all know what happened, but still that night NFL history was made, and a little over a month later, the Giants got their revenge, and more NFL history was made.
Best Playoff Game (Non Super Bowl): 2000 NFC Championship Game
Yes, the 2007 NFC Championship game was great, a historic win, but this was the first time the Giants went to the Super Bowl in 10 years, and was the first home NFC Title game since 1986 against the Redskins. The Giants absolutely pummeled the Vikings, winning 41-0. Kerry Collins had the game of his life, passing for almost 400 yards 5 touchdowns and 1 pick. It was one of the most shocking games and really turned around the career of Kerry Collins.
Best Super Bowl: 2007 Giants-Pats
Well, there is only two to choose from and I don’t think we are choosing the 34-7 debacle against the Ravens in Super Bowl 35. As we all know, the Pats were 18-0 the Giants were on a miracle run at 13-6 and seemed to believe they could win. The game was close and then all of a sudden in the 4th quarter the Giants went ahead 10-7 on a touchdown to David Tyree on a post route beating Asante Samuel. The Pats then went down the field, killing the clock, and scored with 2:32 left in the game on a touchdown to Randy Moss. The rest is history. The most memorable play in Super Bowl history (I would argue top 5 of any sporting event of all-time) when Eli Manning shed two tackles and threw a bomb to David Tyree who made the catch on his helmet for 32 yards. This culminated in a touchdown to Plaxico Burress and the Giants won the Super Bowl 17-14 beating the 18-0 Pats.
Best Crowd: 2000 NFC Championship vs Vikings
As you know, I have been to more Giants game than one can imagine. Any big game in the last 13 some odd years I have been at. I am ruling out the Super Bowl because it was not at Giants Stadium, though that of course was by far the most electric crowd I have ever seen. You can argue the 2008 game against the Panthers, maybe the 2000 Playoff game vs the Eagles. But in my mind, the NFC Championship game against the Vikings was the best. On the third play Kerry Collins connects on a touchdown to Ike Hilliard and the place goes apeshit. I got coffee spilled on me after that play and did not fully soak that play in. On the ensuing kickoff the Vikings fumbled and the Giants got it back. The next play was a touchdown to Greg Comella. The Vikings finally got the ball for the first time down 14-0. Game over. I swear I thought the stadium was coming down once Kerry Collins made an AMAZING fake and threw a perfect 8 yard lob in the back of the end zone to Joe Jurevicious to make it 24-0 in the 2nd quarter. The Giants were finally going to the Super Bowl.
Best Player: Michael Strahan
Despite Peter King's omission on the all-decade team (something so mind boggling I won’t even go any further) Strahan was the best end I had personally ever seen, and I would put him top 4 or 5 best defensive ends of all-time. Yes, he was the leader of a defense that routinely collapsed in big spots (which changed in 2007) but Michael Strahan as an individual was flat out dominating. In the decade (2000-2007) Strahan had 89 sacks, 390 tackles. He stopped the run as well as any end in the NFL and rushed the passer like Deacon Jones. His 2001 campaign (Favre lay down or not) with 22.5 sacks for the NFL record was one of the single most dominating seasons for a defensive player. As I said, he wasn’t Simeon Rice who just rushed the QB, he dominated the run so much that you could not even run to his side. Strahan is my favorite Giant of all-time and every game I miss him a bit more, and realize how great he was.
Worst Player: Trey Junkin
Mention Junkin's name to any Giants fan and they will cringe. He was signed for one game and he botched two snaps including the potential game winner against the 49ers in that epic 2002 playoff loss
Best Pick/ Trade: Eli Manning 2004
I might catch some heat for this and I know Eli has struggled at times (ok a lot of times) but there is no denying the Eli Manning is a franchise QB. He plays hurt, never complains, and never misses a start. Not to mention since he became a full time starter in 2005 he has made the playoffs every single year, including leading the Giants on one of the most improbable rides in NFL History which ended in Eli throwing a game winning Touchdown with 39 seconds left to Plaxico Burress to win the Super Bowl against the undefeated Pats. He won that Super Bowl and won the MVP award in that game as well. O yea, the only two Quarterbacks to throw two 4th quarter touchdowns in a Super Bowl: Joe Montana and Eli Manning.
Worst Pick: Ron Dayne 2000 12th Pick
He was a Heisman Trophy winner at Wisconsin and most Giants fans thought he would be the bulldog back to compliment Tiki Barber, a Jerome Bettis if you will. During his two years he was actually good. In 2000 he rushed for 770 yards and five TD's, respectable numbers, and helped the Giants to the Super Bowl. The next year he bested his Yards per carry, rushed for 690 yards and 7 TD's, again not bad. However, injuries and lack of work ethic derailed Dayne's career and by 2005 he was out of a Giants uniform. He is since out of the league, last playing for the Texans in 2007, a career year for Dayne.
Best Rivalry: Giants-Eagles
This Rivalry really hit its peak during this decade. The teams met 22 times (one more meeting this Sunday night) which includes three playoff meetings. The Giants won the 2000 Playoff battle, but the Eagles won in 2006 and 2008. The Giants are 10-12 including the three playoff meetings this decade, and the matchup include some memorable games. The Brian Westbrook in 2001, the Ron Dixon play in 2001, where he almost scored on a 80 yard hook and ladder play when he was knocked out at the one. Still, it is the best hook and ladder play I have ever seen run in the NFL. In 2002 the last game of the regular season the Giants won in overtime to clinch a playoff berth. 2004 came T.O and his antics. 2005 provided an overtime game at Philly which ended the Eagles season. 2006 had the memorable Eli lead comeback. Down 24-7 in the 4th quarter the Giants rallied back tied the game, and won 30-24 in overtime. 2007 brought the Osi 6 sack game.
There you have it, the New York Giants the last decade, a decade that will be remembered in Giants lore forever. I will be back for more stuff tomorrow.
- Lew
Best Team: 2007
This is an easy choice. The Giants were 10-5 heading into the much anticipated New England game at home against the 15-0 Pats. Most people did not know what to think of this team, they had some ugly losses (twice to Dallas, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Washington) while they had some unimpressive wins (Detroit, Philly, Chicago, Miami) and looked like a team headed for a first round loss in the playoffs. It all changed on that night, a night where the Giants almost picked off the undefeated Pats, holding a 28-17 lead late in the third quarter. The Giants ended up losing that game, but gained all the momentum from staying that close with New England. We all know what happened next. They dominated the Bucs, beat the despised 13-3 and #1 seeded Cowboys, went into historic Lambeau Field and beat Favre and the Packers in overtime IN -24 DEGREES IF YOU FACTOR IN THE WINDCHILL (of course this was Favre's last game with Green Bay) and went on to beat the 18-0 Pats in Super Bowl 42. Probably the most historic season in Giants history, not just this decade.
Worst Team: 2003
The 2003 Giants were a team that had all the hype going into the year, but any true Giants fan knew this team was headed for trouble. After the second worst playoff collapse in NFL history (38-14 middle of the third quarter to lose 39-38 to the 49ers) the Giants were not over that loss heading into the '03 season. I don’t care what anyone says, I know they were not over it, and they needed to clean house, which they did one year later. You know how I know that? Because the Giants had two DEMORALIZING losses in the first six weeks of the season. The first was to the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. The Giants trailed 23-7 in the third and 29-14 in the 4th, came ALL THE WAY BACK and went ahead 32-29 with seconds left, only for Matt Bryant to kick the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. Quincy Carter completed a 30 yards pass, and Billy Cundiff tied the game with a 52 yard field goal. The Cowboys won in overtime. The second game was against the Eagles who were struggling mightily. The Giants had a 10-7 lead and were milking the game. The Eagles could not move the ball to save their lives. McNabb has 64 yards passing, the Eagles with 9 first downs and 134 total yards of offense. Jeff Feagles punted the ball to Brian Westbrook, and Westbrook took the ball 84 yards to the house. Just like that, the Giants lost.
The Giants then won two games in a row and improved to 4-4, the ladder when coming against the Jets in Overtime (a game my friend and I at the time Josh predicted would be a tie) ended up in a Giants victory only after Brett Conway hit a 29 yard field goal with a minute left in the game. After that, the Giants fell apart, losing 8 games in a row to end the year (plus the 2004 opener to make it 9) which saw the bachelor Jesse Palmer start at the end of the year and lose every single game. This also started the streak: the last Giants game I did not attend or watch live was the last game of the year, a 37-24 lose to the eventual NFC Champion Carolina Panthers. This year also saw the last of the Jim Fassel era and the infamous Joe Horn cell phone game.
Best Regular Season Game: Giants-Patriots 2007
15-0 Pats, one win away from historic 16-0, a sight nobody has ever seen before. The only team in their way was an up and down New York Giants team that stood at 10-5. From the kickoff you knew this was not your average regular season game. You knew this was a game on the 2nd play when Eli ran a play action to Plaxico Burress over the middle for 40 something yards. The crowd was so in shock and went so nuts that you just had a feeling something special was going to happen. This also happens to be the best crowd of any regular season Giants game I have ever been to, and I have been to roughly 60 games at Giants Stadium. We all know what happened, but still that night NFL history was made, and a little over a month later, the Giants got their revenge, and more NFL history was made.
Best Playoff Game (Non Super Bowl): 2000 NFC Championship Game
Yes, the 2007 NFC Championship game was great, a historic win, but this was the first time the Giants went to the Super Bowl in 10 years, and was the first home NFC Title game since 1986 against the Redskins. The Giants absolutely pummeled the Vikings, winning 41-0. Kerry Collins had the game of his life, passing for almost 400 yards 5 touchdowns and 1 pick. It was one of the most shocking games and really turned around the career of Kerry Collins.
Best Super Bowl: 2007 Giants-Pats
Well, there is only two to choose from and I don’t think we are choosing the 34-7 debacle against the Ravens in Super Bowl 35. As we all know, the Pats were 18-0 the Giants were on a miracle run at 13-6 and seemed to believe they could win. The game was close and then all of a sudden in the 4th quarter the Giants went ahead 10-7 on a touchdown to David Tyree on a post route beating Asante Samuel. The Pats then went down the field, killing the clock, and scored with 2:32 left in the game on a touchdown to Randy Moss. The rest is history. The most memorable play in Super Bowl history (I would argue top 5 of any sporting event of all-time) when Eli Manning shed two tackles and threw a bomb to David Tyree who made the catch on his helmet for 32 yards. This culminated in a touchdown to Plaxico Burress and the Giants won the Super Bowl 17-14 beating the 18-0 Pats.
Best Crowd: 2000 NFC Championship vs Vikings
As you know, I have been to more Giants game than one can imagine. Any big game in the last 13 some odd years I have been at. I am ruling out the Super Bowl because it was not at Giants Stadium, though that of course was by far the most electric crowd I have ever seen. You can argue the 2008 game against the Panthers, maybe the 2000 Playoff game vs the Eagles. But in my mind, the NFC Championship game against the Vikings was the best. On the third play Kerry Collins connects on a touchdown to Ike Hilliard and the place goes apeshit. I got coffee spilled on me after that play and did not fully soak that play in. On the ensuing kickoff the Vikings fumbled and the Giants got it back. The next play was a touchdown to Greg Comella. The Vikings finally got the ball for the first time down 14-0. Game over. I swear I thought the stadium was coming down once Kerry Collins made an AMAZING fake and threw a perfect 8 yard lob in the back of the end zone to Joe Jurevicious to make it 24-0 in the 2nd quarter. The Giants were finally going to the Super Bowl.
Best Player: Michael Strahan
Despite Peter King's omission on the all-decade team (something so mind boggling I won’t even go any further) Strahan was the best end I had personally ever seen, and I would put him top 4 or 5 best defensive ends of all-time. Yes, he was the leader of a defense that routinely collapsed in big spots (which changed in 2007) but Michael Strahan as an individual was flat out dominating. In the decade (2000-2007) Strahan had 89 sacks, 390 tackles. He stopped the run as well as any end in the NFL and rushed the passer like Deacon Jones. His 2001 campaign (Favre lay down or not) with 22.5 sacks for the NFL record was one of the single most dominating seasons for a defensive player. As I said, he wasn’t Simeon Rice who just rushed the QB, he dominated the run so much that you could not even run to his side. Strahan is my favorite Giant of all-time and every game I miss him a bit more, and realize how great he was.
Worst Player: Trey Junkin
Mention Junkin's name to any Giants fan and they will cringe. He was signed for one game and he botched two snaps including the potential game winner against the 49ers in that epic 2002 playoff loss
Best Pick/ Trade: Eli Manning 2004
I might catch some heat for this and I know Eli has struggled at times (ok a lot of times) but there is no denying the Eli Manning is a franchise QB. He plays hurt, never complains, and never misses a start. Not to mention since he became a full time starter in 2005 he has made the playoffs every single year, including leading the Giants on one of the most improbable rides in NFL History which ended in Eli throwing a game winning Touchdown with 39 seconds left to Plaxico Burress to win the Super Bowl against the undefeated Pats. He won that Super Bowl and won the MVP award in that game as well. O yea, the only two Quarterbacks to throw two 4th quarter touchdowns in a Super Bowl: Joe Montana and Eli Manning.
Worst Pick: Ron Dayne 2000 12th Pick
He was a Heisman Trophy winner at Wisconsin and most Giants fans thought he would be the bulldog back to compliment Tiki Barber, a Jerome Bettis if you will. During his two years he was actually good. In 2000 he rushed for 770 yards and five TD's, respectable numbers, and helped the Giants to the Super Bowl. The next year he bested his Yards per carry, rushed for 690 yards and 7 TD's, again not bad. However, injuries and lack of work ethic derailed Dayne's career and by 2005 he was out of a Giants uniform. He is since out of the league, last playing for the Texans in 2007, a career year for Dayne.
Best Rivalry: Giants-Eagles
This Rivalry really hit its peak during this decade. The teams met 22 times (one more meeting this Sunday night) which includes three playoff meetings. The Giants won the 2000 Playoff battle, but the Eagles won in 2006 and 2008. The Giants are 10-12 including the three playoff meetings this decade, and the matchup include some memorable games. The Brian Westbrook in 2001, the Ron Dixon play in 2001, where he almost scored on a 80 yard hook and ladder play when he was knocked out at the one. Still, it is the best hook and ladder play I have ever seen run in the NFL. In 2002 the last game of the regular season the Giants won in overtime to clinch a playoff berth. 2004 came T.O and his antics. 2005 provided an overtime game at Philly which ended the Eagles season. 2006 had the memorable Eli lead comeback. Down 24-7 in the 4th quarter the Giants rallied back tied the game, and won 30-24 in overtime. 2007 brought the Osi 6 sack game.
There you have it, the New York Giants the last decade, a decade that will be remembered in Giants lore forever. I will be back for more stuff tomorrow.
- Lew
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Giants Impressive
Sorry it has taken me so long to get to this game. What a game. Giants Stadium was rocking, and the Giants actually showed up this time and swept the Cowboys for the first time since 2004. I have to say, you look back on the post I made after the bye week, and it is a possibility that everything shapes up the way I thought it would. Though, I have to admit, I did think the Giants did not have it in them after the Denver game. But give Tom Coughlin credit, the guy is a great coach, he got them motivated and focused and the Giants played a great game against the overrated Cowboys. In fact, the Cowboys might not make the playoffs now with games against the Chargers, Saints, Redskins, and Eagles. If the Giants can manage to win this sunday vs Philly, they would be 4-1 in the division with a chance to go 5-1 if they beat the Redskins on monday night. There is a big possibility the Giants could win out here. Now I dont know if that could happen, the Eagles are a very tough team, but if the Giants do win, look out, all the momentum will be on their side.
Lets get to this game because there were some negatives as well. Lets not crown the Giants defense as kings yet. They did an atrocious job against the pass, but came up HUGE on a couple of plays. That was the key: the big stops on third down as well as the big 4th and 2 stop on Barber, a huge play by Aaron Ross. Besides that, the Giants gave up a mind blowing 14 catches 156 yards to Jason Witten, and 16 more receptions between Roy Williams and Miles Austin. Maybe that is good for the Detriot Lions, but if your trying to make the playoffs that simply doesnt cut it. What the Giants did which they have not been doing is that they stopped the run. Barber was a complete non factor, and Kiwi stepped up HUGE in stopping the run on sunday. The Giants still have a long ways to go defensivly, but building confidence is almost as big as the actual product, if you can believe you can do it, then there is no stopping you. The Giants did not believe they could stop anyone and it showed. After this game, it feels like they are starting to believe now, and if that confidence translates in the Philly game, then as I said before, look out.
I thought Eli played the weirdest game I have ever seen him play. He only made 11 completions, but on almost all of them he look fantastic. However, on the 14 incompletions, he looked brutal. There was no inbetween with Eli. Of course, two of his Td's were plays made by Jacobs and Nicks, and his one pick was totally his fault, so to say Eli played well would be false, but he made the plays he needed to and sometimes that is enough. Lets also calm down on Brandon Jacobs. He broke out of his shell for ONE PLAY. That one play was as big as it gets, but he stil had a brutal game on the ground (39 yards) and was a non factor blocking. I have to give all the credit in the world to Jacobs on that one 74 yard touchdown, but lets be fair, he still had a bad game on the ground. Is it time to start Hakeem Nicks yet? Nicks looked so good on that touchdown, he broke a tackle and walked into the end zone. The guy has such good hands, and he makes it look easy out there. Another guy who is simply having a ball out there is Steve Smith. Steve Smith is on pace to break every Giants single season receiving record, and he makes it look easy. he gets open EVERY THIRD DOWN and despite a couple drops here and there, he is reliable almost all of the time. If he doesnt get to the Pro Bowl the system is falwed (which of course it is).
Again, lets take a step back on the defense. They played excellent against the run, but BRUTAL against the pass. If that was Drew Brees out there, or Peyton or Brady, we give up 500 yards passing. Easily. Tony Romo proved why he is not a good Quarterback, why he will always be average at best. He missed wide open recievers, he over threw Roy Williams which would have been another TD, and he looked rattled out there. The problem was his recievers for the most part were WIDE OPEN the whole game. Why is that? Because besides Cory Webster, who had an average game at best, they Giants cannot cover anyone. Jason Witten, who I think is the third maybe 2nd best tight end in the league, had a game for the ages as I mentioned before. Roy Williams who could not do ANYTHING this entire year broke out for two TD's. Miles Austin also had a big game. Remember, this Cowboys offense had been brutal the last three games and one included the Raiders. Yes, 17 points is good (the last TD was a garbage TD) and Romo threw the ball a ridiculous 55 times, but that still is no excuse why he completed almost 40 of those passes. The rush was not there again, only two sacks and Romo fell down for one of them. I am still am far from impressed by this defense, but again, they made the stops when they had to. In addition, the Cowboys are a soft team, a team that has the deer in the headlight look whenever they play a big game, dont expect that from Andy Reid and the Eagles. The Eagles only get the Deer in the Headlight look when they are in a monumentally big game such as the NFC Title game or Super Bowl.
The lift that Dominik Hixon gave them on that punt return cannot be expressed in words. Not only did that return end the game, it might turn around the season. The crowd went as nuts as I have seen it in awhile, a season on the brink, and Hixon said we are not laying down. All with that return, a season could be revived. I still dont know how he got out of the first attempted tackle, along with three other Cowboys whiffs and Hixon was gone. Its the first punt return for a TD since Chad Morton in 2005 against the Cards on opening day, a day where he had both a kickoff and punt return for a TD. Its the most memorable punt return since Tiki Barber on Monday Night Football all the way back in 1997 against the same Cowboys. Barber broke a tie game against the defending Super Bowl Champs and though Dieon Sanders brought the kickoff return back as the final gun went off, the play was nullified due to an illegal forward pass. I loved the sidelines reaction, especially from Justin Tuck who carried Hixon off the field, and Tom Coughlin, who did the double fist and was obviously very emotional. The team said after that seeing Coughlin like that gave them a lift; if he is so end to it, how can I not be into it.
One last thing, the fact the Flozell Adams did not get suspended is a disgrace. This is twice now against the Giants and three times total that he has been fined and did something almost suspension worthy. The guy is a thug, a straight up thug, who tries to hurt people instead of playing football. Tuck was right in everyway to call him a dirtbag, Flozell's response "Justin Tuck is a nobody." Yea, a nobody who wears a large Super Bowl ring on his finger and had two sacks and five tackles in that game. A guy who had 13 sacks last year, and is a warrior on and off the field. A guy who is playing with a seperate shoulder that YOU gave him and does not complain. A guy who is slowly becoming my favoirte player because of his no-excuse-just-play mentality. Yea, Justin Tuck is a nobody.
I think this Sunday Night game is going to be a battle. The last two sunday night Giants-Eagles game, one at each stadium, were both won by the Giants. However, the last two playoff meetings between these two teams, both in each stadium, have both been won by the Eagles. This is going to be a war, both fan bases despise each other, the crowd should be as intense as any regular season game, in fact this should absolutly be a playoff atmosphere game. The Giants will be just as pumped as they were last week, knowing that their season is on the line. The Eagles will be pumped as ever because they know they can pretty much end the Giants season (especially as a division winner) and put themselves in prime position to win the NFC East. This will be a battle from the start to the finish, I cant wait.
- Lew
Lets get to this game because there were some negatives as well. Lets not crown the Giants defense as kings yet. They did an atrocious job against the pass, but came up HUGE on a couple of plays. That was the key: the big stops on third down as well as the big 4th and 2 stop on Barber, a huge play by Aaron Ross. Besides that, the Giants gave up a mind blowing 14 catches 156 yards to Jason Witten, and 16 more receptions between Roy Williams and Miles Austin. Maybe that is good for the Detriot Lions, but if your trying to make the playoffs that simply doesnt cut it. What the Giants did which they have not been doing is that they stopped the run. Barber was a complete non factor, and Kiwi stepped up HUGE in stopping the run on sunday. The Giants still have a long ways to go defensivly, but building confidence is almost as big as the actual product, if you can believe you can do it, then there is no stopping you. The Giants did not believe they could stop anyone and it showed. After this game, it feels like they are starting to believe now, and if that confidence translates in the Philly game, then as I said before, look out.
I thought Eli played the weirdest game I have ever seen him play. He only made 11 completions, but on almost all of them he look fantastic. However, on the 14 incompletions, he looked brutal. There was no inbetween with Eli. Of course, two of his Td's were plays made by Jacobs and Nicks, and his one pick was totally his fault, so to say Eli played well would be false, but he made the plays he needed to and sometimes that is enough. Lets also calm down on Brandon Jacobs. He broke out of his shell for ONE PLAY. That one play was as big as it gets, but he stil had a brutal game on the ground (39 yards) and was a non factor blocking. I have to give all the credit in the world to Jacobs on that one 74 yard touchdown, but lets be fair, he still had a bad game on the ground. Is it time to start Hakeem Nicks yet? Nicks looked so good on that touchdown, he broke a tackle and walked into the end zone. The guy has such good hands, and he makes it look easy out there. Another guy who is simply having a ball out there is Steve Smith. Steve Smith is on pace to break every Giants single season receiving record, and he makes it look easy. he gets open EVERY THIRD DOWN and despite a couple drops here and there, he is reliable almost all of the time. If he doesnt get to the Pro Bowl the system is falwed (which of course it is).
Again, lets take a step back on the defense. They played excellent against the run, but BRUTAL against the pass. If that was Drew Brees out there, or Peyton or Brady, we give up 500 yards passing. Easily. Tony Romo proved why he is not a good Quarterback, why he will always be average at best. He missed wide open recievers, he over threw Roy Williams which would have been another TD, and he looked rattled out there. The problem was his recievers for the most part were WIDE OPEN the whole game. Why is that? Because besides Cory Webster, who had an average game at best, they Giants cannot cover anyone. Jason Witten, who I think is the third maybe 2nd best tight end in the league, had a game for the ages as I mentioned before. Roy Williams who could not do ANYTHING this entire year broke out for two TD's. Miles Austin also had a big game. Remember, this Cowboys offense had been brutal the last three games and one included the Raiders. Yes, 17 points is good (the last TD was a garbage TD) and Romo threw the ball a ridiculous 55 times, but that still is no excuse why he completed almost 40 of those passes. The rush was not there again, only two sacks and Romo fell down for one of them. I am still am far from impressed by this defense, but again, they made the stops when they had to. In addition, the Cowboys are a soft team, a team that has the deer in the headlight look whenever they play a big game, dont expect that from Andy Reid and the Eagles. The Eagles only get the Deer in the Headlight look when they are in a monumentally big game such as the NFC Title game or Super Bowl.
The lift that Dominik Hixon gave them on that punt return cannot be expressed in words. Not only did that return end the game, it might turn around the season. The crowd went as nuts as I have seen it in awhile, a season on the brink, and Hixon said we are not laying down. All with that return, a season could be revived. I still dont know how he got out of the first attempted tackle, along with three other Cowboys whiffs and Hixon was gone. Its the first punt return for a TD since Chad Morton in 2005 against the Cards on opening day, a day where he had both a kickoff and punt return for a TD. Its the most memorable punt return since Tiki Barber on Monday Night Football all the way back in 1997 against the same Cowboys. Barber broke a tie game against the defending Super Bowl Champs and though Dieon Sanders brought the kickoff return back as the final gun went off, the play was nullified due to an illegal forward pass. I loved the sidelines reaction, especially from Justin Tuck who carried Hixon off the field, and Tom Coughlin, who did the double fist and was obviously very emotional. The team said after that seeing Coughlin like that gave them a lift; if he is so end to it, how can I not be into it.
One last thing, the fact the Flozell Adams did not get suspended is a disgrace. This is twice now against the Giants and three times total that he has been fined and did something almost suspension worthy. The guy is a thug, a straight up thug, who tries to hurt people instead of playing football. Tuck was right in everyway to call him a dirtbag, Flozell's response "Justin Tuck is a nobody." Yea, a nobody who wears a large Super Bowl ring on his finger and had two sacks and five tackles in that game. A guy who had 13 sacks last year, and is a warrior on and off the field. A guy who is playing with a seperate shoulder that YOU gave him and does not complain. A guy who is slowly becoming my favoirte player because of his no-excuse-just-play mentality. Yea, Justin Tuck is a nobody.
I think this Sunday Night game is going to be a battle. The last two sunday night Giants-Eagles game, one at each stadium, were both won by the Giants. However, the last two playoff meetings between these two teams, both in each stadium, have both been won by the Eagles. This is going to be a war, both fan bases despise each other, the crowd should be as intense as any regular season game, in fact this should absolutly be a playoff atmosphere game. The Giants will be just as pumped as they were last week, knowing that their season is on the line. The Eagles will be pumped as ever because they know they can pretty much end the Giants season (especially as a division winner) and put themselves in prime position to win the NFC East. This will be a battle from the start to the finish, I cant wait.
- Lew
Granderson Set to Join yanks
So, after the second day of the winter meetings, Curtis Granderson is now a member of the Yankees. To be honest, I have always been a Granderson fan, solid Center Fielder who covers good ground, very, very good base runner, solid baseball instincts, one of the best clubhouse guys in the game, and a very solid power hitter for a guy who plays center. However, the fact that he cant hit any lefties, does not draw any pitchers or wear pitchers out like Damon, and the fact that since 2007 his numbers have decline, make me a littler leery of this deal. Yes, the players the Yankees gave up were not very significant (ok Austin Jackson was a solid, solid prospect, but the guy has shown zero power in the minors, and is 22 years old which is not a good sign that the power will ever develop. Do we really need two Brett Garnder type players on the Yankees) Ian Kennedy might as well be starting for the Garbage All-Stars and Phil Coke is an inter-changable reliever, much like 97% of middle relievers in the game.
I am not sure where the Yankees go from here. Granderson always led off for Detriot, which he certainly will not do with the Yankees, as Jeter patrols the leadoff spot. Putting Granderson in the two hole would be like putting Cano in the two hole, a bad idea from the start, which makes me wonder if they will in fact bring back Damon as the primary DH. Damon and Granderson are very much a like as players, they both a solid power, but not GREAT power, and batting Granderson 6th in the lineup might not be out of the question. A lineup of:
1.Jeter
2.Damon
3.Tex
4.A-Rod
5.Posada
6.Granderson
7.Cano
8.Swisher
9.Melky
Not bad at all, but a very weird lineup. Its almost as if you have 3 leadoff hitters in the lineup. I am not so sure I am a fan of that, which means I think the Yankees will look else where for a power bat, someone who can man the 5 hole whenever Posada takes a day off, because Granderson is not that type of player. It will be interesting to see. Cash wanted to get younger and more athletic and he did that. Next up is to get more pitching and I dont mean Halladay. Could Lackey be next??
- Lew
I am not sure where the Yankees go from here. Granderson always led off for Detriot, which he certainly will not do with the Yankees, as Jeter patrols the leadoff spot. Putting Granderson in the two hole would be like putting Cano in the two hole, a bad idea from the start, which makes me wonder if they will in fact bring back Damon as the primary DH. Damon and Granderson are very much a like as players, they both a solid power, but not GREAT power, and batting Granderson 6th in the lineup might not be out of the question. A lineup of:
1.Jeter
2.Damon
3.Tex
4.A-Rod
5.Posada
6.Granderson
7.Cano
8.Swisher
9.Melky
Not bad at all, but a very weird lineup. Its almost as if you have 3 leadoff hitters in the lineup. I am not so sure I am a fan of that, which means I think the Yankees will look else where for a power bat, someone who can man the 5 hole whenever Posada takes a day off, because Granderson is not that type of player. It will be interesting to see. Cash wanted to get younger and more athletic and he did that. Next up is to get more pitching and I dont mean Halladay. Could Lackey be next??
- Lew
Saturday, December 5, 2009
NFL PICKS
Hey all,
These next few weeks are going to be slow on the blog. I have finals and tomorrow I will be in Indianapolis for the Baseball Winter Meetings.
I dont have time right now to write stuff, so here are my quick picks this week.
Falcons (+5.5) Over Eagles
Falcons 23 Eagles 20
Rams (+9) Over Bears
Bears 26 Rams 20
Lions (+ 13) Over Bengals
Bengals 27 Lions 17
Steelers (-13.5) Over Raiders
Steelers 30 Raiders 10
Colts (-7) Over Titans
Colts 30 Titans 17
Broncos (-5) Over Chiefs
Broncos 19 Chiefs 10
Pats (-4) Over Dolphins
Pats 38 Dolphins 20
Redskins (+9.5) Over Saints UPSET OF THE WEEK
Redskins 27 Saints 24 OT
Bucs (+5.5) Over Panthers
Panthers 23 Bucs 20
Jags (PK) Over Texans
Jags 33 Texans 27
Chargers (-13.5) Over Browns
Chargers 37 Browns 13
Giants (+2.5) Over Cowboys
Giants 27 Cowboys 20
49ers (PK) Over Seahawks
49ers 20 Seahawks 16
Vikings (-3) Over Cards
Vikings 28 Cards 24
Ravens (+3) Packers
Ravens 17 Packers 13
QUICK GIANTS NOTE:
D.J Ware out, Bradshaw should play, but again who knows if it will even matter. I will miss the first half of this game due to the fact this was the only flight to Indy, so though I am pretty, pretty upset, there is nothing I can do. Plus, lets be real, this team does not have it. I am trying so hard to pysch myself into believing into this team, but its just not happening. Whoever thinks this team could turn it around like the 07 Giants, is simply wrong. The 07 Giants were at one point 9-4, completly different than a 6-5 team who has been blownout in 3 of their 5 losses, and two devastating losses where they blew leads in the wanning moments. These team is not the same I am sorry. Now that apparently Osi and big Fred Robbins have been benched to the second team, a tell tale sign of a desperate team. The Giants know deep down they are in trouble and despite my incredibly bias opinion of thinking they will win, it would not surprise me one bit if they lost the next three game and finished something like 7-9.
- Lew
These next few weeks are going to be slow on the blog. I have finals and tomorrow I will be in Indianapolis for the Baseball Winter Meetings.
I dont have time right now to write stuff, so here are my quick picks this week.
Falcons (+5.5) Over Eagles
Falcons 23 Eagles 20
Rams (+9) Over Bears
Bears 26 Rams 20
Lions (+ 13) Over Bengals
Bengals 27 Lions 17
Steelers (-13.5) Over Raiders
Steelers 30 Raiders 10
Colts (-7) Over Titans
Colts 30 Titans 17
Broncos (-5) Over Chiefs
Broncos 19 Chiefs 10
Pats (-4) Over Dolphins
Pats 38 Dolphins 20
Redskins (+9.5) Over Saints UPSET OF THE WEEK
Redskins 27 Saints 24 OT
Bucs (+5.5) Over Panthers
Panthers 23 Bucs 20
Jags (PK) Over Texans
Jags 33 Texans 27
Chargers (-13.5) Over Browns
Chargers 37 Browns 13
Giants (+2.5) Over Cowboys
Giants 27 Cowboys 20
49ers (PK) Over Seahawks
49ers 20 Seahawks 16
Vikings (-3) Over Cards
Vikings 28 Cards 24
Ravens (+3) Packers
Ravens 17 Packers 13
QUICK GIANTS NOTE:
D.J Ware out, Bradshaw should play, but again who knows if it will even matter. I will miss the first half of this game due to the fact this was the only flight to Indy, so though I am pretty, pretty upset, there is nothing I can do. Plus, lets be real, this team does not have it. I am trying so hard to pysch myself into believing into this team, but its just not happening. Whoever thinks this team could turn it around like the 07 Giants, is simply wrong. The 07 Giants were at one point 9-4, completly different than a 6-5 team who has been blownout in 3 of their 5 losses, and two devastating losses where they blew leads in the wanning moments. These team is not the same I am sorry. Now that apparently Osi and big Fred Robbins have been benched to the second team, a tell tale sign of a desperate team. The Giants know deep down they are in trouble and despite my incredibly bias opinion of thinking they will win, it would not surprise me one bit if they lost the next three game and finished something like 7-9.
- Lew
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sad but True
Recognize this? Yep, this is the site of where the bleachers would have been at a game anytime since 1923. Pretty sad, but the same bleachers that have been their since 1976 are gone. The freeze is gone as well. All those memorable home runs, Reggie's three home runs, Tino's home run, Chambliss, the list goes on and on. The memorable right field bleachers and the infamous center field black seats all gone. Nobody cared about the left field bleachers, but their gone too along with both bullpens. Its sad really.
- Lew
Jim Fassel Finally a World Champion
It took 6 years after he was fired by the Giants, and two after he was fired as Offensive Coordinator by the Ravens, but Jim Fassel is a world champion.....Of the UFL. He took the Las Vegas Locomotives to the first ever UFL Championship. Read some of the quotes from Fassel.
"This looks great," Locos coach Jim Fassel said, staring at the Bill Hambrecht Trophy. "That was a fight. That was a fight to the finish."
That Bill Hambrecht trophy, wow what an honor. You got to love the Bill Hambrecht trophy. You got to always cherish the Bill Hambrecht trophy, something like that doesnt come around ever year. Right next to his NFC Championship Ring should be the Bill Hambrecht trophy on Fassel's ever-growing trophy room.
(There he is, look at all those fans in the stands....WAIT WHERE IS THE BILL HAMBRECHT TROPHY!!!!???)
The game did end in OT and adopted the College overtime rules, which of course the NFL should use but are too stubborn to change.
"It was so important for our guys to fight all the way and wait for their opportunity," Fassel said. "We had made some adjustments defensively, and we were able to wear them down."
"It's hard to win a championship all the way to the finish," Fassel said. "Right now we're the only ones, and we're going to enjoy it for a while."
Ok, first off Jim, congrats, that is a real accomplishment winning a UFL Bill Hambrecht championship. I think you should stay and become a legend in the UFL because everyone is starting pay attention to the league and the explosive Locomotives offense. But Jim, your right its hard to win a championship.....IN THE NFL or COLLEGE not in the UFL where there are FOUR TEAMS!!! FOUR TEAMS!!! The regular season was SIX GAMES THATS IT SIX GAMES!!!! All Jim Fassel had to do was do ok in the six games and win two more in the "playoffs." Real hard Jim.
One more funny thing about the UFL, the coaches are former NFL legends the beforementioned Jim Fassel, Dennis Green, Jim Haslett, and Ted Cottrell. O and I just found out that Bill Hambrecht, get ready for this....IS THE OWNER OF THE LAS VEGAS LOCOMOTIVES!! So I guess the first team to win a title gave the league trophies name to their owner. Good system, keep it up.
- Lew
Giants still Going at it
Young Ben sent me a quote from Justin Tuck that out of 10 he has an 11 view of optimism for the season. I like where Tuck's head it at, but common Justin, the season looks very, very bleak. It seems once Plax shot himself, the Giants as a whole crumbled. Since Plax's inexplicable move, the Giants are 7-9 which includes a lose in the divisional round to the dispised Eagles.
Not sure you can blame it all on Plax, but what once looked like a dynasty in the making, is turning into a bunch of crap. I wont give up on the year until I see them lose these next two weeks. For some reason, there is still a shred in me that feels the Giants can somehow get out of this. And though the Eagles were 5-5-1 last year and made it all the way to the NFC Title game, this year Giants seem to have too many holes.
Yes, you can give me the Dec. Cowboys collapse which will surely happen, or the Eagles injuries on offense, but this Giants team simply cant stop anyone and I dont know how they can fix that.
Eli now has a stress reaction, and if they lose sunday and he is hurting, I would shut him down. With a lose the G-Men would be 6-6 and no real hope of making a run after losing 6 out of 7. I unfortunatly will miss the first half of this game as I will be on a plane to Indianapolis for the baseball winter meetings. Huge job fair, got to do some work.
- Lew
Not sure you can blame it all on Plax, but what once looked like a dynasty in the making, is turning into a bunch of crap. I wont give up on the year until I see them lose these next two weeks. For some reason, there is still a shred in me that feels the Giants can somehow get out of this. And though the Eagles were 5-5-1 last year and made it all the way to the NFC Title game, this year Giants seem to have too many holes.
Yes, you can give me the Dec. Cowboys collapse which will surely happen, or the Eagles injuries on offense, but this Giants team simply cant stop anyone and I dont know how they can fix that.
Eli now has a stress reaction, and if they lose sunday and he is hurting, I would shut him down. With a lose the G-Men would be 6-6 and no real hope of making a run after losing 6 out of 7. I unfortunatly will miss the first half of this game as I will be on a plane to Indianapolis for the baseball winter meetings. Huge job fair, got to do some work.
- Lew
The Trials and Tribulations of Spree
My friend Dilb sent me a very interesting email on monday. It read: Former NBA Player forclosed on mansion.....HAHAHA ITS SPREE!!!
This is where we are in the life of Latrell Sprewell. The career of Spree has been one of many ups and downs, with the downs outweighing the ups. Lets look at the career of Spree.
Spree came out of Milwaukee, possibly the only exciting person/thing that ever came out of the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin. He went on to star at Alabama for 3 years after a stint at the prestigous Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Now Spree was no angel, he got into some fights, was not ever a happy camper, and had a huge chip on his shoulder, but the fame a fortune eventually got to him. When he was picked 24th by the Warriors, he surprised the NBA world and become an explosive scorer. Here is a commerical before the Spree we know today took off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7wRp545YA
As I said, Spree was no angel. In 1995, Sprewell fought with teammate Jerome Kersey and returned to practice carrying a two-by-four, and reportedly threatened to return with a gun.
Finally, almost a year to the day, December 1st, 1997, Spree had an argument with coach P.J Carlisa-shit and....well we all know what happend. Spree choked him and to turn a long story short ended his days with Golden State and cost him a year in the NBA. Not to be outdone, during his suspension, Sprewell was charged with reckless driving for his role in a 90 mph accident that injured two people, spending three months under house arrest as part of a no-contest plea.
So of course the Knicks pick him up and in three seasons 1999,2000,and 2001 Spree was a huge part of the Knicks success and frankly on his best behavior. In fact, most Knicks fans and some NBA fans thought he had changed his act, that Spree had grown up. He helped lead the Knicks to an NBA Finals appreance, which has been their last as of now, and also helped the Knicks to an Eastern Conference Finals apperance as well as a 4th seed in 2001. He averaged 18.6 points for his Knicks career, and despite getting destroyed in the NBA Finals in 1999, Spree put up 26 a game, including a 35-10 in Game 5. He even had a commerical that just showed him doing his hair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6DYYh5f2sg&feature=related
However, the Knicks do what they do best, making dumb decisions and signed him to a 5 year $62 million extension. Things went downhill from here.
In 2002 Spree showed up fat and out of shape to training camp. Spree showed up to camp with a broken hand as well, which he claimed occurred when he slipped on his yacht; the Knicks fined him a record $250,000 for failing to report the incident to them. Sprewell sued the New York Post for claiming that he broke his hand in a fight. This of course was proven that he broke his hand on the yacht while he was having a massive blowout on his boat.
You could tell, despite Sprewell's success in the 2002-2003 season that his time with the Knicks were coming to an end. It soured after that enourmous fine, and Spree quit on the Knicks, forcing a trade in the offseason that sent him to the T'Wolves that brought the legendary Keith Van Fish to the Knicks.
Right before opening night 2004, Spree turned down a 3 year $21 million extension from the Wolves as he was insulted by the low offer and stated, "I have a family to feed." I bet you wish you had the money now Spree. He had the the worst season of his career that year and in 2005 a bunch of teams inquired about him. However, only Latrell Sprewell would demand a big contract despite being a free agent during the season and all the teams told him to basically go to hell.
One month into the 2005-06 season and without a contract, Sprewell's agent, Bob Gist, said his client would rather retire than play for the NBA minimum salary, telling Sports Illustrated, "Latrell doesn't need the money that badly. To go from being offered $7 million to taking $1 million, that would be a slap in the face." Several days later, Gist said that Sprewell planned to wait until "teams get desperate" around the trade deadline in February, and then sign with a contending team (an eventuality that never materialized). Gist said that Sprewell would not be interested in signing for any team's $5 million mid-level exception, calling that amount "a level beneath which [Sprewell] would not stoop or kneel!"
In March 2006, Sprewell was offered contracts by the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, both of whom were considered at the time to be strong favorites to win the NBA Championship; however, when contacted by these teams, Sprewell failed to respond with an answer to whether he would sign with them. As a result, the Mavericks and Spurs were no longer pursuing him, and he remained a free agent as the season came to a close. There was also some interest in Sprewell by the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of the 2005-2006 season, but a disagreement in the contract offer resulted in a failure to reach a deal.
Then there came the post NBA troubles for Spree.
Remember that wheel company he had, Sprewell rims or whatever, the one that was used on Pimp My Ride and all that stuff? Yea, well it went bankrupt.
On August 30, 2006, Milwaukee police investigated a claim by a 21-year-old female who claimed that she and Sprewell were having consensual sex aboard his 70-foot (21 m) yacht, named "Milwaukee's Best," when Sprewell began to strangle her. Police allegedly observed red marks on the woman's neck. Police investigating the allegation searched Sprewell's yacht for evidence. On September 6, 2006, police indicated that he would not face any charges from the alleged incident. Sprewell is seeking a restraining order against the woman along with "civil remedies" against the accuser.
On January 31, 2007, Sprewell's long term companion sued him for $200 million for ending their relationship agreement. She claims Sprewell agreed to support her and their four children since they were in college.
On August 22, 2007, it was reported by multiple news agencies that Latrell Sprewell's yacht was repossessed by federal marshals after Sprewell failed to maintain payments and insurance for the vessel, for which he reportedly still owed approximately $1.3 million. In addition, while piloted by Sprewell, the yacht was run ashore near Atwater Beach, just north of Milwaukee. Sprewell refused to contract with a professional salvage firm to remove the yacht. The yacht was eventually freed with the help of a local fishing vessel.
In February 2008, Sprewell's yacht was auctioned for $856,000 after he defaulted on a $1.5 million mortgage, and in May 2008 a Milwaukee area home owned by Sprewell went into foreclosure status. He also owes more than $72,000 in unpaid taxes and his company, Sprewell Motorsports, has not paid credit card bills in months.
In other reports Sprewell has not paid his takes in over "5 years, maybe more, no the guy has no money." So there you go, the once promising career of Latrell Sprewell, who averaged 20 plus a night for Golden State, who brought the Knicks to the NBA Finals, who made over $100 million in his NBA career, is now broke, faces millions of dollars in lawsuits, and STILL CHOKES PEOPLE!!!
- Lew
This is where we are in the life of Latrell Sprewell. The career of Spree has been one of many ups and downs, with the downs outweighing the ups. Lets look at the career of Spree.
Spree came out of Milwaukee, possibly the only exciting person/thing that ever came out of the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin. He went on to star at Alabama for 3 years after a stint at the prestigous Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Now Spree was no angel, he got into some fights, was not ever a happy camper, and had a huge chip on his shoulder, but the fame a fortune eventually got to him. When he was picked 24th by the Warriors, he surprised the NBA world and become an explosive scorer. Here is a commerical before the Spree we know today took off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7wRp545YA
As I said, Spree was no angel. In 1995, Sprewell fought with teammate Jerome Kersey and returned to practice carrying a two-by-four, and reportedly threatened to return with a gun.
Finally, almost a year to the day, December 1st, 1997, Spree had an argument with coach P.J Carlisa-shit and....well we all know what happend. Spree choked him and to turn a long story short ended his days with Golden State and cost him a year in the NBA. Not to be outdone, during his suspension, Sprewell was charged with reckless driving for his role in a 90 mph accident that injured two people, spending three months under house arrest as part of a no-contest plea.
So of course the Knicks pick him up and in three seasons 1999,2000,and 2001 Spree was a huge part of the Knicks success and frankly on his best behavior. In fact, most Knicks fans and some NBA fans thought he had changed his act, that Spree had grown up. He helped lead the Knicks to an NBA Finals appreance, which has been their last as of now, and also helped the Knicks to an Eastern Conference Finals apperance as well as a 4th seed in 2001. He averaged 18.6 points for his Knicks career, and despite getting destroyed in the NBA Finals in 1999, Spree put up 26 a game, including a 35-10 in Game 5. He even had a commerical that just showed him doing his hair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6DYYh5f2sg&feature=related
However, the Knicks do what they do best, making dumb decisions and signed him to a 5 year $62 million extension. Things went downhill from here.
In 2002 Spree showed up fat and out of shape to training camp. Spree showed up to camp with a broken hand as well, which he claimed occurred when he slipped on his yacht; the Knicks fined him a record $250,000 for failing to report the incident to them. Sprewell sued the New York Post for claiming that he broke his hand in a fight. This of course was proven that he broke his hand on the yacht while he was having a massive blowout on his boat.
You could tell, despite Sprewell's success in the 2002-2003 season that his time with the Knicks were coming to an end. It soured after that enourmous fine, and Spree quit on the Knicks, forcing a trade in the offseason that sent him to the T'Wolves that brought the legendary Keith Van Fish to the Knicks.
Right before opening night 2004, Spree turned down a 3 year $21 million extension from the Wolves as he was insulted by the low offer and stated, "I have a family to feed." I bet you wish you had the money now Spree. He had the the worst season of his career that year and in 2005 a bunch of teams inquired about him. However, only Latrell Sprewell would demand a big contract despite being a free agent during the season and all the teams told him to basically go to hell.
One month into the 2005-06 season and without a contract, Sprewell's agent, Bob Gist, said his client would rather retire than play for the NBA minimum salary, telling Sports Illustrated, "Latrell doesn't need the money that badly. To go from being offered $7 million to taking $1 million, that would be a slap in the face." Several days later, Gist said that Sprewell planned to wait until "teams get desperate" around the trade deadline in February, and then sign with a contending team (an eventuality that never materialized). Gist said that Sprewell would not be interested in signing for any team's $5 million mid-level exception, calling that amount "a level beneath which [Sprewell] would not stoop or kneel!"
In March 2006, Sprewell was offered contracts by the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, both of whom were considered at the time to be strong favorites to win the NBA Championship; however, when contacted by these teams, Sprewell failed to respond with an answer to whether he would sign with them. As a result, the Mavericks and Spurs were no longer pursuing him, and he remained a free agent as the season came to a close. There was also some interest in Sprewell by the Los Angeles Lakers at the beginning of the 2005-2006 season, but a disagreement in the contract offer resulted in a failure to reach a deal.
Then there came the post NBA troubles for Spree.
Remember that wheel company he had, Sprewell rims or whatever, the one that was used on Pimp My Ride and all that stuff? Yea, well it went bankrupt.
On August 30, 2006, Milwaukee police investigated a claim by a 21-year-old female who claimed that she and Sprewell were having consensual sex aboard his 70-foot (21 m) yacht, named "Milwaukee's Best," when Sprewell began to strangle her. Police allegedly observed red marks on the woman's neck. Police investigating the allegation searched Sprewell's yacht for evidence. On September 6, 2006, police indicated that he would not face any charges from the alleged incident. Sprewell is seeking a restraining order against the woman along with "civil remedies" against the accuser.
On January 31, 2007, Sprewell's long term companion sued him for $200 million for ending their relationship agreement. She claims Sprewell agreed to support her and their four children since they were in college.
On August 22, 2007, it was reported by multiple news agencies that Latrell Sprewell's yacht was repossessed by federal marshals after Sprewell failed to maintain payments and insurance for the vessel, for which he reportedly still owed approximately $1.3 million. In addition, while piloted by Sprewell, the yacht was run ashore near Atwater Beach, just north of Milwaukee. Sprewell refused to contract with a professional salvage firm to remove the yacht. The yacht was eventually freed with the help of a local fishing vessel.
In February 2008, Sprewell's yacht was auctioned for $856,000 after he defaulted on a $1.5 million mortgage, and in May 2008 a Milwaukee area home owned by Sprewell went into foreclosure status. He also owes more than $72,000 in unpaid taxes and his company, Sprewell Motorsports, has not paid credit card bills in months.
In other reports Sprewell has not paid his takes in over "5 years, maybe more, no the guy has no money." So there you go, the once promising career of Latrell Sprewell, who averaged 20 plus a night for Golden State, who brought the Knicks to the NBA Finals, who made over $100 million in his NBA career, is now broke, faces millions of dollars in lawsuits, and STILL CHOKES PEOPLE!!!
- Lew
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